----- Original Message -----
From: "Global Network" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 10:07:07 -0500
To: "Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [globenet] PLANNING PATH FOR WAR IN KOREA
Air Force Link News
http://www.af.mil/news/Dec2002/121802349.shtml
Special forces join combined planning operation
by Master Sgt. Michael Farris
353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
12/18/02
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) -- Members of the 353rd Special
Operations Group, Kadena Air Base, Japan, joined with members of South
Korea's Special Warfare Command here recently to plan the critical first
few days of a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
For two weeks, planners, flight crews and intelligence experts reviewed
everything from flight routes and aircraft configurations to air
refueling tracks and army ground movements.
This combined planning operation was unique, because for the first time
U.S. special operators flew to Korean army special forces brigades to
plan wartime missions. Additionally, the planning in cluded the expertise
of several specialists and aircrew members who would actually carry out
the wartime assignment.
Teams developed and reviewed each of the missions they would perform in
the event of a major crisis. aircrews who fly the MC-130H Combat Talon
II, the MC-130P Combat Shadow and the U.S. Army's MH-47 Chinook worked
with their Korean counterparts and Korean army special forces to create
feasible designs.
"Each year the operations plan changes slightly," said Maj. Bae
Gyung-Guen.
"Korea's Special Warfare Command wants to make sure there are no
misunderstandings between the aircrews and jumpers. That's the greatest
value of this operation."
Master Sgt. Dave Beacham, a loadmaster with the 1st Special Operations
Squadron, and riggers of Korea's Special Warfare Command worked together
to solve a loose cargo problem by redesigning a bundle tie-down method.
"We faced the problem of resupply bundles bo uncing around the inside of
the plane if they weren't tied down," he said. "We had to devise a way
to secure them to the floor of the plane, yet allow them to quickly be
cut away for aerial delivery to ground troops."
Planning joint operations among different services, a challenge inherent
to all special operations, becomes complicated in an environment
involving forces from two countries and multiple services, said Maj.
Mike Semenov, 1st SOS, who served as mission commander. Fortunately,
according to Semenov, both U.S. and Korean special operators overcame
the challenges of language and culture.
"This operation is an excellent vehicle for the exchange of ideas and
allows both sides to better understand how each other does business," he
said. "There's no substitute for familiarity and that responsiveness
remains the cornerstone of our success.
"During this operation, we're able to bring together, in a
combined/joint setting, the planners, operators and intelligence support
from both countries to produce the best possible plans," said Semenov.
Each stage of the planning process takes into consideration air defenses
and assets of the enemy. One tool planners use to create missions is the
portable flight planning system.
"The system is a suite of mission planning programs that significantly
cuts down the time it takes to plan a mission," said Capt. Eric Espino,
a navigator with the 17th SOS.
After plugging in a location and a destination, the flight planning
system allows the user to develop flight routes, calculate flight times,
fuel requirements and print flight charts.
"We can also tweak the flight route to avoid enemy threats or
unfavorable terrain," Espino said.
Crews spent days perfecting their routes and working closely with their
Korean counterparts.
"We spend a great deal of time and effort planning for a conflict we
hope will never occur," said Semenov. "But both U.S. and Korean special
operation forces will be ready to execute our mission if called upon."
(Courtesy Air Force Special
Operations Command News Service)
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 90083
Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 337-9274
http://www.space4peace.org
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PO Box 90083
Gainesville, FL 32607
(352) 337-9274
http://www.space4peace.org
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DARPA and Wetware http://www.libertythink.com/2002_12_01_archives.html#90035865--
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