Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

This near continuous series of intensive training events,
all fully resourced and externally evaluated, placed the
battalion combat team at peak readiness in the fall of 1995.
Additionally, leader turnover had been carefully managed
and the key leaders, both officer and NCO that experienced
this intensive training, would lead the battalion combat
team during JOINT ENDEAVOR. I doubt that many
battalion commanders, other than the Ranger battalion
commanders, experience such an ideal training
environment. As a result, the 3-325 Airborne Battalion
Combat Team was a confident, cohesive, and ready team
when it got the call to lead U.S. forces into Bosnia.
PLANNING AND PRE-DEPLOYMENT TRAINING
The Blue Falcons received the initial notification to
participate in peace enforcement operations in former
Yugoslavia on October 10, 1995. The original plan called for
an initial entry force, TF LION commanded by Major
General Nix, the SETAF Commander, to secure Tuzla
Airbase and to conduct operations in the U.S. sector until
relieved by TF EAGLE (1st Armored Division/IFOR)
scheduled to enter Bosnia across the Sava River. However,
as the organization of TF EAGLE evolved, leaders realized
that the logistical and communications support for two task
forces would be difficult to resource and would create
unnecessary complexity. By late October, it was clear that
the battalion combat team would enter Bosnia as an
attached unit of TF EAGLE rather than TF LION, its
habitual headquarters.
Insight and guidance concerning our mission were
gained from a series of phone conversations between
SETAF and the 1st Armored Division leaders and
operations officers. I do not recall a single written document
prior to late November 1995. This is not a criticism of TF
EAGLE. The TF EAGLE staff was trying to determine their
organization and requirements at a time when the Dayton
Accord’s outcome was unknown. Nor do I think that this was
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