Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BANGKOK701
2005-01-27 06:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
STAFFING ISSUES AT DAO BANGKOK
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000701
SIPDIS
DIA FOR HUMINT DIRECTOR BRIGADIER GENERAL ENNIS FROM
AMBASSADOR BOYCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2010
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: STAFFING ISSUES AT DAO BANGKOK
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (a and d)
3. (C) General Ennis, I wanted to advise you of the superb
cooperation and support provided by DAO here since I've come
to Post a little over three weeks ago. As you can imagine,
since my arrival we have been focused primarily on tsunami
relief efforts. DAO and JUSMAG have operated smoothly and
collegially throughout this experience. The issues you and I
discussed in December have not surfaced and I am confident
both DAO and JUSMAG will continue to work together to support
the Country Team.
2. (C) That said, I am concerned about another matter. We
face a serious staffing shortfall in DAO/Bangkok starting
this summer and am hoping you can assist. As you know, our
present Air Attache, Col Stephen McKeag, is scheduled to
assume responsibilities as Defense Attache this summer.
Steve has performed well as Air Attache and I am certain he
will be a superb DATT. This summer our present DATT, COL
Scott Page, is scheduled to depart post and his Assistant
Army Attache, LTC Dan Tarter, will also leave us for an
onward assignment in Rangoon. LTC Tarter will be the senior
DAO officer in Burma and will be replacing an officer moving
to Afghanistan. I understand that the replacement for LTC
Tarter has not been announced and that COL Page's successor
as Army Attache is not scheduled to arrive at post until
December 2005 -- leaving us with an unexpected gap of three
to six months without an officer exclusively covering Army
issues. Complicating matters, we are expecting a number of
visitors with an Army focus in the fall, including the Army
Chief of Staff. Meanwhile, the security situation in
southern Thailand remains a concern, and we need DAO to be
consistently engaged in covering that.
3. (C) Part of the solution to this could include COL Page
remaining in his position into August rather than departing
in June. This would cover the period of the U.S. Army Chief
of Staff counterpart visit program with the Royal Thai Army
CINC in late June and the Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference in
early August when the U.S. Army Chief of Staff will visit
Bangkok. However, even if we go that route, we would still
face a gap from August to December.
4. (C) To best cover that broader gap, I write to inquire
whether DIA can provide an Army officer, ideally an
experienced attache, to serve here on TDY to augment our DAO
upon COL Page's departure, whether in June or August, through
the arrival of the new Army Attache. I recognize that
officers with DAO experience or training are in short supply,
but seek your assistance in identifying a qualified
individual at DIA Headquarters or elsewhere. Please advise
me soonest on your thinking about the likelihood of such a
move.
5. (U) Best Wishes, Skip Boyce
BOYCE
SIPDIS
DIA FOR HUMINT DIRECTOR BRIGADIER GENERAL ENNIS FROM
AMBASSADOR BOYCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2010
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: STAFFING ISSUES AT DAO BANGKOK
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (a and d)
3. (C) General Ennis, I wanted to advise you of the superb
cooperation and support provided by DAO here since I've come
to Post a little over three weeks ago. As you can imagine,
since my arrival we have been focused primarily on tsunami
relief efforts. DAO and JUSMAG have operated smoothly and
collegially throughout this experience. The issues you and I
discussed in December have not surfaced and I am confident
both DAO and JUSMAG will continue to work together to support
the Country Team.
2. (C) That said, I am concerned about another matter. We
face a serious staffing shortfall in DAO/Bangkok starting
this summer and am hoping you can assist. As you know, our
present Air Attache, Col Stephen McKeag, is scheduled to
assume responsibilities as Defense Attache this summer.
Steve has performed well as Air Attache and I am certain he
will be a superb DATT. This summer our present DATT, COL
Scott Page, is scheduled to depart post and his Assistant
Army Attache, LTC Dan Tarter, will also leave us for an
onward assignment in Rangoon. LTC Tarter will be the senior
DAO officer in Burma and will be replacing an officer moving
to Afghanistan. I understand that the replacement for LTC
Tarter has not been announced and that COL Page's successor
as Army Attache is not scheduled to arrive at post until
December 2005 -- leaving us with an unexpected gap of three
to six months without an officer exclusively covering Army
issues. Complicating matters, we are expecting a number of
visitors with an Army focus in the fall, including the Army
Chief of Staff. Meanwhile, the security situation in
southern Thailand remains a concern, and we need DAO to be
consistently engaged in covering that.
3. (C) Part of the solution to this could include COL Page
remaining in his position into August rather than departing
in June. This would cover the period of the U.S. Army Chief
of Staff counterpart visit program with the Royal Thai Army
CINC in late June and the Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference in
early August when the U.S. Army Chief of Staff will visit
Bangkok. However, even if we go that route, we would still
face a gap from August to December.
4. (C) To best cover that broader gap, I write to inquire
whether DIA can provide an Army officer, ideally an
experienced attache, to serve here on TDY to augment our DAO
upon COL Page's departure, whether in June or August, through
the arrival of the new Army Attache. I recognize that
officers with DAO experience or training are in short supply,
but seek your assistance in identifying a qualified
individual at DIA Headquarters or elsewhere. Please advise
me soonest on your thinking about the likelihood of such a
move.
5. (U) Best Wishes, Skip Boyce
BOYCE