EMBEDDED: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army

Australian Military Review--they like the book!

2011-05-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.army.gov.au/

http://www.army.gov.au/lwsc/docs/AAJ_Summer_10.pdf

The Manhattan Mercury

2010-04-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent book review from a regional newspaper in Manhattan, KS.

Naval (1)

Wharton Magazine Feature

2009-11-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business publishes a magazine and I happened to have a featured article in it--pretty cool.

http://www.whartonmagazine.com/files/WM_FALL09_FINAL-2.pdf

Museum of Contemporary Art: Guest speaker

2009-10-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege to take part in "It is what it is: conversations about Iraq" this past weekend. The exhibit is currently showing in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. I highly recommend the show.
Here is some information on the exhibit:

http://www.mcachicago.org/exhibitions/exh_detail.php?id=219

Speaker bios
http://www.mcachicago.org/deller/

The show's website
http://www.conversationsaboutiraq.org/

Effective ways to learn Iraqi Arabic

2009-09-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

General principles for efficient/effective/tactical learning of Iraqi Arabic (or at least what worked for me):

1. Forget writing (unless you have tons of extra time) and focus 100% on speaking IRAQI Arabic and nothing else--you have limited time/resources and need to maximize time spent since you also have to know weapons/job stuff

2. Focus on basic grammar rules for I, you, and we forms for males (one of the ppt's im sending has this info)...no need to get fancy and learn various forms and female rules--you'll sound like a 4yr old, but you will learn quickly and Iraqis will understand you easily. If your time allows you can focus on other areas

3. Use tactical Iraqi http://www.tacticallanguage.com/--it is BAR NONE the best training device available--absolutely amazing if used properly and the student is disciplined. It is very focused on learning the basic grammar rules, knowing the proper vocab, and focused on iraqi arabic. I spent 1-2 hrs a day for 6 months using that program--progress is VERY slow in the beginning and it seems impossible, but if you stick to it you will be successful--I promise.

4. Waste no time/taxpayer resources on Standard Arabic, DLI teachers, or Rosetta Stone, etc...use Tactical Iraqi and focus on Iraqi Arabic exclusively--the other stuff is great, but I'm operating under the assumption your troops have limited time and resources

5. If DLI instructors do come to train your troops, ensure they come in with a defined mission and understanding that your troops need to start off with BASICS, and learn how to speak like a 3yr old first (ie VERY basic grammar rules, pneumonics, and how to get the basic point across--nobody cares if you leave of a dangling modifier--better to know how to piece together 'muhammed run there' as opposed to 'mr mohammed needs to run to a location in that far corridor which is far far away'. In my experience as a student and course designer, the DLI folks come into training with NO plan, and act like the troops are all linguist PhDs.

6. Put the DLI mp3's on your ipod/mp3 player and just listen to it on runs/pt...I still remember the nouns from those disks almost 2.5 years later because they are burned into my mind from listening to those tapes over and over again

7. When you get in country , grab a terp or an Iraqi with a decent grasp of English and force yourself to speak Iraqi Arabic--you will learn very quickly

8. Keep a notebook of nouns and new words--you will reference it for the first few months, but will gradually not have to use it.

Also, I have a TON of stuff that I used to train Marines. If you are interested in this material just email me gray56508 At gmail dot com and I will arrange to send it to you.

Semper Fidelis,

Wes

Wide Awake Minds Interview on Self Education

2009-09-09T17:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.wideawakeminds.com/2009/09/interview-author-and-finance-scholar.html

University of Chicago Homepage Spotlight

2009-09-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

cool!

http://www.uchicago.edu/features/20090908_gray.shtml

News Channel 8 Interview with Beverly Kirk

2009-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the interview for all of those who are not located in the Washington, DC area. This aired at 7:30pm on September 1, 2009.

http://www.fednewstonight.com/videoplayer.cfm?video=mms://video.wjla.com/wjla/fednewstonight/fntiraq0901.wmv&id=47794

China Times Book Review

2009-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

http://life.chinatimes.com/2009Cti/Channel/Life/life-article/0,5047,11051801+112009082300053,00.html

I'm not sure what it all means, but here is a rough translation:

Is born because of the human stupidity the war literature, has been the spiritual civilization which the humanity consoles oneself. At the beginning of century war literature, either record war both sides cultural difference, either becomes the soldier to cure the wound the memory to express.

