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the Surgeon's Office was to obtain office space, setup with Little or no 
equipment, obtain computers and equipment, obtain transportation, establish 
communications through commercial nets initially, then tactical, and obtain 
secure communications. We located at Delta Villa of the United States Military 
Training Mission (USMTM) Compound in Riyadh. A simultaneous task was 
establishing office routine and coordinating our theater build with the 
USCENTCOM Surgeon's Office, the other components, and the 1711 AES (P). At one 
point for a couple of weeks the USCENTAF Surgeon was designated the USCENTCOM 
Forward Surgeon as Colonel Robert Belihar had not deployed yet. Indeed the 
theater build process was dynamic. Fortunately, our vast experience and close 
working relationships with DO, LG, DE, and SC staff gave us a leg up. We knew 
all the key USCENTAF headquarters players from Shaw AFB who had resources to 
assist in meeting requirements. The task was immense. Times were tense, 
particularly as Iraqi intentions were unclear. We constantly prepared for the 
worst case in this tactical environment.

Phase I: Defensive Operations

From a planning and operations standpoint our number one goal during Phase I of 
Operation Desert Shield was to get as much medical capability into the theater. 
This included hospital and aeromedical capability. It also meant lengthy 
coordination meetings with CENTCOM, Army, Navy, and British (Air Force and Army) 
planners. The Air Force's focus was to minimize Host

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