People are asking me some tough questions. Is it worth it? Are we making a difference? Can we succeed? The answer is definitely yes to all, but as a nation, we must commit wholeheartedly and then stay the course. Of course some of the news is bad news…what did people expect when we increased operations and send more troops into Afghanistan? The Taliban is no push over (and they fight dirty), but we committed to go after them, so let’s not get feint hearted now. We need to learn from these days, adapt and carry on. We simply need to adapt faster than the enemy can. We are a much larger force, and consequently, we don’t adapt as easily. We also need our nation’s other instruments of power (diplomatic, economic) equally engaged, perhaps more so. We will not succeed if it is treated simply as a military operation.
I received an award last Friday. After the General spoke and gave me the award, the floor was mine. Here is a recap what I said.
This whole thing is one giant game of pitch and catch. The Central Command Deployment and Distribution Operations Center (CDDOC), the US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) and the Surface Deployment and Distribution Center (SDDC) are the strategic movement partners and are the “pitchers”, and the folks in Afghanistan…US Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) and it’s down trace units (Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan, the Sustainment Brigades, the Aerial Ports, etc.) are the “catchers”. The benefactors of the incredible game are, of course, the war fighter. Once the catch is made, (whether it be people, unit cargo, theater provided equipment and the like), the war fighter goes off to do their mission. Their mission is the “why” we are all here.
The impression we (the strategic partners) leave can set the tone for their entire deployment. It can set them up for success or it can set them up for failure. It can certainly impact their morale, which, in turn impacts the war fight. What kind of impression do we want to leave? The answer is obvious.
With that being said, I have a few thoughts to share with you about my deployment here and why I believe it was successful.
As CDDOC’s representative in Afghanistan, it was often my job to explain rules behind this massive game of pitch and catch. In order to do that, I had to first know the rules. No matter your background, no one really knows what the need to know when they get here. You are simply thrown in the deep and of the pool and you are expected to swim like hell. Therefore, the relationships you build, and your willingness to learn and be mentored will be integral to your success. Every time I got on the phone with one of you here…and that happened a lot…you took your time with me and was patient. Whether it was one of the Air Force sergeants on the ITARS desk, one of the Navy Petty Officers in the surface and sustainment branch or a Navy Lieutenant in the Single Ticket Tracker program, you taught me and you mentored me, so that I could teach others. In this way, the full force and effect of CDDOC is be projected forward into Afghanistan, and brought to bear in the war fight.
The morale of this story is that you find mentors where THEY are, not where you are. The traditional role models for mentors—those that are higher in rank, have the same skill set, or are in the same service--do not work well in a joint environment. You must look everywhere for mentors, not just the traditional places.
So, thank you for spending your time, energy and effort on me—you made me much more effective than I could have been on my own—you were a true force multiplier, and that is a WIN for the war fighter.
Then, I saluted the CDDOC.
Thanks, Jo, for sharing all this with us. It gives us understanding that we certainly don't get from the news media. God Bless you for your sacrifices for all of us!
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