Friday, May 04, 2007

New DoD Strategy Outlined For Information Sharing

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration and DoD Chief Information Officer John G. Grimes signed the "DoD Information Sharing Strategy" today and established a new information sharing vision for the Department of Defense:

"Delivering the power of information to ensure mission success through an agile enterprise with freedom of maneuverability across the information environment." "The Department of Defense must closely cooperate with our domestic and international partners to mutually reinforce each other's success," said Grimes. "To that end, we must be able to quickly and seamlessly share information. This strategy will help us achieve that goal in concert with our partners both at home and abroad."

"We are working closely with Ambassador Ted McNamara, the President's Information Sharing Environment program manager, and retired
Air Force Maj. Gen. Dale Meyerrose, Associate Director of National Intelligence and Chief Information Officer for the Director of National Intelligence, to ensure that our goals will support the national strategy," he added.

According to the DoD Information Sharing Strategy, the vision describes a future state where "transparent, open, agile, timely, and relevant information sharing occurs to promote freedom of maneuverability across a trusted information environment." To achieve this vision, the strategy describes four goals that form the necessary environment across the department. These include: (1) promote, encourage, and incentivize sharing; (2) achieve an extended enterprise; (3) strengthen agility in order to accommodate unanticipated partners and events; and (4) ensure trust across organizations.

Developed through the combined efforts of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the strategy was published in response to the President's information sharing imperatives and as outlined in the most recent Quadrennial Defense Review. It seeks to guide the Department's exchange of information within the DoD and with domestic and international partners; for example, federal, state, local, tribal, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, foreign nations, and international organizations.

It provides an approach to information sharing activities and operations for the Office of the Secretary of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the combatant commands, the military departments, the Office of the Inspector General of the DoD, the defense agencies, the DoD field activities, and all other organizational entities in the DoD.

"To realize these objectives, the strategy addresses necessary changes to information mobility and associated alignment of incentives, policies, processes and systems, while identifying the critical cultural shift required to support collaboration and improved knowledge sharing," said Grimes.

The DoD Information Sharing Strategy will be supplemented with additional integrated guidance to synchronize the many information sharing activities, initiatives and investments supported by the DoD. This guidance will expand on five implementation considerations identified in the strategy to focus development on the culture, governance, policies, economics and resources, and
technology and infrastructure factors associated with solutions to information sharing challenges. The strategy also establishes a framework for DoD to support the Federal Information Sharing Environment mandated by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) of 2004.

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Pentagon Kicks Off Appreciation Month with Concert

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – There aren't enough "thank yous" in the world to express the gratitude felt for the members of the
armed forces, said up-and-coming vocalist Jenny Boyle, the entertainer for the Pentagon's kick off to Military Appreciation Month today. During the third annual America Supports You Military Appreciation Concert, Boyle entertained the audience with her rock and country stylings of crowd favorites, as the Pentagon Channel broadcast the hour-long concert live to 350 military installations worldwide.

America Supports You is a Defense Department program designed to connect grassroots support groups and corporate partners with the men and women of the
U.S. armed forces and their families.

"(Jenny) is a real hero in my mind because she has gone everywhere we have people in uniform around the world, whether she had to wear a flak vest or not, to provide a taste of home to those folks that are away from their families and friends fighting for our freedom and our way of life,"
Navy Vice Admiral Nancy Brown, Joint Staff director of command, control, communications and computer systems, said during her opening remarks. "She has sacrificed on her own to do that."

Boyle has entertained troops at
U.S. military installations during five tours with Armed Forces Entertainment and the United Service Organizations. She has performed in locations such as Germany, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Djibouti and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to name a few.

"(The men and women of the armed forces) have done so much for our country and they sacrifice so much on a daily basis," Boyle said. "It's the least that we can do to go overseas to entertain and support them. It's an honor."

For soldiers like
Army Maj. Chew Leung, who works in the Army's personnel office, the concert briefly enjoyed during his lunch break had special meaning.

"I grew up during a time when the
military was mostly disregarded," he said, referring to Vietnam-era days. "It's nice to have a performer come out and express her support for what we are doing. I really appreciate this."

Boyle said troops who are far away from friends and families especially appreciate her performances. "(Bringing) just a little bit of home to them means so much," she told American Forces Press Service. "And to be a part of that and being a part of America Supports You is such an honor."

"Have a great
Military Appreciation Month," she said at the close of the concert. "You deserve every second of it!"

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WWII Vet Notes Cell Phone's Value to Troops

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – When Purple Heart recipient Earl "Scotty" MacKenzie was a World War II
Army sergeant, communications with loved ones back home from the South Pacific where he was serving were extremely limited. "Oh my God, we had nothing, ... no telephones, nothing," he said, adding that a simple letter could take months to reach him -- "if they could catch up with us because we went from island to island."

Communication is no longer a problem for the former "fox hole technician." MacKenzie now works with "Cell Phones for Soldiers," an organization started by Massachusetts teen siblings Brittany and Robbie Bergquist.

The group recycles used cell phones and uses the cash to buy pre-paid calling cards for troops serving overseas.

The organization is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with members of the
military and their families at home and abroad.

"I couldn't believe it that two young children would get involved like this, and they have just gone so far with the program. They're just great people," MacKenzie said. "The family (they're) just great people. I can't say enough about them."

MacKenzie has been very involved in helping collect cell phones in his region for the organization.

"I have drop sites at ... bases, (and) we've been collecting a heck of a lot of phones," he said. "I wish we had something like that in our war. I really do."

Because of his work on behalf of the group, Gail Bergquist, the teens' mother, asked MacKenzie to represent the group at the third annual America Supports You Salute Concert today at the Pentagon, which kicked off Military Appreciation Month.

He also brought along former
Air Force Senior Airman Max Ford. Together they spread the word to the Pentagon work force about Cell Phones for Soldiers.

This isn't the first time Ford, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, has lent MacKenzie a helping hand.

"Scotty ... was trying to find a way to distribute the cards, and he asked me whether or not we had a lot of people deployed," Ford said. "We know that we always have somebody deployed."

He started helping MacKenzie distribute Cell Phones for Soldiers prepaid calling cards after he returned from his tour in Balad, Iraq, in October 2006. He worked with his family support center and with his unit, the 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron, to get the cards into the hands of those serving overseas before separating from the military.

