Physics:Asymmetric Warfare Group

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Asymmetric Warfare Group
Asymmetric Warfare Group shoulder sleeve insignia
Active2006–2021
Country United States
Branch25px United States Army
TypeOperational Advisory Support
RoleAdvisory and solution development
Size~ 377
Part of25px United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
Garrison/HQFort Meade, Maryland
Nickname(s)AWG
Motto(s)"Think. Adapt. Anticipate."
ColorsBlack & Red
AnniversariesMarch 8, 2006
EngagementsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
DecorationsArmy Superior Unit Award
Websitewww.awg.army.mil
Commanders
July 2019 - March 2021 (inactivation)Colonel Scott Shaw[1]
July 2017 - July 2019Colonel Timothy O’Brien
July 2015 - July 2017Colonel Michael Loos
August 2013 - July 2015Colonel John P. Petkosek
July 2011 - August 2013Colonel Patrick J. Mahaney Jr.
July 2009 - July 2011Colonel James M. Mis
January 2006 (activation) - July 2009Colonel Robert Shaw
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia80px

The Asymmetric Warfare Group (often shortened to "AWG") was a United States Army special mission unit[2][3][4] created during the war on terrorism to mitigate various threats with regard to asymmetric warfare. The unit was headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland and had a training facility (the Asymmetric Warfare Training Center) at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia which was specialized in breaching and subterranean warfare.[5][6] The unit provided the linkage between Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the operational Army, and reported directly to the commanding general of TRADOC.[2]

In March 2021, the AWG held a casing of the colors ceremony and officially inactivated.[7]

Organization

The Asymmetric Warfare Group was made up by a headquarters and headquarters detachment and four squadrons:[8]

  • Able Squadron (Operations)
  • Baker Squadron (Operations)
  • Charlie Squadron (Operations)
  • Dog Squadron (Concepts & Integration)
  • Easy Squadron (Training)

Each squadron was commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subsequently divided into troops each commanded by a major. AWG maintained forward deployed subject matter experts with all of the major combatant commands.[9] Consisting of Army servicemembers, Department of the Army civilians, and contracted subject matter experts, the unit held an authorized strength of 377.[2]

Mission

Front and back face of Asymmetric Warfare Group coin.
Front and back face of Asymmetric Warfare Group coin.

The U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) provided operational advisory assistance in support of Army and joint force commanders to enhance the combat effectiveness of the operating force and enable the defeat of asymmetric threats.[9] AWG was the Army’s focal point for identifying asymmetric threats, enemy vulnerabilities and friendly capability gaps through first-hand observations.[9] AWG key tasks include supporting Army and Joint Force Commanders by advising and assisting predeployment and in-theater forces; deploying and sustaining AWG forces worldwide to observe, assess, and disseminate information with regard to asymmetric threats; assisting in the identification, development, integration, and transition of material and non-material solutions for both offensive and defensive countermeasures; influencing culture to form a more innovative and adaptive force; and assessing, selecting, and training unit members.[2]

AWG was designed to rapidly identify, develop, assess and disseminate solutions—both physical products, and doctrinal improvements—across the full spectrum of organizations in order to mitigate asymmetric vulnerabilities through first-hand observations and the deployment of civilian and military subject-matter experts directly into the field in-theater.[9]

AWG in particular was tasked with countering the asymmetric threat of improvised explosive device (IED) proliferation against conventional and special operations forces.[9] AWG would embed subject matter experts within combat units, observe both friendly and enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and best practices, and provide advisory assistance and equipment improvement recommendations to mitigate the threat.[9] AWG would then disseminate those best practices throughout the Army (more rapidly than through a traditional approval and publication process).[9] AWG would also recommend "material solutions"—either commercial off the shelf products, or modifications to existing military equipment, to mitigate these threats. For instance, in the counter-IED mission, AWG was tasked with solving challenges faced by Army units conducing route clearance patrols in Iraq, who were being exposed to IED risk when removing debris from roads; as a material solution, AWG developed tools such as "Iron Scrape" to rapidly clear the debris and remove the potential IED hiding spots.[9] Similarly another material solution called "Air Digger" was developed to allow Buffalo armored vehicles used on the route clearance patrols to clear dirt and debris from a suspected IED without triggering a detonation that would compromise forensic evidence (to track, locate, and neutralize the bomb maker).[9]

AWG also regularly deployed in support of JCETs and assisted with the training of foreign SOF forces in foreign internal defense.[10][11]

History

On October 2, 2020 it was announced that the Army planned to close the AWG by September 30, 2021.[12] On May 13, 2021, the AWG officially inactivated.

References

  1. ↑ "Asymmetric Warfare Group > Leaders > Group Command". https://www.awg.army.mil/Leaders/Group-Command/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "2008 U.S. Army Posture Statement - Information Papers - Asymmetric Warfare Group". https://www.army.mil/aps/08/information_papers/prepare/Army_Asymmetric_Warfare_Group.html. 
  3. ↑ Team, SOFREP News (2017-05-15). "Asymmetric Warfare Group" (in en). https://sofrep.com/news/asymmetric-warfare-group/. 
  4. ↑ "Asymmetric Warfare Group" (in en). 2010-04-07. https://www.army.mil/article/36989/asymmetric_warfare_group. 
  5. ↑ Cox, Matthew (2018-06-25). "Army Is Spending Half a Billion to Train Soldiers to Fight Underground" (in en). https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/24/army-spending-half-billion-train-troops-fight-underground.html. 
  6. ↑ Cox, Matthew (2020-10-02). "In Major Shift, Army to Shut Down Asymmetric Warfare Group and Rapid Equipping Force" (in en). https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/02/major-shift-army-shut-down-asymmetric-warfare-group-and-rapid-equipping-force.html. 
  7. ↑ Bonzo, Madison (2021-05-18). "End of an Era: Asymmetric Warfare Group Cases its Colors". https://www.army.mil/article/246529/end_of_an_era_asymmetric_warfare_group_cases_its_colors. 
  8. ↑ "The Army is shutting down its highly praised Asymmetric Warfare Group". 2 October 2020. https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/10/02/the-army-is-shutting-down-its-much-lauded-asymmetric-warfare-group/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Mis, Col. James M. (February 2011). "U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group". Military Training & Technology 16 (1). http://www.kmimediagroup.com/military-training-technology/articles/299-mt2-2011-volume-16-issue-1-february/3885-us-army-asymmetric-warfare-group-sp-598#selection-397.392-397.541. 
  10. ↑ Cortes, Cmd. Sgt. Major Michael; Kuzio, Maj. Chris (April 2012). "AWG Training Advisory Assistance in support of SOC Forward-Lebanon". Special Warfare 25 (2): 33. https://static.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_10170.pdf. 
  11. ↑ Foote, Maj. Michael (April 2012). "Operationalizing Strategic Policy in Lebanon". Special Warfare 25 (2): 31–34. https://static.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_10170.pdf. 
  12. ↑ Lawrence, J.P. (2020-10-03). "Army to shut down units created to help soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq". Stars and Stripes. https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/army-to-shut-down-units-created-to-help-soldiers-in-afghanistan-iraq-1.647336. 



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