As a direct result of attacks on US troops and forward operating bases (FOB) in Iraq and Afghanistan, Operational Studies expanded its conventional protective security studies to encompass the challenges and issues directly related to military and contractor force protection.
Current areas of interest and focus for Operational Studies include:
OS services available to US government agencies, the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of State (DoS), and qualified US and coalition contractors operating in high risk environments:
Since the successful terrorist bombing of the US Marine barracks in Beirut (1983) killing over 240 Marines, and then the US Embassy Annex (1984), US military and governmental facilities have come under regular attacks by suicide bombers and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). The dramatic destruction of the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995 also served to further validate the viability of this form of attack.
Beginning in late 2003 and early 2004 these same terrorist tactics and vehicle bombs were used against US and collation bases in Iraq, along with police stations, recruitment centers, civil defense units and NGO facilities. Particularly hard hit was the CPA and checkpoints around the Green Zone; and although these vehicle bombs had not penetrated the outer defenses, they caused significant casualties, disrupted operations, had an adverse affect on morale, and emboldened the anti-coalition forces (ACF) to attempt even more audacious attacks.
As a direct result of these attacks, US military commanders and base security managers were forced to re-evaluate their base security procedures and perimeter defenses. Unfortunately, neither security procedure nor fixed base defense have been widely taught within the military or disseminated in an easy to understand format.
However, it must also be understood, to quote the old adage, “that the best defense is a strong offense.” For FOB security this equates to aggressive patrolling outside the wire to denying the enemy access to the perimeter or the opportunity to observe the location and security procedures.
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PHYSICAL SECURITY & VBIED BLAST PROTECTION