RSC-Capital commander bids farewell, welcomes incoming

KABUL, Afghanistan -- He was the odd one, sort of. He was the one from the Air Force.

With that distinction compared to his Army peers, Air Force Col. Bob Wicks Jr. said goodbye to Regional Support Command-Capital and began looking forward to his next assignment as the deputy director for the Air Force International Training and Education Center, San Antonio, Texas.

Wicks talked about this assignment, an anomaly compared to the rest of his assignments, with candor during his farewell speech at Camp Phoenix’s Patriot Square during the RSC-Capital change of command ceremony July 5.

“I didn’t know what to expect … I’m this lone Air Force guy,” Wicks said, citing the word “trepidation” to describe his initial feeling upon taking command last August.

Prior to coming to RSC-Capital, Wicks was assigned to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, as the director of Space Forces for Pacific Air Force.

Regardless, he quickly realized, whether you’re Air Force or Army, that he and the other five other Regional Support Command commanders, who report to Deputy Commander, Regional Support, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, had some things in common.

Wicks said all the RSCs needed to build capacity, capability and ultimately build a lasting security in Afghanistan. The RSC-Capital, specifically, is charged with building “something strong and lasting in Kabul,” he said.

And that’s exactly what he and his staff and command members did.

The command completed 300 construction projects, another 300-related projects, at a cost of $300 million. This included security measures in and around Kabul such as the “Ring of Steel,” six city checkpoints, and four Forward Operating Bases, and major enhancements to many police stations.

“The work you’re doing is being recognized” by coalition leadership, and most of all, Afghans, he told his staff and other guests.

He then addressed the incoming commander, Army Col. Arthur Weeks III. Weeks recently arrived from the U.S. Naval War College.

“I know the mission will be successful here,” Wicks said of Weeks, noting his dedication and professionalism that he has observed during their overlap time. “Art, I wish you the best of luck.”

Wicks then concluded by thanking his staff, NTM-A senior leadership, and his deputy commander, Navy Cmdr. Hunter Haltom. “He had to play the bad cop,” Wicks jokingly said of Haltom.

“Thank you so much. I am extremely proud of being your commander,” Wicks said. “I was humbled and honored " especially during the surge. I will always look back at this time with pride.”

Before the ceremony, Wicks was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the NATO Non-Article 5 medal.

The Bronze Star Medal is a U.S. Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service.

The reviewing officer, Brig. Gen. Tom Cosentino, deputy commander, Regional Support, spoke, referencing Wicks’ uniqueness.

“You may not know, but Bob is the lone Air Force Officer of the six Regional Support Commanders. The rest are Army officers. This assignment was made before I got here so I do not know why Bob was assigned here, instead of Helmand or Bagram or Herat,” Cosentino said. “But what I do know is that Bob has shown that any officer, of any service of one’s security forces, can be the leader we all need him to be.

“He (Wicks) will soon be followed by five of his brothers, who like him, have poured their heart and soul into working with their Afghan and coalition partners to strengthen your security forces and to make Afghanistan the place you all want it to be,” Cosentino said.

“Bob, your leadership of Capital has been spectacular. You have led Marines, Airmen, Soldiers, and Sailors as well as coalition members " each committed to accomplishing a very important mission,” Cosentino said. “I want to personally thank you and to let you know that I will miss your steadiness and your commitment to complete so much for all of us.”

Cosentino then welcomed Weeks to RSC-Capital.

“Art, these are your partners, friends, and allies. Build on the trust and reputation that RSC Capital has established here. I know you’ll do just as fine a job to make Kabul secure for its citizens,” he said.

Representing NTM-A leadership was Maj. Gen. James Mallory III, deputy commanding general, NTM-A/CSTC.

Mallory told of the birth of NTM-A in November 2009, and subsequently DCOM-RS and its six RSCs. The commands were created “to help stabilize security and create conditions to transfer that security,” he said.

That, coupled with an increase of 100,000 Army and Police personnel in the Afghan National Security Force and a 33-nation coalition force, manifested into the successes made in 2011.

“Today that force is trained by Afghans who are in the lead,” Mallory said. And the RSCs have a very important mission of housing, feeding Afghan recruits and the force, building security structures, and supporting the Regional Commands of the International Security Assistance Force.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” he said.

Weeks’ career began in 1984 with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Salem State College and a master’s degree from the Naval War College.

His highest military awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters).

Regional Support Command-Capital is assigned to direct and coordinate all NTM-A/CSTC-A efforts in Kabul and the Province of Kabul to train, sustain, maintain and equip the ANSF in support of Regional Command-Capital and ANSF commanders.