S                           HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991:


                                 Photograph couflesy of MajGen Anthony C. Zinni, USMC
LtGen John M. Shalikashvili, CG CTF Provide Comfort, meets with Iraqi BGen Danourz Nash wan.

transport helicopter squadron, and an aerial medical evacuation company; the
U.S.  Air Force had a fighter squadron, a ground attack squadron, and a
fighter/attack squadron. Each of the other allied forces brought its own aircraft.
Not part of the military task force, but closely associated with it, was a host of
international relief agencies and volunteer organizations.

                        Joint Task Force Alpha

    General Potter's Express Care was redesignated Joint Task Force Alpha
(JTF-A) on 17 April and was given the missions of providing inmiediate relief,
improving the camps, and encouraging dislocated civilians to return to Iraq. The
ground element of the task force was the 1st Battalion, 10th SFG (A), supported
by the USAF 39th SOW and the helicopters of the 24th MEU (SOC) Forward.
The 4th Psychological Operations Group and the U.S. Army's Civil Affairs
Comn~nd supplied assistance teams. In late April and early May, the remainder
of the 10th SFG (A), the British 40th Commando, Royal Marines, and Italian
Alpine troops joined JTF-A.
    There were many tasks implicit in JTF-A's mission. A census of the
displaced civilians living in the area had to be made so that their sustainlnent
needs could be assessed. A more efficient forward resupply system had to be