When Doctrine Is Wrong – Author Call Out

By Charles Bausman

The tactics and doctrine outlined in the Ranger Handbook and Marine Corps MCWP 3-11.2 are pounded into the heads of young troopers and small unit leaders across the U.S. Military. They are the soldier’s bible, with SOP’s and IAD’s outlined in those publications drilled constantly in the field.

Law Enforcement and Fire/Rescue personnel are drilled with the specific ways to handle particular situations through their initial academy training and training officers.

But is it ever wrong?

Was the SOP for “React to a Near Ambush” from the Ranger Handbook the right method for Iraq or Afghanistan? Is apprehending a suspect according to the academy protocol the right way to do it? Has a fire caught you unprepared and forced you to fight it in a nontraditional way?

Have you ever had to significantly alter tactics away from established doctrine to solve the problem which the enemy presented? Have the publications you learned from not had the answer you needed? What methodologies did you use, or wish you had used?

We want you – the small unit leader, law enforcement officer, or firefighter, to describe the situation or environment where doctrine was wrong, and how you worked to solve the problem.  

Share your experience so that others may learn from it.

What We’re Looking For:

  • Reference the publication, with chapter and quote of the standard doctrine/tactics
  • How the established doctrine/tactics did not apply to your situation
  • Your thought process and implementation in establishing the solution
  • Results from your solution
  • Topic may be applied to combat deployments, call outs, or training exercises
  • Images or overlay’s to depict the situation are desired, but not required
  • Minimum of 400 words

Authors will be paid $50 for each article published on the MTI website.

Please email all submissions by 2.19.17 to charles@mtntactical.com.

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