By Jim Garamone
Dec. 21, 2006 – Elmo and the characters of Sesame Street are going to give Americans at large a chance to see what military families go through when their loved ones deploy to war zones. Sesame Street will air "When Parents Are Deployed" on most Public Broadcasting System stations Dec. 27. Armed Forces Network stations will air the special in January.
"The special focuses on giving people an understanding of the sacrifices servicemembers' families make in a deployment," said Barbara Goodno, a senior program analyst with the Pentagon's Office of Family Policy.
Elmo, the fuzzy red puppet who is perpetually three years old, is the star of the program. Viewers see the deployment through his eyes.
"When Parents Are Deployed" may have puppets, but it is a program parents and older siblings can watch, too, said Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary for family programs. "Elmo is someone with whom people of all ages can relate."
Arsht said the producers listened to family and expert feedback to ensure the program meets families' needs.
The special is an outgrowth of a DVD entitled "Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families Cope with Military Deployment." Sesame Street released that DVD in July, and it is available in both English and Spanish versions.
In that program, Elmo's military father is ordered overseas. Wal-Mart and other sponsors provided the funding to distribute the DVD and an accompanying booklet to schools, childcare centers and military family support centers.
The DVD set and television program capture the many emotions associated with deployments -- the fears and worries before departure, the loneliness and concern while a loved one is away and the anxiety often associated with reunion, Arsht said.
The Defense Department has made tremendous strides in providing resources for military families, Arsht said.
"DoD has many support systems to support good physical, emotional, spiritual, educational and social health," she said.
On installations, these services center around family support centers. These centers provide a network for families and offer information and education programs to assist with tasks of daily living, Arsht said.
DoD conducted research that shows the key elements to coping with deployment stresses are communication, outreach, information resources and access to unit leadership, Arsht said.
One of the most popular resources available for families is Military OneSource. Troops and families can get help or information by visiting the Military OneSource Web site or calling, toll free, 1-800-342-9647.
Military OneSource provides counseling or information to servicemembers and families at no charge, and it runs the gamut from child care to personal finances to emotional support during deployments. It also provides relocation advice or helps set up resources for special circumstances. It is open 24-7.
Access to this type of support is particularly important for family members of deployed reserve component personnel, Arsht said.
Another important resource is Military Homefront. This official DoD Web site offers reliable quality of life information tailored for three specific groups: servicemembers and families, leaders and service providers.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Jones Says NATO Healthy, Adapting to 21st Century
By Jim Garamone
Dec. 21, 2006 – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is healthy and its best years lie ahead, Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones said today at the Europe Atlantic Council here. Jones stepped down as NATO's supreme allied commander earlier this month.
While some aspects of the alliance may need work, Jones said that, on the whole, it is an "incredibly healthy organization."
Jones assumed his office in January 2003 after serving as the commandant of the Marine Corps. During his time in the position, the alliance has changed dramatically.
"Perhaps the highlight of the last four years was witnessing the accession of seven new nations into the alliance in 2004," he said. "It was a very emotional moment for seven former Warsaw Pact countries."
Membership in NATO meant acceptance in the free world to the former communist countries, Jones said.
"There was a sort of palpable enthusiasm for freedom, democracy, rule of law and just the vast potential for those people that had been unleashed," he said. "You feel every day their enthusiasm from these new members."
During Jones' tenure, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan grew from a force providing security in and around the Afghan capital of Kabul, to providing security for the entire country. The NATO commander in Afghanistan now commands 32,000 troops from 32 different countries, Jones said.
The NATO mission in Afghanistan and NATO training mission in Iraq are just two operations that show the term "out of area operations" is obsolete, he said.
During the Cold War, NATO's job was to defend Western Europe from the menace of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. There were no "out-of-area operations, nor was the possibility even really contemplated," he said.
"It is a given that NATO is operating today on three different continents with more than 50,000 troops committed to NATO missions," he said.
Troops under NATO command operate in Asia, Africa and Europe, and Jones said the alliance is also embracing change. "Nowhere was that more in evidence than in establishing the NATO Response Force," he said.
The force - 25,000 personnel ready to deploy at a moment's notice - is now fully operational and capable. The general said the force is NATO's greatest commitment to transformation.
The force is ready to "take on missions at a strategic distance, but in an expeditionary manner," he said.
The NATO Response Force's first real deployment - to Pakistan to help with humanitarian relief following the earthquakes in January 2005 - is a prime example of this, Jones said.
The fact that the force's first mission was a humanitarian operation has also caused some reassessment in NATO, he said.
"NATO is reinventing itself and re-explaining itself because in this world NATO is thought of, correctly, as principally a warfighting organization," he said. "This transformation of NATO - going from a reactive 20th-century force, which it needed to be, to a 21st-century more expeditionary and agile force - brings with a whole lot of things" that countries didn't realize when they signed up for the process in 2002.
"It has caused a lot of pain because it gets you into such things as multinational logistics (and) organic intelligence, which NATO has never had," he said.
Other transformational aspects during Jones' command included eliminating duplicate NATO headquarters, disestablishing the Alled Command Atlantic and replacing it with the Allied Command Transformation and placing all operations under Allied Command Europe.
This is not to say there are not problems that NATO must address, Jones said. First and foremost is money. The per capita share of many countries has actually gone down since the Prague Summit in 2002. NATO nations agreed during that summit to spend roughly 3 percent of their gross domestic product on defense.
Another problem is national caveats, Jones said. This is where troops assigned to a mission has such stringent restrictions placed on them, that commanders can hardly use them.
