Operation Vigilant Warrior
Encyclopedia
Operation Vigilant Warrior was a military operation from 8 October 1994 to 15 December 1994 by the United States in response to two divisions of Iraqi Republican Guard
troops moving toward the Kuwait
i border. A quick response by United States President Bill Clinton
allowed USCENTAF command and staff to deploy to Riyadh
within days.
On 8 October 1994, 1st Force Service Support Group
(FSSG), I Marine Expeditionary Force, was put on alert. The 1st FSSG Forward (FWD) was manned up to deploy as the lead element for the 1st FSSG. The FSSG FWD deployed 120 Marines and equipment from March Air Force Base, CA to Dhahran
, Saudi Arabia via Air Force Cargo Aircraft on 28 October 1994. The unit then traveled north by convoy to the port of Al-Jubayli. At the same time, two brigades of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) deployed from Fort Benning
and Fort Stewart
GA to the port of Ad-Dammam.
Iraq immediately recalled its ground forces. With no remaining need for the unit, retrograde began within a few days and the unit departed from Daharan, Saudi Arabia, on 5 November 1994.
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award
given went to HQ US Training Mission Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 8 October 1994 through December 15, 1994, for Operation Vigilant Warrior. US Service members who participated were authorized the Southwest Asia Service Medal
, but not the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
nor the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
due to these events taking place after the end dates of those specific medals.
The United Kingdom's contribution was two warships, and , doubling their deployment of RAF Tornado GR1s
(originally six) and increasing their troop numbers to 1,000.
Iraqi Republican Guard
The Iraqi Republican Guard was a branch of the Iraqi military during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. It later became the Republican Guard Corps, and then the Republican Guard Forces Command with its expansion into two corps....
troops moving toward the 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...
i border. A quick response by United States President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
allowed USCENTAF command and staff to deploy to Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
within days.
On 8 October 1994, 1st Force Service Support Group
1st Marine Logistics Group
The 1st Marine Logistics Group is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, with detachments located at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center...
(FSSG), I Marine Expeditionary Force, was put on alert. The 1st FSSG Forward (FWD) was manned up to deploy as the lead element for the 1st FSSG. The FSSG FWD deployed 120 Marines and equipment from March Air Force Base, CA to Dhahran
Dhahran
Dhahran is a city located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, and is a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. Large oil reserves were first identified in the Dhahran area in 1931, and in 1935 Standard Oil of California drilled the first commercially viable oil well...
, Saudi Arabia via Air Force Cargo Aircraft on 28 October 1994. The unit then traveled north by convoy to the port of Al-Jubayli. At the same time, two brigades of the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) deployed from Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
and Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
GA to the port of Ad-Dammam.
Iraq immediately recalled its ground forces. With no remaining need for the unit, retrograde began within a few days and the unit departed from Daharan, Saudi Arabia, on 5 November 1994.
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
given went to HQ US Training Mission Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 8 October 1994 through December 15, 1994, for Operation Vigilant Warrior. US Service members who participated were authorized the Southwest Asia Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal
The Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War...
, but not the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
The Naut Tahrir al-Kuwait was instituted by King Fahd ibn Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.- Background :...
nor the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
The Wisam Al-Tahrir was issued by the government of Kuwait for service during the Liberation of Kuwait campaign.-Description:The Kuwait Liberation Medal was approved by the Kuwait Council of Ministers for award in five classes, generally according to the rank of the recipient...
due to these events taking place after the end dates of those specific medals.
The United Kingdom's contribution was two warships, and , doubling their deployment of RAF Tornado GR1s
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
(originally six) and increasing their troop numbers to 1,000.
Further reading
- W. ERIC HERR, OPERATION VIGILANT WARRIOR: CONVENTIONAL DETERRENCE THEORY, DOCTRINE, AND PRACTICE, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, June 1996