Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search

      NBC Defcnse




      nor knowledgeable of the current assignments at H   QMC, Plans operations and
      Requirements (POR), of two field grade billets to coordinate policy on nuclear aiid
      chen-Lical matters. If significant progress is to be made in correcting deficiencies
      identified in SWA, an effective, visible, focal point for Marine Corps NBC issues is a
      necessity.

             (S) They were also concerned with indiscrirrdnate assignment of NBC I)cfense
      Office- billets throughout I MEF. Chief Wan-ant Officer Four's (CW04's) were assigned
      to battalions while CW02's were assigned to the MEF staff and at division. Among
      themselves, NBC officers could not understand why those with the greatest staff
      experience were not placed in the key billets. in addition, they were concerned about
      not having a well defined career progression pattem and attributed this as one of the
      major factors leading to indiscriminate assignment at senior staff levels.6

             (S) Another major concem was the strong desire for division and I MEF level
      NBC officers to be included to a much greater extent in the infonnaeion loop on NBC
      related issues coordinated between fleet commands, HQMC(LRCC), MCLS Albany, and
      MCRDAC during the War.    7 These comments were mainly directed at poor coordination
      on new equipment fielding plans, lack of effective information flow down on new
      equipment options and fielding risks, and Planned distribution of equipment among
      Marine Corps forces operating in tl@e KTO." As an example, I MEF NBC officers and 2d
      MARDEV NBC officers surfaced one instance where reportedly, FMFLANT coordinated
      directly with MCPDAC to place urgently required M21 detectors for [ MEF on 4th MEB
      shipping to facilitate getting the detectors into theater. Apparently I MEF was not in on
      the decision loop and encountered major problems in reclaiming these critical assets
      from the 4th MEB, NAVCENT, once they arrived in the Persian Gulf.9

             (S) Inrm-staff coordination, especially on NBC defense supply matters, was often
      an uphill battle. Visibility on status and readiness of NBC defense equipment
      throughout the MEF was a major problem never resolved by the staff. The I MEF NBC
      officers had to contend with an influx of new information on industrial chemicals and a
      great deal of conflicting information on: equipment capabilities, equipment
      serviceability, medicants, new equipment fielding, and other issues. NBC defense


          6 MCCLS Tape #s 312, 313, 338, 434
          7MCCLS tape #'s 313, 338, 342, 434, 783 and others
          8 Discussion with I MEF(FWD) NBC Officer, June 91
          9 Interview with I MF-F(Rear) NBC Officer, 26 Feb 91



                                                                                                                 t

Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search