Friday, August 01, 2008

America Supports You: Happy Notes Reach Troops From Minnesota

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 1, 2008 - Letters a
Minnesota couple has received thanking them for musical instruments they've sent to deployed troops show that just a simple note can change the atmosphere in the desert. "The purpose of these ... instruments is to relieve stress and raise morale," said Barb Baker, one of the founders of Operation Happy Note. "According to the letters we receive, music is a great stress reliever."

Operation Happy Note sends free musical instruments to deployed servicemembers wherever they're stationed.

Baker and her husband, Steve, owners of Fergus Music in Fergus, Minn., unwittingly started Operation Happy Note in March 2005 when they sent her son a guitar for his birthday. He was serving overseas with 134th Signal Battalion at the time.

"He had a buddy who saw it and wanted one, and then another buddy," Baker said. "It was decided [we would] hold a fundraiser so we could send more guitars to his unit, and we just never quit."

The organization kept right on growing and garnered national attention with mentions in national news programs and periodicals. To date, the organization has sent more than 2,500 instruments to servicemembers, including guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins, horns and harmonicas. Anything that makes music is fair game; Steve Baker even wrote a lesson program that includes a CD for those who don't know how to play an instrument.

More than 1,300 troops are on the waiting list for instruments. The organization has a large inventory of instruments, but it lacks the funds to ship them.

"It costs an average of $15 to $30 to ship an instrument," Baker said. "Our last inventory shows that it would take $34,000 to send the instruments we have on hand."

Operation Happy Note is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

MILITARY CONTRACTS July 31, 2008

Air Force

Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems of Linthicum, Md., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with cost plus fixed fee (Completion) type task order for a shared ceiling of ID/IQ contract of $41 million. This contract action for Sensors
Technology Automated Recognition is to develop technologies in a wide-range of application areas that continue to advance the technical improvements to warfighters either directly or indirectly. Examples include CID, data fusion, Ground Moving Target Indication/Airborne Moving Target Indication, Suppression of Enemy Air Defense, countermeasures, Sensor to Decision Maker processing, Targeting, Intelligence and Battle Damage Assessment and ISR. Additional examples of specific technologies that may be encountered on this program include Electro-Optical, Infrared, Radar, Multi-Spectral, Hyperspectral, Laser Technology, and processors but are not limited to these. Improvement in these areas involves technical assessment, hardware and software modifications and development, systems engineering development and integration, Technology and/or Technology application demonstration in the laboratory or in a flight test or as a participant in a larger demonstration or exercise. The performance of the technologies developed will also be evaluated. Task Order 0001 for this contract is "Radar Vision Spiral 3 Demonstration." The scope of this Task Order is to perform an airborne data collection which will integrate and demonstrate an air-to-ground RF CID solution on a test bed aircraft. The fully integrated system will be able to utilize a multiple algorithm to perform recognition and combat identification of ground targets at tactically significant ranges. At this time an Incremental funding amount on Task Order 0001 of $2 million has been obligated. AFRL/PKSR, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-D-1447, FA8650-08-D-1447-0001).

EDO Corp., Defense Systems, of North Amityville, N.Y., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract not to exceed $18,204,797. This action will provide BRU-46 and BRU-47 Bomb Release Units applicable to F-22 airraft. The quantity is 139 BRU 46 and 220 BRU-47 units. At this time $9,102,398.50 has been obligated. 542nd Combat Sustainment Wing, Contracting Division, 782nd CBSG/GBKAA, Robins
Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8520-08-C-0013).

The
Air Force is modifying an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, cost plus award fee and cost reimbursement contract by exercising an option with Business Technology and Solutions (BTAS Inc.) of Beavercreek, Ohio, for a maximum of $15,810,325. The Technical and Acquisition Management Support Program provides a wide range of diverse non-engineering, technical and acquisition management support required in the acquisition, development, production, and support of various equipment and weapon systems within the Air Armament Center and other organizations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. At this time no funds have been obligated. AAC/PKES, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA9200-05-C-0002, P00017).

The
Air Force is modifying an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, cost plus award fee and cost reimbursement contract by exercising an option with Colsa Corporation of Huntsville, Ala., for a maximum of $12,806,404. The Technical and Acquisition Management Support Program provides for a wide range of diverse non-engineering, technical and acquisition management support required in the acquisition, development, production, and support of various equipment and weapon systems within the Air Armament Center and other organizations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. At this time no funds have been obligated. AAC/PKES, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA9200-05-C-0003, P00019).