　The disaster is frequent, the man-made disaster is unceasing, the 21st century's first 10 years, and are inferior to the people anticipated like that happy. Often is neglected, even lets the fact which the human becomes accustomed to is: The US in 2001 started the Afghan war and in 2003 entered and was stationed in Iraq, until today now progressive form. Writes the testimony war, then smooths the wound, also benefits obviously urgently. Actually "Asia and "Morocco Has scolded Husband's mother Luo since Iraq In" To reach", this batch of births from the stupidity war literature, already become the spiritual civilization which the humanity consoles oneself.

　" flood and field second lieutenant's cultural observation

　In April publishes "Ambush" (Embedded), the author was in 2006 has treated 210 day-long United States Marines Second Lieutenant Gray in Iraq (Wesley Gray). He initially to join the army interrupts University of Chicago's curriculum, now the official does obeisance captain, also returns to the campus to study for doctorate. Because can hold Iraq's Arabic, Gray can understand the bilateral cultural difference compared to the fellow officer. "Ambush" a book issue document is freely relaxed, is actually the rare field record.

　For example in the book a Kurdis's interpreting on refers to the core straight, questioned the US military moves validity: Iraq's army organization is this national mainstay, once has been destroyed, is equal to all paralyses. Not only all bases, the bank, the cultural relic nobody control, can only degenerate into robbers and bandits' it's in the bag, the massive weapons flow in the folk, even falls into the terrorist in the hand, instead endangers US military own security. In addition, the US military everywhere randomly explodes, has complete disregard for human life, but actually a group protects the drill tubing, certainly makes the person impression to be greatly bad, the freedom and the democracy high-sounding talk also collapses of itself.

　"Ambush" also touches in the sex and the authority consciousness difference. For example some Iraqi colonel believed that hits the wife is because the woman has the attraction, must let them know that who is boss. What is surprising is the Iraqi military on the scene nods assent identically, although all people put to implement by no means. In dines in the order, US-Iraqi both armies also unfold the different leadership rein thought. After US military military officers always eats, because the soldier is the genuine worker, the military officer responsibility is the attendance soldier, guaranteed that the work carries on smoothly. But the Iraqi military is actually the military officer first dines, sometimes the soldier even can only eat the leftover dish, if because waits the subordinate to be too good, cannot set up the prestige.

Military Writer Society of America 2009 Book Award Nominee

2009-08-29T08:48:00.001-07:00

Next week the Military Writer Society of America will be announce on www.veteransradio.net at 9am EST on September 12 who is the winner.

My book was nominated in the memoir category along with these other works:

The Lady Gangster, Memoirs of a Sailor by Del Staeker
Cat Lo, A Memoir of Invincible Youth by Virgil Erwin
Immeasuarable Spirit: Lessons of a Wounded Warrior by Latoya Lucas

Let's hope I win!

Veterans Today Book Review

2009-08-27T17:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8404

CNN Interview

2009-08-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

I was on CNN's "Situation Room" program this evening. I'll post the clip ASAP. Look for the clip to be replayed on different segments over the next few days.

Here is the clip:

Here is a transcript from the clip:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0908/20/sitroom.02.html
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, U.S. troops could be on the move. And just today, the Iraqi prime minister ordered more checkpoints, random searches and tougher vehicle searches -- all to improve security there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: (voice-over): The families of Baghdad's bombing victims came to collect their remains Thursday after the deadliest day of coordinated attacks all year. Now, Iraqis are blaming their own.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We warned the security forces not to be lax, but those troops didn't carry out their duties.

LAWRENCE: The American commander in charge of training those Iraqi forces admitted... LT. GEN. FRANK HELMICK, U.S. ARMY: Clearly, there was a lapse of security.

LAWRENCE: The bombs killed nearly 100 people and came less than two months after U.S. troops left Iraq's cities. The Americans are only minutes away, but must wait until Iraqis ask for help, which may not come until well after.

HELMICK: They did request some intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. In fact, we provided that. They've also requested some medical assistance, which we provided, as well.

LAWRENCE: Some blame Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki for pushing the Americans out too soon.