But the alliance is remarkably adaptable and resilient, Jones said. "The other bit of evidence that the alliance is healthy is that I know of no countries that are trying to leave the alliance," Jones said. "And I know quite a few that are trying to queue up and measure up to become members by as early as 2008."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is healthy and its best years lie ahead, Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones said today at the Europe Atlantic Council here. Jones stepped down as NATO's supreme allied commander earlier this month.
While some aspects of the alliance may need work, Jones said that, on the whole, it is an "incredibly healthy organization."
Jones assumed his office in January 2003 after serving as the commandant of the Marine Corps. During his time in the position, the alliance has changed dramatically.
"Perhaps the highlight of the last four years was witnessing the accession of seven new nations into the alliance in 2004," he said. "It was a very emotional moment for seven former Warsaw Pact countries."
Membership in NATO meant acceptance in the free world to the former communist countries, Jones said.
"There was a sort of palpable enthusiasm for freedom, democracy, rule of law and just the vast potential for those people that had been unleashed," he said. "You feel every day their enthusiasm from these new members."
During Jones' tenure, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan grew from a force providing security in and around the Afghan capital of Kabul, to providing security for the entire country. The NATO commander in Afghanistan now commands 32,000 troops from 32 different countries, Jones said.
The NATO mission in Afghanistan and NATO training mission in Iraq are just two operations that show the term "out of area operations" is obsolete, he said.
During the Cold War, NATO's job was to defend Western Europe from the menace of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. There were no "out-of-area operations, nor was the possibility even really contemplated," he said.
"It is a given that NATO is operating today on three different continents with more than 50,000 troops committed to NATO missions," he said.
Troops under NATO command operate in Asia, Africa and Europe, and Jones said the alliance is also embracing change. "Nowhere was that more in evidence than in establishing the NATO Response Force," he said.
The force - 25,000 personnel ready to deploy at a moment's notice - is now fully operational and capable. The general said the force is NATO's greatest commitment to transformation.
The force is ready to "take on missions at a strategic distance, but in an expeditionary manner," he said.
The NATO Response Force's first real deployment - to Pakistan to help with humanitarian relief following the earthquakes in January 2005 - is a prime example of this, Jones said.
The fact that the force's first mission was a humanitarian operation has also caused some reassessment in NATO, he said.
"NATO is reinventing itself and re-explaining itself because in this world NATO is thought of, correctly, as principally a warfighting organization," he said. "This transformation of NATO - going from a reactive 20th-century force, which it needed to be, to a 21st-century more expeditionary and agile force - brings with a whole lot of things" that countries didn't realize when they signed up for the process in 2002.
"It has caused a lot of pain because it gets you into such things as multinational logistics (and) organic intelligence, which NATO has never had," he said.
Other transformational aspects during Jones' command included eliminating duplicate NATO headquarters, disestablishing the Alled Command Atlantic and replacing it with the Allied Command Transformation and placing all operations under Allied Command Europe.
This is not to say there are not problems that NATO must address, Jones said. First and foremost is money. The per capita share of many countries has actually gone down since the Prague Summit in 2002. NATO nations agreed during that summit to spend roughly 3 percent of their gross domestic product on defense.
Another problem is national caveats, Jones said. This is where troops assigned to a mission has such stringent restrictions placed on them, that commanders can hardly use them.
But the alliance is remarkably adaptable and resilient, Jones said. "The other bit of evidence that the alliance is healthy is that I know of no countries that are trying to leave the alliance," Jones said. "And I know quite a few that are trying to queue up and measure up to become members by as early as 2008."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Colorado Guard Responds to Blizzard Emergency
By Donna Miles
Dec. 21, 2006 – About 50 Colorado Army National Guard troops worked through the night, rescuing stranded motorists, clearing roadways for emergency vehicles and delivering American Red Cross supplies in the midst of a blizzard that's already blanketed the state with more than two feet of snow. Colorado Gov. Bill Owens declared a state of emergency yesterday and activated the Guardsmen to respond to the blizzard.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, state adjutant general, told American Forces Press Service the troops were ready for the activation order. "We started preparing about two days ago. We knew this was going to be a big one, but we didn't know it was going to be this big," he said.
The Guard activated its Joint Operations Center and put small mobility teams on alert at 10 armories across the state, the general said.
When the governor ordered the call-up, the troops quickly responded with 25 Humvees and 15 medium tactical vehicles to help first responders rescue motorists and clear pathways for emergency workers, he said. The troops also are delivering Red Cross emergency supplies, including cots, food and water, to emergency shelters.
Most of their operations are focused on Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and other parts of the state's eastern range section. Whitney said another 20 Guardsmen are expected to be on duty soon to provide relief to their fellow troops who worked through the night.
About two more inches of snow are expected to accumulate before early afternoon today, but Whitney said the storm has been downgraded from blizzard status. As soon as conditions improve, the Guard will dispatch helicopters to search roads inaccessible by vehicle to ensure no one is stranded, he said.
The Colorado Guard currently has just three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and four UH-1 Huey helicopters at its disposal because most of its Black Hawks and all its Chinooks are deployed to Iraq, Whitney said.
In the event that the Colorado Guard needs more aircraft to conduct its state mission, he said other states would contribute their resources, an arrangement provided through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
In addition, officials at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs have offered assets, if needed, Whitney said.
The general called the Colorado National Guard's quick response to the blizzard an example the important state emergency response role the Guard carries out nationwide.
"That responsibility is one of our primary missions, and we have always responded," he said. "That's the strength of the National Guard. We are the forward-deployed forces in communities across America for the homeland defense and emergency response mission."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – About 50 Colorado Army National Guard troops worked through the night, rescuing stranded motorists, clearing roadways for emergency vehicles and delivering American Red Cross supplies in the midst of a blizzard that's already blanketed the state with more than two feet of snow. Colorado Gov. Bill Owens declared a state of emergency yesterday and activated the Guardsmen to respond to the blizzard.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Mason Whitney, state adjutant general, told American Forces Press Service the troops were ready for the activation order. "We started preparing about two days ago. We knew this was going to be a big one, but we didn't know it was going to be this big," he said.
