text: Chapter 5
  TECHNIQUES
  5-153. An ambush in COIN has five basic phases: planning, organizing, moving, occupying,
  and executing.
  Plan
  5-154. Key steps in planning a deliberate ambush include—
  • Determine the target and purpose of the ambush (kill or capture).
  • Determine the advantages and disadvantage for executing the ambush during limited visibility,
  amongst the population, or vicinity of sensitive sites.
  • Determine if the ambush will be a point ambush or an area ambush.
  • Select the appropriate ambush formation.
  • Determine if the ambush will be a near ambush or a far ambush.
  • Determine communication requirements.
  • Determine weapons requirements and limitations.
  • Determine compromise contingency plans.
  • Determine what, if any, special equipment is required. This includes money for damage
  compensation or the need to video or photograph the area for documentation.
  • Withdrawal.
  Organization
  5-155. An ambush patrol is organized in the same manner as other combat patrols to include a
  headquarters, an assault element, a support element, and a security element. If an ambush site is to be
  occupied for an extended period, double ambush forces may be organized to allow continuous coverage.
  One ambush force occupies the site while the other conducts routine maintenance, rests, and eats at the
  objective rallying point or alternate and supplementary concealed locations. They alternate on command,
  usually after no more than eight hours.
  Movement
  5-156. Deliberate ambushes should include an objective rally point (ORP). Units should plan movement
  to the ORP, from the ORP to the ambush site and back and withdrawal from the ambush site is back to the
  ORP or to another final destination. In addition, leaders should plan movement that allows the unit to enter
  the ambush site from the rear and avoid moving into the kill zone or across the suspected route of the
  enemy force to be ambushed. In COIN, the presence of people near the ambush positions requires a
  carefully planned movement. Units should use maps, imagery, video, HUMINT, and aerial photographs
  to analyze the terrain and HN population. If possible, units conduct ground reconnaissance and avoid
  selecting obvious ambush sites. Surprise is even more difficult to achieve in these areas. An ambush site
  should provide—
  • Clear fields of fire.
  • Concealed positions.
  • Canalization of the insurgents into the killing zone.
  • Little or no cover and concealment in the kill zone.
  • Covered routes of withdrawal (to enable the ambush force to break contact and avoid pursuit).
  • No egress route for the insurgent force.
  • A defensible position if compromised.
  Occupation
  5-157. In COIN, especially urban environments, it can be extremely difficult to occupy ambush sites
  or positions uncompromised due to locals. As a rule, the ambush force occupies the ambush site at the
  latest possible time permitted by the tactical situation and the amount of site preparation required. This not
  only reduces the risk of discovery, but also reduces the time Soldiers must remain still and in position.