By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 25, 2007 - Military families have a new partner in their efforts to understand and cope with having a loved one in a battle zone. The Blewitt Foundation focuses on helping children experiencing loss, serious injury or related anxiety or fear.
"Our primary mission is to provide special comfort, enjoyment and enrichment opportunities for U.S. military families ... through partnerships with unique recreational and educational programs," said Joe Cantafio, the foundation's vice president of programs.
"The cornerstone of our family-based program is fun, but not just any kind of fun," he said. "The Blewitt Foundation provides all-expense-paid resort-style fun."
The Virginia-based Blewitt Foundation recently held its first "Destination R&R," its main effort. The week-long program centered on recreation and leisure activities for family members of all ages, Cantafio said.
This inaugural event, held in August at Maryland's Turf Valley Resort, included activities like computer training, European spa treatments, Baltimore Orioles baseball games, and trips to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It also included swimming, pony rides, arts and crafts, and games for the children.
The foundation has partnered with the National Military Family Association, University of Maryland University College, and the Josephson Institute of Ethics in its troop-support endeavors. "Our collective support transforms fun into sharing, connections and healing for families and among families," Cantafio said.
The Blewitt Foundation recently became a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"The Blewitt Foundation will benefit tremendously from our relationship with America Supports You," Cantafio said. "As a new foundation, the exposure, along with the credibility America Supports You (lends), will be a tremendous asset to what we are doing for our servicemembers and their families."
The National Military Family Association also is a supporter of the America Supports You program.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
National Guard Redefines Meaning of 'United States'
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 25, 2007 - The U.S. state of Georgia and the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe might seem like strange strategic partners. But since 1993, the National Guard has breached barriers between American states and international states with positive results. The mission of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program is to buttress bilateral relations with burgeoning U.S. allies.
"The program is a long-term, enduring relationship between a state in the United States and one of the international countries that's either emerging or wants to establish a relationship with the United States," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau.
During an interview with the Pentagon Channel here yesterday, Blum said the State Partnership Program lays the groundwork for lasting strategic connections.
The tale of two Georgias, for instance, began in May 1995, when a Georgia National Guard representative accompanied the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on a visit to the Republic of Georgia. After this initial trip, the chairman invited a small group of Georgian government and military officials for a jaunt to the Peach State.
In the ensuing 12-year relationship, Georgia's National Guard has helped integrate the former Soviet bloc country into the U.S. European Command strategy of fostering stability and democracy in Eastern Europe.
"This partnership helps the combatant commander and the U.S. ambassador's team in country have another source of military-to-military engagements for the theater security cooperation activities of the combatant commander," Blum said.
The general said bilateral alliances created through program aren't confined to strict military-to-military relations. On the contrary, some partnerships have evolved to the point where military bodies work in concert with civilians.
"It all depends on our two partnering states, our country team and the combatant commander," Blum said of the partnership's shape and function.
In some cases, U.S. civilians have worked directly with their foreign partner's civilian government.
Illinois and Poland partnered in 2003 also under EUCOM's purview, but they agreed their relationship would be based primarily on non-military ties. The Eastern European country of some 38.5 million people was interested in learning about programs the Illinois National Guard established for at-risk youth in cities like Chicago -- fitting, considering that except for the Polish capital of Warsaw, Chicago's Polish population is second only to the southern Polish city of Krakow.
As a result, the U.S. ambassador to Poland sought a U.S.-Poland exchange of ideas about youth outreach. To date, Poland has hosted representatives from Illinois' National Guard three times in different cities to discuss setting up youth programs similar to those in Illinois' urban centers.
In coordination with the U.S. Southern Command, unlikely partnership couples thrive. Ecuador conducts counternarcotics ops with Kentucky, while West Virginia military officials woo Peru.
In 2005, New Hampshire's National Guard exchanged platoons with El Salvador to swap artillery expertise. According to a Web site describing the partnership, the states are planning future exchanges.
"The SPP is set up so ... that we have a way to have partnerships that are long-enduring rather than periodic," Blum said. "We need something that's sustained over time, and we've shown great success with that."
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 25, 2007 - The U.S. state of Georgia and the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe might seem like strange strategic partners. But since 1993, the National Guard has breached barriers between American states and international states with positive results. The mission of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program is to buttress bilateral relations with burgeoning U.S. allies.
"The program is a long-term, enduring relationship between a state in the United States and one of the international countries that's either emerging or wants to establish a relationship with the United States," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau.
During an interview with the Pentagon Channel here yesterday, Blum said the State Partnership Program lays the groundwork for lasting strategic connections.
The tale of two Georgias, for instance, began in May 1995, when a Georgia National Guard representative accompanied the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on a visit to the Republic of Georgia. After this initial trip, the chairman invited a small group of Georgian government and military officials for a jaunt to the Peach State.
In the ensuing 12-year relationship, Georgia's National Guard has helped integrate the former Soviet bloc country into the U.S. European Command strategy of fostering stability and democracy in Eastern Europe.
"This partnership helps the combatant commander and the U.S. ambassador's team in country have another source of military-to-military engagements for the theater security cooperation activities of the combatant commander," Blum said.
The general said bilateral alliances created through program aren't confined to strict military-to-military relations. On the contrary, some partnerships have evolved to the point where military bodies work in concert with civilians.
