Joint Task Force Operation Distant Sweep

Mogadishu, Somalia: The JTF is deployed to the Somali bushes to capture and secure the transport that escaped in the first mission, Operation Swift Phoenix. The vehicles are located within the confines of a militia camp approximately 50 miles from the team’s current position and falls outside of the mission parameters, which requires a cover story of escorting an aid shipment to a Red Cross field installation.

This cover story is actually a large part of the mission, as getting those Red Cross trucks to the various villages to assist the local population is an optional objective of the mission. However as I found out it is not a requirement to keep all vehicles serviceable and actually reach all drop off points as I lost one aid truck yet still achieved the secondary objective according to the post game after-action report.

Joint Task Force Operation Garden Light

Mogadishu, Somalia: The JTF is deployed to secure an airfield, rescue hostages and to capture the warlord Akil Farrah. This is a multiphase mission where additional segments of the battle space open up upon completion of the objectives. As with all JTF missions, the capture of an airfield is necessary for bringing in heavy equipment such as APC’s and repair vehicles.

The team starts out on the ground southeast of the airfield objective, with several roads that must be traversed to reach the edge of the airstrip. Two Blackhawk helicopters immediately arrive in the deployment area bringing two HMMWV vehicles, one equipped with a TOW AT system and the other with a mounted M2 Browning machinegun.

Joint Task Force Operation Swift Phoenix

Mogadishu, Somalia: The JTF is deployed to interdict a suspected arms transport cargo ship at the port. The team of six soldiers will be inserted by Blackhawk helicopter at pier 76. The mission starts in broad daylight at 08:00 with hazy weather conditions and is supported by a flight of A-10 Thunderbolts (that I have no direct control over: they just do a flyby during the mission).