The
Air Force is modifying a firm fixed price contract with Alliant Techsystems Inc., Integrated Systems Division, of Clearwater, Fla., for $5,627,085. This action will provide 149 Common Munitions Built-In Test Reprogramming Equipment Air-to-Air Auxilliary Data Units and 20 W-17 Cables. At this time all funds have been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8626-06-C-2060 P00012).

Army

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, St.
Petersburg, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 30, 2008, a $28,936,599 Firm-Fixed Price, contract for 120 mm cartridges. The majority of the work will be performed primarily in St. Petersburg, Fla., in addition to locations across the continental United States, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 15, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was 1 bid solicited on Jan. 3, 2008, and 1 bid was received. U.S. Army Joint Munitions & Lethality –LCMC, Picatinny, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-08-C-0429).

Carothers Construction, Inc., Water Valley, Miss., was awarded on Jul. 30, 2008, a $10,042,000.00 construction firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a tactical wheeled vehicle repair, paint and prep facility, a surface preparation and cleaning facility and overhead canopy. Work will be performed in Red River
Army Depot, Texarkana, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 1, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 175 bids solicited on Jan. 22, 2008, and four bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0039).

Smiths Detection, Inc., Edgewood, Md., was awarded on Jul. 29, 2008, a $28,559,025.54, contract for Joint Chemical Agent Detector, Increment I. Work will be performed in Edgewood, Md., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jul. 2, 2008, and 1 bid was received. US
Army Research, Development & Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W911SR-07-C-0054).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded on Jul. 30, 2008, an $80,640,000 Firm-Fixed Price, contract for supplemental requirements for the acquisition of
Army Tactical Missile Systems. Work will be performed in Texas and is expected to be completed by Jul. 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was 1 bid solicited on Apr. 24, 2008, and one bid was received. US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-07-C-0302).

America Supports You: Web Site Gives Public Chance Thank Troops

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 - A new Web site is giving the American public a nonpartisan opportunity to join entertainers, professional athletes and politicians in expressing gratitude to servicemembers defending the nation. "What we wanted to do and, I think, something that we were equipped to do, was to provide a forum that is really meant to be uplifting [to servicemembers]," said Stacey Artandi, founder of "Moment of Thanks." "It's meant to say [to Americans], 'Shed your politics. Put them aside, and take a moment to be grateful for some of the things that we really cherish.'"

The Moment of Thanks site is one way parent company SheZoom, a video site for women and families, is working to keep troops and support for them at the top of everyone's mind, she said.

It allows for the upload of videos, photos or text containing a positive message for the troops at no cost. Registration is required to upload material, however.

Launched July 4, the Moment of Thanks site already boasts more than 1,000 video messages of heartfelt thanks and support for the troops, more than half of them filmed by Artandi's team.

A trip to
Las Vegas led the team to collect messages from cast and crew members at various shows, and a theme emerged.

"When we went to Vegas, we thought we ought to get some shows," Artandi said. "We've got Star Trek, Jersey Boys, Stomp and the Chippendales. Next week is kind of 'Vegas Week' [on Moment of Thanks].

"It's a flavorful week," she said with a chuckle.

Another planned theme will highlight longer messages that include personal stories to which troops might relate. In that group will be the story of a World War II
Marine who fought on Iwo Jima and lost his brother to the war.

Though the initiative will continue well past the end of the year, the goal is to have 100,000 messages of support by then. The key to meeting that goal is getting the word out, Artandi said. The Moment of Thanks team has had some help with that task.

"From the very beginning when we started this, we reached out to ... 'Soldiers' Angels,' [which] was incredibly responsive, because [our mission] so clearly meshed with their mission to do anything to support the troops," she said. "They've been helping make introductions to people and helping to spread the word within their organization."

Soldiers' Angels, a troop-support organization, is a supporter of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and overseas.

Led by SheZoom and sponsored by Kodak Gallery, the Moment of Thanks initiative already has come full circle, Artandi said.

"We're actually beginning to have some soldiers respond back to us," she said. "They're saying, 'Thanks for saying thanks.'"

