{"id":36460,"date":"2022-05-17T22:42:56","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T22:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/05\/17\/pentagons-high-level-group-to-aid-ukraine-is-rooted-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-fight\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:45:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:45:50","slug":"pentagons-high-level-group-to-aid-ukraine-is-rooted-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2022\/05\/17\/pentagons-high-level-group-to-aid-ukraine-is-rooted-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-fight\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon\u2019s high-level group to aid Ukraine is rooted in Iraq and Afghanistan fight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2015 The Pentagon has modeled a new high-level team focused on rushing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/pentagon\/2022\/04\/29\/national-guards-aging-battle-taxis-find-new-use-in-ukraine-fight\/\" target=\"_blank\">military aid to Ukraine<\/a> on the group it used to speed supplies to troops in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/afghanistan\/\" target=\"_blank\">Afghanistan<\/a>, Iraq and Syria, according to a memo obtained by Defense News and sources familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pentagon leaders several weeks ago quietly convened the group \u2015 co-chaired by the Pentagon\u2019s No. 2 civilian and military leaders \u2015 to cut through its notoriously unwieldy bureaucracy. Called the Senior Integration Group-Ukraine, its mandate is to hustle military equipment to Ukraine from its own stocks, replenish those stocks, coordinate aid with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/europe\/2022\/03\/23\/nato-members-to-pledge-support-for-ukraine-against-potential-chem-bio-attacks\/\" target=\"_blank\">NATO<\/a>, support partner nations and address humanitarian issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SIG-Ukraine is adapted from the little known Warfighter Senior Integration Group, which the Pentagon launched in the middle of the war on terror to answer the urgent needs of battlefield commanders. The Ukraine group\u2019s predecessor rapidly fielded surveillance aerostats, working dogs and ballistic underwear used to protect troops from roadside bombs and much more, according to former officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEffective immediately, I am establishing a Senior Integration Group-Ukraine (SIG-Ukraine), to focus on facilitating the provision of lethal and non-lethal support to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression,\u201d Deputy Defense Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/industry\/2022\/04\/18\/pentagon-industry-wrestle-with-how-to-boost-weapons-production-for-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kathleen Hicks<\/a>, one of the group\u2019s co-chairs, said in her May 11 memo authorizing the group, which was already at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hinting at \u201csignificant challenges ahead,\u201d Hicks directed senior Pentagon leaders to cooperate with the SIG-Ukraine \u201cin this very important effort to defend democracy and help defeat Russian aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/2022\/04\/22\/calling-all-weapons-makers-pentagon-seeks-new-ideas-to-arm-ukraine\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP22108564890190.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Calling all weapons makers: Pentagon seeks new ideas to arm Ukraine<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">In its effort to quickly arm Ukraine against Russia, the Pentagon has announced the equivalent of an open casting call for companies to offer weapons and commercial systems that can be rushed to the fight.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it\u2019s been widely reported the Pentagon has been rushing weapons to Ukrainian forces, the bureaucratic mechanism hasn\u2019t previously been made public. Former officials said the SIG format derives its power from the involvement of senior leaders and has long been a way to make and implement decisions within days that might otherwise take months or years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe key attribute is the seniority attendant to that forum and the speed and agility with which it identifies and drives actions,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/conference.defensenews.com\/speaker\/gregory-kausner\/\" target=\"_blank\">Greg Kausner<\/a>, a former Biden administration defense official who in 2021 temporarily assumed the duties of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, including chairing the Warfighter SIG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new group is functionally co-chaired by Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/pentagon\/2022\/05\/06\/pentagon-reviewing-hundreds-of-industry-proposals-in-effort-to-rapidly-arm-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bill LaPlante<\/a> and the Joint Staff\u2019s director of operations, Lt. Gen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/europe\/2022\/01\/07\/blinken-warns-russia-ahead-of-talks-on-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\">James Mingus<\/a>, as stand-ins for Hicks and Joint Chiefs vice chairman Adm. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/12\/17\/grady-confirmed-as-new-vice-chair-for-joint-chiefs\/\" target=\"_blank\">Christopher Grady<\/a>. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2021\/04\/27\/bidens-pentagon-policy-chief-colin-kahl-poised-for-confirmation-with-gop-senators-absent\/\" target=\"_blank\">Colin Kahl<\/a>, Comptroller <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/pentagon\/2022\/04\/27\/pentagons-fuel-prices-rose-3b-amid-inflationary-pressures\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mike McCord<\/a>, U.S. European Command\u2019s leadership and top armed services acquisition chiefs are also in the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The SIG Ukraine is meant to respond to needs identified by U.S. European Command and handles items procured under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. \u201cThe SIG addresses items such as the latest operational needs, and resolves issues impeding the urgent material and logistics requirements that is required to support EUCOM and support to Ukraine,\u201d said Jessica Maxwell, a Pentagon spokeswoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. is