By Jim Garamone, DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON -- The incident in Niger on Oct. 4, 2017, that
resulted in the deaths of four U.S. soldiers and wounding of two more have
resulted in changes and adjustments to how U.S. forces are employed in Africa,
the commander of U.S. Africa Command said here today.
Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser briefed the Pentagon
press corps on the incident and spoke specifically about how the lessons
learned have led to changes throughout the command. “I will ensure that lessons
learned [from the incident] are communicated to all levels within Africom as
well as within the component commands, and integrate these changes into our
daily operational activities,” the general said.
Army Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier, Africom’s chief of staff
and the investigating officer, and Robert S. Karem, the assistant secretary of
defense for international security affairs, also spoke about the incident and
the subsequent investigation, known as a 15-6 for the Army regulation that
governs such incident reviews.
The process is designed to gain understanding of what
happened via interviews with all available witnesses, imagery, reports,
physical presence at the scene of the events and much more. Each service and
the Defense Department has a similar process to get at the truth and to make
recommendations.
Risk Mitigation, Improved Readiness
Waldhauser noted that the command did not wait until the
15-6 investigation was concluded to make changes. Soon after the incident he
made changes to mitigate risk and improve readiness for American forces in
Africa.
Some examples include requiring U.S. service members
operating in Africom to understand the intent and guiding principles of the
strategic approach when working with allies and partners. “The fundamental
principles of this framework are critical to an enabling approach to security
assistance,” the general said.
The strategy, he said, emphasizes employing U.S. military
capabilities in a supporting role to enable African partners to address their
own security challenges. “U.S. forces are in a supporting role and not as
participants in direct combat,” the general said.
Waldhauser has directed additions to the minimal equipment
requirements for the special operations teams that work for Special Operations
Command Africa to ensure those forces maintain an improved security posture.
“This includes increased firepower for force protection,” he said.
The general also directed adjustments to the mobility
requirements to provide teams additional options for vehicle movement based on
terrain, traffic and mission.
Clear, Unambiguous Guidance
Waldhauser also directed a comprehensive review of the
concept of operations process used by the special operations component in
Africa. “The changes following this review now provide clear, unambiguous
guidance for submission and approval for partner force operations,” he said.
This should clear up confusion surrounding approval
authorities and oversight by the Special Operations Command Africa leaders, the
general said.
The 15-6 investigation into the October incident led to
changes in other areas, such as pre-deployment training, force generation, unit
transitions, oversight and operational support, Waldhauser said. The
investigation found that pre-deployment training and personnel turbulence
hampered the unit, he said. It also found that the integration and training
with partnered forces in Niger was inadequate. The team did not meet the
standards of familiarization and integration with the Nigerien partner force
prior to conducting the initial mission on Oct. 3, the general said.
The team also did not rehearse immediate action drills
before the mission. “The investigation also found the team inaccurately
portrayed the concept of operations for the first of three total missions on 3
and 4 October,” Waldhauser said.
These shortcomings call into question the oversight of
Special Operations Command Africa, he said.
Africom, Socom and the U.S. Army will continue to examine
the results of the investigation and more as the organizations move forward,
the general said.
There are about 800 U.S. service members in Niger, DoD
officials said. They are there to help local forces build and learn how to
provide security. The U.S. military has excellent military-to-military
relations with countries in the region and they are helping those nations
confront terror groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and its offshoots,
officials have said. U.S. service members also work closely with French and
British forces on the continent.
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