Though he was never a recipient of a Cell Phones for Soldiers phone card, Ford attested to the importance of receiving such support while away from family and friends.

"It was always nice to receive a (package)," he said. "But it's not that, it's just knowing that the people back home remember you, care about you.

"Just knowing that boosts your morale," he said as he turned to watch local recording artist Jenny Boyle perform for the crowd gathered in the Pentagon courtyard.

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Armed Forces Recruits Take Oath of Enlistment at Florida Ceremony

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – Scores of young people raised their right hands and joined America's
armed forces during a joint enlistment ceremony here yesterday. The mass enlistment, held inside a hangar at Miami's Opa Locka Airport, inducted 120 new members into the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy or Coast Guard.

Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs and a retired
Navy rear admiral with 38 years of military service, attended the ceremony and praised the young people for their patriotism.

"I wish I could do it all over again," Hall said to the soon-to-be servicemembers. "But, it's your time to serve. And, you'll soon raise your hand and enter into the ranks of all of those that have served before you and will serve after you."

"I tip my hat to them for the service that they're going to provide to their country,"
Navy Vice Adm. Marty Chanik, commander of the U.S. 2nd Fleet, based at Norfolk, Va., told the inductees. "I really and deeply appreciate that, and I know that you'll find your service in the military to be a rewarding time. Congratulations to each and every one of you."

Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, director of the Air National Guard, then swore in the group.

"It is such an honor to be wearing that uniform and to be a
Marine," Miami Gardens resident Angeline Medina, 17, said after she took her oath of enlistment.

The swearing-in ceremony was part of Fleet Week USA and 2007 McDonald's Air and Sea Show media day activities held in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami region as part of National
Military Appreciation Month in May.

The
Navy sent some ships and its Leap Frogs Parachute Team to participate in Fleet Week and Air and Sea Show activities in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area, noted Chanik, who's also the director of the "Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence," in Norfolk.

"We bring some equipment for folks to see, but that's not really what's important," Chanik said.

The key focus of such events, the admiral pointed out, is for civilians to meet and talk with servicemembers "who make a big difference for our country."

One of those servicemembers was
Army Staff Sgt. Daniel P. Barnes, a 29-year-old Iraq veteran who hails from Saint Robert, Mo. Barnes lost both of his legs because of a rocket-propelled-grenade attack in Baghdad on September 4, 2006. He praised the "Wounded Warrior Project," a non-profit servicemember support group that helped him when he was recovering from his wounds at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

"They came to my room and brought me a backpack filled with clothes and toiletries," Barnes, who is still on active duty, recalled. "I think it is truly amazing; fellow soldiers helping out fellow soldiers."

The Wounded Warrior Project is among the more than 250 businesses and organizations nationwide participating in the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which recognizes citizens' support for
military men and women and communicates that support to members of the U.S. armed forces here and abroad.

The media day was a preview of military-themed festivities along Fort Lauderdale's beachfront today. Other venues at the airport included a drill-and-ceremony demonstration by the
U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, flyovers by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and static military displays, including Navy F-16 and Air Force F-15 aircraft.

A special surprise guest, the new F-22 Raptor fighter jet, landed on the tarmac. Excited spectators cheered their approval as the sleek aircraft slowly taxied up with its turbines whining.

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Grassroots Groups Help Pentagon Celebrate

By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – Twenty-eight America Supports You home-front support groups converged on the Pentagon today to share information about their organizations with the men and women who work inside the building during the
U.S. military headquarters kick-off ceremony for Military Appreciation Month. America Supports You is a Defense Department program that works to connect its more than 250 grassroots groups with members of the U.S. armed forces and their families.

"These folks are doing more for our troops than I can express in words," said
Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Brown, Joint Staff director for command, control, communications and computer systems, during her welcome remarks at the ceremony. "To give them gratitude for their sacrifices, from making direct financial contributions to buying airline tickets to making clothes for those that have come back ... for their contributions and their sacrifices in supporting our troops. Thank you all very much."

Not only did the grassroots groups voice their support to the uniformed employees of the building, they also used the time to educate those who will be taking charge of troops in the future.

A lot of people don't know what's available to them, said Pat Stradley, family director of "USA Cares." "We get many referrals from unit commanders."

USA Cares provides financial assistance to
military members and their families. Within the last three years the organization has assisted nearly 6,000 servicemembers by providing $3.4 million in funds and $1.2 million in alternative resources.

"Some of the stories we hear are heartbreaking," Stradley said, "but we really love what we do."

"It's very important to connect community groups with
military families," said Caroline Peabody, who is the president of the Military Family Network, an organization that works to educate servicemembers on the benefits offered to them by state and federal agencies. "Our community connection program identifies neighborhoods that are reaching out to help military members and their families."

Many of the America Supports You home-front groups used the time in the Pentagon's courtyard to network with each other.

"There is no one group that can take care of all the needs of the troops and their families," said "Operation First Response" co-founder Peggy Baker. "By getting to know each other and what our specialties are, we can better help the troops. We end up touching each others' lives."

From providing financial assistance to servicemembers and recycling cell phones in order to purchase phone cards to providing comfort and relief items for hospitalized troops and providing custom-made clothing for wounded warriors, a vast array of services were represented during the festivities.

"The most important thing for people to know about those of us out here is that we're here to support the troops," said Debbie Rupert, from "Operation Quiet Comfort." "It's also important for troops to know that, no matter what, we support them."

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Why We Serve: Air Force Sergeant Dedicates Afghan Work to Fallen Comrades

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – An
Air Force construction specialist who served with a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan last year has dedicated his humanitarian work there to two fallen comrades. Tech. Sgt. Robert P. Jubie, a 35-year-old carpenter who also has served in Iraq, recalled helping Afghans improve their lives through the construction of government buildings, homes, schools and roads during his PRT duty in Laghman province from June to December 2006.

The PRT's work in Afghanistan was often dangerous, Jubie said, citing the death of two soldiers, both of whom were his friends. They were killed in Kabul on Sept. 8, 2006, by a suicide-bent driver who detonated his vehicle's 300-pound load of high explosives.

"That really drove home to me to a great desire to continue the mission," Jubie, an Arlington, Wash., native said. "Unfortunately, their lives were ended short, but their legacy lives on through the PRTs."

