Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy says coalition forces need to prepare for the possibility of setbacks during Operation Moshtarak.

Training and advising security forces in partner nations needs to become a priority for the NATO alliance.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee about the Defense Authorization Request for FY2011.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh today released the following statement after receiving the U.S. Central Command investigation results regarding the combat action involving U.S. Army forces at Wanat, Afghanistan, on July 13, 2008. Nine U.S. Army soldiers were killed and 27 were wounded during that battle:

“I have directed the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, Gen. Charles Campbell, to review the recommendations and take action as he deems appropriate with regard to Army personnel identified in the report within 90 days.

 

“We remain in close contact with the families of our fallen from this battle, and they will be invited to a comprehensive briefing on the investigation following Gen. Campbell’s actions.

 

“We must be an Army that is committed to continuous self-assessment and improvement. Analysis of this investigation’s findings provides us the opportunity to better ensure we are doing everything possible to safeguard the lives and treasure entrusted to us while ensuring mission success.”

Secretary of the Army John McHugh released the following statement today:

“I have directed Gen. Carter Ham to conduct an accountability review to identify whether any personnel were responsible for failures or deficiencies in applying Army programs, policies, and procedures to the alleged assailant.  Further, he will provide a recommendation as to whether disciplinary or adverse action is warranted by each finding, and if so, the nature of such disciplinary or adverse action and the basis for such recommendation.

“In addition, I have requested that Gen. Ham provide me with any general observations he may have developed as a senior leader in our Army, and as a member of the Independent Panel, that he believes may be of help to the Army in charting a way ahead.

“We are an Army that is grounded on disciplined and established standards.  Leaders at every level are responsible for ensuring that our policies and regulations are followed and that appropriate action is taken if they are not. 

“We must use this incident as an opportunity to reinforce the basics of leader involvement with soldiers.  It is this fabric that binds us together in war, and we must ensure that it is continuously strengthened.”

The Army yesterday invested three new civilian aides to the secretary of the Army (CASAs) in a ceremony held in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes.  The following aides were selected by Secretary of the Army John McHugh to generate and maintain support for the Army throughout their state and local communities:

• Karen Theobald Conlin, for Virginia (central);
• T. Carter Melton, for Virginia (west);
• Robert M. Soeldner, for Massachusetts.

CASAs were first formally recognized in 1922 and have since become a vital part of the Army. Among other duties, they promote good relations between the Army and public and advise the secretary about their regional area.

“It is a mark of selfless service to be a CASA in a time of war,” said Lt. Gen. David Huntoon, director of the Army staff, before administering the oath of office to the incoming aides. “I thank you for taking on such an important duty.”

One or more civilian aides are appointed for each state and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and American Samoa. CASAs are actively involved in their communities and are usually business or civic leaders who possess a keen interest in the welfare of the Army.

Once appointed, CASAs serve a two-year term without compensation.  Terms may be extended to a total of ten years of service, followed by possible appointment as a CASA emeritus.

To date, more than 500 individuals have served the Army and the nation as a CASA. Biographical information on the three new CASAs may be found here: http://www.defense.gov/news/newcasas.pdf.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced today that the National Research Council (NRC) will perform an independent assessment of the Army’s body armor testing, following last month’s recommendation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for an independent review. The NRC functions under the auspices of the National Academies, a private, nonprofit institution that provides science, technology, and health policy advice to the federal government and the public on critical national issues.  

The Commander of U.S. Central Command was in Washington D.C. Friday night to accept an award on behalf of CentCom’s men and women.

Army Secretary John McHugh orders an investigation into procedures at Arlington National Cemetery.

A ceremony was held on Sunday to celebrate the delivery of the first of twenty C-27 military transport planes from the U.S. to Afghanistan.

The U.S. military unveiled a new detention facility at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan over the weekend.

President Barack Obama comments on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced today that he has ordered an investigation into allegations of lost accountability of some graves, poor record keeping and other issues at Arlington National Cemetery.

“This is the place where valor rests, a place of reverence and respect for all Americans,” McHugh said after signing an order directing the Army’s Inspector General to begin an investigation into allegations regarding cemetery operations.  “As the final resting place of our nation’s heroes, any questions about the integrity or accountability of its operations should be examined in a manner befitting their service and sacrifice.”

McHugh’s order comes on the heels of revelations that cemetery workers inadvertently buried cremated remains at a gravesite already in use.   The error was discovered in May 2008, and cemetery officials immediately took corrective measures, moving the cremated remains to another gravesite and remarking the original grave.  Since then, questions have been raised over whether cemetery officials used proper procedures to correct the mistake, including notifying the next of kin.

McHugh’s announcement of the probe follows completion of separate internal investigation by the Military District of Washington (MDW) – which the Army released today – over the discovery of an unmarked grave.  Cemetery officials conducted an extensive search of both internal and Department of Veterans Affairs records, followed by the MDW investigation and additional efforts by the cemetery, which employed ground penetrating radar and a team of geoarchaeologists.

“Cemetery records, the MDW investigation, and the non-invasive geophysical analysis of the grave sites strongly indicate that a husband and wife, who died years apart and should have been buried in the same gravesite, were instead buried in adjacent graves,” said MDW spokesman Col. Dan Baggio.

Cemetery officials have ordered new grave markers for the site.  While exhuming the remains and conducting DNA testing would provide a 100 percent assurance of the cemetery’s findings, the family has declined taking such invasive action.  The Army is abiding by their wishes.

While the unmarked grave was first discovered in 2003, cemetery officials took no action until 2009.  McHugh is now directing the Inspector General to examine accountability and policy issues in that case.  The Inspector General is also in the midst of a management review of Arlington National Cemetery, begun under former Army Secretary Pete Geren, to make overall recommendations on how better to operate the facility, including possible changes in policy, procedures and regulations.

“A thorough investigation, and transparency in its results, can help correct whatever may be wrong, and ensure America’s confidence in the operation of its most hallowed ground,” McHugh said, adding, “We will take appropriate action as the facts dictate.”

A copy of the Army Regulation 15-6 investigation can be found at: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/ANC%2015-6%20redacted%2013%20Nov%2009.pdf.