The U.S. military in Iraq is undergoing its biggest changeover in senior commanders since Gen. David Petraeus launched a new counterinsurgency strategy nearly a year ago.
The high-level shifts come at a particularly delicate stage in the war as U.S. troop levels begin to decline, Iraqis are handed more security responsibility and Petraeus seeks to ensure that the gains achieved over the past several months continue...
With the exception of Petraeus, senior commanders generally arrive and depart with their units, which means most of those now leaving or preparing to leave have been there for up to 15 months.
Command changes / status:
Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno (Multi-National Corps-Iraq) is scheduled to leave in February and will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of 18th Airborne Corps. Odierno commands 3rd Corps.
Maj. Gen. Jeffery W. Hammond is scheduled to assume command of Multi-National Division Baghdad on 19 December, replacing Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil of the 1st Cavalry Division. Hammond is now commander of the 4th Infantry Division.
In western Iraq, Maj. Gen. John F. Kelly (I Marine Expeditionary Force FWD) will replace Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin (II Marine Expeditionary Force FWD) in February at Multi-National Forces - West.
In northern Iraq, Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling (1st Armored Division) replaced Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon (25th Infantry Division) in late October at Multi-National Division - North.
South of Baghdad, Multi-National Division-Central will not change commanders. Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, will remain until next summer.
Comments
This command change is is a major announcement. There was a recent discussion thread at the Small Wars Council concerning what exactly has changed in 2007 (Steve Metz and Col. Gian Gentile participated, among others). To quickly summarize my views, the answer may be that little changed. The surge was a continuation of the same things that we had been doing. Warfare has its ebb and flow, and society has a large intertia, as does momentum in warfare. The year 2007 might very well have reaped many benefits from doing the things that the Army and Marines do so well, although it may not have looked like it at the time. This isn't to diminish the contributions of Petraeus or any other strategic modifications of adapatations, nor his powerful leadership, but merely to point out that the predecessors to the class of 2007 conducted intensive operations as well. I think that this is Col. Gentile's point. Whatever the real reason(s) for the turnaround, this isn't a debate I wish to have in the context of this comment. I want to focus on the commanders of the class of 2007.
If for no other reason than I have closely followed the class of 2007 commanders and know much about them, I feel that there is something special about this class. I will take two commanders as examples. Major General Walter Gaskin recently reported that attacks against Iraqi and U.S. troops in Anbar had decreased from 460 a week a year ago to 40 per week now.
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1041945920071210
This is a decrease of an order of magnitude. A more astonishing turnaround I cannot imagine. One of Gaskin's accomplishments, as best as I can determine, is to take very good people - e.g., Col. Simcock, Lt. Col. Bill Mullen in the East (now Col.), Lt. Col. Jason Bohm in the West, and others - and give them latitude, tools, and manpower. In short, he empowered them. But isn't this what good leaders do?
Next I will turn to Lt. General Ray Odierno. Not only has he served with distinction, but he and I see eye to eye concerning the use of the concerned citizens program across Iraq. No, I am not naive concerning the fact that this provided a window of opportunity, and final political solutions must come from within Iraq itself. But this was the best solution given the circumstances. Further, he lead the effort with his troops while his son had lost an arm to the campaign in Iraq. Whatever else one might think of the campaign or its justification, Ray Odierno is a father with a son who lost a limb. No, I am not trying to stupidly stare or gape. Ray Odierno's son is a still proud warrior. I bring this up to say that I hold Odierno (and of course his son) - literally - in heroic proportions. I continue to be in awe of him.
As for the class of 2007, I hope and pray that you enjoy your rest, however short it may be. It is a well-earned rest - a warrior's sabbatical. Godspeed to your rest.