In light of Operation New Dawn, we have a guest blog post from SFC Roger Dey, 103rd Public Affairs Detachment in Iraq.

Coc – Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, commander, U.S. Central Command, passes the colors to incoming commander, Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III charging him with the duties and responsibilities of command of United States Forces – Iraq, Sept. 1, 2010. (Photo by Lee Craker, USF-I Public Affairs)

History will record that Operation Iraqi Freedom lasted seven years, five months and 11 days. The operation, which began with the March 20, 2003 invasion of Iraq, will end on Sept. 1 as Operation New Dawn begins, marking the formal transition from combat to stability operations.

“Operation New Dawn does not change the level of U.S. commitment to Iraq,” Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, United States Forces-Iraq commanding general, said at a July 21 Pentagon press briefing. “It changes the nature of our commitment: (from) one that is military-dominated to a civilian-led commitment.

“As we transition to stability operations, U.S. forces will continue to train, advise, assist and equip Iraqi Security Forces and carry on with our partnered counterterrorism operations,” he said. “We’ll support the U.S. Embassy, provincial reconstruction teams, United Nations and other nongovernmental organizations dedicated to building Iraqi civil capacity.”   

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the name change from OIF in a Feb. 17 memo to Gen. David Petraeus, then the commander of United States Central Command.

“Aligning the name change with the change of mission sends a strong signal that Operation Iraqi Freedom has ended and our forces are operating under a new mission,” he wrote, adding that it will reinforce the U.S. commitment to honor the 2008 Security Agreement and recognize the evolving relationship between the U.S. and Iraqi governments.

Because the situation in Iraq has improved, the U.S. military partnership role with the ISF and Iraqi government has also changed. The ISF is taking the lead in security operations and the U.S. forces now focus their partnership primarily on honing the skills of the ISF through training and advising.

Throughout the past seven years, most U.S. military service members would compare the path our partnership with the ISF to that of its standard three-phase model for training; the crawl, walk, run method.

When the ISF first started building its forces, the U.S. partnership was focused on showing them what right looks like. As the ISF grew in numbers and skill, the U.S. conducted joint missions and began to move back and let them take the lead. Now, the ISF is a capable, professional security force so the U.S. military partnership transitions into its new mission to train, advise, and assist, letting ISF take charge of securing the nation, comparable to the run phase. This progress has been slow and steady, making the move to this new mission transparent to most U.S. service members.

At the outset of Operation New Dawn, the change of mission may not be immediately evident to the 50,000 service members already on the ground in Iraq. According to Wilson, U.S. forces have been conducting stability operations in Iraq since 2004.

“If you really asked them … they’re doing stability operations now,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence K. Wilson, the USF-I command sergeant major. “So it’s not a kinetic piece anymore, it’s civil capacity … a strategic enduring partnership with Iraq,” he said.

Despite the shift away from kinetic missions, U.S. forces will continue to take part in Iraqi-led counterterrorism operations against terrorist networks and, in accordance with the Security Agreement, will use all means necessary to protect themselves if attacked.

As part of the transformation from combat to stability operations, the structure of the U.S. brigades also changed to realign their personnel and equipment to perform the changing missions.

Beginning in the fall of 2009, brigade combat teams began to transition with advise and assist brigades. On Sept. 1, the official start of Operation New Dawn, six AABs will be in place and conducting stability operations. The AABs make up the backbone of U.S. forces’ support to ISF as they continue to increase their capabilities and support the Rule of Law.

To ensure they are providing the best support to the ISF and the government of Iraq, AABs are tailored to the unique operations environment where they operate. The units are augmented with as many as 24 specialty teams such as engineering, transportation, investigative and forensic specialists, counter explosives and counterterrorism and training.

By tailoring the makeup of the AABs, based on location and need, USF-I ensures the ISF and local governments are getting the right support they require to protect the local residents and grow civil capacity.

Another major role for the AABs during Operation New Dawn will be the continued support of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

The AABs will provide the PRTs with security, and when requested, the expertise of their specialty teams. Joint military and PRT efforts are an essential component of stability operations and Operation New Dawn and U.S. forces will continue to provide security and materiel to the PRTs, as well as the expertise of the AAB specialty teams, when requested.

