What was TRADOCs role in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm?
On 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, quickly overran the country, and announced a merger of Kuwait with Iraq. After United Nations and U.S. economic sanctions failed, the U.S. led an allied coalition into plans for a two-part operation code-named Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Desert Shield, beginning on 7 August 1990 and continuing until 17 January 1991, included the assembly of a large multinational force in Saudi Arabia and nearby areas, a maritime interdiction program to enforce U.N. sanctions, and the development of an offensive option if sanctions and a show of force failed to force Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. The follow-on operation, Desert Storm (17 January to 28 February 1991), involved a prolonged air campaign against military and industrial targets in Iraq followed by a ground offensive that liberated Kuwait. As the U.S. began action against Iraq’s aggression, TRADOC began to fulfill its mobilization mission which included assisting U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) in
