Maj. Gen. Cone relinquishes command of CSTC-A to Maj. Gen. Formica

Photo By Seaman Timothy Newborn | Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan outgoing commanding general, and Maj. Gen. Richard P. Formica, CSTC-A incoming commanding general, visit following the change of command ceremony in Kabul Dec. 18.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

12.22.2008

Courtesy Story

U.S. Forces Afghanistan

By U.S. Forces Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan – Maj. Gen. Richard P. Formica took command of Combined Security Transition Command–Afghanistan Dec. 18, becoming CSTC-A's third commanding general. Formica relieved Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, who returns to the United States after an 18-month tour.

Gen. David McKiernan, commander, International Security Assistance Force, and commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, presided over the ceremony at the Kabul International Airport. The ceremony was conducted in partnership with the Afghan Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior. McKiernan awarded Cone with the Bronze Star Medal prior to the ceremony.

McKiernan congratulated Cone for the significant progress made during his tenure.

"Winning in Afghanistan is about building Afghan capability," said McKiernan. "CSTC-A is at the forefront of building a professional Afghan national security force."

McKiernan credited Cone with assisting the Afghan national army's expansion by 26,000 Soldiers in the last year, tripling the growth rate of previous years. He said the ANA now leads more than 60 percent of the operations it participates in.

In August, the international community and the Afghan government approved plans to grow the Afghan national army to 134,000 Soldiers. Currently, 68,000 Soldiers are assigned, and Cone and ANA officials have created plans to get to the 134,000 goal by the end of 2011.

McKiernan said Cone was the driving force in the training of Afghanistan's national police. Just in the last year, CSTC-A, under Cone's command, trained 25,000 police – nearly a third of its current force of 76,000. Cone engineered the highly successful Focused District Development program, which reforms an entire police district at one time. The resulting reformed districts have proven effective in providing security for the Afghan people.

Also under Cone's leadership, the Combined Air Power Task Force and 438th Air Expeditionary Wing assisted in developing the Afghan national army air corps, which now flies 90 percent of its own missions. The ANAAC transports the ANA and ANP, as well as cargo, providing counterinsurgency power and mobility on the Afghan battlefield.
Cone reflected on his experience in his closing speech during the ceremony, saying he came to Afghanistan focused on the mission of building the ANA and the ANP.

"We've made great progress on the mission as the Afghan army and police have evolved to the forefront of forces protecting the Afghan nation," Cone said. "But it is the friendships I have made with the wonderful people that I will always remember."

Formica also congratulated Cone for the work accomplished under his leadership.

"CSTC-A has a well-earned reputation for success," said Formica to the Afghan and coalition guests. "It has been well-served by Maj. Gen. Bob Cone, and its ranks are filled with talented and committed people."

Formica said he looks forward to partnering with the Ministries of Defense and Interior and with the Soldiers and police of the ANSF.

"Together, we will build capability and capacity to defeat our common enemy," Formica said, "and to forge unity of effort to achieve our important objectives: the establishment of security and stability in Afghanistan."

The new CSTC-A commander's prior tour of duty was Director of Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff. He said he plans to carry forward Cone's initiatives in the months ahead.

In an interview following the ceremony, Formica said, "I intend to continue the great work that has already gone on. There are a lot of great programs already in place for the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police, and we will continue to sustain and build those programs."

Formica said a priority will be to grow the ANA and ANP as quickly and as responsibly as possible.

"We also know that the challenges ahead involve how fast we can grow a credible force," Formica said. "And one of the challenges will be to accelerate the growth for the army and the police - without sacrificing standards - while we ensure capable formations to fight and defeat the enemy."

Formica, who is originally from Cheshire, Conn., was commissioned in 1977 upon completion of ROTC at Providence College and graduation from Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I. His career includes field artillery commands from battery to Corps, as well as critical staff assignments. Formica served on the Joint Staff as the assistant, then acting, deputy director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe), J-5, Washington, D.C. He also served as the commanding general, Force Field Artillery Headquarters and Joint Fires and Effects Coordinator for Multi-National Corps-Iraq from January 2004 to February 2005.

• Date Taken: 12.22.2008
• Date Posted: 12.22.2008 03:10
• Story ID: 27981
• Location: KABUL, AF