DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

The Department of Defense today identified two major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.  The scheduled rotation involves one armored brigade combat team with roughly 1,390 personnel -- and one combat aviation brigade with roughly 1,700 personnel to rotate in winter 2012.  The deploying units include:

Brigade Combat Team:

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Combat Aviation Brigade:

1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas.

DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved.  For information on the respective deployments, contact the 1st Cavalry Division public affairs office at 254-287-9400 and the 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 915-744-8406.

Unique Wisconsin Guard unit embarks on specialized mission to Afghanistan

By Vaughn R. Larson

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs

The 16-member 104th Security Forces Advise and Assist Team (SFAAT) received a salute from Gov. Scott Walker, Maj. Gen Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, and other senior Wisconsin National Guard leaders during a sendoff ceremony Monday (Oct. 1) at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison.

The unit will serve in an advisory and mentorship role to the Afghan National Police concerning internal and external security missions. Lt. Col. David Larson, the 104th SFAAT commander, said the mission is part of the transition required for the Afghans to assume greater responsibility for their security.

"This importance is disproportionate to the size of the group," Larson said. "And it's disproportionate to the short time of our existence - just about three weeks."

Wisconsin Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. George Stopper advised the unit to draw on its strengths and make the most of its time during mobilization training at Camp Shelby, Miss.

"We've grown accustomed to having 12 and 24 months lead time for any of these missions that pop up, and that really wasn't the case here," Stopper acknowledged. "So to you and your families, I say 'thank you' for supporting the Wisconsin National Guard. Thanks for moving forward and taking on this huge mission."

Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, told family members that few states were considered to support this mission.

"Wisconsin [was] one of them because of the type of Soldier that we continuously send downrange," Anderson explained. "And when we put together the notice for this SFAAT team, we had multiple Soldiers volunteer for each and every position. We were able to pick from the best of the best."

This will be the first deployment for Staff Sgt. Don Runaas, a combat medic with the 13th Medical Detachment. He had been preparing to deploy with the 97th Agribusiness Development Team, but the mission requirements for that unit changed and he found himself among the Soldiers who would not deploy to Afghanistan.

"I was offered this on the last drill of the 97th ADT," Runaas said, adding that it took about half an hour to decide to accept the new mission. "I'm looking forward to the experience and learning new things."

Dunbar said that this mission underscores the intrinsic value of the National Guard.

"We're trying to partner with a nation that really doesn't have well-developed institutions," Dunbar said. "The U.S. Army said we need to take some of these capabilities that exist and partner with some of the brand new institutions they're building in Afghanistan. And where do they turn? To your National Guard. They turn to these 16 Soldiers and say 'We think you can go overseas and educate and you can mentor some of these brand new Afghanistan soldiers.'

"What a great idea, and what a great statement of trust and value in the National Guard," Dunbar continued. "The trust is not misplaced - the trust is exactly where it should be."

Larson acknowledged after the ceremony that the increase in "green on blue" attacks - Afghans in uniform attacking NATO troops in Afghanistan - is a concern, but that each case is different.

"It's part of our training program," he said. "The area we're going into, the incidents have been relatively few. But that doesn't mean we're not going to maintain situational awareness."

Larson said that it appears to him Afghanistan has made progress over the past four years.

"I can see some of the components in effect now that had been talked about when I was there," said Larson, who augmented the 101st Airborne force protection mission from 2008-09. "I think we're moving along with the strategy. I think we're going a lot of good things over there and for the most part it's [going] pretty much according to plan."

Walker observed that the model for the eagle on the 101st Airborne shoulder patch - such as the one worn by Larson - was Old Abe, the Civil War-era mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The governor said that patch illustrates Wisconsin's proud military heritage.

"You are, as Brig. Gen. Anderson mentioned, the best of the best," Walker said. "You are part of a proud tradition - a history - of Soldiers from the state of Wisconsin. We know you're going to do us proud."

DISA Civilian Completes 14-Month Voluntary Deployment in Afghanistan

Our enterprise supports the Defense Department and its mission partners.

Over the decades, DISA has been engaged in every mission the Department has undertaken. These engagements have become increasingly interagency and international, and our partnerships have increased to reflect this.

