Army.biz: News and Issues facing America's Army

Tuesday marked an important day for Iraqi forces as they prepared to take over control of cities and towns as US forces prepare to relinquish control.

Iraq marked the day, June 30th, as a national holiday, and is the first major pullback by US forces in advance of a complete withdrawal of US forces by the end of 2011. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki noted that the day comes wih mixed emotions as the celebration also reminded Iraqis of the terrible losses suffered at the hands of terrorism. He also addressed the misguided notion that Iraqi forces were not up to the challenge of replacing US forces in keeping peace and combatting terrorism and insurgents, saying “It is a big mistake for people to think that the Iraqis will not handle the security issue”.

Iraqis celebrating into the night on Monday were joined by a show of strength by soldiers and police to ensure that the festivities were not marred by insurgents, as US troops gave up their posts. Crowds gathered in Baghdad’s largest park Monday night and party goers were met with multiple check points and security sweeps but this did nothing to lessen the joy of announcing Baghdad’s sovereignty and independence.

President Jalal Talabani thanked US forces for their sacrifices in overthrowing Saddam Hussein and in the years of conflict that followed.

The US announced that on Monday, four of it’s troops had died from combat related injuries, bringing the total number of US troops killed to 4,321.

June saw 200 people killed by bombings and there is now a ban on motorcycles as they have quickly become the favored method of delivery by suicide bombers. Across Baghdad, tanks and military vehicles were draped with flags and decorations while popular music was being played.

The Status of Forces Agreement, which set the pullback deadline, says US commanders must seek permission from Iraqi authorities to conduct operations, but American troops retain a unilateral right to “legitimate self-defence.”

Camp Atterbury, Indiana is home to twenty civilians representing a number of different Federal government departments charged with helping Afghanistan beyond military efforts.

Designed to increase cohesion between the military and the various departments including the State Department, Department of Agriculture and the US Agency for International Development, the civilians begin an eight-day mission readiness exercise in preparation for a 1,200 troop deployment next week, destined to improving economic issues, security and local government, and will be broken into twelve difference provincial groups.

As part of the training, the civilians will receive the three weeks of training that troops receive during their basic training exercises, which include combat, lifesaving, cultural training and awareness and weapons and equipment training.

This is the first time that Camp Atterbury has hosted such an exercise, but the camp’s inter-agency relationships and non-governmental partnerships make it a perfect training ground for such an important mission says Barry Richmond, deputy commander of the Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck Center for Complex Operations, and that “you’re receiving a greater depth than you would from just one installation…you’re drawing from our strategic partnerships”.

The US Army surgeon general, Eric Shoomaker, announced that the Army has yet to see any indication that the Swine Flu has made its way into the military population, and deployed personnel are at no increased risk of infection.

“It’s important for you all to understand that there is no cause for panic or alarm,” Schoomaker writes in his blog. “Antiviral drugs are available in the event you become ill; and there are preventive measures you can take to stay healthy.”

The Swine Flu usually appears in pigs and that certain strains can be passed on to humans, and certainly from human to human. The UK, Spain, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico have all reported outbreaks to some degree, with the most serious cases occurring in Mexico where many deaths have been reported. Medication like Tamiflu and Relenza can treat the Swine Flu, Schoomaker said, however these medications are not available over the counter, but by a doctor’s prescription. “If you have (the) flu and need treatment, treatment should start within two days after you begin to feel sick,” Schoomaker said.

“Rest assured that my staff and I are working the flu issue closely with the Joint Staff surgeon, the assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the other military services, Health and Human Services, and Centers for Disease Control and Preventive Medicine,” Schoomaker said.

The Joint Fires Integrations and Interoperability Team (JFIIT) leads the 1st Infantry Division as they go through the first year of combined training activities for combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The joint air-ground integration situational training exercise, or joint A-GI STX training, allows training for Brigade Combat Troops and lower to train for combat objectives including targeting and battle tracking.

Brigade Combat leaders indicate that the National Training Center and the JFIIT have made great strides in providing a realistic training environment, and is preparing troops suitably for combat challenges abroad. This training allows for combat troops to hone their skills, and bring combined targeting skill sets together, a need identified by lessons learned in Iraq, says Army Lt. Col. Brad Stewart, chief of plans and operations, Operations Group, NTC, allowing for commanders to more efficiently make use of their assets in battle.

The Warrior Preparation Center in Fort Bragg has sent thirty-six Forward Observers to Germany to supplement their training in striking forward targets from the air, adding to their training in military strikes.

The first group of paratroopers has arrived for classroom training. In one such session, trainees watched simulated projection situations in which troops searching for forward targets are attacked by insurgants. This information is then collected by forward observers who then accurately report this to a cental command which then relays the information to a pilot in position to counter attack from the air.

At the root of the training comes a meeting of the two divisions which need to decide on a mutually acceptable language for communicating and calling for support. A graduate of the Joint Fires Observer program will be able to more effectively reach out to an air support team to complete a task, and integrate the air and ground forces.

The Army has published a retirenemtn guide specifically for Army Reserve soldiers and their families, designed to cover aspects of retirement unique to issues faced by Reserve soldiers, a combined effort by Army Retirement Services and Army Reserve Command.

John Radke, chief of Army Retirement Services says that the guide is designed to provide “full support before and after retirement”, and that with such incredible contributions made by this portion of the armed forces that “the (US Army) owes it to them to them and their families to make sure they’re ready for retirement”.

