Section

7
PLATOON CORDON AND SEARCH
Key Points

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Purpose of a Cordon and Search Cordon and Search Planning Conduct of the Search Lessons Learned in the COE

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A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood.
GEN George Patton

Tactics and Techniques Track

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Introduction
Cordon and search operations have gained importance with military commanders in the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE) because of the need to ush out insurgents and terroristsand to nd and destroy the weapons caches that support their attacks against coalition forces and the local people. This section will review the purpose, participants, roles, doctrine, special teams, and planning considerations of cordon and search, which every platoon leader must understand.

US Soldiers find Iraqi weapons cache.

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Purpose of a Cordon and Search

cordon and search
operation to seal off and search an area

counterinsurgency forces
government forces taking military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological, and civic actions to defeat insurgency

Cordon and search is an operation in which military forces seal off an area and search it while controlling entrances or exits during the search. Counterinsurgency and counterterrorist forces frequently use cordon and search operations while conducting other offensive missions as a means to locate insurgent or terrorist weapons caches; apprehend wanted terrorists or enemy combatants; deny the enemy freedom of maneuver; or drive enemy fighters from small centers of populations or subdivisions of a larger community. Units engaged in stability and support operations will also conduct cordon and search missions, as the vignette below from Iraq demonstrates.

Roughriders Nab Latiyah Bombmaking Cell LATIFIYAH, Iraq, Jan. 20, 2005Continuing operations in the Latiyah area of north Babil, the US Armys 3rd Platoon Roughriders of Company A, Task Force 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment conducted a search in a farming village Jan. 16, which resulted in the detainment of an improvised-explosive-device manufacturing cell. The nd contributes to the task forces four-week streak of nding weapons caches and detaining anti-Iraqi forces in this previously unpatrolled area along the Euphrates River. So far, the Roughriders platoon has contributed to the streak by nding over nine signicant weapons caches and detaining dozens of suspects during continuous operations in the area that started when the task force arrived late December. Weve been going and hitting different locations with the intent of just looking around and seeing if we uncover anything, said US Army Sgt. 1st Class Freddie Bonetti, a Roughriders squad leader from Brady, Texas. We keep [the insurgents] guessing about what were going to do next. We dont know if were going to get a hit when we go out, but its always a possibility. Sometimes well get lucky and where we dont think theres anything, wham, suddenly we come right on top of something, Bonetti added. Taking down a cell of improvised-explosive-device makers might have been a lucky nd, but the Roughriders used their infantry skills to make it happen. They rolled up in Bradley Fighting Vehicles under the cover of darkness, and taking the neighborhood by surprise, sealed it from escape. Being infantry, theyre always prepared for anything, Sgt. Steven Mabry, a Roughriders team leader from Mohanas, Texas, explained. We dont know what to expect going into each house, Mabry said. Each house is a different [obstacle]. Most of them are built the same, but as you go in you dont know [whos] hiding where. Going into the house where the improvised-explosive-device makers were located, Mabry and his team noticed something strange.

counterterrorist forces
government forces taking military, paramilitary, political, economic, psychological, and civic actions to defeat terrorists

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I could tell by the two guys that were standing outside. They didnt seem right, Mabry said. You could tell by just looking at them when we rst came in. Most of the time they already know the routine. We walk in and all the males will come out. They didnt really seem like they wanted to do the routine, so we made sure that we kept those [men] separated, Mabry added. There was something shy about them. The teams next tip came when an elderly man in the village pointed the men out as bad guys. The Roughriders dont see that kind of thing every day, Bonetti said. [There was an] old man pointing and screaming ali babba. That usually doesnt happen, especially if these are big league bad guys, Bonetti said. For an old man to do that, it shows a lot of courage. When the names of these men were checked against a list of known anti-Iraqi forces by an interpreter, a close match was found. With the help of their interpreter, the Roughriders made a positive identication of the men, and took another improvised-explosive-device maker off the streets of Iraq. My platoon has been very good at following up on leads with the interpreter, 1st Lt. Ramiro Roldan, the Roughriders platoon leader from San Antonio, Texas, said. Theyve been very successful. Usually every time they get somebody its one of the bad guys. Defend America: US Department of Defense News About the War on Terrorism

Normally US Army units conduct cordon and search operations to: Identify and apprehend persons hostile to US efforts Gather and exploit information on insurgents Target people, material, buildings, or terrain.

psychological operations (PSYOP)

planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to inuence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individualsthe purpose of psychological operations is to induce or reinforce foreign attitudes and behavior favorable to the originators objectives

Cordon and Search Planning

In planning cordon and search operations, you should consider the following: Include sufficient forces to effectively cordon off and thoroughly search target areas Augment the cordon and search forces with psychological operations (PSYOP), civil affairs (CA), local translators, local leadership, and interrogation-specialist teams Schedule ample time to conduct thorough search and interrogation of residents in the affected area Rehearse operations thoroughly Treat all civilians fairly but firmly at all times Avoid any incidents that unnecessarily alienate the local people.

