HQ$History - United States Special Operations Command

Operation FIRM RESPONSE, ESAT vehicle at the U.S.
Embassy in Brazzaville, June 1997.
forces at the airport, proceed to the embassy,
and assess the embassy’s security. Arriving at
Maya-Maya Airfield amidst heavy gunfire, the
ESAT unloaded the aircraft, and French paratroopers
put 56 evacuees on the MC-130. The
team moved to the embassy and began to harden
their areas and improve living conditions at
the embassy. During their nine days in
Brazzaville, LTC David Mamaux led the team
on multiple trips outside the compound to
retrieve needed supplies and sensitive materials,
and to coordinate with the French military.
On 18 June, the team loaded the 12 remaining
embassy personnel, their baggage, all sensitive
items, and one dog, onto a chartered DC-3.
The ESAT members and one Peace Corps volunteer
departed Brazzaville later that same day.
The assessment team provided crucial assistance
to the U.S. Ambassador when rebel forces
attacked Brazzaville. The team conducted route
reconnaissance, coordinated with the French
military, provided communications support, and
organized the embassy staff for the NEO.
Amidst considerable violence and looting, this
SOF team insured the safe evacuation of 69
Americans.
FIRM RESPONSE proved again the obvious
value of engagement, area orientation, and
situational awareness. FIRM RESPONSE
also illustrated the good and bad of command
and control. CINCEUR directed that this
would be a low profile mission. The decision to
deploy only an augmented ESAT on a single
aircraft constrained how the SOF ground commander
conducted the operation and, ultimately,
put SOF at risk on the ground.
Moreover, BG Lambert had to accept responsibility
for the mission but gave up control to
EUCOM J-3. In stark contrast to EUCOM’s
handling of this operation, BG Lambert picked
the team leader for all the right reasons—experience,
time in Africa, and warrior and diplomatic
skills. And, he empowered him to operate in
the fluid circumstances in Brazzaville.
Lambert’s trust and confidence in his subordinates
paid off.
Operation FIRM RESPONSE demonstrated
what SOF brought to the “fight”—rapid planning
and force sizing; an integrated package of
air, ground, and maritime capabilities; mature,
motivated, and well-trained military personnel;
and an ability to operate in an ambiguous environment.
FIRM RESPONSE exposed the dilemmas
and opportunities confronting SOF leaders
and operators as they faced the complex battlespace,
which characterized the post-Cold War
era and the early twenty-first century. It had a
“classic merging of all levels—tactical, operational,
strategic and diplomatic,” where a bullet
or a word or a gesture could have had ramifications
far beyond Brazzaville.
ESAT team leader coordinates with French Legionnaires at Brazzaville. Amidst considerable violence and looting, this
SOF team, in the words of Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, “played a vital role . . . in ensuring the safe
evacuation of scores of official and non-official Americans. It is a testament to their superb training and talents that this
operation was successfully carried out with no American casualties.”
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