“Seams” During Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector
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Logistics Support “Seams” U.S. Air Force (Marc I. Lane) (Marc U.S. Air Force During Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector By W.A. BROWN and BRENT CORYELL Here’s the complexity of this operation—you have kinetic effects in one Geographic Combatant Command (GCC), generated out of another GCC, partnered with a coalition, with resources from a third GCC, then NATO reinforced by interna- tional partners [that are] not a part of NATO. —USEUCOM Chief of Staff, April 12, 2011 Rear Admiral W.A. Brown, SC, USN, served as the Director of the Logistics Directorate (J4), U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), during U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Libya operations. U.S. Airmen prepare B-1B Lancer in Lieutenant Colonel Brent Coryell, LG, USA, served as the Executive Officer of the Logistics Directorate (J4), support of Operation Odyssey Dawn USEUCOM, during U.S. and NATO Libya operations. ndupress.ndu.edu issue 68, 1 st quarter 2013 / JFQ 73 COMMENTARY | Logistics Support “Seams” he collective and collabora- and USAFRICOM operation centers carefully implications, leverage information-sharing tive efforts of U.S. European monitored events as international pressure technology with a broad array of organiza- Command (USEUCOM), U.S. mounted for action in support of the Libyan tions, and facilitate collaboration and full T Africa Command (USAF- insurgency. The decision to engage kinetically situational awareness of the activities of RICOM), and the North Atlantic Treaty took a relatively short time in political terms, logistics planners. One simple but key tool Organization (NATO) to support Operations particularly considering the complex political for efficient coordination among support Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector from equities involved as well as the daunting oper- organizations was the use of Defense Connect March to October 2011 represented a remark- ational considerations. Odyssey Dawn and Online (DCO), a virtual conferencing capa- able and challenging logistics undertaking for Unified Protector introduced USAFRICOM bility. Daily online collaboration sessions all of these organizations. Consequently, the for the first time as a geographic combatant synchronized lines of effort and information experience offers a number of insights that command that faced committing armed sharing not only between the two involved can enhance our ability to prepare for, plan, assets to a United Nations–sanctioned opera- combatant commands but also among the and manage future joint endeavors. Odyssey tion. Odyssey Dawn transitioned to Unified U.S. Transportation Command, USEUCOM, Dawn took off so fast that the operation Protector on March 31, 2011, and thus became and USAFRICOM Service components; started as a “come as you are event,” without a NATO- vice USAFRICOM-led operation. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA); and a major force deployments from the conti- Initial American forces included global multitude of other high-level agencies. The nental United States and rapidly evolving strike assets from U.S. bases and forces DCOs fostered constructive multidirectional staff structures and alignments. Most of the forward positioned in Europe, both ashore discussions that minimized redundancy of operational forces “belonged” to USEUCOM and afloat. The commander, U.S. Naval Forces effort, clarified roles and responsibilities, and but were employed in support of, and by, Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet, quickly resolved mission challenges. USAFRICOM. This is not unusual in terms amassed surface and subsurface capabilities One critical issue associated with crisis of how U.S. forces are assigned globally, but that operated primarily in the USEUCOM response or short “lead time” operations in this case, the forces also operated from AOR and within the boundaries set by the is the coordination of air routes including USEUCOM’s area of responsibility (AOR). Odyssey Dawn joint operating area, which diplomatic clearances, logistical deconflic- This ad hoc construct, compounded by the covered Libya and extended north into the tion with international partners, and other matters. One valuable enabler was use of Standard Theater Airlift Routes (STAR) in international waters, the Navy was not encumbered during initial resupply operations. Similar by restrictions on flying U.S. combat operations in concept to a local bus circuit, the STAR consists of several preplanned air routes established for Europe-based C-130 aircraft shift to a NATO-led operation, added to the Mediterranean Sea. The U.S. Navy immedi- to fly cargo to designated locations. A load complexity and created a number of logistics ately held an advantage over the Air Force is placed on a previously scheduled mission issues that required close coordination, flex- for initial strike options during the planning along the STAR and then removed at the ibility, and a pervasive cooperative spirit. phase. While in international waters, the required destination. A major advantage is This article is intended to share logistics Navy was not encumbered by restrictions on the time saved by not having to apply for dip- observations, insights, and lessons learned flying U.S. combat operations. U.S. Air Forces lomatic clearances because routes are preap- while supporting these operations. While Europe, through 3rd Air Force (Air Forces proved through each country of transit. Over many of the support concepts and creative Europe), supported 17th Air Force (Air Forces time, the frequency of intratheater, Unified “solutions” from Odyssey Dawn and Unified Africa) by flying missions with forward posi- Protector–related movements declined, Protector were tailored specifically for those tioned aircraft. Within short order, additional resulting in more capacity than require- efforts, this is likely how almost all future nations joined the operation and forward ments, and USEUCOM swiftly reverted to logistics operations will be conducted. The basing was required. Libya’s distance from requirement-based missions. major observations in this article revolve Central Europe dictated moving strike aircraft Setting the Theater. Access, basing, and around three major themes: the no-notice operations to locations further south and in bed down, and reception, staging, onward- nature of the initial efforts, complexity of the Mediterranean littorals. movement, and integration (RSO&I) are a few the logistics enterprise, and issues associated of the many key aspects of “setting the theater.” with USEUCOM-USAFRICOM-NATO coor- Setting the Theater and Transfer to Our nation’s ability to respond to global crises dination. Many of the logistics techniques NATO and sustain operations depends on access and procedures developed and used by Initial Phase. During the initial startup agreements, overseas basing, and global USEUCOM, USAFRICOM, and NATO can of the operations, USEUCOM and USAFRI- en route infrastructure. The United States offer insights for future logistics planning, COM were able to employ existing logistics must work closely with its European Allies doctrine, and execution. management capabilities at their command to support operations from European facili- headquarters. The close coordination between ties. The ports and bases where U.S. forces Background the commands and the well-integrated staff are assigned in European nations (except As events unfolded across Northern processes enabled leaders to monitor opera- Germany) are not sovereign U.S. territory, and Africa in 2010 and early 2011, USEUCOM tions and assess logistics requirements and thus all U.S. access, basing, and operations are 74 JFQ / issue 68, 1 st quarter 2013 ndupress.ndu.edu BROWN and CORYELL subject to host nation approval. There are gen- heavily on tourism, but all the hotels were and other nations on periodic conference erally bilateral agreements that stipulate limi- filled with Unified Protector personnel. The calls, but it lacked staff officers with specific tations on operations and other restrictions to hotel owners saw the operation as a one-time functional expertise, such as fuel coordina- how host nation territory may be used. event, and tour operators represent repeat tion specialists, to properly forecast, compile, As preparation to enforce the no-fly business. With hoteliers hesitant about evict- coordinate, and up-channel requirements zone gathered momentum, USEUCOM ing the military but concerned about their to a central fuels coordinator. Most of the became a lead for bed down and base support. economy, joint logistics planners made a support coordination efforts simply consisted This was no small task as there were 18 bases move to find additional billeting—and fast. of the development of logistics agreements in eight European countries involved in Navy Seabees and Air Force civil engineers and arrangements, with the United States Unified Protector. The simultaneous enhance- built a 500-person tent city literally from the routinely serving as the lead agent for most ment of 11 air bases for the large and quick ground up. The availability of prepositioned commodities and capabilities. Establishment influx of units and materiel required tremen- tents and the construction support (man- of routine logistics status reports required a dous coordination across U.S. and allied forces power and equipment) to build a tent city significant amount of staff coordination. throughout Europe. Of note was the extraor- ended up being a critical factor in sustaining dinary work done at Moron, Aviano, Souda the campaign. Beans, Bullets, Oil—Keep