Team assessing OIF air component effectiveness Published June 13, 2003 CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar (AFPN) -- A team of nearly 100 experts in a variety of fields began traveling in Iraq on June 8 to visit up to 500 impact points targeted by coalition air component forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom.A portion of the Combined Weapons Effectiveness Assessment Team, or CWEAT, visited sites in Iraq earlier in June to gather data as well as practice plans and procedures.The team is visiting select mean points of impact to assess the performance of air component weapons, said Col. Tom Entwistle, team chief. A mean point of contact is the precise point where a weapon is intended to strike. The points selected for assessment represent a variety of weapons, targets and desired effects.Based here, the team is being led by U.S. Central Command air forces."The ultimate goal (of the CWEAT assessments) is to learn from OIF so that in the future we can operate with increased precision," Entwistle said.He said "increased precision" means the combined forces air component commander can achieve desired effects quickly, with fewer resources and with a minimum of unintended or unnecessary damage in future operations."We want to be able to employ air and space power in all weather against any target, any time, the first time, to achieve the exact effects that we need to meet our objectives -- no more, no less," Entwistle said."This is an important mission," Entwistle said.For the team's safety and security, Entwistle declined to elaborate on the team's specific itinerary or time schedule."We'll take as much time as we need to do this job right," he said.The team comprises civilian and military members from all branches of the U.S. armed services; U.S. Department of Defense agencies; the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force; and the Royal Australian Air Force. The team includes experts in targeting, weapons, engineering and intelligence.