The U.S. joint task force experience in Liberia

Military Review, May-June, 2005 by Blair A. Ross, Jr.

* Echeloning the deployment of JTF headquarters C2.

* Assessing, equipping, training, and deploying ECOWAS forces; providing intelligence support and logistical sustainment to ECOWAS.

* Providing a quick response force (QRF).

* Conducting information operations (IO).

* Protecting the force.

End-state conditions desired were for--

* Monrovia to have a stable infrastructure in place to enable resumption of humanitarian assistance by humanitarian organizations.

* ECOMIL to transition to a UN-led force.

* The JTF to redeploy and stand down.

* A transitional government to be in place in Liberia.

The mission statement and commander's intent were critical to the JTF's future efforts to ward off mission creep. With the EUCOM commander and joint staff's early approval of the mission statement and commander's intent, the JTF commander had a solid anchor point that clearly defined mission parameters and the end state. As the mission played out, the JTF frequently came under pressure to expand its mission; the mission and intent paragraphs served as the JTF's consistent azimuth to achieving U.S. military objectives without inordinately expanding the scope of the U.S. commitment.

A Joint Solution

In addition to SETAF headquarters, the JTF had been allocated ground, air, sea, and special operations forces. Commanded by Captain David Taylor, the Navy's three-ship Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group provided the platform for the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and other operational capabilities. The MEU, commanded by Colonel Andy Frick, consisted of about 2,200 Marines, 24 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and ground combat and support vehicles.

The 3d U.S. Air Force (USAF), under Major General Michael Wooley, served as the USAF component for the duration of JTF operations. The 3d Air Force's 398th Air Expeditionary Group, based in Iceland, deployed to Freetown and Dakar in late June to provide noncombatant evacuation operations and other capabilities. It served as the USAF component's forward headquarters element during the operation.

Teams from the Army's 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), deployed to eight ECOWAS countries between 23 July and 11 September to conduct baseline assessments of forces slated for peacekeeping duty in Liberia. U.S. Army Europe's 21st theater support command had an on-call mission to provide logistical support should the commercial firm the U.S. Department of State contracted with to provide support was unable to fulfill its commitments in this dangerous and austere environment.

In late July the JTF established a seven-member forward coordination element at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. Working with John Blaney, the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, and his country team, the forward coordination element provided a critical link in coordinating the JTF's operations with the Embassy, the UN, and other humanitarian organizations in Monrovia.

At the national level, the U.S. Embassy and Department of State worked to secure international support for the ECOMIL force. In the early stages, the Department of State provided a $10 million contract to provide contract air and sealift, communications, and other support.