141st Signal Battalion Experience in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm:Combat Was Different from Training and Doctrine

摘要

The 141st Signal Battalion, 1st Armored Division, VII Corps, participated inOperations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, deploying from their forward location in Ansbach, Germany. The deployment created many unique challenges, which had never been considered in training. In addition, operations in the Southwest Asia theater were very different from those practiced in Europe. This monograph examines some of the most significant challenges that confronted the 141st, and focuses on issues where we fought differently than we trained or differently than doctrine stipulated. It will cover pre-deployment, deployment (including combat), and re-deployment phases, and will address topic areas of personnel, training, operations, logistics, and morale. It is not intended to be a comprehensive 'lessons learned' document, rather a discussion of those issues the battalion commander considers the most important. Through these examinations, perhaps future doctrine, training, and planning factors can be more realistically developed.