RAID
DEFINITION
Raid is a surprise attack against an enemy force, position or encampment with the
attacking force withdrawing after accomplishing the mission.
KEY FACTORS OF A RAID
1. Surprise: This is best achieve by clandestine insertion. No one must know you are
about to inject deadly venom. You go in unobserved. You attack when the enemy least
expects it. You come from a direction he has never considered possible. You pay your visit at
the most unholy hour to catch him with his guard down. You barge into his life like a
nightmare.
2. Firepower: Concentrated firepower at the right time for the right people. Exploit his
weakest point and pierce through his defenses. Strike the body to kill the head. Strike at the
head to kill the body. Unleash the barrage of gunfire, so that he temporarily losses his ability
to resist. You fusillade of hammering firepower, ensures that your attack is a decisive as can
be.
3. Violence: Bring bloodshed, destruction and suffering to him who coerces the
people. Attack aggressively. Mass your fires. Sustain your momentum. Kill them all. Take no
prisoners. Let them feel during the last seconds of their lives the horrors of the violent
enterprise they engage in.
4. Swift Withdrawal: Softly as I leave there. Bye, bye dead guerilla.
TYPES OF RAIDS
1. Hasty Raid – is an immediate action drill in response to unexpected meeting at
close range with an enemy force. In situation, the enemy force is considered a target of
opportunity.
2. Deliberate Raid – is one that is planned against a specific target. Detailed
information of the target is required: its size, organization, weapons, equipment, routes of
entry and exit, and activities and time during which it will leave its location, if it stays
temporarily.
DESIRED INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR A RAID
1. Location of the target:
2. Approach and withdrawal routes to include alternatives:
The road to a man’s heart is through his stomach. The keys to a woman’s
affection are flowers, chocolates and soft, tender kisses. The path to the rebel camp is
hidden. It is for you to explore and find out. Nothing is ever perfect. No matter how well
planned and carefully selected an insurgent camp is, there lies a vulnerability, a weakness
somewhere. Identify this and ram the fortress through this keyhole. Choose your approach.
The best route is always the most difficult.
On your way out, do not use the same route you used to come in. Never,
Never use the same route twice. Choose the quickest but safety way out.
3. Attitudes of the civilian populace:
Insurgency is a people’s war. The side that gains their sympathy wins. In
combat operations, such as raids, the attitudes of he villagers have a direct and significant
impact on the accomplishment of the mission. To conduct a highly successful raid, avoid all
human contact. Assume that anybody that spots and observed you is either a foe or his loyal
supporter.
Be wary also of the secret coordination systems between the enemy and their
civilian sympathizers popularly known as PASA BILIS (pass it quick).
4. Security and guard system of the target area:
Insurgent camps have their own security and guard system. To you, the
attacker, these are the physical obstacle barring your way to the objective. Negotiate these
with resolve.
5. Physical layout of the objective:
It is not enough that you know your target is. You must also know how it looks
like, how it is laid out and how it is set up. You must know the critical targets are within your
objective. You must know which structure is which – the command center, the radio room,
the mess hall, the strongest point of the enemy defense – their machine gun nests, snipers,
mortar. Know everything so that you could plan well.
6. Defense/Fortification and strong/weak points of targets:
Do not under estimate the enemy defense. Kill the enemy in complete silence.
7. Attitude, morale, and training of the enemy:
Do not treat the enemy as one uniform ilk of bad men. Some of them are not
as rapacious as the others. Some are not trained as the rest. Some are not in the same
fighting form as their comrades. Know what unit you will be fighting against.
Always think of them as worthy opponents. Do not over confident of your skills and tactics.
8. Location of enemy force capable of immediate intervention:
9. Background of the enemy:
If you have time find out, know who you are going to fight against. You must
now who they are, how many are they, what their tactics are and what are their level of
morale is. Remember that the enemy forces are not uniform in training, morale and combat
exposure. While there are novices, there are also elite who have been honed through
numerous armed encounters with the government troops. The bottom line is: Do not fight
the enemy you do not know.