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Command and Control

According to Army doctrine, the civilian police or local forces control a search with the military in support. A search involving a large force may be controlled by the military commander with the civilian police in support. Regardless of the controlling agency, doctrinally, host nation police perform the actual search when they are available in adequate numbers and have been trained in search operations. In the COE, however, US forces are conducting cordon and search operations in response to attacks, intelligence, or tips provided by a local person sympathetic to the new regime or the coalitions efforts. US forces will turn over the task of cordon and search as more local police are properly trained and the numbers are available to conduct such searches.

Conduct of the Search

Whether you are searching a few isolated huts or buildings or well-developed urban neighborhoods, you should use Army search techniques. You must thoroughly prepare and rehearse these techniques before undertaking search operations, especially in built-up areas. Training your unit in these techniques is as important as training in battle drills. During searches of built-up areas, divide the areas into zones and assign a search party to each. A search party generally consists of three elements: a search element to conduct the search a cordon element to encircle the area to prevent entrance and exit and to secure open areas a reserve element to assist as required.

Search Element
The search element conducts the mission assigned for the operation. You organize the search element into special teams that include Soldiers and equipment for handling of: Prisoners Interrogation Documentation Demolitions PSYOPS/civil affairs Mine detection Fire support Scout dog employment Reconnaissance.

Cordon Element
The cordon element surrounds the area, taking up position before the search element moves in. The cordon element moves quickly into position to encircle the search area, securing open areas and establishing roadblocks and checkpoints to prevent escape and to keep out insurgents who may be trying to reinforce the areas.

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Reserve Element
The reserve element is a mobile force positioned in a safe and easily defendable location centrally located to easily reinforce or support the cordon or search elements. Its specific mission is to assist the other two elements as required. In addition, it can replace or reinforce either of the other two elements should the need arise. The cordon and search mission is doctrinally a deliberately planned mission that requires a company or larger force to cordon off and search a city block, small subdivision, or village. The larger the populated area, the larger the force required to conduct the cordon and search. Owing to the nonlinear and unpredictable battlefield of the COE, however, many units find themselves conducting hasty cordon and searches as the result of insurgent or terrorist attacks on friendly forces. Such was the case of Soldiers from C Troop in the following vignette.

Task Force Baghdad Soldiers Defeat Terrorists in Suburb BAGHDAD (Army News Service, Nov. 21, 2005)Task Force Baghdad Soldiers successfully repelled a terrorist attack near Jisr Diyala Nov. 15. Two terrorists were killed, one was wounded, and two suspects were detained after the exchange of re in the Baghdad suburb. There were no American casualties. We received small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade re from the edge of a small village, said Capt. Michael Burgoyne, commander of C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry. We immediately placed well-aimed re on the enemy and killed one and severely wounded another. Iraqi Police evacuated the wounded terrorist to a nearby medical facility. We could see the terrorists trying to maneuver on us and they were attempting to mix with civilians who were in the area, said 2nd Lt. Arnold Lee, a platoon leader in C Troop. We used good weapons discipline to engage the terrorists without hitting the civilians. After engaging the enemy, troopers moved into the village to search for more terrorist activity. The Squadron massed forces for the most effectiveness, said Lt. Col. Michael Johnson, 3/7 Cav. commander. All elements of the Squadron were able to provide the necessary assistance for this mission. In the town, the troopers conducted a hasty cordon and search. One terrorist tried to escape in a van and was killed, Burgoyne said. During the search for more terrorists, two additional suspects were detained. I think (the terrorists) were testing us, said Col. Joseph DiSalvo, commander of Coalition Forces in east Baghdad. I imagine the only thing they will have learned by this is that they should not provoke us with small-arms re; the outcome is almost always certain when terrorists try to engage usthey die. Army News Service

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Your platoon will normally conduct a cordon and search as part of a larger force assigned a cordon and search mission. In the COE, however, many platoons are required to conduct both hasty and deliberate cordon and search missions, only at a smaller scale. At the platoon level, one squad becomes the search team, one becomes the cordon team, and one squad is the reserve. As platoon leader, you will call in size, activity, location, uniform, time, and equipment (SALUTE) to higher headquarters and continue the search and cordon until you receive orders from higher headquarters to disengage, wait for reinforcements, or continue until reinforcements arrive.

