Chat Transcript - 26 April 2009
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Sunday, 26 April 2009 19:00 |
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admin says: Good evening. Thank you for logging into tonight's live chat coming to you live from COB Basrah. As a reminder, all comments will go into a que prior to posting. Please remember OPSEC. Will we do our best to get to all questions and comments. admin says: The CG will be on in approximately 15 minutes. If you would like to send me some questions or comments about what is on your mind. I will have them in the que ready to be posted. admin says: Red Dog, can you please send me a test message? admin says: Red Dog and Soldiering...received your messages and they are in the que. Thanks. AF_Vet says: I saw the pictures of the new HQ on the TFM website, looks impressive. Nice work! MG Oates says: what's on your mind? Red Dog says: Sir, how do you think things are turning out in Basrah? Will we make a difference down here and is the 34th ready to take the helm? Red Dog says: Sir, what do you think of the living conditions in Basrah? AF_Vet says: Darn! Gotta run, will try to get back before the chat ends. Would like to hear about any Basrah updates. MG Oates says: The living conditions at Basra are not where we want them to be - but getting better. We are nearing surge capacity with all the HQs at Basra at same time - it will get alot better in about 3 weeks with departure of 10th MTN and 20 UK MG Oates says: the 34th will do a super job racebannonsoffspring says: Departure of 10th MTN - HOOAH! SoldieringOn says: My question is why does 41st Fires have to do a 15 month deployment but 10th MTN gets to skate out at 12? The BDE replaced a BN size element and is doing nothing but holding a place in theater. It makes no sense... MG Oates says: the 41st FB and 10th MTN were both on 15 month tours. The 34th DIV has mobilized and must complete its complete tour within 12 months by DOD policy - so they are coming now and that has crtailed 10th MTN at 12 months. We have tried to get 41st FB reduced but the conditions have not allowed this to happen as yet. racebannonsoffspring says: MG Oates - looking back on the last 18 months (train-up and deployment) what would you say is your biggest lesson learned? Both personally and professionally... MG Oates says: I think the thing I have learned the most personally is that you have to be willing to trust subordinates to do the job and not over manage them. Professionally I believe we need to find a way to continue to make our processes more agile and less structured. Concerned Local Citizen says: Have you met any locals in Basra yet? What is your impression of them? Of their willingness to work with Soldiers? MG Oates says: i have met the major personalities i Basra at least once. I believe the security leaders are competent and sincere about making Basra safe for its citizens. I do believe there is still a significant part of the population that is not employed or have access to essential services - this will be the challenge for the new Prov Council members and Governor. Will judge thier actions not speeches Red Dog says: Are you going to keep these sessions or others like these available when you redeploy? MG Oates says: I do intend to keep these sessions but will likely move to another day Concerned Local Citizen says: A flatter organization also has some inherent risk. How do you ensure with a less structured organization that your intent is being met at lower levels? Trusting subordinates is admirable, but how do you know that your intent is really being carried out? How do you receive feedback? MG Oates says: Leaders generaly react one of 2 ways during complex times - they empoer and decentralize or they centralize and micro manage. Both work - but have different risks. I choose the former and realize I must get out frequently and touch my organization to find out if my intent is understood and being executed - there are no risk free methods MG Oates says: I receive feedback many different ways - this is one of them Mtn Redleg says: Sir, if we had to go back and fix one thing that we may have missed the mark on or failed to meet your intent....what would it be? How could we have done it differently. MG Oates says: I think I personally learned a great deal about the non-lethal oprations this year. Our GRECC did a super job but I really did not give them the subject matter experts they needed to get going out of the box. I think we have a plan to address when we return. I cannot think of an instance where my intent was not followed. I can think of times my intent was not well formed Concerned Local Citizen says: Good question. On the flip-side, has there been anything the unit has done that exceeded your expectations? MG Oates says: The units have exceeded expectations in their partnership with the Iraqi Army and Police Red Dog says: You've done a lot of battlefield circulation, do you think you've done enough circulation w/in the staff and with the DSTB? MG Oates says: I think that my focus outside the wire may have been at the expense of spending more time with my staff and