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Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 13 - S-2 Briefing

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1LT (Ret) Mallory:
Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 13 - TASK FORCE CHARLIE

S-2 Intelligence Brief//21JAN2023
//SECRET//
Spoiler (click to show/hide)Operation/Patrol Time:

- 0800 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 28F | Today's High: 39F | Tonight's Low: 15F | Current Humidity: 65% | Wind out of the WNW at 6-10 mph, with occasional gusts up to 13 mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Mostly clear | Visibility greater than or equal to 8NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1705 & sunrise tomorrow is 0804.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- US air power has been committed to targeted strikes against NWRC air defense facilities and systems over the last ten days, in addition to pounding several training camps and hideouts tucked in along the Kopet Dag, as well as positions throughout the Southern Inhabited Shelf, into the consistency of a parking lot. Most noteworthy for us: current BDA estimate that between 70 and 80 percent of NWRC-operated radar air defense systems have been destroyed or rendered inoperable. This will likely result in a higher deployment of independent self-propelled antiaircraft gun (SPAAG) systems, as well as infrared and optically-guided MANPADS systems, so adjust accordingly- because our adversaries are. Ground forces must ensure these threats are called up correctly and timely so as to afford supporting air assets the maximum amount of time to mitigate that impact on our collective mission.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- A significant uptick in reports of both military anti-personnel & anti-vehicle mines and improvised explosive munitions have been submitted over the last five weeks, indicating a definitive shift in tactics and techniques by the NWRC. S-2, in coordination with EOD & JITDO (Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Organization), is asking all sources for any intelligence regarding planned or applied instances of both military explosive munitions, but most especially, improvised explosives, as they attempt to determine the source/origin of the designs of these devices. 

- The sharp increase of the mined & IED threats means the "meeting and greeting" part of the job: the cultivation and the development of local relationships, are going to be as crucial as ever. If the social engagement part isn't part of your immediate personal strengths, then be a good grunt & maintain the consistency and judgment of your fires i.e. don't shoot non-combatants.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- A group of civilian aid volunteers from the International Aid & Development Program NGO, or IDAP has not been heard from in recent weeks. It is believed that they were operating out of an aid and distribution center in the center of the Sultantbent Valley. It is unknown if the workers are alive or still present, so any information or indication as to the disposition of these workers is a high-priority tasker for today.

- Minimize all direct fires to and surrounding the Murghab Power Station, as its loss will critically impact locals in the area. If at all possible, prevent the NWRC from sabotaging or otherwise rendering the plant inoperable.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- With the SEAD mission having substantially reduced the threat to aviation ops here in the Sultanbent Valley, Alpha Company is making another run to break the NWRC front line to the north. Task Force Alpha got into a serious scrap while attempting to defend against the major counterattack from NW positions to the north and northwest of AIRBASE CIRRUS, and the defensive positions we maintain are now in serious need of repair and resupply. In order to bring them back to an offensive capacity, 3rd PLT is leading the charge against the NWRC lines here in the valley. 

1LT (Ret) Mallory:
Operation CLEAR SKIES Phase 13 - TASK FORCE BRAVO

S-2 Intelligence Brief//22JAN2023
//SECRET//
Spoiler (click to show/hide)Operation/Patrol Time:

- 1010 Local

Weather/Forecast Information:

- Current Temp: 28F | Today's High: 39F | Tonight's Low: 15F | Current Humidity: 65% | Wind out of the WNW at 6-10 mph, with occasional gusts up to 13 mph.

Lighting/Visibility Factors:

- Mostly clear, clouds rolling in later this afternoon. | Visibility greater than or equal to 6NM (nautical miles) | Sunset tonight is 1806 & sunrise tomorrow is 0802.

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) & Aviation Advisory Information

- US air power has been committed to precision strikes against NWRC air defense facilities and systems over the last ten days. Current BDA estimate that around 80% of NWRC radar-based air defense systems have been destroyed or rendered inoperable. As a result, expect the NWRC to counter with the employment of more AAA & MANPADS- antiair systems which do not depend on radar data and thus cannot be tracked via the same signals emanations. As such, aviation will depend more on ground forces to call up these threats as encountered in a timely and accurate manner in order to orient effectively.

Theater/Strategic-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- A significant uptick in reports of both military anti-personnel & anti-vehicle mines and improvised explosive munitions have been submitted over the last five weeks, indicating a definitive shift in tactics and techniques by the NWRC. S-2, in coordination with EOD & JITDO (Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Organization), is requesting all sources for any intel regarding planned or applied instances of both military and improvised explosive munitions. Route all collected intel through your CoC and coordinate with them to submit an FIR to S-2.   

- The sharp increase in mined and IED threats means that the cultivation and development of local relationships are becoming more crucial than ever--both in rooting out the origin of these weapons, their proliferation, and exposing their placement before coalition forces are endangered. However, if that is not your bag, then keep it simple & don't shoot non-combatants or piss off the locals.

Local/Tactical-level News & Intelligence Updates, Activity, and Analysis

- The knob-turners in Signals, or SIGINT for you more formal folks, have passed on intelligence indicating a relatively large jump in NWRC activity in the vicinity of the Murghab river crossing, west of COP Taylor. This coincides with movement observed both in and out of the valley via aerial reconnaissance, which suggests an even higher level of strategic value than previously assessed.

- Preliminary SITREP passed from 3rd PLT during the course of their advance this morning detailed that fighting positions encountered to the south of Task Force Bravo's AO were heavily prepared in both rural and urbanized areas. Military and improvised explosive munitions were encountered in close proximity to local domiciles that S-2 believes to still be occupied, so be especially careful regarding the use of any indirect fires which may initiate a secondary explosion.

Special Info/Patrol Objective-specific Intelligence

- Piggybacking off of 3rd PLT's efforts to route and secure what is now our backfield, 2nd PLT is conducting an immediate maneuver to our north to press fortified positions on the west side of the riverbank in an attempt to catch these NWRC positions on their back foot while they are still reeling from our recent advance. From there, the battalion continues operations right up the valley until the NWRC has been completely routed from their access to the Murghab River.

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