On Point: the United States Army in Operation Iraqi ... - Boekje Pienter

Courtesy of 75th FABFigure 94. NBC reconnaissance specialists assigned to SST 4would recommend sites for further exploitation by the MET. The MET elements were muchlarger and could conduct sample collection, perform computer and document exploitation,interrogate captured personnel, render safe munitions, and evacuate samples and materials to alaboratory or collection center for further evaluation and exploitation.Despite the number of specialized teams in the theater, the number of sites, coupled withthe velocity of the march north—exceeded the capacity of CFLCC to conduct SSE exclusivelywith specialized teams. To span the gap, divisions organized, trained, and conducted limitedsensitive sight exploitation with assigned personnel and equipment. The majority of thesenewly formed teams came directly from each division’s organic chemical company. Much likethe SSTs, the divisional teams made initial assessments of suspected WMD sites, reported theirfindings to higher headquarters, and made recommendations on further exploitation.Although finding and destroying Iraqi WMD capabilities was a major strategic objective,coalition forces had not found any by the conclusion of Phase III combat operations. Of course,during the combat operations, V Corps could not divert significant combat power to secure andexploit the overwhelming number of suspected sites. Troops continued to support SSE after theconclusion of major combat operations.Communicating or NotAs the corps stretched out toward Baghdad, the corps and theater communications startedto falter. The modernization undertaken in the 12 years since DESERT STORM had closed partof the gap, enabling the Army to build a force (Force XXI) that could fight digitally connected.The Army Battle Command System (ABCS) enabled commanders to pass orders, intelligence,real-time awareness of everything flying, logistics information, and many other bits of usefulor vital information. However, even modernized communication systems proved inadequate tosupport the speed of advance attained over long distances.Most of the ABCS information is passed over an aging component of the communicationsystem called Mobile Subscriber Equipment (MSE). The key to understanding MSE is that thename is literal. The subscriber may be able to communicate on the move, but the equipment174