The Guard activated its Joint Operations Center and put small mobility teams on alert at 10 armories across the state, the general said.
When the governor ordered the call-up, the troops quickly responded with 25 Humvees and 15 medium tactical vehicles to help first responders rescue motorists and clear pathways for emergency workers, he said. The troops also are delivering Red Cross emergency supplies, including cots, food and water, to emergency shelters.
Most of their operations are focused on Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs and other parts of the state's eastern range section. Whitney said another 20 Guardsmen are expected to be on duty soon to provide relief to their fellow troops who worked through the night.
About two more inches of snow are expected to accumulate before early afternoon today, but Whitney said the storm has been downgraded from blizzard status. As soon as conditions improve, the Guard will dispatch helicopters to search roads inaccessible by vehicle to ensure no one is stranded, he said.
The Colorado Guard currently has just three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and four UH-1 Huey helicopters at its disposal because most of its Black Hawks and all its Chinooks are deployed to Iraq, Whitney said.
In the event that the Colorado Guard needs more aircraft to conduct its state mission, he said other states would contribute their resources, an arrangement provided through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
In addition, officials at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs have offered assets, if needed, Whitney said.
The general called the Colorado National Guard's quick response to the blizzard an example the important state emergency response role the Guard carries out nationwide.
"That responsibility is one of our primary missions, and we have always responded," he said. "That's the strength of the National Guard. We are the forward-deployed forces in communities across America for the homeland defense and emergency response mission."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Tribute for Troops Donates to Troops, Vets
By Carmen L. Burgess
Dec. 21, 2006 – Organizers of the annual "Tribute to the Troops" motorcycle ride and benefit concert recently donated more than $18,000 to Minnesota and Wisconsin-based military support groups. The group raised the funds during their third ride Sept. 8-10. The event takes place each year around the Sept. 1, 2001, anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Gregg Schmitt, director of the Minneapolis-based organization, first teamed up with country music artist Rockie Lynn in 2004 to plan the event as a way of showing the families that Americans from all walks of life care about them and are aware of their loss.
More than 200 bikers participated in this year's ride which began in Minneapolis and ended three days later in Hamel, Minn. The riders stopped at the homes of nine fallen servicemembers along the route to pay their respects to families and to thank them for their sacrifice.
Plans for the fourth annual ride slated for Sept. 7-9, 2007 are already underway.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – Organizers of the annual "Tribute to the Troops" motorcycle ride and benefit concert recently donated more than $18,000 to Minnesota and Wisconsin-based military support groups. The group raised the funds during their third ride Sept. 8-10. The event takes place each year around the Sept. 1, 2001, anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Gregg Schmitt, director of the Minneapolis-based organization, first teamed up with country music artist Rockie Lynn in 2004 to plan the event as a way of showing the families that Americans from all walks of life care about them and are aware of their loss.
More than 200 bikers participated in this year's ride which began in Minneapolis and ended three days later in Hamel, Minn. The riders stopped at the homes of nine fallen servicemembers along the route to pay their respects to families and to thank them for their sacrifice.
Plans for the fourth annual ride slated for Sept. 7-9, 2007 are already underway.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Internet Radio Show Helps Military Wives
By Gerry J. Gilmore
Dec. 21, 2006 – Two Army wives have joined forces to run an Internet radio show that provides important information to other military wives. Star Henderson and Tara Crooks have more than 20 years' experience between them, and the two have teamed up to help other military wives through their Internet talk radio show, Army Wife Talk Radio.com.
"We want to pass that experience along to other Army wives," said Henderson, 32, whose husband, David, is a captain in the Georgia Army National Guard. The Hendersons have a 10-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
Army Wife Talk Radio.com covers a variety of topics, such as how to solve family challenges when a spouse is deployed and navigate the military's healthcare system. The program has developed a core following of fans, said Crooks, 31, a veteran with 10 years of military experience. Crooks' husband, Kevin, is a U.S. Army captain assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. The Crooks have a 5-year-old daughter.
"It became like a community thing, where I've got loyal listeners that are probably following my life, wondering what the heck is going to happen in the Crooks' household today," Crooks said. "And, then I've got people calling in and sharing their stories. It makes me feel that I'm not alone."
There are "so many" services available to help military families, Crooks said there's no cohesive program to promote them to family members. That's where the radio show can really help, she said.
Henderson launched Army Wife Talk Radio.com a year and a half ago, and Crooks got involved about seven months ago when she began writing for the show's newsletter. Now they share responsibilities equally in the program.
A recorded show is made available on the site each Monday, but Henderson said they hope to be able to broadcast live in the near future.
In addition to sharing their personal experiences, the pair also interviews experts to provide advice on and get information about different subjects.
About seven months ago, they interviewed Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, for the show. Their radio show is preparing to become a sponsor of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.
"I think it's an amazing program," Crooks said of the ASY program. "Just to see all those organizations coming together to support military members and their families is wonderful."
ASY highlights support from individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations for U.S. military men and women. ASY, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart joined forces to sponsor Operation Christmas here and at five other locations across the country to bring cheer to military families.
Crooks and Henderson attended yesterday's Operation Christmas event for military families here. During the event, they discussed their shows and shared some of their views on military family life.
Juggling husbands and children and military life can be challenging, the women said, but military wives are a strong lot who instinctively bond together to help one another, discuss pressing issues and propose solutions.
According to Crooks' husband, Army Wife Talk Radio.com is "absolutely great," and his wife is eminently qualified to help other military wives.
