Frontier 6 on Security Force Assistance: A Change in Mindset
Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV; Commanding General of the Combined Arms Center at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; on Security Force Assistance: A Change in Mindset. Frontier 6 delivered this speech yesterday at the Infantry War Fighting Conference and opened by highlighting some items contained in General Stanley A. McChrystal’s, Commander, International Security Assistance Force; counterinsurgency guidance.
He requires us to change our mindset. He asks us to think and act very differently to be successful. He expects us to partner with the ANSF at all echelons. He reminds us that we must build [the Afghans’] capacity to secure their own country. In doing so, the intent is to foster ownership, with the clear implication that their success is our success. In brief, we must live and train together, and plan and operate together. Our job, according to General McChrystal, is to share the same battle-rhythm and information. In the end, we have to understand that this is a battle of wits.
Read the entire transcript here.