New Mexico Flood Victims Look to Skies for Help

By Army Staff Sgt. Anna Doo
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 -
New Mexico Army National Guard aviators put their hoist training to the test not once, not twice, but 57 times July 27 after Tropical Depression Dolly caused flooding in the high desert environment of Ruidoso, N.M. By the end of the mission, the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews had picked up more than 250 residents and vacationers. This feat set a state record for the number of victims rescued in two days.

"[The Black Hawk] kind of looked like Noah's Ark in the back," said
Army Staff Sgt. Ian Weiger.

Army Capt. Daniel Purcell said the effort was a record-breaker. "There is no way in our aviation history in this state that we've saved or rescued that many people at once," he said. "Certainly a record, as far as rescues go. We were just doing what we were trained to do."

The July 27 helicopter crew consisted of pilots Purcell and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles Boehler, along with their flight crew, Weiger and Sgt. 1st Class Greg Holmes.

Hundreds of residents and vacationers were stranded due to the swift rise of the Rio Ruidoso, which runs through the town of Ruidoso, southeast of Albuquerque. The rushing river tore through 14 bridges, engulfed roadways and continued to create more rivers, all of which prevented people from escaping.

Crossing the river was impossible, as even the trees cut down by rescue workers to act as bridges were unsafe to use. The high waters completely encircled one campground, creating an island that was the only dry ground for the vacationers.

Before the campers had a chance to panic, the Black Hawks were hovering overhead and lowering a hoist and crew to help transport them to safety.

This mission was performed by using a jungle penetrator, which is a seat suspended from the helicopter by a sturdy cable. Crew members strapped in victims one at a time for the ride of their life from the ground up to the hovering aircraft. Crews were then able to lift them into the safety of the helicopter.

Some of the 57 people hoisted from the ground on July 27 were picked up well after sunset, but the helicopter crews are well versed in night operations with the jungle penetrator. They have performed extensive training using night-vision goggles to see in the dark.

The focus, Purcell said, "was to get the elderly, women and children out first and then come back for the rest."

Over the next three days, crews would continue to airlift stranded residents and vacationers in addition to dropping water and food to those still on the ground.

(
Army Staff Sgt. Anna Doo serves with the New Mexico National Guard.)

Mullen Discusses Importance of Integrated Force

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 - A racially integrated U.S.
military is a national strength, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen discussed the importance of diversity in today's military and the impact the 60-year-old executive order ending segregation has had on the quality of the U.S. armed forces during an interview today with the Pentagon Channel.

When President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 in February 1948, he officially ended segregation in the
military. Though the change during that time was focused on putting black servicemembers on the same footing as their white comrades, it eventually opened the door of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, religion and culture.

Cavalrymen and pilots such as the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen paved the way for such diversity, said Mullen, who noted he has spent time with retired members from each legacy. "They're great, great individuals who really blazed trails," the chairman said.

The decision to integrate U.S. forces "has made a huge difference in the quality of our armed forces and the representational aspects of all our ethnic backgrounds in our
military today," the admiral said. "[Integration] is a great strength, not just for our military, but for our nation."

However, Mullen acknowledged, the
military still has work to do to fully integrate its force, he said.

"We need to keep focusing on [integration] and keep developing
leaders from all backgrounds that individuals can look up to," he said.

Memorandum Ensures Redeploying Troops Get Access to Airports

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 - The Defense Department, the Transportation
Security Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have signed a memorandum of understanding that will give servicemembers access to commercial airports as they are transiting to and from combat zones. The memo covers all members of the armed forces, DoD civilians and contractor personnel.

The memorandum is a response to an October incident at
Oakland International Airport. A chartered aircraft carrying about 200 Marines from Iraq back to their home station in Hawaii landed for fuel and food. Citing Security concerns, airport officials shunted the plane to a remote location at the airport. The Marines were allowed to deplane and stretch their legs, but were not allowed to enter terminal areas, where some had arranged to meet with family members.

"The MOU is an agreement that standardizes policies [and] improves communication, and it standardizes procedures so that
Security requirements are met at airports," Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Holmes, assistant for transportation policy at the Pentagon, said.

The memo ensures that all parties understand their requirements as servicemembers redeploy from combat zones and that weapons are not introduced into commercial terminals.

