The following briefs were delivered to their respective elements of A/1-506th prior to each maneuver or patrol.
*Note that some topics may repeat or read identical to a previous brief. This is done either to underscore the emphasis on specific items or to cover down briefing material that is unable to be delivered.
Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 01-22 - TASK FORCE ALPHAS-2 Tailored Intelligence Brief//16JUL2022
//SECRET//
Operation/Patrol Time:
-0900Local (GMT+5)
Weather/Forecast Information:
-Sunny, Clear w/no major weather deviation forecasted to affect operations.
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
-Clear: Visibility >/=10nm
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
-Unconfirmed/Suspected presence of man & semi-man portable air defense (MANPAD) systems in limited numbers, including Russian Strela & Igla shoulder-launched systems, as well as a probable likelihood of quick-deploy, semi-man portable systems which utilize a frame mounted on a swivel-capable "chair" & enable the operator to have as many as four separate MANPAD systems at the ready to target low-flying aircraft, particularly effective against rotary-wing aircraft.
-Confirmed/unspecified presence of at least 1-2 passive anti-air radar systems, linked to a central fire control & operations control center, and between 1-6 surface-to-air (SAM) missile batteries, displaced across a wide area to mitigate active countermeasures or targeted suppression/destruction of enemy air defense (SEAD/DEAD) operations.
-All air missions and sorties across the Kirov area of operations are urged extreme caution & directed to only fly within designated low-risk air corridors as designated.
-A 3-4 km buffer zone has been marked near and around areas of strong radar-based signals which have not been positively identified as friendly. All aircraft operating in proximity to such buffer zones are directed to avoid and divert flight paths around these marked buffer zones in accordance with applicable no-fly zone procedures.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
-UN relief and peacekeeping operations are underway throughout the northern half of the country, though the security of these relief efforts has come under increasingly coordinated attacks from multiple threats in their respective areas of operation. 2nd Marines were projected to initiate air assault operations as part of Operation ARDENT GALE northeast of the capital over the next 48 hours, however, weather conditions throughout southern Pakistan have delayed this assault for at least three days. New World Revolutionary Corps, or NWRC forces, have been coordinating, arming, supplying, and training multiple community militias, most likely in an effort to bolster their existing force, which latest analysis places at around divisional-level strength. Militants, militias, and organized cells supporting and coordinating with the NWRC are predicted to be growing in size each day, undeterred by the arrival of UN and US forces & emboldened by the ease of access to small arms, equipment, and most critically- food and fresh water.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
-A\Co.'s deployment to the northern end of the Southern Inhabited Shelf of the province of Mary is a part of a regimental focus to project forces across the entire region to undertake part of the relief efforts that the UN is currently straining to fulfill, while also providing robust presence and security. Due to the lack of UN rotary-wing aviation assets allocated to the UN mission, diverting and repurposing UN forces in order to offset the planned deployment of 2nd Marines will take at least 24-36 hours by land, causing yet another UN forces shortage in the north. As a result, BCT ONE will be proceeding with initial local relief and presence patrol operations in order to draw some of the pressure being put on UN forces stationed in the northern Mary area.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
-Current analysis has not identified or attributed local militants to the major militia groups working with the NWRC, though the local markets are reported to sell weapons, indicating that at least some form of logistical support in the form of weapons proliferation does exist in the Kirov area. The largest focus of our initial presence here is to demonstrate to the Turkmen people that the US & UN forces are here to help and not to detract or change their way of life. Any damage to property or loss of noncombatant life, whether inadvertently, or as a result of our actions in-country, is sure to damage what little trust may exist with those not already picking up guns and supporting the NWRC against peacekeeping forces.
-Reminder regarding the sweeping of buildings utilized or even temporarily occupied by any hostile combatants to get a picture of any potential information or sources of intelligence that may exist inside such buildings, notify your 1st line leadership & send up a Found Intelligence Report (FIR). Details for submitting an FIR can be found in the WARNO.
*TFC Brief was not delivered due to time constraints resulting from technical issues. Most items outlined for briefing were therefore passed on to TFB.
Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 01-22 - TASK FORCE CHARLIES-2 Tailored Intelligence Brief//23JUL2022
//SECRET//
Operation/Patrol Time:
- 1200 Local (GMT+5)
Weather/Forecast Information:
- Sunny, Clear w/no major weather deviation forecasted to affect operations.
