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411th Civil Affairs Battalion (United States)
Encyclopedia
411th Civil Affairs Battalion (Tactical) is a civil affairs
(CA) unit of the United States Army
. It is based at Danbury, Connecticut
. The unit includes Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Headquarters Companies, all located in Danbury. The battalion has been involved in almost every conflict or major operation since Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989.
. It was later transferred to the Army Reserve
and located in Danbury, Connecticut. The 411th Military Government Company was established in 1949 and located in West Hartford, Connecticut
. In 1959 the unit was re-designated as the 411th Civil Affairs Company and transferred to Hartford, Connecticut
. In 1978, with the drawdown of CA forces after the Vietnam War
, the 399th was deactivated and its personnel assigned to the newly created Detachment 1 of the 411th CA Company, still located in Danbury. In 1991, the 411th was reconstituted as a battalion and consolidated in Danbury the following year.
The 411th has answered the call on many occasions beginning in 1989 when individuals volunteered for service in Operations Just Cause and Promote Liberty in Panama. In December 1990 teams were mobilized and deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
in support of the storied 3rd Armored Division, which was part of the VII Corps effort to liberate Kuwait
. Several 411th operators also participated in Operation Provide Comfort
to support humanitarian operations in Kurdistan (northern Iraq and neighboring Turkey).
Operation Uphold Democracy
in Haiti during 1994 saw individuals supporting Special Forces
in humanitarian operations. The following year, 34 soldiers from the 411th deployed to Cuba
in support of humanitarian efforts for Cuban refugees as part of a Presidential Selected Reserve Call Up. Operation Sea Signal
foretold the growing demand for civil affairs operators worldwide.
From December 1995 to January 1997, the 411th provided teams for peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
called Operation Joint Endeavor. This was followed up by peacekeeping operations from 1997 through 1999 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operations Joint Guard and Joint Forge). This support for peacekeeping operations set the trend for future CA support of international efforts to aid war-torn countries, exemplified by the 411th’s participation in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo from 1999 through 2000.
Immediately following the 11 September 2001 attacks, members of the battalion volunteered to assist in recovery efforts at ‘Ground Zero’ in lower Manhattan. This small volunteer effort marked the beginning of the 411th CA’s contributions to the Global War on Terrorism as part of Operations Noble Eagle
and Enduring Freedom.
For Operation Iraqi Freedom in February 2003, the 411th CAB provided two direct support detachments in support of numerous units including the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force
, 3rd Infantry Division, 82nd and 101st Airborne
Divisions, 2nd and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiments, 1st Armored Division
and the Coalition Provisional Authority
. Both detachments moved into Iraq on 5 April 2003 in support of combat operations, remaining until March 2004.
At Camp Arifjan
, Kuwait, personnel from Alpha Detachment worked closely with BG Kern (352nd CACOM commander) and his staff in developing the final OIF Civil Affairs plan. At An Najaf, the Detachment was quickly reconstituted and immediately deployed teams in support of ongoing 2nd ACR field missions in villages surrounding the city. This included establishing a mobile Civil-Military Operations Center.
On 22 April 2003, the Detachment established the first civil-military operations center
(CMOC) in Baghdad, located immediately behind the UN compound. The Detachment coordinated the development of detailed procedures to address issues raised by the local Iraqi population, including establishing lines of communication with the remaining Iraqi government representatives and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the area in order to address issues of the local populace. Between its opening on 22 April 2003 and its handover to Iraqi personnel in September, the 'UN CMOC' had over 5,800 visitors and handled over 3,900 reports. Reported issues included reports on UXOs
, looting, missing persons, requests for assistance, security, and a whole gamut of other topics.
Based upon assessments conducted by its Civil Affairs Teams, Alpha Detachment developed detailed determinations of work required and secured the funding for over 150 public works projects to address deficiencies in the local infrastructure. Over $1 million in Commander's discretionary funds were allocated to pay for these projects. The Detachment generated over 125 humanitarian projects to address the needs of the local populace, including the delivery of 30 tons of food, over 100,000 humanitarian rations, over 5 million litres of water, 8 tons of medical supplies and 8 tons of school supplies.
A/411th CAB took the lead in establishing Baghdad’s first Internal Displaced Persons
relocation area (then known as Hillsdale). The Detachment coordinated the 1st ID’s IDP program, including the development of the plans to address IDPs located in various Ministry buildings. This included overseeing the construction of 56 housing units for the relocation of over 50 families to Hillsdale from the ministries.
On 19 August 2003, the Detachment was engaged during the terrorist attack on the United Nations compound in Baghdad. Suffering damage to its building and having six soldiers wounded, it immediately reacted to the attack and deployed its personnel to repel a potential second attack as well as to provide aid to the wounded. A/411th personnel were first to arrive at the scene and were instrumental in establishing order out of chaos early at the scene of the attack. Command of the entire operation was the responsibility of A/411th until the later arrival of follow-on units. Many soldiers of the detachment risked their own lives in repeated attempts to save others trapped in the rubble. First Sergeant William von Zehle's efforts to rescue UN Special Envoy Sergio de Mello were subsequently chronicled in the 2009 HBO film Sergio. The actions of detachment personnel were personally recognized by President George W. Bush
, GEN Richard Myers
(Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), LTG James Helmly (Chief, Army Reserve) and Kofi Annan
(Secretary General, United Nations).
The Bravo Detachment of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion holds the distinction of being the first Civil Affairs detachment to enter Iraq as a complete unit. While traveling north with the 3rd ID and the 82nd Division, B/411 conducted CA operations in ten major Iraqi cities including Najaf, Hilla and Karbala. The unit was also part of the first U.S. forces to enter Falujah and Ramadi before settling into Baghdad. B/411 completed over 1,000 projects in southern, western and central Iraq worth in excess of $32 million. The unit was also instrumental in removing over 2,000 war hulks, cleaning city streets of trash and sewage while employing thousands of laborers and distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to civic employees.
The two detachments redeployed after 13 months, returning in March 2004. The 411th CA also provided 11 trained civil affairs operators for OIF rotation two. In August 2004, the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion made history again by becoming the first unit to deploy twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were the first unit to enter the country when the war began, and the first unit to return for a second trip.
As a member of Task Force 353 within Special Operations Command Central (Airborne), the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion began arriving in August with their main body arriving in mid September. The battalion accoutered six tactical Civil Affairs Companies for the 1st Infantry Division and 42nd Infantry Division. The unit provided cultural expertise, and was charged with developing the first program of instruction for Iraqi Army Civil Affairs.
The 411th coordinated Operation I CAN, which collected donations of over 20,000 tons of school supplies for direct distribution by maneuver battalions and the Iraqi Army to the children of Iraq. The 411th staffed and ran four out of six ministries at the Regional Reconstruction Operations Center, and scheduled $1,823,371,242 in reconstruction projects. The RROC was recognized by the National RROC as the best in theater and the Pentagon singled it out as the Army’s model for Reconstruction Operations Centers. The battalion also operated three Provincial Civil Military Operations Centers, a Civil Military Coordination Center, the Division Projects Coordination Cell, oversaw the division’s Civil Military Information Center for detainee operations, and provided staffing to the division G5 and G3-G5 Planning Cell.
Over 725 major humanitarian projects were successfully processed totaling in excess of $81,000,000. The 411th CA Battalion personnel developed an effective project which tracked the progress of the programs from inception to completion; and were instrumental in the Commander's Emergency Response Program
) obligation rate improvement from 28% in October 2004 to 65% in April 2005.
On OIF III The battalion organized nineteen Civil Affairs direct support tactical teams to provide CMO support at the maneuver Battalion level throughout an area encompassing nine major cities and thousands of smaller towns and villages throughout the four provinces in AO Liberty, a total of 28300 square miles (73,296.7 km²), overseeing over one and half billion dollars in scheduled reconstruction projects. Tactical Companies of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion supported numerous kinetic operations such as Operations Attleboro, Baton Rouge, City Park, Forsyth Park, Southern Storm, Niagara Falls, King’s Mountain, Peacemaker, Ad Duluyah Sunrise, Powder River and others. The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for service in OIF III.
The 411th CA BN deployed a company sized element to Kandahar, Afghanistan in May 2010. During this 10 month deployment the members of the unit worked alongside the US State Department, USAID, the 1/4 BCT of the 4th Infantry Division and with Canadian Light Infantry and CIMIC forces. The 411th Civil Affairs BN, HHC was instrumental in initiating, managing and completing nearly $22 million in infrastructure projects to include numerous road projects, well refurbishments, providing education supplies, delivering humanitarian aid and assisting in school refurbishments. Members of the unit also worked in conjunction with the Provincial Reconstruction Team throughout the city of Kandahar and in nearby rural areas.
Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs is a term used by both the United Nations and by military institutions , but for different purposes in each case.-United Nations Civil Affairs:...
(CA) unit of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. It is based at Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
. The unit includes Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Headquarters Companies, all located in Danbury. The battalion has been involved in almost every conflict or major operation since Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989.
History
The history of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion begins in 1945 with the establishment of the 399th Civil Affairs Group, which served in the Pacific TheatreWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was later transferred to the Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
and located in Danbury, Connecticut. The 411th Military Government Company was established in 1949 and located in West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford, Connecticut
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
. In 1959 the unit was re-designated as the 411th Civil Affairs Company and transferred to Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. In 1978, with the drawdown of CA forces after the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the 399th was deactivated and its personnel assigned to the newly created Detachment 1 of the 411th CA Company, still located in Danbury. In 1991, the 411th was reconstituted as a battalion and consolidated in Danbury the following year.
