After Action Report, 403rd MP PW Camp

File: 980227_sep96_decls1_0003.txt
Page: 0003
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 Report, 403rd MP PW Camp

     the 403rd and its Subordinate units went remarkably well.    Work was begun
     on 25 January and the first EPW were accepted on 17 February.

         e. Construction work on the camp was slowed by a number of factors not
     under the direct control of the 403rd. These factors included the
     relatively low priority given the EPW mission. The 403rd was the first EPW
     camp in country but did not arrive until 15 January, two days before the
     air war started. The 401st arrived two days later. The Class IV supplies
     needed to construct the camp were not yet available. Our mission essential
     MTOE equipment which left our MOB station on 15 December 1990 was still
     sitting in Houston waiting to be shipped. The only equipment the 403rd had
     was the TA-50 and NBC carried on the airplane. As soon as the air war
     began, US troops began taking EPW and it became necessary to got at least
     one camp at each site operational as quickly as possible. In the East
     site, that camp was identified as the 401st, the logical choice because
     their MTOE equipment was already in country. Consequently, the 401st was
     given priority for Class IV material and engineer support. The 403rd was
     also tasked to provide up to two platoons to help the 401st build their
     camp and did so from 20 January, two days before the 403rd advance party
     arrived an site, through 11 February. The 403rd also supported the 401st
     by taking an supplemental missions that the 401st had been performing, thus
     freeing 401st personnel to work an their camp. These missions included a
     port security mission, an embassy mission and security of the JIF. These
     missions were performed in addition to the supplemental missions assigned
     to the 403rd. The decision to get the 401st up and running first, while
     logical and necessary, slowed progress on the 403rd EPW camp. The delays
     included both anticipated delays, for example, delays attributable to the
     prioritization of engineering support and Class IV supplies, and the
     tasking to provide personnel to the 401st. However, some of the delays and
     problems were not anticipated and were nctt intentional. For example,
     equipment, material and supplies that were sent to the East site for both
     camps never found their way past the 401st to the 403rd, which was located
     behind the 401st. The equitable distribution of scarce resources remained
     a problem until the 800th established a logistic coordination center, LCC,
     in mid-February.

         4. An advance party of the 403rd moved to the field site near As
     Sarrar an 22 January 1991, Qsing vehicles borrowed from subordinate guard
     units. Since the 403rd had no tentage in country the advance party lives
     in a cinder block building under construction at the East site. The
     remainder of the 403rd was shuttled to the EPW site as transportation and
     tentage became available. The command and operations elements of the camp
     were all in place by 2S January 1991.

         g. The 864th Engineer Bn completed its survey of the 403rd EPW site on
     23 January 1991, the day after the 403rd arrived at the As Sarrar site.
     Construction of the camp was begun by the 403rd advance party and forward
     guard companies on 25 January 1991. Maximum use was made of engineer
     assets when they were not needed at the 401st site and civilian
     construction skills of 403rd and guard company personnel. Construction
     material remained a problem until the end.


                                           3