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                                         ~FTER ~CTION REPORTS


                  ITEM:  Component Staff Geographic Separation


                  OBSERV~TIO~:  During Desert Shield/Desert Storm the MEF commander
                  elected to place his headquarters   close to the troops' outside
                  Riyadh.  4dditionally, the 3d M~W headquarters was remote from
                  Riyadh, from the MEF Headquarters,  and from its fixed wing
                  assets.  This dispersion created a myriad of problems,
                  particularl? in targeting coordination with the 3F~CC.


             *`1~'~$\~?tISCUSSION: Since U. S. ~rmy, U. S. ~ir Force, and allied
             -- `$1{~7:'rr~ommanders were'located in Riyadh, the Marine Corps'
                  --responsiveness on- a variety of issues and situations was slower
               -`  han other' services.  Specific,problem areas are addressed in
-.   .-           -seperate after actio~items.   This item is deliberately general
                *~ -to make this point: the need for a commander to be near his
                   aneuver units is not disputed;   The trade-off is increased
`~::~%`,~Ai:~  ~;?-problems with coordination of activities among the components and
--""-----r'-   ~-~with the theater staff.  This Marine component element in Riyadh,
                   nd the liaison elements with other component staffs, must be
             -`    u 1 ly cognizant of the commander's ,objectives and intent, and
               ~- --must have the (limited) authority to speak for him when
             ~W~~t'~~c~onsultation is not possible or operationally practical.
-f--'~-k

                     -       -

  - `.       ~~;t'-'~~LESSONS
                          LE~RNED:  When the commander elects not to co-locate his
                     dquarters with the CINC in joint operations,  he-must ensure
                       he has-a full, well-equipped and organized staff to represent
  -½ ~~~%%?;,\k.4$him wi,th the-CINC and other component headquarters.


  c,;
      --- ~:;` - :~RECOMMENOED ~CTION:  That the Warfighting Center develop a
      - --     *- - Concept of Operations and notional T/O and T/E, for adequate
             --      ff liaison elements when the Marien component headqaurte~s is
             -- -- -- not co-located with other headquarters.


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