This is the first administration transition during wartime in forty years, and traditionally, a crisis will occur during that period, said Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a press briefing at the Pentagon.

Mullen said he believes it’s critical to pursue all the issues in the CJCS Guidance memorandum, which includes defending vital National interests in the broader Middle East; Resetting, Reconstituting, and Revitalizing our Forces; and properly balancing our global strategic risk. In addition to these issues, he said, there is a whole range of other global concerns such as tensions in Eurasia and Africa, and the impact of the economic crisis.

The Joint Staff has done a lot of work to prepare, he said, and he’s comfortable they are meeting the goals of the transition to the new administration [of Barack Obama]. We serve one leader, he said, and that’s the sitting Commander in Chief.

During the question and answer period, Mullen said he assumes the pirates that captured the super oil tanker off the coast of Saudi Arabia on Saturday, November 15, will ask for a ransom. The piracy does not seem to be connected to al-Qaeda or terrorism, he said.

Dismantling the forces in Iraq is “very doable” but it’s not the sort of thing we can do overnight, Mullen said. In regards to “we have to be out by 2011,” Mullen said it’s in his view that three years is a long time, and conditions can change. We will continue to have discussions with them [the Iraqis], he said, and clearly it’s theoretically possible to pull the troops out by 2011 but conditions would dictate the outcome. We have 150,000 troops in Iraq right now, and a lot of equipment, Mullen said, and clearly we want to be able to withdraw the troops safely.

It is his understanding, Mullen continued, that the Status of Forces Agreement troop withdrawal specifics is in regard to American troops, and does include removal from certain cities by the year 2009. Using Baghdad as an example, Mullen said they’ve been improving security and are attempting to turn one city over at a time [to the Iraqis].

Upon being directly questioned and asked for a yes or no answer, Mullen simply answered “yes” to the specifics of the SOFA agreement: yes, American troops have to be out of Iraq by 2011 regardless of conditions.

As for the timetable of “16 months” (the policy stated by President-Elect Obama), Mullen said that he looks forward to the discussion he will have with Obama, and will give him the “best advice I can.” He continued, saying, “I will not pre-state” what that conversation will entail.

There are about fifteen to twenty key leaders of “special groups” within Iraq, Army Col. John Hort, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division said during a live brief to the Pentagon from Iraq. It’s hard to tell how many followers they have, Hort said, about two to four thousand, but it’s hard to count. However, that number isn’t nearly what it was before March, according to Hort.

Those “special groups” are those that are unaligned with not only the government, but also with the political movement within the country. They just create their own group sort of like the mafia, Hort said. “They’re more interested in power,” sometimes with religious connotations, but it’s really more about power, he said.

The al-Queda threat still exists but with the help of the Sons of Iraq (directed by and reporting to the Iraqi Army), Hort said there has been significant improvement. Approximately a year ago, the attacks in Sadr City averaged about six to seven attacks a day, and now they are averaging about one a day. According to Hort, there has been “significant progress” in regards to security.

Hort said he approximates that 98% of the SOI are paid by the Iraqi Army.

“We lead from behind at this point,” said Army Col. Dominic Caraccilo, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division during a live briefing from Iraq held in the Pentagon. The area he commands, nicknamed the “Triangle of Death,” has changed dramatically in the last year, he said. Over a year ago, he continued, there were over seventy improvised explosive devices found, and twenty-eight recorded attacks in the month of September. This year, there were only fifteen devices found, and only two attacks in the month of September. From Caraccilo’s vantage point, he said, the Iraqi Army is capable of taking the coalition’s position when they finally leave.

Of main interest is the Sons of Iraq, a short-term military strategy that employs volunteer Iraqi citizens. Although Caraccilo said he didn’t know what the monthly budget the coalition is considering for the SOI, he said “It’s a lot less than the losses that were occurring” before the SOI were established. The budget, he said, is worth it, because peace is more important than violence.

As coalition forces leave, there is always the concern that the void will be filled by violence, Caracillo said. “There is such a large footprint” of Iraqi presence, however, that “quite frankly the population has decided they’re not going to put up with it.” Even if there is a flare up of violence, he said, we haven’t abandoned the Iraqi Army. We are coaching, teaching, and mentoring them. We continue to train them, we provide coverage, and we provide clearance on the roads. In doing so, he concluded, we allow the Iraqi Army to work and sustain themselves so that they will be capable and ready to do the work alone.

Major General John Kelly, Head of Multinational Forces West talks about progress in Anbar.
General Kelly spoke about several updates that are significant to the citizens of Anbar province and to U.S. military personal. (more…)

Secretary of Defense Robert M.Gates, speaking at a summit held at the Pentagon for wounded warriors and their families, said he wanted to reflect on an event a few months ago when Frank Buckles, a 107-year-old veteran, was present at a ceremony when a new exhibit was opened. Upon discharge from the military after World War I, Frank Buckles got “sixty bucks and a free pass to the Y[MCA],” as his severance.

To our wounded warriors, Gates said, I’ve been amazed by your grit and resilience. Part of my duties was to visit Walter Reed and other hospitals and I wasn’t sure I could keep it together and if I could handle it, to see the wounded. But I found instead that they lift me up, he said. Gates became emotional, his voice wavering, and looked solemn as he sniffled a bit and looked out at the audience. I will repeat the pledge I made to myself and everyone, he said, that other than winning the wars we are in, my highest priority is caring for those who are wounded.

