For those wishing to skype in on the course, the new permanent skype ID is COINcourse. Make me a contact (or whatever the skype terminology is) and I'll include you in the conference call that starts at 17:55 EST, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Here are some details on the upcoming field training exercise. I'll try to balance placing the students under a lot of stress with not taking the whole thing too seriously (hence, the exercise is called EX Walter Mitty). The desired endstate is that they have a much greater understanding of the basics of counterinsurgency operations.

Date: 7-9 March
Venue: Paintball facility in MA (1x village and 1x refugee camp)
# Participants:
24 counterinsurgents
6-8 insurgents
5 NGO workers
2 journalists
25 civilians
Cost: approx $50 for combatants, $20 for non-combatants.

The framework for the scenario is the border region of two fictitious countries faced with an influx of what I can best describe as refugees similar to the post-genocide Hutus, with the some characteristics of the Northwest Frontier Province thrown in. There'll be a lot of ambiguity on all sides, especially so for the NGO workers and counter-insurgents. Here's the basic conops:

Sat, 7 March. Counterinsurgent group (undergraduates) arrives in the evening, divided into squads (probably 2 total); each squad assigned a military mentor who teaches squads basic patrolling skills. Squads test their skills and build cohesiveness through recce patrols and CTRs until 0400 on Sunday (if patrols and CTRs end early, squads will catch rest and create rosters to provide sentries for the platoon harbour). Secondary goal is to fatigue students in preparation for stresses on Sunday.

Sun, 8 March. Reveille at 0800. Civilian, NGO and insurgent groups arrive by 0830. Exercise starts 0900. Squads rotate through approx. 12 COIN scenarios throughout the morning, day and evening within context of a larger fictitious conflict (civil war in Kyrzturkbaijanistan). At 2000, squads embed in settlements to provide security to civilians during the night. NGO group, some insurgents and most civilians leave by 2000.

Mon, 9 March. ENDEX by 0800. Return to Tufts by 0900.

Sample scenarios (squads run through each scenario twice, once at village and once at refugee camp; every scenario fast-forwards to a later point in time).

Scenario 1. Overall situation is a border area modelled roughly on the NWFP. Refugee camp is located by a border fort whose soldiers are initially hostile towards the refugees. 1st Squad attempts to diffuse tensions. The nearby village is peaceful, although several villagers carry arms. 2nd Squad patrols the village, finds and establishes rapport with local leaders.

Scenario 2. Refugee camp is now squalid and some refugees have left to join growing insurgency. 1st Squad meets with leaders, who plead for help. One insurgent takes a few potshots at students and flees. Students choose whether or not to pursue. In the village, 2nd Squad meets with local leaders, who express their concerns that they are increasingly harassed by insurgents. Students come up with a security plan of their choosing, but are ultimately told by command that they are to withdraw.

Scenario 3. While students debate with NGO representatives who are ambiguous about military presence, a firefight occurs in the refugee camp between students, insurgents and border guards, with civilians caught in the middle. 1st Squad has to quickly assess the situation, particularly who's friend or foe, and avoid civilian casualties. In the village, an IED explodes and 2nd Squad deals with the civilian casualties while hunting for the trigger man.

Scenario 4. 1st Squad clears area around camp of insurgents and arms caches. In village, civilians scatter into homes as 2nd Squad enters. Ambush.

Scenario 5. Based on intel gathered in previous scenarios, squads conduct raids on targets in both refugee camp and village. In village, 2nd Squad is given faulty intel and raid wrong house. Civilians are antagonised in both camp and village.

Scenario 6. 1srt Squad provides aid to restore relations with refugee camp and antagonises NGOs in the process. In the village, 2nd Squad sets up OP and observe villagers. Receive reports of mysterious insurgent leader known as "The Colonel".

Scenario 7. Squads gather and collate intel to figure out location of The Colonel.

Scenario 8. Combined assault on The Colonel's stronghold and take him out.

Scenario 9. Students have been briefed that insurgency will end now that the head has been cut off. Instead, insurgency continues with ambush as students return to village.

Scenario 10. IEDs explode in village and refugee camp. CASEVAC scenario.

Scenario 11. Squads once again attempt to de-escalate tensions in village and refugee camp.

Scenario 12. Terrified villagers and refugees request that squads embed with them for the night. squads must find best way to embed while balancing force protection and hearts & minds.

Scenario 13. Squads must deal with figures sneaking through camp/village.

Scenario 14. Informant approaches 1st Squad in refugee camp and promises to lead them to insurgent spy - except he lives in the village. 1st Squad must choose which action to take (expose refugee by leaving? Split forces? Send runner?) and avoid fratricide if they choose to enter village. 2nd Squad will be hastily notified that armed unidentified armed group is entering village.


Feel free to rip the current conops to shreds. I only have a month left to perfect it.