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

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

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igade commanders, of the warr<strong>in</strong>g factions on each side of<br />

the ZOS. At an agreed date and time, one of our security<br />

forces, usually a heavy weapons platoon, would l<strong>in</strong>k up with<br />

the company or battalion commander of one faction and<br />

provide security as his eng<strong>in</strong>eer force cleared the road of<br />

m<strong>in</strong>es and debris. They would clear the road to the center<br />

po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> the ZOS. Meanwhile the oppos<strong>in</strong>g faction<br />

commander would clear the road from the opposite direction<br />

with security provided by another of our security elements.<br />

Usually the Deputy Commander, the S3, or I led one<br />

security element and the E Company Commander led the<br />

other element. When the forces met at the mid-po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> the<br />

ZOS, I usually <strong>in</strong>vited the commanders to walk the road<br />

with me. If they showed any hesitation, I required them to<br />

clear the road aga<strong>in</strong>. In any event, we walked the road<br />

before our vehicle convoy traversed it.<br />

In most cases we left a security element to patrol these<br />

road nets to ensure that they stayed clear and to encourage<br />

the locals to use the road. Most of these roads had not been<br />

used dur<strong>in</strong>g the 4 years of the war. Clear<strong>in</strong>g them was not a<br />

simple task.<br />

Our operations <strong>in</strong> the Russian Brigade Sector took place<br />

throughout January. Clearance operations as described<br />

above were executed January 4-6 and 10-13. The clearance<br />

operation to open Route Carol<strong>in</strong>a was a little more<br />

precarious. The areas near Sapna and Priboj were hotly<br />

contested dur<strong>in</strong>g the war and heavily m<strong>in</strong>ed. However, we<br />

opened the road networks, and the former warr<strong>in</strong>g factions<br />

began to pull out of the ZOS just prior to the deadl<strong>in</strong>e of<br />

January 19.<br />

On January 13, the eng<strong>in</strong>eer platoon and a 1st Armored<br />

Division Eng<strong>in</strong>eer Company emplaced a medium girder<br />

bridge across the crater on Route Georgia. This opened a<br />

direct route between Lopare and Tuzla, simplify<strong>in</strong>g our<br />

reconnaissance and security patrols <strong>in</strong>to the Russian<br />

Brigade Sector. In order to secure the medium girder bridge,<br />

we established COP Shark on key terra<strong>in</strong> above the bridge.<br />

62

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