WESLEY GRAY, FORMER ADVISER TO IRAQI ARMY: He's telling the Iraqi people, hey, I'm the guy that freed you from the bonds of American occupation.

LAWRENCE: Wesley Gray is a former Marine officer who spent more than 200 days living with and mentoring Iraqi forces. He says they can do basic patrols and combat missions, but could fracture if religious tensions rise. Gray says Al-Maliki's strategy gives the opposition good reason to make his security forces look ineffective.

GRAY: The disenfranchised Sunni groups have huge incentives to -- to force him to have to go crawling back to the Americans, because then they can say, hey, look, this guy is weak. He couldn't do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Lars Larson Show

2009-08-22T13:03:00.001-07:00

I'll be a guest on Lars show this Monday at 730pm EST, 430pm PST.
Here is where you can listen live and find a local station.
http://www.larslarson.com/site

Alex Martin Book Review

2009-08-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Alex, currently a Force Recon Marine and total stud, wrote up a review for the book. It's not your typical review, but very creative and well done--bravo!

http://blog.usni.org/?p=4084

Wired: Danger Club

2009-08-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom

EMBEDDED received a shout-out in this recent posting on Wired's "Danger Room."

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/dr-book-club-afghanistans-high-tech-rock-collectors/

WOKB 1680 AM Interview

2009-08-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

If you live in Florida, tune into 1680AM and listen to my latest interview on EMBEDDED: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army.

Book News Entry

2009-08-13T14:03:00.001-07:00

http://www.booknews.com/ref_issues/ref_aug2009/naval1.html

Hollywood Venture Capital Review

2009-07-31T05:26:00.000-07:00

via a friend who just released his blog "Hollywood Venture Capital."

http://hollywood.vc/2009/07/30/iraq-book-embedded-by-wes-gray-is-a-great-read-npr-weekend-edition-interview/

He's bias, but that's why we love him...

Time to go home?

2009-07-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has an interesting piece on the status of the Iraqi military.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/world/middleeast/31adviser.html?hp

Here are some comments from Col. Reese that 100% corroborate what I saw:
source: http://washingtonindependent.com/53224/col-timothy-reese-its-time-for-the-us-to-declare-victory-and-go-home

2. The military culture of the Baathist-Soviet model under Saddam Hussein remains entrenched and will not change. The senior leadership of the ISF is incapable of change in the current environment.
a) Corruption among officers is widespread
b) Neglect and mistreatment of enlisted men is the norm
c) The unwillingness to accept a role for the NCO corps continues
d) Cronyism and nepotism are rampant in the assignment and promotion system
e) Laziness is endemic
f) Extreme centralization of C2 is the norm
g) Lack of initiative is legion
h) Unwillingness to change, do anything new blocks progress
i) Near total ineffectiveness of the Iraq Army and National Police institutional organizations and systems prevents the ISF from becoming self-sustaining
j) For every positive story about a good ISF junior officer with initiative, or an ISF commander who conducts a rehearsal or an after action review or some individual MOS training event, there are ten examples of the most basic lack of military understanding despite the massive partnership efforts by our combat forces and advisory efforts by MiTT and NPTT teams.

NPR Weekend Edition with Scott Simon

2009-07-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

Scott Simon liked my book (EMBEDDED: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army) and decided to interview me for his "Weekend Edition" radio show.

You can listen live via your local station http://www.npr.org/stations/?ps=st1

Here is a link to the show.
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=7

...and here is a link to a story on the book

Here is the actual interview

San Diego News Network Feature

2009-07-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Jarred Powell, a former Marine, wrote an article on EMBEDDED: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army.
http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-07-22/news/can-iraqi-security-forces-go-at-it-alone

Jim Bohannon Show--Tonight, 10pm EST

2009-07-20T13:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.jimbotalk.net/

Here is the transcript from the interview.
http://www.jimbotalk.net/programhighlights;jsessionid=B33E5CDCA905B69BAA72A1BE3F383529?pid=32351

KDWN 720am, Heidi Harris Show Interview

2009-07-16T07:18:00.001-07:00

This morning I did a live interview with Heidi Harris.

http://www.kdwn.com/index.php?page=16

I will post the playback once it is available.

