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(3) AELT Equipment. 
 
Observation. AELT load out capabilities were 
severely restricted due to lack of sufficient vehicle space needed 
to accommodate assigned personnel and equipment. ~ 
Discussion. With an acknowledged problem in cubic 
feet and weight of AELT equipment currently authorized under TA 
903, the addition of another radio operator and MSC to each 
package effectively compromised their already suspect mobility. 
Even during predeployment activities conducted in CONUS, decisions 
had to be made regarding how much authorized equipment would not 
be taken due to excessive weight and cube of those items currently 
mandated. TA-903 equipment required to support an AELT, to 
include the required 100-percent back up communications and power 
production systems, quite simply will not fit on the single M-1008 
4X4 truck authorized/assigned to transport the entire package. 
Obviously, the same M-1008 would not be able to accept additional 
personnel/equipment associated with an augmented AELT. 
Recommendation. Request changes to TA-012 to add an 
appropriately-sized trailer to the AELT loadout. The preferred 
long-term solution would be to revise current TA-903 equipment 
authorizations to ensure smaller, lighter, more mobile equipment 
for liaison teams. 
 
(4) Tentage. 
Observation. General purpose canvas tents were not 
suitable for the harsh desert environment. 
Discussion. Canvas tents dry rotted quickly in the 
desert heat, and they required constant maintenance. They were 
also very uncomfortable in the extreme temperatures, being 
difficult to heat and impossible to cool. Patients requiring 
thermo-regulation had to-be kept in air conditioned ambulances or 
located in other more suitable facilities. Finally, they were 
extremely hard to stabilize in high winds, since they couldn't be 
anchored well in the desert sands. The vast majority of Air Force 
elements deployed to Saudi Arabia used the more functional temper 
tents and environmental control units. AE elements used temper 
tents in lieu of canvas whenever they could get them. The 
overwhelming consensus was that they were vastly superior to 
canvas in virtually every respect. One major drawback is the 
increased weight and cubic footage requirement for airlift. 
However, that seems to be an acceptable price to pay in light of 
their many advantages. 
Recommendation. Use of temper tents to support AE 
requirements was adequately tested during this Operation. They 
are clearly the equipment of choice. Canvas tents should be used 
for initial response AE elements only. Once theater operations 
stabilize, temper tents could replace the canvas tents. 
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