Army Three-Star Takes Helm Of High-Stakes Afghan Training Mission
Journalist: Sebastian Sprenger
Original Post: Nov. 20, 2009 -- Army Three-Star Takes Helm Of High-Stakes Afghan Training Mission
Type: News Article
November 20, 2009 — Amy Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, who will begin overseeing the task of growing the Afghan security forces on Nov. 21, is expected to begin a broad assessment of the U.S. and NATO training mission in Afghanistan that could affect everything from staff organization to international participation in the effort, according to current and former officials.
While all incoming commanders routinely conduct assessments of their new situation, the Caldwell review is considered particularly crucial because his organizations' performance is pivotal for the success of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, according to observers. As in Iraq, defense officials view a functioning internal security apparatus as a prerequisite for an eventual drawdown of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
“Our exit strategy in Afghanistan is [creating a] state that is able to protect its people against internal threats with minimal outside assistance,” said John Nagl, the president of the Washington-based Center for a New American Security, and a former Army lieutenant colonel. “I believe no military mission in Afghanistan is more important,” he added.
Caldwell is the first three-star general in charge of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. He replaces Army Maj. Gen. Richard Formica, who had the job since last December. Caldwell is also in charge of the newly created NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.
Alliance members agreed to establish the organization at their spring 2009 summit in Strassbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany. The new organization is charged with providing “higher-level training for the [Afghan National Army], including defence colleges and academies, and will be responsible for doctrine development, as well as training and mentoring for the [Afghan National Police],” NATO said in an April statement following the announcement.
Caldwell most recently commanded the Army's Combined Arms Center at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. There, he worked on the Army field manuals for stability operations and security force assistance -- a fact observers say gives him a deep understanding of the requirements of his new job.
In late summer, before his name was formally announced by the Pentagon on Oct. 8, the three-star began sending out staff to gather information from think tanks and former officials about the challenges awaiting him in Afghanistan. He was confirmed by the Senate on Oct. 28.
His assessment at CSTC-A and NTM-A, which could take four to six weeks, aims to determine “what needs to be done, but also what is in the realm of the possible,” said an Army official familiar with the situation.
For one, several officials said, he will need to get an accurate baseline estimate of the current size and strength of the Afghan national security forces, from which officials can then derive growth plans.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik, a former commander of the organization in charge of training Iraqi security forces, told InsideDefense.com he received four such assessments when he became commander of Multi-National Security Training Command-Iraq in June 2007, including one by the Iraqi government.
Dubik said he directed several assessments because he hoped the results would provide him “firmer footing” for his first moves.
At least one Afghanistan assessment to that end is already under way at RAND, commissioned by U.S. Central Command and NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Officials declined to provide details on the project's precise goals.
Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, told Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a leaked Aug. 30 assessment that the Afghan National Police end strength should eventually be 160,000. The Afghan National Army is slated to grow to 240,000 over the next years.
As for staff reorganizations, Caldwell will have to sort out the interplay between the two organizations he commands, officials said. At CSTC-A he could modify the staff significantly to ensure the organization is “optimized to respond to him,” as he had done when taking command of CAC, the Army official said.
In addition, Caldwell is expected to include Justice Department police training experts in his organizations, the official said. He also is “very likely” to ask for senior Afghan representatives on his staff whose work would help “put an Afghan face” on the training mission, the official added.
Another significant challenge for Caldwell will be to re-energize support for the training mission from European NATO countries where populations have grown weary of war, according to observers.
According to the Army official, Caldwell can be expected to begin a new “routine engagement” process with NATO leaders once on the job.
Topic(s): Regional Security Challenges, Terrorism, Irregular Warfare and Crime, Development and Diplomacy, U.S. Military Forces & Operations
Project(s): Afghanistan and Pakistan
People: Dr. John A. Nagl
