Operation Anaconda

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Whenever conducting a large operation like Operation Anaconda, it is very important that one senior officer command it. This senior officer needs to have an operational staff and the authority to command and control all units involved in the operation. Operation Anaconda would have greatly benefited from a unified command structure. Because of the command structure that the operation used there were many issues with planning, integration, and confusion. The adopted standard joint force concept of operations during Operation Anaconda was not used. Operation Anaconda had multiple commands instead of having one unified command structure. The Command Structure of Operation Anaconda The command structure operating in Afghanistan at the time …show more content…

Although the command structure addressed many of the command authority issues, there were still a few issues that caused confusion with the unity of command during the execution phase of Anaconda. The Special Operation Forces and inter-agency organizations had a completely different command chain than the rest of the units conducting the operation. Black SOF had different priorities than CJTF Mountain and they had the authority to request for and receive support from many of the same support assets that CJTF Mountain was using such as the use of the AC-130s. During the execution phase of the operation, since both CJTF Mountain and Black SOF were using the same assets, but had different command structures, it caused confusion and frustration. The conflict was the SOF ground forces thought AC-130s were an asset that was only to be used by SOF, but CJTF Mountain wanted to task and set priorities as the tactical commander. This led to confusion on knowing who would task and prioritize the AC-130s. Operation Anaconda would have greatly benefited from having a more unified command structure, it would have saved a lot of time and effort and there would have been much less confusion. Conclusion Because there was no change of the command structure to a more unified command, during Operation Anaconda the United States and Afghanistan forces loss many casualties. Operation Anaconda would have greatly benefited from a unified command structure, because of the command structure that the operation used there were many issues with planning, integration, and confusion. Even though Operation Anaconda was considered a success, it would not have suffered so much adversary if they had a single unified command