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FM 3-19.15

CIVIL

DISTURBANCE

OPERATIONS

Headquarters, Department of the Army

April 2005

DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This publication is available at

Army Knowledge Online (www.us.army.mil) and

General Dennis J. Reimer Training and Doctrine

Digital Library at (http://www.train.army.mil)

*FM 3-19.15 (FM 19-15)

Field Manual

Headquarters

No. 3-19.15

Department of the Army

Washington, DC, 18 April 2005

Civil Disturbance Operations

Contents

Page

PREFACE .................................................................................................................. iv

Chapter 1

OPERATIONAL THREATS OF THE CIVIL DISTURBANCE ENVIRONMENT ...... 1-1

General Causes for Civil Unrest............................................................................... 1-1

Crowd Development................................................................................................. 1-2

Gatherings................................................................................................................ 1-2

Crowd Building ......................................................................................................... 1-4

Dispersal Process of a Gathering ............................................................................ 1-4

Crowd Dynamics ..................................................................................................... 1-5

Crowd Types ............................................................................................................ 1-6

Crowd Tactics .......................................................................................................... 1-7

Tactics Used to Defeat Authorities .......................................................................... 1-9

Weapons .................................................................................................................. 1-9

Chapter 2

CONTROL FORCE OPERATIONS ......................................................................... 2-1

Civil Disturbance Planning Considerations .............................................................. 2-1

Legal Considerations ............................................................................................... 2-9

Multinational Operations ........................................................................................ 2-12

Scalable Effects ..................................................................................................... 2-12

Chapter 3

APPREHENSION, SEARCH, AND DETENTION.................................................... 3-1

Legal Considerations ............................................................................................... 3-1

Types of Subjects..................................................................................................... 3-2

Apprehension ........................................................................................................... 3-3

Chapter 4

RIOT SHIELD AND RIOT BATON TECHNIQUES.................................................. 4-1

Overview .................................................................................................................. 4-1

Riot Shield................................................................................................................ 4-1

______________________

Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

*This publication supersedes FM 19-15, 25 November 1985.

i

Contents

Page

Riot Baton ................................................................................................................ 4-3

Working as a Team ............................................................................................... 4-21

Nonlethal Munitions ............................................................................................... 4-22

Chapter 5

NONLETHAL CAPABILITIES SET AND EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS.... 5-1

Personnel Protectors ............................................................................................... 5-1

Personnel Effectors ................................................................................................. 5-4

Mission Enhancers ................................................................................................ 5-12

Core Capabilities .................................................................................................. 5-20

Additional Capabilities .......................................................................................... 5-22

Employment Considerations.................................................................................. 5-22

Nonlethal Weapons Capabilities in Formations ..................................................... 5-22

Chapter 6

CIVIL DISTURBANCE FORMATIONS ................................................................... 6-1

Overview.................................................................................................................. 6-1

Actions Before Movement ....................................................................................... 6-2

Rally Point Actions................................................................................................... 6-3

Control Force Formations ....................................................................................... 6-3

Extraction Team Operations .................................................................................. 6-10

Lethal Overwatch Teams ...................................................................................... 6-11

Reserve Forces ..................................................................................................... 6-12

Squad Formations ................................................................................................. 6-13

Chapter 7

CIVIL DISTURBANCE OPERATIONS IN CONFINEMENT FACILITIES ............... 7-1

Crowd Dynamics Within the Confinement Facility .................................................. 7-1

Use of Chemical Irritants ........................................................................................ 7-3

Record of Events ..................................................................................................... 7-7

Training.................................................................................................................... 7-7

Equipment ............................................................................................................... 7-8

Riot Control Formations........................................................................................... 7-9

Apprehension Teams .............................................................................................. 7-9

Forced Cell Move Teams ...................................................................................... 7-12

Chapter 8

CIVIL DISTURBANCE TRAINING .......................................................................... 8-1

Unit Training Strategy Development........................................................................ 8-1

Training Plan Development ..................................................................................... 8-1

Range Setup............................................................................................................ 8-2

Appendix A

METRIC CONVERSION CHART ............................................................................ A-1

Appendix B

OPERATIONS AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED

STATES .................................................................................................................. B-1

Federal Intervention and Aid ................................................................................... B-1

Roles and Responsibilities of Various Agencies...................................................... B-2