Jubie is among a group of eight servicemembers with duty experience in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa selected to tell their stories to the American people at community, business, veterans and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.

The "Why We Serve" program, initially the idea of
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began last fall, noted Air Force Maj. Ann N. Biggers, the program's director. Eight military members, two from each service, are selected to participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments, she explained.

"We know that the American public is hungry to hear about what these young men and women have been doing," Biggers said. "It's important for our speakers, as well, because they are out there serving their country, and they want to be able to tell their stories."

Jubie, who said he is an intensely patriotic person, joined the
Air Force through the delayed enlistment program after graduating from Arlington High School in 1991. He'd already studied carpentry during two years at a local vocational-tech school.

Today, Jubie wears a black metal bracelet bearing the name of one of his two fallen friends. He said he never takes off his remembrance bracelet.

Afghanistan is a battered country that desperately wants to emerge from a centuries-old cycle of poverty and violence, Jubie said. The tribal folk that inhabit Afghanistan's outlands in the Hindu Kush Mountains are good-hearted, kind and mostly ignorant of the modern world, he said.

Education is a precious and valued commodity in Afghanistan, Jubie said. The radical Taliban, he said, conspire with like-minded local religious leaders to take advantage of the average Afghan's non-worldliness.

"They're a great and beautiful people," Jubie said of the Afghans.

However, because of illiteracy plaguing the country, most Afghans "don't really know if what's being preached in the mosques is true or not."

That's one of the reasons why it's so important that the Afghan people obtain increased opportunities for education and access to a higher standard of living, he said. The Afghans are especially appreciative of the PRT projects that build new schools for their children.

"That's why the Taliban fights us to this day," Jubie pointed out, noting that the terrorists want the Afghans to live in perpetual ignorance and poverty.

Afghans who are educated, forward-looking and focused on improving their lives would automatically reject the Taliban's dark, medieval philosophy, he said.

Education represents "the voice of democracy and freedom," Jubie said, as well as a path to a better life. These are opportunities that the Afghans long for, he said.

"And, we're providing that," Jubie said.

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RE/MAX Receives Award for Supporting Troops, Families

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – America Supports You kicked off Military Appreciation Month today by honoring RE/MAX International, Inc., with the Defense Department's Exceptional Public Service Award for the company's commitment to turning military spouses into real estate agents. The international real estate agency launched Operation RE/MAX in August to help
military spouses develop real estate careers through training and licensing and by providing employment placement. Today, more than 500 military installations and nearly 1,000 RE/MAX offices participate in the program, and the agency already has placed hundreds of military spouses in real estate jobs.

"One of the biggest challenges for our families is the
military transfer," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison and the creator of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.

Barber thanked RE/MAX, America Supports You's newest corporate partner, for providing careers for spouses "so that no matter where our military member goes, the spouse has a job and a fabulous opportunity to make a contribution to the community."

"Now we have a program where spouses, who have never had to be the breadwinner, can be licensed and make a career move that helps support their families," Barber told the packed Pentagon briefing room here today.

In addition to Operation RE/MAX, the company is in the early stages of the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship, a program which offers severely wounded veterans assistance with housing, transportation, education, job training and employment.

Speaking on behalf of 121,000 RE/MAX associates at offices in more than 65 countries, Gail Liniger, vice chairman of the board and co-founder of RE/MAX International, Inc., thanked ASY for allowing the agency to be "part of the team."

"America Supports You is such a wonderful organization and a tremendous resource to the military," Liniger said. "RE/MAX is so pleased we can help you with your efforts, ... and we are looking forward to working with you in the future and coming years."

Barber then introduced David S. C. Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, who told the audience that a career is the "objective of Americans who want to realize their potential."

"As many of you know, military personnel and their families move frequently, sometimes very frequently, and it's very tough in that environment if you are a military spouse to have a career," he said. "So we're very grateful RE/MAX has stepped up and targeted
military spouses ... with a great support action for our military families."

Audience members were called to attention and rose to their feet to watch Chu present the Exceptional Public Service Award certificate to Liniger.

Guests on hand for the award ceremony were invited to participate in America Supports You's Military Appreciation Month Kickoff events today, including a concert in the Pentagon courtyard to honor U.S. servicemembers.

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Defense Department Releases Findings of Mental Health Assessment

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – The
military has a robust system in place to deal with mental health issues, but longer and more frequent deployments are causing strain on servicemembers, a Defense Department study has found. The fourth Mental Health Advisory Team survey, MHAT IV as this survey was called, was conducted in August and September. For the first time, the survey included Marines in the study group. The MHAT was composed of behavioral health professionals who deployed to Iraq and surveyed soldiers, Marines, health care providers, and chaplains, Army Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, the acting surgeon general of the Army, told reporters at the Pentagon.

The MHAT IV team found that not all soldiers and
Marines deployed to Iraq are at equal risk for screening positive for a mental health symptom, and the level of combat is the main determining factor of a servicemember's mental health status, Pollock said. For soldiers, deployment length and family separation were the top non-combat deployment issues, whereas Marines had fewer non-combat deployment issues, probably because of their shorter deployment periods, she said.

The team recommended behavioral outreach efforts that focus on units that are in theater longer than six months and determined that shorter deployments or longer intervals between deployments would allow soldiers and
Marines better opportunities to reset mentally before returning to combat.

Pollock said these findings contributed to the
Army's decision to extend combat deployments to 15 months, because it gave the units waiting to deploy more time at their home stations. Congress has authorized the Defense Department to increase the strength the Army, she noted, which will help increase time at home between deployments for soldiers.

Fifteen-month deployments will be stressful for servicemembers, Pollock acknowledged, and that's why it's important for leaders to be trained in behavioral health issues.

"We've got more attention now on the importance of
leadership, and I think that's one of the strengths that the team really identified, is that with good leadership, even when people may have a bad thought, they don't act on that thought," she said. "So it's very important that we ensure that the young leaders have the training so they know how to support the troops that depend on them."

For the first time since the MHAT program was started in 2003, this assessment included questions about battlefield ethics, Pollock said. Of those surveyed, 10 percent of soldiers and Marines reported mistreating noncombatants or damaging property when it was not necessary, she said.

The survey also found that only 47 percent of soldiers and 38 percent of
Marines agreed that noncombatants should be treated with dignity and respect. More than one-third of all soldiers and Marines reported that torture should be allowed to save the life of a fellow soldier or Marine, and less than half of soldiers or Marines said they would report a team member for unethical behavior.

In the report, mistreating noncombatants was defined as either stealing from a noncombatant, destroying or damaging property when it wasn't necessary, or hitting or kicking a noncombatant.

These findings may seem alarming, Pollock said, but it is important to keep them in perspective. These troops have been seeing their friends killed and injured, and anger is a normal reaction, she said. However, what's important to note is that the troops who had these thoughts did not act on them and actually mistreat any noncombatants.

"What it speaks to is the leadership that the
military is providing, because they're not acting on those thoughts," she said. "They're not torturing the people. And I think it speaks very well to the level of training that we have in the military today."

Other key findings of the report include:

-- The 2006 adjusted rate of suicides per 100,000 soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom was 17.3 soldiers, lower than the 19.9 rate reported in 2005, but higher than the
Army average of 11.6 per 100,000 soldiers.

-- Soldiers experienced mental health problems at a higher rate than
Marines.

-- Deployment length was directly linked to morale problems in the
Army.

-- Leadership is key to maintaining soldier and
Marine mental health.

-- Both soldiers and Marines reported at relatively high rates -- 62 and 66 percent, respectively -- that they knew someone seriously injured or killed, or that a member of their team had become a casualty.

-- Only 5 percent of soldiers reported taking in-theater rest and relaxation leave, although the average time deployed was nine months.

-- Multiple deployers reported higher acute stress than first-time deployers. Deployment length was related to higher rates of mental health problems and marital problems.

-- Current suicide prevention
training is not designed for a combat environment.

-- Behavioral health providers require additional combat and operational stress-control training prior to deploying to Iraq.

Since the MHAT IV report was presented to the Multinational Force Iraq commander and service leaders in November, the
Army and Marines have implemented changes to improve behavioral health care, Pollock said. The Army has revised teaching curriculum and operational training to include more focus on Army values, suicide prevention, battlefield ethics, and behavioral health awareness in all junior-leader-development courses, she said.

The
Marine Corps has been developing deployment-cycle training since 2003, said Navy Capt. William P. Nash, coordinator of the Combat/Operational Stress Control Branch of the service's Manpower and Reserve Affairs directorate. Marines, leaders and families all receive training in identifying, managing and preventing mental health problems, he said.

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Singer Shows Military Appreciation

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – The Pentagon kicked off
Military Appreciation Month today with the third annual "America Supports You Salute Concert," featuring local recording artist Jenny Boyle, in the national military headquarters' center courtyard. America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.

Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Brown, the Joint Staff's director for command, control, communications and computer systems, opened the concert with a welcome to guests of honor including six wounded soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, and Rebecca Gates, wife of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

Brown expressed appreciation for the Pentagon's civilian work force and the America Supports You home-front groups in attendance.

"I also want to ... thank all of the folks that work in the Pentagon, because you also are warriors supporting those that are out in Iraq and Afghanistan and all of the other places that we have folks deployed today," Brown said. "For our (home-front) groups that are here with their booths, ... for their contributions and their sacrifices in supporting our troops, thank you all very much."

The appreciation continued when Boyle and her band took the stage. The singer, who Brown had introduced as a "real hero" for her dedication to entertaining troops overseas, expressed her gratitude for the troops and civilians alike.

"There aren't enough thank yous," Boyle told the crowd. "You all are my heroes, each and every one of you."

Army Staff Sgt. Collins Roberts, one of the six Walter Reed patients in attendance, said he was grateful for Boyle's efforts to support the troops and the efforts of those like her. Roberts, who received support from America Supports You home-front groups while serving in Kuwait, said the care packages and letters from the kids kept him going.

Today's concert was just an extension of that support, he said. "She doesn't ask for anything; ... (its) just to shows appreciation for what the military does, what we do," Roberts said. "It speaks a lot of her."

Defense civilians said the concert was a nice tribute to their efforts, and a great way to spend a lunch hour.

"I think that's wonderful that people ... give back to (servicemembers)," Barbara Brown, a contractor with Syracuse Research Corporation, said. "It's really refreshing, especially on a beautiful day, good music, just to say, 'Thank You.'"

An autograph session with Boyle and her band capped the hour-long, lunchtime concert.

A declaration in 1999 encouraged U.S. citizens to observe May as
Military Appreciation Month "in a symbol of unity - to honor the current and former members of the armed forces - including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace."

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Florida Employers Cited For Support of Guard, Reserve Members

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – Seven Sunshine State employers of National Guardsmen and reservists were honored for exemplary support of their employees during a Defense Department-hosted award ceremony here yesterday. Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, was on hand to present the Above and Beyond Awards to the employers. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a defense department agency that falls under Hall's purview, bestows the awards to employers for exceptional support of employees who are also members of the reserve components.

"Thanks to each one of you for your support," Hall told the award recipients.

Created in 1972, ESGR provides information and education for employers of National Guardsmen and reservists. Additionally, the agency can mediate potential disputes between employers and employees in the Guard or reserves.

Before the award presentations Hall discussed some recent Defense Department policy changes that, among other things, specify one-year mobilizations for reserve-component members. Before the rule change, Hall noted, Guardsmen and reservists were mobilized for 18 to 22 months of service.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates made the policy change because employers of Guardsmen and reservists were concerned that their employees were gone for too-lengthy periods of time. About 75,000 members of the National Guard and reserves are currently mobilized, he said.

The armed services now want "to spread the burden" of deployments, so as not to over-stress the active-duty force or the reserve components, he explained.

It'll take a couple of years to establish more deployment predictability, Hall acknowledged, adding that Guard and reserve forces will now be trained and deployed as complete units, rather than being mobilized in "cobbled-up" fashion.

"What we have heard is, unit cohesion is vitally important, particularly to ground-maneuver forces. So, we're going to mobilize as units," Hall said, adding that he'd like employers to provide their input about the changes.

Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale is among this year's southern Florida-region recipients of Above and Beyond awards. Luisa Gutman, executive director of human resources, was on hand to accept the award for the hospital.

"I think it's the responsibility of all employers to support the armed services," Gutman said, noting that five of the hospital's employees are currently on active
military duty.

Other recipients of this year's Above and Beyond award are: Broward County Sheriff's Office, the City of Fort Lauderdale, the City of Plantation, Lauderhill
Police Department, Marine Industries Inc., Nova Southeastern University, Protective Products International, and SR Technologies Inc.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle accepted the award for his municipality. The Broward County Sheriff's Office also received an Above and Beyond award in 2006. The seven award recipients also signed Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 5-Star Statements of Support as a symbol of their rededicated support of employees in the Guard or reserve.

The Above and Beyond award is among a series of ESGR-sponsored honors for employers providing programs and policies that exceed requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. USERRA specifies re-employment protection and other benefits for veterans and employees returning from
military duty.

The National Committee for Employment Support of the Guard and Reserves' more than 4,000 volunteers located across the United States and its territories perform "a terrific job," Hall said, as advocates for good relations between employers and their
military employees. The new ESGR chief, Executive Director Gordon Sumner Jr., was in attendance, Hall noted.

The award ceremony was run in conjunction with a discussion on defense issues featuring Hall;
Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, commander of U.S. Army Reserve Command; and Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, director of the Air National Guard, as panel members.

"Thanks for what you are doing for our soldiers," Stultz told the employers.

Today's Guard and reserves are now part of the operational force and is expected to mobilize and deploy on a regular basis, he noted.

Guard and reserve members contribute added value to the
armed forces because of their diversified and unique skills from their civilian occupations, he said. "If we're going to win this long war on terror, we're going to have to depend on the (Guard and) Reserve as part of that force," Stultz said.

Hall, Stultz and McKinley cited the importance of replenishing
military equipment worn, damaged or destroyed during deployments to Afghanistan or Iraq. McKinley also highlighted the pressing need to replace old, outdated military aircraft with new models. "We've got to buy new airplanes," he emphasized, noting the average age of military aircraft is now 24 years old. "We've got men and women flying bombers and tankers that are older than they are."

Hall noted that worldwide restaurant chain McDonald's kicked off National Military Appreciation Month through its annual "National Salute to America's Heroes" that consists of "Fleet Week USA," "McDonald's Air and Sea Show" and other events held in the Fort Lauderdale area from late April into early May.

"This coming weekend, over 4 million people will be here to salute the men and women of the
U.S. military and say thanks to them," said Mickey Markoff, executive producer for the McDonald's-sponsored program.

The National Salute to America's Heroes is "the largest spectator event in the world," Markoff said, noting the event is in its 13th year.

McDonald's also is among the more than 250 businesses and organizations nationwide that participate in the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which recognizes citizens' support for
military men and women and communicates that support to members of the U.S. armed forces at home and abroad.

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Top Military Installations Lauded at Pentagon

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – The top installations from each of the
military services and the Defense Logistics Agency were lauded today at the Pentagon for their superior mission support. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England presented the Commander in Chief's Annual Awards for Installation Excellence, highlighting the facilities' superior performance at a time when the nation faces a worldwide strategic threat from terrorism.

"This is an especially critical time for the country, and it is a time like this that requires great
leadership," England said at a ceremony honoring the recipients. "It requires great leadership starting with the president of the United States and the secretary of defense and all the great people that we have in the Pentagon, but it takes leadership throughout the organization. It takes leadership at every single level of our organization and every single place in our organization."

This year's awardees were
U.S. Army Garrison Japan, at Camp Zama, Japan; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; and Defense Supply Center Columbus, Ohio.

This was the first year that the four
military installations received the award. The Defense Supply Center Columbus, however, has received the honor five times over the years. Each installation was chosen for its exemplary support of Defense Department missions and for providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions.

England emphasized that the award is not just recognizing the
leadership, but also the people who make the installations function every day. "Any time you have an opportunity to say thanks to people for a job that's extraordinarily well done, it's an opportunity you never pass up, because at the end of the day, that's what this organization's all about," he said. "It's about joint civilian-military teams; it's that teamwork behind the lines that allows our people to do their jobs at the front lines."
President Ronald Reagan created the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence in 1985. The Defense Logistics Agency was added to the competition in 1988. Recipient installations receive a trophy, an "Installation Excellence" flag, and a letter signed by President Bush.

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Marine Entry-Level Training to Go 'Back to Basics,' General Says

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 –
Marine entry-level training will reinvigorate its values-based approach, a top Marine official said here yesterday. At both Marine Corps Recruitment Depots -- in Parris Island, S.C., and San Diego -- senior drill instructors will hold "footlocker classes" with enlistees to strengthen the mentor-scholar relationship, Marine Maj. Gen. George J. Flynn, the commanding general of the Corps' Training and Education Command, told reporters at the Pentagon.

"The senior drill instructors will have their troops literally sit on the footlockers and will have that father-son, mother-daughter talk that really instills those values," he said. "That's where a lot of the values get reinforced and introduced to the recruits."

Discussion topics will depend on when the sessions occur during boot camp, and Flynn said talks could range from what new recruits might experience when first arriving to a unit and what
leadership they can expect, to financial advice and how young Marines should behave during leave. Senior drill instructors soon will receive a guide on how to approach these footlocker sessions, he added.

Flynn said
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway spurred the re-examination of entry-level training. "This stemmed from his belief that the transformation from civilian to Marine is a national treasure and one that we must preserve and guard," he said.

In addition, the Corps is considering an additional week of infantry
training for both infantry and noninfantry Marines, which would likely include crew-served weapons training, plus convoy and counter-improvised-explosive-device training.

In about a month, officials at
Marine Manpower and Reserve Affairs should render their judgment on whether the additional week is feasible. "All these things would provide a better-trained Marine to the operating forces," Flynn said.

The general also announced a scheduling change to the 12-week Marine boot camp, involving the 54-hour endurance exercise Marines call "The Crucible." In May, recruits at Parris Island will undergo the crucible in week 11, instead of week 10, and in October the crucible exercise in San Diego will move from week eight to week 11.

"We want to make The Crucible the true culminating event that it was originally designed to be," he said. "At the end of this 54-hour event, you will be recognized as earning the right to be called a
United States Marine."

The 12th and final week of
training will be called "Marine Week," Flynn said.

"It's a transition from going to a very restrictive environment to learning about how you are going to function in the
Marines when you reach the operating forces," he said. "You're going to get accustomed to the leadership that you're going to experience out in the fleet and also understand the role of (noncommissioned officers) and staff NCOs other than being drill instructors."

Borrowing a quote from former
Marine Commandant Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune, Flynn said, "An individual should be better off for their service."

"And that's really what this is all about," he said. "It's a recommitment."

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Gates: Department Will Shield Troops from Funding Shortfall

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 – The Defense Department will take "every action necessary for as long as possible," to ensure that troops fighting in Iraq are not affected by the delay in approval of its supplemental war funding, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday. The longer the supplemental funding goes unapproved, the greater the financial disruptions on the
Army, but most of those will be absorbed as monies are transferred from accounts for U.S. construction, training, hiring and travel and funneled to supporting the war, Gates told Pentagon reporters.

President Bush on May 1 vetoed an emergency war-funding bill that included timelines for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.

The $124 billion bill, passed by Congress last week, would have funded the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also included domestic spending measures and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning by October, with the goal of getting all combat forces out of Iraq by March 2008.

Bush called the bill unacceptable because it mandates artificial timelines for troop withdrawal, which he said would embolden the enemy and discourage the Iraqi people.

Gates responded to questions by reporters on the impact of a delay in approving supplemental funding after a briefing announcing a newly created oversight committee for wounded warrior care in the
military.

He said that preset timelines for troop withdrawal would be a mistake. Insurgents would simply wait for U.S. troops to withdraw while bolstering their forces in anticipation, Gates said.

"If you pick a certain date and say the troops are coming out on a certain date, everybody basically just gets to sit back and say, 'OK, we got 90 or 100 days that we've got to wait,'" Gates said.

"All that al Qaeda and Jaysh al-Mahdi and all the rest have to do is say, 'You know, We've got X days until these guys are gone. So husband your resources. All we have to do is make the run for the money in a specific period of time,'" Gates said. "As long as there's some uncertainty about that, it seems to me that they don't have that luxury."

Gates conceded, though, that the debate over a troop withdrawal is "useful in terms of letting the Iraqis fully understand the impatience here at home and the importance of their getting on with their domestic reconciliation and the importance of the political reconciliation to the success of the enterprise in Iraq."

The president requested a $93.4 billion emergency supplemental measure in February to cover the cost of operations in the
war on terror for the remainder of fiscal 2007. This was in addition to the $70 billion Congress previously had provided. The supplemental budget provides $39.3 billion to sustain warfighting operations, including supplies, support and maintenance, according to documents released by the Defense Department.

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Gates Urges Vigilance in Terror War

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged Americans to learn from past mistakes and steel their resolve to see the war on terror through to victory. Gates warned during an address to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that giving up the fight too soon would be a devastating mistake with longstanding consequences. He urged the country to allocate the resources needed to win the war as it rebuilds its elements of national power, which withered after the end of the Cold War.

Re-donning the professor's hat he wore as president of Texas A&M University, Gates offered a history lesson and cautioned against repeating past mistakes. He recounted five times during the past 90 years -- all after long conflicts -- when the United States cut its defense spending, disarmed outright or otherwise withdrew from the world.

"Each time we paid a price," he said.

The most recent instance was in the 1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union led people to seek a "peace dividend" rather than recognize new threats that were emerging, he said.

"Key instruments of America's national power --
military, diplomatic and intelligence -- withered throughout the decade," he said.

Within the Defense Department alone, the active
Army was cut from almost 800,000 troops to fewer than 500,000. The number of Navy ships decreased by more than half. The Air Force went from 37 tactical wings to 20.

The State Department and U.S. intelligence agencies experienced similar cuts, he said.

"Even as we throttled back, the world became more unstable, more turbulent and more unpredictable than the Cold War years we had left behind," Gates told the audience. "Our hopes for peace, once again, gave way to the realities of disorder and conflict."
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks abruptly ended America's "holiday from history," he said. Those attacks and the campaigns that followed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the globe revealed shortcomings he said the country has had to work hard to correct.

Gates said this wake-up call has dealt a painful but important lesson for the country as it faces the future.

"As a nation, I believe we have to do two things," he said. "First, we have to deal with the challenges we face now, to commit the necessary resources to be successful in the current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"And second," he said, "we must recoup some of the underinvestment of the past and commit ourselves to strengthening the instruments of national power across the board."

That's already happening in the Defense Department, with overstressed ground forces to increase by some 92,000 members over the next five years and outdated or worn-out equipment being modernized or replaced, he said.

Other government agencies are rethinking their strategies, too.

"The goal is an integrated effort, a reinvigoration of the key elements of national power so that the United States does not let down its guard again," Gates said.

This groundwork is crucial in the face of threats facing the United States and its allies, including those posed by violent extremist networks and ideologies, he said.

Gates acknowledged that many Americans have grown weary of the ongoing conflict, particularly in light of setbacks and tragedy. This "is understandable and even to be expected," he said.

But, Gates said, it would be a terrible mistake for the country to use that as an excuse to shirk from its duties or once again render itself unprepared.

Although it's impossible to predict the future, he said history offers a glimpse of what's likely to be ahead. When the United States takes the lead, meets its commitments, stands with its allies, prepares for current threats as well as those still beyond the horizon, "then great things are possible and probable for our country and the world," he said.

"As a nation, we have made our share of mistakes, but we have always corrected our course," he said. "That is why this country remains the most powerful cause for good ... (and) why we will continue to be a beacon for all that is good."

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Survivors Group Honors Benefactors

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors paused May 1 to recognize those who help make their program possible during the TAPS 10th Annual Honor Guard Appreciation Luncheon here. "The Honor Guard Luncheon is our opportunity once a year to thank those who support our program in all sorts of ways," Bonnie Carroll, TAPS founder, said.

TAPS includes among its supporters corporations, members of
military honor guards, Defense Department personnel and even celebrities. TAPS also is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.

One of the group's staunchest celebrity supporters, Ben Stein, served as the keynote speaker for the luncheon. The former lawyer may be best known for his monotone drone of "Bueller, Bueller" as a high school teacher in the 1980s hit movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

Stein said he's involved with the TAPS program because he is humbly grateful to the military and those left behind when a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice.

"I get to live this incredibly great life of being an American, get to be free, get to not have al Qaeda coming to my house and chopping my head off all because of people in the armed forces who protect me and keep me alive and well and happy," he said. "None of it -- the movies, the love, the gourmet meals, my favorite restaurant in the whole world -- Waffle House, the frat parties, the mansions, the (sport utility vehicles) -- none of it, none of it would be possible without them."

TAPS, he said, is there for
military families when the unthinkable happens.

"What we need is something basic: human companionship," Stein told those gathered. "We want to be able to sit you down with somebody else who's been there, somebody else who's been in your situation ... for you to talk with someone who's been there, walked through the valley of the shadow of death and come through thanks to not walking through that valley alone."

Norma Melo knows benefits of talking with someone who's been there. She lost her husband,
Army Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, in Mosul, Iraq, on Dec. 21, 2004. His task force suffered 22 casualties and 69 traumatic injuries that day.

"In those first few days, Bonnie (Carroll) did what was really needed for us," Melo said. "(She) did something that no one in our chain of command had thought to do, ... you gathered the spouses together, and immediately we had a bond.

"Now we share joyous memories and massive pain, but we (also) share a future," Melo said.

The TAPS program has been providing emotional, peer-based support to families affected by the death of a loved one serving in the
armed forces for 15 years.

"At the time of my husband's death in the
United States Army, there didn't exist a peer-based support program," Carroll said. "TAPS benchmarked off the best programs in America, talked to the Defense Department, (Department of Veterans Affairs), the other veterans service organizations and (asked), 'Where does the void exist, and how can we best fill it?'"

TAPS goes beyond connecting grieving family members and volunteers who have been there, the group also provides casework assistance and grief and trauma information and resources, as well as a hotline that's available 24 hours seven days a week.

"It's kind of a one-stop 800 number for all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one connected with
military service," Carroll said.

TAPS also has, thanks to America Supports You, made another beneficial connection, she said.

"The TAPS Good Grief Camp is partnering with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey (Circus)," Carroll said. "Ringling is bringing in their performers, their clowns to work with the children on grief-related activities.

For instance, juggling will become a lesson in how to handle the emotions of grief. Building a human pyramid will symbolize to the children that they have support from each other, she said.

"It's giving the kids a learning opportunity, but also having a lot of fun," Carroll said. "Having that kind of connection would not have happened without America Supports You."

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America Supports You: Gates Extols Value of Troop-Support Efforts

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed thanks to Americans who support the troops and urged people to check out the Defense Department's America Supports You program. Gates told several hundred members of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that he's grateful for the support many are providing their employees serving in the National Guard and reserves. "You value these citizen soldiers and know they're more than worth retaining," he said. "Thank you for believing in them."

The secretary acknowledged it's "a tough time for them and for their families" and said it means a lot for these troops to know they have their employers' support. "I can assure you that your help and understanding do not go unnoticed," he said.

Gates recognized the long list of other activities the chamber sponsors to benefit the
military, from adopt-a-soldier projects and providing free sports tickets to helping servicemembers travel to be with their loved ones or keep in touch while they're overseas.

He also heralded the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport's "Welcome Home a Hero" initiative, which organizes local groups, schools, congregations and businesses to greet troops returning home from deployments. Gates witnessed the program firsthand earlier today as a group welcomed more than 200 troops from several branches of the
military as they arrived from Kuwait.

"These kinds of public receptions are really important," the secretary said. "Whatever disagreements exist over the war in Iraq, we are all united in our admiration of the men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times."

Gates contrasted these receptions with those Vietnam veterans received when they returned home. "It's good to see that we have learned from our past experiences and mistakes," he said.

The America Supports You program offers solid evidence of that wellspring of support, he said. The program, launched to recognize the myriad efforts under way around the country to show appreciation for
military members and their families, is particularly helpful for people who want to express support, but who aren't sure how to get involved, he said.

"If people go to the America Supports You Web site, they will see countless projects they can join, from sending care packages to troops abroad to lending a helping hand to their families here at home," Gates said. "Everything you do makes a difference."
Gates called the opportunity to meet and work with "extraordinary people" dedicated to serving the country the highlight of his job at the Defense Department. At the top of that list, he said, are the troops serving on the front lines.

"I've come away from my four visits to Iraq and Afghanistan impressed by their resilience, their good humor, their courage and their determination in the face of danger and personal sacrifice," he said.

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Navy Announces Commissioning of Submarine Hawaii

The Navy's newest attack submarine Hawaii will be commissioned Saturday, May 5, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony in Groton, Conn. The third submarine of the Virginia class, SSN 776 will bear the name Hawaii to recognize the tremendous support the Navy has enjoyed from the people of the Aloha State and in honor of the rich heritage of submarines in the Pacific theater.

Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is the sponsor of Hawaii, the state's namesake submarine. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored
Navy tradition when Lingle gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

Hawaii has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the
Navy's multi-mission requirements. Hawaii's capabilities include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, special operations forces delivery and support, and covert mine warfare. In addition to these mission areas, Hawaii will be able to strike targets ashore with precision Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other maritime forces. With enhanced communications connectivity, the submarine also will provide unique, fully-integrated strike group and joint task force support.

"The addition of USS Hawaii to the fleet provides needed capability to meet the challenges of the future," said
Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter. "This ship's stealth, endurance, flexibility, and lethality, combined with a highly trained and ready crew, make for the most robust undersea warfare capability in the world."

Capt. David A. Solms, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the ship's commanding officer and will lead a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel.
The 7,800-ton Hawaii was built by the shipbuilder team of General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Conn., and Northrop Grumman Newport News. The submarine is 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. Hawaii is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship - reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. Hawaii will ensure the United States maintains undersea dominance, in both deep and shallow waters, well into this century.

Additional information about this class of submarine is available online at
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4.

A live Web cast of the USS Hawaii's Commissioning ceremony can be viewed online at the commander, Submarine Group Two and the USS Hawaii Web sites at
http://www.csg2.navy.mil/Hawaii.htm.

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Gates Joins Revelers to Welcome Troops Home

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 – Almost 200 deployed troops got a Texas-sized homecoming today as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined hundreds of friends, family members and local residents to welcome them home from the Middle East for two weeks of rest and recuperation leave. Gates took his place alongside the flag-waving, banner-carrying, chanting revelers gathered at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's International Arrivals Terminal to meet the troops as their flight arrived from Kuwait. He shook hands with every arriving servicemember and thanked them for their service.

