AFTER ACTION REPORT ON DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHWEST ASIA

File: 110596_sep96_decls2_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 14

Subject: AFTER ACTION REPORT ON DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHWEST ASIA             

Unit: 22D SUPCOM  

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box ID: BX005554

Folder Title: ARMY EOD IN DESERT STORM VOL 4 543 EOD TEAM EODCT                                               

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:          4







                                   DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
                              543rd Ordnance Detachment (EODCT)
                                 Ft. Leonard Wood. MO 65473


       AFFU-543                                                             30 Mav 91


       MEMORANDUM FOR HO. FORSCOM. ATTN: FCJ3-OCE (LTC Moore). Ft. MacPherson.
                         GA. 30330-'5000

       SUBJECT- After Action ReDort on Deolovment to Southwest Asia



       1. GENERAL. This reoort contains mv observations and ot)inions an the
       543rd EODCT's oartic:idation in Ooera@ions Desert Shield 'and Desert Storm.
       It covers brieflv what we did. where we went. and Droblems encountered.
       The 543rd EODCT had nine Subordinate detachments and SUDoorted the XVIII
       Airborne Coros. The card% sector covered an area aDDroximatelv 120 miles
       wide and 100 miles deeo. The 543rd worked in conilinction with the COri3s
       Rear Command  Post


       2. EDD TASK   ORGANIZATION. The crux of manv of our orablems revolved
       around command and control. I+ we are to continue with our current
       doctrine. that is in terms of how EOD units and controls are alioned
       within a theater. then two thinas must occur in the earlv staoes a+
       transition to war: first. the EOD control teams must be'alioned and
       totallv integrated with their respective cords.     In mv limited
       observations.  it was Dain+ullv obvious that the VII CorD$ treated the
       512th EODCT infinitelv better than we were treated under the XVIII
       Airborne CorDS. Thev'received radios. vehicles. and other essential
       suor)ort. The kev was that there existed a Drevious alionment and at least
       some sense of belonainc3.
          The second thina that must occur is that the EOD Brouo (or whatever
       higher HQ is forme@) must be established on the around in theater arior to
       anv other subordinate units arrivina. I understand this is the wav combat
ed in WWII. Relvina on a sister control to
       orovide anv sort a+ assistance was disastrous +or us.
          There are those that +eel our doctrine does need a maior
       restructurina. Some sav EOD units should be allocated one Der MP
       battalion. others sav one Der Enaineer battalion. This of course
       disoenses with control teams altooether. Prooonents of these chances were
       not satisfied with the life suc)c)ort (rations. showers. oowe@ and other
       limited SL[Doort) thev received from their Control. These ideas ouarantee
       life SUDDart +or the EOD detachment. but take operational control and
       ratinc3 schemes awav from anv "badc3e wearer".  Not such a cood thina.
       eSDeCialIV when a coordinated EOD effort is needed such as in the cleanuo
       a+ Kuwait
         Bettina back to mv oriainal moint    about command and control. I think
       our curen@ task orca'nizat:.Lon is'workable. However. communications svstems
       are the @%,ev to matr.:
                          inn it work. and I'll elaborate more on those shortfalls
       later.


       3. UNIT OPERATIONS.    This is a brief overview a+ various wavs in which
       our detachments chose  to ooerate. The mode was left strictlv to the

Document 14 f:/Week-42/BX005554/ARMY EOD IN DESERT STORM VOL 4 543 EOD TEAM EODCT/after action report on deployment to southwest a:1104960912415
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-42
Box ID = BX005554
Unit = 22D SUPCOM
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = ARMY EOD IN DESERT STORM VOL 4 543 EOD TEAM EODCT
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = AFTER ACTION REPORT ON DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHWEST A
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
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 = 04-NOV-1996