Petraeus shapes the force:
An Army board headed by Gen. David H. Petraeus has selected several combat-tested counterinsurgency experts for promotion to the rank of brigadier general, sifting through more than 1,000 colonels to identify a handful of innovative leaders who will shape the future Army, according to current and former senior Army officers.
They include Special Forces Col. Ken Tovo, a veteran of multiple Iraq tours who recently led a Special Operations task force there; Col. H.R. McMaster, a senior Petraeus adviser known for leading a successful counterinsurgency effort in the Iraqi city of Tall Afar, and Col. Sean MacFarland, who created a network of patrol bases in Ramadi that helped control violence in the capital of Anbar Province, according to the officers.
This – like the adoption of McMaster’s successful “Clear, hold and build” strategy across Iraq – unarguably took too long: It was the combat-decorated colonel’s third look for selection to the general officer ranks. But late or otherwise, it should help to send a signal to the “rest of the Army” that thinking outside the box and challenging orthodoxy (McMaster’s doctoral thesis was an unvarnished look at the political and military execution of the Vietnam war that later became a book entitled “Dereliction of Duty“) is now approved-think.
Good.
Yes!!!! WTG, Petraeus!!!
*happy dance*
It’s long overdue.
Congratulations, COL(P) McMaster!
From the article it sounds like he’s headed to TRADOC (TRAining & DOctrine Command).
This is great news.
Too bad Nagl could not get promoted.
It’s about damn time. Here’s a guy who fought THE small unit action of the first Gulf War, was idolized by his troops, proved himself a thinker, had one of the most successful tours of a cavalry regiment (a traditional path to stars) and gets pissed on by two boards.
A warrior philosopher indeed. Just the man to build the Army of the future. One wonders though, where his Navy equivalent might be.
bullnav,
I read about a month ago that Nagl is getting out to head to some thinktank back in DC…
About time. He deserved it. Well done for General Petraeus and BG (select) McMaster.
Good for Mc Master. I think though there is a sad message in side this story though that needs to be put to rest by none other than Petreaus himself: the notion that the Army is divided and that the service of those who happen to think getting bogged down in 3rd world Arab nation is perhaps not in the Army’s or the nation’s interest.
So what are we saying here? That the service of other long serving Army officers is not worthy? That they have nothing to contribute? That their sacrifices are some how not equal to those who have been annointed politically by the Administration?
There is only one Army, just as there is only one Navy. The members may disagree among themselves-but the idea of out in public, creating “factions”- is troubling to say the least.
Without knowing the whole record, or the deliberations of the board, or the records of the officers considered to attach a broad brush to this promotion decision is dangerous ground if you ask me.
It is good that McMaster got promoted-but are we saying that one has to write a book and get his name out in public to do so?
I can’t find a list anywhere.
Yingling make it?
BA, I think COL Mac’s Navy equivalent, at least on the Aviation side, just hung up his spurs. He’s too freakin’ humble to agree, at least out loud, but an old Chief can read ribbons like a resume, and Cap’n Lex obviously didn’t earn those Eagles behind a desk.
Ernie, I’m no Chief, but I had a similar reaction to Byron’s post.