COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR 1 DEC 31 DEC 1990

File: 102496_sep96_decls13_0007.txt
Page: 0007
Total Pages: 17

Subject: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR 1 DEC 31 DEC 1990                        

Unit: 1 MEF       

Parent Organization: FMF PAC     

Box ID: BX600009

Folder Title: COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1ST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DEC 1990 FOLDER 2                             

Document Number:          3

Folder SEQ  #:          5


                                           UNCL
                 Ncommand Relationship. Duri                           n Walter E. Boomer USMC was both
               Com;nander, Marine Forces, Central Command (COMUSMARCENT) and Commanding
               General, I Marine Expeditionary Force (CG I MEF). As COMUSMARCENIT, he was a
               component commander of the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM). The other main
               components of USCENTCOM were: U.S. Army Forces (USARCENT), U.S. Air Forces,
               (USCENTAF), U.S. Naval Forces (USNAVCENT), and U.S. Special Operations Command,
               Central Command (USSOCCENf). (These were often abbreviated as MARCENT, ARCENT,
               CENTAF, NAVCENT, and SOCCENT). The I MEF Marine Air-Ground Task Force was
               MARCENT's operational command. Marine forces afloat, principally the 4th Marine
               Expeditionary Brigade (4th MEB), remained under the operational control (OPCON) of
               Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT), VAdm
               Arthur. Two other amphibious forces, the 5th MEB and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
               (Special Operations Capable) were enroute to the theater at the end of December. The British 7
               Armoured Brigade remained under the tactical control of First Marine Division (lst
               MARDIV).

                 N @ Subordinate Commands. 'ne on-order defensive missions assigned to the major
               subordinate commands of I MEF remained unchanged. The First Marine Division was
               responsible for the battle within the fire support coodination line while the 3d Marine Aircraft
               Wing (3d MAW) was to concentrate on enemy forces north of the fire support coodination line
               to southern Kuwait. The First Force Service Support Group (lst FSSG) was to furnish
               logistical support of the Division and Wing concept of operations and to provide rear area
addition, I MEF was to be reinforced by major elements of 11 MEF. By the end of
               December, more than half of the planned 11 MEF reinforcements had arrived in the operating
               area. Further, units of 2nd MAW, 2nd FSSG, and 2nd Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and
               Intelligence Group (2nd SRIG) had substantially reinforced 3d MAW, lst FSSG, and lst SRIG
               respectively.
                 (S4 Offensive PlanninL,. In early December, LtGen Boomer ordered his Battle Staff
               Planning group to develop and analyze several courses of action based on verbal guidance
               provided by Gen Schwarzkopf in an operation designated as Desert Storm. The mission for
               MARCENT was to conduct a supporting attack to to fix and destroy Iraqi operational reserves
               in southeastern Kuwait so as to preclude their employment against the main Central Command
               attack. MARCENT was then to isolate Kuwait City for urban terrain operations by Saudi and
               multinational forces under the Eastern Province Area Commander. Lastly, MARCENT was to
               prepare to continue the attack north to support CENTCOM offensive operations.

                  - N Certain parts of the MARCENT plan involved the use of naval forces. To develop
               and coordinate these aspects, on I I December, LtGen Boomer met with VAdm Arthur and
               MGen Harry W. Jenkins, CG 4th MEB. These considerations were then integrated into LtGen
               Boomer's concept of operations, and, on December 15th, LtGen Boomer met with his principal
               commanders to discuss the draft plan's various courses of action. He then elected his preferred
               option. On the 3 lst, the Battle Staff Planning Group completed Operation Plan Desert Storm
               for the Commanding General's signature.

                    (S4 However, in order to accommodate other possible contingencies, Gen Schwarzkopf
d MARCENT to develop additional plans involving situations of partial and full
               withdrawal by Iraqi forces plus operations within the urban area of Kuwait City itself. Planning







                                                   UNCLASSIFIED

Document 17 f:/Week-35/BX600009/COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1ST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DEC 1990 FOLDER 2/command chronology for 1 dec 31 dec 1990:10119615450314
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-35
Box ID = BX600009
Unit = 1 MEF
Parent Organization = FMF PAC
Folder Title = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1ST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE DEC 1990 FOLDER 2
Folder Seq # = 5
Subject = COMMAND CHRONOLOGY FOR 1 DEC 31 DEC 1990
Document Seq # = 3
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 11-OCT-1996