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DISCUSSION: A battalion ALO coordinated for an AC-130 to orbit the unit's area during hours of darkness to identify faction movement/violations. Both ground forces and an F-18 were also tasked to be prepared to react to any AC-130 sightings.

The battalion ALO coordinated with the AC-130 and night vision-equipped-F-18s for direct communications during a night mission. The concept of the operation required the AC-130 to be on station for one hour. The ALO, battalion commander and S2 positioned themselves at a central location. It was coordinated for the AC-130 to fly over this location and for the ALO to mark the position with an infrared (ir) strobe to identify the start point (as the hub of a spoke system). From his position, the ALO provided the AC-130 with a heading and a distance to known unit checkpoint grids. Ground forces at these locations also had ir strobes and were required to shut down their vehicles to prevent additional heat signatures. The AC-130 was directed to orbit the area to identify movement. The ground forces were prepared to react to the AC-130's sightings via communications through the battalion commander. In addition, F-18s would be employed as a redundant means for identification and as a show of force if necessary.

The ground forces did not have glint tape which would have facilitated distinguishing friendly units from factions. Because of restriction from the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), the AC-130 could not fly close enough to the Croatian border to observe two critical checkpoints. This coordination must take place well before execution of the mission. The AC-130 is designed to observe pinpoint targets. The AC-130 takes up to 15 minutes to effectively establish its pattern, resulting in slow movement from point to point. This significantly reduces the amount of work that can be accomplished in the one hour of station time. The unit should request three hours for time on target. Further, the unit should reduce the number of targets to ensure thorough reconnaissance of the AOR.

TOPIC: Employment of the Joint Surveillance Target Acquisition Radar System (JSTARS) in the Verification Process.

DISCUSSION: The brigade was supported by one Ground Station Module (GSM) which received JSTAR information. Initially, the JSTARS monitored large sectors, making analysis of specific areas difficult. As a result, the S2 narrowed the focus of the JSTARS by orienting the system on named areas of interest (NAIs) for specified periods of time. He also provided the GSM operators, who also performed limited analysis, PIR and likely patterns to observe.

However it was soon discovered that JSTARS had certain limitation (particularly in this environment) which preclude its employment as a stand-alone collection asset.

• Because civilian traffic was mixed with military movements (and the fact that the military sometimes uses civilian vehicles), it was difficult to distinguish the significance of large convoys which were detected by the Moving Target Indicator (MTI). Although the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) was used to further refine images of vehicles within the convoy, definite confirmation of the types of vehicles could not be obtained to the degree of detail required.

• The SAR was used to identify some trenchlines within the zone of separation (ZOS), but identification of the positions requires close observation and analysis. The SAR imagery does not provide the degree of resolution required for easy recognition of a target.

• JSTARS information is provided to the GSM operators in real time. However, GSM was positioned apart from the tactical operations center (TOC) and the S2 and, to date, an effective communications link to the operations center had not been implemented. The Remote Work Station (RWS) was scheduled to be fielded but had not yet arrived to the unit. The RWS would provide the BDE a station in the TOC which gives the operators working the RWS the ability to access the same information as the GSM operator.

Although JSTARS exhibited these limitations, the brigade experienced several successes with the system. These successes included:

• Identification of large movements moving out of towns which were to be transferred between factions. After the S2 was alerted of the movements, Civilian and Military Operations personnel were sent to that location to determine the reasons.

• In addition, JSTARS confirmed a ferry site which was being used to move military equipment. The site was designated as an NAI for a period of several days, and the MTI detected the movement across the river.

• Two - three tanks were identified in an assembly area by a Fixed Target Indicator (FTI) and confirmed, to some degree, by a SAR photograph.

• A railhead, where armored vehicles were being loaded, was identified in the vicinity of a key town.

• The JSTARS database also confirmed the exact date movements commenced.

TOPIC: Surveillance of the ZOS.

DISCUSSION: The ZOS had to be patrolled daily and the units in sector had to verify that all the factions remained clear of their former positions and that the zone was weapons free and allowed freedom of movement for civilian traffic. This was a herculean effort given the size of the sector and the number of other tasks associated with the mission. The roads and trails were numerous and the distances were vast, exacerbated by the poor conditions of the road network. The GFAP required TFE to man certain fixed checkpoints. In a JMC, the factions also agreed upon joint patrols within the ZOS. The brigade determined that there was a need to develop a standard border surveillance plan. Based on the former plan for observing the DDR/Czech border, the intent was to establish a series of checkpoints along the ZOS. There was at least one base camp in each TRP/CO sector of the ZOS. Each TRP/CO sector would have at least one permanent checkpoint along the primary roads. More would be added if necessary.

The zone would be patrolled daily by the air assets. The air patrols would be conducted at least once during daylight and once after dark. They would patrol the entire trace of the ZOS unless there was a specific region which required heavy scrutiny. Ground Patrols would go out daily and would be random in nature. Some patrols would be mounted and some will be on foot.

The plan required both day and night reconnaissance. The mounted patrols were assigned a series of checkpoints. They approached each check point carefully, stopped and dismounted, observed the region for any changes since the last patrol, reported any observations, mounted up, and departed for the next check point. The vehicles would have a specified time between check points and the base would monitor reporting to track progress and identify any possible problems in the zone. Ground patrols were conducted in much the same manner. (As of this report, the details for the joint reconnaissance with the FWF had not been worked out.) The entire zone was covered by observation and patrol within a set timeframe, for example, 48-72 hours.

TOPIC: Night ZOS Observation TTP.

DISCUSSION: TFE units faced the problem of ensuring the vacated positions within the ZOS were not reoccupied at night or in other periods of limited visibility. Dismounted patrols during the day were conducted by walking through the trench lines and bunker positions with a guide from the factions. The intent was to show that the FWF forces had evacuated the trench lines. However, there were reports that some of the bunkers along the trench lines contained loaves of bread and had blankets folded on the wooden bunks. This resulted in the decision to develop a plan to verify that the bunkers were actually vacated during the night. Foot patrols through the trenches would be dangerous at night. Nonetheless, there was the alternative to patrol the routes with M3s and patrol above the ZOS with scout-weapons-teams. Through the use of passive and thermal optics, the patrols could determine if there were any unusual heat or light sources in the "vacated" regions. If personnel were identified, it would become necessary to confront the factions with the information and show them that their violations were being monitored.

Section IV: The Verification Process, Part 1

Section V: Controlling the ZOS