Tactical Operations and Small Unit Patrolling 

The Tactical Operations and Small Unit Patrolling course is a program designed to equip service members with the skills and knowledge required for effective small unit operations. Drawing from the tactics of the U.S. Army Rangers and led by a highly experienced Special Forces instructor, this training covers every critical aspect of planning and executing tactical operations in various terrains. Participants will learn how to develop and deliver operations orders, utilize terrain models for mission planning and briefings, and conduct a range of specialized patrolling missions. Additionally, the course covers advanced Ranger tactics for raids, reconnaissance missions, ambushes, and patrol base activities.

Key Topics Covered:

• Operations Orders:

  • Planning, drafting, and briefing complete Operations Orders (OPORD’s).

  • Creating Warning Orders (WARNO’s) and Fragmentary Orders (FRAGO’s) that build to the OPORD creation and adjustments through FRAGO’s.

  • Using terrain models to visualize, plan, and present mission briefings.

• Patrolling Fundamentals:

  • Patrolling techniques across diverse terrain types; wooded areas, rolling open terrain, mountainous terrain, dessert, and jungle.

  • Small unit movement, communication, and security considerations.

  • Covering formations for travel; Traveling, Traveling Overwatch, Bounding Overwatch.

  • Crossing linear and open danger areas.

  • The use of common planning techniques: The Five Principles of Patrolling, METT-TC, Five Point Contingency Plan, and OAKOC.

• US Army Ranger Tactics:

  • Executing Ranger tactics for direct action raids.

  • Conducting reconnaissance (recon) operations for intelligence gathering.

  • Setting up and executing ambushes.

  • Establishing, securing, and managing patrol base activities.

• Field Application:

  • Hands-on practical exercises simulating real-world tactical scenarios.

  • Team-based missions to reinforce small unit cohesion and tactical discipline.

Three Day Course: This is classroom based and focuses on the planning and operations order creation, components of an operations order, how to derive information for the operations order, warning orders, fragmentary orders.  This will culminate in the unit briefing operations orders they created.  Most attendees will have the opportunity to brief a portion of the operations order and understand how to generate the order as well as individual responsibilities with the creation of the order.

Five Day Course: The course consists of three days of classroom instruction on ambushes, reconnaissance, raid missions as well as the establishment of the patrol base as well as the creation of the operations order.  The last two days will be in the field conducting rehearsals on movement techniques, conducting ambushes, reconnaissance, objective rally points, and patrol bases.  This course is focused on squad or detachment 

Ten Day Course:

The course consists of six days of classroom instruction in the morning with practical application in the afternoon in the field that includes instruction on ambushes, reconnaissance, raid missions as well as the establishment of the patrol base as well as the creation of the operations order and incorporating the principles of patrolling and troop leading procedures along with fieldcraft. The final four days will be an infiltration, movement to conduct a reconnaissance, movement to a patrol base, execution of an ambush, movement to a patrol base, conducting a raid, and the rotation of leadership throughout the field training exercise.  Students will also conduct condensed planning in the field and issue fragmentary orders for follow on missions.

Instructor Qualifications:

• Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) Graduate

• U.S. Army Ranger School Graduate

• 26 years in Special Forces as a Weapons Sergeant and Senior NCO

• 4 years of infantry experience with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment