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developed a four phase plan for embarkation and deployment.   The
first phase involved Bravo Company radio operators and wiremen
supporting the surveillance,   liaison and reconnaissance party
(SThRP)  in conjunction with the MPF off-load. Phase two consisted
of the main body of Bravo Company augmented by selected Support
Company personnel and equipment tasked to accomplish~the primary
installation of communications for CG 7th MEB.   Close on the
heels of phase two was phase three,   consisting of personnel and
equipment required to further expand the communication system for
the imminent stand-up of the command element of I   MEF.  Finally,
phase four was planned to include those personnel and equipment
assets not needed immediately but that would be required for the
long haul of this operation.

One of the more challenging tasks during embarkation and movement
was keeping an accurate account of equipment.   While the phases
were easily established the desired capabilities were not clear
and the actual equipment mix needed to achieve those capabilities
was somewhat elusive.    Moreover, because the actual mix of
equipment fluctuated continually all the way up to flight time,
keeping a current status on equipment location proved to be an
almost indomitable chore.    However, a rather ingenious system was
devised that adequately tracked the location of major equipment
items.    Ironically, in this age of computer technology, this
equipment tracking procedure was completely manual yet incredibly
flexible.   All separate major end items were recorded
individually on separate slips of adhesive note paper (post-it
pads were used).    Then one of the battalion's conference room
walls was covered with white butcher paper which had at the top
and in large printed letters the name of each specific, phase
leaving ample room for equipment labels.    Once this was set up,
it was easy to move the labels about as the equipment plan was
shuffled among the phases and moved around the world.   Hence, at
a glance,   the  equipment status could be at all times clearly
observed by the commanders and staff.    Naturally, as the
departure of each phase came closer the equipment mix it would
include became more definite.    From this status board, actual
equipment manifests were produced, and final records of departed
equipment were    produced.  While this was not a fancy automated
system,   it kept up with a rapidly changing situation and
throughout the movement provided real time information to the
battalion commander on the status of his equipment.

Up to this point,   the battalion's activities were focused on
preparing to depart from Camp Pendleton.    On 17 August, the
battalion commander departed Camp Pendleton for Saudi Arabia.
Thereafter,   the focus shifted from the embarkation and movement
phase to the operational job at hand in Saudi Arabia.

When the battalion commander arrived, most of Bravo Company with
elements of Support Company and Alpha Company had already arrived
and begun initial installation of the communication system.   In
order to understand the situation as it existed on 17 August,   it
is worthwhile first to recount the living and working environment

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