The Foreign Service Journal, March 2006

Department of Agriculture representatives on the PRTs to implement civilian-funded projects. Toward the end of 2003, civilians began to play a stronger role in the PRTs. Most teams soon had one rep- resentative each from State, USAID and Agriculture. One-year tours were planned to provide continuity and to allow time for relationship-building. Coordination improved between military-led PRT activities and civilian projects under way in a team’s area of operations. Most important, civilians obtained access to State Department Economic Support Funds, which could support projects that OHDACA could not. Not everyone supported the evolution of the PRTs beyond military-funded, quick-impact projects, however. Some complained they were becoming a “Motel 6” for civilians involved in disarmament, police training and eco- nomic reconstruction programs. One senior officer in Bagram complained that the PRTs were becoming a “Christmas tree that everyone wants to hang their orna- ments on.” Some of these complaints were justified, as U.S. government officials at times called for PRTs to take on new missions without offering additional resources. Ideally, they would play the role of catalysts for a range of stabilization and reconstruction efforts, with civilians not just advising the military, but using the PRTs to help accomplish their own missions as well. A Growing Impact As they got a better focus and a stronger contingent of civilian representation, the PRTs began to have a far greater impact. Lieutenant General David Barno recog- nized their importance when he took over command of Coalition forces in November 2003. He sped up the establishment of new teams, increasing their number from eight to 14 in less than a year. He tried to change the attitude that PRTs were a “civil affairs thing,” separate from the main effort, by grouping them under the control of regional brigade commanders. Barno also changed the strategic context in ways that made PRTs more effective. He adopted a more classic counterinsurgency strategy for F O C U S M A R C H 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 65 Interim Accommodations for Corporate and Government Markets Apartments, Townhouses & Single Family Homes “FOR THE EXECUTIVE ON THE MOVE” h finder5@IX.netcom.com Locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C. Units fully furnished, equipped and accessorized Many “Walk to Metro” locations Pet Friendly 5105-L Backlick Road, Annandale, Virginia Tel: (703) 354-4070 Fax: (703) 642-3619 Executive Lodging Alternatives