late spring or early summer, according to JFCOM's deputy commander.
(U.S. soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and Afghan National Army load onto a Chinook helicopter last month. JFCOM is helping determine which units might be used to fill battlefield needs in Afghanistan)
JFCOM officials "are looking at options for that as we speak," Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward told reporters in Washington.
One of the many tasks of the Norfolk, Va.-based command is to help Pentagon officials and regional commanders determine which units might be used to fill battlefield needs.
President-elect Barack Obama and top U.S. commanders have vowed to swell U.S. ranks in Afghanistan by 20,000, which could push the total U.S. military presence there above 50,000. But some national security experts say more is needed - an "all-of-government" surge that would send more representatives of federal agencies that focus on diplomatic, political, economic and humanitarian aid.
Some defense observers have suggested one way to free up troops for the Afghanistan mission would be to move forces out of Iraq faster than currently planned. Harward said he "would assume" that such a scenario is "an option" political and defense officials will consider.
Harwood declined to name specific units that are being considered for the deployment, saying only that so-called "low-density, high-demand" units are very good candidates because they are "enablers" for combat forces. These units perform functions like engineering work, construction of buildings that must be erected before a larger American force can set up shop there, and public affairs tasks, Harward said.
"Based on my time on the ground in Afghanistan, I could not have done my work without these enabling units," he said.
Asked whether the debate in Washington about the fourth brigade will end in coming weeks, Harward said, "I think so."
Other Issues
The JFCOM No. 2 said Joint Forces Command's analysis shows the military should pay particular attention to preparing to take on non-state foes that will employ "hybrid" and "irregular" tactics. Harward pointed to the 2006 Lebanon battle between Hamas and Israel's military as an example of the kind of enemy, and fighting tactics, the U.S. military likely will face in coming years.
JFCOM's Joint Operating Environment concept, released earlier this month, endorses such a focus. The document, which is billed as a tool to help strategic planners think about future threats, also uses the Lebanon battle as a lesson for the American military.
Irregular wars are likely to be carried out by terrorist groups, "modern-day militias," and other non-state actors, the study said. It pointed to the 2006 tussle between Israel and Hezbollah, a militia that "combines state-like technological and war-fighting capabilities with a 'sub-state' political and social structure inside the formal state of Lebanon."
Training regimens must continue to prepare American forces for wars like the Iraq war and the 2006 Lebanon conflict.
"The difficulties involved in training to meet regular and nuclear threats must not push preparations to fight irregular war into the background, as occurred in the decades after the Vietnam War," it said.
One retired Army colonel has called the study "the latest in a series of glaring examples of massive overreaction to a truly modest threat": Islamist terrorism.
"It is causing the United States to essentially undermine itself without terrorists or anyone else for that matter having to do much more than exploit the weaknesses in American military power the overreaction creates," said Douglas Macgregor, who writes about Defense Department reform at the Washington-based Center for Defense Information.
"Unfortunately, the document echoes the neocons, who insist the United States will face the greatest threats from insurgents and extremist groups operating in weak or failing states in the Middle East and Africa," he said.
Macgregor and others have pointed to the August clash between Georgia and Russia as proof that conflicts with peer militaries are still very much possible.
Further, Harward said the military's top two most pressing technological needs are "precision close air support" and tools to "counter" the kinds of improvised bombs that have plagued American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
JFCOM also helps military commanders set up training regimens, and Harward said the military should step up its use of combat simulators.
He talked about being impressed by the Nintendo Wii, a popular gaming system that allows users to make simulated actions like tossing a bowling ball or playing a guitar.
"We have nothing like that for the U.S. military," he said. "There's more we can do there."
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
JFCOM Studies Way To Get 4th Brigade To Afghanistan
JFCOM Studies Way To Get 4th Brigade To Afghanistan
(NSI News Source Info) December 17, 2008: U.S. Joint Forces Command officials are working to help the Pentagon dispatch the last of four new brigades requested by commanders in Afghanistan by late spring or early summer, according to JFCOM's deputy commander.
(U.S. soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and Afghan National Army load onto a Chinook helicopter last month. JFCOM is helping determine which units might be used to fill battlefield needs in Afghanistan)
JFCOM officials "are looking at options for that as we speak," Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward told reporters in Washington.
One of the many tasks of the Norfolk, Va.-based command is to help Pentagon officials and regional commanders determine which units might be used to fill battlefield needs.
President-elect Barack Obama and top U.S. commanders have vowed to swell U.S. ranks in Afghanistan by 20,000, which could push the total U.S. military presence there above 50,000. But some national security experts say more is needed - an "all-of-government" surge that would send more representatives of federal agencies that focus on diplomatic, political, economic and humanitarian aid.
Some defense observers have suggested one way to free up troops for the Afghanistan mission would be to move forces out of Iraq faster than currently planned. Harward said he "would assume" that such a scenario is "an option" political and defense officials will consider.
Harwood declined to name specific units that are being considered for the deployment, saying only that so-called "low-density, high-demand" units are very good candidates because they are "enablers" for combat forces. These units perform functions like engineering work, construction of buildings that must be erected before a larger American force can set up shop there, and public affairs tasks, Harward said.
"Based on my time on the ground in Afghanistan, I could not have done my work without these enabling units," he said.
Asked whether the debate in Washington about the fourth brigade will end in coming weeks, Harward said, "I think so."
Other Issues
The JFCOM No. 2 said Joint Forces Command's analysis shows the military should pay particular attention to preparing to take on non-state foes that will employ "hybrid" and "irregular" tactics. Harward pointed to the 2006 Lebanon battle between Hamas and Israel's military as an example of the kind of enemy, and fighting tactics, the U.S. military likely will face in coming years.
