Army Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures ATTP 3-90.15 (FM 3-90.15) Site Exploitation Operations

This Army tactics, techniques, and procedures provides doctrinal guidance and considerations for Army forces conducting site exploitation operations. It replaces FM 3-90.15, Sensitive Site Operations, 25 April 2007. Site exploitation doctrine now includes all sites that have the potential to yield valuable information, whether or not they are designated as sensitive. Site exploitation is an enduring and integral mission in support of full spectrum operations.

This manual rescinds sensitive site exploitation as a doctrinal term. The former definition of sensitive site exploitation appeared in the 2007 edition of FM 3-90.15. That definition, which had originated as an Army term, also appeared in JP 1-02 but will be removed. This manual redefines site exploitation, which appeared in the 2007 edition of FM 3-90.15. The new definition of site exploitation will appear in the next revision of FM 1-02.

When joint or Army terms are used and their definitions included in the text, those terms are italicized, and the number of the proponent manual follows the definition.

This manual is organized into three chapters and two appendixes. Chapter 1 discusses conducting site exploitation operations, with an emphasis on the operations process, the purposes for site exploitation, and the framework for executing site exploitation operations. In chapter 1, this manual establishes the new doctrinal definition for the term site exploitation. Chapter 2 discusses specialized Army assets that support site exploitation. Chapter 3 discusses considerations related to sensitive sites. Sensitive sites are described in terms of a broad range of risks and challenges, not just weapons of mass destruction. Appendix A discusses joint and national organizations that support site exploitation. Appendix B discusses evidence collection, handling, and documentation, to support units that must handle evidence without the help of trained law enforcement personnel.

This publication applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United Stated (ARNGUS), and United States Army Reserve (USAR) unless otherwise stated. This manual does not apply to site exploitation operations conducted by special operations forces.

United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is the proponent for this publication. The preparing agency is the Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center.