Afghanistan - Way Ahead

MG Terry-
I tapped into your blog because I have a niece married to one of your capt's in 10th mountain who has been trying to get his troops and himself back to Fort Drum since before Christmas. I am a former Naval Aviator who served 25 years, a tour as a CO, and two combat tours in Vietnam with only a 7 month turnaround between so I have some idea of ops tempo. I find it interesting that Gen Casey has his "Cams" and an emphasis on talking to the troops getting their feedback-You use this to "keep your ear to the ground" But it is always attention to the little things that really get the job done. You had a group of soldiers coming home that were delayed in country for a number of reasons. They get on an airplane C-5 headed back-emergency landing in Italy (not anyone's fault-pressure problem) then a broke airplane in Rota as of Jan 5th. No word on when they were getting out of there. They have to pay for their lodging (I fault my Navy for not comping the guys) and reading his message there does not seem to be any concern or effort from his leadership on getting them back to their families. There was however concern and effort to get them to the fight. Through it all he says he and his soldiers can laugh about it. You can do all the public things you want to create the picture but but it is always the small things that get the job done.
Bob

(Moderator Note: Bob - thanks for your comment. Sorry it took so long to post but we wanted to do some fact finding and here's what we were able to find out: The original flight your niece's husband was manifested on had a window of departure from Bagram of 25-29 December. However, the original scheduled aircraft was delayed as you mentioned - for a number of reasons (maintenance issues, and part of crew going on emergency leave from previous mission). It finally departed on 2 January - and as you also noted experienced pressurization problems and had to land in Rota, Spain. Passengers traveling on this flight secured billeting in Rota - which is a reimbursable expense as per the Defense Travel Regulation. So that money is recoverable.)

Sir---thanks for using this medium to communicate, however, I am dismayed that this has become an opportunity for a vocal and disgruntled minority to attract the attention of the command. Many of us are quiet and support servicemembers and families, if everyone recalls--two years ago things were looking tough in Iraq---we surged and now we are almost out of there---lets hope that is the same in Afghanistan, although we would much rather be at home---lets look long term and be grateful that our leadership is trying to put an end to this---the end is in site---we all need to be positive!

Sir,
Thank you for keeping your Ear to the ground.
Climb to glory.

I have to agree with a few others here. While the surge may be in the best interest is there no way to spread out the deployments more equitably? RIght now, after returning in October we are being told that we will be gone by August, where is that year we keep being promised? Then soldiers are getting in trouble for not attending schools, when are they supposed to?

Frankly, I see a lot of broken disgruntled troops who stuck around because they believe the promises only to have them broken. How can you do any good somewhere when your will is broken?

We still have more troops in Iraq then we did before the surge there all along being told we are puling out. So really do any of us really think that we'll be pulling out of Iraq in 2011?

It may have worked here in Iraq, but by giving the Taliban a date they can just wait out any surge of troops into Afghanistan. When we leave there it will go back to being ruled by them over time.

They did the same things to the Russians, who had much more manpower there than we ever did even after this "surge", they are doing to us. Stinging where they can with minimal losses and waiting for us to get tired of losing people and money.

Sure this surge sounds good on paper, but as a 3BCT soldier, just getting back last week, how I can I feel good about being home when I know that I'm not even going to be home for a year? (agreeing with the previous post about training requirements, along with ANCOC, BNCOC, etc) I knew that the plan was to leave again in Jan/Feb 2010 before we even knew our dates to return home after this deployment! How comforting is that? How can we re-intergrate with our families successfully if we already are on the countdown clock the minute we step foot off the plane?? Dwell time is not applied to us up here at Drum, and that definitely needs to be addressed. The longer I stay here at Drum, the better retirement sounds. Drum can't win this war alone... give us some real DWELL time and send the other soldiers who haven't even deployed once! This will be my 5th next year. They are soldiers too, with the same training-- let them bear some of this burden.

Sir
We just returned in October of this year now we are preparing to leave again in august. What's this dwell time I keep hearing about? Then add stupid jrtc rotations that you learn nothing from cause your last deployment was only Nine months ago we get very little time with family.

Sir to be quite honest, I believe the surge should have taken place a while ago. I hope that it is the step forward that we need to finally end this war and bring our soldiers home. My only fear is that Ft Drum is going to pay the price with the constant deployments while other posts experience 2-3 or more years dwell time. They need to pull their fair share as well. I understand that we are the 10th Mountain, and that is why we are so well equipped for the job, however, training at JRTC and NTC should suffice for training other troops at other posts. We are asking too much of our men and women here at Drum, and it needs to be re-evaluated. Personally, after 8 years at war, the parking lot idea sounds like an acceptable alternative. My kids need their Dad to be home for more than just one birthday every couple of years. Thanks for listening!

I support the troops 100% and always will. I was a troop one for 20 years ... and my son was 82d Trooper: Panama (WIA) and first Gulf War.

My loyalty and respect for everyone in uniform cannot be unchallenged ... but this phase of Afghanistan is wrong.

To me, it's early 1965 all over again as we geared up then (moderna day surge). How'd that work out by 1973?

In Afghanistan the terrain is our #1 enemy ... plus no power / country has for any period of time ever controlled in any sense of that word the mixed and uneducated and staunchly independent tribes who are dead set on keeping any Western power out.

What makes us think that we will the first to crack that code is mind-boggling to me.

It's time to come home. Thanks for this forum, General, and good luck.

Dan Francis (Watertown)

It is great to see the 10th Mountain Division leading the way. I think Colonel Haight said it right in his letter to his soldiers when he stated that one of the best ways to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrafice in Afghanistan is "winning on this battlefield".

Thanks for continuing the blog!

Climb to Glory

Respectfully,