HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

authority from the UN to NATO
if SOF were not deployed).
The SOCCEs sent out
Liaison Coordination Elements
(LCEs) to the NATO and, most
important, non-NATO units
within each division’s AO. The
LCEs were assigned to the battalion
or brigade commanders.
Not unlike the Coalition Warfare
Teams of DESERT STORM, the
fundamental LCE mission was
establishing communications
between the division and its non-
NATO battalions. The LCEs
made sure that the information
and instructions passed from the
division commander to the battalion
or brigade commander were understood,
which included explaining the intent and movements
of allied forces. If needed, the LCEs could
also do laser target designation, call for fire, and
request MEDEVACs. Importantly, the LCEs
had their own vehicles so that they could keep
up with their parent units.
LCEs performed the following missions: conducting
daily patrols with parent battalions;
maintaining reliable communications; assessing
the attitudes of local populations and former
warring factions; spreading the word on the
IFOR mission; providing accurate information
on any incidents; and accomplishing route reconnaissance.
In addition to their Special Forces
members, LCEs were augmented by Special
Tactics personnel trained in Special Operations
Tactical Air Controller (SOTAC) procedures for
CAS. When the battalion or brigade became
comfortable with doing its mission essential
tasks, the LCEs redeployed. No other forces,
save SOF, had the requisite capabilities to do
these delicate diplomatic operations.
In the early stages of JOINT ENDEAVOR,
SOF’s flexibility and specialized capabilities
were used to ensure that NATO forces arrived in
the right place at the right time. SOF’s major
contributions included: SOF enabling forces
were in place on time; SOF aircraft (capable of
flying in the most difficult weather) ensured
timely SOF deployments into Bosnia-
Herzegovina despite weather that grounded all
other aircraft; SOF aircraft flew the IFOR com-
SEALS supported bridging the Sava River.
69
mander through adverse weather to reach meetings
and ceremonies; SOCIFOR provided a quick
reaction force; and SEALs supported the bridging
of the Sava River.
Civil Affairs forces likewise had important
missions for JOINT ENDEAVOR. The CA forces
coordinated the reconstruction of the civil infrastructure
and organized relief efforts of more
than 500 UN, government, and nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs). Civil
Affairs personnel, assigned to the Combined
Joint Civil Military Operations Center (with CA
task forces assigned to each MND), assisted in
restoring basic services such as public transportation,
public works and utilities, public
health, and commerce, as well as helping with
elections and setting up new national governments.
CA specialists worked with organizations
like the World Bank and the International
Police Task Force to facilitate the delivery of
their services. CA soldiers also helped to develop
plans for, and coordinated the repatriation of,
refugees.
PSYOP forces had the important task of disseminating
factual information to the populace
inside the former Yugoslavia. Assigned to the
Combined Joint Psychological Task Force, U.S.
Army PSYOP forces used print media (the weekly
Herald of Peace newspaper and posters),
“Radio IFOR” broadcasts, and some television
broadcasts to accomplish their missions. They
also conducted a mine awareness campaign,
aimed primarily at children, and distributed lit-