Monday, April 14, 2008

Foxjohn, Munson and Kuboviak

Editor's Note: One of the authors is a former servicemember.



April 13, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books.

John Foxjohn has investigated more than 300 homicides during his ten years in law enforcement. Born and raised in Nacogdoches in East Texas, John Foxjohn quit high school and joined the U.S. Army, spending six years as a Ranger in Vietnam and Germany, and becoming one of the youngest sergeants in the Army, at that time. After his military service, John FoxJohn returned to Texas and joined the Nacogdoches Police Department. Later, he became a member of the Houston Police Department.

Upon leaving
law enforcement, John Foxjohn attended Stephen F. Austin State University, received a degree in history, and began another career teaching and coaching. He retired from teaching in 2003 and is a full time writer. John FoxJohn is the author of Cold Tears; Journey of the Spirit; and, Code of Deceit.

According to the book description of Cold Tears, “A veteran Houston homicide detective's unfortunate mistake causes a woman's death. When a woman shoots David Mason he returns fire, killing her, but he can't escape her accusing eyes. Beth Porter, David's fiancĂ©e, already feared his dangerous job, and when he's wounded the fear escalates and she separates from him. His mistake that threatens his career now endangers the relationship with the love of his life.”

Charlie Munson was a deputy sheriff with the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Department at the beginning of the 20th Century. He is the author of Mister Charlie: Memoir of a Texas Lawman, 1902-1910.

Jim Kuboviak began his career in criminal justice in 1969 as a police officer for the Sam Houston State University Police Department (Texas). Jim Kuboviak graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice in 1972; he earned two master's degrees; and two doctorates. Since 1985, Jim Kuboviak has served as the County Attorney for Brazos County (Texas). Jim Kuboviak is the author of Legal and Procedural Application of Mobile Videotaping to Criminal Interdiction and DWI Mobile Videotaping for Police and Prosecutors: Policy, Procedures, and Law.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 963 police officers (representing 405 police departments) and their 2050
law enforcement books in 35 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

America Supports You: Military Family Web Site Up for 'Internet Oscar'

American Forces Press Service

April 14, 2008 - A prominent online community for
military families is a finalist in the 12th Annual Webby Awards. The Webby Awards, hailed by the New York Times as the "Oscars of the Internet," selected CinCHouse.com to compete for the title of Best Lifestyle site of 2008.

The recognition caps a comprehensive effort to improve the site's content and quality, said Regina Galvin, CinCHouse.com editor in chief. It's also a chance to bring greater awareness to issues affecting
military families.

"To be showcased alongside such mainstream sites really increases our exposure to the general public," Galvin said. "Despite seven years of war putting military issues into the mainstream media, there continues to be misconceptions of who
military wives and women in uniform really are."

CinCHouse.com was one of nearly 10,000 sites nominated from all 50 states and more than 60 countries. It was selected as one of five finalists in the Lifestyles category, pitting it against giants such as Epicurious.com and Reebok.

"That a nonprofit site started by a
military wife, edited by a military wife and largely maintained by military wives is going up against corporate titans for such a competitive award gives us great pride," Galvin said. "It's a testament to our determination to give voice to the military community."

The Webby Awards program is the leading international awards program honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Web sites. The awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy whose members include Internet co-inventor Vinton Cerf, R/GA's Chief Bob Greenberg, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Arianna Huffington and Harvey Weinstein.

"The Webby Awards honor the outstanding Web sites that are setting the standards for the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. "CinCHouse.com's Webby Award nomination is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators."

Founded in 1996, the Webby Awards are known for having a five-word speech limit. Past headline-grabbing speechmakers include Al Gore ("Please don't recount this vote."), Beastie Boys ("Can anyone fix my computer?"), and Prince ("Everything you think is true.")

From now through May 1, online fans around the world can cast their own votes for CinCHouse.com in The Webby People's Voice Awards presented by Nokia at pv.webbyawards.com. Winners will be announced May 6 and will be honored at a star-studded gala in New York on June 10.

CinCHouse.com and its parent organization Operation Homefront are supporters of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

(From an Operation Homefront news release.)

Joint Task Force Supports Army South in Honduras

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. William Farrow
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 14, 2008 - A U.S.
Army South exercise in Honduras is testing Joint Task Force Bravo's ability to support forward-deployed troops over three months as the number of U.S. military personnel on Soto Cano Air Base nearly doubles. A Honduran base that's home to the Honduran air force academy, Soto Cano Air Base also is home to the 500 U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy personnel who make up Joint Task Force Bravo and has opened its gates to more than 300 personnel associated with the exercise, dubbed "Beyond the Horizon."

