Wolcoff, Edward Special Reconnaissance and Advanced Small Unit Patrolling

Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for Special Operations Forces

This book serves as a tactical "bible" specifically tailored to the domains of military special operations, intelligence agencies, paramilitary and police unitsas well as other interested parties. Its objective is to break the cycle of "inventing and forgetting"or the constant "reinvention of the wheel"in order to (1) enhance the effectiveness and operational potency of SpecOps personnel and units, while simultaneously (2) safeguarding the lives of special forces engaged in high-risk operations. Wolcoff recounts numerous historical examples of Special Reconnaissance (SR) operations, placing particular emphasis on the "lessons learned" and the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) derived from the SR missions conducted by the legendary "Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Special Operations Group" (MACV-SOG) during the Vietnam War; this encompasses both operational firsthand accounts and analyses of specific missions. Few of these TTPs and insights have previously been archived or compiled in a format readily usable by SpecOps personnel and units. Consequently, the mission of this book is to preserve and permanently enshrine this invaluableyet inherently ephemeralbody of operational expertise, for which such a heavy toll in blood was paid. Wolcoff covers the entire spectrum of specialized SR topics: ranging from operational planning and preparation to execution and logistics, and extending to command and controlalways with a detailed focus on the specific operational craft involved.