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Iraq Experie nce J an-Aug ’10 “YJCMTSU”

Iraq Experie nce J an-Aug ’10 “YJCMTSU”. Major Greg D. Tolmoff. Overview. Pre-mission Preparation My Personal Goals Getting There The Mission Iraqi Air Operations Center Joint Air Operations Integration Team The Iraqis The Americans Takeaways. Pre-mission Preparation.

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Iraq Experie nce J an-Aug ’10 “YJCMTSU”

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  1. Iraq Experience Jan-Aug ’10 “YJCMTSU” Major Greg D. Tolmoff

  2. Overview • Pre-mission Preparation • My Personal Goals • Getting There • The Mission • Iraqi Air Operations Center • Joint Air Operations Integration Team • The Iraqis • The Americans • Takeaways

  3. Pre-mission Preparation • Pre Deployment Spin Up (Home Station) • Computer Based Training (CBTs) • Self Aid Buddy Care (SABC) • Chemical Warfare Defense Training (CWDT) • Small Arms Re-Qualification (M-4, M-9) • Air Advisor Training (Ft. Dix, New Jersey) • Built in support structure of people you already know once you get into theatre • 2 Phases: • “Air Advisor Training” • 30 Hours Arabic Language Training • Iraqi Culture Training • Arabic Negotiations • Interpreter Usage • The Art of Advising • “Combat Skills Training” • Combat Lifesaver Training and Certification • Advanced Weapons Academics and Training • High Threat Driving • Rollover Prevention Training • Land Navigation • Radio Training • High-Risk-Of-Capture Training

  4. My Personal Goals • What I set out to do: • Lose 50 Lbs • Finish Air War College by Correspondence • Have an Adventure • What actually happened • Lost 50 Lbs • Finished Air War College by Correspondence • Had an Adventure? • 20 Combat Sorties on Iraqi Aircraft • 15 Combat Sorties on American Aircarft • Spent 50 Hours+ “Outside the Wire” • Shot 15 Different Kinds of Weapons (Iraqi/American/British) • Went to 12 Different Forward Operating Bases • Met Hundreds of Iraqis • Ate Tigris River Carp with my hands • Flew a Remote Control Helicopter in Saddam’s Palace • Met the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Air Force • Renewed Faith in my Sister Services • Was called an “advising ninja” because I was “Comfortable Uncomfortable” • Made a Difference I did my job in Iraq today, so that my boys would not have to go back to Iraq to finish my job in 20 years

  5. Getting There • Unit Deployment Manager is Key • Getting all of your “personal effects” in order • Tried to re-finance the house while I was gone • More support from your countrymen than you know how to handle • USO Support • Rotator into Theatre • Al Udeid • Intra-theatre travel • Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) • Living Accommodations • Internet • SKYPE! • Green Bean • DFACs • Recreation Equipment • Tours • Cigar Club • AFN • Haji-Movies

  6. The Mission - CC’s Top Ten Priorities • Comprehensive IqAF support to national elections • Airworthiness certification of the IqAF fleet • Transition of air base operations, security, infrastructure and airspace control • IqAF advanced pilot training program • Development of IqAF ISR PED processes and utilization • IqAF Air Staff program and budget oversight, operational standardization, and quality assurance • Joint integration • Preparing for incoming IqAF weapon systems • Unity of effort of Airmen partnering and mentoring • Developing & exercising new capabilities across DOTMLPF

  7. Iraqi Air Operations Center Iraqi Air Operations Center Current Strength • IqAF – (46) Officers, (1) Enlisted/Warrant Officer • US Personnel: (14) Advisors, (2) Interpreters Director, IAOC • Name: Col HamidKhudair • Education: • Iraq Naval Academy • Leadership Academy • Background: • Army MI-8, Mi-17, Mi-24 • Navy Super Falcon LOO Advise and assist IAOC in: Current Capability IAOC Vision Command and Control - Iraqi Master ATO / Air Operations Order - Skytrax (COTS Acft tracking via internet) Election Capability Development - Lethal Capabilities (Hellfire, DAGR) - Air-Ground Integration / Clearance of Fires - ISR Production, Exploitation, Dissemination - WX Forecasting External Effects - USF-I, ICAA, ACCE Coordination AOC Moveto Hawk Base Provide effective C2 of IqAF air operations across the spectrum of capabilities to ensure Iraq’s continued national sovereignty. Develop a WX forecasting center with effective observation /forecasting ability. • C2 of ~250+ sorties/week • Coordinate mission requests with “customer,” MoD, and Squadrons • Humble C2 Infrastructure • Heavy reliance on Advisors for US coordination and WX forecasting • Immature clearance of fires capability • Mission tasking strictly dependent on MoD personal involvement

  8. Air Tasking Cycle JFC and Component Coordination JFACC Intent /COAROE / Apportionment Recommendation and Decision Combat AssessmentsAlternative COA OA Combat Assessment Target Development JIPTL / JIPCL TET Worksheets 1 2 Strategy 6 Ops Assessment TET ISR Combat Ops 5 3 MAAP ATO Production Force Execution BDA MISREP Weaponeering and Allocation MAAP Worksheets MAAP Brief SORTIE ALOT 4 ATO Production ATO ACO SPINS

