battalion consolidated with the Division in Mosul. Although as unfamiliar with the
area as its supported unit, the civil affairs battalion quickly focused on post-
combat operations and assisted the division commander, staff, and brigade
combat teams as they set about the tasks to establish civil security, assess
conditions, organize local industry, and reconstitute local governance in the city
and throughout the province.
Recommendation.
1. Prepare for the early and continuous consolidation of gains when planning
combat operations.
2. Identify the civil considerations (e.g., major populated areas; internally
displaced persons operations; food, water, transportation, medical, government,
and industrial capabilities; etc.) in the operational environment that that may pose
challenges or be useful to U.S. Forces.
3. Designate civil affairs forces to focus exclusively on those civil considerations
in specified geographic areas and to:
a. Conduct civil intelligence preparation of the battlefield before entering the
area of operations.
b. Monitor changing conditions in these areas during military or crisis
operations.
c. Develop and execute coordinated plans to consolidate gains and return
areas to "normalcy" as soon as possible.
Implications.
If these recommendations are not implemented, maneuver commanders will
struggle to gain and/or maintain situational understanding during critical periods
of transition in unified land operations. They risk losing momentum and will likely
miss opportunities to trigger operational branches and sequels designed to
consolidate gains and facilitate future operations.
Event Description.
This lesson is based on readings, observations, and comparisons of stabilization
activities in World War II, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lesson Author: COL(R) Dennis J. Cahill, Deputy Director, CA
Force Modernization, USAJFKSWCS/SOCoE
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