This is the story of one DISA civilian who recently returned from a voluntary deployment in support of the DISA mission.

Vijay Kumar, an Electronics Engineer assigned to the Operations Directorate, recently returned from a 14-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Kumar's longevity with the agency (He has worked at DISA for 12 years.) and his expertise as a systems engineer at the DISA Cyber Command Field Office — serving as a liaison engineer supporting DISA programs, applications, and tools — made him a match for this deployment.

"I wanted to help the Afghans as much as I could," said Kumar when asked about his reason for volunteering.

Kumar was selected for the assignment under the Ministry of Defense Advisors (MoDA) Program, which is designed to forge long-term relationships that strengthen partner states' security ministries.

While deployed, Kumar's mission was to advise and guide the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) on information technology (IT) and network infrastructure. This included developing an Afghan National Security Forces Network (ANSFNet), which will improve the deployment and management of the communication networks supporting the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, National Directorate of Security, and Presidential Information Coordination Center.

"Our goal was to deliver a simple, sustainable, and robust communications infrastructure," said Kumar. "Afghan National Security Forces Network cornerstone capabilities include reliable, secure, and adequate voice communications for all ANSF personnel and IT connectivity down to the provincial-level. It also provides a core suite of IT services and applications that will enhance operational effectiveness and a sustainable, standardized communications infrastructure to reduce operations and maintenance costs."

Working approximately 90 hours a week — without breaks on weekends or holidays — a typical day for Kumar consisted of formal or informal meetings with his Afghan counterparts, developing action plans and capabilities to manage and maintain the ASNF networks. His daily routine often included late night wrap-up meetings with senior leaders, during which the strategic road map was reviewed, daily successes were noted, and the plan to further Afghan infrastructure development was refined.

As a result of Kumar's deployment, the ANSF were successfully transitioned to manage their own network operations center. In order for the Afghan forces to function independently in the information technology and network operations field, they received a significant amount of training and education from Kumar and his team members.

Kumar and his team also developed and published an ANSFNet Network Expansion Plan that defines desired ANSFNet long-haul IT communication objectives (e.g. bandwidth, uptime, latency, etc.), conforms planned point of presence locations, and identifies additional requirements.

"My deployment not only affected the way I now approach my work at DISA, but changed my view on life altogether," said Kumar. "[My deployment was] not a flashy job. We had to blend in and work effectively behind the scenes to promote Afghan ownership. When making recommendations, we had to be practical and flexible…"

The opportunity provided Kumar with firsthand experience of the hardships deployed military and civilian personnel face, and with it, a greater appreciation for the sacrifices they have made

"I am grateful [to] our founding fathers […] and also to those who sacrificed their lives for this country, both in the military and civilian world," said Kumar.

DOD Sends Marine Team to U.S. Embassy in Yemen

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2012 – A Marine Corps fleet antiterrorism security team, called a “FAST team” is now on the ground in Yemen to help with security at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

This is the second FAST team, consisting of about 50 Marines, authorized by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta to bolster security at U.S. diplomatic installations in the past two days.   The move comes a day after protesters attacked the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital.

The first team was sent to Libya after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that killed four State Department employees, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens.

The FAST platoon was dispatched, Little told reporters here, “partly in response to events over the past two days at our embassy in Yemen, but it’s also in part a precautionary measure.”

Protests began earlier this week in Libya and at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo over what was reportedly an American-produced film posted on the Internet considered insulting to the Prophet Mohammed.   Since then, there have been reports of protests in other countries in the Middle East, including at the U.S. embassy in Tunisia and the German Embassy in Sudan.

Travel alerts posted on the State Department website are advising Americans to exercise caution because of possible demonstrations elsewhere, including in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Jakarta, Indonesia.

About ongoing protests in Cairo at the U.S. Embassy there, Little said “the situation hasn’t to this point necessitated a change in security posture. Naturally, we stand ready to support our State Department colleagues if a request for additional military support comes through.”

In Afghanistan, protests so far have been peaceful, he said.

“We’re gratified based on what we know now,” Little said, “that religious leaders have appealed for nonviolent protests … so for at the moment we have not seen outbursts of violence against our diplomatic installations or military bases in Afghanistan.”