DSTB. I realize that this was probably an oversight Red Dog says: heard you are a big race fan...who is your driver? MG Oates says: have never understood NASCAR - go fast - turn left. What's the big attraction? Concerned Local Citizen says: Did your staff get out enough to stay relevant to the fight? Were they able to provide you with fresh ideas? Was there ever a powerpoint slide that made you say "Wow"...almost like picasso? MG Oates says: I must confess that I have frequently been stunned by some powerpoint - but never thought of it as artwork. Red Dog says: Could say something similar about football, run, pass, pass, punt, do it all again the other direction. MG Oates says: The staff stayed in touch - but it is harder for them no doubt Pojo says: How do you think having a new US ambassador will affect the work of TF Mountain in this last month? Concerned Local Citizen says: Some of us take great pride...it consumes our lives... MG Oates says: The new ambassador will likely be focused on Arab-Kurd tensions, the difficulty of the Iraqi Council of Reps to pass legislation and other pressing items. I do not expect much attention down in southern Iraq initially 69Camaro says: Sir: DO you think the Army needs to reshape its training and get away from Iraq and Afghanistan-Centric scenarios? ctgsoldier says: only in the army can we mention picasso and NASCAR in the same blog. amen!.. MG Oates says: I am concerend that our training focus on OIF/OEF and COIN has reduced capability at some of the more difficult maneuver and fire tasks that we may have to execute with a conventional enemy. But - this is the war we have and it probably makes sense now to stay focused on winning it. We will have to play catch up someday I suspect 69Camaro says: If you could sit down with President Obama, what would you tell him? MG Oates says: Congratulations and good luck - we have your back 69Camaro says: If funding was not a limitation, what would you like to see built at Fort Drum? MG Oates says: A new gym on south post and an indooor roller rink MG Oates says: additionally I would accelerate the building of ourindoor ranges Concerned Local Citizen says: Seems like with a longer training cycle at home, a unit could train of FSO...train to an old NTC standard and then as the "fight" changes have to focus on management of the electric grid, trash removal, and resolving disputes over chai.... MG Oates says: yep - but so far no longer dwell periods look like they are coming - maybe next year – Inshallah ctgsoldier says: when are we going to be able to deploy our BCTs with our own HQ? seems other divisions are getting to deploy with theirs (for the most part - or at least their CAB or SUST). what's up wtih that? Concerned Local Citizen says: inshallah Red Dog says: Get some Friday Night roller derby going on. MG Oates says: When the Army started sending more than 12 BCTs and 3 DIV HQs we could not keep them all together. I woul dlike to do that as well. But - I have enjoyed getting to work with other BDEs and have met some fantastic soldiers. Besides - I doubt we could easily house all BDEs at Drum until next year 69Camaro says: What do you honestly think about Modularity? Is it working well or would it be better for a Division to deploy with its organic brigades? MG Oates says: Modularity is about making the Army BCTs near self-sufficient. I agree with that. It is not about breaking up the Div from its BCTs - that is a function of how the force was applied to the fight 69Camaro says: Sir: Do you think the senior leadership of the Army really understands how much deployments have affected Soldiers and their families? What do you think can realistically be done to ease the strain? I am concerned our force is suffering much more than our leadership wants to admit. MG Oates says: I am very confident that the Army leadership is aware - but there are few options when you have to keep this much force in the fight. We have a small Army and it is not getting any bigger than about 550k. So - ether you reduce demand or increase supply and neither is happening right now. In 2010 we will reduce force in Iraq - this may help. ctgsoldier says: no doubt we need to build more at home... but is it really fair for a BCT commander to train under one rater then deploy under another - espacially when their leadership and combat philosophies could be 180 out. Example - you and the former 3ID commander... that's night and day... and then some! MG Oates says: I personally think the BDE CDRs are smart enough and principled enough to adapt to whatever leadership they get. You will always have differences in leadership styles and our job as subordinates is to figure out how to work effectively regardless ft drum says: sir--how do you think units deploying to Iraq should prepare, given partnership and new rules? MG Oates says: The deploying units must always be highly proficient in combat tasks - up to PLT level - company level if they have time. Then - they need some cultural training on IA and IP so they can effectively partner 69Camaro says: To CTG Soldier's point--No matterwhat anyone says there is a different mentality between