"Beyond the Horizon is a multinational, joint-force exercise in which U.S.
military personnel will conduct various engineering projects and medical readiness exercises for the benefit of the local population in Honduras," said exercise spokesman Army Staff Sgt. Danny McCormick. "From April until June, we will renovate three schools and construct two new schools, four lavatories, four water towers and one storage shed, in addition to conducting various [medical readiness training exercises]."

Throughout the exercise, nearly 2,100 people will cycle through Soto Cano Air Base, requiring a vast array of support from almost every Joint Task Force Bravo unit, ranging from the tents they live in to the food they eat.

"One of our primary capabilities is to support forward-deployed forces during a contingency in Central America," said
Army Col. Marcus DeOliveira, Joint Task Force Bravo commander. "[Beyond the Horizon] is an excellent way to test that capability, and the men and women of JTF Bravo have risen to the challenge."

Air Force Capt. Kenya Colon, logistics deputy director, said some tasks the joint task force has performed to date include coordinating customs clearance for Beyond the Horizon materials and equipment, line-hauling 50 vehicles and nearly 140 pieces of equipment, issuing more than 6,600 field-ration meals and 9,500 bottles of water, and providing more than 8,000 gallons of fuel for exercise activities.

The base engineering office is providing a variety of support for Beyond the Horizon, from building the "tent city" in which the exercise personnel are living to providing showers and laundry facilities.

"Our support activities, which include sanitation, ground works and any other infrastructure-related concerns, will continue through the duration of the exercise," said
Air Force 1st Lt. Tim Brodman, the engineering section chief.

Procuring supplies for the various Beyond the Horizon medical teams also has tested the Joint Task Force Bravo medical element's support abilities, as the element ordered, stored and distributed the vast majority of the supplies the visiting medical corps needs to perform medical readiness training exercises throughout the region,
Air Force 1st Lt. Joel Richardson, medical logistics office, said.

"We also function as their logistical reach-back capability during their time in the field," Richardson said. "If anything goes wrong with their supplies, we assist them as much as possible."

"JTF Bravo is key to the success of [Beyond the Horizon]," said
Army Maj. Lyndon Jones, the mission's information operations officer. "While BTH personnel are out in the community working with Hondurans to improve services in the community, they can focus on the task at hand knowing that JTF Bravo will make sure they have a place to shower, eat and sleep when the job is done."

(
Air Force 1st Lt. Erika Yepsen contributed to this report. Yepsen and Farrow serve with Joint Task Force Bravo Public Affairs.)

Bush Awards Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to Midshipmen

By Army Sgt. Sara Moore
American Forces Press Service

April 14, 2008 - For the fifth year in a row, the football players from the U.S. Naval Academy were honored guests at the White House to receive the Commander-in-Chief's trophy today. The Midshipmen claimed the trophy by beating the
Air Force, 31-20, and the Army, 38-3, during the 2007-08 season. The trophy is presented each year to the military academy with the best head-to-head record.

"This team has had an historic season," Bush said at the award presentation in the Rose Garden. "For the third year in a row, [
Navy] had the most rushing yards in the nation, as well as the nation's highest graduation rate. You went to your fifth straight bowl game, and of course you accomplished your most important goal: you beat Army."

The
Navy team set a school record by scoring 511 points this season and, with its sixth straight win over the Army, established the longest winning streak against Army in history, Bush noted. The Midshipmen also beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1963.

Bush lauded several of the stand-out performers on the team, including the team's captain, slot back Reggie Campbell, who holds eight school records. The president singled out slot back Zerbin Singleton, who overcame injuries from a car accident to make it to the Naval Academy and during the season received Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award as college football's most inspirational figure. Singleton is the brigade commander of all 4,200 midshipmen at the Naval Academy and will soon begin flight training as a
Marine aviator.

Bush said he was proud to welcome the individual stars to the White House, "but no question this team played well because you played as a unit. I want to thank every football player for agreeing to put on the uniform of the finest
military ever. You signed up after 9/11. You knew the stakes involved in the war against extremists and radicals. You knew that your country depended on you. And you didn't hesitate to wear the uniform."

