Commandant: Marine battalion may go to Afghanistan

[thedrifter]

December 01, 2006
Commandant: Marine battalion may go to Afghanistan

By Gordon Lubold
Staff writer

A battalion of Marines may be asked to go back to Afghanistan, the Marine Corps’ top officer says.

In his first tour of the Corps as commandant, Marine Gen. James Conway told Marines he “wouldn’t be surprised” if he is asked to send a battalion, as many as 1,000 people, back to Afghanistan some time this winter.

“I would not be surprised to see a request on downrange to have a return to Afghanistan, or elements at least of a Marine battalion, possibly a [Marine Air Ground Task Force] depending on the nature of the request,” Conway said.

It’s not clear if the potential request Conway referred to would be in addition to the roughly 21,000 U.S. troops there now or if such a Marine unit would simply be relieving an Army unit.

A resurgent Taliban has been causing much violence in the country, especially in the southern region that includes the Helmand and Kandahar provinces. Although U.S. officials have been reluctant to send more U.S. troops there as they struggle to man the war in Iraq, they have been confronting challenges in getting NATO members to cough up enough resources to handle the worsening situation in Afghanistan.

Many NATO member countries simply don’t want to send forces to Afghanistan, which is once again seen as dangerous duty.

The last Marine battalion to serve there was 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, which returned home to Hawaii in May. Afterward, Corps officials said there would be no more Afghanistan tours.

Conway said the effort there, now being led by NATO, could benefit tremendously from a Marine Air Ground Task Force, and added that if commanders there determine more U.S. forces are needed, the Corps could provide it. Fewer than 200 Marines are in Afghanistan now.

Other U.S. forces in the country are conducting security and stabilization operations, reconstruction and training of the Afghan National Army. Of the 21,000 U.S. service members there, half are under control of the NATO commander, who is British, and half belong to Army Lt. Gen. Carl Eikenberry, the senior U.S. commander there.

In February, the Army’s 10th Mountain Division will be relieved by the 82nd Airborne Division. In April, the Oregon National Guard’s 41st Brigade Combat Team will be replaced by the South Carolina National Guard’s 218th Brigade Combat Team, said Air Force Lt. Col. Todd Vician, a spokesman at the Pentagon.

The U.S. contribution has stayed at around 21,000 for several months, Vician said.

A total of 43,000 NATO and U.S. troops are in Afghanistan.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

December 01, 2006
Conway holds series of town hall meetings

By Gordon Lubold
Staff writer

When Commandant Gen. James Conway takes his show on the road, there’s not a lot of “me-time.”

Conway, 58, has been busy during his first days in office. On his first road trip in late November, he talked to thousands of Marines over the course of seven “town hall” meetings at three bases and stations in North Carolina. It was all part of a getting-to-know-you tour that helps the general get to know some of the Corps’ 180,000 Marines — and for them to see him. Marine Corps Times came along for the ride.


Flying in the plush confines of a 12-seat Gulfstream jet with power window shades, closed-circuit TV and a personal chef, Conway and his wife, Annette, flew from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. There, Conway spoke to two groups of about 1,500 Marines each, telling them his first job is to take care of Marines in combat.

In case they don’t get a chance to read it themselves, Conway summarized the “Commandant’s Planning Guidance,” a lengthy document summing up his perspectives as he embarks on his four-year tour. He also announced new programs and initiatives, like the design of a new PT uniform that may be ready by early next year.

In his meetings with Marines, Conway says he wants questions and feedback from the force. But when it comes to standing up before their Marine brethren to ask the man a question, some groups are more prepared than others. Officials acknowledged that it can be like pulling teeth to get Marines to ask questions during some meetings. At others, leathernecks line up to get in their two cents.

At one meeting at Cherry Point, for example, some Marines asked about the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet, still plagued with problems and eagerly criticized by most who use it. Others had questions about housing allowance or leave policy.

One Marine asked why the U.S. went into Iraq in the first place based on false intelligence. Conway gave the standard Bush administration answer, but the Marine persisted awkwardly until the rest of the room barked at him to sit down.

But the really big issue at Cherry Point is chow and entertainment. Located in Havelock, N.C., local Marines like to call it “Havenot” for its lack of amenities One Marine said he had better food in Iraq than he does in garrison. “What can be done to fix the problem?” the Marine asked, getting headache-inducing cheers from his brothers and sisters.

Conway, accompanied by Sgt. Maj. John Estrada, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, said he got the message and would look into it.

A bit rusty

Assigned to a job on the Pentagon’s Joint staff for more than two years, Conway acknowledges he’s a bit rusty on some of the ins and outs of the Corps. During some town halls with Marines, for example, some Marines stood to ask him about when the Corps was going to change this or that personnel policy, or why the permissive TAD policy hadn’t been changed.

After taking a dozen or so questions at that event, Conway was whisked back to his temporary quarters at the base in a black SUV with aides, security personnel, handlers and the general officers hosting him in tow. Think “Entourage,” the popular HBO show about Hollywood actors, but with digital cammies and high-and-tights.

After an evening social with top officers at the base, Conway was flown back to Washington to catch a meeting with the defense secretary nominee, Robert Gates, only to get back on the jet to return to North Carolina. This time, he was taken to Marine Corps Air Station New River, where he landed and immediately got on an MV-22 Osprey to fly across the New River to meet with more Marines.

That was only the second day of a three-day whirlwind tour during which every minute appeared to be scheduled. Each event was prefaced and finished with any number of Marines, commanders or other officials who wanted to shake his hand, get a coin or bend his ear.

By the end of the trip, it was time for home. But traveling like this isn’t all bad. On the plane, Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Saskowski, one of Conway’s two traveling chefs, said he particularly enjoys making desserts for the plane rides, like white chocolate mousse. So far, the Conways seem to be big on simple sandwiches. On the first trip to North Carolina, Saskowski whipped up 10 chicken breast sandwiches with basil, cheese and sweet peppers with homemade chocolate chip cookies to follow.

He acknowledged that Conway’s already hectic travel schedule will likely keep him away from home a bit, but he loves the work.

“It’s the greatest job,” Saskowski said. “For a cook in the Marine Corps, absolutely.”

Ellie