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File: 100896_sep96_decls8_0004.txt
Subject: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 APR 91
Unit: 2ND MARDIV
Parent Organization: 2 MEF
Box ID: BX600014
Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991
Document Number: 3
Folder SEQ #: 4
UNCLASSIFIED
local counterattacks to restore the MEF zone; ... (and) assist friendly
units in rearward passage of lines.,,(g) in order to fulfill this
mission, the division had to move farther to the north. This
displacement, to approximately 190 kilometers north of Al Jubayl, was
in keeping with the Commanding Generalls intentions to position the
division as far forward as possible in preparation for offensive
operations. His desire was to complete this move prior to the start
of the air campaign.(10) This new position, Al Kibrit, was only 60
kilometers from the Kuwaiti border, and provided the best position
from which the division could fulfill its defensive mission and
counterattack role.
The division's main command post arrived in the Vicinity Of Al
Kibrit on 14 Januaryo with other elements arriving as late as the
24th.(Il) While in this position, 2d LAI Battalion was ordered to
begin screening the division's western flank.(12) The battalion
continued to fulfill this vital mission of screening the division's
front and flanks throughout the war, providing exceptional service
wherever assigned.
3. TRAINING
The Commanding Generalls other great consideration for the
division was its training in preparation for the type of combat@it
expected to face. Division Frag Order 001 of 25 December stated that
all units would "begin unit training as soon as possible" after
arrival in SWA.(13) It was recognized that this training would have
to be integrated with the division's defensive missions and forward
movements.
Six days later, on 31 December, the Commanding General clearly
expressed his intent in Division Frag Order 2-90. In it he stated
that he wanted to "focus the efforts of the division on training and
during the transition period prior to the
beginning of offensive ops. This will be oriented towards preparing
the division for mechanized cps and obstacle breaching. Reserve
battalions will have priority of training..."(14)
In order to provide this training to all units in the time
remaining before the onset of hostilities, training was to be
organized into four phases. The first phase was unit training as
prescribed by the regimental and separate battalion commanders. The
second phase was the battlesight zeroing and calibration of
individual and crew-served weapons. The third phase was mobile
assault training for battalion-sized units. Finally, in the fourth
phases there were to be regimental combined arms exercises. Each
infantry regiment, task organized for mechanized and breaching
operations, was to conduct a combined arms mechanized assault and
breaching exercise on the Division mechanized Assault Course
(DRAC).(15)
The DMAC was built at the Thunderbolt Range, on which the
division's major training exercises were to take place. This course
covered approximately 585 square kilometers and was designed to
II-4
UNCLASSIFIED
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Document 31 f:/Week-35/BX600014/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991/command chronology for the period 1 jan to 13 ap:100196125355
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-35
Box ID = BX600014
Unit = 2ND MARDIV
Parent Organization = 2 MEF
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 2ND MARINE DIVISION 1 OF 10 JAN - APRIL 1991
Folder Seq # = 4
Subject = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD 1 JAN TO 13 AP
Document Seq # =
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 = 01-OCT-1996