heavy and light units. Think its tough for heavy BCTs to work for a light CG and vice versa--your thoughts, Sir? be honest. MG Oates says: I disagree. I think there are defintie culture differences between heavy and light - but not to the point where it is difficult to work out. I have had heavy force commanders that I got along with better than some of the light guys. really believe it comes down to the command climate and how the boss sees his role with subordinates. Some think they are king - other believe they should serve soldiers Pojo says: Do you think Fort Drum needs a turtle pond? MG Oates says: Fort Drum definetly needs a turtle pond Concerned Local Citizen says: Do you think the Army is trying to use too many contractors? I am concerned about so much "outsourcing". Plus, doesn't seem we have the training/staffing required to manage them properly. jeg says: how would they survive in the snow??? MG Oates says: the contractor issue comes up about weekly. The problem is we do not have enough soldiers with the skill sets to meet requirements. If you are prohibited from growing the army to the requirement - your only option these days is contract. How would you do it differently? jeg says: it is more of a security issue on having enough VETT personnel to monitor the worker that require full escort. Mtn Redleg says: Sir, have you thought of directing 'The Commons' to brew up a special 'welcome home' beer? Concerned Local Citizen says: I think you are right about the training sir...not enough know-how to manage them. Would like to see a dedicated, trained contracting officer at DIV and the BCT. We went through a lot of pain with contracting issues....became a distraction from the fight. MG Oates says: We have to carefully check who comes on BASRA Air Station - am not about to allow a suicide bomber if I can help it. MG Oates says: We have told the Army that we need contratcing officers at BDE and DIV. Will see if they agree MG Oates says: what is your opinion of DFAC at Basra now? Jeffy Dahmer says: shiner bock black? Concerned Local Citizen says: Welcome home beer sounds wonderful! I am looking forward to a Cam's Pizza and a Sam Adams... Concerned Local Citizen says: Getting much better...too many flies...not enough A/C (DFAC 2)...we were spoiled at VBC MG Oates says: Are we doing the transition with 34th DIV correctly? Mtn Redleg says: DFAC has made great improvements....but it's like a sauna in there. Concerned Local Citizen says: DFAC could use some near-beer too...it's interrupting my Saturday night party Mister Fun says: Basra DFAC ...They need to fix the AC. It is burning up in there. Or is it a ploy to move soldiers out. LOL MG Oates says: We are working the a/c - apparently it is a filter issue jeg says: we have had examples of great DFAC in VBC and other FOB but seem to delay on developing one that can be called TF Mountain. Concerned Local Citizen says: Yes on the transition. Would have liked to have had that last year. Would like to see us "embed" throughout next year prior to the next go-round. That was an awesome idea to bring Red Bulls over during the year...cemented relationships...and has made our section's transition much smoother. Mtn Redleg says: Transition is going well....though I detect some hesitancy to really dive in on the part of some Red Bulls. Too many comments like, "you can't leave us" , "Don't go", "Don't make me do this yet....you're still in charge" MG Oates says: I always believe jumping into the deep end is a great way to learn to swim Red Dog says: Sir, great forum, thanks for taking the time over the past year with this and you blogs on the webiste. MG Oates says: gracias Red Dog says: Sir, you've talked about making Fort Drum more open, are you going to do something about the gates when we head home? 100% ID card checks everyday, every time you go through the gates is over the top. Concerned Local Citizen says: Too many mountain soldiers hanging around until MB3...time to give them the reins. Jeffy Dahmer says: will the Red Bulls blog when we are gone? Concerned Local Citizen says: ditto...great forum Mister Fun says: I think the 34th DIV has not considerd their "Enablers" Thise of us who have served with TF Mountain and will stay on with the 34th. MG Oates says: yep - we will work the gates when I get back. I don't like the process either Concerned Local Citizen says: I like Fort Drum being gated...keep the ID card checks ctgsoldier says: To your point - some would be king while others serve soldiers. Sir, you are the later no doubt. Thanks for serving with us. Concerned Local Citizen says: It's been one heck of a ride Sir. Hard to believe a year is over already. MG Oates says: I am very proud of the 10th MTN Staff and all of those who rode with us MG Oates says: see ya on the high ground Concerned Local Citizen says: Have a great night Sir! Jeffy Dahmer says: But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep jeg says: did not see the problem of the ID card checks and never saw the long traffic lanes coming in on post either, so what is the problem
Click here to read a complete transcript of the 26 APRIL "Lima Charlie" chat. |