10. Strength and capabilities of the enemy:
You must simply know the strength and capabilities of the enemy. If the target
of your raid is the main hqs, the place will be a hive of activity. Prepare for a long firefight.
Always expect the likelihood of a strong opposition. Go heavy on crew-served weapon if you
are not sure. Don’t under estimate the enemy. You can’t go wrong with this assumption.
SQUAD (TEAM) ORGANIZATION FOR RAID
1. Security/Support Elements: Composed of the lead scout and tail scout.
As security/support elements, they suppress the objective and shift fire when
the assault starts. They normally cover the withdrawal of the assaulting elements from the
immediate area of the objectives. They withdraw on order.
2. Assault/Security Elements: Composed of the guide and the assistant radioman.
Once the assault starts, they go with the assault/search elements. When the
assault is over, the assault /security elements cover the withdrawal of the squad to the ORP.
3. Assault/Search Elements: Composed of the team leader, radioman and the contact
man. As fire is lifted, the elements observe and, upon order of assault, they seize and secure
the objective. Then, they conduct the search. On order, the elements, withdraw to the ORP.
CONDUCT OF RAID
1. Preparation:
The briefing for the raid must be as detailed and exhaustive as possible.
Terrain sketches must be used to properly orient the members of the raid force, with the
terrain at the objective. After the briefing, maximum secrecy must be maintained.
2. Action at the objective:
Halt the team near the objective. Establish security. If, possible, makes a
leader’s reconnaissance. Confirm plans and announce any changes. Dispatch the elements
to their positions.
3. Maneuver:
Penetration and envelopment on the enemy’s flank or rear is normally
preferred over other types of maneuver. Aggressive fires and maneuver by assaulting
elements are conducted to overcome enemy resistance. It is often difficult to locate enemy
emplacement by visual means. However, fire and maneuver phase of the assault will usually
force the enemy to disclose his positions.
The objective of initial assault is to achieve a local penetration of the enemy.
Once penetration is made, it is exploited until the objective is taken.
During the assault, supporting fires continue until lifted or shifted by the
ground commander. They normally shifted to cover specific targets that will most assist the
progress of the assaulting force, and also to cover the other targets of opportunity.
4. Reorganization:
In the jungle, the enemy can be expected to counter attack anytime and from
any direction. Consequently after seizure of the objective, the raiding elements must
immediately secure the objective and prepare for a hasty perimeter defense against counter
attack.
Should the combat leader decided to withdraw quickly, the team members
must maintain their alertness for possible enemy retaliation. The withdrawing troops must
make sure that they are not overwhelmed by extreme fatigue. They must be as alert as
when they came in. Lastly, the combat group must never use the same way back.
TECHNIQUES OF RAIDS
1. Never allow the enemy to predict what time you will attack. If it has to be on high
noon, then, so be it. Use your good judgment. However, it is best to conduct your raid very
early in the morning, because the enemy is usually unprepared at these times. If you can
avoid it, do not assault during dusk. The enemy can just fade into the darkness.
2. If you are raiding an isolated hut, it is recommended that you post two men to
watch out for the enemy leaping out or withdrawing at the back of the hut. Always
remember that the enemy usually has a predetermined withdrawal route. It is wise to
identify this before the assault.
3. The most critical part of any raid is closing in on the target undetected. Crawl inch
by inch. Patience, patience, Endure the strain. Endure the pain.
4. Maintain team integrity as you position in preparation for the attack. One
miscoordinated move will compromise the whole operation. Maintain team unity by keeping
the desired distances.
5. Raids conducted are not highly recommended because we cannot freely
maneuver. Besides, the enemy can easily withdraw because of the darkness. Raid
operations are planned in such a way that the movement to the objective is completed; the
assault elements are deployed just an hour or less before daybreak. And the assault is
conducted as soon as visibility permits effective control.
6. When raiding huts where guerillas temporarily stay, it is advisable to position
yourselves at the back of the hut. Early in the morning, the female members of the group
usually relieve themselves at the back of the house because most houses in the far-flung
areas do not have toilet.
