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units to provide full support to deployed AE elements necessitated
procurement of additional tentage, environmental control units
(ECUs), light sets, refrigerators, fans, LMR rechargers, and a
host of other items required for billeting as well as patient care
and comfort. Additionally, some CONUS units sent tasked UTGs to
the theater without their full complement of AGE. These
conditions quickly led to a shortfall in power-production
equipment and inherent capability. Additional generators of _
sufficient number and significantly increased power capacity were
obtained through CENTAF and local purchase procurement channels.
Acknowledging a requirement for sustained self-sufficiency and
additional electrical equipment to support AE operations, the need
for complete overhaul of the concept of operations for field
elements is abundantly clear.
Recommendation. Once an employable concept of
operations for field elements is agreed upon, applicable tables of
allowance need to be reviewed and revised, and power-production
equipment offering maximum capability under potentially extreme
conditions needs to be procured. These actions must be fully
coordinated with qualified power production and AGE specialists to
ensure capacity, maintainability and compatibility with AE mission
requirements.
(3) Equipment Maintenance.
Observation. Maintenance for vehicles, AGE and
communications equipment was difficult to support and obtain in a
timely manner.
Discussion. During the eight-month deployment,
equipment maintenance capability was often difficult to obtain,
while vehicle repair was slow to nonexistent. Harsh desert
environments took a rapid toll on all equipment due to extreme
heat, dirt and dust. Effect on radio gear was reduced once the
equipment could be housed in ECU-supported tents, but vehicles and
AGE suffered increased failure rates because of exposure and
appropriate fuel availability. AGE and communications maintenance
personnel were dispersed to AECEs in a successful effort to
provide more timely support to outlying AE elements, but they were
hampered by a lack of appropriate tools, technical data and spare
parts. Vehicle and AGE maintenance was initially offered by
sister services on a "space available" basis, although spare parts
were extremely limited where AE equipment was noncompatible with
that of the host. When needed, parts had to be ordered through a
generally unresponsive procurement process involving USAF supply
channels or local purchase contracts, where available.
Recommendation. Military interdepartmental purchase
requests (MIPRs) and comptroller fund cites need to be coordinated
during predeployment activities so that rapid access to host
maintenance can be effected. War readiness spares kits (WRSKs)
need to be authorized and established for deployment with
communications and AGE personnel. WRSKs should also be designed
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