"She is definitely the 'rock,'" Crooks said. "She holds together the family when I am gone [on deployment], she pays the bills. It's really unbelievable what she puts in."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – Two Army wives have joined forces to run an Internet radio show that provides important information to other military wives. Star Henderson and Tara Crooks have more than 20 years' experience between them, and the two have teamed up to help other military wives through their Internet talk radio show, Army Wife Talk Radio.com.
"We want to pass that experience along to other Army wives," said Henderson, 32, whose husband, David, is a captain in the Georgia Army National Guard. The Hendersons have a 10-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.
Army Wife Talk Radio.com covers a variety of topics, such as how to solve family challenges when a spouse is deployed and navigate the military's healthcare system. The program has developed a core following of fans, said Crooks, 31, a veteran with 10 years of military experience. Crooks' husband, Kevin, is a U.S. Army captain assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga. The Crooks have a 5-year-old daughter.
"It became like a community thing, where I've got loyal listeners that are probably following my life, wondering what the heck is going to happen in the Crooks' household today," Crooks said. "And, then I've got people calling in and sharing their stories. It makes me feel that I'm not alone."
There are "so many" services available to help military families, Crooks said there's no cohesive program to promote them to family members. That's where the radio show can really help, she said.
Henderson launched Army Wife Talk Radio.com a year and a half ago, and Crooks got involved about seven months ago when she began writing for the show's newsletter. Now they share responsibilities equally in the program.
A recorded show is made available on the site each Monday, but Henderson said they hope to be able to broadcast live in the near future.
In addition to sharing their personal experiences, the pair also interviews experts to provide advice on and get information about different subjects.
About seven months ago, they interviewed Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, for the show. Their radio show is preparing to become a sponsor of the Defense Department's America Supports You program.
"I think it's an amazing program," Crooks said of the ASY program. "Just to see all those organizations coming together to support military members and their families is wonderful."
ASY highlights support from individuals, non-profit organizations and corporations for U.S. military men and women. ASY, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart joined forces to sponsor Operation Christmas here and at five other locations across the country to bring cheer to military families.
Crooks and Henderson attended yesterday's Operation Christmas event for military families here. During the event, they discussed their shows and shared some of their views on military family life.
Juggling husbands and children and military life can be challenging, the women said, but military wives are a strong lot who instinctively bond together to help one another, discuss pressing issues and propose solutions.
According to Crooks' husband, Army Wife Talk Radio.com is "absolutely great," and his wife is eminently qualified to help other military wives.
"She is definitely the 'rock,'" Crooks said. "She holds together the family when I am gone [on deployment], she pays the bills. It's really unbelievable what she puts in."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
New Englanders Collect Gifts for Troops
By Carmen L. Burgess
Dec. 20, 2006 – Thousands of students from the Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts and New Hampshire donated more than 22,000 gifts for deployed troops this holiday season. The students took part in the largest drive yet organized by New England Caring for Our Military, an America Supports You member organization. ASY is a Defense Department program that focuses on connecting support groups throughout the nation with the men and women of the armed forces at home and abroad.
The gift drive, dubbed "It Takes a Valley," kicked off in November and ended Dec. 9. Some 6,000 students in grades kindergarten through high school participated, collecting items to send to the troops from a list provided by New England Caring for our Military.
"They put their lives on hold for us, to preserve our freedom," Organization founder James SereigWareing said of the troops being supported through the effort. "It's the least we can do for them."
The organization started holiday care packages to the troops in 2004.
The 22,000 items collected by the community were combined to make more than 10,000 individual gift sets, sent in cases to units, as well as entire platoons.
The care packages, sent to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Japan and Africa, also included 7,000 handmade holiday greeting cards and posters.
Sereigo-Wareing said packaging the items turned out to be a community effort. Students, senior citizens and people with mental and physical disabilities pitched in to pack the 2.2 tons of gifts that were shipped over a six-day period.
"Taking all segments of the population to work on a project is very powerful," he said.
Sereigo-Wareing said he works with local school systems to collect items and letters for care packages, to help send a message. "I try to teach students respect for the military because they will be our future leaders," he said. "Imagine how many lives we impact when students get involved."
The reward, he said, will be knowing that troops have something special to open for the holidays.
"I want them to feel like they are home," he said. He ensured that "fun" items such as puzzles, cards, books and board games made it into the packages in addition to telephone cards, socks and T-shirts.
"It's probably always hard for troops to be far away from home, but especially hard on the holidays," he said. "I use this as an opportunity to try to pay them back for my freedom."
Sereigo-Wareing said he believes the handmade greetings from the students will go a long way to boost morale and reinforce to the men and women serving in the military that U.S. citizens support them and honor their dedication and service.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 20, 2006 – Thousands of students from the Merrimack Valley Region of Massachusetts and New Hampshire donated more than 22,000 gifts for deployed troops this holiday season. The students took part in the largest drive yet organized by New England Caring for Our Military, an America Supports You member organization. ASY is a Defense Department program that focuses on connecting support groups throughout the nation with the men and women of the armed forces at home and abroad.
The gift drive, dubbed "It Takes a Valley," kicked off in November and ended Dec. 9. Some 6,000 students in grades kindergarten through high school participated, collecting items to send to the troops from a list provided by New England Caring for our Military.
"They put their lives on hold for us, to preserve our freedom," Organization founder James SereigWareing said of the troops being supported through the effort. "It's the least we can do for them."
The organization started holiday care packages to the troops in 2004.
The 22,000 items collected by the community were combined to make more than 10,000 individual gift sets, sent in cases to units, as well as entire platoons.
The care packages, sent to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Japan and Africa, also included 7,000 handmade holiday greeting cards and posters.
