Joint Planning During Operation Anaconda
Operation Anaconda was the first large-scale Army combat operation that was carried out as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. This operation included joint efforts by Special Operations and multinational partners who worked together in the Shahi Kot Valley in Afghanistan in March 2002 (Isherwood, 2007). Operation Anaconda was a relatively complex operation since it was fought in rugged mountainous terrain that was characterized by extremely difficult circumstances for the soldiers. While the operation ended as a victory for the United States, eight American military personnel and over 50 soldiers were wounded. The operation is well documented as a joint forces’ victory regardless of the joint planning challenges or issues faced with gathering intelligence, command and control issues, initial planning flaws, and negative activities carried out both on the ground and in the air. This paper examines the challenges faced by the American and Coalition forces and how they impacted the success and effectiveness of these forces.
Challenges faced with Gathering Intelligence
Andres & Hukill (2009) state that while American and Coalition forces experienced problems during Operation Anaconda, these problems did not take place due to reasons commonly given. These forces experience problems that contributed to the loss of eight American soldiers and injuries on more than 50 due to inherent challenges in the planning, organization, and execution of the operation. Even though the operation achieved its objective of capturing or killing al Qaeda fighters in Shahi Kot Valley, it was characterized by some challenges in organization, planning, and execution (Isherwood, 2007). One of the problems or initial mistakes that occurred in the organization and planning of Operation Anaconda was challenges relating to gathering intelligence. According to Kugler, Baranick & Binnendijk (2009), Operation Anaconda did not conform to theories of information-age battles...
Reference
Andres, R.B. & Hukill, J.B. (2007). ANACONDA: A Flawed Joint Planning Process. Retrieved January 20, 2019, from http://www.au.af.mil/au/afri/aspj/apjinternational/apj-s/2009/3tri09/andreseng.htm
Fleri et al. (2003, November 13). Operation Anaconda Case Study. Retrieved from United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.
Isherwood, M.W. (2007). Five Years After Operation Anaconda - Challenges and Opportunities. Retrieved January 20, 2019, from https://www.northropgrumman.com/AboutUs/AnalysisCenter/Documents/pdfs/Five-Years-after-Operation-Ana.pdf
Kugler, R.L., Baranick, M. & Binnendijk, H. (2009, March). Operation Anaconda: Lessons for Joint Operations. Retrieved January 20, 2019, from https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/134858/DTP%2060%20Operation%20Anaconda.pdf
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