University of Chicago Magazine Spotlight

2009-07-10T12:10:00.001-07:00

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0908/chicago_journal/iraqi_sabbatical.shtml

National Review Online Book Review

2009-07-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

"This book’s value lies in the uniqueness of Gray’s experience, and his remarkably clear-eyed recognition of that uniqueness."

"The conversations Gray recounts are priceless and make a fascinating study for anyone trying to understand the war, the Iraqis, or Iraqi society."

"Wes Gray’s Embedded is a raw yet thoughtful account of his profoundly interesting experience, told from an honest and intelligent perspective."

— Gabriel Ledeen is a senior fellow with the Vets for Freedom Educational Institute. He served two tours in al-Anbar, Iraq, as an officer with a Marine infantry battalion.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTk1YmM2MzAzYTUxODZkNjdmNzI0MmU2NjI0ZjY0M2E=#more

John Bachelor Show Interview

2009-07-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

http://johnbatchelorshow.com/mp3/jbs_090607b.mp3
Enjoy. Starts about half way through the clip

WTOP Radio Interview (DC Station)

2009-07-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Can Iraqi Security Forces Go It Alone?
Wesley Gray, former U.S. marine trainer and author of Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside The Iraqi Army
http://www.wtop.com/emedia/157735.mp3

Dave Ross Show, KIRO Radio Interview (Seattle Based)

2009-07-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

Interview starts about half-way through
http://icestream.bonnint.net/seattle/kiro/2009/07/p_Dave_Ross_Show_20090703_10am.mp3
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=90

You Served Radio Interview

2009-07-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

Interview runs for ~30 minutes and starts at minute 63
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved/2009/04/30/Episode-36-Sergeant-Major-of-the-Army-Preston

Hometown Newspaper Book Publicity

2009-07-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-r eviews/author-cottonwood-roots-led-to-success
http://www.redding.com/news/2009/may/09/west-valle y-graduate-pens-book/
http://www.andersonvalleypost.com/news/2009/may/05 /author-cottonwood-roots-led-to-success/

-----
West Valley graduate pens book
Wesley Gray, a Marine, details his experiences in Iraq

By By George L. Winship Anderson Valley Post

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Cottonwood's sweltering late-summer heat and the rigors of daily double practices with West Valley High School's varsity football squad might seem like odd preparations for a tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.

But they are two things Wesley Gray of West Valley's Class of 1989 credits for surviving 210 days of living with and fighting beside Iraqi soldiers in Al-Anbar, one of the most dangerous and austere provinces of western Iraq.

Upon his arrival in 2006, Gray and his fellow military advisers dealt with an insurgent population traumatized by a massacre of 24 men, women and children shot at close range by Marines in retaliation for the death of one of their own from a roadside bomb.

Gray, 29, recently authored a book of his experiences titled "Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army." It was published April 1 by Naval Institute Press.

The 272-page hardcover book retails for $28.95 but can be found online at Amazon.com as well as Barnes & Noble Booksellers' Web site for less than $20.

"Being captain of the Eagles (of West Valley High) and doing double practices in 110-degree heat prepared me for the Marines, taught me the value of teamwork and helped me understand just what the body can do under extreme conditions," Gray said during a telephone interview from his home in Chicago, where he is completing a doctorate at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

In 2004, Gray, then 24, interrupted his studies to join the Marine Corps, partly because "the Cottonwood community is so very supportive of the military," he explained.

"I went in as an officer, so I was in the upper end of the age group for new recruits, but there are a lot of crazy Marines who have served 10, 15 or 20 years, so I definitely wasn't one of the oldest either," said Gray, who attained the rank of first lieutenant.

As an intelligence officer, Gray spent time in a joint military operation with the Philippine Army and participated in the bilateral Japanese-American military war game "Yama Sakura" in Kumamoto, Japan, prior to his deployment to Iraq.

"I made my knowledge about (the Iraqi) language the focus of my training. I memorized a lot of nouns and heard language tapes constantly on my MP3 (player)," Gray said.

Even family photos proved to be invaluable, he reveals in his book.

"During pre-deployment, I put in a lot of time learning about Arab culture. One thing I took away from my studies was that family is central in Arab life," Gray writes. "I knew the Arabs perceived Americans as godless heathens, more concerned with material wealth than family. To combat this stereotype, I created a family photo album that I could show the Iraqis."