leading a flood of western weaponry into Ukraine that\u2019s helped blunt Russia\u2019s initial offensive and is expected to be critical in the next phase of fighting in eastern and southern Ukraine. On Tuesday, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated from Mariupol, appearing to cede control of the city to Russia after 82 days of bombardment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congress is poised to pass a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2022\/05\/10\/house-to-vote-on-40-billion-ukraine-aid-package\/\" target=\"_blank\"> $40 billion Ukraine package<\/a> that authorizes the Biden administration to send another $11 billion in U.S. military equipment to Ukraine and includes $9 billion to backfill stocks already sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That equipment includes 20,000 weapons designed to defeat armored vehicles, some 1,400 shoulder-fired Stinger missiles to shoot down aircraft and more than 50 million rounds of ammunition, among many other items. Heavy weaponry for the latest phase of the war includes 90 howitzers, 200,000 artillery rounds and roughly 20 radar systems to detect incoming artillery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without a fast-tracked process, answering Ukraine\u2019s requests for equipment could take Washington\u2019s bureaucracy months, with a request winding its way through the State Department and Pentagon\u2019s security cooperation channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Addressing urgent needs<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2009, Defense Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/news\/2016\/09\/17\/former-defense-secretary-robert-gates-slams-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\">Robert Gates<\/a> launched the 50-member Warfighter SIG to answer joint urgent operational needs statements, or JUONS, from downrange. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/pentagon\/2017\/03\/28\/ash-carter-to-lead-harvard-s-belfer-center\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ash Carter<\/a>, then the Pentagon\u2019s acquisition chief, said in his 2019 book the SIG\u2019s weekly meetings included \u201ceverybody who mattered in the whole department, from top generals to senior staffers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe brought the need for camera-equipped balloons to the SIG, marking it as a super-urgent challenge on which American lives depended,\u201d Carter said. \u201cThe officers in charge of budgeting, ordering, and shipping equipment were instructed to make it a top priority. Within days, dozens of aerostats were on their way to Afghanistan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2022\/05\/11\/stinger-shortcut-us-army-seeks-special-funding-for-missile-supply-chain\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Avenger-missile.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Stinger shortcut: US Army seeks special funding for missile supply chain<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">U.S. Army officials hitting supply chain snags on their way to restocking Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank weapons sent to Ukraine may get a reprieve.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A flexible group, it has changed members, frequency and mandates \u2015 even playing a role to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2017\/05\/10\/us-weapons-will-soon-flow-to-kurds-as-they-isolate-isis-fighters-in-raqqa\/\" target=\"_blank\">arm proxy forces fighting the Islamic State group<\/a> at one point \u2015 but a common thread has been the seniority of its members and its mandate to solve the problems of commanders in war zones as they pop up, according to sources familiar with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/industry\/2022\/04\/18\/pentagon-industry-wrestle-with-how-to-boost-weapons-production-for-ukraine\/\" target=\"_blank\">Andrew Hunter<\/a>, now the Air Force\u2019s acquisition chief and formerly the director of the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell, told Congress in 2015 the SIG was a model for cutting red tape. He described it then as \u201ca giant room, tons of people around a table\u201d with battlefield commanders participating by video teleconference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEveryone around the table, with the deputy secretary of defense there, and the question is not a debate about should we or shouldn\u2019t we: We are going to do it. That is the bottom line,\u201d Hunter, now the Air Force\u2019s representative to the SIG-Ukraine, said at the time. \u201cAnd everyone who has a role in the system is there, and a decision is made. The deputy secretary says, here is how we are going to do it. Everyone go out. These are the marching orders.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the U.S. wound down its presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, the group wound down as well and focused mainly on withdrawing people and equipment, but also procuring intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance services, said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/2022\/01\/12\/ellen-lord-joins-geost-board-of-directors\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ellen Lord<\/a>, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment in the Trump administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the days before mega Zoom meetings, it was highly unusual, but we had the combatant commanders and whoever the [U.S. military] leadership in-country in Iraq or Afghanistan would be,\u201d Lord said. \u201cThe way I handled it is if there was a priority issue, maybe money wasn\u2019t being freed up, was you would turn to the comptroller and see what we could do to resolve it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, Lord lauded the Pentagon\u2019s new adaptation of the SIG model as a sign Ukraine has the attention of the Pentagon\u2019s senior leaders, in a holistic way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt shows an enormous focus, a unity of action and a priority within the department,\u201d Lord said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Pentagon has modeled a new high-level team to rush military aid to Ukraine after the group it used to rush supplies to troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to a memo obtained by Defense News and sources familiar with the 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