Considerations
You may focus a search on people, materiel, buildings, or terrain. Remember that misuse of search authority can undermine the overall mission, whereas proper use of search authority gains the respect and support of the local people. Military personnel should conduct searches only in areas under military jurisdiction. The search teams should have lists of prohibited or controlled items. Platoons and squads tasked with a search should have interpreters as needed. A search operation should proceed as slowly as necessary to allow for an effective search but quickly enough to prevent the enemy from reacting to the searchs threat. To improve or maintain local support, the search should be conducted as rapidly as possible to allow life to return to normal as quickly as possible for those being searched. If resistance develops, the platoon or squad should use the least force possible in responding. In cases of high threat, the unit may conduct the search as a tactical mission. For example, when preparing to search a building, you organize and prepare your unit to assault it, but the searchers open fire only in self-defense. The two or three Soldiers use the techniques for clearing a roombut instead of coming through a window or kicking in a door, they knock and inform the occupants of their actions. They cover each other with their weapons and are prepared to fight at any time. Anyone in a search area may be an insurgent, terrorist, or an enemy sympathizer. Searchers must take care, however, to avoid making an enemy out of a suspect who may, in fact, support the government.

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Special Considerations
When planning or conducting a cordon and search operation, make sure that all your subordinate leaders and Soldiers keep the following considerations in mind: Enemy material you find may be booby-trapped. Consider it dangerous until investigation proves it safe. This goes for material as mundane as propaganda signs and leaflets Search underground and underwater areasuse mine detectors or metal detectors to locate metal objects in these locations Suspect any freshly excavated groundit could be a hiding place for a person, a weapons cache, or an explosive device.

Lessons Learned in the COE

In the nonlinear environment of the COE, where cordon and search takes on added significance, you and your Soldiers must adapt current doctrine in order to defeat terrorists and insurgents. In the COE, many units, down to the platoon and squad levels, execute cordon and search immediately following an enemy improvised explosive device (IED) ambush in order to prevent the initiator or ambushers from escaping. The Army unit may or may not have host nation authorities or CA support immediately on site. The intent is to capture the initiator and any appliance that the insurgents or terrorists used to set off the IED. Enemy fighters quickly adapt to US Army tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) in the COE and are constantly changing their methods for emplacing and initiating IEDs against US and coalition forces as well as Iraqi Police (IP) and Iraqi Army (IA) forces. It has become critical for commanders and the intelligence community to identify new technology as well as TTPs that insurgents use when conducting IED attacks. Doing so allows US forces to develop counter-TTPs to locate and defeat IEDs. When an IED explodes near your platoon, you must make a split-second decision to either accelerate through the kill zone and continue your mission or dismount from your vehicles and execute a rapid cordon and search. Your rapid decision must meet your commanders intent for the mission, and your decision may be largely driven by unit standing operating procedure (SOP). If the IED was not effective and your unit did not receive any casualties, your SOP may dictate that you accelerate and continue along your route and report. On the other hand, your unit SOP may call for you to initiate a unitspecific react to IED battle drill in which: a) one element is to identify the initiator and either pursue the initiator or direct another element to pursue the initiator; b) one element moves quickly to cordon the area; and c) one element secures the dismount site and acts as the reserve, while also receiving and directing follow-on CA, IP, IA, or interpreters to assist in the cordon and search. A frequent insurgent tactic is to initiate the ambush using cell phones. A cell phone is rigged to the IED and the initiator simply sets the IED cell phones number as a speed dial on his cell phone. If Soldiers can capture the initiator, other programmed numbers as well as numbers for calls made and received can provide crucial information to identify the terrorist or insurgent cell. Other favored detonation devices in the COE are washing machine timers that can be rigged to the IED with the dial set to go off at a prescribed time. IED patrols have become a daily mission for all units, including combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) Soldiers.

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Soldiers should look for fresh dirt or asphalt repairs in roads, boxes, bottles, animal carcasses, and abandoned or parked vehicles along the route. All can conceal IEDs. Suicide bombers are another threat in the COE. Warning signs of suicide bombers include civilians loitering in the area, slow-traveling vehicles along the route, or fast-moving vehicles approaching the convoy from a merging lane or from behind. You must consider many factors of METT-TC when you make the decision whether to fire warning shots at suspicious vehicles first in order to avoid an attack, accelerate and continue along your route if attacked, or dismount and pursue the attackers once attacked. Many units make this decision based on whether they can spot the IED initiator. If they do spot the initiator, the element that spots him or her becomes the search team. The logic behind this technique is that its easier for the search team members to find the initiator if theyve already seen him or her, rather than trying to communicate to another element what the initiator looks like, what he or she is wearing, and the direction of travel. The platoon leader or patrol leader (PL) immediately designates as the cordon team another element that is in the best position to seal off the city block or, a units SOP may dictate that the platoon leader or PL, as part of the battle drill, immediately move to high ground or a building that provides a vantage point for the area that will be cordoned and searched in order to better direct the cordon and search teams. Each unit may have a slightly different SOP or technique in such situations, depending on elements of METT-TC that are unique to the units area of operation. Some units may have a pre-established limit of advance (LOA) when reacting to an IED ambush. For instance, a platoon may be limited to a one-block cordon and search. This technique preserves combat power by limiting the distance the squads can move away from each others direct support and covering fires. It also prevents the pursuit element from overextending the pursuit and becoming cut off from the units main body. The enemy the Army faces in the COE is intelligent, studies Army TTPs, and adapts accordingly. Enemy fighters have recognized that US IED countermeasures are to identify and pursue the initiators. They have adapted their own countermeasures accordingly. It is a likely enemy course of action, after the IED is initiated, for the initiator to withdraw noticeably along a designated route to lure the pursuit element into a pre-planned point ambush. Leaders must be aware of this likely enemy course of actionthey must maneuver or position the search and cordon elements in ways likely to locate or disrupt the enemy in the ambush site before friendly forces enter the kill zone. It is also very important that the reserve element leader closely monitor the fight and know the exact locations of the search and cordon elements in the event the reserve must move to reinforce or rescue an ambushed element. The following vignette gives a feel for some of the cordon and search operations that take place in Iraq. In this case, a company conducts the cordon and search with the platoons playing various roles in the operation.

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Critical Thinking
Which techniques that you have learned in conducting offensive and defensive operations are useful in conducting rapid cordon and search operations?

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Cordon and Search in Iraq FORWARD OPERATING BASE BRASSFIELD MORA, SAMARRA, Iraq (12/14/2004) As the sun slowly rises in the distance, each Soldier, wearing an intense look, scanned his sector of re like a hawk. One team disappeared around the corner of a wall into the house. . . . The other team took up security around the wall. Next, the commander and an interpreter strolled through the gate to talk with the occupants. This is [an] average day [in the] life of an infantryman Soldier. A cordon search is common knowledge for an infantryman, but for others in the military it is a foreign topic. A cordon means an element of a company size surrounds the outside of an area. They make it impossible to go in or out of the area. Once the area is secured, the other elements search each house within that area. We search everything in the area and look for designated targets, said Capt. George Rodriguez of Salisbury, Vt., and commander of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment. The National Guard unit is based in Gloversville, NY. Charlie Company, along with elements of 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment; 415th Civil Affairs Battalion; 324th Psychological Operations Company; Special Forces and Iraqi National Guard conducted two cordon searches during the last week of July. Each element present had a specic mission while in the village of Al Maejeel, located south of Samara. The ING, which is attached to the 2-108th, had the cordon of the outer perimeter while the platoon from the 1-26th provided security on the cordon along with their M2A2 ODS Bradley ghting vehicles. Charlie Company had the responsibility of searching the houses while maintaining security. Civil Affairs talked to the local village leaders and [assessed] the area. PSYOPS mission was to observe the local populace and distribute radios for the local radio station thats in the works. Special Forces also provided security. Rodriguez said that the ING Soldiers were in the training phase of the cordon search, and eventually they want the ING to take over the actual searches. For now, the ING conducts the outer cordon where it searches all vehicles coming and going through the cordon. Along with the ING, a platoon of Apache Company, 1-26th also executed the outer cordon. They along with their Bradleys were strategically placed along the high trafc areas.