To further increase his wasta - a mysterious combination of pull, connection, knowledge and charisma that earns respect in Iraq - Gray led by example and used his skills with computers and peripheral equipment. As a result, the Iraqi soldiers considered him an Arab brother and fondly named him "Jamal."

Despite losing his best friend to a roadside bomb and witnessing some of the atrocities of modern warfare, Gray says he maintained his sanity by writing daily of his experiences.

"I'm not really a writer, but I figured I had an interesting story to tell. I tried to make my book different from all of the run and gun stories that are out there," Gray said.

Gray's parents - Bill, a veterinarian, and Jill, who runs the Cottonwood Veterinary Clinic - are thankful their eldest son returned safely from Iraq and are proud of his book.

"For Wesley, the book was a very helpful thing for him to do," Jill Gray said. "His grandmother and I have both told him, however, that we just wished he hadn't cussed so much in the telling of his story."

But Jill Gray admits that such raw language is understandable because the book is intended primarily for a military audience.

The book might also prove instructive to young men and women heading overseas into harm's way, Bill Gray said.

© 2009 Scripps Newspaper Group — Online

Recent Reviews for Embedded

2009-07-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

"Gray details the cultural nuances and interpersonal relationships of occupied Iraq with such care and clarity, it's a must-read for anyone interested in the the reconstruction, especially those set to deploy."

Publishers Weekly
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6661889. html

"Embedded presents a tale not often told among the growing collection of memoirs by former company grade officers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Marine Capt. Wesley Gray served as an embedded combat adviser with an Iraqi battalion in Haditha, Iraq, during 2006. Gray deserves great credit for shining the spotlight the critical effort to develop competent Iraqi security forces. For those who have never had the pleasure of closely working as an embed, Gray’s narrative reveals the herculean challenges that most combat advisers face."

Small Wars Journal
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2009/05/book-review-embedded/

"Using his on-the-ground experience as a Marine Corps adviser working with Iraqi troops, First Lt. Wesley Gray offers a stark vision of the immediate future in his new book, Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army."

The Charleston Gazette
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/Opinion/OpEdCommentaries/200905160308

"The book is a good read and would be a valuable addition to all community libraries."
"It gives a realistic insight into what the USA is still confronting."
"1st Lt. Gray's stories range form hilarious to tear inducing."

Jimmy Kepler, veteran, editor of Kepler's Military History Book Reviews
http://kepgeek.blogspot.com/2009/05/embedded-marin e-corps-adviser-inside.html

"It’s an important book, as the Marines re-organize to make foreign military training a core mission."
"Embedded is also deeply, darkly hilarious in places. "
"Good book. Check it out!"

David Axe, military correspondant, author of WAR FIX
http://warisboring.com/?p=2079

"Wesley Gray. Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army. Gray writes about Iraq. ‘Nuff said. Read it."

My Philadelphia Story
http://phillygrrl.com/2009/05/06/memoirs-memoirs-memoirs/

"Despite his pessimism, Gray's unvarnished memoir is a revealing look at the enormous challenges facing MiTT teams in this Long War. Read as a cautionary tale, it's a valuable contribution to our ongoing assessment of the way forward in Iraq."

Tom Miller, author, veteran, and former history professor
http://flyover-culture.blogspot.com/2009/03/tomorr ow-naval-institute-press-will.html

Advance Praise for Embedded

2009-07-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

“This is an insightful work about the most important part of the war in Iraq. If we are ever going to get out of there, it will be because we listen to people like Wesley Gray.”

—Thomas E. Ricks

Journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winner, author of The Gamble:
General David Petraeus and the American Military Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008

“A superb account of the Iraq War from a truly unique perspective. Wes Gray gives us an insightful view from inside the Iraqi military as it prosecuted its missions in this complex and controversial conflict.”

—Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, USMC (Ret.)
former Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Central Command, 1997-2000, author of The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America’s Power and Purpose

“Wes Gray has captured at the hard street level the essence of the strategic blunder that the Bush administration made in Iraq—the destruction of the Iraqi Army.”

—Dr. Roby C. Barrett
Middle East Institute scholar, author of The Greater Middle East and the Cold War: U.S. Foreign Policy Under Eisenhower and Kennedy