First Day with Team Griffin

After a long flight, we made it back to Camp Funston this Tuesday afternoon. I originally planned to have a dinner social with my team on Wednesday, but the XO recommended we do that tonight instead.

Therefore, a dinner social event we did. As of right now Team Griffin is manned with 10 of our 15 positions. Two positions were taken away by HRC and DA. Why they decided to take my two combat arms officer, I don't know. When I spoke to MNC-I, the rep for MNC-I told me that MNC-I took two soldiers out of each MiTT to conduct a test of principle in MND-S. That is probably why HRC and DA decided to do the same. However, no one in Iraq or at CENTCOM changed the MiTT requirements. Their expectation was that each MiTT would arrive in country fully manned and not degraded by one or two positions.

From my perspective, if you're going to short a unit. You're better off shorting the unit that has 5,000+ soldiers assigned to it, than shorting the unit that has 10-15 soldiers assigned to it. In the former case, the two soldiers are neglible, in the latter case, they are significant.

Based on my leader's recon, the two combat arms positions (maneuver trainer and Fires and Effects trainer) will be absolutely essential for the success of our mission. So we must fight to ensure those two slots are not forgotten. With regard to the other three slots we are missing. It is my expectation that they will be filled from the bench or a late arrival.

Once again, I'm not so impressed with how these MiTT are formed. Especially with the CSA's emphasis on these teams.

I'm very impressed with the 10 members I do have. They want to be here. They are excited to do their job and they are ready to be trained. They all have demonstrated the ability to take the initiative and and do what's right. I'm very proud of their service and proud to be associated with them.