Raymond T. Odierno: Difference between revisions
A bio not a surge article; place information in the Wikipedia surge article and link |
|||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
==[[The Surge]] 2007-2008== |
==[[The Surge]] 2007-2008== |
||
In his second Iraq deployment, Odierno was the commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008. In this role, he served as the day-to-day commander of all Coalition Forces in Iraq and was one of the primary architects of the troop “surge” into [[Baghdad]]. |
In his second Iraq deployment, Odierno was the commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008. In this role, he served as the day-to-day commander of all Coalition Forces in Iraq and was one of the primary architects of the troop “surge” into [[Baghdad]]. |
||
'''Planning for [[The Surge]]''' |
|||
Upon Odierno’s arrival to Baghdad in December 2006, General George Casey, then the Multi-National Force- Iraq commander (the senior military leader in Iraq), charged Odierno with the task of breaking the cycle of violence and bringing a measure of stability to the country in order to provide “breathing room” for political progress to solve Iraq’s long-term problems. |
|||
Odierno and his team recognized that reducing the violence required securing the population – what he described as “job one” – and stopping “accelerants,” his term for those carrying out the attacks and thus triggering subsequent reprisals. His team recognized that although previous efforts to clear Baghdad of insurgents had met with some success, these gains were temporary because the Coalition lacked sufficient forces to hold the areas, and the challenges involved with securing the population were simply too great for the Iraqi Security Forces at the time. <ref> Filkins, Dexter. "Back in Iraq, Jarred by the Calm." ''The New York Times,'' 21 September 2008.</ref> |
|||
Previous strategies had called for minimizing the U.S. presence as much as possible, but Odierno recognized that securing the population was a prerequisite for further progress and that he currently did not have enough troops to accomplish the task. Therefore, he and several others recommended to President Bush that he order a temporary troop increase to help stem the violence. President Bush announced what came to be known as the “Surge” in January of 2007 and ordered 5 additional brigades to Iraq. <ref> Gordon, Michael. “Troop ‘Surge’ Took Place Amid Doubt and Debate,” The New York Times, 31 August 2008. </ref> |
|||
'''Implementing the new strategy''' |
|||
Odierno and his team decided that creating stability in Iraq required more than just greater resources; it required a change in mindset. They determined that they must prioritize the protection of the population, creating safe neighborhoods and markets and allowing Iraqis to go about their daily lives. They also decided that the Coalition needed a more balanced approach in its targeting of extremists, and they convinced the Iraqi Government that Shiite militia groups could no longer be given a “free pass” to commit extra-judicial killings. <ref> Odierno, Raymond. “The Surge in Iraq: One Year Later,” Heritage Lecture Series, No. 1068, 5 March 2008. </ref> |
|||
As the additional brigades began to arrive in the first months of 2007, the Coalition began moving its forces off large bases and deployed them to live on small outposts in population centers across Iraq, concentrating in and around Baghdad. |
|||
Throughout a series of offensives commanded by Odierno, Coalition Forces placed significant emphasis on providing essential services, encouraging local governance, and separating the ‘irreconcilables’ from those willing to make peace with the legitimate government of Iraq. <ref>Sky, Emma, “Iraq 2007 – Moving Beyond Counterinsurgency Doctrine,” Rusi, Volume 153, No. 2, April 2008, pp 30-34.</ref> |
|||
While planning and conducting these operations, Odierno also seized the opportunity to deepen growing alliances with groups of “concerned local citizens” that had agreed to work with Coalition Forces to bring security to their neighborhoods. The movement, known as the “Awakening,” started in Anbar province in 2006 and grew throughout 2007, spreading across much of the country. Later called the “Sons of Iraq,” many of these individuals were former insurgents who had been appalled at the wanton violence and chaos wrought by Al Qaeda in Iraq and had subsequently decided to support government stability efforts. As the U.S.-funded effort spread, more and more Iraqis began to join. Soon groups were mobilizing across the country to quell violence; this represented a marked improvement from late 2006, when extremists were mobilizing for civil war. |
|||
==Command of Multi-National Force-Iraq== |
==Command of Multi-National Force-Iraq== |
||
Revision as of 20:17, 27 September 2008
Raymond T. Odierno | |
|---|---|
 General Raymond T. Odierno, USA | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1976-present |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Multi-National Force Iraq Multi-National Corps-Iraq III Corps 4th Infantry Division 1st Cavalry Division Artillery |
| Battles / wars | Operation Desert Storm Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (6) Bronze Star |
General Raymond T. Odierno, USA, is the Commanding General of Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I). He assumed command on September 16, 2008. He previously served as Commanding General, III Corps, from May 2006 to May 2008. During the unit's deployment to Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008, General Ordierno served as Commanding General, Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I). As the day-to-day Commander of Coalition Forces in Iraq, he was the operational architect of the 'Surge' and is credited with implementing the successful counterinsurgency strategy that led to the dramatic decrease in violence during his tenure in Iraq from late-2006 to early-2008. Authors of a piece in The Weekly Standard argued that his employment of forces to quell violence across Iraq "redefined the operational art of counterinsurgency." [1]
Prior to commanding III Corps, he served as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, where he was the primary military advisor to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice from 3 November 2004 to 1 May 2006.
