Chief of chemical

CML Army Chemical Review, Summer, 2009

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Army Chemical Review is dedicated to all Dragon Soldiers and friends of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Regiment. In June 2009, we are celebrating the 91st anniversary of the Chemical Corps; Regimental Week; and the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Conference. We have planned multiple great venues to move our Regiment and community forward (see the agenda on page 40). The National Defense Industrial Association, the Chemical Corps Regimental Association, and the CBRN School are focused on making this event special for all attendees. The Joint Conference and Regimental Week theme is "Full Spectrum CBRN Operations: Celebrating the CBRN Noncommissioned Officer." Our entire team looks forward to your participation in the week's activities.

This issue of Army Chemical Review continues to focus on our efforts to support the Nation and the Army. Since the last issue, we held U.S. elections, witnessed an increase in cross-border drug violence in Mexico, began sending more Soldiers to Afghanistan, witnessed North Korea launch another missile into the Pacific Ocean, and started building a CBRN capability with our Iraqi partners. In this era of persistent conflict and engagement, how do we continue to win the current fight and maintain the all-volunteer force? How do we keep our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families in the military? How do we help reduce the stressors that we all face?

Each year we lose too many Soldiers to suicide. The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, General Peter W. Chiarelli, made seven stops to seven posts in January to discuss the initiatives and concerns of our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families. No Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Civilian, or Family member needs to suffer in silence. We have numerous systems and processes to help. Please assist the Army team by continuing to show your concern for the welfare and development of others.

As we continue to train Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Civilians, we have many challenges to face as a CBRN community and as a Nation. Senior Department of Defense and Army leaders have asked us to think about how we transition from counterinsurgency operations to a more hybrid threat for warfare. We have seen this used during Russian operations in Georgia and during Hezbollah missions against Israel. How do we continue to deal with hybrid threats? How do we train Soldiers to deal with these unknown situations?

We also need to concentrate on bettering the partnership between our Services, components, and agencies. Although we train Chemical warriors from all Services at Fort Leonard Wood, we do not train together. There is no requirement to do so, but we have a vested interest in increasing our synergies and synchronization. The Nation expects us to deliver the capability, but does not dictate which Service provides it. In the next year, the Chemical Corps intends to partner with others in our community to build a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) enterprise. This enterprise will combine the efforts of multiple organizations--the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, U.S. Army Nuclear and Combatency, Joint Requirements Office, Joint Program Executive Office, and others. We must all cooperate and collaborate to find solutions to meet the challenges of CBRN doctrine, organization, traininities. I look forward to your thoughts on how we build this partnership in defense of the Nation.

I need your ideas on the above issues and your answers to the questions I have posed. You deal with these situations every day, and your insight is invaluable in developing solutions. Please continue to dialogue with me and other Corps leaders in the Chemical Knowledge Network at <https://www.us.army.mil/suite/portal.do?$p=409522>. I personally answer questions on ProtectionNet at <https://forums.bcks.army.mil/secure/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=62418>, and I want to hear from you on how to make our Corps and Army better.

The front cover of this Army Chemical Review pays tribute to the core of our Army and Chemical Corps--the noncommissioned officer (NCO). We all have a story about our NCOs and the role that they play in development. My first NCO, then Staff Sergeant Charlie Crawford, epitomized the best I have seen in an Army leader. He showed me how to work on vehicles, talk with Soldiers, wear a uniform correctly, and deal with the host nation populace. If you are an NCO, remember the role you play in developing our Army and our Nation. The Army has recognized your importance by making 2009 "The Year of the NCO." Take advantage of the education, fitness, leadership, and pride-in-service initiatives that the Army has developed. Thank you for continuing to accomplish the mission and prepare the next generation of Soldiers and leaders. Army strong!

ELEMENTIS, REGAMUS, PROELIUM: CHEMICAL CORPS: CAPABLE NOW!