"This makes sure the weapons on board the aircraft are secure while they are parked at a commercial gate," Holmes said. "The MOU allows the troops to get off the airplane and use the facilities in the airport, if the stop is going to be for more than one hour. It's so they can be treated with respect."

The memo lists what troop commanders must do to ensure
Security needs are met. Included is posting weapons monitors at all aircraft exits at commercial gates. It also includes monitoring all ground support personnel performing catering, cleaning and maintenance services during the stops.

Transportation
Security Administration officials will work with DoD personnel in training armed forces personnel to ensure they understand the Security needs of various airports. The Federal Aviation Administration will inform all appropriate personnel in the air traffic and airport communities of the procedures

Balance at Heart of New Defense Strategy, Gates Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 - Balance is the key word of the new National Defense Strategy, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a news conference today. Gates and
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that the U.S. military must be prepared to perform the full range of missions.

The department must be ready to wage a full-out war and handle irregular warfare and humanitarian missions, Gates said.

"Now, the reality is that conventional and strategic force modernization programs are strongly supported in the services and in the Congress," Gates said.

The main fiscal 2009 defense budget is a concrete example of that support. It contains $104 billion in procurement and about $80 billion in research and development funding, heavily slanted toward conventional modernization programs. Funding for the irregular wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas in the world has come from supplemental budgets.

"The principal challenge, therefore, is how to ensure that the capabilities gained and counterinsurgency lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the lessons we learned from other places where we have engaged in irregular warfare over the last two decades, are institutionalized within the defense establishment," Gates said.

The secretary said he does not want the
military to forget the lessons that troops have learned at such a painful price. "Looking to the future, we need to find a long-term place in the base budget for [these lessons]," he said.

Conventional modernization plans certainly are important, Gates said, noting they keep the
military capable of defending the homeland, deterring conflict, and -- when deterrence fails -- winning the nation's wars. But the most obvious threat the United States faces in the coming years, he said, comes from non-state actors using asymmetric tactics.

"I firmly believe that in the years ahead, our
military is much more likely to engage in asymmetric conflict than conventional conflict against a rising state power," he said. "We must be ready for both kinds of conflict and fund the capabilities to do both."

In the past, irregular warfare has not had the support inside or outside the Pentagon that it requires, the secretary said.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the modernization programs will continue to have strong institutional and congressional support," he said. "I just want to make sure that the capabilities we need for the conflicts we're in and most likely to face in the foreseeable future also are sustained long term."

Multinational Students Study Civil Security at Marshall Center

American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 - The George C. Marshall European Center, a German-American defense and
security studies institute here, graduated the first class of its new course on trans-Atlantic civil security yesterday. The course takes an all-hazards approach to civil security as it looks at how nations can prevent, prepare for and manage pandemic disease, natural disasters and industrial accidents as well as terrorist attacks, Marshall Center officials said. Forty-two military and civilian emergency management officials from 25 countries completed the new three-week course.

"For years, many nations lacked a formal framework for the concept of
civil security," Peter Verga, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas security affairs, said at the graduation ceremony. "The increased threat of terrorism and regularly occurring natural disasters in the U.S. and around the world have given a renewed sense of urgency to this topic."

Efforts to fight the wildfires burning in California this month as the first participants attended the course give a vivid example of the
civil-military cooperation and international cooperation necessary to deal with catastrophic events, Verga noted.

The Defense Department provided eight aircraft with firefighting capabilities, 12 helicopters and about 3,000 National Guardsmen to combat the fires, Verga said, and more than 25,000
firefighters from 41 states and Canada, Greece, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico joined the effort.

"[It is] a historic effort not only in magnitude, but also in terms of international support to the United States during wildfires," Verga said.

With each country approaching
civil security differently, emergency management officials need to be able to understand the perspectives of their international partners, said Marine Lt. Col. Kevin Killea, who coordinates Defense Department resources that can be provided to civil authorities in a crisis.

"It can't be an instance where the loudest voice in the room wins, because that is not the integration that you are looking for," he said. "That will not facilitate the partnership needed during a catastrophe."

Forums such as the new course are critical to making such international cooperation possible, course participants said.

"In my country, for example, we have a different approach to crisis management and consequence management. We have a different perception about these things, and also about how to implement and manage these issues," said Lt. Rafig Gurbanzada, chief officer of the International Activities Department of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations. "But I came here to learn about Western perspectives, to hear from Western scholars and what they think about specific issues. It was very useful for me."

Course director John L. Clarke said he has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants in the inaugural class, but expects to make changes for the second class based on their suggestions.

"We want to focus the course even more on some of the key mission areas of the civil
security concept and the lessons learned from specific case studies," Clarke said. "We have already received a lot of input from our course participants on case studies that they think we ought to consider for future iterations of the program."

The second class will take place in February. The new course is one of five resident courses offered by the Marshall Center. Since the center's dedication in 1993, more than 6,100
military and civilian officials from more than 100 nations have graduated from resident courses.

(From a George C. Marshall European Center news release.)

Top Enlisted Sailor Urges Continued Progress in Diversity

By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

July 31, 2008 - Though 60 years have passed since an executive order ended segregation in the U.S.
military, today's servicemembers still have work to do to make the most of diversity in the ranks, the Navy's top enlisted sailor said. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe R. Campa Jr. said the military has come a long way since it officially was integrated. In 1948, providing equal opportunities was a step in the right direction, he said, but moving forward today means understanding the differences of cultures represented in the military.

"The most successful
leaders in our Navy understand the strength and weaknesses of the people they lead," said Campa, a Hispanic-American from Southern California, "but in order to fully understand them, we need to understand their background and where they came from and their values."

Servicemembers come into the
military from all walks of life, with values, morals and cultural norms shaped by their race or nationality. Recognizing and accepting those characteristics are key factors in mentoring and leadership development, Campa said.
"Everyone brings with them a piece of who they are," he said. "If you don't understand that, you're not going to be able to help that young man or woman realize the full value of their potential."

Campa said the
military has come a long way since he enlisted in 1980. When he joined, he was one of 5,000 Hispanics in a half-million-strong force, he said, and his experience in boot camp was somewhat lonely because he didn't identify with many of the other recruits.

Today, more than 50,000 Hispanics serve in the
Navy. Other ethnic groups are growing throughout the military too, which Campa credited not only to recruitment and opportunity but also to the prospects of equality among the ranks.

"We can recruit and offer opportunity, but we're not going to be able to keep [servicemembers] unless we can appreciate and value who they are," he said. "You don't have to sacrifice your culture to be part of [the
military], and you don't have to sacrifice your cultural identity to be an American, either."

Campa said the
military's diversity improves its operations and enables the United States to foster better relationships across the globe. Diversity is a force multiplier as servicemembers interact and work with people in other countries and cultures, he said.

"We've come a long way as a nation, and we've come a long way as a
military in preserving that language and richness of culture [are] very important as we operate with other countries and reach out across the world," he said. "If we don't have that, we put ourselves at a disadvantage."

Project Captures Newer as Well as Older Veterans' Stories

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - As competitors were hurrying from one competition to the next at the 28th National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games, some paused between venues to commit to history their accounts of their
military service and the impact it's had on their lives. Tucked quietly away from the brightly lit competitions, Steve Hollingshead from the Department of Veterans Affairs' Media Services Division was busy building the Veterans History Project.

The program, established by Congress in 2000, is designed to preserve the legacies of America's aging veterans who are dying at the rate of about 1,500 a day.

"Getting these oral histories now is important, because once they are gone, their stories are gone forever," Hollingshead said.

Interviews taped through the program go on file at the Library of Congress, where they are available for researchers, and the veteran gets a personal DVD copy, Hollingshead explained. He noted that the DVD will be an important memory for their families after the veterans have died.

But while the program initially focused on older veterans, Hollingshead said, he's increasingly seeing veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan participating in the project. Several gave their oral histories during the Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colo., in early April.

Hollingshead and his team take their video cameras whenever the VA participates in a big event like the Wheelchair Games, encouraging veterans to share their stories. "This is first-generation knowledge, stories from the heroes who performed these missions, told in their purest form," he said.

During each interview session, Hollingshead spends about 30 minutes asking each veteran to talk about why they joined the
military, what experiences stand out in their minds and how those experiences have affected their post-military lives.

"I love getting these guys. They have such great stories, and none of them are boring," he said. "You get so much out of these interviews. You hear them talk and read their body language and get their emotion. It's pretty powerful."

