FM 90-3/FMFM 7-27 DESERT OPERATIONS Headquarters Department of the Army US Marine Corps is the Army's and Marine Corps' manual for desert operations. It is a key reference for commanders and staffs regarding how the desert affects personnel, equipment, and operations. It will assist them in planning and conducting combat operations in desert environments.
"Desert Operations" (FM 90-3/FMFM 7-27) is the Army's and Marine Corps' manual for desert operations. It is a key reference for commanders and staffs regarding how the desert affects personnel, equipment, and operations. It will assist them in planning and conducting combat operations in desert environments. Arid regions make up about one-third of the earth's land surface, a higher percentage than that of any other type of climate. As we have seen in the recent past, some of these regions-because of diverse and conflicting cultures, strategic importance, and natural resources-have become centers of conflict. Desert operations demand adaptation to the environment and to the limitations imposed by terrain and climate. Success depends on an appreciation of the effects of arid conditions on soldiers (both physically and psychologically), on equipment and facilities, and on combat and support operations. Leaders and Soldiers must continually evaluate the situation and be ready to react to changing conditions. The key to success in desert operations is mobility. This was clearly evident in the ground operations of Desert Storm. Arid regions create both opportunities and restraints for soldiers and marines at all levels. The US military's performance in Desert Storm shows it understands these factors and has successfully addressed the effects of desert warfare on troops, equipment, and operations. As they prepare for the future, leaders, soldiers, and marines must study past campaigns and use the lessons they learn to reduce casualties, use the environment to their advantage, and ensure victory on the desert battlefield.
Imagine working all day in 100-degree plus temperatures under constant life-threatening circumstances, sometimes relying only on the negligible amount of hydration from a cactus you’ve dug up. This is the life of a U.S. Army soldier in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, which is why the U.S. Army Desert Operations Handbook is a vital reference for survival in one of the harshest environments in the world. This official guide covers how to plan and conduct operations, how the environment affects personnel and equipment, and most importantly, how to survive and receive supplies in the desert. The obvious problems with extreme temperatures are water location and mobility. However, from handling and caring for firearms to operating and fueling a tank, the entire game changes in the dry, sandy desert conditions. The skills in this guide are taken from lessons learned in real combat situations. Success in desert operations requires the ability to adapt with constant terrain and temperature changes, which are often drastic within the same twenty-four–hour period. All the while, the soldier must be able to move within a unit without being visible to unfriendly groups. This combat-tested manual is sure to arm anyone with the skills necessary to survive in the desert.
Afoot in the Desert, Desert Survival, Deserts of the World Marine Corps Field Manual (FMFRP 0-53) provides information about individual survival in desert theaters of operation. This manual explains some scientific theories on how plants, animals, and humans adapt to dry climates. It deepens understanding of how individuals may live, travel, and conduct themselves with others they may meet in the deserts. A survival expert once said, "The Arabs don't know much about survival in the desert." Of course not! They just live there! You can live there too if you get rid of fear, forget the superstitions and popular fallacies you learned from desert adventure romances, and know a few of the facts of life about deserts. Respect the desert but don't be afraid of it. Don't keep water in your canteen and weaken yourself when you can drink that water and maintain your efficiency. Would you be so foolish as to sap your strength by purposely cutting an artery just so you could practice using a tourniquet? Of course not. Learn the facts about your body needs of water and practice the horse sense those facts will give you. Separate truth from the old wives' tales about the lands of little water. If you do that, you may get to like the desert instead of fearing it.
This manual provides guidance for the organization, planning, and conduct of the full range of military operations on urbanized terrain. This publication was prepared primarily for commanders, staffs, and subordinate leaders down to the squad and fire team level. It is written from a Marine air-ground task force perspective, with emphasis on the ground combat element as the most likely supported element in that environment. It provides the level of detailed information that supports the complexities of planning, preparing for, and executing small-unit combat operations on urbanized terrain. It also provides historical and environmental information that supports planning and training for combat in built-up areas
The manual describes the general strategy for the U.S. Marines but it is beneficial for not only every Marine to read but concepts on leadership can be gathered to lead a business to a family. If you want to see what make Marines so effective this book is a good place to start.
