Our military has been repeatedly
defined by inspired leadership – the type of galvanizing example that can
literally make the difference between victory and defeat. A stirring example of
this type of leadership happened exactly 153 years ago today in Virginia near a
place called Manassas Junction. On that hot summer day two untested Armies
clashed in what became known as the First Battle of Bull Run. BG Barnard Bee
was leading his brigade and finding the going extremely tough. Faced with
another relentless attack approaching his front and flank, General Bee saw his
men begin to panic and run to the rear. With the very outcome of the battle at
stake General Bee rode to the commander of the adjacent brigade, which was
comprised of Virginians under the command of BG Thomas J. Jackson. Bee
exclaimed, “The enemy is driving us!” Jackson replied, “Then, Sir, we will give
them the bayonet!” Inspired by Jackson’s steadfast and unwavering example, Bee
rode back to his troops and ordered them to reform shouting “There is Jackson
standing like a stone wall. Let us determine to die here and we will conquer.
Rally behind the Virginians!” The line held. The tide of battle turned. The
outcome soon was no longer in doubt. A legend was born – Stonewall Jackson.
But the inspired leadership of our
military isn’t always on the battlefield. Bagram Airfield over the past eleven
months is a fitting example. When CSM Bianco and I arrived the base had a
population of 36,000 personnel – most of whom lived in wooden b-huts. The base
perimeter was not fully enclosed. There was no active IDF defense. The base was
a product of 12 years of changing priorities that resulted in 42 subcompounds
of necessity – none of which seemed mutually supportive. During my inbrief with
MG McConville of CJTF-101 I was given very simple instructions – make the base
harder, safer, and smaller. RSM – Resolute Support Mission – was a mere whisper
at that point. But by the end of September we were moving forward in
partnership with Canadian BG Dave Courbold, who provided the galvanizing
rallying cry around the base that helped us mobilize the strategic partnerships
and spirit of cooperation that was needed to chisel away at Bagram. There had
been 12 iterations of Garrison that had gone before us and all of them
generally had the same mission – base operations support – integration. We
shared that same mission but it was no longer the priority. RSM became our
priority and we centered it on four distinct pillars – Force Protection and
Safety, Responsible de-scoping of wooden structures, tents, and NTVs, bringing
critical infrastructure online for RSM, and effective command oversight of LOGCAP
IV and MILCON projects. Working through strong partnerships across the base,
we’ve been highly effective. Bagram is not the same enigma it was in September
2013. We have tamed the beast.
Working in close partnerships with
CJTF-101, CJTF-10, 455th AEW, and the various units tasked with
Force Protection of the Bagram Security Zone we have vastly improved Bagram
Airfield’s safety and security:
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The entire perimeter of the base is
now hardened and secure where there used to be significant gaps
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Additional guard towers now provide
coverage where there was once dead space
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Multiple passive defense systems are
now in place in areas that were once identified as critically vulnerable.
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An additional PTDS system now
peacefully hovers over the West Side of the base keeping watch over vast
stretches of Parwan notorious as point-of-origin for IDF
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Over 350 additional bunkers have been
strategically place around the base to provide our personnel ready protection
from IDF
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Over 200 semi-hardened buildings and
RLBs have been strengthened with placement of t-walls, barriers and sandbags
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An active IDF defense in the form of
11 operational CRAM batteries now provides an umbrella of steel
By closely coordinating law
enforcement efforts on the base – MP, CID, TF 2010, SIGAR we have effectively
put an end to squatting, eradicated numerous illegal activities and practices,
eliminated multiple insider and counter-intelligence threats, and in the
process have permanently barred over 800 people from the base. The message is
clear now on Bagram that if you break the rules you will be caught and pay the
consequence.
Safety of personnel on Bagram has
also been significantly improved. Garrison Safety staff worked rapidly and
effectively with various tenant units to eradicate all 89 DoDIG Life-Health-Safety
issues identified during a 2013 audit of the base. In partnership with multiple
units there have been numerous steps taken to eliminate potential SHARP
environments in living and working spaces. And the Garrison team earned its
first ever Safety of Excellence Streamer in the history of Bagram.
Responsible descoping of the base has
been an immense success story. Garrison could not have done this on our own.