State and Local Government Responsibilities ......................................................... B-3

ii FM 3-19.15 18 April 2005

Contents

Page

Legal Considerations and Constraints .................................................................... B-5

Support to Civil Law Enforcement .......................................................................... B-9

Lead Agency Concept and Role of Military .......................................................... B-12

Appendix C

URBAN TERRAIN ANALYSIS ............................................................................... C-1

Significant Factors................................................................................................... C-1

Urban Terrain Types ............................................................................................... C-2

Urban Form and Function ....................................................................................... C-5

Urban Society.......................................................................................................... C-6

Urban Infrastructure ............................................................................................... C-6

Appendix D

PRACTICAL APPLICATION .................................................................................. D-1

Overview ................................................................................................................. D-1

Procedures.............................................................................................................. D-1

GLOSSARY ................................................................................................ Glossary-1

BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................... Bibliography-1

INDEX ............................................................................................................... Index-1

18 April 2005 FM 3-19.15

iii

Preface

Field Manual (FM) 3-19.15 addresses continental United States (CONUS) and outside continental United States (OCONUS) civil disturbance operations. Today, United States (US) forces are deployed on peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and humanitarian assistance operations worldwide. During these operations, US forces are often faced with unruly and violent crowds intent on disrupting peace and the ability of US forces to maintain peace. Worldwide instability coupled with increasing US military participation in peacekeeping and related operations requires that US forces have access to the most current doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) necessary to quell riots and restore public order.

In addition to covering civil unrest doctrine for OCONUS operations, FM 3-19.15 addresses domestic unrest and the military role in providing assistance to civil authorities requesting it for civil disturbance operations. It provides the commander and his staff guidance for preparing and planning for such operations. The principles of civil disturbance operations, planning and training for such operations, and the TTP employed to control civil disturbances and neutralize special threats are discussed in this manual. It also addresses special planning and preparation that are needed to quell riots in confinement facilities are also discussed.

In the past, commanders were limited to the type of force they could apply to quell a riot. Riot batons, riot control agents, or lethal force were often used. Today, there is a wide array of nonlethal weapons (NLW) available to the commander that extends his use of force along the force continuum. This manual addresses the use of nonlethal (NL) and lethal forces when quelling a riot.

Appendix A complies with current Army directives, which state that the metric system will be incorporated into all new publications.

The proponent for this publication is HQ, TRADOC. Send comments and recommendations on Department of the Army (DA) Form 2028 ( Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to Commandant, US Army Military Police School (USAMPS), ATTN: ATSJ-DD, 401 MANSCEN Loop, Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473-8929.

Unless this publication states otherwise, masculine nouns or pronouns do not refer exclusively to men.

iv FM 3-19.15 18 April 2005

Chapter 1

Operational Threats of the Civil Disturbance Environment

As the Cold War ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of

Soviet communism in 1989, the Army was no longer concerned with

containing the aggressive Soviet Union. The US Army began to transform

because the battlefield on which it would fight had changed. Operations

Just Cause, Joint Endeavor, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm have all

been recognized as containing nontraditional battlefields. Following these

operations, the Army was called upon to conduct peacekeeping, peace

enforcement, and humanitarian assistance operations. These operations

required US forces to protect refugees and humanitarian workers and

keep hostile factions separate to enforce peace.

GENERAL CAUSES FOR CIVIL UNREST

1-1. In these modern times, demonstrations, civil unrest, public disorder, and riots happen for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons are economic

hardships, social injustices, ethnic differences (leading to oppression),

objections to world organizations or certain governments, political grievances, and terrorist acts. An event can be triggered by a single cause or a

combination of causes. For example, operations in the Balkans involving civil

unrest and riots were the result of ethnic hatred, a lack of civil authority, food shortages, a revolution, and religious-based fighting factions.

1-2. Demonstrations may range from simple, nonviolent protests that address

specific issues, to events that turn into full-scale riots. Gatherings in protest are recognized rights of any person or group, regardless of where US forces

may be operating. This fundamental right is protected under the

Constitution of the US. During peacekeeping or peace enforcement

operations, US forces should never violate basic civil or human rights. Most

protesters are law-abiding citizens who intend that their protests be

nonviolent, but some protest planners insist that the event involve some kind

of violence. Often, in the media, protesters can gain sympathy for their cause by prompting authorities to take physical action against them. Violence is

often the result of demonstrators beginning to conduct unlawful or criminal

acts and authorities (who are responsible for the safety and welfare of all)

enforcing the laws of the municipality, state, or nation. The depth of violence is determined by the willingness of demonstrators to display and voice their

opinions in support of their cause.

