FM 31-28: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) is a restricted U.S. Army Field Manual originally published on December 1, 1999. Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library Because it is marked FOUO (For Official Use Only) and contains sensitive tactical information regarding Special Forces urban operations, a full PDF is generally not available for public download on open-source repositories or official public-facing government sites. specialforcestraining.info Core Purpose & Context Developed to provide a common doctrine and training strategy for Special Forces Groups conducting high-intensity urban combat. It outlines the specialized skills required for urban environments, often categorized under "Shoot, Move, and Communicate" in complex terrain. Target Audience: Specifically designed for Special Forces operational detachments (SFOD-A, B, and C) and their commanders to standardize SFAUC training Where to Find Information While the 1999 manual itself is restricted, you can find unclassified visual examples and doctrinal summaries through official military channels: Training Visuals: DVIDS (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) hosts videos of active SFAUC training exercises conducted by groups like the 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups. Doctrinal Overviews: USAJFKSWCS (U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School) Special Warfare magazine, which often discusses the evolution of urban combat doctrine and training. Library of Congress: For historical (unclassified) versions, you can search the Series 31: Special Operations index using call number U408.3.A13. Related Unclassified Manuals If you are looking for general urban combat principles available to the public, consider these related manuals: FM 3-06 (Urban Operations) The primary Army-wide doctrine for urban combat. FM 3-18 (Special Forces Operations) Provides a broader overview of how Special Forces operate within the range of military operations. Public Intelligence specific tactic within the manual, such as urban breaching or room clearing? Special Forces Operations Manual FM 3-05.20 | PDF - Scribd
Field Manual (FM) 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC), dated 1 December 1999, outlines foundational doctrine for high-risk urban operations, focusing on Close Quarters Battle (CQB), precision breaching, and rapid decision-making. While classified as FOUO (For Official Use Only), these techniques established the bedrock for modern, multi-domain special operations training. For a detailed overview of these historical tactics, visit Special Forces Training . SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training
It is important to clarify that FM 31-28 (FOUO) Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat , dated 1 December 1999 , is a restricted document under For Official Use Only (FOUO) . As such, its full contents are not publicly available, and any substantive analysis must rely on unclassified references, related doctrine, and declassified materials. Below is a structured academic paper based on the known context, doctrinal lineage, and historical significance of this specific field manual. The paper treats the document as a case study in the evolution of U.S. Special Forces urban warfare doctrine at the turn of the 21st century.
Title: Bridging Conventional and Unconventional: An Analysis of FM 31-28 (FOUO) Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (1999) Author: [Academic/Professional] Date: April 20, 2026 Abstract This paper examines the now-superseded U.S. Army field manual FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (1 December 1999), classified For Official Use Only (FOUO). Situated between the end of the Cold War and the Global War on Terror, the manual represents a critical doctrinal pivot. It attempted to systematize advanced urban combat techniques specifically for Special Forces (SF) operators, who traditionally focused on unconventional warfare in rural or remote environments. The paper explores the manual’s operational context, its likely tactical innovations, its relationship to conventional urban doctrine (FM 90-10-1), and its legacy in post-9/11 urban counterinsurgency. Key findings suggest that FM 31-28 filled a unique niche by emphasizing small-unit, autonomous urban operations, intelligence-driven raids, and host-nation integration—concepts that proved prescient for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. 1. Introduction Urban terrain has historically been the least desirable battlespace for Special Forces. However, by the late 1990s, the proliferation of megacities, failed states, and transnational threats forced a doctrinal reassessment. FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat , issued on 1 December 1999, was the U.S. Army Special Forces Command’s response to this shifting reality. Classified FOUO to limit dissemination among potential adversaries, the manual was never intended for public release. Nevertheless, its existence and general outline are matters of unclassified record. This paper addresses three research questions: FM 31-28: Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC)
What operational gap did FM 31-28 attempt to fill? How did its advanced urban combat techniques differ from conventional infantry urban operations? What is the manual’s legacy in current Special Forces urban doctrine?
2. Historical and Doctrinal Context 2.1 Pre-1999 Urban Doctrine for Special Operations Prior to 1999, SF relied on general-purpose urban combat manuals such as FM 90-10-1 (1993) An Infantryman’s Guide to Combat in Built-Up Areas . While thorough, these manuals were designed for heavy conventional forces (battalion and above), not for 12-man Operational Detachment-Alphas (ODAs). SF operators in the 1990s—deployed to Somalia (1993), Haiti (1994-95), and the Balkans (1996-99)—improvised urban tactics without a dedicated SF-specific manual. 2.2 The 1999 Imperative By late 1999, three factors converged:
Lessons from Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu (1993): Highlighted the vulnerability of light forces in dense urban terrain without integrated support. Kosovo conflict (1999): Demonstrated the need for SF to conduct urban reconnaissance, sniper operations, and hostage rescue in semi-permissive environments. Rise of urban terrorism: The 1998 U.S. embassy bombings indicated future operations would occur in cities. specialforcestraining
Thus, FM 31-28 was drafted as an advanced manual—assuming mastery of basic urban combat—and restricted to FOUO to protect tactical techniques, such as specific breaching methods, rooftop interdiction, and subterranean warfare. 3. Content and Tactical Innovations (Inferred from Unclassified Sources) Although the full PDF is restricted, declassified training materials, after-action reports, and subsequent doctrine (e.g., ATP 3-06.20, 2020) allow reconstruction of FM 31-28’s likely core topics: 3.1 Small-Team Urban Movement
Micro-terrain exploitation: Use of sewers, second-story bypasses, and interior wall breaching to avoid streets. Three-dimensional clearance: Coordinated floor-by-floor, room-by-room assaults for teams of 4-8 operators, emphasizing speed and simultaneous breach.
3.2 Advanced Marksmanship and Sniper Integration Doctrinal Overviews: USAJFKSWCS (U
Offset shooting from vehicles and confined spaces. Sniper–assault team coordination: Snipers providing real-time “sky view” via comms to guide ground teams through urban canyons.
3.3 Hostage and Denied-Area Raids