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