JFCOM's Joint Operating Environment concept, released earlier this month, endorses such a focus. The document, which is billed as a tool to help strategic planners think about future threats, also uses the Lebanon battle as a lesson for the American military.
Irregular wars are likely to be carried out by terrorist groups, "modern-day militias," and other non-state actors, the study said. It pointed to the 2006 tussle between Israel and Hezbollah, a militia that "combines state-like technological and war-fighting capabilities with a 'sub-state' political and social structure inside the formal state of Lebanon."
Training regimens must continue to prepare American forces for wars like the Iraq war and the 2006 Lebanon conflict.
"The difficulties involved in training to meet regular and nuclear threats must not push preparations to fight irregular war into the background, as occurred in the decades after the Vietnam War," it said.
One retired Army colonel has called the study "the latest in a series of glaring examples of massive overreaction to a truly modest threat": Islamist terrorism.
"It is causing the United States to essentially undermine itself without terrorists or anyone else for that matter having to do much more than exploit the weaknesses in American military power the overreaction creates," said Douglas Macgregor, who writes about Defense Department reform at the Washington-based Center for Defense Information.
"Unfortunately, the document echoes the neocons, who insist the United States will face the greatest threats from insurgents and extremist groups operating in weak or failing states in the Middle East and Africa," he said.
Macgregor and others have pointed to the August clash between Georgia and Russia as proof that conflicts with peer militaries are still very much possible.
Further, Harward said the military's top two most pressing technological needs are "precision close air support" and tools to "counter" the kinds of improvised bombs that have plagued American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
JFCOM also helps military commanders set up training regimens, and Harward said the military should step up its use of combat simulators.
He talked about being impressed by the Nintendo Wii, a popular gaming system that allows users to make simulated actions like tossing a bowling ball or playing a guitar.
"We have nothing like that for the U.S. military," he said. "There's more we can do there."
late spring or early summer, according to JFCOM's deputy commander.
(U.S. soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division and Afghan National Army load onto a Chinook helicopter last month. JFCOM is helping determine which units might be used to fill battlefield needs in Afghanistan)
JFCOM officials "are looking at options for that as we speak," Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward told reporters in Washington.
One of the many tasks of the Norfolk, Va.-based command is to help Pentagon officials and regional commanders determine which units might be used to fill battlefield needs.
President-elect Barack Obama and top U.S. commanders have vowed to swell U.S. ranks in Afghanistan by 20,000, which could push the total U.S. military presence there above 50,000. But some national security experts say more is needed - an "all-of-government" surge that would send more representatives of federal agencies that focus on diplomatic, political, economic and humanitarian aid.
Some defense observers have suggested one way to free up troops for the Afghanistan mission would be to move forces out of Iraq faster than currently planned. Harward said he "would assume" that such a scenario is "an option" political and defense officials will consider.
Harwood declined to name specific units that are being considered for the deployment, saying only that so-called "low-density, high-demand" units are very good candidates because they are "enablers" for combat forces. These units perform functions like engineering work, construction of buildings that must be erected before a larger American force can set up shop there, and public affairs tasks, Harward said.
"Based on my time on the ground in Afghanistan, I could not have done my work without these enabling units," he said.
Asked whether the debate in Washington about the fourth brigade will end in coming weeks, Harward said, "I think so."
Other Issues
The JFCOM No. 2 said Joint Forces Command's analysis shows the military should pay particular attention to preparing to take on non-state foes that will employ "hybrid" and "irregular" tactics. Harward pointed to the 2006 Lebanon battle between Hamas and Israel's military as an example of the kind of enemy, and fighting tactics, the U.S. military likely will face in coming years.
JFCOM's Joint Operating Environment concept, released earlier this month, endorses such a focus. The document, which is billed as a tool to help strategic planners think about future threats, also uses the Lebanon battle as a lesson for the American military.
Irregular wars are likely to be carried out by terrorist groups, "modern-day militias," and other non-state actors, the study said. It pointed to the 2006 tussle between Israel and Hezbollah, a militia that "combines state-like technological and war-fighting capabilities with a 'sub-state' political and social structure inside the formal state of Lebanon."
Training regimens must continue to prepare American forces for wars like the Iraq war and the 2006 Lebanon conflict.
"The difficulties involved in training to meet regular and nuclear threats must not push preparations to fight irregular war into the background, as occurred in the decades after the Vietnam War," it said.
One retired Army colonel has called the study "the latest in a series of glaring examples of massive overreaction to a truly modest threat": Islamist terrorism.
"It is causing the United States to essentially undermine itself without terrorists or anyone else for that matter having to do much more than exploit the weaknesses in American military power the overreaction creates," said Douglas Macgregor, who writes about Defense Department reform at the Washington-based Center for Defense Information.
"Unfortunately, the document echoes the neocons, who insist the United States will face the greatest threats from insurgents and extremist groups operating in weak or failing states in the Middle East and Africa," he said.
Macgregor and others have pointed to the August clash between Georgia and Russia as proof that conflicts with peer militaries are still very much possible.
Further, Harward said the military's top two most pressing technological needs are "precision close air support" and tools to "counter" the kinds of improvised bombs that have plagued American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
JFCOM also helps military commanders set up training regimens, and Harward said the military should step up its use of combat simulators.
He talked about being impressed by the Nintendo Wii, a popular gaming system that allows users to make simulated actions like tossing a bowling ball or playing a guitar.
"We have nothing like that for the U.S. military," he said. "There's more we can do there."
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