Monday, March 12, 2007

Pentagon Channel Lauded for Public Service Programming

By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service

March 12, 2007 – An unconventional public service announcement produced by the Pentagon Channel reminding
military members to vote has been awarded first place in a nationwide competition sponsored by Cable World Magazine. An emotional Pentagon Channel documentary on post-traumatic stress disorder also earned an honorable mention. Other competitors included cable giants such as Discovery and National Geographic, Pentagon Channel officials noted.

"The judges made their choices based on whether or not an entry clearly presented an important public affairs issue," said Seth Arenstein, the magazine's editorial director and assistant vice president. "In addition, the mix of education and entertainment was considered, as were production values."

The winning spot is "a clever piece of work from the Pentagon Channel taking the audio and black-and-white video from a cartoon PSA about
military absentee voting privileges from television's early days and enhancing subtly with touches of color, including adding a female (character) into the all-male cartoon," Arenstein said. "It also added Web site info in the style of the times."

The Pentagon Channel's documentary "The Wounds Within," which focused on servicemembers returning from combat to face emotional struggles received an honorable mention.

"The judges were surprised by the openness and emotional nature of the Pentagon Channel's special on post-traumatic stress disorder, Arenstein said. "They were also impressed by the breadth of the special, which notes that some 7.7 million Americans get PTSD yearly, but most never receive treatment."

Awards will be presented here today during the Cable Television Public Affairs Association Forum 2007.

This article was sponsored by
police and military personnel who have written books as well as criminal justice online leadership.

Firefighters Give Back to Injured Veterans

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

March 11, 2007 – Vail firefighters opened their house here yesterday evening for the fourth year in a row to thank the 25 participants of the Vail Veterans Program for their service to the nation. The firefighters treated the veterans and their guests to a homemade lasagna dinner. "It's kind of a way for us to give back to our heroes and recognize ... what they've done for us," Vail Fire Chief John Gulick said. "They've made some supreme sacrifices."

Emergency workers feel a special kinship with servicemembers because of the work they do -- both groups work to protect lives, he said.

"We have a lot in common with them, except the kind of fire we take is just fires in buildings. It's not quite as intense as theirs," Gulick said. "Every time they go out it's a life and death situation.

"They are really strong," he said. "It's very special to have the men and women of the military here in Vail. They need to relax and realize that we really care about them."

The veterans, all either past or current patients at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center, had spent the past four days participating in the Vail Veterans Program's winter sports clinic. They said they appreciated the firefighters' gesture and the chance to relax.

Army Sgt. Brian Fountaine, who lost both legs below the knee while serving in Iraq, said he especially feels the connection with the firefighters and appreciated the dinner. Three generations of his family were Boston firefighters.

"I think it's great," Fountaine said. "To me, smoke is in the blood. I think it's just really appropriate for (servicemembers) and firefighters and the
police officers to share a common bond, not so much because of the experiences we go through but because of the jobs we do."

The group enjoyed their lasagna at linen-covered tables in the fire truck bays as a slide show of photos of the veterans and their guests skiing and snowboarding played. As dinner concluded, Cheryl Jenson, director of the Vail Veterans Program, and
Army Maj. David Rozelle, administrator for Walter Reed's Amputee Care Center, drew names for door prizes.

Army Sgt. Anthony Larson, who lost his right leg below the knee in Iraq, agreed that the firefighters' efforts were special.

"I really thank them for putting this on for us and the support that they've given us through all of this," he said. "It's phenomenal, the support and gratitude, the hospitality that (the Vail community) put into everything that we've had here this week."

This article was sponsored by
police and military personnel who have written books as well as criminal justice online leadership.

Army Surgeon General Kiley Submits Retirement Request

American Forces Press Service


March 12, 2007 –
Army Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley, the service's surgeon general who has been under fire for shortcomings in outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, submitted his request to retire from the Army yesterday. Army Maj. Gen. Gale S. Pollock, current deputy surgeon general, immediately assumed the surgeon general's duties, Army officials announced today.

Published reports in February shed light on shortcomings in outpatient care for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey resigned March 2 over the same matters, and Walter Reed Commander Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman was relieved March 1.

Acting
Army Secretary Pete Geren yesterday directed the immediate convening of the required advisory board to recommend a slate of candidates for consideration as the next surgeon general. The board will convene in April.

"We must move quickly to fill this position; this leader will have a key role in moving the way forward in meeting the needs of our wounded warriors," Geren said today. "We have an
Army action plan under way under the leadership of the vice chief of staff, Army General (Richard) Cody, and the surgeon general has a critical role in the execution of that plan. I am confident Major General Pollock will ably lead the Army Medical Department during this transition period."

Kiley said yesterday that he submitted his retirement because he felt it was in the best interest of the Army. "I want to allow Acting Secretary Geren, (Chief of Staff) General (Peter) Schoomaker, and the leaders of the Army Medical Command to focus completely on the way ahead and the Army action plan to improve all aspects of soldier care," he said. "We are an Army Medical Department at war, supporting an Army at war. It shouldn't be and it isn't about one doctor."

Kiley has been
Army surgeon general and commander of U.S. Army Medical Command since Sept. 30, 2004. He served nearly 31 years in the Army.

"It has been my honor and my privilege to serve this nation and her soldiers for over 30 years," Kiley said. "I have the greatest respect for former Secretary Harvey, Acting Secretary Geren, and the senior
Army leadership under General Schoomaker and General Cody. And I could not be prouder of the incredible Americans in the Army Medical Command who care for the warriors who have volunteered and sacrificed so much to defend our country and our way of life. I was blessed to have walked among them."

Pollock became deputy surgeon general in October 2006 and is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. She received her master of business administration degree from Boston University; a master's in health care administration from Baylor University, a master's in national security and strategy from the National Defense University, and an honorary doctorate of public service from the University of Maryland.

This article was sponsored by
police and military personnel who have written books as well as criminal justice online leadership.

Army, DoD Reacting 'With Urgency' to Fix Medical System

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

March 12, 2007 – Motivated by its commitment to those who fight for freedom, the Army is acting quickly to fix problems with the medical system that have come to light since reports surfaced in February of poor conditions at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center here, the Army's top civilian leader said today. The reports in February highlighted shoddy facilities and failures of leadership at Walter Reed, but the scrutiny has revealed the larger problem of a disability system that is often complex and confusing, Acting Army Secretary Pete Geren said in an address to the staff of Walter Reed.

The system has become overly bureaucratic and often stymies the best efforts of public servants trying to give wounded soldiers the care they need, he said.

"A soldier who fights the battle should not have to come home and fight the battle of bureaucracy," he said. "Motivated by this simple truth, our president, our
Army and our nation are reacting with urgency and conviction, born of our profound gratitude to those who defend our freedom."

President Bush has appointed a bipartisan presidential commission to review servicemembers' health care, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates established an independent review group to assess outpatient treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., Geren noted. The final solution will take time and interagency effort to fully implement, he said, but the Army is not waiting to make positive changes.

Yesterday,
Army Lt. Gen. Kevin C. Kiley resigned from his post as surgeon general of the Army, and Geren said he has directed an advisory board to begin looking for the new surgeon general immediately. In addition, a new commander and sergeant major took over at Walter Reed, and two combat-arms leaders are heading up the new Wounded Warrior Transition Brigade, to fight bureaucracy and ensure soldiers are taken care of.

Army leaders have started improvements on facilities at Walter Reed, and have implemented a 24-hour hotline and one-stop assistance center for soldiers and families, Geren said. Today, the Army released an inspector general report on the disability system, and leaders at all Army medical facilities will implement those findings, he added.

"We've made a good start, but much remains to be done," Geren said. "I share in your conviction that we will do whatever it takes to get it right."

Geren noted that although these recent problems have tarnished the reputation of the Army medical system,
Army medical professionals still perform miracles every day and are known for the excellence of their work. Many of the soldiers who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan would have died if not for advances in medical science and quality of care that the Army medical system has helped develop, he said.

"Every one of you could receive more compensation elsewhere, work shorter hours, ... but you've chosen the Army; you've chosen to care for soldiers and their families, and I thank you for that," Geren said to the staff members. "In a time when much of modern medicine has become all about business, Army medicine and those who practice it are all about people serving people."

This article was sponsored by
police and military personnel who have written books as well as criminal justice online leadership.

Voice-to-Voice Device Provides Successful Combat Language Translation Capability

The Voice Response Translator (VRT) has provided important voice-to-voice language translation capabilities for US military personnel engaged in direct action combat operations, according to reports provided by military personnel. The 11-ounce VRT was developed over the past 12 years with National Institute of Justice and Defense Department funding and is the only eyes-free, hands-free voice-to-voice translator in existence. This unique capability enables users to maintain weapon readiness and situational awareness while providing instructions, information and asking short questions of foreign nationals in hostile and potentially hostile situations.

Voice Response Translators “contributed immeasurably to the success of more than twenty direct action raids in Iraq in support of national level objectives,” according an after-action report by a Ranger Captain. “In addition to sparing precious time on the objective, they reduced collateral damage by bridging a tremendous language barrier therein resulting in the detention of more than fifteen members of the local insurgent network. The VRT proved invaluable in multiple roles as not only a tactical questioning tool but also as a force protection multiplier used both on objectives and from blocking positions.”

Users speak short commands into the VRT, and translated instructions and questions are produced by it. The system has been deployed with
US Army, Special Forces, Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy personnel. The current version translates limited spoken Iraqi responses into English as part of advanced research funded by the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The VRT is highly miniaturized (it fits in a standard M4 single ammo pouch) and can be integrated fully with MICH tactical headsets without interfering with communications or fast roping operations.

The system is produced by IWT, Inc. and Laguna Industries, Inc. IWT, Inc., a Fremont, CA-based company, specializes in the development and production of miniaturized speech recognition devices that work in high noise environments. IWT was founded in 1992 by Silicon Valley pioneer John H. Hall, who developed the first successful electronic watch, the first computerized heart pacemaker, the first radiation-hardened computer and other civilian and defense electronics systems. For more information visit their website:
http://www.i-w-t.com/