Infantry Drills

2-245: Planning a Cordon and Search



Previous: 2-243: Control Measures For A Cordon And Search

2-245. Leaders consider numerous factors when planning and preparing for a cordon and search mission. Leaders apply the same steps used in TLP, applying the warfighting functions. When the objective of cordon and search operation is a high payoff target, planning time can be extremely limited between first receiving the mission and executing it. Given the complexity of the mission and the assets task-organized to support it, planning time may require immediate collaboration with vital leaders of all the elements, and accelerated TLP. The “civilian” part of METT-TC should be considered specifically, and interpreters added as required.


2-246. The cordon and search operation is uniquely vulnerable to time. Planning time may be short due to the urgency of conducting the operation to exploit a fleeting opportunity. While time in the objective area may be considerably longer than planned, if the search yields significant items or results in intelligence which results in follow-on searches in the immediate area. Additional time issues are those associated with the lead times necessary to request assets, such as aviation, and acquire intelligence from various agencies.

Next: 2-247: Preparing A Cordon And Search

Go Back To: U.S. Army FM 3-21.8: The Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad