Photo By Staff Sgt. Beth Lake | (Pictured from left) Brig. Gen. Michel Haidamous of Lebanon, Col. Khalfan Al Daabi of...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Beth Lake
USARCENT Public Affairs
Representatives from 14 countries in U.S. Army Central's area of operations came together for the Concept Development Conference in Atlanta, Oct. 27-31, 2008. The CDC acts as a setting for delegates to plan the 2009 Land Forces Symposium to be held in Kenya.
The Land Forces Symposium is co-hosted by Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and Lt. Gen. James Lovelace, USARCENT commanding general.
After four days of meetings and deliberating, the delegates came together with Lovelace and Command Sgt. Maj. John Fourhman, USARCENT command sergeant major, to review the tentative plan for the 2009 LFS. They also decided on a focus that coincides with the direction USARCENT has been going in. When senior land forces commanders come together in April 2009, the theme will be Land Forces' Challenges in a Full Spectrum Environment.
Throughout the CDC the countries came together preparing the various themes and topics that senior land forces commanders will talk about in April, said Lt. Col. Stephen Richter, USARCENT Civil and Military Affairs Arabian Peninsula planner.
"They are looking for issues that are most important so commanders can discuss them and make improvements in cooperation to enhance security," Richter said.
Lt. Col. Ernest Irick, USARCENT chief of strategic initiatives, used an analogy as he described the importance of venues such as the Land Forces Symposium and Concept Development Conference in Full Spectrum Operations.
"Instead of having many hammers trying to hit one nail, it is better to work together," Irick said.
"Coalitions working together act as one sledgehammer nailing together in an effort to achieve a common operating picture."
Working together will enable countries to deal with issues such as counterterrorism, crime and violent extremist organizations, Irick added.
"The current trends in the world impact certain regions of the world," said Col. Rizat Yergaliyevich Kolpashev of Kazakhstan. "In order to solve challenges we commonly face, it is necessary to cooperate."
Brig. Gen. Michael Machuria of Kenya agreed, noting issues that affect not only his country but many.
"In a group like this, you develop common ways of looking at an issue, it is like looking through the same lens," Machura said. "Problems are not special to one country, they cut across the region. Border security is a good example of this. This affects Kenya but also other countries like Kuwait and Iraq."
Before the CDC was over the fast paced planning for LFS had begun with plans to secure speakers and organize logistics. In anticipation of holding the 2009 Land Forces Symposium in Kenya, Machura spoke with excitement.
"It is a good thing because we are marketing our country," said Machura. "We have good relations with the American Army. We train our Army here and we have good projects that the Americans are doing in Kenya."
| Date Taken: | 10.31.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.31.2008 19:49 |
| Story ID: | 25789 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 497 |
| Downloads: | 422 |
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