- Non-combatant Evacuation Operation
According to United States Military Joint Publication 3-07.5, "Noncombatant Evacuation Operations":
"Noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs) are conducted to assist the Department of State (DOS) in evacuating noncombatants, nonessential military personnel, selected host-nation citizens, and third country nationals whose lives are in danger from locations in a host foreign nation to an appropriate safe haven and/or the United States.
NEOs usually involve swift insertions of a force, temporary occupation of an objective, and a planned withdrawal upon completion of the mission.
During NEOs, the US
Ambassador is the senior authority for the evacuation and is ultimately responsible for the successful completion of the NEO and the safety of the evacuees. The Ambassador speaks with the authority of the President and serves as direct representative on site."In plain English, this means that at times American citizens may become endangered in locations outside of the United States. This is usually due to civil unrest or war. However it may also be due to a natural disaster. The U.S. Ambassador has the responsibility, according to law, to request a NEO. Once he does, the government will determine whether or not the evacuation should be done with civilian resources, such as the
Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) or with military forces. Even if military forces conduct the evacuation, the Ambassador remains in charge of the evacuation.Military forces could include sealift, airlift or even road evacuation. Traditionally the Air Force or Marines conduct NEOs.
Past Operations
* 1976 -
Lebanon
* 1990Operation Sharp Edge -Liberia
* 1991Operation Eastern Exit -Somalia
* 1994Operation Tiger Rescue -Yemen
* 1996Operation Assured Response -Liberia
* 1996 Operation QUICK RESONSE -Central African Republic
* 1997 Operation NOBLE OBELISK -Sierra Leone
* 1998 Operation SAFE DEPARTURE -Eritrea
* 1998 Operation SHEPHERD VENTURE -Guinea-Bissau
* 2002 Operation SHEPHERD SENTRY -Central African Republic
* 2002 Operation AUTUMN RETURN -Côte d'Ivoire
* 2002Operation SHINING EXPRESS -Liberia
* 2006 -Lebanon References
* [http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp3_07_5.pdf US Military Publication for Noncombatant Evacuation Operation]
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