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While they were responsible for the outer security, Charlie Company provided the security and the search team. They also talked to the local leaders along with . . . Civil Affairs. At rst they (local populace) were standofsh and didnt really want to become involved with the coalition forces, said Rodriguez, adding that the locals didnt want to be perceived by neighbors as helping the coalition. After [weve gone] there continuously . . . showing the folks that were there to help, they have become a lot friendlier. Additionally, returning to these villages every so often has opened up a form of communication with the locals, he said. The civil affairs Soldiers [assess] each village they go in to determine what they can do to help the locals. Coalition forces distribute candy and toys, and contribute to the local economy by purchasing such items as sodas. The purchases are a way of showing the people that the troops are there to help them, said Maj. Victor Jones of the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Kalamazoo, Mich. The Detroit native said his unit gave the kids toys and candy to prevent them from playing with explosives and to keep them busy. The 324th PSYOPS Company is an Army reserve unit out of Denver, Colo. Its mission is to relay messages to the local populace. We handed out radios today to let the people of this village listen to the program that we broadcast from Brasseld Mora, said Spc. John Wineld of Denver. He also mentioned that the radio would play Arabic music [interspersed with messages from coalition forces]. Each of these elements will continue [to search the village twice a week or more often for at least a month longer]. Before July, the units were conducting cordon searches more often. While each unit has other missions to accomplish, all agree on one thing: Its good for each unit to meet the people in the villages and make its presence known. Rodriguez also said that the ING have come a long way, and its Soldiers want to do the right thing. I think the ING feel they have a big brother to look out for them and thats basically what we are doing, Rodriguez said. National Guard Bureau

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The enemy may have hit your unit with an IED or ambushed you with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire. You may have received casualties or even suffered killed in action. Still, it is important that all Soldiers, regardless of rank or leadership experience, understand that the cordon and search is a task that intrudes on the local populace and can lessen support for the long-term goal in the COEto win the hearts and minds of those you are trying to protect. The cordon and search is an aggressive offensive operation, but as you will read in the following vignette, all Soldiers must think about public relations when conducting offensive operations in the COEand understand the old adage that you can catch more flies with honey.

New Soldiers Patrol Streets of Mosul MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 23, 2005)Theyre the new guys on the block, and theyre not hard to spot. Not because they rumble through the streets in their Stryker light-armored vehicles, for those have been there before. Its a new attitude; its a new uniform on smiling faces with determination to get the job done. Soldiers from Fort Richardson, Alaska, have assumed responsibility for the streets of Mosul in northern Iraq. They smile at the Iraqi citizens on the streets, but at the same time they will kick the doors in on the insurgents who plan to spread upheaval. We are out here doing what we like to call PRpublic relations, said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas M. Pickerel, platoon sergeant, 3rd Plt., Co. B, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Our patrols are designed to let the citizens of Iraq know we are here for them, and we are out here every day. Soldiers hit ground running The unit [members] spend parts of their days in their vehicles, driving around with a hey, were here attitude before dismounting to walk the streets on foot. We get on the ground as much as possible because thats really the only way you get to know the people in the area, Pickerel said. Co. B recently replaced Soldiers from the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of Fort Lewis, Wash., and has hit the ground running. This used to be called the wild, wild west, but the unit ahead of us did a lot of work here, said Pickerel, a St. Joseph, Mo., native. Weve got all the kinks worked out, and things have calmed down quite a bit since weve moved in. Take the next left on Broadway Patrolling streets of New York fame . . . named Canal, Broadway, and an area known as Yankee Stadium, complete with alleys called 1st Base Line all the way around to Home Plate doesnt come easy.

