CENTCOM REPORTS SETBACKS FOR ISIL IN SYRIA AND IRAQ

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
ISIL Experiencing Setbacks in Iraq, Syria, Centcom Says
By Terri Moon Cronk
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2015 – While Beiji and Ramadi in Iraq remain contested between Iraqi security forces and extremist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants, ISIL is experiencing setbacks, a U.S. Central Command spokesman said today.

Speaking to reporters in the Pentagon via teleconference, Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder provided a weekly update on Centcom’s operational highlights in the fight against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

In central Iraq, Iraqi security forces continue to conduct operations to secure the city of Karmah, and they have retaken territory around the Tigris River canal, Ryder said.

“We’ve seen these efforts help isolate ISIL fighters who are in the town, and this has helped choke off their lines of communication,” he said, adding that from an operational perspective, such gains help to secure ISIL approaches to Baghdad.

Iraqi Forces Hold Ramadi

There have been no significant changes from last week’s operations in Ramadi, a city in western Iraq, where Iraqi forces continue to hold onto key ground while ISIL forces try to keep territory they captured in the eastern part of the city. “We expect Ramadi to remain contested,” Ryder said.

ISIL also continues to contest the Iraqi forces’ hold on Beiji’s oil refinery, he said.

“ISIL has shown that Beiji and Ramadi are strategically important to them, and they are committing a significant amount of limited resources to secure these locations,” Ryder said.

ISIL wants to “score a win” after suffering numerous recent setbacks, most notably in Tikrit, he added. “Because of this, both cities are expected to remain contested for some time,” he said.

ISIL Temporarily Seizes Sub-dam

ISIL forces temporarily seized the Thar Thar, or Takseem, sub-dam north of Habbaniyah earlier this week, but Iraqi forces ultimately were able to repulse ISIL and re-secure the sub-dam.

“As it has elsewhere, ISIL employed this attack as a propaganda opportunity, and afterward posted online they killed 140 Iraqi soldiers, a number grossly over-exaggerated,” he said. Centcom’s information indicates the actual number of Iraqi forces casualties was five to 15, he told reporters.

Kurdish peshmerga forces in northern Iraq have continued to clear additional territory from ISIL and strengthen forces there, Ryder said, adding that ISIL attacks against Kurdish forces in the region can be best characterized as “harassing attacks.”

Kurdish Fighters Hold On in Syria

Similarly in eastern Syria, Kurdish fighters continue to expand and hold the territory they’ve taken, but ISIL is trying to contain the Kurds’ gains, Ryder noted.

“As the Kurds take territory from ISIL, they’re having an effect on the group’s lines of communication into northern Iraq,” he said.

“This development, along with continued coalition air strikes, has put further pressure on ISIL and it is inhibiting their ability to flow additional resources or freely operate in this region,” he said.

Centcom officials expect ISIL to continue its limited-scope attacks to exploit their propaganda value and give the false impression they’re able to conduct major offensive operations, Ryder said.

And while the fight against ISIL is “by no means over,” he added, Centcom officials are confident ISIL ultimately will be defeated.

CENTCOM PROGRAM CENTERS ON BRIDGING SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL GAPS

FROM:  U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
Centcom Program Bridges Scientific, Technological Gaps
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2013 - Step onto an elevator beside Martin Drake, U.S. Central Command's chief science and technology advisor, and one might be surprised to hear him deliver to perfect strangers an unclassified tutorial he calls "Science and Technology 101."

The impromptu briefing completed, Drake is known to cajole his unsuspecting "students" into raising their right hands so he can deputize them as "honorary deputy science advisors for U.S. Central Command."

"I tell them, 'It takes a village to be the best and to be able to understand where technology is going,'" said Drake, who runs Centcom's dozen-member Science and Technology Division. "We can't do this by ourselves, and we need their help."

The elevator encounters are just one example of the team's unrelenting quest to identify better ways to support warfighters in the command's demanding and complex area of operations. The office members, an eclectic mix of active-duty forces, military retirees and civilian employees, scour the Internet, professional journals and technology expositions to seek out new and emerging technology-related capabilities, Drake told American Forces Press Service.

That boils down to taking gaps and requirements as identified by U.S. forces and partner nations in the theater, converting them into technical requirements, then going out to the science and technology community for solutions. It's a search that begins with the Defense Department's own advanced technology arms -- among them the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Rapid Fielding Directorate; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command; the Office of Naval Research; and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

But it extends across the interagency, industrial, academic and international scientific and technological communities.

