• What is the cost to breach (i.e., ammunition, casualties, and time)?

• What amount of time is required to bypass versus the time required to breach?

When a platoon encounters an unexpected obstacle, unit leaders must be conscious that the
obstacle is most likely covered by fire and observation. Once the unit submits an obstacle
report to HHQ, its next step is to search for bypasses, which allow the unit to maintain
momentum by going around the obstacle. If the platoon bypasses an obstacle, it must
report the location of the bypass. If the situation permits, they will mark both the obstacle and
the bypass to prevent follow-on forces from entering the kill zone and allow them to follow
the bypass.

Breaching Obstacles
Breaching is a fundamental component of maneuver warfare. While the preference is to
bypass, units must be capable of breaching obstacles. Breaching is normally a combined arms
operation requiring close coordination. Marine infantry units must be capable of conducting
both in-stride breaches, which are executed as battle drills against lightly defended obstacles,
and deliberate breaches of complex obstacles, which require detailed intelligence and
coordination. In the planning and execution of operations, the platoon commander applies the
five tenets of breaching:

• Intelligence.
• Breaching fundamentals.
• Breaching organization.
• Mass.
• Synchronization.

Breaching Fundamentals. The breaching fundamentals—suppress, obscure, secure,

reduce, and assault (known by the acronym SOSRA)—must be applied to ensure success when
breaching against a defending enemy. These obstacle reduction fundamentals always apply,
but they may vary based on the specific METT-T situation. The breaching fundamentals are
illustrated in figures 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 (on page 192).

Suppress. The key to a successful breach is effective and sustained suppression. The support
force employs and coordinates direct and/or indirect fires and electronic attack on enemy
personnel, weapons, and equipment to prevent or degrade enemy fires and observation of
friendly forces. The purpose of suppression during breaching operations is to protect forces
approaching, reducing, and assaulting through an obstacle. Effective suppression is a mission
critical task performed during any breaching operation, and must be sustained through the
duration of the breach and the passage of the assault force. Successful suppression generally
triggers the movement of the breach force to the obstacle. Fire control measures ensure that all
fires are synchronized with other actions at the obstacle. Suppressing the enemy overwatching
the obstacle and isolating the breach sites against enemy maneuver and fire support assets is the
mission of the support force. When the situation permits, EW and counterbattery radar assets
are coordinated by the support force as part of the suppression mission.

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