Modeling Loss Prevention Efforts, Some Deployment Notes, and the Baghdad Mosquito

I updated my Modeling Manual for ALPS. I wish to take all this with me, and Joann wanted a copy.

I received a Warning Order today that indicates that the 3rd ID will indeed be our Unit. I'm not going to include any of that Warning or OPORD for OPSEC reasons.

Some notes from COL Anderson regarding the upcoming Deployment:

Colonel Anderson:
1. Understand the cdr's intent during the fight, and understand the cdr's guidance during SASO. You can fight off of intent during combat, but not in SASO.

2. Fight the enemy, not the plan. The enemy over here chose to reach out much further from Baghdad in an attempt to disrupt our ops (Fedayeen, Al Quds, etc.); they were initially successful.

3. Battle drills work. We entered/cleared trenches, knocked out bunkers; and entered/cleared rooms. Don't get sexy - concentrate on the basics.

4. Casevac plans save lives. Allocate combat power to aid and litter teams; have/know the plan.

5. You have to be able to transition into the fight from an air assault and/or Ground Assault Convoy (GAC). You can't waste time adjusting to the new AO, getting folks up to speed, etc. on LZs, truck drop off pts, etc.

6. Watch soldier loads. MOLLEs make that tougher.

7. You will deal with the JRTC environment - Civilians on the battlefield, media on the battlefield and minefields. Fight as you have trained.

8. Standard weapons configuration and marksmanship remain one of our fundamentals. You have to be able to shoot under all conditions and hit what you shoot at.

9. PT remains the bedrock of our profession. It is tough to fight in 100+ degree weather for sustained periods of time. Being in shape helps with that process.

10. Understand MDMP. Not that any war will be the same, but FRAGOs on the hoodtop were the basic plans approach in this conflict. Time was of the essence in this op, and you have to understand the steps in your head so you can at least take all factors into consideration when there is no formal MDMP process. This was a task org/msn/intent/sketch war.

I began receiving the Baghdad Mosquito newsletter today.