Episode #49: Weekly AFPS News Roundup for August 26

In the AFPS podcast for August 26: Vice President Joe Biden marked the transition of U.S. forces in Iraq from a combat to a support mission at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Indianapolis, Ind.; Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, commander of NATO Training Mission Afghanistan and Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan reviewed progress and challenges related to building a professional Afghan military; Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps addressed the conditional drawdown in Afghanistan which is slated to begin in July, 2011; U.S. military support for flood relief in Pakistan continued; a rundown of key recommendations from a final report on the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas; military spouses received Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell surveys to provide their feedback; and, a warning on potential health risks from using electronic cigarettes.

To listen to the podcast, click here.

Warfighter Wednesday: 4-H Clubs in Iraq ‘What a Great Idea’ to Help Build the Future

Iraqi children reciting the 4-H pledge at the Baghdad chapter. Photo courtesy of 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division

Lt. Col. Stanley P. Fugate is the 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, deputy commander for Civil Capacity in Baghdad, Iraq. This is his first deployment to Iraq, but he has been deployed to Kuwait three other times. Fugate is the second in command of the brigade.

Today children in Iraq are striving towards a brighter future with the help from an old American organization and club called 4-H. The 4-H club is as American as “Apple Pie” and “Chevrolet” and in Iraq today this worldwide youth organization offers disadvantaged youth educational and practical hands on opportunities to gain valuable job skills in an informal setting. The youth are assisted by local volunteer leaders and parents that have knowledge in the project area that the children are interested in learning.

With its long history, 4-H is known for building future leaders who are committed to learning and public service, through the clubs’ focus on agriculture. Even as a young sixth-grader in a Tennessee county school, I joined the 4-H club and participated in everything from presenting demonstrations, public speaking, record keeping, leadership, to animal husbandry. I would easily say today that by participating in my grade school 4-H club it has helped me be a better Army officer and has especially helped me in my duties as the 1-3 AAB deputy commander for Civil Capacity when it comes to working agriculture projects here in Iraq.

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Warfighter Wednesday: Simple Suggestions for Effective Advising

Lt. Col. Joshua J. Potter, chief, Iraqi Army Division Stability-Transition Team

Lt. Col. Joshua J. Potter is an Iraqi Army Division Stability-Transition Team (S-TT) chief with the 1st Advise and Assist Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, currently serving in Baghdad, Iraq. This is his fourth tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is his sixth overall deployment and he previously was the Civil Affairs officer for the 1st Infantry Division G9 (Civil-Military officer) and course developer / chief instructor with the Directorate of Cultural Influence and Counterinsurgency training over 8,000 Transition Team members who are inbound in support of the Global War on Terrorism, in Cultural Influence, Counterinsurgency, and the role of the advisor.

We have served for eight months as an Advise and Assist Brigade (AAB). Our Foreign Security Force (FSF) counterparts include the Army, federal police, police services and other security units. As FSF have dramatically increased their capacity over the past few months, we have altered the way we engage with them. Of course, the AAB must remain agile at its core and we believe that dedicated in-progress reviews are important.

In that spirit, this is a short compilation or a “down-and-dirty” guide for incoming S-TT advisors to support their overall mission.
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Episode #46: Weekly AFPS News Roundup for August 5

In the AFPS podcast for August 5: President Barack Obama addressed a national meeting of the Disabled American Veterans organization in Atlanta, Ga. He discussed the end of the combat mission in Iraq and improvements at the Veterans Administration that will benefit returning servicemembers; at a National Guard Family Program Workshop in New Orleans, La., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen explained the need to focus on reintegration programs and support;  the U.S. military rushes aid to Pakistan where monsoons have killed 1,500 people and  impacted millions of lives;  President Obama signed a supplemental war fund bill to ensure overseas operations continue without interruption;  the commander of ISAF and U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Army Gen. David Petraeus issued his first guidance document on counterinsurgency tactics; Second Lady, Dr. Jill Biden is scheduled to make her acting debut playing herself on the Aug. 8th “Army Wives” television show; a new monthly blog, “In Their Own Words: Lessons Learned in Today’s Military” seeks stories to feature from servicemembers, veterans and the public; and, the U.S. Coast Guard celebrated its 220th birthday this week.

To listen to the podcast, click here.

Growth of The Iraqi Security Forces

Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero is the United States Forces-Iraq, Deputy Commanding General, Advising and Training

Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero is the United States Forces-Iraq, Deputy Commanding General, Advising and Training. In partnership with the Government of Iraqi, DCG A&T develops professional Iraqi security ministries and forces that are capable of maintaining internal security and defending against external threats; on order, transition designated missions, organizations, and other functions to other USG agencies.

Along with most of you, I have been watching the ongoing political developments in Iraq closely, but what I’ve been watching even more closely are the growing capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces. After seven years of hard and dangerous work, and the certification of the election results, the ISF is ready to take on full responsibility for the internal security of Iraq. Although there continue to be random high profile attacks, the overall violence trends remain encouraging with incidents down more than 90 percent since the height of the U.S.-led surge and down about 50 percent since the ISF took over security responsibility for the cities last June.

On Sept. 1, 2010, Operation Iraqi Freedom will become Operation New Dawn. By that time U.S. forces will be reduced to 50,000, but it’s important to understand that this does not signify any reduction in U.S. commitment to the people of Iraq. Rather, it signifies the readiness of the ISF to take on the full breadth of the internal security mission here. As U.S. forces across the country transition from combat operations to advising and assisting, the importance of continued training and professionalization of the ISF will truly come into focus.

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