Patriot Deployment
/ UNOSOM II Security Support / Readiness Exercises
Chapter 7: 1994 Operations
Patriot Deployment
/ UNOSOM II Security Support / Readiness Exercises
USCENTCOM supported the final withdrawal of UNOSOM II forces from Somalia in March 1995
In 1994, USCENTCOM continued its commitment to regional stability in the Arabian Peninsula by maintaining a theater missile defense umbrella with the Patriot Air Defense System in Saudi Arabia. Four on-line and two off-line batteries (ready reserve storage) were deployed to Saudi Arabia throughout the year. Air defense units from the U.S. routinely conduct no-notice deployments to bring off-line batteries to operational status and to demonstrate our ability to respond to heightened tensions in the area. The Patriot deployments provide opportunities for interoperability training and promotes initiatives in collective air defense among regional security partners. In October 1994, during VIGILANT WARRIOR, the ability to react quickly to a crisis in the AOR was demonstrated by the rapid deployment of air defense personnel from CONUS to activate the off-line batteries. These two batteries were fully operational in a matter of days and one of these batteries was repositioned to Kuwait during Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR.
USCINCCENT completed its military support to UNOSOM II with the final withdrawal of U.S. forces on 25 March 1994. The Somalia United States Liaison Office (USLO) remained in Mogadishu in an attempt to further the political reconciliation process in Somalia. Security for the USLO was provided by a Fleet Anti-terrorist Support Team (FAST) platoon from the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion. Because of rising tensions and increasing interclan fighting in and around Mogadishu, the USLO and FAST platoon relocated to Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya, respectively, on 15 September 1994. The FAST platoon redeployed on 18 September. In late 1994 the President announced his decision that U.S. forces would assist in the withdrawal of UNOSOM forces from Somalia. USCENTCOM then conducted planning with UN representatives to support the final phases of the UNOSOM II withdrawal from Somalia in early 1995.
Some of USCENTCOM's largest readiness exercises in 1994 were:
