F.P. Report
WASHINGTON: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby has said that Secretary Austin ordered the deployment from the United States of an additional approximately 500 U.S. military personnel to locations in Europe to augment U.S. forces that are already in theater.
These additional personnel are being positioned to respond obviously to the current security environment caused by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. And certainly, to help reinforce and bolster deterrence and defense capabilities of the NATO alliance.
These as all the other ones we’ve talked about in recent weeks are not permanent moves. They are temporary moves. And we’re going to adjust our posture continuously as conditions require. And as President Biden has noted before, we are not and will not send forces into Ukraine.
So, these additional personnel will be going to NATO’s Eastern Flank. Specifically, we’ll be sending a number of KC-135 refueling aircraft out of Fairfield Air Force Base in Spokane. They will deploy with approximately 150 personnel. They’re scheduled right now. They’re planned right now to deploy to Souda Bay, Greece to provide additional area or fueling support to the commander of U.S. European Command.
This 500 will also include an air support operation center out of Fort Stewart, Georgia. They’ll comprise basically 40 personnel. Right now, they’re planning to deploy to Poland into Romania, and again to help provide additional command and control for U.S. European Command flight operations. And then lastly, about 300 personnel will be making up a modular ammunition ordnance company out of Fort Bragg. And as support maintenance company out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.
They’ll be going to Germany to provide additional logistic support to the First Armored Brigade Combat Team Third Infantry Division already deployed there. And we’ve already talked about. Again, these are purely defensive forces. These are specifically the ones we’re talking about today are enablers. And we said before when we deployed the additional 7,000, that there would be associated enablers with them. This is part of that support.
All these posture adjustments are being done, as I think, you know, in full consultation with the NATO allies in question. OK. Shifting topics if I could, to the Red Hill storage facility in Hawaii. Secretary Austin decided today, and you should have the statement. If you don’t, you’ll have it shortly. That directs the Secretary of the Navy in coordination with the Commander of the United States Indo Pacific Command to take all steps necessary to de-fuel and to permanently close the Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility in Hawaii.
I know many of you are tracking the importance that leaders across the Department of Defense have placed on that November leak and the contamination that resulted from it. Secretary the Deputy Secretary leaders from across the Department of Defense and Navy as well as Indo PACOM remain very, very focused on this issue. And the impact that it’s had on families, communities, and of course, our responsibilities in both national security and being good stewards of our resources in the environment.
Throughout this process, the department’s approach has been guided by a commitment to protect the population, the environment, and the security of the country. And goals that are mutually supportive. As the Secretary outlined in his direction to the Department of the Navy, the Department of Defense launched a thorough review of the facility’s long-term future. Work that was grounded in analysis and completely aligned with our focus.
So, a few points on today’s decision. First, national security, we will defuel Red Hill and reposition the fuel to land and afloat locations. This will meet our national security objectives by better positioning the United States to meet future challenges in the Pacific region. While ensuring environmental stewardship and protecting the population. Secondly, as the Secretary noted, we’re going to be able to take care of our people in the community.
We are committed to mitigating the impacts of the November incident. And we are restoring safe drinking water to all affected residents and providing best in class sampling and testing to ensure the continued safety of the drinking water. And finally, we’re going to complete environmental mitigation efforts for the Red Hill drinking water well in any other impacted areas. And continue to engage the community on land use.
One additional note which I believe many of you are tracking. The Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet has directed a command investigation into the releases and contamination of the water supply. When that review is complete, the Navy will publicly release the report and continue to work closely with the Department of Health in Hawaii, about pursuing follow on actions. That work continues.
I want to end by noting that the Secretary’s decision is not considered by the department to be some sort of quick fix. We have work to do. We know that. Across the enterprise with elected officials from Hawaii and local organizations, and of course, with our military families. Many of whom have suffered as a result of that leak and that contamination.
We’re going to stay transparent, as fully transparent on this work as we can. We’re going to continue to update you and them as actions are taken. But we do believe that this decision by the Secretary today marks a significant first step in the path forward. With that take questions.
While answering to a question Kirby said that we don’t have perfect visibility into Russian plans. What we believe is happening as the Russians continue to get frustrated and slow down. And they really haven’t made any noteworthy progress in the last few days. With the exception of down south. In the south, they continue to have some progress, but up in the north and northeast, what we assess is as they continue to get frustrated, they continue to rely now more on what we would call long range fires.
So, this is bombardment, missile strikes, long range artillery, into city centers that they aren’t in yet, at least not on the ground in any significant number. So, we’re seeing that and of course that has been leading to and as you would expect, it would when you’re relying more on long range fires. You’re going to cause more damage, and you’re going to kill more people and injured more people. And so that’s what we think is happening.
That’s what we’re seeing them do. And we think it’s because again, they have not been able to make up for the lost time that they continue to suffer from on the ground in terms of the advancement of ground forces.
Kirby further said, I can’t speak for Russian recruiting efforts. We do believe that the accounts of them, the Russians seeking Syrian fighters to augment their forces in Ukraine. We believe there’s truth to that. So, it’s interesting that, that Mr. Putin would have to find himself relying on foreign fighters here, who they are going to be?
How many they’re getting? What they’re going to pay them? All of that we don’t have perfect visibility on. But we’re in no position to refute the accounts that they might be seeking to recruit Syrian fighters.