One staffer frequently visits businesses, garages, anywhere he might stumble on "that piece of technology that might not otherwise be discovered through normal Department of Defense processes," Drake said. Others are dedicated to analyzing the technologies they discover or that others bring to them to identify how it might translate to capability on the ground.

"We are looking for things that might fill the gaps and seams between our military departments in supporting forces in our operational battle space," Drake explained. "We are looking for that unique approach that may not be discovered or headed toward being discovered by the Department of Defense."

Centcom's effort, similar to those at U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Southern Command, focuses on requirements specific to its geographic area of operations. The idea, Drake explained, is to be able to look across the vast research and development programs taking place within military, government, private and international sectors.

"We think we have a unique perspective," he said. "We are looking across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and our coalition partners. Because we are not tied to any one service approach, we look to see how we can bring them together, and what it might take to make it better." When a concept appears particularly promising, he added, Centcom promotes it through the Defense Department's research, development and acquisition channels.

"I characterize myself as a venture capitalist with no capital," Drake said. "I don't have any money, and U.S. Central Command is not an acquisition authority." All acquisitions in support of Centcom operations are funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff and the military services, he noted.

"So what I do is advocate for potential solutions," Drake said. "And through that advocacy, we try to help maneuver promising technology through our developmental and acquisition processes."

This approach has promoted far-ranging technologies that have proven to be winners on the battlefield. For example, Centcom's Science and Technology Division was a major advocate of the technologies used for battlefield forensics and biometric identification. Both are considered invaluable for warfighters operating against adversaries who don't wear military uniforms and often operate in the shadows.

"These have become absolute tools for our forces forward, to help them sort out the who's who in the battle space," Drake said.

But the division doesn't limit its scope to technologies, Drake emphasized. "We're also looking at concepts" to identify ways to improve current procedures and processes for future operations, he said. "This is a conceptual-type review of things we currently do and asking, 'Can we do them better?'

"So this is not only about building new things," Drake continued. "We are also improving the things we have, trying to make them better, more cost effective and easier for folks in the field."

For example, the team is researching better ways to operate in remote areas with little or no infrastructure to support those operations, Drake explained. Its members continue to explore smaller, more efficient power sources and new technologies that make it easier to communicate and push data.

"We have learned a lot over the past decade," he said. "The good news, from my seat, is that I have seen a lot of the processes, procedures and policies changing for the better. We are embracing technology earlier and more fully. And my belief is that if we were faced with a similar situation in the future, we would do it somewhat differently as a result."

But the search is far from over, and Drake said his team is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to support U.S. forces in the region.

"We always have our eyes over the fence to see what is going on," he said. "As I tell my staff, 'We will go anywhere. We will listen to anything,' because I never know when the next, best technology is going to manifest itself."

ASHTON B. CARTER ON MIDDLE EAST







FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

U.S. Must Stay Committed to Middle East, Carter Says

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 18, 2012 - It is important for the U.S. to maintain its commitments to the Middle East, even as the nation's defense strategy starts to shift focus away from the region, the deputy defense secretary told troops on a military installation here today.

Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter spoke to approximately 200 U.S. service members about the transition of the nation's defense strategy, but emphasized remaining engaged in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

"You, right here, right now, are at the fulcrum of so much of our national security thinking," he said. "We did put together a good defense strategy last year. We're going from the era of Iraq and Afghanistan where we all were totally riveted [daily] on supporting the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Carter noted that Afghanistan operations continue.

"We're still in there, and will be now for two [more] hard fighting seasons, and then an enduring presence there after," He said.

The secretary called the drawdown in Afghanistan "a realistic plan" requiring "us to keep going hard for another couple of years."

"You all are an important part of that effort. But, this is where the transition comes in. You can see the ending of that era. [The] first, post-9/11 era of focus on Iraq and Afghanistan. You can see that era coming to an end," Carter said.

"So all of us are picking our heads up out of that foxhole, and looking around, looking forward, looking ahead," he said. "[We're] asking ourselves what are the security challenges that are going to define our future?"

Carter said many people are familiar with the shift in focus toward the Asia-Pacific, but added "there's a second part of that."

"[It] is to retain our commitment to this CENTCOM [area of responsibility], and it's changing set of issues which are just as weighty as Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "They're just different."

Yes, we still have to continue to support Afghanistan, Carter said, because it's still happening. This means both sending stuff in there, and getting stuff out.

"But looking beyond that, what do we have?" Carter asked. "Iran – very serious. All of the problems that you see didn't begin with the Arab Spring. They are made visible by the Arab Spring. All the tension in this region."

