Martial Discipline under Operation Battle Drill 6
In the world of military training, a video of 10th Mountain Division soldiers conducting live-fire room-clearing exercises, known as Battle Drill 6, has caused quite a stir. The footage, which went viral earlier this year, showcases soldiers repeatedly "flagging" each other, pointing loaded weapons at fellow soldiers during the drill.
The use of room clearing as a tactic can be traced back to the creation of the 1st Special Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) in the 1970s, initially intended partly as a hostage rescue force. The tactic did not become common among infantry soldiers until the late 1980s, and it has since spread from Army Special Forces to Army Ranger units, eventually becoming enshrined in doctrine.
However, the enthusiasm for Battle Drill 6 remains unabated despite the high casualties and lessons learned from urban combat in World War II, the Russian army, and the Second Battle of Fallujah. In the latter, US forces lost 95 soldiers killed and 560 wounded in a matter of days, many while entering buildings.
Commanders face horrible choices in scenarios where civilians are present. Unintended civilian casualties may ensue when using high explosives, and everything possible should be done to avoid them. The discriminate use of high explosives in a room or building is always preferable to launching a young soldier through a doorway and into fire. Maximizing soldier risk instead of minimizing it is always the wrong choice.
Exercising tactical patience and catching the enemy in movement or outside the building is another alternative. Surrounding a building and executing a tactical callout is yet another alternative, as was popular after 9/11, with iconic images of Marines and soldiers entering buildings.
Persistent observation and engagement by drones or attack helicopters is yet another alternative, but conventional units are not given the resources to effectively enter and clear a room or building with a modicum of safety.
The video of the 10th Mountain Division's training exercise has sparked criticism from experts, who condemned the poor techniques shown during the drill. In response to the furor, the division's command sergeant major promised to "fix this."
Richard D. Hooker, a 1981 graduate of the US Military Academy who served five combat tours, has expressed concerns about the training methods. The military has a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of its soldiers, and this includes providing them with the best possible training techniques.
As the military continues to adapt to the challenges of modern warfare, it is crucial that they learn from past mistakes and strive for continuous improvement in their training methods. The safety and well-being of soldiers should always be the top priority.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
