October 8, 2008

After serving in two wars, Aunger attends staff college
Army major says critical thinking is key in classes

By KATHY GRAY
of The Chronicle

     After serving a year in Iraq as well as duty during the Gulf War, Jonathan Aunger is learning how to be a better officer at the Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
     Aunger calls The Dalles home.
     He originally enlisted in the Air Force in 1989, and was stationed at McCord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Wash.,
     “That’s how I got to come to The Dalles for the first time,” he said. “I had a friend from The Dalles and went to Thanksgiving with him.”
     He was stationed at Spangdalem Air Force Base in Germany from 1991 to 1993, serving as a supply clerk for the Gulf War. While there, he started his college career, earning an associate’s degree in general studies.
     “When I got out of the military — I got out to go to school and took an early out after the Gulf War — I went to the University of Nevada Reno and got a bachelor’s degree in premed,” Aunger said. “That’s where I met my wife, who is from The Dalles.” His wife, Blanca Cisneros, was a bridesmaid at a wedding Aunger attended.
     His college career led to another move to the military. Aunger got commissioned in the Army as a CBRN officer, part of the crew that investigates chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear items.
     One example Aunger provided took place in White Sands, N.M., on the nuclear range where five bomblets were found. After investigating the bomblets with photo neutron spectroscopy and other tests, they discovered that it was not a chemical weapon, but contained antifreeze, which was often used during tests.
     In Iraq, Aunger worked on infrastructure security, traveling to hydropower dams and other facilities to do vulnerability assessments.
     “That’s what my master’s degree is in, so it’s kind of nice,” he said.
     Aunger will spend 10 months at the General Staff College. Part of his training will be in critical thinking and critical problem-solving.
     “A lot of the big companies have an almost identical problem-solving method [to the Army’s],” Aunger said.
     He is also studying writing, history, leadership and logistics. Much of his problem-solving work comes from the real world.
     “Like Georgia and Russia,” he said; “they’re scenario-based problems.”
     The college includes other branches of the military, as well, Aunger noted.
“They teach a lot about how to work jointly with the other services,” he said. “It also has 80 people from international services. It’s actually a really good education for the military.”
     The college also joins shared exercises with international forces. Students may travel to Australia, Germany, Canada or England joint exercises are undertaken.
     The school is geared toward field-grade officers, Aunger noted, usually majors, but also a few captains attend.
     Aunger said his goal is to be a battalion commander, become a lieutenant colonel and retire.
     “As time goes on, family becomes more important,” he said. “I’m successful where I’m at now, but I would like to make lieutenant colonel, which will happen.”
Aunger and his wife have three children ages 10, 9 and 5, and are in the process of adopting a children from China.
     “There are 120 million kids out there that are orphans in the world,” Aunger said. “We decided instead of having more kids ourselves, we’re going to change somebody’s life.”