The U.S. forces will also continue to work with nongovernmental agencies like the United States Aid for International Development, or USAID, and the United Nations as they work to build Iraq’s civil capacity.

As the country regains its economic and political footing and the ISF take control of the country’s security, Odierno said the people of Iraq have shown patience and determination to rebuild their nation.

“Over the past seven-and-a-half years, the Iraqi people have proven to be extremely resilient and courageous,” Odierno said. “They want to move forward and make their country better than it was before. 

“Political and economic progress is more important now than ever. That’s why we believe this new stage in our relationship will help ensure that Iraq remains on a path to develop security, diplomatic, and economic depth that will ultimately contribute to peace and stability in the region.”

What is it?

The transition to Operation New Dawn, Sept. 1, marks the official end to Operation Iraqi Freedom and combat operations by United States forces in Iraq.

During Operation New Dawn, the remaining 50,000 U.S. servicemembers serving in Iraq will conduct stability operations, focusing on advising, assisting and training Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Operation New Dawn also represents a shift from a predominantly military U.S. presence to one that is predominantly civilian, as the Departments of Defense and State work together with governmental and non-governmental agencies to help build Iraq’s civil capacity.

Why is this important for the Army?

The transition to Operation New Dawn represents the U.S. commitment to the government and people of Iraq as a sovereign, stable country that will be an enduring strategic partner with the United States. This has been made possible by the improved capability of the ISF to take the lead in securing their country.

New Dawn also signifies the success of the responsible drawdown of forces and the redeployment of thousands of U.S. Soldiers, as well as the return or transfer of war fighting equipment to the U.S. or to combat troops fighting in Afghanistan.

What will the Army do?

To support the transition to stability operations, the Army has six advisory and assistance brigades (AABs) in Iraq. AABs are designed to partner with ISF and are tailored for the needs of the specific location in which they will operate. They provide security for Provincial Reconstruction Teams and have up to 24 specialty teams which enable them to conduct advisory, security, and training missions, as well as the development of civil capacity.

AABs are structured around the modular design of brigade combat teams but are trained for stability operations, rather than for combat. However, under the security agreement they retain the inherent right to self-defense and are authorized to take necessary action to prevent terrorist activities in order to protect themselves or the people of Iraq.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

For the foreseeable future, U. S. forces will maintain a force strength of 50,000 as it conducts stability operations and partnered counterterrorism operations in Iraq. In accordance with the security agreement, U.S. forces are scheduled to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. Despite the change in mission, USF-I remains committed to the Iraqi people and will continue to support efforts to build civil capacity throughout Iraq.

To learn more about Operation New Dawn, visit the U.S. Army Official Website or United States Forces-Iraq.

Remember when you could only check your email from your desktop computer? For those of you who are “digital natives,” you probably don’t. Every week, the capabilities on a “Smart phones” increase. You can check your email, download files and send a tweet almost simultaneously.

The U.S. Army is beginning to understand today’s technology-savvy Soldier and is making steps towards incorporating those tools into training and combat.

The Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC for short) is working to advance the Army’s agenda by creating an Edge-Enabled System to leverage commercial hardware, software, and graphical user interface technologies for handheld, military-specific use. Check out an excerpt from the blog post explaining the Edge-Enabled System:

“CERDEC defined an edge-enabled system as one that is utilized at the “edges” of the network. Typically, the users are dismounted Warfighters or other users that do not have access to a thick client terminal.We tend to classify those users in two categories: those that use thin client (aka web only) solutions and those that use hand-held devices (tablets, mobile phones). Those users are at the “tip of the spear” and not only are collecting and transmitting relevant information on a daily basis, but also have a critical need for the most up-to-date information on their mission area.”

Check out http://science.dodlive.mil to learn more about the “Edge-Enabled System” and the benefits it could have in our Army.

What place do you think smart phones and other mobile devices could have in the U.S. Army?

