An undetermined number of Afghan fighters were also killed in the Operation Anaconda. Sadly, the Pashtun militia demonstrated they were profoundly out-skilled in comparison to their Northern Alliance counterparts. "First, technology overconfidence, particularly among high-ranking commanders and staff, deludes American forces into believing they can dissolve the fog of war. Grim 31, an AC-130 aircraft providing fire support and reconnaissance for the assault, spotted Harriman's convoy and, due to a failure in its inertial navigation system, believed it was in a position away from friendly forces (this was due to a problem with the "glint" panels which should have identified the convoy as American). The multiple commanders had no control over the other forces, and allied Afghan forces had equipment support to complete the mission. The plan called for an attack on the valley, along with units positioned in the mountains to the east to prevent escape into Pakistan. Unfortunately, the Razor Chinooks had not been equipped with functioning satellite radios to maintain communication with the HQ in Bagram or, even more critically, the AFO Teams lead. Many high-value targets did escape, reportedly the primary target of interest Osama bin Laden, due to the many negative circumstances that occurred during the planning and conduct of the mission. Mako 30 was forced off the peak due to the heavy fire and damage done. One of the difficulties a mission commander may encounter in a large scale operation such as OA is the principle of shared understanding. In the heavy fire fight that followed two Chinooks were shot down and a number of others were severely damaged. Operation Anaconda Command Structure. The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed analysis of the six principles of Mission Command and how they apply to Operation Anaconda. [27] This report has not been confirmed. This operation was the first large-scale battle in the post-2001 War in Afghanistan . Through threat of nearby enemy response elements, hypothermia and shock of wounded personnel, and across nearly 30" of snow in extreme terrain, Mako 21 found a site suitable for an MH-47. Action is power and no greater force catapults action like the power of war. Americans remained in the battle trusting in each others will to fight, morale, confidence, and the warrior ethos among them. It provided an example of the ability of the American military to accomplish the mission in the face of adversity and to succeed regardless of the chances for success. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Another feed from the same Predator showed a puff of heat [from a rifle] and the indistinct figure in front of it fall. It was fought in difficult mountain conditions and ended up with an American . Leaders cannot stress enough the significance of fabricating a command structure for combat operations. Through seven days of heavy, intense combat they were finally able to secure the very last objective. Develop an analytical essay using the six principles of mission command to appraise and compare the Operation Anaconda Case Study, March 2002. These assets were tasked instead to the TF Anvil troops. there are various rules and . "F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom", 2013, Neville, Leigh, Special Forces in the War on Terror (General Military), Osprey Publishing, 2015. National Defense University, Center for Technology and National Security. American forces eventually gained the upper hand, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban forces and pushing them out of the valley. Mutual trust is shared confidence which must flow through the entire chain of command. Agreeably, competence, and the principle of mutual trust correlate with each other. [11] In this engagement, Staff Sergeant Andrzej Ropel, and Specialist William Geraci, recently transferred in from the Division's Long Range Surveillance Detachment, led the squad under fire to a ridgeline above the "Halfpipe." They came under fire almost immediately after landing on their way to their objectives, and remained pinned down by heavy mortar fire and locked in a fierce firefight throughout the day. Staff tasks conduct the operations process, knowledge/information management, synchronize information-related capabilities, and conduct electromagnetic activities. Special operations teams from the AFO detachment led by Lieutenant Colonel Pete Blaber were to provide on-location reconnaissance in the Shahi-Kot Valley for the operation. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/apus/reader.action?docID=817138#. The first shots rung out the infantry took up security positions around the HLZ as the Chinooks lifted off and departed. Razor 02, which had been diverted to Gardez as Razor 01 was landing on Takur Ghar, returned with the rest of the quick-reaction force and Lieutenant Commander Hyder at 06:25. Further air support was provided by U.S. Navy units and French Air Force Mirage 2000Ds. The team came under immediate fire, and Air Force combat controller Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman was seriously injured, along with two Navy SEALs. The SEAL team Mako 30, regrouped and was ferried by nearby units to a CH-47 to go back to Takur Ghar and search for Roberts. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! With the recent long deployments of our military, a review of lessons learned becomes a vital part of mission success and helps to shape our forces for future conflicts. Operation Anaconda remains one of the most significant operations in Operating Enduring Freedom. Using his family's connections in the region Nasrullah Mansoor's son, Saif-ur-Rehman Mansoor, became the leading Taliban commander of Zurmat District in Paktia Province by 2002. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. [29] although this has not been confirmed by commanders. using some of the principles of Competence, mutual trust shared understanding, mission orders, commander's intent, disciplined initiative, and or risk accepted, Analyze and evaluate the major points of the case study for research to write your persuasive essay. The Taliban subsequently portrayed the operation as a "historical battle" and a "beginning of the sacred jihad against the occupation of Afghanistan", praising Saifur Rehman Mansoor's leadership. While attempting to land at the top of Taku Ghar, their helicopter was hit with an RPG. TF Hammer consisted of a large force of Afghan militia led by Zia Lodin and the Special Forces A-teams Texas 14/ODA 594 and Cobra 72/ODA 372. "Roberts Ridge" Bantam Dell (New York), 2013: Macpherson, Malcolm. Knowledge and experience are increased through self-development, training, education, classwork, and realistic simulations. This type of shared understanding was not initially achieved by the commanders of the U.S. forces. In his mind, as the mission commander of his team, he calculated the risk against him and his team. If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. Bahmanyar, Mir. [37] They were replaced by CTF 82, formed from the headquarters of the 82d Airborne Division and led by the division's commander, Major General John R. Vines. Forces flattening entire villages during Operation Anaconda: 'Let's go, free to pillage' (). AMF (Afghan Militia Forces): Commander Zia (Task Force Hammer), Kamil Khan and Zakim Khan (Task Force Anvil). 1,300 words on the Operation Anaconda Case Study. [26], It is not certain whether the sailor died immediately or was killed by opposing soldiers. During the SovietAfghan War, Mujahideen leader Malawi Nasrullah Mansoor was in charge of the valley and invited foreign jihadists to base themselves in the Lower Shahikot. The exercise of mission command assimilates mission command philosophy with mission command warfighting functions. AFO's only frustration was that Rakkasan ETAC/JTAC had priority for calling in airstrikes over the AFOs requests and the other SOF reconnaissance teams in and around the valley. [13][pageneeded] The amount of conventional assets allowed in Afghanistan was limited by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and civilian defense leadership. [16], SOF teams from Task Force K-Bar and Task Force 64, which included: Navy SEALs from SEAL Teams 2, 3 and 8, Green Berets from 3rd SFG, The Canadian Army's Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), The German Army's Kommando Spezialkrfte (KSK), the Norwegian special forces units Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK) and Marinejegerkommandoen (MJK), elements of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and the New Zealand Special Air Service and the Danish special forces from Jgerkorpset. . ProQuest Ebook Central. The mission order briefs the why, who, what, where, when of the mission, but not necessarily how. It is now accepted that the level of prudent risk has been maximally mitigated to ensure the greatest chance at success while minimalizing the chance for negative outcomes. Task Force K-Bar: ODAs from the 3rd SFG. It is clear and direct but not to the point of impeding the decision of subordinates in battle, but not vague to where it results in confusion and indecisiveness. Regardless of mitigation, some risk remains and all from the highest commander to the Soldier in the operational environment understands and accepts the risk. Operation Anaconda began before dawn on 2 March 2002. The mutual trust would have to be achieved before American lives would be put in danger. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. During shared experiences, the two-way communication and interaction between the commander, subordinates, and Soldiers reinforces trust. This essay conducts an analytical overview to Operation Anaconda, a military operation conducted in Eastern Afghanistan in early March of 2002. Operation Anaconda Introduction The philosophy of mission command is guided by six interdependent principles: building mutual trust, creating shared understanding, providing a clear commander's intent, applying specific action, implementing mission commands, and accepting strategic risk. Since this endeavor is inherent within all human will, it then seems agreeable, that so long as the human will exist then so will the probability of war. The fighters were a mix of well equipped Uzbeks, Chechens, and Afghan Arabs. The commanders intent is usually given with the principle of mission orders. The commanders intent for OA was clear and concise. Operations planning took place in February of 2002 and was executed from 2-16 March. When a mortar team from the 1-87 Infantry was hit by enemy mortar fire, Wallace put himself in harm's way, collecting some of the wounded by dragging them into the creek bed, then dressing their wounds along with another SASR liaison officer. [2] Estimates of Al-Qaeda and Taliban casualties range from 100 to 1,000, with U.S. commanders favoring the higher estimates and Afghan commanders favoring the lower estimates. Introduction Operation Anaconda was a subordinate joint combat operation, during Operation Enduring Freedom, (Lyle 2012) to be carried out in the Shahi Kot Valley located in southeastern Afghanistan. The philosophy of mission command is guided by six interdependent principles: build cohesive teams through mutual trust, create shared understanding, provide a clear commander's intent, exercise . The original plan did not survive first contact with the enemy, but coalition force's ability to adapt under fire was able to secure victory. A stronger creation of shared understanding between the U.S. military and the Pashtun militia would have assisted in providing more ownership of their critical role in the mission. One of the F-15E pilots later acknowledged that this may have been a communication directing Grim-31 to cease fire. And because there is also inherent goodness within the will of human endeavor, so is the attempt to minimize death and casualties. On February 28, on the eve of the operation, three AFO teams were covertly infiltrated into the valley, one codenamed Juliet was made up of 5 Delta operators with a signals intelligence specialist from the ISA, entered the valley on ATVs from the north, driving through the night in adverse weather conditions, eventually reaching a covert hide on the eastern side of the valley. Student's Name University Course Professor Date. Ropel was later awarded the Bronze Star Medal with a Valor device for his actions. They were unable to get a clear answer from the officer they reached and also were unable to connect with the AFO teams. Not a Good Day to Die, Berkley Reprint, This page was last edited on 2 December 2022, at 01:20. Looking for a flexible role? (LogOut/ The primary objective of the operation was to eradicate the enemy presence that had gathered in the valley. Also, unfortunately, the pilot of the Razor 01 was not told about the enemy's anti-aircraft location on top of the mountain. OA demonstrated collaboration between countries, government agencies, various special operation groups, different military components, and companies of large ground forces. The insurgents used their ZPU-1 antiaircraft guns, DSHK and small arms fire against the attack helicopters supporting the Rakkasans. As TF Hammer continued, it suffered from a lack of unit cohesion because of the transportation difficulties. The inherent will to survive and promote or impose ideas on the will of others will always carry with it the possibility of war. Finally, between several generals including SOF generals; the principle of shared understanding is exemplified as they agreed that command and control would be more effective under a conventional generalship under General Franks with SOF as a support element (Lambeth p. 167-168). Around this time command decided to change the frequencies for satellite radio communications which different units, including the AFO teams in their reconnaissance positions, were relying on to conduct and adapt the mission as the battle unfolded. At 03:45, the Ranger quick reaction force was alerted by the DCG to the area. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. TF Hammer consisted of AMF and special operators as the primary effort to assault the Shahi-Kot Valley; their objective was to enter the valley from the north, assaulting through the villages of Serkhankheyl and Marzak, where intelligence indicated that the enemy was concentrated, and channel fleeing enemy into the TF Rakkasan blocking positions. Supported by 16 Apaches, 5 USMC Cobras helicopters and several A-10A ground attack aircraft; the Rakkasans methodically cleared an estimated 130 caves, 22 bunkers and 40 buildings to finally secure the valley. The QRF's Chalk 2 moved up the mountain to assist Chalk 1. [30][31], General Tommy Franks declares Operation Anaconda over, later describing it "an unqualified and complete success. Major Bryan Hilferty states that the "major battle ended three or four days ago." Copyright 2003 - 2023 - UKEssays is a trading name of Business Bliss Consultants FZE, a company registered in United Arab Emirates. Significantly, the commanders intent should not be a repetition of why the mission is occurring, but a broader clear, and concise general purpose of the concept of the mission. Operation Anaconda is viewed as a success due to coalition forces being able to kill and root out several hundred Taliban and al Qaeda fighters, which left U. S. and coalition forces in control of the Shah-i-Khot Valley. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! They were able to establish communications via a line-of-sight radio with the teams of the AFO positioned around the Takur Ghar, taking advantage of the AFO's knowledge of enemy movements in real time. Slabinskis primary mission was to take a SEAL team up a 10,000-foot snowy mountain and establish an observation post to report enemy movement. Using a McMillan TAC-50 .50-calibre rifle, Furlong killed a Taliban fighter armed with an RPK machine gun at a confirmed distance of 2,430 metres (1.51 miles). [6] This operation was the first large-scale battle in the post-2001 War in Afghanistan since the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. Mission Command in Operation Anaconda: An Analysis (Essay Sample) Instructions: Analyze and evaluate the major points of your case study for research to write your persuasive essay. Also on March 4, 2nd Battalion of the Rakkasans air assaulted into the eastern end of the valley, immediately attacking the heights under Apache cover. Military Science case study. An undetermined number of rebels are said to have escaped the fighting through rugged terrain. It provided an example of the ability of the American military to accomplish the mission in the face of adversity and to succeed regardless of the chances for success. This type of command structure inhibited the commanders on the ground to exercise disciplined initiative. In the wake of Operation Anaconda, relations between US and UK forces on the ground soured when Stars and Stripes, the magazine for American forces and their families, openly criticized the Royal Marines for returning "empty-handed" from their search for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters claiming that Britain's contribution to the campaign was "disappointing. The operation ran into problems from the outset. The U.S. forces had not created mutual trust in order to build a cohesive team with this Pashtun militia. And with that necessary evil comes a necessarily great mission commander. The seven principles of mission command are applicable in every combat scenario. The forces used, consisting of the 187th Infantry Regiment ("Rakkasans") of the 101st Airborne Division, led by Colonel Frank Wiercinski, and soldiers of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, led by Lieutenant Colonel Paul LaCamera, were to be inserted by CH-47D Chinooks, supported by 6 AH-64A Apache helicopters and secure these blocking positions. [23], Despite heavy opposition, Task Force Rakkasan managed to secure its blocking positions to the north by the middle of the morning. Originally, an insertion point 1,400 metres (1,500yd) east of the peak was identified, but due to uncontrollable time constraints, the SEALs of Mako 30 were forced into an insertion to the peak itself. It was obvious from this viewpoint that the proximity of friendly forces to the enemy positions was preventing sufficient suppressive firepower from being used due to danger close distance to both Mako 30 and QRF chalk 1. A rocket-propelled grenade then hit the helicopter, destroying the right engine and forcing it to crash land. Several soldiers were injured after their jingle trucks overturned, the commanders ordered the trucks to use their headlights, destroying any element of surprise. Hyder saw the need to assist Mako 21 who at that time had two dead and two injured, one of them non-ambulatory. American Forces mistakenly landed in the middle of the valley, instead of the outside and were immediately caught in the Taliban's kill zone. However, valuable lessons were learned from Operation Anaconda and utilized in future engagements. It also demonstrated the fragility of the relationship between those principles when the required attention to those principles was not applied. It was decided to use U.S. conventional infantry. The idea is to plan sufficiently enough to reduce the chaos and uncertainty and destroy the enemies will to fight encouraged by the commanders ability to organize mission command through its seven principles. For instance, airstrikes had to be approved by a different commander than the one commanding the ground operations. Mutual Trust Life Solutions; Pan-American Life Insurance; Annual Report; Company News; Find a Representative; Careers Save Time! The successes and failures of this operation, in particular, were used to modify the relationship between unified land operations and mission command. A shared understanding of the common operating picture is now a prerequisite, and that shared understanding supports only one (not multiple) intent(s). The primary fire support for the troops was provided by two McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apaches of the 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Aviation Brigade ("Eagle Attack"). The following is a look at exactly how the principles of mission command were compromised. Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces. By July the tactical-level units from the 10th Mountain Division and the 101st Airborne Division, including TF Rakkasan, had all b. The battle area occupied about 60 square miles. [citation needed] Though the change may have been meant to enhance direct control of the rescue of the downed SEAL atop Takur Ghar, it had the critical effect of severely limiting communications between the different teams participating in the battle. Mission orders are the guide by which tasks are assigned, resources are allocated and guidance is issued. Other units that took part are the B Co. 159th Avn Rgt, 75th Ranger Regiment,[18] Joint Special Operations Command and CIA's Special Activities Division and British Royal Marines. U.S. forces had estimated the strength of the rebels in the Shahi-Kot Valley at 150 to 200, but later information suggested the actual strength was of 500 to 1,000 fighters. However, the Chinook experienced engine difficulties, and new MH-47s were dispatched to replace the original helicopters. (2007). He realized he would not return home to see his son. Operation Anaconda was also met with criticism. The helicopter crash-landed shortly after. The six principles of mission command are: build cohesive teams through mutual trust, create shared understanding, provide a clear commander's intent, exercise disciplined initiative, use mission orders, and accept prudent risk. As they approached, the pilots and SEALs observed tracks in the snow and other signs of recent human activity. [9], In February 2002, a Special Forces intelligence analyst working for Task Force Bowie began to identify patterns that led him to believe that surviving al-Qaeda forces were massing in the Lower Shahikot Valley, some 60 miles south of Gardez. Case Study of Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. An Afghan warlord named Zia Lodin is one of the main leaders of the Afghan allies that are fighting against, and have been fighting the Taliban for decades. Lang, Katie. TF Rakkasan and TF Hammer fought all day with the AFO teams calling in continuous airstrikes on al-Qaeda positions while Apaches protected the Rakkasans on the valley floor. The operation took place in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains southeast of Zormat. Abstract. This operation provided many examples of how the principles of mission command are interwoven into the capability to conduct unified land operations. At the end of Operation Anaconda, the US and Afghan forces had succeeded at removing the majority of the Al-Qaeda and Taliban presence from the Shahi-Kot Valley. Because of this adaptation, the necessary adjustments were made and the tide of the battle would soon turn in favor of the Americans. (2019). The two Apaches were damaged early on in the day, one Apache was forced to return to base when an RPG destroyed its left-side Hellfire mount sending shrapnel through the airframe; as well as being peppered by small arms, further RPG rounds and DShK rounds (one DShK round penetrated the cockpit narrowly missing the pilots). The mission was aimed at destroying the terrorist forces labeled Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The Ranger quick-reaction force located at Bagram Air Base and led by Captain Nate Self, was called in to search for the SEAL who fell out of the helicopter, now alone on top of the mountain. Mission command is accomplished through the execution of staff tasks that are defined by the commander tasks and these tasks define the mission command warfighting function. According to an interview[36] of some soldiers of the German Special Forces KSK, the post-operation briefing was broken down by an argument between the KSK soldiers and U.S. soldiers. The goal of shared understanding is that commanders, staffs, and unified action partners will possess a shared understanding of their operational environment, the operations purpose, problems, and approaches to solving them. This operation was the first large-scale battle in the US war in Afghanistan since the Battle of Tora Bora in December 2001. This round closed in on around 10 men, including the two Australians and most of the American leadership, landing in the snow and mud right amongst them but failing to detonate. 3 main talking points is Competence, Mutual Trust & Shared Understanding. The operation began on March, 1, 2002, and lasted for 17 days, taking place in the Shahikot Valley of eastern Afghanistan (Council on Foreign Relations, 2017). The philosophy of mission command is supported by seven fundamental principles established in ADP 6-0 competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commanders intent, mission orders, disciplined initiative, risk acceptance (p. 19). Furthermore, they had no command over the Special Operation Forces (SOF). The record for the longest combat kill by a sniper was set during Operation Anaconda by Canadian Army sniper Corporal Rob Furlong of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and held for seven years until surpassed in 2009. The initiative is disciplined because the decision made when engaged in an operational paradox is controlled within the parameters of the commanders intent. The success of the operation was mainly due to the commanders recognizing and acting on the information received (Fleri, Howard, Hukill, & Searle, 2003). The competence of Americas military forces was tested in the battles of Operation Anaconda (OA). Only after the adaptation of mission orders did the acceptable prudent risk factor become acceptable. In late January and February plans were drawn up to assault the Shahi-Kot Valley using Afghan military forces (AMF) advised and assisted by U.S. special operators. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. 3.3 foreign exchange department (fed) foreign exchange transaction plays a vital role in the economic development of a nation. One of the most significant and famous operations of the global war on terrorism. Previously stated; the commanders intent does not emphasize the why of the mission, but the mission order does. [35] The previous record of 2,310 metres (7,580ft) was set a few days before by his teammate Arron Perry, also of the 3rd Battalion PPCLI. All three teams were tasked with confirming enemy strengths and dispositions including antiaircraft emplacements, ensuring the designated Rakkasan HLZs were clear of obstructions and providing terminal guidance for air support both prior to and during the insertion of conventional forces. Operation Anaconda demonstrated a breakdown in all six mission command philosophy principles and became the catalyst for changing the way war was conducted by the United States. At approximately 06:10, Razor 01 reached the landing zone. At that moment, Slabinski decided to change the primary mission to a rescue mission after Petty Officer Roberts. Australian soldiers had utilised 'virtual reality' style software for mission rehearsal prior to insertion, and this contributed significantly to their situational awareness in the darkness and poor weather conditions. A paper written by Col. Andrew Milani (Former commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment) and Dr. Stephen D. Biddle entitled "Pitfalls of Technology: A Case Study of the battle of Takur Ghar" noted that the Predator was on station 90 minutes after Roberts had fallen; the images that were shot before the Predator had arrived were shot by GRIM-32's Infrared Cameras.

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