The guide provides a step by step plan to ensure that Reservists approach their retirement correctly.

The guide is now being distributed through the Reserve, but is also available online for download from the Army G-1 website.

Robert Nardelli, Chrysler’s chief executive, informed the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday that a lack of bailout funds would undermine our nation’s ability to respond to our army’s challenges and “threaten our national security”.

According to the AP in Washington, the Big Three auto manufacturers in Detroit have long held close the relationship between the auto industry and the auto parts companies who supply parts to the Department of Defense. Retired Army Lt. Gen. John Caldwell, chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association’s combat vehicles division feels like they are “grasping at straws” and that it is “a stretch”. Defense experts indicate that they see little change to the relationship with the parts suppliers, short of higher prices for the equipment.

Wednesday has been scheduled for a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee for the executives of the Big Three.

General Motors posted a video to the internet this week saying that a ruined auto industry would force the United States to look overseas for manufacture and equipment suppliers and this would be a “serious threat to national security”.

Senator Carl Levin, a democrat from Michigan and influential chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee seemed to support this notion, saying the defense market alone isn’t large enough to carry most parts suppliers, making a strong auto industry key to their survival.

Other companies in the auto sector support GM and Chrysler, with TRW Holdings in particular announcing to their shareholders in securities filings that additional market downturns in the auto industry could hurt sales and profits. TRW produces parts used in heavy-duty army and military vehicles.

Dakota Wood, a retired Marine Corp Officer and military analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington says that the best and most innovative products are coming from Toyota and Honda, not from the Big Three or Detroit. Wood went on to say that both a national and robust auto industry are desireable, but to suggest that the Big Three should be afforded bailout funds “as a national security imperative is marginal at best.” Acording to Wood, the defense requirements are so specialized that it precludes the defense department from purchasing from within the commercial sectors.

According to the Pentagon, the Obama plan to remove troops from Iraq will subsequently mean increased combat for the remaining 50,000 combat troops who will be left to perform cleanup and protection services, and fight suspected terrorists.

The Obama administrations announced that it will likely unveil it’s new military strategic plan on Friday, February 27th from Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

An agreement previously inked by the Bush Administration outlined a troop removal plan resulting in removal of all US forces by 2012, whereas the Obama plan will yield a complete removal of all US forces within the next 18 months, with a “residual” force in the tens of thousands to remain. The goal of this force is to train Iraqi forces, protect American assest and citizens in the region, and to perform counterterrorism operations in which Iraqi forces would take the lead.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said that although Iraq will remain a war zone, the forces that remain will not be doing anything that resembles combat. “For example, U.S. personnel assigned to the Ministry of Finance may have a sidearm,” he said, “but I doubt they’d consider themselves a combat force, and certainly wouldn’t be equipped in that fashion to perform combat operations.”, Morrell said.

Legislation pushed through congress by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Tuesday February 10th makes it easier for army personnel to take advatage of distance education classes.

Not only is tuition and fees and a $1,000 allowance made for school books and supplies under the new legislation, but the military will be providing an annual payment equal to the housing costs in the same jurisdiction as the school, for an E-5 who has dependents. The payments have on them restrictions for those who actually take classes on campus at least part time, or for those taking distance education, at least one class must be on campus. This flies in the face of the benefits of distance education and the reason for which it was created.

The Veterans’ Affairs Committee opposed this decision as they fear that schools would operate in places where the highest living expenses are, in order to sway student signups so that they may receive the higher living allowance. Since the government has proposed changes to the payouts, they have received complaints regarding the fairness of treating veterans differently, from both schools and potential GI BIll candidates.

The committee meets February 26 to discuss the proposed changes before the plan takes effect on August 1, 2009.

For more information on Education and Learning, click here.

President Obama is vowing to pursue troop withdrawal plans from Iraq, one which removes troops in two batches as per his campaign promises, one batch in 16 months and the balance in 23 months. According to annonymous sources, a third option is being considered that will find some troops coming home in between the primary target dates.

Regardless of the withdrawal dates, President Obama intends to leave behind several brigades rebranded from combat troops to multipurpose troops providing training and advice to Iraqi forces, upon agreement by the Iraqi government. The President has indicated that a residual force will remain to conduct anti-terrorism campaigns against al-Qaida, and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel.

The support from President Obama will remain in place only if the Iraqi government continues to work towards stability.

The withdrawal risk proposal has been presented to Obama, and a formal recommendation by Obama’s top defense advisors Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, has yet to be established.

In considering the withdrawal timetable, President Obama is weighing political risk, the potential for an escalating war in Afganistan, and relieving the stressors on troops and their families. The tactical considerations are numerous, as the security vacuum left by the US troops could destabilize the region. In addition, already strained resources will need to be devoted to rebuilding and governmental and regional stability, leaving a lack of focus on insurgent issues.

The fact that President Obama has not yet made more concrete plans for troop withdrawal as per his campaign promises is a clear indication that the Iraqi War and other considerations are much more complex than initially understood.

Major General Robert Caslen, the senior U.S. commander in northern Iraq, says that the north of Iraq and the ethnic tension between Arabs and Kurds demands all defense and combat elements the US military can provide, and that the region presents it’s own set of complex issues which will require a continued US presence simply to keep the status quo.