Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Single Manager for Air in SVN
Abstract
Implementation of the Single Management concept on 10 March 1968 represented the culmination of a two-year effort to integrate the direction and control of air resources assigned to COMUSMACV under a single agent, the Deputy Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, for Air Operations to maintain the flexibility required by the tactical situation. A special CHECO Report, "Single Manager for Air in SVN", dated 1 July 1968, covered the developments influencing this command decision, traced implementation of the system, and explained its functional evolution. This volume provides a continuing report on the subject with highlights of the first six months summarized. Events covering the period from May to December 1968 receive major emphasis. Through many and varied means, III Marine Amphibious Force (MAF) sought a return to command/control arrangements that existed before implementation of Single Management for Air. Thus, the history of the concept is seen mainly through related proposals and counter-proposals. These are viewed largely in the context of their relevance to the basic issues at stake. While granting the Marines doctrinal concerns, their justifications for release from Single Management were frequently tinged with a predilection for "localism". Of more concern to COMUSMACV and his Deputy for Air was the allocation of limited air resources to the changing tactical situation. Real problems were given more weight than theoretical ones. Yet, higher echelon's approval of the concept in SVN also was predicated on the "existing tactical situation;" In short, it was viewed as a temporary measure. Thus, a compromise was adopted to resolve the issue, but this also set the stage for events related in this report, most of which affect the prerogative of ground commanders and air commanders.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 1969
- Accession Number
- ADA485168
Entities
People
- Robert M. Burch
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces