News Call Al Qaeda Shifting Focus from Iraq to Afghanistan Afghanistan Has Taken Over the Piled from Coalition and Afghan Offi- Iraq

Home , David Petraeus

News Call Al Qaeda Shifting Focus from Iraq to Afghanistan Afghanistan has taken over the piled from Coalition and Afghan offi- Iraq. In an interview in Baghdad, Gen. headlines from Iraq for a reason. De- cials show that at least 600 Afghan Petraeus said al Qaeda may be shift- spite recent sensational suicide at- civilians died from January through ing its priorities. “There is some intel- tacks, violence in Iraq is at the lowest July, an increase of 30 percent from the ligence that has picked this up,” he levels in four years, even after the last same period last year. said in an interview with Associated of the five U.S. “surge” brigades has As the July attack on a small combat Press. He added, however, that the in- left the country. Progress in security outpost near the village of Wanat in formation has not been vetted and has been building, while Iraqi security Kunar Province indicates, militant at- that it does not indicate that al Qaeda forces have been growing in numbers tacks in Afghanistan have also grown would give up on Iraq. and effectiveness. U.S. commanders in larger, more sophisticated and more According to Gen. Petraeus, in the Iraq are cautiously optimistic: Over brazen. While 45 U.S. paratroopers past, communications from senior lead- the past year, insurgents there have with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd ers of al Qaeda to their subordinates been killed, captured and driven out Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd made it clear that Iraq is the priority for of much of the country. “If you could Airborne Brigade Combat Team—ac- establishing an Islamic state within the reduce these sensational attacks fur- companied by 25 Afghan soldiers—be- West. “We do think that there is some ther, I think you are almost approach- gan establishing a small combat out- assessment ongoing as to the continued ing a level of normal or latent vio- post near the Pakistan border, several viability of al Qaeda’s fight in Iraq,” he lence,” commander of Multi-National hundred insurgents moved into the said. “They’re not going to abandon Force-Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, village and set up firing positions. In Iraq, they’re not going to write it off,” said in an interview with USA Today. a surprise attack, they pounded the he continued. “But what they certainly Violence in Afghanistan, however, base with small-arms fire, mortars, may do is start to provide some of those continues to build. May, June and July heavy machine guns and rocket-pro- resources that would have come to Iraq were the deadliest months for Ameri- pelled grenades for several hours un- to Pakistan, possibly to Afghanistan.” can forces since the war began in 2001, til fighter jets and Apache helicopters “We do know the foreign fighter pushing the U.S. death toll to more arrived. The platoon repulsed the at- flow into Iraq has been reduced very than 500. The Taliban appeared to try tack and held the base: Nine U.S. sol- substantially,” said Gen. Petraeus. Mil- to minimize civilian casualties in the diers were killed; 15 were wounded. itants may be diverting fighters from past, but this year the number of The increase in well-organized and Iraq to the Afghan frontier—the sec- Afghan civilian deaths has also risen complex attacks in Afghanistan may tion of eastern Afghanistan that bor- sharply. Associated Press figures com- be tied to the decrease in violence in ders the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan, where they find a staging ground and safe haven. For several months, U.S. commanders in Afghanistan have warned that insurgents have been using the border region of Pakistan as a staging area. U.S. air strikes in recent months have killed civilians in Pakistan and prompted complaints from the gov- ernment. In one case, in which Pak- istan said 30 civilians had been killed in Nurestan and Kunar Provinces, NATO International Security Assis-

. Gill tance Force (ISAF) initiated an exten- sive investigation and issued a formal statement rejecting all civilian casu- alty claims. According to an Associated Press report, senior intelligence and mili-

U.S. Army/Spc. Charles W U.S. tary aides want President Bush to Gen. David Petraeus speaks with a member of Iraqi security forces. grant U.S. commanders more flexibil-

12 ARMY I September 2008 ity to pursue al Qaeda and Taliban More troops are not the only answer, shot down in central Iraq in Novem- militants who cross the border from according to Gen. David McKiernan, ber 2006, the entire helicopter assault the tribal areas. Defense officials are commander of ISAF. “There is no force had to land and set up a defen- leery of stepping up military opera- magic number of soldiers that are sive perimeter. No one was hurt in the tions in Pakistan without approval be- needed on the ground to win this cam- crash, but the helicopter was not fly- cause such a move could affect the paign,” he said in an interview with able. A recovery team was called, but United States’ use of the country as a CNN. “What we need is security of the before help could arrive, enemy trucks supply base. people. We need governance. We need approached. Armed with antiaircraft Currently, there are some 30,000 U.S. reconstruction and development.” machine guns and rocket-propelled troops in Afghanistan. Commanders in grenades, the enemy outnumbered the Afghanistan have asked for three more Soldiers Receive DSC. Two soldiers, small force on the ground. There was brigade combat teams, and Pentagon each with more than 20 years of ser- no place to hide. As the firefight be- officials are discussing ways to send vice, were recently awarded the Dis- gan, Mr. Cooper and his copilot took additional forces there. There is also tinguished Service Cross, the Army’s off and drew most of the heavy fire talk that the Army is contemplating second-highest award for combat away from the ground forces. His AH- redirecting troops to Afghanistan that valor, given for “extreme gallantry 6 Little Bird returned fire, making re- were originally scheduled for Iraq. and risk of life in actual combat with peated, low-flying passes over the en- Gen. Petraeus asked for and was an armed enemy force.” CW5 David F. emy. When Mr. Cooper ran low on granted 45 days after the last surge Cooper, 160th Special Operations Avi- fuel and ammunition, he landed in full brigades left Iraq in which to assess ation Regiment (Airborne), received view of the enemy, transferred fuel conditions on the ground and deter- the medal for extraordinary heroism and ammunition from the downed he- mine if a drawdown of troops might in Iraq; MSgt. Brendan O’Connor, for- licopter, and resumed his counterat- be possible. When pressed by reporters merly a senior medic with 2nd Battal- tack until the enemy fled. at a Pentagon briefing, Secretary of ion, 7th Special Forces Group (Air- MSgt. O’Connor was instrumental in Defense Robert Gates said Gen. Pe- borne) Operational Detachment Alpha, keeping his team alive during more traeus’ timeline is “tied strictly to Iraq received the award for valorous ac- than 17 hours of sustained combat and has nothing to do with—as far as tions in Afghanistan. against more than 250 Taliban fighters I know … Afghanistan.” When Mr. Cooper’s wingman was in southern Afghanistan in June 2006. When the team and its attached Afghan National Army troops made a tempo- rary stop during a patrol, they were at- tacked from all sides with small-arms fire, heavy machine-gun fire, rocket- propelled grenades and mortars. When MSgt. O’Connor heard that two soldiers had been wounded else- where, he took off his body armor so he could cram his body into a shallow ditch and low-crawled 200 feet to treat the wounded soldiers as heavy machine-gun fire struck all around him. One soldier died, but MSgt. O’Connor carried the other back to a safer area, again passing through the barrage of machine-gun fire; he then helped or- ganize the continuing defense and fi- nal evacuation of the team. Both men credit their companions. “This medal belongs to my whole team,” MSgt. O’Connor insisted. “We all fought hard, and it could just as easily be any one of them standing up here. Every one of them is a hero.” Mr. Cooper gave credit to his copilot and the ground forces who helped reload and refuel his AH-6 Little Bird. “They are heroes in the truest sense of the

14 ARMY I September 2008 chologist—treated soldiers at the outpatient clinic at Fort Bliss who were coming back from deployment and di- COMMAND agnosed with PTSD. Due to insufficient SERGEANT staff, treatment consisted of medication MAJOR and limited individual counseling. *CHANGE* If soldiers were not fit for duty in the CSM I.T. Savusa from USAREUR course of three months, they had to be and Seventh medically discharged. When soldiers Army to ISAF. told Dr. Fortunato that they wanted to I ISAF—International Security Assistance stay in the Army, he had to tell them Force; USAREUR— U.S. Army Europe. they couldn’t. In addition, Dr. Fortu- *Command sergeant major position nato had to affirm in writing that the assigned to general officer command. patients had derived “maximum bene- fits on inpatient and outpatient treat- word,” he said. “It is [thanks] to them ment,” when he did not feel that they that I am lucky to be standing here.” had. Dr. Fortunato wanted to build a facility that would treat physical and Fort Bliss Fights PTSD. Secretary of psychological aspects of soldiers who Defense Robert M. Gates and Army wanted to remain in the Army. He Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. wanted to address all aspects of PTSD have both lauded the Restoration and and treat the “whole soldier.” Resilience Center at Fort Bliss, Texas, Although his vision was not that of for its innovative program to treat a typical Army facility, Dr. Fortunato post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). persevered until he got funding and That program, established and created the necessary space to open the center by Dr. John E. Fortunato little more in July 2007. Since soldiers diagnosed than a year ago, is a holistic approach with PTSD tend to seek isolation, Dr. to treating combat PTSD. Fortunato designed a place where they Dr. Fortunato—a Benedictine monk, could feel comfortable. Vietnam War veteran and clinical psy- During treatment, a group of thera-

Spc. Walton (Glenn) Eller III earned a Gold Medal in Beijing, while also setting a new Olympic record in Men's Double Trap.

September 2008 I ARMY 15 pists and a chaplain raise painful ques- stantly tap their feet and hands. “Their chi and massages. The program also tions with the soldiers so they can ad- bodies have been hyper-aroused for so entails visits to a local mall, so patients dress their grief. Soldiers have to stir long that they come back and cannot can learn to handle the stress of crowds up unwanted memories; they can return it off,” he explained in an inter- and noise. In addition, the staff takes treat to calm down. view with the Fort Bliss Monitor. They the soldiers to a simulated indoor fir- Dr. Fortunato says the treatment also have to learn how to relax again, he ing range, where scenarios build up to addresses a physical aspect of PTSD— said. To help, Dr. Fortunato’s therapeu- ambush scenes. “We have to challenge many post-deployment soldiers con- tic program includes acupuncture, tai them if they want to stand up and be

GENERAL OFFICER

Gen. M.E. Gen. C.F. Ham Lt. Gen. R.L. Lt. Gen. R.E. Lt. Gen. J.F. Kim- Lt. Gen. R.P. Zahner CHANGES* Dempsey from f rom Dir. of Ops., Burgess Jr. from Durbin from CG, mons from DCS, f rom Dep. Under- Acting Cmdr., J-3, the Jt. Staff to Dir. of the Intel. 1st Inf. Div. and G-2, to Dir. of the secretary of Def. CENTCOM to CG, USAREUR Staff, Office of the Fort Riley to Intel. Staff, Office for Intel., Intel. and CG, TRADOC. and Seventh Dir. of Nat. Intel. to Spec. Asst. to the of the Dir. of Nat. Warfighting Spt., Army. Dir., DIA. CoS, Army for En- Intel. OUSD for Intel. to terprise Mgmt. DCS, G-2, USA.

Maj. Gen. Lie- Maj. Gen. P.E. Maj. Gen. F.J. Maj. Gen. P.D. Maj. Gen. D.D. Maj. Gen. E.P. Maj. Gen. R.A. Ping Chang, Crandall, USAR, Grass, ARNG, Horoho from Kee, USAR, from Regua, USAR, Stone, USAR, USAR, from Cmdr. from Cmdr. from Dir., Mobi- Cmdr., WRHCS, Dep. Dir., Res. from Div. Cmdr. from Dep. Cmdr. for (TPU), 807th Med- (TPU), 420th Eng. lization and Re- WRAMC to CG, Component Mobi- (TPU), 104th Div. Administration ical Cmd., Bde., Bryan, serve Component WRMD/Lead lization, J-92, (Institutional Train- (TPU), 3rd Medical Seagoville, Texas, Texas, to Cmdr. Affairs, Headquar- Agent, TRICARE (IMA), DLA, Fort ing), Vancouver, Cmd., Forest Park, to Cmdr. (TPU), (TPU), 416th Eng. ters, EUCOM to Region 11/Chief, Belvoir, Va., to Wash., to Cmdr. Ga., and Cmdr., 807th Medical De- Cmd., Darien, Ill. Dir. of Ops., J-3, ANC, Tacoma, Dep. Dir. for Log. (TPU), 75th Battle MRTC, San Anto- ployment Spt. NORTHCOM. Wash. Ops., J-4, Jt. Staff, Cmd. Training Div., nio, Texas, to Dep. Cmd., Salt Lake Washington, D.C. Houston, Texas. Surgeon (IMA), City, Utah. Mobilization, Readiness and Re- serve Affairs, OSG, Falls Church, Va.

Brigadier Generals: R.O. Anderson from DCG (Spt.), 82nd Airborne Div. to Dir. of Force Mgmt., ODCS, I AMC—U.S. Army Materiel Command; ANC— G-3/5/7; P.M. Benenati, USAR, from Asst. Div. Cmdr. (TPU), 80th Training Cmd., The Army Sch. System U.S. Army Nurse Corps; ARNG—Army National (Institutional Training), Richmond, Va., to Cmdr. (TPU), 102nd Training Div. (Man. Spt.), Fort Leonard Guard; CENTCOM—U.S. Central Command; Wood, Mo.; A.G.y Berr , USAR, from Staff Officer (TPU), 100th Div., (Institutional Training), Beaver Dam, DIA—Defense Intelligence Agency; DISA—De- Wis., to Cmdr. (TPU), 70th Div. (Functional Training), Fort Knox, Ky.; J.E. Chesnut Jr., USAR, from CoS fense Information Systems Agency; DLA—De- (TPU), 412th Eng. Cmd., Vicksburg, Miss., to Dep. Cmdr. (TPU), 416th Eng. Cmd., Darien, Ill.; D.G. fense Logistics Agency; DTRA—Defense Threat Clarkson, USAR, from Ops. Officer (TPU), 81st Regional Readiness Cmd., Birmingham, Ala., to Asst. Reduction Agency; EUCOM—U.S. European Dep. CoS for Ops. (IMA), AMC; D.S. Cornett Jr., USAR, from CoS (TPU), 88th Regional Readiness Command; IMA—Individual Mobilization Aug- Cmd., Fort Snelling, Minn., to Cmdr. (TPU), 310th Sustainment Cmd. (Expeditionary), Indianapolis, Ind.; mentee; INSCOM—U.S. Army Intelligence and M.W. Corson, USAR, from Cmdr. (TPU), 561st Regional Support Group, Omaha, Neb., to Cmdr., (TPU) Security Command; JCS—Joint Chiefs of Staff; 94th Training Div. (Force Sustainment), Fort Lee, Va.; J.J. Donnelly III, USAR, from Project Officer JFSC—Joint Forces Staff College; MRTC—Med- (TPU), Western Medical Area Readiness Spt. Group, San Pablo, Calif., to Dep. Cmdr. (TPU), (OCP), ical Readiness Training Command; NDU—Na- 807th Medical Cmd. (Deployment Spt.), Seagoville, Texas; J .H. Doty Jr., USAR, from Dir., AR Force Pro- tional Defense University; NORTHCOM—U.S. grams, Office of the Chief, AR to Cmdr. (TPU), 420th Eng. Bde., Bryan, Texas; R.B. Duff, USAR, to Northern Command; OASA—Office of the Assis- Cmdr. (TPU), 95th Div. (Initial Entry Training); Oklahoma City, Okla.; G.K. Dunn, USAR, from Senior Re- tant Secretary of the Army; OCP—Office Opera- serve Adviser, J-3, JCS to Dep. Cmdr. (TPU), 377th Theater Sustainment Cmd., New Orleans, La.; W.J. tional Command Post; ODCS—Office of the Gothard, USAR, from Asst. Dir., Plans and Program, OASA to Cmdr. (TPU), 353rd Civil Affairs Cmd., Deputy Chief of Staff; OSG—Office of the Sur- Staten Island, N.Y.; K.P. Kasun, USAR, from DCG (IMA), INSCOM to Comdt., JFSC, NDU; P.S. Lennon, geon General; OUSD—Office of the Undersecre- USAR, from Dep. Comdr. for Mobilization (IMA), Mil. SDDC to Dep. Dir. Log., CCJ-4, CENTCOM; A.R. tary of Defense; SDDC—Surface Deployment Lynn from CoS, DISA to CG, 311th Signal Cmd., Fort Shafter, Hawaii.; R.E. Manner, ARNG, from Dep. and Distribution Command; TPU—Troop Pro- Dir. of Ops., Readiness and Mobilization, ODCS, G-3/5/7 to Dep. Dir., DTRA; J.W. Mathis III from Dir., Jt. gram Unit; TRADOC—U.S. Army Training and Staff, Jt. Force Headquarters-Washington, Camp Murray, Wash., to DCG, I Corps and Fort Lewis (Rear); Doctrine Command; USAR—U.S. Army Reserve; L.R. Visot, USAR, from Dep. Cmdr., 1st Spt. Cmd. (Theater) (Multi-Component), Fort Bragg, N.C., to CG USAREUR—U.S. Army Europe; WRAMC—Wal- (TPU), 4th Sustainment Cmd. (Expeditionary), San Antonio, Texas; E.R. Woolridge III, USAR, from ter Reed Army Medical Center; WRHCS—Walter Chaplain, (TPU), 84th USAR Training Cmd. (Leader Readiness), Fort McCoy, Wis., to Asst. Chief of Reed Health Care System; WRMC—Western Chaplains (IMA), Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Washington, D.C. Regional Medical Center.

*Assignments to general officer slots announced by the General Officer Management Office, Department of the Army. Some officers are listed at the grade to which they are nominated, promotable or eligible to be frocked. The reporting dates for some officers may not yet be determined.

16 ARMY I September 2008 warriors again,” Dr. Fortunato said. gram have graduated and returned to Then-Lt. Smiley was a platoon leader The soldiers also do yoga and bio- their units. A recent graduate was in a with Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th In- feedback. Dr. Fortunato says the mix catatonic state in August 2007 and is fantry, 25th Infantry Division, when he of physical activity and calming tech- now free of all signs of PTSD. Only two faced a car bomber from the hatch of niques seems to help concentration of the participants “washed out” and his Stryker combat vehicle. He was hit and memory problems. To help sol- were medically discharged from the by shrapnel when the suicide bomber diers regain cognitive function, partic- Army. detonated his payload. ipants in the program sit at a com- According to Secretary Gates, “The Capt. Smiley says his blindness had puter several times a day and work on key is seeing how we can take these no impact on his training regimen, mental exercises. They also confront and other techniques to help the which included running, using stair their most painful memories and com- larger number of soldiers.” Gen. machines, weight-training and combat experiences by telling the stories Casey agrees that the program should pleting a few practice climbs in the over and over again, what is known in be replicated at other locations. mountains of Colorado. “You followed the program as “rehearsal therapy,” the person in front of you,” he told until the experiences lose their emo- Wounded Warrior Wins ESPY. Capt. Army News Service of the three-day tional impact. Scott Smiley, blinded by a suicide climb. “But it was difficult taking one Dr. Fortunato advises that the pro- bomber in Mosul, Iraq, in April 2005, step after the other when you didn’t gram is difficult and soldiers have to received the 2008 ESPN ESPY award know what was ahead of you.” be highly motivated. There are three for Best Outdoor Athlete for climbing A 2003 graduate of the U.S. Military phases. In the first three months, sol- Mount Rainier in July 2007. Capt. Smi- Academy, Capt. Smiley said, “There diers participate 35 hours a week and ley began mountain climbing after are millions of jobs in the military that are typically busy from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 he was injured. Stationed at Fort Lewis, soldiers can still do even though they P.M. For the next three months the sol- Wash., with the 25th Infantry, he have a disability.” After months of diers participate 21 hours a week. Then dreamed of one day climbing Mount therapy, he spent a year with the Indi- they return to their units but commit to Rainier, and a friend offered him the vidual Training Assessment Team at seven hours a week of aftercare. chance as part of Camp Patriot, a non- U.S. Army Accessions Command, Fort Through July, 12 out of 37 soldiers profit group that takes disabled veter- Monroe, Va.. He is now pursuing an who initially volunteered for the pro- ans on outdoor adventures. MBA at Duke University. When he