The 411th has answered the call on many occasions beginning in 1989 when individuals volunteered for service in Operations Just Cause and Promote Liberty in Panama. In December 1990 teams were mobilized and deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
in support of the storied 3rd Armored Division, which was part of the VII Corps effort to liberate Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. Several 411th operators also participated in Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations by the United States and some of its Gulf War allies, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.-Operation...
to support humanitarian operations in Kurdistan (northern Iraq and neighboring Turkey).
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
in Haiti during 1994 saw individuals supporting Special Forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
in humanitarian operations. The following year, 34 soldiers from the 411th deployed to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in support of humanitarian efforts for Cuban refugees as part of a Presidential Selected Reserve Call Up. Operation Sea Signal
Operation Sea Signal
Operation Sea Signal was a United States Military humanitarian operation in the Caribbean in response to an influx of Cuban and Haitian migrants attempting to gain asylum in the United States. As a result, the migrants became refugees at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The operation took place from...
foretold the growing demand for civil affairs operators worldwide.
From December 1995 to January 1997, the 411th provided teams for peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
called Operation Joint Endeavor. This was followed up by peacekeeping operations from 1997 through 1999 in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Operations Joint Guard and Joint Forge). This support for peacekeeping operations set the trend for future CA support of international efforts to aid war-torn countries, exemplified by the 411th’s participation in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo from 1999 through 2000.
Immediately following the 11 September 2001 attacks, members of the battalion volunteered to assist in recovery efforts at ‘Ground Zero’ in lower Manhattan. This small volunteer effort marked the beginning of the 411th CA’s contributions to the Global War on Terrorism as part of Operations Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
and Enduring Freedom.
For Operation Iraqi Freedom in February 2003, the 411th CAB provided two direct support detachments in support of numerous units including the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force
1st Marine Expeditionary Force
The I Marine Expeditionary Force is a Marine Air Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps primarily composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and 1st Marine Logistics Group...
, 3rd Infantry Division, 82nd and 101st Airborne
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
Divisions, 2nd and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiments, 1st Armored Division
1st Armored Division (United States)
The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
and the Coalition Provisional Authority
Coalition Provisional Authority
The Coalition Provisional Authority was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies, members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003...
. Both detachments moved into Iraq on 5 April 2003 in support of combat operations, remaining until March 2004.
At Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is an Army installation located in the State of Kuwait which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. The camp was funded and built by the government of Kuwait. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania and Poland are...
, Kuwait, personnel from Alpha Detachment worked closely with BG Kern (352nd CACOM commander) and his staff in developing the final OIF Civil Affairs plan. At An Najaf, the Detachment was quickly reconstituted and immediately deployed teams in support of ongoing 2nd ACR field missions in villages surrounding the city. This included establishing a mobile Civil-Military Operations Center.
On 22 April 2003, the Detachment established the first civil-military operations center
Civil-military operations center
A civil-military operations center or CMOC is a center usually established by a military force for coordinating civil-military operations in an area of operations. It usually serves as a meeting place for military and non military entities involved in stabilization, humanitarian relief and...
(CMOC) in Baghdad, located immediately behind the UN compound. The Detachment coordinated the development of detailed procedures to address issues raised by the local Iraqi population, including establishing lines of communication with the remaining Iraqi government representatives and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the area in order to address issues of the local populace. Between its opening on 22 April 2003 and its handover to Iraqi personnel in September, the 'UN CMOC' had over 5,800 visitors and handled over 3,900 reports. Reported issues included reports on UXOs
Unexploded ordnance
Unexploded ordnance are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded.While "UXO" is widely and informally used, munitions and explosives of...
, looting, missing persons, requests for assistance, security, and a whole gamut of other topics.
Based upon assessments conducted by its Civil Affairs Teams, Alpha Detachment developed detailed determinations of work required and secured the funding for over 150 public works projects to address deficiencies in the local infrastructure. Over $1 million in Commander's discretionary funds were allocated to pay for these projects. The Detachment generated over 125 humanitarian projects to address the needs of the local populace, including the delivery of 30 tons of food, over 100,000 humanitarian rations, over 5 million litres of water, 8 tons of medical supplies and 8 tons of school supplies.
A/411th CAB took the lead in establishing Baghdad’s first Internal Displaced Persons
Internally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
relocation area (then known as Hillsdale). The Detachment coordinated the 1st ID’s IDP program, including the development of the plans to address IDPs located in various Ministry buildings. This included overseeing the construction of 56 housing units for the relocation of over 50 families to Hillsdale from the ministries.
