Journey Read online

  SPOUSES NEVER FORGET

  As spouses, we view everything as personal—everything. And that’s not the case with the active service member or politician. Some of these senators could rip you a new one and then ten minutes later they’re perfectly happy having cocktails with you. But we spouses don’t get over it and we never forget. Norty talked about the unwarranted attacks by Florida Senator Bill Nelson in the course of his confirmation hearings. I still get form emails from Nelson since we used to vote in Florida, but I never open any of them; they go straight to trash, which is exactly where they belong. On the flip side, Norty—and other military members—see this interaction as routine business. They don’t see it as personal. They see it as a cost of doing business or something.

  Another one who is right up there with Nelson is Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. I will never forget how she waltzed into the Senate committee room in the middle of Norty’s confirmation hearing and went off on Air Force General and then AMC commander Duncan McNabb on issues of fraud, waste, and abuse on the C-17 executive support packages. She was just flat-out wrong. She had no idea what had been said before her arrival, then she launched into a soliloquy and waltzed right out. It was all just an excuse to be on camera yet contribute nothing of substance.

  I am very much behind the people who are sincere in their beliefs and passionate in their presentation, as long as they are respectful. But this woman sees herself as the savior of humanity whose goal in life seems to be making it into the Guinness Book of World Records for needless TV appearances. Chances are that I’ll catch flack for being so blunt, but that’s never stopped me before, so it’s not going to stop me now.

  Norty is more tactful by calling her “prickly,” but I say she’s just an awful human being. I think “Who are you to question these honorable officers with such arrogance and disrespect?” These military members have sworn an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and have given over thirty-five years of their life to this country. These are strong decent men and women you are attacking and some of these politicians come in like they are deities and give two years—you’re kidding me!

  If I sound upset, it’s because we spouses never forget!

  INTO THE WAR ZONE

  We flew into Afghanistan and about thirty minutes out they had me put on a helmet and full body armor, which in itself was kind of an out-of-body experience since we were coming in on the G5 (the Gulfstream G5 is a small, plush business jet) and not some military transport plane. Suddenly I started crying. Chief McQuiston, the same one that I brought in to psych up Norty for his confirmation hearing, saw me and came up to the front, where I was sitting. He placed his hand on my shoulder and tried to calm me down.

  “Suzie, there’s really nothing to be scared about. We just have to wear these as a precaution.”

  “This is not about being scared,” I said. “This is thinking about all those soldiers and airmen down there who have to wear ten times more than I am wearing, in 120-degree heat and in their case it is about dodging IEDs and what not … Every American should have to put on something like this and walk around for a day to appreciate what they go through.”

  On my second day in Afghanistan I was flown back to Bagram to meet with a group of Afghan women who had gone through extraordinary security to be allowed to meet with me at the Bagram Air Base—some to the point of endangering their own lives if word of their presence were to leak out. This was no ordinary meet and greet. These courageous women didn’t put their lives on the line for a free lunch and photo op.

  It was a wide range of women with diverse backgrounds: business owners, educators, government leaders, multimedia, and nongovernmental organization representatives from Kabul, Kapisa, and Parwan provinces. They were respectful but pulled no punches. They asked tough questions and they expected honest answers. “We know you can fight the war but where are all these other things you promised for our country after the fighting? You promised security but we have none. Where there’s no security, there is no education, no health, and no employment. The Afghan women are used by politicians to get foreign aid money, but our conditions have not improved.” It was eye-opening and I took detailed notes. I promised to pass along their concerns (which I did), but I also made it clear that I was not in a position to promise anything as far as results were concerned. Still, they seemed appreciative to have been heard, and they could tell that I was sincere in my pledge to relay their apprehensions. I was honored to be afforded the opportunity to participate in this and other similar discussions in countries all across the globe.

  Later, after Norty became Chief, the requests for my participation were almost overwhelming. There’d be parties and dinners at Air House—the official home to the Air Force Chief of Staff—and I’d be the one responsible for supervising menus, themes, decorations, and all that comes with pulling off social events like these; events that routinely included all manner of dignitaries, both foreign and domestic. I loved this, and had a blast with every one.

  I would accompany Norty on trips all around the world, meeting presidents, kings, and princes. Each one was special in its own way. But if I had to pick the one thing that touched me the most (with the exception of my interaction with the families of our fallen), I think it would have to be that day with those valiant young women, struggling to turn the tide on women’s oppression left in the wake of the Taliban.

  They were not overstating the deadly risk these women assumed in order to meet with me. Just after we departed, the security situation deteriorated. On April 27, insurgents with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades opened fire on a military parade celebrating the 1992 victory of the Mujahideen over the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan communist government. Their target was Afghan President Hamid Karzai. An intense firefight lasted for about fifteen minutes, leaving three dead and more than ten wounded. Karzai was safe, but until years later, no longer would U.S. military spouses be allowed to enter Afghanistan. I was the very last American military spouse allowed in-country in an official capacity.

