text: Chapter 6
  MOUNTED PROCEDURES
  6-63. The following procedures may be used when reacting to an ambush while mounted:
  • Immediately return fire and assume a covered position if possible.
  • If you are in the kill zone, leave rapidly.
  • If you are not in the kill zone, use fire and maneuver to destroy the enemy if possible.
  • Scan your area and prepare for additional attacks, especially—
  (cid:131) An IED.
  (cid:131) An enemy moving to flank.
  (cid:131) An enemy moving to engage you with RPGs or antitank weapons.
  • Report contact to higher HQ.
  • Follow directions of the vehicle or convoy commander.
  COUNTERING IEDS
  6-64. An improvised explosive device (IED) is "a device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner
  incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy,
  incapacitate, harass, or distract. It may incorporate military stores, but it is normally made from nonmilitary
  components" (JP 3-07.2). IEDs are key components of insurgent ambushes. (See also FM 3-90.119.)
  CONSIDERATIONS DURING COUNTERINSURGENCY
  6-65. Between 2001 and 2007, US forces were attacked by over 81,000 IEDs. IEDs are the most
  dangerous and effective weapon system faced by Coalition Forces in Iraq. They have inflicted more
  casualties than all other weapon systems combined.
  TECHNIQUES
  6-66. Wide usage, a destructive nature, and the resulting overall impact on military operations makes
  the IED a significant factor for tactical units. For this reason, leaders at all levels must consider IEDs. At a
  tactical level, a unit has three major techniques for defeating IEDs. They are—
  • Attack the network.
  • Defeat the device.
  • Train the force.
  Attack the Network
  6-67. This method is used to defeat the complex network of IED makers, financiers, emplacers,
  suppliers, and others before the IED is emplaced. It includes actions and activities against networks
  designed to interrupt the enemy’s chain of IED activities by identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities
  and enabling offensive operations. This effort is accomplished through intelligence, surveillance,
  reconnaissance, counter bomber targeting, device technical and forensic exploitation, disposal
  of unexploded and captured ordnance, persistent surveillance directed toward defeat of the enemy’s
  capabilities, and the execution of information tasks which includes command and control warfare, military
  deception, and, especially, information engagements. Search operations and operations to kill or capture
  network members provide the final, critical step in the process. It is better to find 100 detonators in a cache
  than to deal with 100 IEDs on the battlefield.
  6-68. Several analytical tools can be used by tactical units to detect members of an IED network
  and synchronize all information gained through various sources. They are part of the targeting process,
  which is discussed in Chapter 4. By correctly synchronizing intelligence at all levels, leaders can better
  apply combat power to attacking the IED network. The three major tools are imagery and geospatial
  intelligence analysis, pattern analysis, and link analysis.