WITH THE I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM        25


   The proximity of Iraqi forces in Kuwait added an element of unpredictability
that gave Imminent Thunder actual as well as simulated combat conditions.
General Boomer told his command that he wanted clear thinking from them.
He warned it not to let any Iraqi misstep `~snowball out of control.~'  He wanted
to ensure that the allies, not Saddam Hussein, controlled the future agenda.
Central Command was concerned as well.         To remove any possibility of
provocation and to reduce the exposure of amphibious shipping to missile
threats, General Schwarzkopf moved the proposed landing site at Ras Al Mishab
(Mishab), located 50 kilometers south of the Kuwait border, a further 97
kilometers southeast to Ras Al Gbar.*
   Imminent Thunder was a five-phased CentCom-sponsored event.             Marine
forces participated in each phase. During Phase I, the focus for I MEF was the
3d Marine Aircraft Wing's support of the D-Day air tasking order (ATO).
Objectives were to validate the air tasking order while using the Airborne
Command     and Control  Center    (ABCCC)   on board a Lockheed EC-130E
Hercules aircraft.  This included exercising the interface with the Marine Air
Command and Control System (MACCS) and its Direct Air Support Center
(DASC) which coordinated all offensive air operations within the MarCent area
of operations.
   Phase II involved amphibious operations for the purpose of testing fire
support coordination `deconfliction" procedures within the amphibious objective
area and MarCent sectors during the assault.    At the same time, MarCent's
ability to provide air support to NavCent during pre-assault and amphibious
assault operations was evaluated. Unfortunately, Vice Admiral Mauz was forced
to cancel most of the amphibious portions of the exercise for safety reasons
because of high seas.
   Phase III concentrated on linkup and reinforcement operations.        MarCent
forces participated fully and the many training goals reflected both current and
future operations. They included fire support coordination, particularly close air
Support procedures, combined training with Saudi forces, exercise of the MEF
defense plan including rear area security, employment of surge air operations,
mass casualty evacuation, linkup and passage of lines, Direct Air Support Center
coordination with the Airborne Command and Control Center, and integration
and "deconfliction" of combined arms in the defense.
   During Phase III there was also a historic employment of Marine aviation as
a maneuver element using a concentration of Bell AH-lW Sea Cobra attack
helicopters  dubbed  Task  Force    Cunningham.     From  General        Boomer's
perspective, the employment of attack helicopters as a maneuver element was an
experiment.  The concept had been put forth by the assistant wing commander,
Brigadier General Granvilie "Granny" R. Amos, who had led the Marine air
assault at Grenada in 1983, and Lieutenant Colonel Michael M. Kurth, the
commanding officer of Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 369. Both bad


   ~This location is not to be confused with the site of the Ras A' Ghar desalinization plants south
of Jubayl.