The Mitchell grudge: how the 1925 court martial birthed the modern Air Force

As a fulltime student serving with the U.S. Army, what better historical person to write an academic paper about? General Billy Mitchell….coming soon.

Mitchell

Great Power-Rivalries of the world should squelch ‘next war-itis’

War is not new to society; however, with Murray’s argued “Peace Dividend” since the end of World War II, there has been very little state-on-state warfare in terms of Clausewitzian Total War as was seen throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries.  But just because this war has not happened in modern times, does not mean it will not happen again.

History shows Great Power Rivalries of the world ebb and flow, often making a resurgence during the peace dividend.

Military retirement from the new Chief

Check out the first blog posting of the new Chairman of the JCS, General Dempsey.  Good stuff.  He links to the DBB proposal to change the military retirement — kudos to the Chief on transparency.  The General also highlights his speech to Congress as well.

As an Airman assigned to an Army unit, these words resonate with me, and I am impressed with the leadership of the general.

That’s a Blimp!

Check out the 18 wheeler to the left. Dangerroom photo.

Now, that’s a Blimp! Won’t this become a huge target over the battlefield?

Retirement bargains…Hire a Vet

Perceptions were made regarding the similarities between GM’s recently released unemployment statistics and the unemployment rate of young veterans, which are now over 20 percent –nearly double that of the national 10 percent rate reported by the Univ. of Michigan.

One under-reported piece of information however is that the skills of a qualified GM labor force can move on if they are unemployed.  There’s often opportunity for a 40-year-old administrator, or an executive, or a sheet metal repair person in another industry with minimal training or relocation.  But what do you tell the young vet who’s only professional and paid experience in life was to kick-in doors?  How do you translate that into resume fodder?

Fortunately Congress is looking to help and the recent Post 9-11 GI Bill can assist and when you back that up with the leadership experience learned in hostile environments while under fire, this seems like a no brainer.

But why is it that these young Americans are being turned away by the work force?  Maybe the pool of workers with these battle hardened skill sets are too many…

Is the military-policy-people trinity really a bragain?

Pondering Mackubin’s recent book discussing the ‘bargain’ between the U.S. military, the nation’s elected officials, and the American people. 

Although Mackubin borrowed the Paradoxical Trinity from Clausewitz, he offers some interesting ideas to consider, or even re-consider….a.k.a., posse comitatus after Hurricane Katrina and when the people, the government, and the military might want to re-negotiate this “bargain.”  You could argue that the current economic fiasco is leading to a renewed bargain right now.  Cutting the military retirement for the all volunteer force is a major renegotiation taking place that will create massive effetcs years from now on both sides of the aisle.  Check out the book review over at the Washington Times here.  Although I’d seen most of the major points before in Lessons for a Long War, Mackubin spoke to our CGSC class and the recent military retirement debate got me thinking…. Mackubin’s use of ’bargain’ couldn’t have been a more perfect word.  What is the U.S. military, government, people bargain worth? 

Clausewitz knew this answer in the mid 1800s.  Pay me now, or pay me later…. it’s a new series I’m going to start blogging about.

Carl

Soldiers and Airmen work together to save wounded Afghans

Now in a joint training environment with the U.S. Army, I see things much more clearly now.  Hour after hour of mind-numbing doctrine, either green or purple, I see how the team forms from disparate parts; some green, some blue, some old and some new. 

In November, 2010, I saw the direct results of a deadly insurgent rocket attack on a civilian marketplace in Afghanistan’s Kapisa Province.  The results were evident: dead would move on to their final places of rest while the wounded were evacuated to nearby hospitals.  Imagine your world rocked by explosion and you witness a first glimpse of an American as he is loading you onto a helicopter.  To modern viewers, a helicopter is a common site, but to an Afghan this offers an out of this world perspective.

That day, we took in 13 civilians, many who appeared to be elderly men and young children, in order to provide life saving medical care.  We didn’t ask what happened — we knew.  We didn’t ask why it happened — we think we know.  Our Airmen and Soldiers just saved their lives and that is the point where Americans are bridging the say-do-gap with Strategic Communication.

Underneath the whipping Blackhawk rotors, Americans carried litter-after-litter to awaiting medical personnel who fortunately were ready for this mass casualty event after just finishing an exercise with a similar scenario just days prior, according to Capt. James McDaniel, the hospital medical readiness officer.

“All the processes between the exercise and the [Tagab] marketplace attack were the same,” said McDaniel, a Brooking, Ore. native. “The events were similar scenarios with terrible traumas. The exercise was designed to stretch the capabilities of the Airmen and the hospital and fortunately the exercise training paid off as we brought in the wounded from the marketplace.”

Airmen and Soldiers worked in unison with hand-signals and shouts as the marketplace wounded were ferried from the medical helicopters to the hospital’s operating rooms.

“Who’s in charge?” a soldier shouted over the loud Blackhawk’s rotors. “We need two gurneys there–and two there,” he said pointing to two different UH-60 helicopters as Airmen in ABU-patterned scrubs ran to care for the wounded in the helicopters.

As soon as the helicopters were unloaded they immediately took off, covering the awaiting medical staff with a fine Afghan dust from the rotor wash, back on their way to the Tagab Valley.

According to Coalition officials in Kabul, “initial reports indicate four Afghans have been killed [in the marketplace] and more than 40 were injured in the attack. Insurgents continue to harm the Afghan people with their actions. They are doing everything they can to stop the incredible progress the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and international forces have achieved in working together,” said Capt. Jane Campbell, a spokesperson with the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command. No Coalition servicemembers were injured in this attack.

It is a team and now it is all starting to come together in my mind.

Hat Tip to RTR

A special hat-tip to Rick Rice over at RTRViews (@RTRViews) for his adoption of the Air Force Public Affairs career field.  The Air Force leverages best practices from industry with fellowships, direct engagements, brown bags and even a plain ole’ meeting once in a while.  Rick, a superstar in the PR Industry, lends his time pro-bono to assisting junior communicators how to communicate for effect.  I spent a year with a civilian agency learning the best tips, procedures and research methods as well and have all the respect for these guys…… Thanks Rick!

Thanks Chief!

Form a grateful fan, thanks for the service Admiral!  Admiral Mullen visited us in Afghanistan and impressed me with his candor, committment and compassion.  He will be missed.

Thanks!

Rest in Peace Specialist Duncan

Tens of thousands lined the streets for the processional in Kansas.  We, the students of CGSC, lined the streets of this mid-west Kansas Army Post with thousands of fellow mourners.  Under the shadow of an American flag which looked larger than a football field, we gave our last respects to one of the thirty eight who died August 6, when their Chinook helicopter crashed in Afghanistan.

According to DoD, the people responsible for shooting down the helo, are now dead.

Watch the processional video, and memorial for Specialist Duncan here.  More.

This was experience was unique for me… I’m an Air Force transplant on an Army installation and it was a sobering feeling to be a part of this event.  I was humbled and somewhat saddened as I watched the faces of those in the vehicles as they passed by.  There were so many tears.  Thoughts I’m sure about why Duncan died; where, when, and the future.

Needless to say, mentally I seemed transported back to my time in Afghanistan.  When we loaded our fallen comrades from that end, there was sadness, but it was completely different.  It was loss and emptiness; nothing what families feel, just different.

We lost three Airmen in that same crash.