Photo By Melissa Escobar | Gen. George W. Casey, the Army chief of staff held a town hall meeting to talk with...... read more read more
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By Army Pfc. Melissa M. Escobar
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — The chief of staff of the army visited Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Thursday, to talk with troops currently deployed here in support of the War on Terror.
Army Gen. George W. Casey has been traveling all over the world stopping at Army bases to visit with Soldiers. During his visit here, Casey held a town hall meeting where Soldiers from the various task forces in country were given the opportunity to speak with him about important subjects.
"I get the question all the time, 'When are we coming off of 15 months?' The answer is 'I don't know yet but it is temporary,'" Casey explained to Soldiers about the current extensions to deployments. "We're not going to instantaneously go from 15 back to 12 and still maintain 12-months dwell time.
"I do feel fairly strongly that 15 months in this environment is not practical. I can't imagine any scenarios where it would go beyond that."
Casey touched on the subject of the Army's ongoing transformation. The transformation he referred to was the "Army's movement from a division-centered organization to brigade combat teams." He feels Soldiers are generally comfortable with the change.
"They see the value of a modular organization, I see the value of a modular organization," Casey said. "They are really much better formations for the types of (operations) we're getting ready to do in the 21st century.
"I have not had one person in town hall meetings (who) has raised their hand and said, 'Why are we going through this transformation while we're fighting the war,'" he continued.
Casey feels this shows a general recognition that the transformation suits the situations the Army is currently involved in.
In closing, Casey expressed his gratitude for the Soldier's perseverance and constant commitment during the numerous changes the Army is going through.
"Even though the force is stretched, this is a hugely vibrant organization and the commitment I see in all of our Soldiers, leaders and families is mind-boggling and eye-watering," Casey said. "Next month our country will have been at war for six years. What is at stake are the values and ideals (of our) nation.
"We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What's at stake is nothing less than our way of life. So what you all are doing here for the United States of America is preserving our way of life."
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2007 09:37 |
| Story ID: | 11776 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 125 |
| Downloads: | 104 |
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