Early life and education
General Odierno grew up in Rockaway, New Jersey[2] where he attended Morris Hills High School[3], followed by the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in June 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Later, General Odierno attended North Carolina State University and the Naval War College, receiving masters degrees in Nuclear Effects Engineering and National Security and Strategy, respectively. General Odierno is also a graduate of the Army War College.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
General Odierno is currently serving his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Operation Iraqi Freedom I
Odierno commanded the U.S. 4th Infantry Division (4th ID) from October 2001 to June 2004, during which he deployed the division to Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to April 2004. Originally, the 4th Infantry Division was designated to enter Iraq through Turkey, though diplomatic complications prevented such a maneuver. Eventually, Odierno and the 4th Infantry Division deployed into Iraq from Kuwait, and despite the diplomatic complications, still executed the most rapid deployment of heavy armored forces in history.
The division did not deploy in time to start the invasion but joined it as a follow-on force in April 2003, attacking toward Tikrit and Mosul, and later played a major role in the post-war occupation. Headquartered in the restive Sunni Triangle north of Baghdad, the division was responsible for one of the most violent regions of Iraq, as remaining elements of Saddam Hussein’s regime struggled to regain control. In a major accomplishment late in the deployment, Odierno's troops captured Saddam Hussein in December 2003.
Odierno's tenure as 4th ID commander in Iraq and his unit's actions there have subsequently come under criticism from several sources. Some have been critical of 4th ID's belligerent stance during their initial entry into Iraq after the ground war had ceased, arguing that the unit's lack of a 'hearts and minds' approach was ineffective in quelling the insurgency.[4]
In his unit's defense, Odierno and others have argued that enemy activity in the 4th ID's area of operations was higher than in any other area of the country because of the region's high concentration of Sunni resistance groups still loyal to Saddam Hussein's regime. His unit was headquartered in Hussein's hometown and this environment necessitated a different approach from those of units located in the more peaceful regions in the south and the north of the country. [5] [6]
The Surge 2007-2008
In his second Iraq deployment, Odierno was the commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq from December 2006 to February 2008. In this role, he served as the day-to-day commander of all Coalition Forces in Iraq and was one of the primary architects of the troop “surge” into Baghdad.
Command of Multi-National Force-Iraq
General Odierno’s third deployment to Iraq began on September 16, 2008 when he assumed command of Multi-National Force-Iraq. Returning to Iraq less than 7 months after finishing his previous deployment, he is currently the senior military commander in Iraq. He faces the challenge of sustaining the security gains of the past while reducing the Coalition presence and helping the Iraqi government achieve reconciliation and lasting stability.
Career History
General Odierno’s initial tours took him to United States Army Europe and U.S. Seventh Army, Germany, where he served as a Platoon Leader and Survey Officer of the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade. He later served as Aide-de-Camp to the Pershing Missile Brigade’s Commanding General. Following completion of the Artillery Officer Advanced Course, General Odierno was assigned to the XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he commanded Service Battery and Alpha Battery. Subsequently, he served as the Battalion S3 in the 1st Battalion, 73rd Field Artillery. During Operation Desert Storm, General Odierno served as the Executive Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, and then the held the same position in Division Artillery, 3rd Armored Division.
General Odierno went on to command 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division, followed by command of the Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division. He later commanded the 4th Infantry Division and the III Corps.
