{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=310701ee-c751-4a88-8a34-cf79a4ba8989", "Sen. Moran Calls on Sec. Hagel to Define Roles, Objectives in Fight Against ISIS", "2014-10-07", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) called on Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Chuck Hagel to define the campaign and authorization of military force in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria\u00a0(ISIS) as 500 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division headquarters \u2013 The Big Red One \u2013 of Fort Riley, Kan., prepare to deploy to Iraq.\r\nSen. Moran expressed concern about DoD\u2019s plan to ensure the safety and security of Big Red One soldiers and other U.S. military forces when the roles, missions and objectives of the United States in Iraq are still being determined. In the absence of a defined operational campaign, U.S. military forces may not be appropriately recognized for their participation and service in these ongoing operations. \u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cWhen sending soldiers into harm\u2019s way, a clear path and plan should be defined,\u201d Sen. Moran said in the letter. \u201cTheir desire to serve should be matched by the Administration\u2019s desire to define their roles and missions against a legal framework that authorizes their service in defense of our country.\u201d\u00a0\r\nOn Sept. 25, 2014, DoD announced that 500 Big Red One soldiers will deploy to Iraq in late October. According to the division, the soldiers will increase the United States\u2019 capacity to target the Islamic State and coordinate activities of the U.S. military across Iraq as part of a one-year mission.\r\nFull text of the letter is below.\u00a0To view a signed copy of the letter, click here.\u00a0\r\nOctober 7, 2014  The Honorable Chuck HagelSecretary of Defense1400 Defense PentagonWashington, DC 20301\u00a0\r\nDear Secretary Hagel,\r\nAlthough the Department of Defense has yet to define the ongoing operations in Iraq and Syria that you recently described as still in their infancy, the Department is sending 500 soldiers from the \u201cBig Red One,\u201d 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas, to establish a division headquarters in Iraq for the first time since the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. forces. I am deeply concerned about the Department\u2019s plan to ensure the safety and security of Big Red One soldiers and other U.S. military forces when the roles, missions and objectives of the United States in Iraq are still being determined. I am also troubled by the Department\u2019s mixed messages over the last several days with regard to clearly defining the campaign of operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria in order to dutifully recognize the service of participating U.S. military forces.\u00a0\r\nAs you know, soldiers from the Big Red One will be the first among the U.S. military outside the scope of special operators currently serving in an advisory capacity to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces. Last week, my staff requested more information as to the roles, responsibilities and missions assigned to the Big Red One upon their deployment to Iraq and other areas in the Middle East. Of these 500 soldiers, I understand that approximately 200 will be based at U.S. Joint Operations Centers (JOCs) in Baghdad and the Kurdish capital of Irbil. However, media reports quote Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, stating that they will not \u201cembed\u201d or serve as advisors within the Iraqi and Kurdish headquarters. If Big Red One soldiers are not in advisory roles, then it would seem they are not a part of the 1,600 military personnel authorized by President Obama to serve as advisors to the Iraqi National Security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga. This disparity in defining their role gives me great concern and merits a need for explanation:\r\n \r\nWhat missions are assigned to the 200 or more Big Red One soldiers in Baghdad and Irbil as part of the ongoing operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria?;\r\nDoes the President have the authority to assign missions outside of advisory role?; and\r\nPlease describe the missions of the Big Red One soldiers not based on the JOCs in Baghdad and Irbil.\r\n \r\nUnderstanding the roles and missions for the Big Red One and other U.S. military forces deployed in the fight against ISIS is increasingly troublesome because of the back-and-forth messaging from the Department of Defense about this untitled and undefined campaign.\r\nOn Thursday, October 2, 2014, a Pentagon spokesman announced that U.S. forces would become eligible for honors and service medals by considering the missions in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began thirteen years ago today, October 7, 2001, and continues to define our nation\u2019s war in Afghanistan. Yet, the Pentagon seemingly reversed this statement yesterday declaring that decisions had not yet been made to determine the recognition of those participating in this campaign. It seems the Administration and the Department of Defense are caught in a precarious situation that leads to a number of questions about the President\u2019s authority to continue the use of military force in a to-be-determined operation. If considered an extension of our current war in Afghanistan with OEF, then these operations are more than just a\u00a0conflict as the President suggests. It is my belief that this campaign is an entirely new operation against a growing army of terrorists. The President must seek Congressional approval in defining these operations and the use of military force. The back-and-forth messaging clearly draws attention to the Administration\u2019s haphazard planning, which wrongs our U.S. forces who deserve proper credit and recognition when they readily serve our country.\r\nWhen sending soldiers into harm\u2019s way, a clear path and plan should be defined for their service and sacrifice. Their desire to serve should be matched by the Administration\u2019s desire to define their roles and missions against a legal framework that authorizes their service in defense of our country. I request a response by October 21, 2014 that describes the roles and missions of the Big Red One as mentioned above and a specific explanation defining the campaign and authorization that describes the use of military force in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sincerely,\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senator Jerry Moran\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=310701ee-c751-4a88-8a34-cf79a4ba8989"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.81489996612072, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}