"These kinds of public receptions are really important," the secretary said later during a speech at the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce. "Whatever disagreements exist over the war in Iraq, we are all united in our admiration of the men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times."

Homecoming receptions are a daily occurrence here, part of a "Welcome Home a Hero" initiative designed to let troops know they've got the country's support.

"We want them to arrive home and know that somebody cares," said Gary Raines, a Vietnam veteran who's a regular at the homecomings. "Nobody welcomed us home, and we never want that to happen again."

"I can't think of anything more worthwhile than letting these people know that we support them," agreed Wayne Trevathan, an
Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.

Raines, Trevathan and other members of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 90, based in nearby Denton, had plenty of company here today.

The Dallas Tap Dazzlers, a senior ladies dance group, arrived in tap shoes, fishnet stockings and sparkly red, white and blue jackets emblazoned with a Lone Star to perform for the group.

One member, Joyce Lawrence, had special reason to be excited at today's performance. Her grandson,
Army Spc. Daniel Black, who's been serving in Baghdad since early November, was among the arriving troops.

"I am just so excited; I'm beside myself," Lawrence gushed. "This is a really, really wonderful day."

Nova and Tim Dea hoisted a giant "Welcome Home, Jordan!" sign as they awaited their first glimpse of their son, Army Pfc. Jordan Dea, a Fort Bliss, Texas-based soldier serving near Mosul, Iraq.

"The webcam has been awesome, but we can't wait to get our hands on him," Nova said. "We've been looking forward to this day for a long time."

Kimberly Smith came dressed to the nines with a strapless sundress and fresh manicure to see her boyfriend,
Army Spc. Corie Barran, walk through the arrivals gate. "This is so exciting," Smith said, apologizing as the tears she'd promised herself not to cry began to well up in her eyes.

Smith and Barran, a member of the Texas National Guard's 89th
Military Police Brigade, had big plans for the afternoon. A highlight, she said, would be a surprise visit to the school where Barran's mom works.

"She knows he's coming home, but she doesn't know it's today," Smith said. "She is going to be really, really surprised."

Smith said the crowd at the airport made the day even more special. "It's just overwhelming," she said. "This is going to give them a real sense of being home and let them know that lots of people love them, not just their families."

Eleven-year-old Nicholas Haskell waited impatiently with his mother, Christina, and 15-month-old brother, Andrew, as word rang out that the soldiers' flight had arrived and the crowd burst into applause.

Nicholas said he was looking forward to celebrating his birthday, albeit it one day late, with the best gift a kid could ever have - his dad home safe. "I'll do anything to get to see my dad," he said.

The activity picked up as the crowd anticipated the troops' arrival. Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American" rang through the terminal. Nineteen second graders from the Westlake Academy waved flags; an employee group from Atmos Energy held up a company banner and cheered; and a sign language choir from Dallas' Samuell High School performed.

As the first soldiers entered the terminal, the crowd erupted into hoots and hollers.

Hands extended to every soldier, along with expressions of welcome and thanks for their service. Troops beamed as they pushed their luggage carts through the gauntlet of well-wishers.

Family members flung arms around their loved ones, reveling in the long-anticipated reunions. Amid all the activity around them, sweethearts savored long, private embraces. Children buried their heads in their fathers' chests.

"This is great! It's absolutely awesome!" beamed Spc. Juan Munoz, a 1st Cavalry Division soldier who held his wife, Cynthia, closely by his side.

"I just love everybody being out here," he said. "It really shows their support. And it makes it feel so great to be home."

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Defense Secretary Visits 'Amazing' Army Rehabilitation Center

By Elaine Wilson and Norma Guerra
Special to American Forces Press Service

May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited here today to meet wounded warriors and take a firsthand look at the Center for the Intrepid, the Army's state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center. "Amazing," Gates said, summing up his opinion of the center with one word.

The $50 million facility, built thanks to the generosity of 600,000 Americans, is dedicated to the nation's military heroes wounded in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. The facility, designed with the latest generation's interests in mind, includes an indoor running track, firing range, wave pool, climbing wall, prosthetic center, gait lab and a computer assisted rehabilitation environment known as CAREN.

As Gates toured the 60,000-square-foot center, he stopped to thank each wounded warrior he met along the way for their service and sacrifice, and he presented each with a secretary of defense coin.

During a tour of the therapy gym, amputee
Army Spc. Robert Stevenson demonstrated the two-story rock wall, then had a challenge for Gates.

"Sir, it's your turn next," Stevenson said.

Gates laughed as he declined the offer, but did present Stevenson with a coin.

At the wave pool, called The Flowrider,
Army Spc. Patrick Moore and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek McGinnis rode "boogie boards" to demonstrate how the pool strengthens core muscles and improves balance.

Gates followed up his visit to the center with a tour of one of two new Fisher Houses adjacent to the rehab facility. Fisher Houses serve as a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. The additional houses, which opened Jan. 29 in conjunction with the center, bring the on-post total to four.

The 21-room homes are built in the newer Fisher House style with a sprawling 16,800 square feet. Each home is equipped with a full-service kitchen, formal dining room, several sitting rooms and bedrooms equipped with DVD/VCR systems and flat-screen TVs.

Gates said he was impressed by the size and the capacity of the homes and called the Fisher Houses "a great service for the families."

He met with residents, including two
Army wives, who asked for coins on behalf of their husbands recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center.

At the tour's conclusion, Gates thanked the Fisher House staff for all that they do for the service members and their families.

Shortly after visiting the Fisher House, Gates met with the Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors.

The president established the commission March 6 to conduct a comprehensive review of military medical care at both Department of Defense and Department of VA hospitals and outpatient facilities. Bush asked its members to recommend ways to improve the transition to other
military service or civilian life, ensure high-quality services for wounded troops and increase their access to benefits and services.

To that end, the nine-member committee, co-chaired by former Kansas Sen. Robert Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, had earlier in the day privately met with service members, family members, health care providers and other interested parties at BAMC. The commission's fact-finding mission will continue tomorrow when members will host an all-day public meeting at the San Antonio Airport Hilton.

Gates will conclude his trip to Texas tomorrow after a visit with wounded warriors, their families and hospital staff at BAMC. This morning, Gates was in Dallas, where he spoke to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

(Elaine Wilson and Norma Guerra work for the Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office.)

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