SAFETY AAR OPERATION DESERT SHEILD STORM 17 JUL 91

File: 970107_sep96_decls5_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 12

Subject: SAFETY AAR OPERATION DESERT SHEILD STORM 17 JUL 91              

Unit: 2D ACR      

Parent Organization: VII  CORPS  

Box  ID: BX001703

Folder Title: ODS SAFETY AAR                                                                                  

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         43








           AETSAC-4SQDN-ASO
           SUBJECT: Safe-ly'AAR     Desert Shiel@/S@lorip.

                -c. Envii7onn,.&ntal Factors.    Marginal flying     weather   existed
           'during  aircraft     deployment    to   Bremerhaven.        The    weather
           -COMD'icated flight planni-ng tasks and contributed          to low '@uel
              idents en.-oute.    Other -han blowing sand a@, the       on@-oute fuel
           inc
           stop   and    destination,    weather    in    Saudi-  Arabia    did    not
           significantly    affect    f'@-.gh-, ooera-lions   during    this    phase.
         @-Po-len-.ial for soldier hea@, iijury in SWA was recognized early and
           prevention measures emphasized through command channels.

                d.   Lessons Learned.        The single most critical planiing
           oversights during this period involved training on unext)loded
           ordinance (Uxo) .     This lack of train:@ng later =csul.ted z'.r. many
           soldiers underestimating or honestly not recognizing UXO as a very
           real   hazard.     Poster    style   UXO   information was eventually
           available ttru VII Corps in &%',arch 1991.       This toz)ic should have
           boon more thoroughly trained during the deployment stage and
           reinforced as unit exr)osurc- to UXO increased.         Based an theater
           wide experience, UXO training may be warranted on a recurring (ie.
           SQT) basis. other 1Lssons learned during this phase included:

                  (I.)  sports Injuries.     Injuries during this ohase occurred
      ....._pri..larily while the squadro-i was quartered at -,fie Initial Staging
           Area in Jubai-'-.   As in garrisons sports injuries did no-, normal-'-y
           result in lost duty t4-rro for sol-@i-ers.    The one recordable injury
           during this period (basketball @ Merrell) did however, result 4-n
.
           Two of the minor sports -Injuries occurred duri-ng ac-,,'-vi-ty under
           "co.-,ibat" (hence "no") rules.    A desire to relieve t.ie stresses of
           waiting and to assist in accliiiizatior. during this r.%criod riay have
           led soldiers to over do sports activity.           Star.&Aorecautions of
           supervision, proper facility and following the rules of -,he game
           would have prevented so.-,ie of these potentially serious injuries.

                  (2)   Aircraft Ground Handling Procedures.         At @ort, those
                                 I the                          -onance and washi-ng
           ooerations often se@ @       t)ace for loading,.main,
           oi    aircraft.       Ground  handling    was    best   accomplished      by
           exoorienced,     suoervised    and   specifically      designated    crows.
           Availability of serviceable wheels, particularly Ali-',- nydraulic
           typo became a problem several t;-,-,les.     Ground handling crews must
           assun:e responsibility to rez)ai--- or turn in defective wheel
           assemblies as soon as they are broken.

                  (3)    Painting Operations.       Painting of helicopter rotor
           blades was accomplished by unit and      contract Personnel ;t the por@
           of Jubail.    The procedure involved hand/mac@4.ne sanding of rotor
           blade leading edges and aoolication of erosion resistant coating.
           The sanding and painting was primarily done inside a                  large
           warehouse with no artificial ventilation. Unit soldiers and           other
           personnel were exposed     to moderate to high levels of paint         dust



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Document 12 f:/Week-48/BX001703/ODS SAFETY AAR/safety aar operation desert sheild storm 17 jul :01029718421510
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-48
Box ID = BX001703
Unit = 2D ACR
Parent Organization = VII CORPS
Folder Title = ODS SAFETY AAR
Folder Seq # = 43
Subject = SAFETY AAR OPERATION DESERT SHEILD STORM 17 JUL
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 = 02-JAN-1997