Navy Individual Augmentee Sailor Support Continues to Expand

Courtesy Photo | Petty Officer 2nd Class Glenn Kalae Paoa, center, gives instructions to Marine Corps Sgts. Angelica Cendales, left, and Jesse Blash during a mission brief at Headquarters International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 10. Paoa was recently promoted under the Navy's Combat Meritorious Advancement Program.  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

08.02.2009

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Russell Tafuri 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

MANAMA, Bahrain — Throughout the Middle East there are more than 14,000 Sailors serving "boots on ground" with forward deployed units in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of responsibility. More than 5,100 of these Sailors are individual augmentees who left their 'parent' command behind to serve in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

In order to ensure that Sailors receive the support they need while deployed to the region as IAs, the Navy has implemented a command, complete with Sailor services, to support the journey from their parent command to their deployed unit and back again.

Commander, Task Force Individual Augmentee, was established by NAVCENT in November 2008 to support Navy IA Sailors deployed throughout the AOR, providing a locally-based, forward deployed command and staff that Sailors can turn to for help, as well as delivering Navy-specific support that is necessary in a joint service combat environment.

"Our task force is charged with ensuring that every Sailor receives the oversight, guidance and support they need while deployed as an IA," said Rear Adm. T.C. Cropper, Commander, Task Force Individual Augmentee. "Our Sailors do amazing work while deployed as individual augmentees and it is important that they have a Navy chain of command to help them while they serve in joint, expeditionary combat billets."

The IA Sailors' chain of command within the NAVCENT AOR starts in Bahrain with the CTF-IA command staff and extends to three forward headquarters in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. CTF-IA has also implemented a Mobile Support Team to travel throughout the AOR assisting Sailors with pay, career, medical, spiritual and other needs.

"What this means for spouses and families at home is their deployed Sailors needs are met and the necessary support structure is in place from before the deployment begins all the way through to their transition back home," said Capt. Rinda Ranch-Hillis, CTF-IA chief of staff. "We are here and will be here to support Sailors completely during their IA deployment."

Lt. Lisa Masso, an officer assigned to the CTF-IA headquarters staff in Bahrain said the forward headquarters staff serves as Sailors' advocates in-country.

"Our IAs can rest assured they'll have Navy support while serving in a joint service environment," she said. "Our Sailors in theater conduct everything from detainee operations to serving as dentists and doctors. We're here to solve problems and ensure IAs don't have any undue or unnecessary stress while serving in combat throughout the CENTCOM [Central Command] AOR."

In addition to CTF-IA support while deployed to the region, Navy parent commands in the continental United States have a designated Command Individual Augmentee Coordinator, similar to a Navy Command Ombudsman, who maintains liaison between IA Sailors, their command, and the families of deployed Sailors. The CIAC maintains that critical life-line between the Sailors and his/her parent command and also ensure things run smoothly for the deployed Sailors' families.

Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Seibel, assigned to the CTF-IA staff in Bahrain, said that adapting to this ever-moving environment highlights the renowned flexibility of Sailors.

"We let Sailors know that the Navy cares about their experience, their families and their sacrifice," he said. "It's important for every Sailor to know they and their families are taken care of."

As each IA Sailor's deployment comes to an end, they attend a three-day Warrior Transition Program in Kuwait designed to expedite gear return, allow for down-time, and provide them with transition guidance before returning home to their family and friends.

Once home, IA Sailors are encouraged to attend a Returning Warrior Weekend where they and their spouse, fiance, mother, brother, friend or significant other will be offered an all-expenses paid conference at a resort hotel located near their home or Reserve Center.

The IA Sailor's Navy Operational Support Center or parent command will pay for the couple to travel to the resort, to include accommodations for Friday and Saturday nights, attend workshops and lectures designed to celebrate their IA service, and assist in each Sailor's transition to being home post-deployment.

CTF-IA will continue to provide support to all Sailors serving throughout the AOR. IA Sailors are the epitome of Navy versatility and play a vital role in bringing security and stability to the region.

• Date Taken: 08.02.2009
• Date Posted: 08.02.2009 11:01
• Story ID: 37071
• Location: MANAMA, BH