Good reads

Last drill weekend, I wandered into the local Military Clothing and Sales and picked up a couple of titles that I think may be of interest to you.

I thought the The Small Unit Tactics Smartbook had been covered at SSI before but I could not retrieve the link.  When I visited the Old Man in March, I brought with me a copy of it for his review.  Immediately he fell in love with it and bought copies for a few of his friends that run training to militias and other small groups.

I found a useful youtube review regarding the book:

Here is the blurb from the publisher:

Leading, Planning & Conducting Tactical Operations This is the second revised edition of The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook (SUTS2), featuring the full scope of new material and Doctrine 2015 updates to include ADP/ADRP 3-90 Offense and Defense, ADP/ADRP 5-0 The Operations Process, ADP/ADRP 6-0 Mission Command and more than 20 additional references. Chapters and topics include tactical mission fundamentals, the offense, the defense, stability and counterinsurgency operations, tactical enabling tasks (security, reconnaissance, relief in place, passage of lines, encirclement, and troop movement), special purpose attacks (ambush and raid), urban and regional environments (urban, fortified areas, desert, cold region, mountain, and jungle operations), patrols and patrolling. This second printing of SUTS2 features updated "lay-flat" binding with spine in place of the original plastic-comb binding. Tactics is the employment and ordered arrangement of forces in relation to each other. Through tactics, commanders use combat power to accomplish missions. The tactical-level commander uses combat power in battles, engagements, and small-unit actions. Establishing a common frame of reference, doctrine provides a menu of practical options based on experience. It provides an authoritative guide for leaders and Soldiers but requires original applications that adapt it to circumstances. The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook translates and bridges operational-level doctrine into tactical application -- in the form of tactics, techniques and procedures -- and provides the "how to" at the small-unit level, providing a ready reference at the battalion, company, platoon, squad and fire team level.

I find that it is more useful than the Ranger Handbook and Levels One and two+ of the Soldier Common Tasks book when studying and teaching current doctrine,  Obviously not everything will translate to what you need or is applicable to your situation.  Being able to dispense with the bureaucracy of a long chain of command dictating your SOPs/TTPs is an advantage of the citizen.  There is a ton of information on how to conduct a small unit and plan a defense that you will find relevant,

In speaking about the Ranger Handbook, I also picked up the Ranger Patrolling Guide by CSM(R) Winston Clough.  This book attempts to update the Ranger Handbook and includes some good lessons learned.

I do not know if the Ranger Patrolling Guide was worth the $16 that I paid for it, or the $22 as it is advertised on Amazon.  But if you get the chance to pick it up on the secondary market, I would encourage you to do it if you are interested in leading small groups.  The price tag on the Small Unit Tactics book is quite severe at over $30.  It is still well worth it.  Call it a very cheap investment on your personal growth and an excellent reference on how you or someone else can lead a Platoon size defensive group.