On 19 August 2003, the Detachment was engaged during the terrorist attack on the United Nations compound in Baghdad. Suffering damage to its building and having six soldiers wounded, it immediately reacted to the attack and deployed its personnel to repel a potential second attack as well as to provide aid to the wounded. A/411th personnel were first to arrive at the scene and were instrumental in establishing order out of chaos early at the scene of the attack. Command of the entire operation was the responsibility of A/411th until the later arrival of follow-on units. Many soldiers of the detachment risked their own lives in repeated attempts to save others trapped in the rubble. First Sergeant William von Zehle's efforts to rescue UN Special Envoy Sergio de Mello were subsequently chronicled in the 2009 HBO film Sergio. The actions of detachment personnel were personally recognized by President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, GEN Richard Myers
Richard Myers
Richard Bowman Myers is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force and served as the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As Chairman, Myers was the United States military's highest ranking uniformed officer....
(Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), LTG James Helmly (Chief, Army Reserve) and Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
(Secretary General, United Nations).
The Bravo Detachment of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion holds the distinction of being the first Civil Affairs detachment to enter Iraq as a complete unit. While traveling north with the 3rd ID and the 82nd Division, B/411 conducted CA operations in ten major Iraqi cities including Najaf, Hilla and Karbala. The unit was also part of the first U.S. forces to enter Falujah and Ramadi before settling into Baghdad. B/411 completed over 1,000 projects in southern, western and central Iraq worth in excess of $32 million. The unit was also instrumental in removing over 2,000 war hulks, cleaning city streets of trash and sewage while employing thousands of laborers and distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to civic employees.
The two detachments redeployed after 13 months, returning in March 2004. The 411th CA also provided 11 trained civil affairs operators for OIF rotation two. In August 2004, the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion made history again by becoming the first unit to deploy twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were the first unit to enter the country when the war began, and the first unit to return for a second trip.
As a member of Task Force 353 within Special Operations Command Central (Airborne), the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion began arriving in August with their main body arriving in mid September. The battalion accoutered six tactical Civil Affairs Companies for the 1st Infantry Division and 42nd Infantry Division. The unit provided cultural expertise, and was charged with developing the first program of instruction for Iraqi Army Civil Affairs.
The 411th coordinated Operation I CAN, which collected donations of over 20,000 tons of school supplies for direct distribution by maneuver battalions and the Iraqi Army to the children of Iraq. The 411th staffed and ran four out of six ministries at the Regional Reconstruction Operations Center, and scheduled $1,823,371,242 in reconstruction projects. The RROC was recognized by the National RROC as the best in theater and the Pentagon singled it out as the Army’s model for Reconstruction Operations Centers. The battalion also operated three Provincial Civil Military Operations Centers, a Civil Military Coordination Center, the Division Projects Coordination Cell, oversaw the division’s Civil Military Information Center for detainee operations, and provided staffing to the division G5 and G3-G5 Planning Cell.
Over 725 major humanitarian projects were successfully processed totaling in excess of $81,000,000. The 411th CA Battalion personnel developed an effective project which tracked the progress of the programs from inception to completion; and were instrumental in the Commander's Emergency Response Program
Commander's Emergency Response Program
Commander's Emergency Response Program or CERP is money for military commanders to use for conducting rebuilding and reconstruction during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. It was initially money seized during the invasion of Iraq, but later was also U.S...
) obligation rate improvement from 28% in October 2004 to 65% in April 2005.
On OIF III The battalion organized nineteen Civil Affairs direct support tactical teams to provide CMO support at the maneuver Battalion level throughout an area encompassing nine major cities and thousands of smaller towns and villages throughout the four provinces in AO Liberty, a total of 28300 square miles (73,296.7 km²), overseeing over one and half billion dollars in scheduled reconstruction projects. Tactical Companies of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion supported numerous kinetic operations such as Operations Attleboro, Baton Rouge, City Park, Forsyth Park, Southern Storm, Niagara Falls, King’s Mountain, Peacemaker, Ad Duluyah Sunrise, Powder River and others. The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for service in OIF III.
The 411th CA BN deployed a company sized element to Kandahar, Afghanistan in May 2010. During this 10 month deployment the members of the unit worked alongside the US State Department, USAID, the 1/4 BCT of the 4th Infantry Division and with Canadian Light Infantry and CIMIC forces. The 411th Civil Affairs BN, HHC was instrumental in initiating, managing and completing nearly $22 million in infrastructure projects to include numerous road projects, well refurbishments, providing education supplies, delivering humanitarian aid and assisting in school refurbishments. Members of the unit also worked in conjunction with the Provincial Reconstruction Team throughout the city of Kandahar and in nearby rural areas.