Fundamentals of Company level Counterinsurgency

[ArmyJonHall]

LTC David Kilcullen, an Australian Army officer currently seconded to the US State Department as Chief Strategist in the Office of the Co-ordinator for Counterterrorism (whew! What a title!), recently penned an article entitled Twenty-Eight Articles: Fundamentals of Company-level Counterinsurgency (http://www.d-n-i.net/fcs/pdf/kilcullen_28_articles.pdf). It's a PDF file, so its probably best to right click the link and save as.

It's a damn interesting read, and full of useful information to boot. It should be required reading for any soldier (who is able to comprehend it) heading to the sand box.

[Lt. James Anderson]

Well, yes it's a very good read. I doubt that people who make decisions give a flying fcuk about understanding it ... Does it matter for the lowest private to understand it? Yes, but it doesn't help. He has to do what he' ordered even though he knows it is stupid and counterproductive.

[techrep]

Hey I don't mean to be a **** but while one definition of "fundament" in Yank English is "theory or principle" another definition is "buttocks or anus."

just sayin...

And yes, it is a remarkably clear and persuasive document.

[ArmyJonHall]

Hey I don't mean to be a **** but while one definition of "fundament" in Yank English is "theory or principle" another definition is "buttocks or anus."

just sayin...

And yes, it is a remarkably clear and persuasive document.
Whoops dammit, it's meant to be 'Fundamentals'. Didn't spell check the title.

[Hutz]

Great article. Thanks for posting.

[exarmyguard]

Its interesting stuff, but the point that soldiers fight as they are told is a valid one. I can't imagine Private Smith conversing with the CO about strategy over coffee. Great post though.

[James]

Thanks for posting this. It's very good.

[angry cow]

Excellent reading, definitely a "right click and save as" for anyone that could end up in a counterinsurgency fight in the next few years.

[Creeper]

TY 4 posting the info
"Know your Turf."

[Mastermind]

Whew! Good reading. But, I found most of the suggestions practical on paper only. Truly, assymetrical warfare is challenging. I doubt seriously that regularly trained and latticed units are going to take much of this stuff to heart. Its good to know, certainly. But, I just can not see Company Commanders or Platoon Leaders reorganizing under the muzzels of the enemy. The result would be chaos. I can see specially trained and organized counter insurgency units taking the field in strategic locations to assist conventional units..or more properly, to use the assistance of convential forces as needed.. Conventional units are just not equipped or mentally engaged to do the majority of these things. (IMHO) We will continue to attack ant hills with 5 million dollar sledge hammers....as unfortunate as that is. MM

[ArmyJonHall]

Whew! Good reading. But, I found most of the suggestions practical on paper only. Truly, assymetrical warfare is challenging. I doubt seriously that regularly trained and latticed units are going to take much of this stuff to heart. Its good to know, certainly. But, I just can not see Company Commanders or Platoon Leaders reorganizing under the muzzels of the enemy. The result would be chaos. I can see specially trained and organized counter insurgency units taking the field in strategic locations to assist conventional units..or more properly, to use the assistance of convential forces as needed.. Conventional units are just not equipped or mentally engaged to do the majority of these things. (IMHO) We will continue to attack ant hills with 5 million dollar sledge hammers....as unfortunate as that is. MM
Oh, I don't know. AMTG in Al Muthanna applied a lot of these concepts pretty well, and as such were able to hand the area over to the IA.

There's not a whole lot of 'reorganizing' to be done, apart from raising the company int cell. And besides, this document is aimed at units preparing to head over, not ones over there already who are nearing the end of their tour.

[Mastermind]

I am just not sold on regular units making that kind of rapid transition with the vast majority of men trained conventionally. Troopers in the field are notoriously flexible to their cirucmstance...so, most certainly, such transitions are not impossible. But, they will require, in my opinion, extraordinary leadershipp and very fine attention to details that ordinary combat units are not trained for or equipped for or staffed for.

I think of it much like asking a foot surgeon to do brain surgery...what the hell, they are both surgeons!
MM

[khukuri]

If this is supported by higher rank and thinking like that is encouraged and supported it would be good. Otherwise I think a document like that needs more than just being a paper document if you now what I mean. By the way, its 2006, this should be outhere 2001!

[Van Gogh]

don't shoot each other, and don't shoot innocent people, and you should be fine.

[Mastermind]

Good rules....and never share a tank with someone braver than yourself.

[Erik Sleivöks]

This paper makes sense, but what is worrying me is that this is very basic knowledge down at corporal’s level in any reconnaissance squad. However if you need an Australian sitting in Washington to write a paper about this I am somehow worried about the whole tactical concept around the current counterinsurgency warfare.
On the other hand, it is very “politically correct” and I indeed hope that they do not intend to operate as stipulated in the paper. In reality, it unfortunately needs a lot of raw violence to succeed in such operations, and if they think that they are going to concur the “natives” hearts with chocolate and bonbon’s they are dreaming.

[Akıncı]

In every kind of combat soldiers do what they are told with their basic fighting skills. Basic skills are neccessary for all kinds of combat. This artical is for the ones who make decisions and tell their troops what to do. Good article !