His significant staff duties include Arms Control Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense; Chief of Staff, United States V Corps, United States Army Europe; Assistant Division Commander (Support), U.S. 1st Armored Division; Deputy Commanding General, Task Force Hawk, Albania; Director, Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army, Washington, D.C.; and Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., where he was the primary military advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Assignments
| From | To | Assignments |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 76 | Jan 78 | Support Platoon Leader, later Firing Platoon Leader, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany |
| Jan 78 | Aug 78 | Survey Officer, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany |
| Aug 78 | Oct 79 | Survey Officer, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany |
| Nov 79 | Jul 80 | United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany Student, Field Artillery Advanced Course, Fort Sill, Oklahoma |
| Aug 80 | Dec 80 | Liaison Officer, 1st Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| Dec 80 | Dec 82 | Commander, Service Battery, later A Battery, 1st Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| Dec 82 | May 83 | Assistant S-3 (Operations), 1st Battalion, 73d Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| Jun 83 | May 84 | S-3 (Operations), 3d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
| Jun 84 | Aug 86 | Student, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Sep 86 | Jun 89 | Nuclear Research Officer, later Chief, Acquisition Support Division, Defense Nuclear Agency, Alexandria, Virginia, later detailed as Military Advisor for Arms Control, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC |
| Jun 89 | Jun 90 | Student, United States Naval Command and Staff Course, Newport, Rhode Island |
| Jul 90 | Dec 90 | Executive Officer, 2d Battalion, 3d Field Artillery, 3d Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany |
| Dec 90 | Jun 91 | Executive Officer, Division Artillery, 3d Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany and OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD/STORM, Saudi Arabia |
| Jun 91 | May 92 | Executive Officer, 42d Field Artillery Brigade, V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany |
| Jun 92 | Jun 94 | Commander, 2d Battalion, 8th Field Artillery, 7th Infantry Division(Light), Fort Ord, California (relocated to Fort Lewis, Washington) |
| Jun 94 | Jun 95 | Student, United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania |
| Jun 95 | Jun 97 | Commander, Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas |
| Jun 97 | Aug 98 | Chief of Staff, V Corps, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany |
| Aug 98 | Jul 99 | Assistant Division Commander (Support), 1st Armored Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany to include duty as Deputy Commanding General for Ground Operations, TASK FORCE HAWK, OPERATION ALLIED FORCE, Albania |
| Jul 99 | Jul 01 | Director, Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army, Washington, DC |
| Oct 01 | Aug 04 | Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Hood, Texas and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq |
| Aug 04 | Oct 04 | Special Assistant to Vice Chief of Staff, United States Army, Washington, DC |
| Oct 04 | May 06 | Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC |
| May 06 | Dec 06 | Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas |
| Dec 06 | Feb 08 | Commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq/Commanding General, III Corps |
| Feb 08 | Sep 08 | Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas |
| Sep 08 | Present | Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq |
Promotions
| Rank | Date Of Appointment |
|---|---|
 2LT
|
2 Jun 76 |
 1LT
|
2 Jun 78 |
 CPT
|
1 Aug 80 |
 MAJ
|
1 Dec 86 |
 LTC
|
1 Feb 92 |
 COL
|
1 Sep 95 |
 BG
|
1 Jul 99 |
 MG
|
1 Nov 02 |
 LTG
|
1 Jan 05 |
 GEN
|
16 Sep 08 |
Image gallery
-
Odierno as a Lieutenant General in dress greens. -
Odierno speaks with Central Texas based reporters via satellite from Camp Victory, Iraq, 2007. -
-
LTG Odierno presents Distinguished Flying Crosses to soldiers in Iraq.
-
General Odierno meets with Iraqi PM Maliki.
-
General Odierno meets with Iraqi and Coalition soldiers in Baghdad on 17 September 2008.
-
General Odierno visits Sadr City on 17 September 2008.
Decorations and Badges
_ribbon.png){kind=small}
See also
References
- ^ Kagan Frederick W. and Kimberly Kagan, “The Patton of Counterinsurgency,” The Weekly Standard, Volume 13: Issue 25, 10 March 2008.
- ^ Cloud, David S. "U.S. Military Leader in Iraq Talks of ‘Thinning the Lines’", The New York Times, May 26, 2007. Accessed February 27, 2008. "'We’ll do this in a very deliberate and slow way', General Odierno, a 1976 West Point graduate from Rockaway, N.J., said in an interview here."
- ^ Manochio, Matt. "Morris general oversaw capture", Daily Record (Morristown), December 14, 2003. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Raymond T. Odierno, 48, is a 1972 graduate of Morris Hills High School."
- ^ Ricks, Thomas E. (July 25, 2006). Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq. Penguin Press HC, The. p. 153. 159420103X.
- ^ Peters, Ralph (August 28, 2007), "He's a Fighter: How Odierno is Building Peace", The New York Post
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Filkins, Dexter. "Back in Iraq, Jarred by the Calm," The New York Times, 21 September 2008.
External links
- 1950s births
- Living people
- Italian-Americans
- North Carolina State University alumni
- People from Morris County, New Jersey
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Bronze Star medal
- United States Army generals
- United States Military Academy alumni
- American military personnel of the Iraq War