"It all depends on our two partnering states, our country team and the combatant commander," Blum said of the partnership's shape and function.
In some cases, U.S. civilians have worked directly with their foreign partner's civilian government.
Illinois and Poland partnered in 2003 also under EUCOM's purview, but they agreed their relationship would be based primarily on non-military ties. The Eastern European country of some 38.5 million people was interested in learning about programs the Illinois National Guard established for at-risk youth in cities like Chicago -- fitting, considering that except for the Polish capital of Warsaw, Chicago's Polish population is second only to the southern Polish city of Krakow.
As a result, the U.S. ambassador to Poland sought a U.S.-Poland exchange of ideas about youth outreach. To date, Poland has hosted representatives from Illinois' National Guard three times in different cities to discuss setting up youth programs similar to those in Illinois' urban centers.
In coordination with the U.S. Southern Command, unlikely partnership couples thrive. Ecuador conducts counternarcotics ops with Kentucky, while West Virginia military officials woo Peru.
In 2005, New Hampshire's National Guard exchanged platoons with El Salvador to swap artillery expertise. According to a Web site describing the partnership, the states are planning future exchanges.
"The SPP is set up so ... that we have a way to have partnerships that are long-enduring rather than periodic," Blum said. "We need something that's sustained over time, and we've shown great success with that."
Despite Commitments, U.S. Forces Ready For Any Contingency
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 25, 2007 - The commitment of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is heavy, but the U.S. military has ample forces to respond to any other contingency that may arise, the general in charge of planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today. About 490,000 military members are forward-deployed around the world, with 234,000 in Southwest and Central Asia, about 139,000 in the Pacific, about 96,000 in the European theater, and a little more than 4,000 in Latin and Central America and the Caribbean, Army Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, director of operational planning for the Joint Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon.
While that may seem like a big number, it includes units that are stationed in Korea, Germany, Japan and other places, which are technically forward-deployed but are available for combat deployments, he said.
"If need be, the American armed forces will respond to whatever requirements are laid on it by the secretary of defense and the president," Sherlock said. "If you have forces that are available -- again, whether they're in the U.S., whether they may have just redeployed, or whether they're forward-stationed -- they may be available, depending on what theoretical contingency would occur."
In Iraq, U.S. forces are focused on building the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, Sherlock said. Last week, 744 new police officers from Abu Ghraib graduated, and this week, 800 more will graduate. Over the next six months, 12,000 Iraqi security personnel will be trained, he said.
"While it will take some time to season those personnel, it again is a clear indication of the dedication of the Iraqi people to the security of their nation," Sherlock said.
As the U.S. military is acting on troop-level decisions President Bush made based on recommendations from commanders on the ground, the Army is working to increase time at home between deployments for soldiers, Sherlock said. The ideal situation would be to give soldiers 12 months at home for every 12 months they spend deployed, but moving to that system will depend on conditions in Iraq and the need for forces, he said.
Sherlock also emphasized that the movement of troops from Iraq will depend on conditions there. The president announced that a Marine expeditionary unit, a brigade and two battalions will leave Iraq before the end of the year. The Marine expeditionary unit is in the process of redeploying, but decisions about the battalions and brigade have not been made yet, Sherlock said.
"You have to make sure what you don't do is give up gains that you've made in an area to move forces around," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 25, 2007 - The commitment of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is heavy, but the U.S. military has ample forces to respond to any other contingency that may arise, the general in charge of planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today. About 490,000 military members are forward-deployed around the world, with 234,000 in Southwest and Central Asia, about 139,000 in the Pacific, about 96,000 in the European theater, and a little more than 4,000 in Latin and Central America and the Caribbean, Army Maj. Gen. Richard Sherlock, director of operational planning for the Joint Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon.
While that may seem like a big number, it includes units that are stationed in Korea, Germany, Japan and other places, which are technically forward-deployed but are available for combat deployments, he said.
"If need be, the American armed forces will respond to whatever requirements are laid on it by the secretary of defense and the president," Sherlock said. "If you have forces that are available -- again, whether they're in the U.S., whether they may have just redeployed, or whether they're forward-stationed -- they may be available, depending on what theoretical contingency would occur."
In Iraq, U.S. forces are focused on building the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, Sherlock said. Last week, 744 new police officers from Abu Ghraib graduated, and this week, 800 more will graduate. Over the next six months, 12,000 Iraqi security personnel will be trained, he said.
"While it will take some time to season those personnel, it again is a clear indication of the dedication of the Iraqi people to the security of their nation," Sherlock said.
As the U.S. military is acting on troop-level decisions President Bush made based on recommendations from commanders on the ground, the Army is working to increase time at home between deployments for soldiers, Sherlock said. The ideal situation would be to give soldiers 12 months at home for every 12 months they spend deployed, but moving to that system will depend on conditions in Iraq and the need for forces, he said.
Sherlock also emphasized that the movement of troops from Iraq will depend on conditions there. The president announced that a Marine expeditionary unit, a brigade and two battalions will leave Iraq before the end of the year. The Marine expeditionary unit is in the process of redeploying, but decisions about the battalions and brigade have not been made yet, Sherlock said.
"You have to make sure what you don't do is give up gains that you've made in an area to move forces around," he said.
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