Sereigo-Wareing said packaging the items turned out to be a community effort. Students, senior citizens and people with mental and physical disabilities pitched in to pack the 2.2 tons of gifts that were shipped over a six-day period.
"Taking all segments of the population to work on a project is very powerful," he said.
Sereigo-Wareing said he works with local school systems to collect items and letters for care packages, to help send a message. "I try to teach students respect for the military because they will be our future leaders," he said. "Imagine how many lives we impact when students get involved."
The reward, he said, will be knowing that troops have something special to open for the holidays.
"I want them to feel like they are home," he said. He ensured that "fun" items such as puzzles, cards, books and board games made it into the packages in addition to telephone cards, socks and T-shirts.
"It's probably always hard for troops to be far away from home, but especially hard on the holidays," he said. "I use this as an opportunity to try to pay them back for my freedom."
Sereigo-Wareing said he believes the handmade greetings from the students will go a long way to boost morale and reinforce to the men and women serving in the military that U.S. citizens support them and honor their dedication and service.
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Military Families Enjoy 'Operation Christmas' In Georgia
By Gerry J. Gilmore
Dec. 20, 2006 – Santa Claus and some of his friends visited a National Guard armory in this Georgia town today to bring early holiday cheer to more than 200 military families. The occasion was "Operation Christmas," a campaign sponsored by the Defense Department's America Supports You program, the Wal-Mart retail store chain and Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to military families while servicemembers are deployed.
America Supports You showcases the efforts of American individuals, non-profit groups and corporations in supporting military men and women.
The Hinesville event was the last in a series of six held across the country to honor military families.
Children and parents had their pictures taken with Santa. They also enjoyed holiday music and cookies, as well as games and presents of toys like stuffed bunnies, radios and games.
U.S. Army Cpl. Joseph Glover, his wife, Rachel, and their children Alexis, 4, Caeden, 3, and 3-month-old baby Camereon collected a bevy of goodies while navigating through the "Operation Christmas" tent set up on the armory's grounds.
Rachel Glover said her husband, a 3rd Infantry Division soldier stationed on nearby Fort Stewart, was serving in Iraq last Christmas. She praised America Supports You, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart for providing Operation Christmas for servicemembers and their families.
"I think this is wonderful. It really warms my heart that you're supported 100 percent, with our troops being overseas," she said.
Caitlyn Bass, a 13-year-old Army family member, wore a big smile after visiting Santa and receiving a new radio. "This is good," she said, "because you get to get gifts from Wal-Mart."
Rosalind Brewer, Wal-Mart's vice president for operations in Georgia, said Operation Christmas is a good way to honor servicemembers and their families. Brewer said her company is honored to co-partner the program with America Supports You and Operation Homefront.
"We hope all of you have the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Year's from the bottom of our hearts," Brewer told the gathered military families.
Thousands of Wal-Mart employees are in the military and serving overseas, Nick Agarwal, the corporation's vice president of communications, said.
"We wanted to put a program together that shows we care," Agarwal said.
Retired National Basketball Association player Dominique Wilkins was also at the event, showing that he cares, too. Wilkins chatted with military families and provided autographed photos. The former Atlanta Hawks' player and nine-time all-star said he felt good about being part of Operation Christmas.
"We owe it to servicemembers and their families to show that we care and understand what they're going through," Wilkins said. "They stand on the front lines to make sure that we're okay."
Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, greeted servicemembers and their families at the Hinesville event.
"What's happening today is exactly the goal of America Supports You," Barber said. "It is a matter of helping corporate America partner with grassroots groups for one reason, and that's to be able to actually help the military members and their families."
Events like Operation Christmas constitute "a perfect scenario for the America Supports You program, because that's what it is about," Barber said.
Operation Homefront depends on corporate sponsors like Wal-Mart to put on such events like Operation Christmas, said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront's executive vice president of operations.
Amid all the festivities at the armory, ABC's television show, "Good Morning America," interviewed Army wife Kimberly Fontenot, whose husband, Sgt. Dirk Fontenot, is serving in Iraq. The show set up a live feed so Kimberly could see and talk with her husband during the broadcast.
"I'm excited. I got to see my husband, and that's what it was all about for me, getting to see him," said Fontenot, who's expecting to give birth to a baby girl in less than five months. "I really appreciate what they did for us today," she said. "This is nice."
Good Morning America host Mike Barz interviewed the Fontenots. Barz said his father was an Army and Vietnam War veteran who'd been stationed at Fort Stewart in the early 1970s. "I'm an Army brat, so I kind of understand a little bit about what these families are going through," he said.
Mary Perdue, wife of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, made a special appearance. She praised servicemembers and their families for their contributions to the nation and wished them all a happy holiday season.
"Georgia has always been a patriotic state, and support for our military is strong," Georgia's first lady said. "Sonny and I will always do everything in our power to lift up the military, to support it, to take care of our troops and our families."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 20, 2006 – Santa Claus and some of his friends visited a National Guard armory in this Georgia town today to bring early holiday cheer to more than 200 military families. The occasion was "Operation Christmas," a campaign sponsored by the Defense Department's America Supports You program, the Wal-Mart retail store chain and Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to military families while servicemembers are deployed.
America Supports You showcases the efforts of American individuals, non-profit groups and corporations in supporting military men and women.
The Hinesville event was the last in a series of six held across the country to honor military families.
Children and parents had their pictures taken with Santa. They also enjoyed holiday music and cookies, as well as games and presents of toys like stuffed bunnies, radios and games.
U.S. Army Cpl. Joseph Glover, his wife, Rachel, and their children Alexis, 4, Caeden, 3, and 3-month-old baby Camereon collected a bevy of goodies while navigating through the "Operation Christmas" tent set up on the armory's grounds.
