TDGs

Tactical Decision
Game 02-17
Part I: What now, Red Death Six?
by the Staff, Marine Corps Gazette
Click to Submit Solution
Situation
You are the CO, A Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines (1/1)a storied unit
in Marine Corps history affectionately
known as Red Death to your Marines.
Your company deployed ashore with
the rest of your battalion task force in
the former Republic of Al Ouaddiya,
a failed state in the rare earth metalsrich archipelago of Raz al Dezzel. The
island is rugged semi-desert that had
been largely urbanized by the former Al
Ouaddiyan regime. The population is
of Arab and African descent and speaks
a dialect of Arabic and French. Islam
is the dominant religion with a mix of
Sunni Salafi and Sufi sects, mixed with
some persistent pre-Islamic folk traditions.
Al Ouaddiya was historically a
monarchy colonized by Arabs and the
French. The post-colonial period saw
the establishment of a brutally repressive
socialist secular regime. After decades
of civil strife between the regime and
various sectarian extremist and tribal
groups, the recognized government collapsed, and, for the last three years, numerous factions have fought each other
for control of the population and the
islands resources. A moderate, Westernbacked faction has recently emerged and
been recognized internationally as the
new lawful government of Al Ouaddiya. However, not all of the tribal and
sectarian factions have recognized the
new regime since an expatriate Westernized descendant of the ancient royal
family is the new head of state.
Anti-government factions include
members of the former regimes army
and special forces, mostly French and
Russian trained and equipped with loot-

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ed weapons and equipment, including

BTR-80s and T-72 variant tanks. These
groups support a return to the repressive
secular regime. Other sectarian groups
include Salafi extremists supported by
international terrorist organizations and
several like-minded nations who seek
to establish a caliphate. The last group
of anti-government forces includes the
gangs of several tribal warlords who are
fighting to maintain control of mineral
mining and export. These groups are
well armed and paid by Chinese industrial interests in the region.
Eighteen months ago, under a United
Nations mandate and with the invitation of the new Moderate Unity Government of Al Ouaddiya (MUGA), a
U.S.-led joint task force (JTF) was deployed to conduct stability operations

in order to strengthen the new government, reduce further violence between

the remaining factions and the government, and to reduce the humanitarian
crisis among the local population.
Your battalion, along with 3/3 and
1/7, are under the command of RLT 7,
the GCE of 5th MEB, which is both the
Marine component of the JTF and part
of the combined forces land component
(CFLCC) of the JTF. Two BCTs [brigade combat teams] of the U.S. Armys
10th Mountain Division round out the
U.S. component of the CFLCC, which
also includes numerous allied forces.
This deployment is the third rotation
of U.S. and allied forces in support of
the U.N. mission.
Over the past week, 1/1 has relieved
2/8 in the regimental combat teams

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TDGs

area of operations. The battalion has

been assigned to a large forward operating base that contains a training facility
for the local security forces and a distribution point for food, water, medical
aid, and household fuel.
A Companys mission is to
Secure the eastern entry point into
the battalion FOB in order to prevent
disruption of the battalions mission.
On order conduct security and combat
patrols partnered with local security
forces. Be prepared to conduct offensive operations in order to disrupt
anti-MUGA factions.

Your battalion commanders intent

is as follows:
Essential Tasks: Develop local security
forces; support material needs of local
population; disrupt anti-government
factions.

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Your company position is built

around a group of abandoned buildings
of local stone and brick construction,
one or two stories high, with the thick
exterior walls around the compound
ubiquitous in this part of the world. A
berm and triple-strand concertina wire
surround the position and tie in to the
existing walls and building.
To the east, you have reinforced the
entry control point (ECP) with heavy
obstacles covered by fire. To the west,
you share a boundary with Company
C. To the northeast and south, open
ground with grassy weeds surround
small farms and the outskirts of the port
city of Minna Sultan Usween, where
the JTF is headquartered along with
various NGOs[nongovernmental organizations] and PVOs [private volunteer
organizations] involved in humanitarian assistance.
You have assigned each of your platoons to a group of buildings and a
sector of the company perimeter. 3d
Platoon, your main effort, is responsible
for security of the ECP. 1st Platoon has
the north sector and 2d Platoon the
south. All of your platoon commanders
have continued to fortify their assigned
buildings in accordance with the standard priority of work in the defense.
You have the following attachments
and assets available to you:
1 squad heavy machineguns (2x .50
Cal. 12x MK-19) with associated vehicles.
1 Javelin team.
2 scout sniper teams, which you have
assigned to firing positions on the
roofs of the highest building in your
position.
1 section 81 mm mortars (4 tubes).
The companys weapons platoon is fully
manned and equipped.
The overall company strength is
roughly 80 percent effective due to
DNBIs [disease and nonbattle injuries],
emergency leave, and various battalion
working parties.
You have assorted Class IV materials,
including 10,000 sandbags and a SEE
Tractor [small emplacement excavator]
with operators.
For the last four days your Marines
have been improving your company position and have conducted six security

patrolsfour day and two night. The

patrols interaction with the local population has been neutral, but groups of
20 to 40 women and children have been
making the trek up to 3 miles from their
farms to obtain food, fuel, and medical
support. None of the patrols have made
contact with any anti-government factions although they have all heard small
arms fire and a few explosionsmost
likely RPGs and/or mortars. No casualties have appeared at the ECP seeking
medical aid.
It is 0935, roughly 72 hours since occupying the company position. You hear
a high-pitched buzzing noise and see
several Marines on sentry duty pointing
at the sky. What appears to be a commercial, off-the-shelf quad-copter is
overflying your position approximately
300 feet directly overhead.
Requirement
What are your orders to your platoon commanders?
What, if any, modifications to the
company defensive plan do you direct?
What do you report to the battalion? Do you have any requests for
support?
Complete your frag order to your
platoon commanders and requests to
higher headquarters. Include an overlay
indicating any changes to your current
positions and provide a brief discussion
of your rationale behind your actions.
Submit your solutions to the Marine
Corps Gazette, TDG 02-17, Box 1775,
Quantico, VA, 22134, or by email to
gazette@mca-marines.org. The Gazette
will publish solutions in an upcoming
issue.

Marine Corps Gazette February 2017

1/10/17 10:08 AM