OBSERVATIONS AND THOUGHTS OF DESERT SHIELD

File: aacbe_06.txt
Page: 06
Total Pages: 6

       pre-positioned them at the right airfields, or with sufficient
       transport to get them to the right ones quickly? These theatre
       issues have undoubtedly been worked. They are raised here only
       in the interests of completeness' since I'm not in the know on
       their solution.

       KING KAHLID INTERNATIONAL
          (b)(2)]
      
       Primary threats: terrorist attack. Possible one way air
       attack from Iraq or Yemen, SCUD missiles.
          Most functionally laid out and best protected ATH seen.
       Discussed with Gen Buethe and Col Randolph the possibility of
       SAC play in from 1-4 ATMs, either to generate anew (an per Cairo
       west) or to flow into [at some to be defined rotation point], as
       at King Kahlid. In the latter case,  I'd personally like to see
       unit integrity maintained to the greatest degree possible; so I'd
       vote for large unit swapouts' with appropriate administrative
       overlap. My recall of the conversation was that this made the
       most sense to CENTAF/SG as well. SAC can also donate personnel
       on a more piecemeal basis/ but this has much less appeal to me.
       Also discussed the support which the tactical flying units
       have gotten from their indigenous SMEs, and compared that product
       to the one provided by SAC-deployed FSs, some of whose flying
       elements have rotated,  with them still in the field. Problem is,
       SAC doesn't often deploy as a unit,  more usually with only a few
       ships. When planes [not always from the same base] hit a critical
       mass,  we crank in the FS and technician support,  who in turn
       become part of the support element tied to the TBD rotation
       policy. Having seen the comparison between that mode and the
       tactical forces, agree with CENTAF/SC that theirs is a better way
       to go. Discussed with CINCSAC and SAC/XP. They agreed to open a
       package for coordination to look at alignment like TAC's,  specif-
       ically with SMEs as integral part of flying units.
       Strategic concern: Is it tine to make the same move as in the
       last paragraph across the whole Air Force? I haven't discussed
       the disadvantages or the risks which are certainly real. But
       there may never be a better opportunity. A Corona topic?
      
      
       Michael J. Torma,  Brig. Gen, USAF MC
       Command Surgeon,  SAC
       Offutt AFB, Ne