After Action Report, 403rd MP PW Camp

File: 980227_sep96_decls1_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 8
Box ID = BX005618

Folder Title = AFTER ACTION REPORT 403D MP PW CAMP                                                             

Unit = MISC        

Parent Org = MISC        








     AFKB-AC-CA                                                    2 April 1991
     SUBJECT: After Action Repart7 403rd MP PW Camp

     through the United States Army Correctional Brigade. The most significant
     problem encountered at MOB Station involved the shipment of equipment. The
     403rd received notification the evening of 11 December that all mission
     essential equipment had to be loaded by 14 December. The equipment was to
     be shipped by rail on 15 December to the Port of Houston with lst INF DIV
     equipment.

         b. The equipment was to be transported via ship to Saudi Arabia.
     Estimated departure date was 17 December with a mid-January ETA in Saudi
     Arabia. The timeline described above represented a change. Instead of the
     week to load equipment we had expected, we only had three days. The
     loading was accomplished on time; the equipment arrived at the Port of
     Houston an schedule but sat in port -For over a month. The 403rd was in
     Saudi Arabia before our mission essential equipment even left Houston.
     This equipment included all vehicles, generators and water buffalos. The
     fact'that we did not have this equipment significantly hampered both the
     units ability to move to the EPW site and its ability to accomplish the
     mission. Although we were able to work around this equipment problem, it
     diverted time and effort that could have otherwise been directed toward
     mission and resulted in delays that could have been critical to mission
     accomplishment.

         C. A second problem encountered at MOB Station was lack of
     communication with both the eOOth MP Brigade and subordinate units. Prior
     to mobilization the 403rd was Capstaned to the 300th MP Brigade.
     Immediately upon notification of pending activation two officers from the
     403rd, the S-3 and an Enclosure Commander, were assigned as liaison to the
     800th. These liaison officers arrived in country on 10 December 1990.
     HoweverI communications with both the lidison officers and the BOOth were
     infrequent and unschedulable. This made planning beyond MOB Station
     difficult. This was a particular problem for the S-4 who didn't know what
     to order, what was available in country, what the 800th was planning to
     provide, etc. None of the nine subordinate units assigned to the 403rd
     were in its premobilized Capstane trace. One of the subordinate units, the
     346th Escort Guard Company, also mobilized at Fort Riley, but communication
     with the other units was difficult. All units were given mission guidance
     and their readiness monitored. However, lack of dependable information
     regarding the mission and lack of good communications resulted in
     inefficient use of valuable MOB Station training time.

         d. The mission given to the 403rd was to establish and operate an EPW
     camp for up to 12,000 EPW and, upon order, be ready to expand the camp to
     hold 24,000 EPW. When the 403rd arrived in Saudi Arabia on 15 January an
     EPW site had been selected but construction had not begun. Therefore, the
     403rd immediately starting planning for the construction of an EPW camp.
     The MTOE under which the 403rd is organized is configured to maintain an
     existing EPW facility. Prior to mobilization the 403rd had been assigned a
     CONUS EPW mission. Construction of a camp at a remote field site was a
     task for which the 403rd was neither well equipped nor well trained. In
     spite of a lack of preparation and training, construction of the camp by


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