3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR

File: 081996_jul96_decls1_0019.txt
Page: 0019
Total Pages: 269

Subject: 3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR                 

Box  ID: BX001301

Document Number:          3

Folder Title: OPORDS AND  COMMAND AND CONTROL                                                                 

Folder Seq #:          4

Unit: 3D AD       

Parent Organzation: VII  CORPS  








                                COMMAND AND CONTROL OF :;D ARMORED DIV!SION
                                           THE SPEARHEAD APPROACH
                                   WAR WI@H IRAQ. 24 - 2? FEBRUARY !99:



                                                INTRODUCT!ON -


                                                     how 'd Armored
                      .hese paoes tell the story of                  Div:s:on planned tc
                 command and control operations -n   the attack aoainst 1-aqi forces
                 during Operation DESERT STORM, -@4  - '@8 February !99!, an@. how MG Peul
                 E. Funk, his subordinate commanders, and his staff actually did it.
                 Some lessons we learned challenge the validity of our =urrent comffant
                 and control doctrine, command post orgai4--ation and functions, and
                 communications architecture for a heavy division. particularly for
                 missions of movement to cortact, hasty attack, exploitctior. and
                 pursuit.  If this effort fosters change in our Army for the better,
                 then 4t has served its purpose.


                                          - SPEARHEAD TRAINING -

                     First, some background information.    The 3d Armored Division
                 commander and his principal staff entered the CENTCOM area of
                 operations on 28 Dec 1990, called to battle from Europe, along with
                 other forces of the VII Corps.   The division commander, assistant
                 division commanders, and battle staff, were a seasoned, effective
                 team proven by outstanding performances during REFORGER in Jan 1990,
                 a BCTP Warfighter Exercise in May 1990, and a JESS-supported CPX in
                 Sep 1990. Just prior to departing Europe, we conducted a BCTP
                 War-Fighter Seminar, 7 - 0 Dec 1990, which focused on war with Iraq,
ensive and defensive missions we
                 could expect to perform.   This was a key training event.    It forced
                 our heads into the game and prepared us well for the challenges
                 ahead.

                     It's also important to note that in training, we always adhered
                 to our doctrine. Our division staff training plan the past year was
                 challenging and robust, adhered to the precepts of FM 25-100, and was
                 designed solely to achieve and maintain proficiency in our staff
                 mission essential tasks.   We took our staff and command post Mission
                 Essential Task List (METL) from ARTEP 71-100 Mission Training Plan.
                 Our command post organization and staff functional area
                 responsibilities also mirrored the organization described in ARTEP
                 71-100 KTP. We had a Tactical Command Post, Main Command Post, and a
                 Rear Command Post.  In short, we trained the way we intended to fight
                 and we trained continually.     As a result of this rigorous training,
                 we arrived in Saudi Arabia confident in one another, our skills, and
                 our ability to get the job done.

                                       - PLANNING AND REHEARSAL -

                    Even Orior to coming to Saud4 Arabia, the staff planning process
                 for our mission had begun, and we followed procedures outlined by

Document 269 f:/Week-28/BX001301/OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL/3ad history of operation desert storm and spear:0816961333481
Control Fields 17
File Room = jul96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-28
Box ID = BX001301
Unit = 3D AD
Parent Organization = VII CORPS
Folder Title = OPORDS AND COMMAND AND CONTROL
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = 3AD HISTORY OF OPERATION DESERT STORM AND SPEAR
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date = 18-JUL-1996
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 16-AUG-1996