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Along with shaking hands and giving candy to kids, the Soldiers of Co. B move up and down miles of concrete laden with weapons, ammunition, and forty pounds of armor strapped to their backs. Despite temperatures rising into the 130 degree range, all that gear is essential when the troops have to get down to the business of being infantrymen. Were out here looking for the bad guys, said 1st Lt. Anthony E. Cerullo, platoon leader, 3rd Plt. And the bad guys are out there. The unit takes on sporadic gunre when loading into their vehicles and has to deal with drive-by shootings and improvised explosive devices on an almost daily basis, said Cerullo. We take intelligence that has been gathered, and we look for certain vehicles that we know . . . to be possible insurgent vehicles. We do standard patrols where we look for suspicious activityanything out of the ordinary, Cerullo said. We do improvised explosive devise (IED) sweeps, looking for IEDs before they go off, and we also take care of guys we catch emplacing them. We talk to citizens in the neighborhoods and do random searches to see if we can nd anything, information or otherwise, he said. Its a dual-facet mission, said Staff Sgt. Austin S. Fernandez, a squad leader with 3rd Plt. We let the citizens know we are here to help them, but we are also here to let them know that we dont take any (mess). Equal opportunity patrols On top of the patrol mission, a day isnt complete without a trip to see their counterparts-in-arms. The platoon stops in daily to speak with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police, seeing what they need and talking about future missions. Weve done joint patrols with the IA and the IP, and we are going to do even more now because its their country, and they are going to be the ones doing it after we leave here, Cerullo said. The more we can teach them how to do it the right way and help them along in that process, the better off theyll be. Helping the cause is a Soldier in the platoon with the ability to speak Arabic. Fernandez has picked up the language from interpreters, and it has helped tremendously with relations, he said.

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SPC Andrew D. Doc Nelson, a medic with 3rd Platoon, Company B, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska, looks over his shoulder while providing cover for fellow Soldiers in Mosul, Iraq.
I dont have any kids, but I can speak Arabic pretty well and the kids come to me naturally, Fernandez said. It helps out a lot with relations, being able to talk to the Iraqis a little. A recent patrol had a gaggle of 20 Iraqi children hanging onto and holding hands with Fernandez; the M-4 assault rie was put out of harms way for the time being. The infantrymen had parents lining the streets with smiles on their faces and gestures of thumbs up for blocks. Army News Service

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CONCLUSION
Cordon and search is an essential tool for anyone leading full spectrum operations today. In many locations, youll participate in carefully planned cordon and search operations as backup to local police or military authorities. In others, you may launch into a rapid cordon and search in response to an attack on your platoon while patrolling city streets. Army doctrine calls for specic procedures during a cordon and search operation. But shifting conditions in the COE demand that units on the ground adapt procedures and techniques to t the evolving threat they face. After action reviews (AARs) from other Army units, as well as intelligence supplied by your battalion intelligence ofcer, will be invaluable to you in understanding the enemys TTPs and most likely courses of actionwhat insurgents are up to and how they may behave. Training and careful preparation for cordon and search operations will help you bring your Soldiers home safely while at the same time winning the hearts and minds of those you are trying to protect and empower with individual freedoms.

Key Words
cordon and search counterinsurgency forces counterterrorist forces psychological operations (PSYOP)

Learning Assessment
1. Explain the purpose of cordon and search. 2. Describe how to task organize a platoon for a cordon and search. 3. Describe the three missions that a platoon may receive as part of a company cordon and search. 4. Describe how enemy and friendly forces in the COE have adapted to the TTPs used by both.

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5. Compare and contrast the cordon and search technique used by small units when reacting to an IED or ambush to the offensive mission of movement to contact. 6. Explain how a limit of advance for the initial search team after an ambush or IED can save lives. 7. Explain why some platoons are faced with conducting cordon and search operations in the COE when doctrinally the cordon and search is a battalion, task force, or at minimum, a company mission.

References
Crisp, J. (23 November 2005). New Soldiers Patrol Streets of Mosul. Army News Service. Retrieved 14 December 2005 from http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/print.php?story_id_ key=8246 Field Manual 3-07, Stability and Support Operations. 20 February 2003. Field Manual 3-21.10, The Infantry Rifle Company. 27 July 2006. Miles, D. (1994). One Army, Two Fronts. Soldiers, Volume 49, No. 12. Retrieved 27 October 2005 from http://www.army.mil/soldiers/dec94/p4.html Miller, A. (20 January 2005). Roughriders Nab Latifiyah Bombmaking Cell. Defend America: US Department of Defense News About the War on Terrorism. Retrieved 14 December 2005 from http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jan2005/a012005wm2.html Musil, A. (21 November 2005). Task Force Baghdad Soldiers Defeat Terrorists in Suburb. Army News Service. Retrieved 14 December 2005 from http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/ read.php?story_id_key=8235 Sydenstricker, L. P. (14 December 2004). Cordon Search. National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 8 November 2005 from http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/story.asp?id=1365