  WELCOME TO SAUDI ARABIA

  While in Saudi Arabia on official business, I decided to visit the hotel gym while Norty was out conferring with his Saudi counterpart. I’d been briefed on the need to remain completely covered while in public, so I took great care to push the button for the “Women’s Gym” floor when I entered the elevator in my U.S. Air Force gym shorts and tank top. Unfortunately, I had left the room without my keycard, and the only place the elevator would take me without it was the lobby. My pounding the “stop” button was fruitless, as was pushing the “15” that would take me back to my floor. The elevator jolted to a stop and the doors slid open. There I stood in my skimpy workout attire, much to the dismay of the six fully robed individuals I walked past on my stroll to the front desk to pick up a new keycard. I was so mortified I wanted to stay inside the room the rest of the trip. It was probably just in my head, but from that point on I felt that everyone was staring at me whenever I passed, kind of snickering to one another behind my back, like “That’s her, the elevator lady!”

  SHE KEPT HER WORD

  Traditionally when a Democrat comes into office, I’ve found the military is not their top priority. So it had particular impact on me when Mrs. Obama announced that caring for military families was an area to which she pledged to devote significant time and energy. And the best part is that she has lived up to her word on this. What she and Dr. Biden have achieved through the “Joining Forces” initiative on spouse employment, wellness, and education has been humongous.

  On November 10, 2011, Norty and I attended an event at the beautiful Chamber of Commerce building. We were the only service chief and spouse in attendance. I forced him to attend. I remember sitting in the front when Mrs. Obama began to speak. “Today, America’s businesses have stepped forward with pledges to hire a hundred thousand veterans and military spouses by 2014,” she announced. “That’s right, a hundred thousand jobs. a hundred thousand veterans a
nd spouses who will have the security of a paycheck and a good career. That’s thousands of families that can rest just a little bit easier every night.”

  The audience erupted in applause, and Norty leaned over and squeezed my hand. That’s when I burst into tears. I cried because it hit me how far we had come from the early days of me trying so hard to get a job, and now, thanks to the hard work of Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden, eighty major companies were there supporting spouse employment, and they continue to support it across the country.

  Norty adds: This is yet another area where Suzie’s success was palpable. Last year, the First Lady and Dr. Biden announced that all fifty states have taken action to make it easier for military spouses to overcome employment barriers by streamlining the employment-related licensing and credentialing process. The very issue that Suzie was so enthusiastically advocating has become a reality, and military spouses who were previously hampered by certain states not recognizing the credentials of another—can now continue working no matter their location.

  Once Suzie made the choice to devote herself to this career path rather than the one where she could have been heroically successful, she attained rock star status. I’m not just referring to her individual achievements—which were epic—I’m referring to her role in what we accomplished together. From Tulum to Timbuktu and everywhere in between, every one of the relationships that we cultivated over time were principally her doing. I’m not the most engaging person, and personal human connections have never been my strong suit.

  Suzie: You can say that again.

  Norty: In spite of my personal deficits in that area, I’m fully aware that without solid, honest, trusting relationships, it’s impossible for anyone to make it to the top. Our closest friends on the civilian side—the Ellsworths, the Bordons, and the Pews—all Suzie’s doing.

  In many ways it was Suzie who maintained connectivity with my own friends, as well: the Munsons and the Lauderdales. She maintained the relationships with our colleagues and our contemporaries. I’m not a letter writer, but somehow Suzie finds the time—and the means—to maintain contact and keep us engaged.

  Our close relationship with the Myerses (General Richard Myers, past chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) is mostly from Suzie’s contact with Mary Jo. The same applies to our close relationship with the Paces (General Peter Pace, past chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)—mostly due to Suzie’s friendship with Lynne.

  What ended up happening was that I had professional relationships with people and they were strong and in many ways intimate—but they were rarely personal. Suzie consistently compensated for that. She makes friends easily and these were good people to be friends with—and I’m not saying that from a career path or advancement point of view. These are just lovely, worthwhile people that we’re honored to call our friends.

  Chapter Eight

  A NEW PLAYING FIELD

  The state of modern warfare has changed since Barry Goldwater handed me my diploma—the world has changed. Air raid sirens warning of impending Russian nuclear attack have been replaced by text messages announcing shooters on campus. From Vietnam to Charlie Hebdo to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport attack, and everything in between. Ho Chi Minh has been replaced by UBL and ISIS. Now, so much is focused on terrorism. Special operations have expanded exponentially and today, in most cases, are the first “go-to” element the president calls upon.

  When I first donned the uniform, special operations was in its decline. Through failed missions as much as successes, we learned. We grew. Those early operators—daring innovators with unbridled passion for the mission—became even greater leaders and mentors and inspirations for those of us who followed in their giant footsteps. Scholtes, Potter, Downing, Schoomaker, Hobson … these are the ones to whom we owe our gratitude for creating the greatest special operations force in the world.