  9. Puddy’sHierarchy of Iraqi Air Force Needs Plan and Integrate Strategic Level Squadron Functions Scheduling / Evaluating Operational Level Technical experts / Experienced operators Tactical Level Aircraft / Training flight hours / Instructors / Qualified students with long-term assignments Necessary Tools Weather / NOTAMS / Approach charts / Jeppesen / ICAA products / IMATO / Mission papers Basic Products Electricity / Internet / Paper / Printers / Phones / Desks / Chairs / Office equipment Basic Needs

  10. JAOIT Mission JAOIT - Joint Air Operations Integration Team Accomplishing Mission • JAOIT Vision: Develop joint interoperability through airpower integration • JAOIT Mission: Integrate Iraq Air Force airpower capabilities with regional ground, security, civil, SOF, and maritime forces—develop joint Iraqi partnerships that facilitate enduring operational capabilities • Assess region – Measure capabilities and needs • Develop network – Advisory, Iraqi, regional ops center • Execute – Connect dots, plan, train, operationalize Challenges Infrastructure – Email, internet, phone service Equipment procurement and distribution – radios, PGS Connecting regional ops centers and IAOC Weaning from U.S. dependency

  11. JAOIT As I See It • Biggest Advisory Bang for the Buck • Getting Iraqi Ideas into Motion • Using Iraqi Assets to Solve Problems • JAOIT Bridges the Iraqi Cultural Divides • US Leads the introductions and facilitates the meetings • Iraqis lead the training and execution • JAOIT Should Be a Growth Industry • Gets/Keeps the contacts needed throughout country • Allows integration at tactical and operational level • ITAM-AF has more influence on strategic level with tactical level buy-in

  12. Kirkuk Operations • Kirkuk PJCC • Built off Election Successes (STT) • 321 AEAG Decision to stay in USD-N to levy contacts in AO • Northern Oil Company • ISR Overwatch Cross Ministry (MoO/MoI) and PRT • In Response to Multiple Attacks • 12th Iraqi Army • ISR training and support of real world ops • LTG Barbero Directed in Support of BG Samir • 12th IA Spec Ops Training Ongoing (culminates 7 Jul 10) Mission Complete Mission Complete Mission Complete

  13. Considerations • Air-ground integration • Can not be done ad-hoc • Operationalizeall regions • Security, stability provided by Iraqi forces • Iraqis train, Iraqis learn • Enduring Ops at Locations Serviced • Success criteria: • When Iraqis integrate without JAOIT’s help

  14. JAOIT/Squadron 3 Advanced Mission Sensor Operator (MSO) Training – 25 April 2010

  15. 321 AEAG/CC-JAOIT Visit to Northern Oil Company, 5 May 2010

  16. JAOIT/JTAC PJCC Training Exercise w/ IqAF Sq 3 – 13 May 10

  17. 12th IA/Squadron 3/JAOIT Key Leader Engagement – 29 May 10

  18. 12th IA/Squadron 3/JAOIT Air to Ground Integration Training, 3-8 June 2010

  19. JAOIT/Squadron 3/12th IA SOC Training and IqAF/IA KLE – 1 Jul 10

  20. JAOIT/Sq 3/12th Iraqi Army Special Operation Company Integration – 30 Jun 10 – 7 Jul 10

  21. The Iraqis • They are not so different from you and I! • They want security and stability in their country • They want their kids to have it better than they did • The Insh’Allah Attitude • Napping • They MUST be ordered by superiors before they do anything • Initiative is not rewarded; it is usually punished • They are very generous • They are putting themselves out there for their country • IEDs on the doorstep • There are some who “get it” • Like any problem, focus efforts on the “Centers of Gravity” • Advising is an Art • Relationships matter • Must be “comfortable uncomfortable” • Find out what motivates people • Don’t mirror image • The key is to get people to take your ideas and make them their own • Lots of Chai, pool, and ping-pong

  22. The Americans • LEADERSHIP MATTERS! • The only issues that I had with anything at any time was all directly attributable to American leadership • Courageous leadership a pre-req at ALL levels • The Army gets “Ground Mission Accomplishment” much better than the Air Force • You can NOT have a garrison mentality in combat • Advising is a personality based trait (not AFSC based) • You MUST be “comfortable uncomfortable” • Not every situation is written down • You must accept some risk, otherwise you will never accomplish the mission • Uniform violations? • Still need down time • Just because you can work 18 hrs/day, doesn’t mean you should • If you are working 18 hrs/day, you are overworked or inefficient – Which is it? • Your boss can always ask more questions than you can answer • Does NOT mean the mission is getting accomplished • CC’s need to give appropriate guidance and intent and then BACK OFF! • Nothing zaps morale like a micro-managing boss • “What kind of training does the Army have?” • Made some Awesome friends • Highest compliment you can pay someone in the Profession of Arms – “I’d follow you into combat” • I met leaders that I would follow into combat…

  23. Takeaways • Being away from family sucks • The more effort you put into planning and prep, the easier it will be • The AF gives you training that is second to none • Advising works in any situation • Getting people to take your ideas and make them their own • Much like leadership… • There are going to be difficult bosses • As one person, you can make a difference • In co-workers, in the Iraqis, or in home-station • Keep your eyes and ears open • Sometimes opportunity knocks very softly • Learn to be “comfortable uncomfortable” • Lead courageously in everything you do • Set goals and milestones for every step of the way • Personally and professionally • And Finally… DON’T COUNT THE DAYS… MAKE THE DAYS COUNT!

  24. QUESTIONS? Iraq Experience Jan-Aug ‘10

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