Bush said he looks forward to welcoming the Midshipmen into the
military.

"I cannot wait to be able to say to you some day, 'I'm proud to be your commander in chief,'" he said. "And so I welcome you to the Rose Garden. I congratulate you on being fine football players. More importantly, I congratulate you on being patriotic Americans."

Wounded Warriors' Health Care Improving, Senior Officials Say

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

April 14, 2008 - The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are making progress to improve health care for injured servicemembers and
military veterans, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. The two agencies "are working together to better serve wounded warriors," Gates, accompanied by Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake, told reporters at a news conference at the Pentagon's river entrance.

"Our departments are making progress on the over 400 recommendations put forth by several major commissions and task forces," Gates said. Several fact-finding panels were formed to examine servicemembers' and veterans' health care after a series of Washington Post articles published in February 2007 cited substandard practices involving medical outpatients at Walter Reed
Army Medical Center here.

Gates and Peake were accompanied at the Pentagon news conference by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England and Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield. The deputies have been meeting weekly "to track implementation and progress" of commission recommendations, Gates said.

Defense and VA collaborations are improving veterans' outpatient care, tracking patients' long-term recovery through one system that is jointly administered by both DoD and VA, streamlining disability medical evaluation procedures, simplifying case-management procedures, and more, Gates said.

Gates said he looks forward to future collaboration with Peake and his agency "to ensure the wounded servicemembers receive the first-rate health care that they so much deserve."

Peake echoed Gates' sentiments, noting federal wounded warrior recovery coordinators in place nationwide "are really starting to make a difference" in ensuring
military veterans are getting the best health care available.

"We continue to seek ways ... to understand how best to improve our disability processing for our wounded warriors and transition them effectively into the VA system when that is necessary," Peake said.

Peake saluted the
Army's wounded warrior transition brigades, the Navy's Safe Harbor program, the Marine Corps' Marine for Life and wounded warrior regiment programs, and the Air Force's Palace HART (Helping Airmen Recover Together) programs for assisting injured servicemembers and wounded transitioning veterans.

All of these programs "are important as we focus on doing the right thing by our wounded warriors," Peake said, adding that he's pleased by the progress that has been made.

"There has never, in my experience, been a closer cooperation between the departments and a more vigorous exchange of information and ideas and problem-solving than what we have today," Peake added.

Former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and former Sen. Robert Dole were appointed by President Bush to head an investigative panel to examine allegations of poor outpatient care at Walter Reed. That commission released its findings in July. In addition, the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments launched extensive reviews of all of their medical facilities to ensure that wounded warriors are being treated properly.

MILITARY CONTRACTS April 14, 2008

ARMY

AM General, LLC, South Bend, Ind. was awarded on April 11, 2008, a $28,580,470 firm-fixed price contract to incorporate a reliability enhanced vehicle Group B engineering change. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, Ind., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on March 17, 2006. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-S001).

Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La. was awarded on April 11, 2008, a $14,115,500 firm-fixed price contract for a shore protection project. Work will be performed in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and is expected to be completed on Oct. 31, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five bids were solicited on Feb. 12, 2008, and three bids were received. U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Fla. Is the contracting activity (W912EP-08-C-0012).

Chugach Government Services, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on April 11, 2008, a $14,085,673 firm-fixed price contract for construction of the F-22 jet inspection and maintenance facility. Work will be performed at Elmendorf
Air Force Base, Alaska, and is expected to be completed on Sept. 28, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Nov. 17, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-08-C-0009).

L-3 Combat Propulsion Systems, Muskegon, Mich. was awarded on April 10, 2008, a $6,483,484 cost-plus fixed fee contract for a service contract for 38,500 base year hours of systems technical support for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle system transmission. Work will be performed primarily in Muskegon, Mich. and is expected to be completed on April 7, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Jan. 16, 2008, and one bid was received. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich. is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-2050).