  Islamic fundamentalists still pose a genuine threat to the American population in the homeland and will continue to require our efforts to neutralize that threat. My own view is that we’re better off neutralizing the threat at a distance rather than at our borders or inside our borders. ISIL is a prime example of how clearly this will be a continuing theme until this generation of jihadists gets gray hair and gets tired. This requires a combined arms approach with sufficient ground presence to generate target intelligence and stiffen friendly forces. We have such assets on the ground and we are striking concentrations of ISIL by both air and ground assault, as well as interdicting logistics and financial resources.

  But as we are now largely out of Iraq and have a much reduced footprint in Afghanistan, it’s time to shift the focus of our attention from a 90 percent–plus concentration in the Persian Gulf area to something a bit more balanced. Our strategic interests call for more attention in the Asia-Pacific and the Indo-Pacific than was the case when we were completely consumed by the ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Korea, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam—they are all worthy of our attention.

  NORTH KOREA

  More missiles (now intercontinental in range); potential nuclear buildup; unstable leader. Not long ago, an American student was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years hard labor; shortly thereafter he was returned to the United States in such bad condition he died a few days later. While isolated, it’s clear we intend to impose additional sanctions. To the extent they affect the North Korean elites, that is appropriate. We are also reinforcing the resolve and patience of our South Korean ally and leaning on the Chinese to influence Kim Jong Un due to significant China-Korea dependencies. But we are now in an era when we must also defend. Thus, missile defense rises in importance for us and our Japanese and South Korean allies. Deterrence alone is insufficient.

  CHINA INCURSIONS INTO SOUTH CHINA SEA

  It is worrisome. The Chinese are changing the geography and asserting sovereignty well beyond their immediate borders. We have to enlist the support of regional allies to resist this attempt at fait accompli politically, economically, and militarily. What we have to do in order to combat these and other threats is to improve the “full spectrum” readiness and the wherewithal of our forces for continuing counterterror campaigns as well as deterring near-peer adversaries.

  AIR-SEA BATTLE DOCTRINE

  In recognizing the unique challenges of the Western-Pacific arena, Gary Roughead (chief of naval operations) and I initiated the Air-Sea Battle concept, an institutional partnership of the Air Force and Navy in the areas of acquisition, tactics, and procedures. A collaboration of this scope was unprecedented. The ultimate goal of Air-Sea Battle is interoperable air and naval forces that can execute networked, integrated attacks-in-depth to disrupt, destroy, and defeat an adversary’s anti-access/area denial capabilities, in turn sustaining the deployment of U.S. Joint forces. There are a number of joint Air Force/Navy initiatives that were funded as a result of this initiative. One resulted in a test where an F-22 actually retargeted a Tomahawk cruise missile launched by a submarine—a perfect example of how two stealth vehicles from two different service branches (Air Force F-22 and Navy sub) collaborated to achieve tactical success. More such opportunities will become apparent … and essential to our military posture.

  TECHNOLOGY

  Technology is offering us means and avenues of engaging the enemy that change the state of play in nontrivial ways. Midair refueling was one of these game-changers; having the ability to refuel aircraft of all types en route to their destinations really allows us to project power. GPS and integrated avionics were also right up there. But in my mind, the remotely piloted aircraft, or RPA (often referred to as “drone”), is the single most significant advance since radar. This goes back centuries to the bow and arrow. The spear, artillery, aircraft—there’s been a momentum to extend the distance between combatants from the very earliest days. The difference is that now we have the ability to fly lethal aircraft without risk of physical danger to the pilot. It’s monumental.

  It’s quite likely that I wil
l be remembered for my aggressive advocacy for the expansion of RPAs. In my last year as chief, we trained 350 RPA pilots as compared to 250 fighter and bomber pilots. I believe that by 2028, at least 50 percent of all Air Force pilots will be flying RPAs from many miles away. But they are not a be-all and end-all. On the positive side, they offer constant surveillance: hours, days, weeks of observation; high-confidence targeting; very accurate delivery of low-collateral damage munitions. On the flip side, there are perceptions of remote targeting, absence of physical risk, and the potential for global proliferation of the capability due to relatively low barriers to entry.

  For years we had been referring to these platforms as “drones” or “unmanned aerial vehicles” (UAVs), but there’s a reason that I worked hard to phase out that nomenclature in favor of “remotely piloted aircraft” (RPA). These systems are hardly unmanned. It takes at least 168 people to operate, maintain, and support these missions, so we didn’t want to maintain the misperception that they are “unmanned.”

  Long before I arrived, Secretary Gates had his eye on the ball and recognized that having timely, accurate, and actionable operational intelligence was essential to support the battlefield decision-making process. We were a nation at war and American casualties were mounting. Gates understood the urgent need to provide his commanders with every possible resource to defeat the enemy, and he was miffed when those around him took a business-as-usual approach. As he shares in his own his own autobiography, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, his impatience with the “damnable peacetime mindset inside the Pentagon” was boiling over, fueled in great part by the difficulty he was having in meeting his field commanders’ insatiable need for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities: “a mix of unmanned drones, propeller-driven reconnaissance aircraft, analysts, linguists, and data fusion capabilities that collected and fed critical battlefield information—including intercepted phone calls of terrorist leaders and live video transmission of insurgents planting IEDs …”