Gates said they are now converting the disability rating process so that one service member has one exam, and one rating which will be shared between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Veterans Administration (VA). Working together, the DOD and VA can cut in half the time required to get to the disability payment process completed through the VA.

Many have returned bearing the scars of war, and some of those wounds are not readily apparent, Gates continued. In Iraq and Afghanistan, improvement in techniques and medical care has made it possible to survive an injury that many used to not be able to live through. This, however, has made evident how much we do not know about Traumatic Brain Injuries. We are poised to learn a lot more. We’ve also gone a long way to deal with the psychological effects of what has turned out to be a very long war.

As we all know, Gates said, not everyone returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is getting the mental health care they need. Too often people have avoided help because they were afraid of it affecting their security clearance or even their jobs. They are trying to remove the stigma by keeping counseling not part of the evaluation process, so that having it not affect their jobs is hopefully going to make it more likely to have men and women in uniform seek help.

Although we’ve made significant progress in the last year there is no doubt we still have a lot of work to do. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Gates concluded, and his remarks were received with a round of applause.

At a joint briefing with the Secretary of Defense, Minister of Defense Lee Song-hee says (through a translator) that Kim Jong-il is probably enjoying all the attention he’s getting, but it’s true that his health has significant implications, and the United States and Korea are monitoring the situation. They determine that he most likely has control of his administration, he says, and the Korean and United States will do its best to monitor the situation in a stable manner. We will coordinate our responses together as well. (0:56)

 

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At a joint briefing with the Minister of Defense- Korea, held at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says the United States reaffirmed its commitment to Korea, including an extention of its “nuclear umbrella.” He says they urge a swift resolution to the issue in North Korea using the six party talks. (0:52)

 

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The North Korean threat continues to be in our defense posture, said Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the joint briefing with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Lee Song-hee held at the Pentagon. A conducive effort in our defensive posturing to the security of the South Korean’s is alive and well, said Gates, and the six party talk process is binding our two countries together. Gates thanked the Korean people for their effort in helping the United States eradicate militants in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Through an interpreter, Lee said that the 40 year anniversary of the Status of Forces Agreement is still considered a central foundation of their commitment to the defense of the Korean peninsula. The reaffirmation of this agreement sets a tone for the United States’ unwavering commitment to the safety of South Korea, said Lee. According to Lee, the conclusion by high ranking military officers during a meeting with himself and the Secretary of Defense, the Korean Peninsula is very well protected.

The health of Kim Jong-il is still a variable that is being closely watched by the leaders of both countries. Kim Jong-il is believed to still be in control of North Korea even though he has not been seen in public in some time. The unknown element of Jong-il’s health has brought an even greater understanding between the countries: the US and South Korea must coordinate and manage their combined forces in a much more stable manner.

At a briefing on FY2008 Recruiting and Retention for the AVF (All Volunteer Force) Military, held at the Pentagon, Dr. David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness says he is confident they [the military] could recruit in higher levels, but they need to persuade the public at large to support a military choice by young people. There are often discussions about encouraging “public service” by young people, but they rarely mention the military, even though three hundred thousand volunteer each year. The military ought to be the first public service choice, one of the most difficult public service choices, and is a great choice for young people. (1:13)

 

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I’ve never seen a better Army, said Major General Thomas P. Bostick, Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, at a briefing on FY2008 Recruiting and Retention for the AVF (All Volunteer Force) Military, held at the Pentagon. Each person, Bostick said, became a hero the day they enlisted. Dr. David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, echoed this sentiment by saying that a willingness to step forward and serve is a great tribute to our military.

Ninety-two percent of those enlisting overall in FY2008 had high school diplomas, with the Army having the lowest score, with only eighty-three percent having diplomas. The Air Force, at ninety-nine percent, is the branch of service having the highest amount of enlistees with diplomas in FY2008. One of the ways the Army is working with that, is by their Army Prep School, where potential recruits can get GEDs before they go to Basic Training for the Army.

All services met or even exceeded their recruiting goals for FY2008. At the end of the year, the totals for Accessions were 80, 517 Army; 38,485 Navy; 37, 991 Marine Corps; and 27, 848 Air Force. Of special note was the waiver system in place, where individuals are granted waivers to enter the military when ordinarily a medical problem, a criminal offense of some sort, or even their age wouldn’t have allowed them to do so before. Specific numbers were not announced for the waivers, though when the question was asked how many waivers were issued for overweight individuals Major General Robert E. Milstead, Jr, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, boomed from the back of the stage, “THE MARINE CORPS HAS NONE!!”

Rear Admiral Joseph F. Kilkenny, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command said in the Navy that they were successful in all fronts, and the total force team is “definitely firing on all cylinders.” The results achieved were “purely remarkable” and they were pleased they have exceeded retention goals in the Navy. But as Brigadier General Alfred J. Stewart, Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service pointed out, the retention in the Air Force is a little soft likely due to the high-skilled jobs competing with high paying competition in the private sector.

Of huge concern was how the economy affects recruitment. While Dr. Chu wouldn’t directly quote numbers, he did say that people are more willing to “give us a chance” because of it. Older adults, Chu said, need to be more supportive of young people’s decision to go into the military. If you treat people right, such as equal pay for a job they could hold in the civilian sector, good benefits, and use of deployments, they will stay in. There are many discussions about “public service,” said Chu, but few mention the military as a way to do that.