The secretary talked about changes in the military's approach to dealing with conflict from the "old days" to now.

"In the old days, you could wind up real slowly before you delivered a punch," Carter said. "That was okay. For Desert Storm, we took months getting ready, bringing stuff in. All the while saying 'brother, in six months, you're going to be sorry you messed around with the United States.'"

"Now you have to be postured," he said, "where it's 'brother, you're going to be sorry in six hours that you messed with the United States.'"

Carter said the "velocity of conflict" has increased, but so has the opportunity to "snuff" that conflict out.

"[It's] got to happen very fast, and so the presence, what we have here daily, matters in a way, strategically, that it didn't matter 20 years ago," he said. "So, you all are in a critical place, at a time where when we're asking you to do an entirely new set of things."

"A hugely important set of things, Carter said. "And we're counting on you back in the [United] States. We'll come as soon as we can, but the reality is you're it."

The secretary said it's "trivial" to talk about jointness, but it is "truly impressive" to see such team effort.

"The fact that you're able to operate as a joint force is a huge advantage," Carter said. "It's something that is like anything else in life, particularly, military affairs."

"It doesn't come for free – it comes from working at relationships," he said. "Practicing, making the whole sum of the parts do that."

This, Carter said, is why the U.S. has the best military in the world.

"Thanks to you all for what you're doing here," he said. "It is much appreciated. And that's why ... Kuwait looks to us for security."

"We have an excellent relationship with the Kuwaitis, and I thank you all for what you do to keep that going," Carter said.

1ST SPACE OPEATIONS SQUADRON CELABRATES ONE YEAR ORS-1 ANNIVERSARY

FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
Col. James Ross, 50th Space Wing commander, celebrates Operationally Responsive Space-1's latest milestone with the 1st Space Operation Squadron here Sept. 28

1 SOPS celebrates one year with ORS-1
by Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys
50th Space Wing Public Affairs

10/2/2012 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 1st Space Operations Squadron celebrated one year of sending operational data to U.S. Central Command via Operationally Responsive Space-1 Sept. 29.

Launched in June 2011, ORS-1 is the first satellite in the Operationally Responsive Space Program and Air Force Space Command's first dedicated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset providing critical imagery capability to CENTCOM.

"The significance of this milestone cannot be understated for 1 SOPS, the 50th Space Wing and even Air Force Space Command. In many ways, ORS-1 is redefining how we do satellite operations," said Col. Tommy Roberts, 50th Operations Group commander.

"Thanks to the lessons learned and the innovations during the past year, 1 SOPS is aggressively moving this mission area forward on numerous fronts."

Taking only three years to develop from concept to launch and orbit, ORS-1 distinguished itself through its rapid deployment.

"With ORS-1 Air Force Space Command proved it could deliver exceptional space capabilities faster and cheaper to meet urgent needs of the joint force," said Lt. Col. Mike Manor, 1 SOPS commander, during a ceremony here Sept. 28. "This system has demonstrated innovation is not just a buzz word, but alive and well in the 50th Space Wing, and has truly become the hallmark of how our squadron operates."

ORS-1 was built maximizing the use of existing capabilities, systems and architectures. Its payload technology was derived from a camera developed for use aboard U-2 spy planes decades ago. By attaching a larger telescope contractors gave the system adequate resolution from orbit.

Innovative thinking led to success operationally as well as recognition.

Shortly after 1 SOPS took satellite control authority, C4ISR Journal, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance industry magazine named the satellite system to its Big-25 list as one of the top 25 most important ISR concepts of the year. The journal then listed ORS-1 as a Top Five Sensor in 2011. The satellite also received a nomination for the Air Force Space Command Getty award as well as two others.

More recently, ORS-1 was awarded the 2012 Mission Sustainment Integrated Product Team award in September for providing urgent-need imaging to CENTCOM at 20 percent of the cost of traditional satellite systems.

ORS-1 is proof that the Air Force can respond to the needs of the warfighter efficiently.

"During the past year, I've observed a squadron full of people working diligently to make sure that ORS-1 far exceeded the user's expectations," said 1st Lt. Sarah Stewart, ORS-1 space vehicle engineer. "It's amazing how far we have come since launch and early orbit. ORS-1 has continuously proven that with hard work and dedication, you can do more with less."

With such a successful start, Manor is sure there is much more to come.
"We're taking a moment to celebrate, but this is just the beginning for our team and this outstanding satellite," he said.