Retired Army Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik, former commander of the 25th Infantry Division, has been named as the first senior fellow at the Institute for the Study of War.

In his role as a senior fellow, Dubik will conduct research and write briefs. His areas of focus include Multi National Security Transition Command-Iraq (MNSTC-I) and the Iraqi Security Forces, ways to improve U.S. and allied training of indigenous security forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and counterinsurgency doctrine.

Dubik assumed command of MNSTC-I in 2007. During this final command, he oversaw the training of the Iraqi Security Forces. Previously, he was the commanding general of I Corps at Fort Lewis and the deputy commanding general for Transformation at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. He retired from the Army in September 2008.

Hawaii citizen soldiers from the Pacific Army Reserve's 9th Mission Support Command and the Hawaii Army National Guard's 230th Engineer Company, Vertical, are in Thailand this month participating in the exercise known as Cobra Gold. The 30 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers are led by Capt. Anthony S. Tolentino, who commands the engineer unit, which is based at the Waiawa armory in Pearl City.

The soldiers from the Army Reserve are working with coalition armies in the planning and operations element of this year's exercise.

“;It was a surprise to me that our planning processes are so much alike. Knowing that, we're not here to take the lead. We are here to learn what we can from them and at the same time advising and observing them, seeing how we can better meet their needs,”; Army Reserve Sgt. Maj. Chris Kaukali, administrative noncommissioned officer in charge, said in a news release.

Hawaii Army National Guard engineers and 19 Royal Thai Marines built a 26-by-77-foot multipurpose classroom facility for a rural school in Chanthaburi on the eastern coast of Thailand.

The Hawaii soldiers and Thai Marines distributed about 37,000 cartons of milk to the local community. The Ban Nong Buatong School serves a poor, rural community with about 140 students ranging from kindergarten to the sixth grade.

A small crew repaired a basketball court. “;It was a good project,”; said Staff Sgt. Leif Andersen of Haleiwa, one of the crew members working on the basketball project. “;It was good that we could do something like this for the community and the kids,”; he continued. “;It's always rewarding to build something that is going to last.”;

The Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers also brought gifts of pencils, pens, crayons and notebooks, a National Guard news release reported.

“;For us, whenever we go other places, we always do a little more,”; said Sgt. 1st Class Catherine Kula of Waipahu. “;We always try to give a little more: the project plus some extra.”;