1-3. Commanders must be aware of the possibility that some individuals or

groups within an organized demonstration may have the intent to cause

disruption, incite violence, destroy property, and provoke the authorities. The tactical situation and actions of the crowd should dictate control and

enforcement options. Agitators and criminal infiltrators within the crowd can

18 April 2005

FM 3-19.15

1-1

Operational Threats of the Civil Disturbance Environment

lead to the eruption of violence. Inciting a crowd to violence or a greater

intensity of violence through the use of brutish enforcement tactics should be avoided. Publicity can be detrimental to authorities and beneficial to crowds

because it can further their causes.

1-4. Community unrest results in urban conflicts that arise from highly

emotional social and economic issues. Economically deprived inner city

residents may feel that they are treated unjustly or ignored by people in power and authority. Tensions can build quickly in a community over a variety of

issues, such as hunger, poor employment opportunities, inadequate

community services, poor housing, and labor issues. Tension in these areas

creates the potential for violence. When tensions are high, it takes a small

(seemingly minor) incident, rumor, or act of injustice to ignite groups within a crowd to riot and act violently. This is particularly true if community relations with authorities are part of the problem.

1-5. Significant ethnic differences in a community can create an atmosphere

of distrust, even hatred. Unrest among ethnic groups competing for jobs,

living areas, and sparse essentials can cause an eruption of civil disorder and/

or riots. As emotions run high, violence becomes likely.

1-6. Terrorist organizations may infiltrate groups within a demonstrating

crowd. These terrorist groups may intend to embarrass their government or

other governments. Terrorist infiltrators can be used to provoke crowds as a

diversion, as part of a demonstration, or as cover for terrorist acts.

CROWD DEVELOPMENT

1-7. Crowds are a gathering of a multitude of individuals and small groups

that have temporarily assembled in the same place. These small groups are

usually comprised of friends, family members, or acquaintances that

represent a group belief or cause. Individuals assume a sense of anonymity—

they are viewed as just another face in the crowd. People in small groups are

known only to companions in their group and to others in the gathering that

have come from the same neighborhood or community. Commanders must

consider how the individuals assembled and how they are interacting during

the gathering process.

GATHERINGS

1-8. The assembly process of a gathering refers to the movement of people

from different locations to a common location within a given period. This

largely determines who participates. Creating a gathering from a crowd is a

process with a beginning, middle, and end. As shown in Figure 1-1 a crowd has an assembly process that leads to the gathering of the crowd, which is

always followed by a dispersal process.

1-9. Gatherings are often assisted by the activities of individuals or groups with a specific agenda, such as yelling catchy slogans and cheers that

everyone can easily pick up and join in on. Some groups are so well organized

that they can prestage leaders to infiltrate a gathering. This creates unity,

1-2

FM 3-19.15

18 April 2005

index-9_1.png

Operational Threats of the Civil Disturbance Environment

even inciting newcomers to join their cause. The first phase of the gathering is the assembly process. It can occur in one of two ways—impromptu or

organized.

assembly

process

dispersal

gathering

process

Figure 1-1. Crowd Building

IMPROMPTU GATHERINGS

1-10. Impromptu gatherings usually develop informally and are mostly done

by word of mouth (one person to another or one group to another).

Participants spread intelligence by telling one another when, where, and what

is happening and inviting them to participate. An example of an impromptu

gathering would be a gathering at a secured food distribution point after

receiving information (by word of mouth) that a large truck carrying

much-needed supplies and food is about to arrive. In this case, hunger would

be the driving force causing the migration of people to the food distribution

facility.

ORGANIZED GATHERINGS

1-11. Like an impromptu gathering, an organized gathering can also involve

individuals and groups passing on information to one another. Passing

intelligence of police activity and occurrences and on when and where events

will take place helps organizers to prestage participants. Rarely is one

represented group responsible for pulling together a gathering. Organized

gatherings rely heavily on established groups that attract people to gather.

Recent examples of these well-organized groups are anarchists, anti-

globalization groups, and anti-free-enterprise groups. Groups representing

extreme religious faiths and ethnic organizations have been common too.

Some gatherings involve groups from rival, or even warring, factions.