Battle Drill 6: Enter and Clear a Room – Squad (07-SQD-D9509)

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Conditions

The squad is conducting operations in a live training environment as part of a platoon or larger force.

The squad receives an order to clear a room.

Enemy personnel are believed to be in the building.

Noncombatants may be present in the building and are possibly intermixed with the enemy personnel.

The squad has support and security elements positioned at the initial foothold and outside the building.

Some iterations of this task should be performed MOPP 4 and at night.

Standards

The squad enters and clears a room according to ATP 3-21.8.

The squad clears and secures the room by killing or capturing the enemy while minimizing friendly casualties, noncombatant casualties, and collateral damage.

The squad complies with the rules of engagement (ROE), maintains a sufficient fighting force to repel an enemy counterattack, and continues operations.

Cue

This drill begins on the order of the squad leader to enter and clear a room.

TASK STEPS

(Asterisks indicate a leader performance step.)

* 1. The squad leader—

a. Occupies a position to best control the security and clearing teams.

b. Directs a security team to secure corridors or hallways outside the room with appropriate firepower.

c. Identifies the entry point.

d. Gives the clearing team leader an order to clear the room.

Note. If the squad is conducting high-intensity operations and grenades are being used, the unit must comply with the ROE and consider the building structure.

A Soldier of the clearing team prepares at least one grenade (fragmentation, concussion, or stun grenade), throws the grenade into the room, and announces: FRAG OUT or STUN OUT.

The use of grenades should be consistent with the ROE and building structure.

Soldiers can be injured from fragments if walls and floors are thin or damaged.

* 2. The team leader (normally the number two Soldier) does the following:

a. Takes a position to best control the clearing team outside the room.

b. Determines the method of entry into the room.

c. Gives the signal to enter and clear the room.

The first two Soldiers enter the room with the second Soldier immediately after the first Soldier as follows:
(See figure 8-17.)

Figure 8-17. Clearing a room—first Soldier immediately followed by second Soldier

a. The first Soldier enters the room, moves left or right along the path of least resistance to one of two corners, and assumes a position of domination facing into the room.

During movement, the Soldier scans the sector and eliminates all immediate threats.

b. The second Soldier (normally the clearing team leader) enters the room immediately after the first Soldier and moves in the opposite direction of the first Soldier to a point of domination.

During movement, the Soldier eliminates all immediate threats in the sector.

Note. During high-intensity combat, the Soldiers enter immediately after the grenade detonates.

Both Soldiers enter while firing aimed bursts into their sectors, engaging all threats or hostile targets to cover their entry.

If the first or second Soldier discovers the room is small or a short room (such as a closet or bathroom), [the Soldier] announces SHORT ROOM or SHORT.

The clearing team leader informs the third and fourth Soldiers whether or not to stay outside the room or to enter.

The third Soldier moves in the opposite direction of the second Soldier while scanning and clearing the sector and assuming the point of domination.
(See figure 8-18.)

Figure 8-18. Clearing a room—third Soldier enters room and clears sector

The fourth Soldier moves opposite of the third Soldier to a position dominating a sector.
(See figure 8-19.)

Figure 8-19. Clearing a room–fourth Soldier enters room and clears sector

All Soldiers engage enemy combatants with precision-aimed fire and identify noncombatants to avoid collateral damage.

Note. If necessary or on order, number one and number two Soldiers of the clearing team may move deeper into the room while overwatched by the other team members.

* 7. The clearing team leader scans and clears the room by—

a. Ensuring all threats are neutralized.

b. Ensuring all noncombatants are secured.

c. Announcing, CLEAR to the squad leader when the room is clear.

d. Establishing security.

* 8. The squad leader directs the security team to continue to secure the corridor or hallway.

* 9. The squad leader enters the room and—

a. Makes a quick assessment of the room and threat.

b. Determines if the squad has firepower to continue clearing their assigned sector.

c. Reports to the platoon leader that the room is clear.

d. Requests needed sustainment to continue clearing the squad’s sector.

e. Marks entry point according to the unit [standard operating procedure].

The squad consolidates and reorganizes, as needed.