President Barack Obama called on the American people today to provide new care, opportunity and commitment to the million military men and women who’ve served in Iraq.

After more than seven years, the United States “will end its combat mission in Iraq and take an important step forward in responsibly ending the Iraq war,” he said during his weekly radio address.

That responsibility, he stressed, includes caring for the men and women in uniform who volunteered to fight.

“What this new generation of veterans must know is this: our nation’s commitment to all who wear its uniform is a sacred trust that is as old as our republic itself,” he said. “It is one that, as president, I consider a moral obligation to uphold.”

He called upon the the nation to pay tribute to all who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, noting the two wars are America’s longest continuous combat engagement.

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Visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/salute to learn about the four ways you can join the President in saluting the men and women in the U.S. Military.

Sgt. Tyronda Dorsey

Years of Service: 13        
Current Position: Combat Medic
Current Unit: 26th Brigade Support Battalion
Component: Active
Current Location: Mosul, Iraq
Hometown: Killeen, Texas

August 26 marks Women’s Equality Day, a day which the U.S. Army will commemorate by remembering the women who have served their country for the last 235 years. During the Revolutionary War, females served as volunteers, often performing duties as nurses or cooks. Today, women serve in 93 percent of all Army occupations and comprise 13.4 percent of the Active Army.

Sgt. Tyronda Dorsey represents just one of the many women serving in the Army today. Dorsey, who grew up in Killeen, was exposed to Army life early on through her father’s military service. At the age of 21 she decided it was time to follow in his footsteps.

“My father definitely had some influence on my decision to serve, I asked him a lot of questions about what to expect,” Dorsey explained. “I looked forward to traveling as well, as a military brat I missed that aspect when I got older.”

Now Dorsey, a mother of four and the spouse of a fellow Soldier, is currently serving in Iraq as a combat medic and is responsible for ensuring the health of her Soldiers.

Working in the medical clinic, Dorsey provides medical care and advice to injured and sick Soldiers. While she is prepared to execute any sort of emergency procedure that may be required, she has spent the better part of her time in Iraq providing routine examinations and prescribing remedies for standard medical issues. One of the most common ailments she’s seen throughout her deployment is musculoskeletal injuries, such as ankle sprains.

Fortunately Dorsey works in a facility that is well equipped, which ensures medical professionals have all necessary supplies to keep their Soldiers healthy.

“I feel that I have enough to perform my job as a medic. The system of care seems to be working fine. While there are some specialties not available, it does not stop the overall care of the Soldiers here,” Dorsey said. “We have an actual clinic where Soldiers come in for sick call. It is a facility with a lab, x-ray and a pharmacy. We are also very fortunate to have a dentist in house who is excellent.”

When not working inside the clinic, Dorsey is charged with providing medical ground transport for any individual in need of immediate medical assistance. In order to perform this responsibility, the Soldier has learned to drive a mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle during her time in Iraq.

“I had not driven a MRAP vehicle before this deployment so I am proud of this achievement,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey also works to train her comrades on CPR and Combat Lifesaver (CLS) courses. The CLS course prepares Soldiers to provide immediate first aid to any injured person, and teaches them to quickly and effectively assess and address the problems caused by a combat wound.

Dorsey knows that her work is important and truly enjoys being able to help her fellow Soldiers. 

“I love being a medic because not only do I have the opportunity to show compassion at the most crucial times, I get to save lives. When someone comes to see me, I enjoy helping them address their needs. Soldiers sometimes just need someone to listen to them and when I witness an improvement in them, I feel that I have a purpose,” Dorsey said.

While Dorsey has built an illustrious medical resume during her 13 years of Army service, she credits much of her ability to effectively interact and communicate with patients to her mentor, Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum.

Cornum, who was taken as a prisoner of war (POW) when her Blackhawk helicopter was shot down during Desert Storm, served as the hospital commander of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center when Dorsey was stationed there. 

“I was very humbled working with her, she was very personable, knowledgeable and patient. She also gave a powerful account of what happened to her while she was a POW in Desert Storm, I wouldn’t have guessed any of this happened to her. She had varying experiences behind her but it didn’t have to define her whole personality. I identified with that type of quiet reserve,” Dorsey explained. “I was impressed by her bedside manner, I took that with me after leaving Germany.”

Dorsey is proud of the work that she and her fellow soldiers have done during their time in Iraq and knows that this deployment has allowed her to continue fine tuning her medical skills.

Slated to return home this fall, Dorsey looks forward to spending time with each of her children and her husband, with whom she shares a unique bond.

“Being a military couple is very difficult at times but it has also been very dynamic,” Dorsey explained. “I enjoy being able to talk shop with my husband, complete with the military lingo, and he understands. It takes a lot of compromise because each of us has career demands and a two year old child so, sometimes one of us may be burdened more than the other with household duties due to professional duties of the other.”

In addition, upon returning to the states, Dorsey plans to visit her extended family in Killeen, Texas and plans to look for some volunteer work to help out in her local community.

To learn about more about Soldiers who have or are currently serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom the Operation Tribute to Freedom site at www.army.mil/otf.

With summer’s end right around the corner, students are getting ready for another school year. Many of the lunchtime/playground stories will include, vacations, beaches, the abnormal heat, and jobs.

And while all of these are usual summer past times, University of Tennessee Mechanical Engineering student, Zachary Dixon’s will have a slightly different story to tell.

Dixon worked at the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center in the Reliability and Maintainability Engineering and Systems Assessment Division of the Engineering Directorate. In English, Dixon’s workload was focused on the life cycle of missiles.

“This summer, I worked on compiling scoring records and generating a reliability estimate of the missile system for one of the FMS [Foreign Military Sales] customers. I compiled a missile component inventory for the purpose of determining what components were still usable and needed to be kept as spares or test assets and which components had exceeded their useful life and needed to be discarded.

“I have also been able to get involved in some design/system improvement projects for various missile systems,” said Dixon.

Visit http://armytechnology.armylive.dodlive.mil/ to read more about Dixon’s internship and to check out the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command.

Since 1775, U.S. Army Soldiers have been marching on the frontlines; fighting for the freedom of this country. They leave their homes and family to defend and protect the United States of America. But why?

Today we would like to hear from you Soldiers. What or who inspired you to either join or support the U.S. Army? We’re looking forward to your comments.

And remember, no matter what the reason maybe, we thank you for Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage (seven U.S. Army core values).

Army Strong.

With the official start of Operation “New Dawn” set for September 1st, all combat unit have left Iraq-days ahead of schedule. Check out the video below that contains raw footage of the “Raider Brigade” at Joint Base Lewis-McChord greeting their family and friends after returning from overseas.

Welcome Home Soldiers!! Hooah!

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Check out www.youtube.com/usarmy to view more videos of the Welcome Home celebration.

Over the last decade, the Army has seen a decrease in overall fitness of Soldiers entering initial training. To counter societal changes, the Soldier Athlete Initiative is focused on training these Soldiers in a physically holistic way. The initiative emphasizes physical readiness, performance nutrition, and injury prevention to better prepare Soldiers for strenuous training and the difficulty of the battlefield. A Soldier needs to train for conflict just like an athlete trains for a competition. By training, fueling and caring for injuries, Soldiers will be better prepared to face the challenges of full-spectrum operations.

Check out the video below with TRADOC’s deputy commanding general for Initial Military Training, Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, as he discusses the Soldier Athlete initiative designed to ready our Soldiers bodies for the challenges they face in battle.

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To learn more about the Soldier Athlete Initiative, visit www.army.mil/TRADOC.

Soldiers, how do you get/stay fit?

Our ArmyLive guest post comes from the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Earlier this month, they teamed up with other local veteran agencies in Texas to host a Veterans Stand Down at the Texas National Guard Armory.

Volunteers and Soldiers set up stations where veterans, many who are homeless or have fallen on hard times could seek aid to get back on their feet, receive health screenings, gather military field gear to help themselves survive exposure, and get a hot meal.

Visit http://highlanderbrigade.wordpress.com/ to read more and to check out more about the “Highlanders.”