Rachel Glover said her husband, a 3rd Infantry Division soldier stationed on nearby Fort Stewart, was serving in Iraq last Christmas. She praised America Supports You, Operation Homefront and Wal-Mart for providing Operation Christmas for servicemembers and their families.
"I think this is wonderful. It really warms my heart that you're supported 100 percent, with our troops being overseas," she said.
Caitlyn Bass, a 13-year-old Army family member, wore a big smile after visiting Santa and receiving a new radio. "This is good," she said, "because you get to get gifts from Wal-Mart."
Rosalind Brewer, Wal-Mart's vice president for operations in Georgia, said Operation Christmas is a good way to honor servicemembers and their families. Brewer said her company is honored to co-partner the program with America Supports You and Operation Homefront.
"We hope all of you have the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Year's from the bottom of our hearts," Brewer told the gathered military families.
Thousands of Wal-Mart employees are in the military and serving overseas, Nick Agarwal, the corporation's vice president of communications, said.
"We wanted to put a program together that shows we care," Agarwal said.
Retired National Basketball Association player Dominique Wilkins was also at the event, showing that he cares, too. Wilkins chatted with military families and provided autographed photos. The former Atlanta Hawks' player and nine-time all-star said he felt good about being part of Operation Christmas.
"We owe it to servicemembers and their families to show that we care and understand what they're going through," Wilkins said. "They stand on the front lines to make sure that we're okay."
Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, greeted servicemembers and their families at the Hinesville event.
"What's happening today is exactly the goal of America Supports You," Barber said. "It is a matter of helping corporate America partner with grassroots groups for one reason, and that's to be able to actually help the military members and their families."
Events like Operation Christmas constitute "a perfect scenario for the America Supports You program, because that's what it is about," Barber said.
Operation Homefront depends on corporate sponsors like Wal-Mart to put on such events like Operation Christmas, said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront's executive vice president of operations.
Amid all the festivities at the armory, ABC's television show, "Good Morning America," interviewed Army wife Kimberly Fontenot, whose husband, Sgt. Dirk Fontenot, is serving in Iraq. The show set up a live feed so Kimberly could see and talk with her husband during the broadcast.
"I'm excited. I got to see my husband, and that's what it was all about for me, getting to see him," said Fontenot, who's expecting to give birth to a baby girl in less than five months. "I really appreciate what they did for us today," she said. "This is nice."
Good Morning America host Mike Barz interviewed the Fontenots. Barz said his father was an Army and Vietnam War veteran who'd been stationed at Fort Stewart in the early 1970s. "I'm an Army brat, so I kind of understand a little bit about what these families are going through," he said.
Mary Perdue, wife of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, made a special appearance. She praised servicemembers and their families for their contributions to the nation and wished them all a happy holiday season.
"Georgia has always been a patriotic state, and support for our military is strong," Georgia's first lady said. "Sonny and I will always do everything in our power to lift up the military, to support it, to take care of our troops and our families."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Deployed Sailors Receive Christmas Gift Boxes
By Army Pfc. Michael J. Nyeste
Dec. 21, 2006 – Santa arrived early for sailors deployed here, as Senior Navy Central Command enlisted officials delivered gifts from 26 U.S. corporate sponsors. More than 75 volunteers assembled the 8,000 gift boxes for sailors stationed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, including Afghanistan.
"We're here to visit as many sailors as possible," said Navy Command Master Chief James Russell, command master chief of the U.S.S Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he handed out gifts last week. "We're just trying to bring a little bit of Christmas cheer."
Sailors at the Navy Morale Welfare Recreation center here were surprised by the dozens of boxes.
Before handing out the presents, the Navy NCOs took turns expressing their gratitude for the sailors' service, and the group joined together to sing the Christmas carols.
The gift boxes included candy, soda, a phone card and greeting cards praising them for their hard work and effort.
"It was a surprise," said Navy Seaman Recruit Brandon Thompson, a culinary specialist with the VAQ-142 Squadron. "A lot of sponsors chipped in. It's a nice box, and it got the morale up."
"These sailors that are over here have been asked to go a step above their usual level of responsibility," Russell said. "These gifts are well-deserved and well-received."
(Army Pfc. Michael J. Nyeste is assigned to the 19th Public Affairs Detachment.)
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 21, 2006 – Santa arrived early for sailors deployed here, as Senior Navy Central Command enlisted officials delivered gifts from 26 U.S. corporate sponsors. More than 75 volunteers assembled the 8,000 gift boxes for sailors stationed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, including Afghanistan.
"We're here to visit as many sailors as possible," said Navy Command Master Chief James Russell, command master chief of the U.S.S Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he handed out gifts last week. "We're just trying to bring a little bit of Christmas cheer."
Sailors at the Navy Morale Welfare Recreation center here were surprised by the dozens of boxes.
Before handing out the presents, the Navy NCOs took turns expressing their gratitude for the sailors' service, and the group joined together to sing the Christmas carols.
The gift boxes included candy, soda, a phone card and greeting cards praising them for their hard work and effort.
"It was a surprise," said Navy Seaman Recruit Brandon Thompson, a culinary specialist with the VAQ-142 Squadron. "A lot of sponsors chipped in. It's a nice box, and it got the morale up."
"These sailors that are over here have been asked to go a step above their usual level of responsibility," Russell said. "These gifts are well-deserved and well-received."
(Army Pfc. Michael J. Nyeste is assigned to the 19th Public Affairs Detachment.)
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Alaska Guard Troops Conduct Vital Missile Defense Mission
By Donna Miles
Dec. 20, 2006 – Just a few years ago, this snow-swept central Alaskan post lay dormant, closed through the Base Realignment and Closure process. But today it's up and running again at full speed, serving as the epicenter of the United States' Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program. Eleven ground-based interceptor missiles buried in underground silos here represent a key part of a multi-layered defense system designed to protect the United States from a ballistic missile attack. These interceptors, and two more at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., would destroy incoming missiles at the "midcourse phase," outside the earth's atmosphere.
