environmental and sustainability considerations during...

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Michael WolfordUnited States Army Engineer SchoolDirectorate of Environmental Integration

Fort Leonard Wood, MO573-329-1927

[email protected]

Environmental and Sustainability Considerations

During Full Spectrum Operations

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Environmental and Sustainability Considerations During Full Spectrum Operations

AGENDA• Basis • Objectives• Approach• Discussion/Findings• Recommendations• Way Ahead

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• National Strategies

• CALL Survey from Afghanistan

• Environmental and Sustainability Issues from other Deployments

Basis


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Quotes provided by Interviewed Staff• “If it was important enough for us to do, we would have been told about it

before we got here.” – attributed to BN Cdr• “It’s not our job.” – attributed to BN Cdr• “We’re in the desert what does it matter?” – attributed to BCT Cdr• “We’re here to fight a war not pick up trash.” – attributed to BCT Cdr• “The Kuwaitis do not care why should we?” – common sentiment• “We’re just passing through and do not have time”. – attributed to BCT Cdr• ”It is usually only NCOs who report to the Safety and Environmental briefs

and these are not even the senior NCOs.” – Arifjan DPW staff• “Their general attitude is to get in and get out.” – Arifjan DPW staff• “There are no compliance requirements for EPA OCONUS.” – attributed to

BCT Cdr• “We’ve never had to worry about environmental stuff before.” – common

sentiment


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Uzbekistan, Fuel PointAfghanistan, HW Control

Iraq, Sanitary Waste Disposal Kuwait, Unauthorized Disposal


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Afghanistan, “Burn Pit”

Iraq, Fuel Storage

Iraq, Left Behind after Camp Closure

Contractor, HW Handling


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What Soldiers Expect


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What Soldiers Get…initially…


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Were to Determine with respect to environmental and sustainability considerations:

Objectives

• Type and availability of training .• Unit commanders required training.• Requirements/guidance included in OPLANS and OPORDS. • Are materiel solutions required.• Is there a lack of utilization of existing material.• Are the application of policies, programs, and processes

consistent.


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Approach• Observe pre-deployment training at NTC, JRTC,

JMRC and interview pertinent parties.

• Observe deployed operations in the Balkans and interview pertinent parties.

• Observe deployed operations in Kuwait/Qatar and interview pertinent parties.


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Findings• Training

• Command Oversight or Emphasis

• Materiel Solutions

• Consistent Management Approach


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Training• Soldiers/Civilians lack training regarding

environmental and sustainability considerations during deployed operations

• Engineers need more training– Environmental and Sustainability– Base Operations

• ECO training is too IMCOM installation centric.• Little if any environmental or sustainability

training occurs once deployed.


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Training• Training centers do not include environmental or

sustainability considerations in their pre-deployment scenarios.

• Training center FOBs have base camp functions provided by contractor staff.

• ECT at training centers is a support function not integrated into pre-deployment training.


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Command Emphasis• Lack of Soldier awareness can be directly equated

to lack of command emphasis on training and implementation.

• Commanders are not adequately informed as to the relationships between environmental and sustainability considerations and the execution of their mission.

• Environmental considerations are not always addressed in OPLANs and OPORDs.

• Very few units have ECO positions filled.


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Materiel/Material Solutions• COTS technologies may be available for urgent

operational needs, but acquisition is not easy.• Coordinate COTS evaluation for military

application.• Capabilities based assessment for environmental

and sustainability requirements.• No venue for research and development for

contingency operations. • Base camps are system of systems and need

requirements based on this concept.


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Consistent Management Approach• Currently, no consistent or overarching policy.• With the lack of overarching policy, protocols are

being created at lower levels.• Environmental and sustainability considerations

must be linked with mission, Force Multiplier.– Counter Intelligence– Increased Security– Improved Health and Welfare– Reduced Logistics


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Actions OccurringContinuing to adjust existing environmental and sustainability training to account for contingency requirements.

– USAES adjusting ECO course to include contingency operations appropriate training.

– USAES providing on site and distributive learning platforms

– USAES developing environmental and sustainability training based on FM 3-100.4 (to be updated as FM 3-34.500 Environmental Considerations During Contingency Operations).


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Actions OccurringUSAES Working with deployed operations to address environmental and sustainability issues

– Composting/Landfarming– Fuel-oil Blending– Solid and Hazardous waste incineration.– Addressing R&D needs– Promoting sustainable systems


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Balkans, German Modular Camp Iraq, Waste Oil Storage

Kosovo, Composting

Kuwait, Aerated“Black” Water Lagoon


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RecommendationsDevelop and implement consistent contingency operations environmental and sustainability policies.

– OSD – Army

• AMC• IMCOM• FORSCOM• TRADOC


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RecommendationsIntegrate environmental and sustainability training into operational training (Soldier/Civilian).

– Include in combat training center scenarios.– Include in simulations and table top exercises.– Schoolhouses include in NCO, Warrant , and Officer

training.– Include in professional development programs

(Soldier/Civilian)– Require leaders to develop Environmental Programs as

outlined in FM 3-100.4 Environmental Consideration in Military Operations (FM 3-34.500 Environmental Considerations During Contingency Operations) .


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RecommendationsEmphasize to Army’s leaders environmental and sustainability issues have the same importance as that of safety.

– Recognize impact to mission: safety problems, security & intelligence, resource allocation & logistics, host nation relations, public opinion, legal & fiscal issues, and force protection.

– Require and assure OPLANs and OPORDs include appropriate environmental Appendices or Annexes.

– Require leaders to develop Environmental Programs as outlined in FM 3-100.4 (FM 3-34.500) Environmental Consideration in Military Operations.


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Way AheadEstablish Army environmental and sustainability team to develop implementations plan/efforts.

– Bring together forum of stakeholders– Perform an environmental and sustainability Capabilities

Based Assessment for contingency operations.– Establish Army specific “protocols/procedures” in the

absence of OSD direction Coordinate with other services.

– Coordinate with TRADOC to evaluate need for Army MOS or ASI for environmental and sustainability actions.

– Promote environmental and sustainability considerations at senior command levels.


24FOUO

“If it was important enough for us to do, we would have been told about it before we got here.”

QUESTIONS?


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