Every tenant on Bagram played a hand in working with us in reallocating space,
relocating personnel, and vacating buildings and tents for CMRE to eliminate.
This has also been true for the reduction of NTVs on the base as well.
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Over 1,500 wooden structures have
been removed since October 2013, which is over 65% of the structures identified
for destruction.
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Over 300 tents have also been
eliminated
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Working in tandem with the 401st
we were able to stand up the GSA maintenance bay and motor pool. This allowed a
comprehensive 100% registration of all vehicles on the base in October 2013
that since has facilitated the turn-in over over 2,500 vehicles – a 40%
reduction in the NTV fleet.
We’ve also made huge strides in
critical infrastructure for Bagram, which is essential to the RSM footprint.
One of the biggest steps was bringing the base onto Prime Power. This
eliminated the spot generation that was required previously. The few facilities
remaining on spot generation will soon be added to the power grid. The Bagram
sewer system is now under contracted repair and expected to be fully
operational in time for RSM this October. This is also true for the fresh-water
well system, which will be fully energized by the end of this summer to provide
reliable and abundant water to all RSM facilities. In the process, the
ubiquitous black and gray water trucks will largely disappear.
And finally, under our command
oversight of LOGCAP and MILCON we’ve both kept the base running and have
accepted several outstanding facilities from our USACE counterparts.
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Riverside and New Infantry Villages
were rapidly brought into use in December and January after completion by
USACE. These IDF-resistant billets allowed the relocation of almost 5,000
personnel from wooden b-huts into safe, permanent billeting.
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The new Law Enforcement building was
fully operational and occupied in less than 30 days from acceptance thanks to
our friends from TF Signal and their installation of required comms
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The Resolute Support Facility now
provides full operational capability to USFOR-A as they complete their
relocation from Kabul to Bagram
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Just in the past week we’ve seen the
opening of the new Coalition Gym and this morning our new MWR opened for
business.
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Two brand new hardened DFACs – New
North and New Koehle are in the process of being built out for use and will be
in operation in time for RSM.
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All the LOGCAP and our partners from
Fluor have efficiently and effectively served over 22M meals, washed over 1.5M
bags of laundry, dispensed over 128M bottles of water, and issued almost 115M
gallons of fuel of all types.
I could go on with statistics but, in
reality, there are just too many to cover. Needless to say, it isn’t
necessarily sexy work but it is vital. The Garrison Team, partnered with so
many of you, has and continues to make this base work and bring RSM to a reality.
To that end I want to thank every member of my Garrison family. Each of you
volunteered to be here. Many of you already served 20-year careers in our
military. You are the best of the best and your work ethic, professionalism,
and dedication to our mission is unrivaled. I particularly would like to thank
two people – CSM Bianco and Mr. Douglas. I could never have asked
for a better command team than what you two bring to the fight day in and day
out. CSM Bianco is a fearless warrior who embodies the professional NCO in all
he does. Mr. Douglas is a determined and spirited fighter who will partner
dogged-determination and common sense leadership on every challenge. You are
both combat-multipliers in every situation who I consider my battle hardened
comrades for eternity.
Having passed the guidon I have the
utmost confidence and faith in not only the Garrison Team but in its leadership
moving forward. COL Gradford has already proven herself to all of us
as a selfless leader, a warrior, and a truly dedicated logistician. COL Gradford
you are the right person at exactly the correct time to take command of the
Garrison. I know you will rapidly move upon the foundation we’ve built and take
Bagram Airfield to RSM and beyond.
Looking back on the guidance provided
by MG McConville on that September day last year, I can confidently report back
that we have been successful in our mission. Bagram today is much harder,
considerably safer, and much smaller. RSM is within sight. And now with the Garrison
Team working in tandem with USFOR-A and TF Trailblazer the progress is moving
faster than ever. I leave here satisfied and thankful for the journey that has
been Bagram Garrison Command. Thank you Garrison Team, thank you to our
leadership from CJTF-10 and USFOR-A, and thank you to the Bagram Community for
trusting me with this task. Our time together will always be near in my heart.
May all of you return safely soon. Climb to Glory! Mission First! Soldiers
Always! Landlord Six, OUT!
HOOAH!
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