In Libya, he added, “we are continuing to investigate what happened and DOD will do its part, working with our partners across the government, to determine what happened and, if asked, support the president’s call to deliver justice.”

He said the department is in communication with State Department colleagues to discuss military support to embassy and consulate security around the world, but that it is premature to reach final conclusions about the recent violence against U.S. diplomatic posts in Libya, Cairo and elsewhere or about who is responsible.

“I really am asking respectfully for a little bit of patience as we work through this,” Little said. “It’s important to get this answer absolutely correct, and that is the goal of this government -- to make sure that when a call is made that it’s accurate and complete.”

Wisconsin Guard members return from successful missions in Afghanistan

By 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson

Wisconsin National Guard

Approximately 35 members of the Wisconsin National Guard's 82nd Agribusiness Development Team enjoyed a warm welcome in Hartford, Wis., Tuesday (Sept. 11), a little sooner and with different experiences than originally planned.

"I gotta tell ya, this crew is the best of the best that the Wisconsin National Guard, the United States Army and United States Air Force has to offer, bar none," a cheerful Col. Darrel Feucht, 82nd ADT commander, told families and friends during a homecoming ceremony at VFW Post 8834. "We had a mission, the mission changed and we had to go some other place. We stepped up to the plate and the Bucky Badger patch instantly became an icon in Kabul for everything we did there."

The 82nd ADT left Wisconsin in February and took over the agribusiness mission in Kunar Province, Afghanistan in April. In May the unit was remissioned, with the agribusiness specialists becoming part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team Kunar and the remainder of the 82nd ADT taking on new missions - principally security or quick-reaction force - in Kabul, Afghanistan.

"This team did fabulous," he said.

Feucht was involved in commanders' emergency relief projects such as schools, bridges and sports complexes in the Kabul area, which boasts a population of around 5 million.

1st Lt. Stephen Montgomery of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing deployed as the public affairs officer for the 82nd ADT, but after the unit was remissioned in May he became a deputy force protection officer in Kabul.

"It was phenomenal," he said of the new experience. "I couldn't imagine doing this in the Air Force in a million years. It was a lot of fun and broadened my professional experience."

Brig. Gen. Scott Legwold, Wisconsin National Guard Joint Staff director, thanked community and legislative leaders, as well as family members, for their support of deployed service members.

"Soldiers and Airmen of the 82nd ADT, thank you for what you did being flexible and accomplishing a very difficult mission in a very difficult place," Legwold said.

Gov. Scott Walker also thanked family members, acknowledging that welcome home ceremonies are always exciting. On the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, he said the ceremony was even more meaningful.

"Eleven years ago, probably a fair number of you right here today may very well have had your first thoughts about joining the United States armed forces in the aftermath of 9/11," Walker said. "Since that date 11 years ago more than 30,000 men and women have been deployed from Wisconsin. You've served us proud. Today we remember all those who served - particularly we remember the more than 160 we've lost - and we're thankful that you all came back safe and sound, in good mind and good spirit.

"We're proud of you," Walker continued. "We appreciate the service you provide for your community, your state and, most importantly, your country."

Mary Sovota of Franklin, Wis., was among a group waiting to greet Spc. Kimberly Flock, a combat medic with the 82nd ADT.

"I'm so excited she's coming home - she'll be here for her birthday," Sovota said. "She is as excited as we are. She's been looking forward to beer and chili tonight."

Rachel Treml of Luxemburg, Wis., was waiting to greet Sgt. Trevor Treml, a communications specialist who worked with computer and radio networks for the 82nd ADT.

"It feels good," she said of his pending arrival. "He's been contacting us every other week. He's excited."

Preferring to soak in the nearness of his family and friends, Sgt. Treml only said that he missed "everything" about Wisconsin during his deployment.

Laura Schweitzer of Manawa, Wis., quickly locked into a lengthy embrace with Staff Sgt. George Nagel, a pest control specialist with the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing. Tuesday was their first meeting since their 12-year friendship developed into a more substantial relationship during the course of his six-month deployment, and the couple appeared oblivious to all else around them.

"Today is a big day," she said.

The 14 remaining 82nd ADT members still conducting the agribusiness mission in Kunar Province are expected back in Wisconsin early next year.