Posted on 03/14/2006 4:39:12 PM PST by SandRat
FORT MEADE, Md. (Army News Service, March 14, 2006) -- The Asymmetric Warfare Group unfurled its colors for the first time at a ceremony at McGill Training Center on Fort Meade, March 8.
Made up now of less than 60 Soldiers in 12 different military occupational specialties, the unit will eventually grow to nearly 400, officials said.
The decision to form the AWG was made in 2003. With the U.S. military committed to fighting the Global War on Terrorism, Army leaders decided that a unit was needed to help combat the enemy’s ability to use asymmetric weapons on the battlefield. Suicide bombers, improvised explosive devices and kidnapping are all examples of asymmetric weapons.
With members of the U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own) filling the auditorium with martial music, an audience of nearly 200 Soldiers, civilians and family members watched as the unit’s commander, command sergeant major and Soldiers were introduced for the first time.
`No one more adaptive’
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody told the audience that there is absolutely no one more adaptive on the battlefield than the American Soldier.
“They are challenging our Army and this nation with their creativity. The Soldiers of the AWG are never satisfied with good enough ... They demand the newest, the most effective and the best,” he said.
The AWG will help Army units to be better prepared to anticipate enemy activities and help them destroy the enemy’s capability to conduct offensive operations.
Cody said Fort Meade was chosen for the home of the AWG for a variety of reasons.
“There is a tremendous growth potential here,” Cody said. “Fort Meade is close to Aberdeen Proving Ground and to Fort A.P. Hill. It also makes sense to have the AWG at Fort Meade as the unit will eventually come under the 20th Support Command that will be headquartered here.”
One-third of unit deployed
The AWG is already making an impact as nearly one-third of its Soldiers are deployed, training and advising units on the ground. Cody reminded the audience that America is a nation at war, and that units like the AWG are leading the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The capabilities that the AWG brings to the battlefield are critical, said Cody.
“We hear a great deal about how complex the enemy situation is in Iraq and how adaptive the enemy is, but what we don’t hear is how adaptive and innovative our Soldiers are at every level,” Cody said.
Cody spoke highly of the AWG: “When the odds are the longest, when the enemy is toughest, when we simply must win — I know the AWG will get the job done.”
Experience runs deep
The commander of the AWG is Col. Robert Shaw, a Special Forces officer who has been in the Army 24 years. His assignments include being an instructor at the Army Ranger school. He also commanded two Special Forces A-Teams and served in various staff positions both in Germany and the United States.
Shaw said he is excited about the opportunity of leading the AWG. He also said how proud he is of his Soldiers, not only the ones that participated in the ceremony, but also the ones who are already carrying out the unit’s mission.
Command Sgt. Maj. Alfred Birch of the AWG has been in uniform since 1977. Birch has served in Operations Joint Cause, Desert Storm, Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Great impact, no spotlight
Lt. Gen. James Lovelace, the Army’s G-3/5/7, served as the reviewing officer for the ceremony creating the AWG. He unfurled the colors and showcased the black and red guidon trimmed in gold. He then presented the unit’s colors to Shaw.
After the ceremony, Lovelace commented on the future hopes for the AWG: “This is an organization that ... in the planning for the long war will make its mark in multiple ways, but it will not be heralded because we will not put ourselves into the limelight. But, at the same time, it is going to have a great operational impact on the force.”
(Editor's note: K.P. Rowe writes for the Soundoff! newspaper at Fort Meade, Md.)
Excellent.
I'm not sure what form this force will take, but it's high time we started fighting fire with fire. Frankly, if they turn out to be hide-in-the-bush throat-slitters, it would be just fine with me. When a few more diaperheads in positions of authority start turning up missing, it will mean we're serious about defeating terrorism.
I thought of our "green berets" as being our "asymmetric war" specialists. I wonder how this group differs, or if its more of an analysis group.
Don't know yet.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.
Do all 3 and the kill ratio will ensure victory if the political will to win remains intact.
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