Training Methods to Build Human Terrain Mapping Skills
Abstract
A key to success in counterinsurgency operations involves finding ways to identify the insurgents within the population. Success will likely require that Soldiers develop the cultural and information gathering skills necessary to develop a detailed knowledge of the "human terrain" in their area of operations. This report documents research conducted to develop Human Terrain Mapping (HTM) skills for Soldiers, where HTM is an overarching concept that refers to methods and tools used to systematically collect and catalog social and ethnographic information. Given the rapidly changing nature of current conflicts, the research effort sought to gather HTM training requirements and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) from members of an intact unit that had worked together performing the HTM functions in a recent deployment. Sixteen Soldiers from a recently deployed brigade were interviewed to identify the TTP they used to accomplish HTM tasks. Based on the interview findings a training product was developed that demonstrates methods and tools for building an understanding of the HTM process, specific information elicitation techniques, and Soldier observation skills.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA532276
Entities
People
- David R. Manning
- James A. Bell
- Jeff M. Sestokas
- Laura A. Zimmerman
- William R. Sanders
Organizations
- Applied Research Associates (United States)