An interview with Brig. Gen. John Basilica: "MAKING A DIFFERENCE" -- Questions & Answers

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Subject: An interview with Brig. Gen. John Basilica: "MAKING A DIFFERENCE"

Author:
Kelly

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Date Posted: 03:51:26 03/09/05 Wed

Leader says 256th making a difference

By JOE GYAN JR.
jgyan@theadvocate.com
New Orleans bureau

NEW ORLEANS -- The commander of the Louisiana National Guard's 256th Brigade Combat Team, which has seen 15 of its soldiers killed in Iraq, said early Wednesday from Baghdad that the Lafayette brigade has made some tactical changes to try to stay "one step ahead of the enemy."
"We try very hard not to create a pattern so as not to expose ourselves. There are no guarantees, of course. This is not an unsophisticated enemy," Brig. Gen. John Basilica of Baton Rouge, whose civilian job is with the state Department of Transportation and Development, told reporters at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans via a Tuesday evening video teleconference.

Basilica, speaking at 3 a.m. Wednesday Baghdad time from Camp Victory where the 256th is based, said the improvised explosive devices that insurgents have used to kill members of the 256th are "without hesitation, without qualification, the greatest threat to our soldiers."

The tactical changes that the brigade has made to counter the insurgents' use of IEDs includes observation points, snipers, unmanned vehicles and a mine clearing vehicle called "Buffalo."
View a graphic of "THE BUFFALO" here:
http://www.defense-update.com/images/buffalo.jpg

"It is a combination of all of those things," he said. "It's really a very comprehensive approach."

That approach includes the "smarts" of the soldiers themselves, Basilica said.

"They are extremely good at what they do. They are as competent and capable group of soldiers that you're going to find anywhere," he said. "Yes, we are chipping away at the insurgents' capabilities."

Basilica said the 256th includes more than 3,000 Louisiana soldiers. But when soldiers from other states' units attached to the brigade are taken into account, the number of soldiers he is commanding in Iraq numbers about 6,000.

Those soldiers are well armed and equipped, he insisted.

"The level of equipment has been the highest the Army can provide," he said. "All of it is the best the Army has to offer."

Losing 15 Louisiana soldiers has been difficult, Basilica said, but the resolve of the brigade's soldiers has not been shaken.

"The morale in the brigade is high, is extremely good," he said.

"They do an extremely good job of taking care of each other. The losses we have experienced have been tragic."

The soldiers, who have stress management teams at their disposal, know that their families are being taken care of at home, which makes a huge difference, he said.

Basilica said the 256th is "making history" in Iraq -- from providing "direct assistance" to Iraqi security forces during that country's first democratic elections, to helping to train Iraqi military personnel so they can take over once U.S. troops leave, to conducting public works projects dealing with water and sewerage, to providing medical support by assisting doctors and clinics, to providing humanitarian support such as helping farmers with water, seed, fertilizer, tractors and generators.

"It is absolutely impossible to overestimate the significance of the contribution that they are making. This is historic. They are making history," he said. "They are bringing democracy to this region."

Basilica said he can sense the "momentum" building in Iraq since the recently conducted free elections, what he termed an "irreversible historic moment for the people of Iraq."

"The momentum is absolutely palatable," he said. "Clearly they're (the Iraqi people) in charge of their own destiny."

The 256th has been in Baghdad since mid-October, meaning the brigade is halfway through its scheduled tour of duty in Iraq.

"We hope to be home soon," Basilica said.

Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, commander of the Louisiana National Guard, joined reporters at Jackson Barracks, the Louisiana guard's headquarters, and said the 256th is doing an "incredible job."

"They're very motivated. They can sense the difference they're making," he said.

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Replies:

Subject	Author	Date
Well spoken!	Lainey Poche	21:56:08 03/09/05 Wed