Recent Battalion Commanders' Panel

The initial afternoon Plenary Session on Thursday consisted of a panel of five battalion commanders who only recently gave up their commands. These five officers—Colonels Bowyer, Provancha, Schwartz, Cox, and Geczy—provided the audience with a realistic, informative, and powerful discussion of the current situation in Iraq and how the Army is faring in that very difficult environment. The panelists were combat veterans who represented a wide range of branches and experiences; one among them, Provancha, was a female. The commanders fielded a variety of questions from the audience on issues ranging from the proper end-strength of the Army to the availability of intelligence for our counter-insurgency efforts. All five officers praised their soldiers, and all five gave the impression that we are in a tough fight that requires leaders of character who are adaptable and can think on their feet.