On Point is a study of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) as soon after
the fact as feasible. The Army leadership chartered this effort in
a message to the major commands on 30 April 2003. In his guidance,
Army Chief of Staff General Eric K. Shinseki directed "a quick,
thorough review that looks at the US Army's performance, assesses
the role it played in the joint and coalition team, and captures
the strategic, operational, and tactical lessons that should be
disseminated and applied in future fights." For those of us in the
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Study Group (OIF-SG), this translated into
three separate products. A "quick look" lessons-learned briefing
produced in July, less than 30 days after returning from the
theater. On Point-this work-is the second product and was largely
completed by mid-August 2003. Finally, the most significant product
is the archive of 119,000 documents, some 2,300 interviews and
69,000 photos archived with the support and assistance of the
Combined Arms Research Library at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. We had
straightforward guidance and a short time horizon. Simply put, On
Point tells the Army's story in the only context possible-a
combined-arms ground force operating in a joint environment. There
is no other way for the Army to tell its story-the Army cannot get
to a theater of war, let alone fight, in any context but that of a
joint operation. Accordingly, the OIF-SG relied heavily on the
cooperation and support of units in the field and from our
colleagues on the other services' collection teams. We also drew on
the more deliberate efforts of the Center of Military History and
unit historians. We encountered only helpful attitudes, with the
exception of one or two Iraqi combatants who fired on or threw
grenades at members of the team. The joint lessons learned team
from the Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) assigned a liaison offi cer
to the OIF-SG who proved helpful in working with our joint
counterparts. The Combined Forces Land Component Command (CFLCC )
historian, the V Corps historian, the Army Materiel Command
historian, and various branch historians all were abundantly
helpful. Like the soldiers bound for the theater, we trained at two
different replacement centers, and most of us deployed via military
or Civilian Reserve Air Fleet aircraft. Once in theater, we
traveled freely throughout area of operations. Members of the team
visited Europe, Turkey, and nearly a dozen sites in the US, ranging
from Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to Fort Bliss, Texas. To do
this in the time allowed, we depended on others for help. We found
eager and enthusiastic support at every stop. Interpreting history
is difficult; interpreting ongoing events is even more difficult.
On Point is not the seminal history of the OIF or even of the Army
in OIF. We understand the risks of a rapidly produced history and
believe they are worth taking to glean initial insights, or what
General Frederick M. Franks, Jr. described after DESERT STORM as
"glimmerings" of change.
General
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