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The Honolulu Advertiser
Maj. Gen. James M. Dubik | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Tuesday, January 1, 2002

12 to watch in 2002
Maj. Gen. James M. Dubik

Advertiser Staff

Until Sept. 11, the military in Hawai'i struggled for years to define its mission here to an increasingly indifferent civilian world. While its purpose may seem clearer in wartime, the military is still struggling with a radical transformation from its Cold War-era mission into a nimble, 21st-century fighting force.

At the forefront of such changes is Maj. Gen. James M. Dubik. Since taking command of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawai'i, Dubik has dealt with litigation over Army training in Makua Valley, "force protection" measures following Sept. 11, preparations for a peacekeeping mission to Bosnia, and the selection of Hawai'i as the base for a fast-response combat team.

This year, that last topic on the list — the creation of an "Interim Brigade Combat Team" — promises the greatest challenge for Dubik, 52, and the 25th Division.

The 2nd Brigade, with 2,900 soldiers, will undergo a transformation that within about a decade will result in a quick-response force outfitted with 300 armored troop carriers that will be ferried to trouble spots in big C-17 Globemaster III cargo carriers. As part of that shift, Dubik will be a key figure in deciding how the Army will spend up to $690 million on construction in Hawai'i to redo roads, training facilities and runways and add barracks and other buildings.
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