High: 107 | Low: 80 | Humidity: 20-30% | Wind: 10-13mph out of NW | UV Index: Maximum
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
- Clear: Visibility >/=10nm at full daylight, some haziness at distance & expect visible mirage during daylight hours.
- Sunset for 23JUL is 2003, with the sunrise for tomorrow morning at 0551
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
- Probable presence of man-portable & semi-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) in AO, though no evidence of their deployment in our immediate area of operations has currently been verified- so remain highly cautious.
- All air missions and sorties across the Kirov area of operations are urged extreme caution & directed to only fly within designated low-risk air corridors as designated.
- A 3-4 km buffer zone has been marked near and around areas of strong radar-based signals which have not been positively identified as friendly. All aircraft operating in proximity to such buffer zones are directed to avoid and divert flight paths around these marked buffer zones in accordance with applicable no-fly zone procedures. These zones may shift and expand/reduce as more intelligence becomes available, and INSCOM will continue to coordinate with all company-level intelligence shops to keep forces up to date as to potential hostile air defense capabilities.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- 2nd Marines made their initial air assault and insertion on the NE corner of Ashgabat as part of Operation ARDENT GALE, though have been frequently engaged and harassed by both NWRC & militia groups throughout the surrounding villages, so there isn't much "aid relief going on out west right now. Their situation on the ground is continuing to evolve by the hour, and S-2 will follow up further once facts within the battlespace have been established.
- The entire theater is suffering from a lack of Turkmen translators and establishing local contacts to bridge this gap has been limited thus far, so expect a delay in the availability of the information available from human sources, documents, and files that contain Turkmen. Russian interpreters have had the most success so far, but human source intelligence still remains very limited in scope and applicability. The decentralized leadership of the New World Turkmenia Youth Party (New World Turkmenia Party) appears to also extend to the New World Revolutionary Corps (NWRC), which will make any sort of "decapitation" focus against the leadership of either much less limited in effectiveness. There is still no indication that the New World Turkmenia Party will revert to the restriction of weapons owned or carried by any host country national, however, it is possible that they may yet still restrict them to only uniformed fighters, most likely as a means to further encourage those yet to side with the NWRC & their proxy militia groups. UN/US personnel will not and cannot risk imposing this restriction ourselves for fear of greatly exacerbating the potential volatility of stability and aid efforts throughout the country.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- Aid distribution efforts last week throughout the villages north of Sheykheh were largely successful, with regular food and water distributions continuing throughout the week. With that, overall peacekeeping and security efforts are proceeding and a slow and sluggish pace across the province, largely due to the degraded capabilities that the UN mission is working through. This is bound to increase the likelihood of more civilians turning towards the NWRC and militias for aid & support as they are forced to wait on either the US or them. Furthermore, the NWRC and militia forces appear to be leveraging every single death of their people as a catalyst for those not already in the fight against coalition forces to do their part, in particular- the deaths of indigenous civilians. It should be emphasized that EVERY civilian death can and will be used by adversaries to their maximum effect, beyond the scope of facts or circumstances, and regardless if US/UN coalition forces were even involved. There have been six reported civilian deaths just in our AO alone at the end of the first week of operations, and while we were only responsible for two of them, in the eyes of the people we are providing aid to, we are responsible for all of them. With more of the peacekeeping and security initiatives falling to us, the last thing we need is the UN or the State Dept. interceeding and getting involved with the mission here.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
- The amount of weapons caches located this week is consistent with weapons recovered and utilized by both NWRC and proxy militants operating in and around the northern corner of the AO. Imagery analysis has confirmed an increase in movement of motorized and mechanized forces across the entire province, so expect to see an uptick in more purpose-built military armored vehicles of both motorized and mechanized capability. Armored forces disposition remains extremely limited in number and capability- INSCOM estimates less than 30% of the divisions' worth of mid & late model T-60 series and exported T-72 models are deployed across the country, with a majority of them deployed closer to the cities, opposite to our own doctrine & likely used as more of a presence tool than an actual force multiplier.
- While there is no direct evidence yet, it should be expected and prepared for that the NWRC and militia groups will continue to tap into the vast arsenal that is becoming increasingly visible throughout the country. Machine gun emplacements- such as M2 Brownings, Soviet-bloc DShKs & KORDs, to name a few, are significant threats to both you guys on the ground and our rotary wing assets in the AO, and may be deployed against either with little to no advance warning. Additionally, mortars are among the increase in weapons capabilities, and perhaps one of the most critical threats to our mission in terms of weapons themselves, given the ease of use, mobility, and capability to cause significant collateral damage.
Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 01-22 - TASK FORCE BRAVOS-2 Tailored Intelligence Brief//24JUL2022
//SECRET//
Operation/Patrol Time:
- 1600 Local (GMT+5)
Weather/Forecast Information:
- Sunny, Clear w/no major weather deviation forecasted to affect operations.
High: 113 | Low: 81 | Humidity: 20-30% | Wind: 16-19mph out of NW | UV Index: Maximum
Lighting/Visibility Factors:
- Clear: Visibility >/=10nm at full daylight, some haziness at distance & expect visible mirage during daylight hours.
- Sunset for 24JUL is 2006, with the sunrise for tomorrow morning at 0551
Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information
- All air missions and sorties across the Kirov area of operations are urged extreme caution & directed to only fly within designated low-risk air corridors.
- A 3-4 km buffer zone has been marked near and around areas of strong radar-based signals which have not been positively identified as friendly. All aircraft operating in proximity to such buffer zones are directed to avoid and divert flight paths around these marked buffer zones in accordance with applicable no-fly zone procedures. These zones may shift and expand/reduce as more intelligence becomes available, and INSCOM will continue to coordinate with all company-level intelligence shops to keep forces up to date as to potential hostile air defense capabilities.
Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- 2nd Marines made their initial air assault and insertion on the NE corner of Ashgabat as part of Operation ARDENT GALE, though have been frequently engaged and harassed by both NWRC & militia groups throughout villages and farmlands to their south and west, so there isn't much "aid relief" going on near the capital right now. Their situation on the ground is continuing to evolve by the hour, and S-2 will follow up further once facts within the battlespace have been established.
- The first week of peacekeeping and security efforts are proceeding slower than anticipated across the entire country. UN BLUE's mission on the northern end of Ashgabat has essentially stalled, and UN WHITE's operations in Mary province have also encountered more resistance and less local cooperation than expected. The timetable for the mission is likely to expand, however, this also increases the likelihood of more civilians turning towards the NWRC and militias for aid & support with each day we or the UN forces may come up short on delivering to the Turkmen people.
Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis
- With the clearance of militant forces from the village of Sheykheh, the focus remains to continue to expand UN mission forces' presence and security south from the airfield in order to (IOT) enable continued aid distribution. However, the NWRC and militia forces appear to be leveraging every single death of their people as a catalyst for those not already in the fight against coalition forces to do their part, in particular- the deaths of indigenous civilians. Let me emphasize: EVERY civilian death can and will be used by NWRC to their maximum effect, beyond the scope of facts or circumstances, and regardless if US/UN coalition forces were even involved. There have been NINE reported civilian deaths just in our AO alone at the end of the first week of operations, and regardless of our actual culpability, in the eyes of the local people, we are responsible for all of them.
Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence
- Remain vigilant for onlookers and observers during patrols outside the wire, as an increase in local civilian activity in the villages near STRATUS has increased with the routing of NWRC & militia forces operating in Sheykheh village. While there has yet to be any definitive intelligence indicating hostile efforts to perform surveillance against our outpost here, it should be assumed that hostiles are actively preparing ways to conduct offensive maneuvers to disrupt our presence here in country.
- The amount of weapons caches located this week is consistent with weapons recovered and utilized by both NWRC and proxy militants operating in and around the northern corner of the AO, however, it has been reported that over the course of the week, arms sales in the markets in Sheykheh & Mata have completely ceased, most likely due to our close proximity patrols and the uptick in fighting. Nonetheless, these weapons were almost assuredly relocated in caches positioned across the AO, so be on the lookout for more caches and vehicles carrying weapon crates.
- Imagery analysis has confirmed an increase in movement of motorized and mechanized forces across the entire province, so expect to see an uptick in more purpose-built military armored vehicles of both motorized and mechanized capability.
- While there is no direct evidence yet, it should be expected that the NWRC and militia groups will continue to tap into the vast arsenal that is becoming increasingly visible throughout the country. Machine gun emplacements- such as M2 Brownings, Soviet-bloc DShKs & KORDs, to name a few, are significant threats to both you guys on the ground and our rotary wing assets in the AO, and may be deployed against either with little to no advance warning. Additionally, mortars are among the increase in weapons capabilities, and perhaps one of the most critical threats to our mission in terms of weapons themselves, given the ease of use, mobility, and capability to cause significant collateral damage.