In the event of an attack, members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 49th Missile Defense Battalion based here would use sophisticated surveillance and radar systems to track the missile through its initial boost phase, explained Maj. Joe Miley, the unit's operations officer. If the missile reached the midcourse phase, the Alaska Guardsmen would await the order to engage it.
On order, they would fire an interceptor at the incoming missile. The force of the collision --the equivalent of two refrigerators slamming into each other at 15,000 mph -- would destroy the target before it reentered the atmosphere, Miley said.
Miley noted that the National Guard is perfectly suited to perform such an important mission.
"The National Guard has traditionally done homeland defense," he said, citing National Guard history dating back 370 years to the Minutemen in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. "And this is the epitome of homeland defense."
Here at what Miley called the "strategic sweet spot" for missile defense, almost 200 Alaska Guardsmen who came from around the country to serve in the 40th Missile Defense Battalion take that calling pretty seriously.
The unit represents a cross-section of America, at one time representing 46 states and territories, and all its members applied for three-year, Active Guard and Reserve assignments with the program, Miley explained.
Getting accepted into the program is tough, but passing the extensive training required is even tougher, Miley said. Applicants go through nine to 14 weeks of air defense training at Fort Bliss, Texas; a nine-week Ground Missile Defense operator course in Colorado Springs, Colo., then four more weeks of unit training in Colorado Springs before taking a certification test.
"We hire the best and put them through a rigorous training program," Miley said. To pass the GMD operator course, for example, students have to score 90 percent or better.
"You have to be an A student or you can't do GMD," Miley said. "The way we conduct our training, you basically have to get everything right to progress to the next level, so there's no room for error. We have very high standards."
That's a good thing, he said, in light of the responsibility they shoulder every day. Whether they're providing security at the 800-acre missile defense complex here or manning fire direction center in what Miley called "the tank turret of missile defense," they're on the front lines of homeland defense.
Regular exercises keep troops here at the top of their game.
"They say you fight as you train, and we train extensively to make sure we're on our toes," said Sgt. Seth Paul, a former Illinois Guardsmen who joined the Alaska Guard here two years ago.
The Guardsmen just wrapped up exercise Vigilant Shield, with scenarios that called on them to respond. "Training exercises are successful because you're up all the time, running missions, but at the same time, they're reassuring," Paul said. "We do things almost ad nauseum, but the bottom line is that you can never be too prepared."
That message got reinforced this summer when North Korea announced plans to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.
"We were on high alert, and we were ready for it," Miley said. "All the crews had done thousands of hours of simulations, on top of their training, and they were ready to act if it had turned out to be a threat."
Sgt. Anthony Montoya, a communications operator in the fire direction center that received initial confirmation of the North Korean test, said he and his unit were ready to respond.
"I'm ready to do my mission," he said. "I feel confident in my training, in the system, the crew, and that everyone will make the right decision and do what they're supposed to do."
Montoya, formerly from the New Mexico Guard, said he jumped at the chance to join the 49th Missile Defense Battalion and get involved in what he called "the next step up for air defense."
"It's great to be part of such technology and to serve your country in such a different kind of way," he said. "This isn't a job; it's a mission."
Paul agreed that the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology also attracted him to the job. "We have systems here that they don't have anywhere else," he said. "It's a good learning experience, and we're doing something no one else does."
And they're doing it in conditions not found anywhere else in the U.S. military. Winter weather here in the shadow of the magestic Alaska Range can be brutal, with temperatures dipping to 60 degrees below zero and winds howling at more than 60 mph. The troops here just got issued the Army's new Extended Cold Weather System and call it a godsend in keeping them warm and dry during foot patrols and range operations.
Even when the weather eases up, the troops here face interesting workday challenges. Roaming foxes or moose frequently set off heat-detection sensors along the complex's fence line perimeter. Fort Greely's remote location, 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, makes tiny Delta Junction, population 840, the closest "big city" short of a two-hour drive.
And Fort Greely itself, mothballed in 2002, is still working to catch up with the 49th Missile Defense Battalion's quality-of-life needs. The post exchange and commissary have expanded, and a new European-inspired coffee bar has become a popular gathering place for troops seeking refuge from the cold. "This place has made an amazing progression since 2003," Miley said. "It has truly come along."
Meanwhile, the 49th Missile Defense Battalion's mission here also continues to grow, incorporating new technology as it's developed.
"We have a system capability, and we're enhancing it, explained Brig. Gen. Tom Katkus, the Alaska Guard's assistant adjutant general for missile defense. "It's the idea of flying the plane and building it at the same time."
Troops here say it's exciting to be a part of that growth, and the sky-high retention rates reflect their enthusiasm. Unlike typical active-Army units, where troops frequently move on to new assignments, soldiers here can reapply for their positions and even build a career, Katkus said.
This brings stability to the mission, minimizing disruption while building cohesive, experienced crews accustomed to working together. "They become a real team, committed to working together to carry out their mission," Katkus said.
Paul called the opportunity to conduct an important, real-world mission every day the most gratifying part of the job. "Our homeland is one of the most important things to us, because our families are here," he said. "By being here, I can contribute to preventing something that could be catastrophic in nature. What I'm doing here could be helping other people.
