FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Appendix E E-4 FM 3-81 09 November 2021 SITE SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS E-18. Many factors influence site selection, including the tactical situation, access to transportation and infrastructure, proximity to the civilian population, terrain, weather, protection considerations, and effects of selecting an alternate location. Site selection can be crucial to effective operations. The primary concern during site selection is mission accomplishment. However, protection considerations cannot be ignored. A poorly located base camp may be difficult to secure and could hinder rather than enable the mission. Early identification of protection and security requirements reduces construction requirements and manpower demands and helps ensure adequate protection of personnel and assets commensurate with the threat. See ATP 3-37.10 for additional information on site selection. DESIGN AND LAYOUT CONSIDERATIONS E-19. Planners responsible for the base camp layout and design should consider many variables, such as operational and functional issues, infrastructure requirements, protection and security measures, health and safety, and emergency response. Each base camp should be prepared to defend against the effects of hostile actions, nonhostile or unintended events (such as fire), and environmental conditions such as flooding or other man-made or natural disasters. Many of the base camp layout considerations are similar to site selection criteria. However, layout concerns and constraints are typically base camp-specific. Throughout the design process, planners should recognize conflicts, establish priorities, and focus on the most favorable solutions. The base camp layout should— Facilitate current and future operations. Maintain a layered, defense-in-depth security approach. Include entry control points that maintain security and control vehicle and personnel access. Protect critical assets and provide accessible protective shelters (bunkers) throughout the base camp. Allow for the dispersion of units and structures and maintain interior LOCs to support rapid incident response. Maximize protection of high-occupancy structures using measures such as overhead and sidewall protection designs. Maximize utilization of existing buildings and other infrastructure. E-20. Protection measures that reduce vulnerability and diminish potential threats and hazards to personnel and critical assets should be addressed during base camp design. These measures include the establishment of standoff and facilities separation distances, perimeter security, vehicle barriers, entry control points, access control, intrusion detection, and mass warning. SECURITY AND DEFENSE E-21. All commanders are responsible for the protection of forces on base camps within their AOs. The base camp and base cluster commanders integrate the appropriate protection tasks as part of mission planning and throughout the operations process. The framework for base camp protection consists of three primary areas: an outer security area, a perimeter zone, and an inner security area. These are shown conceptually in figure E-1. The base camp commander implements protection measures for tenant units on the base camp, and the base cluster commander coordinates, synchronizes, and integrates protection capabilities to safeguard base camps, secure routes, and protect forces within the base cluster. Protection and defensive measures are applied within and beyond the confines of the base camp to safeguard personnel, physical assets, and information. Protecting and defending base camps include consideration of all of the protection principles