NAVY

Stanley Associates, Inc.,Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $25,483,854 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee performance based contract for services that support the implementation of a consolidated Rack/Component Procurement and Integration (RCP&I) common product capability across all applicable programs. The work performed under the contract will encompass technical support to provide systems enegineering, integration, testing, small-scale fabrication, NDI procurement, interim depot repair and maintenance services, and training on legacy systems. This contract includes four one-year options, if exercised, and three one-year award terms which, if earned, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $249,882,601. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., (90 percent); Norfolk, Va., (10 percent); and work is expected to be completed by April 2009 (April 2016 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured under full and open competition. The request for proposal was posted on the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-commerce website, with one offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston is the contracting activity for this action (N65236-08-D-2835).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Manassas, Va., is being awarded a $24,108,479 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-05-D-0018) for the procurement of 13 acoustic receiver technical refresh upgrade kits and 21 acoustic receiver technical refresh retrofit kits for the P-3 Aircraft. Work will be performed in Manassas, Va., and work is expected to be completed in August 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

The Grunley Walsh US, LLC, Rockville, Md., is being awarded $6,639,525 for firm-fixed-price Task Order #0004 under a previously awarded indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract (N62477-04-D-0174) for modifications to a sewage treatment plant at Naval Support Activity at South Potomac. The work also includes the construction of a new Headworks Building and associated equipment, two new primary clarifiers, new aerobic digester, equalization basin, and minor site and utilities modifications and incidental related work. Work will be performed in Dahlgren, Va., and work is expected to be completed by December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, Wash., D.C., is the contracting activity.

Naturalization Ceremony Honors New Uniformed Citizens

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

April 14, 2008 - As a naturalization ceremony began this afternoon, 22 U.S.
military immigrants representing 15 nations stood at attention in the balmy Pentagon courtyard while the color guard passed before them. Though they were born in Peru, Kenya or Jamaica or hailed from the United Kingdom, Canada or Ethiopia, when the troops took the Oath of Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the star-spangled American flag became their national banner.

"We are a greater country, we are a stronger country, we are a better country today, because you have joined us this day as Americans,"
Air Force Maj. Gen. James W. Graves, assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for reserve matters, told the troops before they pledged citizenship.

The group wore a collective look of pride as they raised their right hands and recited the oath, led by Emilio T. Gonzalez, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

In a pastiche of foreign voices with varying levels of English fluency, the immigrants repeated each clause of the oath. Together, they renounced "fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty"; vowed to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and the nation's laws; promised to serve at the will of the nation; and pledged they were assuming their duties "without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion."

Following recitation of the oath, the USCIS director congratulated the group, calling them "America's newest citizens," as the crowd rose to its feet and gave a thundering standing ovation.

"It speaks volumes about America when people are willing to pick up arms and defend her, yet they can't even vote here," Gonzalez said. "The fact that tens of thousands of legal, permanent noncitizens serve in our armed forces is something that's quite unfathomable to countries around the world."

Gonzalez, an immigrant himself, told the new citizens that America is land where people are measured by what they can be, not by their country of origin.

"You are the future of this country, and more immigrant communities will continue to strengthen this nation and make it what it is today," he said. "Those of you here, you honor America by your service, and hopefully America has repaid that honor with well-earned citizenship."

Before the immigrant troops undertook the oath, they had to first demonstrate good moral character and show knowledge of the English language, the U.S. government and civics, according to the USCIS Web site.

By joining more than 300 million other U.S. citizens, those naturalized today leave roughly 37,000 other non-U.S. citizens currently serving in the
military, according to U.S. Congress statistics.

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England said that in acknowledgement of foreign-born servicemembers' merit, President Bush signed an executive order in 2002 making the immigrants immediately eligible for U.S. citizenship when they serve on active duty. "If some people are willing to risk their lives for our country, they ought to be full participants in our country," England said, quoting the president.

"What is altogether remarkable about the people here today -- the nation's newest citizens -- is that long before this day when that distinction is being conferred upon you, you had volunteered to serve your nation of choice in a most demanding occupation, and during one of the most demanding periods in the nation's recent history," England said.

"That service has taken some of you far from this country, in some cases to the harsh and often violent streets of Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. Three of the servicemembers naturalized today have served in Iraq, and one has served in Afghanistan, according to Defense Department officials. "All of you are dedicated servants of the nation you've chosen and for which you've shouldered the burden of its defense."

The deputy secretary welcomed the wide-ranging experience and wisdom the new citizens were adding to the U.S. melting pot.

"The countries you hail from, your names, your cultures, and unique experiences reflect the diversity that is this nation's hallmark and vitality," he said. "The country's strong fabric is woven from the richly varied contributions of citizens from around the entire world."

A citizen for about an hour, Juan De La Maza, a 33-year-old
Army private from Mexico City already was looking forward to exercising his new rights. "It will be nice to have the liberty to do something more," he said, "like vote."