Running head: TASK ORGANIZATION FAILURES DURING OPERATION ANACONDA 1
TASK ORGANIZATION FAILURES DURING OPERATION ANACONDA 4
Task Organization Failures during Operation Anaconda
SFC Musolino, Joseph Master Leader Course
Task organization failures during Operation Anaconda
When it comes to military operations, task organization is a critical aspect of the operations planning process, and mistakes producing an effective task organization could be costly. Operation Anaconda included soldiers from many different organizations which fought against enemy forces in the Shahi Kot Valley of Afghanistan. Task organization mistakes played a significant role in the failure of Operation Anaconda. Improper integration with SOF personnel, limited prior coordination with air command planners, and lack of adequate heavy weapon platforms and artillery assets contributed to the overall failure of Operation Anaconda.
Issues with the integration of U.S. Special Forces
The first issue with the task organization structure is that Black SOF personnel did not fall under the command and control of CJTF Mountain and they remained TACON to the
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CJTF Mountain never received the grid locations of the reconnaissance observation post prior too, or during the mission (Kugler, Baranick, & Binnendijk, 2009). Not knowing coalition force positions were detrimental to the success of the operation because Black SOF reconnaissance teams were in the same location as many preplanned CAS strike targets. The TOC did not have full situational awareness of the battlefield and this disrupted air strike missions, causing many preplanned CAS missions not to be fired. It is a customary practice to relay and mark friendly positions on the battlefield to minimize fratricide and to clear the ground of friendly forces before fire