MEDICAL LESSONS LEARNED

File: aaata_20.txt
Page: 20
Total Pages: 36

MEDICAL LESSONS LEARNED
DESERT SHIELD/STORM

CATEGORY: Mobility

ISSUE/ITEM:.

SUBJECT: Issue of Cold Weather Gear

BACKGROUND: Standard mobility B-Bags contain cold weather gear. Deliberate
plans dictate that all standard (A/B/C) bags will be issued according to theater
requirements and personnel needs.

DISCUSSION: Personnel deployed to USAFE were not issued B-Bags, although cold
weather was extreme at the employment site. Early requests to ship B-Bags were
denied. Late in the deployment, ATC received authorization to ship parkas to our
personnel. By the time parkas were received and issued, weather conditions had
moderated.

The lack of adequate gear for cold weather conditions was perhaps
the major negative morale factor in this deployment. Adequate gear was available
but not authorized for shipment or use.

ACTION RECOMMENDED:

(1) More thoroughly consider any deviation from deliberate plans
for issue of personnel gear.

(2) Develop flexible back-up plans for rapid shipment or alternate
issue procedures for required items.

SUGGESTED OPRs/OCRs: HQ USAF/SGHR
HQ USAFE/LG/SG

SUBMITTER: [(b)(2)] HQ ATC/SGAX