"What the military does around the world is important," Paul concluded. "But it's especially important right here, in our homeland. That's why we want to be here."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
Dec. 20, 2006 – Just a few years ago, this snow-swept central Alaskan post lay dormant, closed through the Base Realignment and Closure process. But today it's up and running again at full speed, serving as the epicenter of the United States' Ground-Based Midcourse Defense program. Eleven ground-based interceptor missiles buried in underground silos here represent a key part of a multi-layered defense system designed to protect the United States from a ballistic missile attack. These interceptors, and two more at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., would destroy incoming missiles at the "midcourse phase," outside the earth's atmosphere.
In the event of an attack, members of the Alaska Army National Guard's 49th Missile Defense Battalion based here would use sophisticated surveillance and radar systems to track the missile through its initial boost phase, explained Maj. Joe Miley, the unit's operations officer. If the missile reached the midcourse phase, the Alaska Guardsmen would await the order to engage it.
On order, they would fire an interceptor at the incoming missile. The force of the collision --the equivalent of two refrigerators slamming into each other at 15,000 mph -- would destroy the target before it reentered the atmosphere, Miley said.
Miley noted that the National Guard is perfectly suited to perform such an important mission.
"The National Guard has traditionally done homeland defense," he said, citing National Guard history dating back 370 years to the Minutemen in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. "And this is the epitome of homeland defense."
Here at what Miley called the "strategic sweet spot" for missile defense, almost 200 Alaska Guardsmen who came from around the country to serve in the 40th Missile Defense Battalion take that calling pretty seriously.
The unit represents a cross-section of America, at one time representing 46 states and territories, and all its members applied for three-year, Active Guard and Reserve assignments with the program, Miley explained.
Getting accepted into the program is tough, but passing the extensive training required is even tougher, Miley said. Applicants go through nine to 14 weeks of air defense training at Fort Bliss, Texas; a nine-week Ground Missile Defense operator course in Colorado Springs, Colo., then four more weeks of unit training in Colorado Springs before taking a certification test.
"We hire the best and put them through a rigorous training program," Miley said. To pass the GMD operator course, for example, students have to score 90 percent or better.
"You have to be an A student or you can't do GMD," Miley said. "The way we conduct our training, you basically have to get everything right to progress to the next level, so there's no room for error. We have very high standards."
That's a good thing, he said, in light of the responsibility they shoulder every day. Whether they're providing security at the 800-acre missile defense complex here or manning fire direction center in what Miley called "the tank turret of missile defense," they're on the front lines of homeland defense.
Regular exercises keep troops here at the top of their game.
"They say you fight as you train, and we train extensively to make sure we're on our toes," said Sgt. Seth Paul, a former Illinois Guardsmen who joined the Alaska Guard here two years ago.
The Guardsmen just wrapped up exercise Vigilant Shield, with scenarios that called on them to respond. "Training exercises are successful because you're up all the time, running missions, but at the same time, they're reassuring," Paul said. "We do things almost ad nauseum, but the bottom line is that you can never be too prepared."
That message got reinforced this summer when North Korea announced plans to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.
"We were on high alert, and we were ready for it," Miley said. "All the crews had done thousands of hours of simulations, on top of their training, and they were ready to act if it had turned out to be a threat."
Sgt. Anthony Montoya, a communications operator in the fire direction center that received initial confirmation of the North Korean test, said he and his unit were ready to respond.
"I'm ready to do my mission," he said. "I feel confident in my training, in the system, the crew, and that everyone will make the right decision and do what they're supposed to do."
Montoya, formerly from the New Mexico Guard, said he jumped at the chance to join the 49th Missile Defense Battalion and get involved in what he called "the next step up for air defense."
"It's great to be part of such technology and to serve your country in such a different kind of way," he said. "This isn't a job; it's a mission."
Paul agreed that the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology also attracted him to the job. "We have systems here that they don't have anywhere else," he said. "It's a good learning experience, and we're doing something no one else does."
And they're doing it in conditions not found anywhere else in the U.S. military. Winter weather here in the shadow of the magestic Alaska Range can be brutal, with temperatures dipping to 60 degrees below zero and winds howling at more than 60 mph. The troops here just got issued the Army's new Extended Cold Weather System and call it a godsend in keeping them warm and dry during foot patrols and range operations.
Even when the weather eases up, the troops here face interesting workday challenges. Roaming foxes or moose frequently set off heat-detection sensors along the complex's fence line perimeter. Fort Greely's remote location, 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, makes tiny Delta Junction, population 840, the closest "big city" short of a two-hour drive.
And Fort Greely itself, mothballed in 2002, is still working to catch up with the 49th Missile Defense Battalion's quality-of-life needs. The post exchange and commissary have expanded, and a new European-inspired coffee bar has become a popular gathering place for troops seeking refuge from the cold. "This place has made an amazing progression since 2003," Miley said. "It has truly come along."
Meanwhile, the 49th Missile Defense Battalion's mission here also continues to grow, incorporating new technology as it's developed.
"We have a system capability, and we're enhancing it, explained Brig. Gen. Tom Katkus, the Alaska Guard's assistant adjutant general for missile defense. "It's the idea of flying the plane and building it at the same time."
Troops here say it's exciting to be a part of that growth, and the sky-high retention rates reflect their enthusiasm. Unlike typical active-Army units, where troops frequently move on to new assignments, soldiers here can reapply for their positions and even build a career, Katkus said.
This brings stability to the mission, minimizing disruption while building cohesive, experienced crews accustomed to working together. "They become a real team, committed to working together to carry out their mission," Katkus said.
Paul called the opportunity to conduct an important, real-world mission every day the most gratifying part of the job. "Our homeland is one of the most important things to us, because our families are here," he said. "By being here, I can contribute to preventing something that could be catastrophic in nature. What I'm doing here could be helping other people.
"What the military does around the world is important," Paul concluded. "But it's especially important right here, in our homeland. That's why we want to be here."
Article sponsored by criminal justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have become authors.
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