18 ARMY I September 2008 at the AVC annual conference in Wash- gration and full visibility through the Army Casualties ington, D.C. The award, established in shield without compromising protec- in Afghanistan 2006, is presented to a veteran for dis- tion. The Objective Gunner Protection tinguished service in the U.S. military Kit (OGPK) is an integrated armor and The following U.S. Army sol- during the Korean War. Gen. Becton ballistic glass turret that is mounted diers were reported killed in Op- received a Silver Star for valor during onto the turret ring of multiple tactical eration Enduring Freedom from combat operations inside the Pusan and armored vehicles. ARDEC part- July 1 to July 31, 2008. All names Perimeter in 1950. Previous winners of nered with several other groups to pro- have been released through the the award are Capt. Thomas J. Hudner duce the OGPK, which provides 360- Department of Defense; fami- Jr. and Hiroshi (Hershey) Miyamura. degree ballistic protection. lies have been notified. Following his service in Korea, Two other ARDEC inventions were PFC Sergio S. Abad, 21 where integration of the armed forces designed to improve the level of Cpl. Jonathan R. Ayers, 24 became a reality, Gen. Becton held accuracy and limit the amount of col- Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, 25 combat commands in the 101st Air- lateral damage sustained downrange. 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24 borne Division in Vietnam. He later The M110 7.62 mm Semi-Automatic Spc. Seteria L. Brown, 22 commanded 1st Cavalry Division be- Sniper System (SASS) is a semiauto- Sgt. Douglas J. Bull, 29 fore being promoted to lieutenant gen- matic shoulder-fired, direct-line-of- 1st Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst, 25 eral and commander of VII Corps in sight weapon system. It is capable of 1st Lt. Daniel Farkas, 42 Germany. He was deputy commander delivering precision rapid fire on tar- Sgt. Israel Garcia, 24 for training at Training and Doctrine gets 800 meters away. The high-capac- Spc. Brian S. Leon Guerrero, 34 Command and the Army inspector of ity, ammunition configurable, quick- Cpl. Jason D. Hovater, 24 training. After he retired in 1983, Gen. change magazines of this sniper Spc. Samson A. Mora, 28 Becton entered the fields of interna- system allow increased fire precision Cpl. Matthew B. Phillips, 27 tional disaster assistance, emergency against personnel and light materiel Cpl. Pruitt A. Rainey, 22 management and education. His auto- targets. The XM982 Excalibur Preci- PFC Willington M. Rhoads, 23 biography, Becton: Autobiography of a sion Guided Extended Range Artillery Spc. Estell L. Turner, 43 Soldier and Public Servant, was pub- Projectile provides precision guidance, MSgt. Mitchell W. Young, 39 lished recently. Gen. Becton received extended range and greater accuracy Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20 the Association of the U.S. Army’s 24/7 through a navigation system that highest award, the George Catlett automatically updates itself. ( Marshall Medal, in 2007.

Army Casualties in Iraq ARDEC Inventions Win. The U.S The following U.S. Army sol- Army Armament Research, Develop- diers were reported killed in ment and Engineering Center (AR- Operation Iraqi Freedom from DEC), headquartered at Picatinny Ar- July 1 to July 31, 2008. All names senal, N.J., received four out of 10 have been released through the trophies in the annual Army’s Greatest Department of Defense; fami- Inventions competition. Soldiers— lies have been notified. from active duty divisions to Training and Doctrine Command and the U.S. SFC Steven J. Chevalier, 35 Army Vice Chief of Staff—vote on the Sgt. James A. McHale, 31 inventions each year based on their Spc. William L. McMillan III, 22 impact on Army capabilities, inven- SSgt. David W. Textor, 27 tiveness and potential benefit outside SSgt. Jeremy D. Vrooman, 28 the Army. ARDEC has won 17 tro- SFC Anthony L. Woodham, 37 phies since the inception of the awards in 2001. finishes in 2009, he is slated to teach Two ARDEC inventions focused on management and the philosophy of protecting the soldier from small-arms military leadership at West Point. fire and fragmentation from impro- vised explosive devices. The Picatinny Becton Honored. The American Veter- Blast Shield (PBS) for light armored ve- ans Center (AVC) has announced that hicles is a modular system that mounts Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton Jr., U.S. onto armored vehicles to provide front, Army retired, will receive the Ray- side and rear protection. Transparent mond G. Davis Award on November 8 armor allows complete weapons inte-

September 2008 I ARMY 19