For many of the veterans, giving an oral history proves to be therapeutic, he said. "I've had guys get tears in their eyes and tell me that this is the first time they've shared their stories," he said. "I had one Vietnam veteran tell me, 'I feel so much better.'"

The younger veterans' stories are different from those of earlier generations, Hollingshead said. They served in different wars, carrying out different missions and applying different kinds of warfare. Their wounds are different, with traumatic brain injuries and amputations more prevalent than in the past. Many long to go back to the conflict to rejoin their buddies who are still fighting.

But despite these differences, Hollingshead said, he sees a common thread among the veterans he interviews. Whether they served in World War I or Operation Iraqi Freedom, or in some conflict in between, all recognize that "they were there, fighting for their country," he said.

"All of them love their country and are here for all the right reasons," Hollingshead said. "The patriotism you see in these people is just phenomenal."

All Americans, including students and grandchildren, can participate in documenting the lives of the nation's war veterans, Hollingshead said.

Face of Defense: Soldier Looks Forward to Steelers 'Medicine'

By Army Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - Even medical professionals need their medicine to remain healthy. For
Army Capt. James Hart, the remedy is Pittsburgh Steelers football.

"That's my 'keep-me-sane' medicine," said Hart, a physician assistant for the 10th Mountain Division's Headquarters and Support Company, Division Special Troops Battalion.

The black-and-gold octagon on his office door warns, "Danger Ahead. Stop. Steelers Country." A "Terrible Towel" lays flat and neat, taking up a third of his desk space. The July image on his calendar shows wide receiver Santonio Holmes cutting upfield, both hands on the ball, tearing down yards.

Hart works in a Level 1 aid station here, where he treats soldiers with a variety of ailments. Hart has been a physician assistant since October 2005 and calls the job self-rewarding, because he gets the chance to take care of other soldiers.

"[The job is important] because it keeps our fighting strength up. I'm here to medically ensure our soldiers can stay deployed and continue with the mission."

This is Hart's second deployment with 10th Mountain Division. In January 2006, he deployed to Afghanistan, where he had the opportunity to care for local citizens as well as fellow servicemembers.

Hart works to keep the soldiers here strong, but he said he gets his fighting strength from the "Black and Gold." He recalled his 2006 just-in-time arrival in Afghanistan for the Super Bowl XL kick-off. The Pittsburgh Steelers squeaked by the Seattle Seahawks to win the Lombardi Trophy.

"We were stoked," he said about being able to catch the game.

A group of 50
Pennsylvania National Guardsmen, each sporting a Terrible Towel, was stationed at the base where Hart landed. They took over all the best seats in front of the screens at the dining facility to watch the game, he said.

Hart said his affection for the Steelers started when he was 7 years old. He calls
Washington, D.C., home, but he picked the Steelers over the Dallas Cowboys while watching Super Bowl XIII in 1979. His team beat his brother's team, and the fanaticism was born.

"Man, I really like that team right there in black-and-gold," he remembers thinking. "I've been a die-hard fan ever since."

He really does mean die-hard. When the Steelers and the Cowboys met again in Super Bowl XXX in 1996, Hart said, he threw a chair through a window, punched holes through the wall, ripped up the carpet and tore a couch in half after the Steelers lost.

"I was that kind of upset," he said. "Let's just say I was evicted from the apartment. It was a rough day."

Fortunately, Hart said, he has grown since those college days. "It just might be a grumpy day," at worst for any Steelers loss this season, he said.

As the National Football League season begins in September, Hart said, he looks forward to the games that will provide some new excitement to his deployment. It doesn't matter to him that the games will play with a seven-hour time difference. A night game that kicks off at 8 p.m. on the U.S. East Coast won't start until 3 a.m. in Iraq.

"If you're a fan, you're a fan, and you're going to watch," he said.

(
Army Staff Sgt. Michel Sauret serves in the Multinational Division Center Public Affairs Office.)

Active, Guard Members Give Back to Disabled Vets

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - As disabled veterans tested their limits during the National Disabled Veterans Wheelchair Games, which wrapped up here yesterday, nearly 400
military volunteers provided the behind-the-scenes support that officials said made the games a success. Nebraska Army and Air National Guardsmen, as well as active-duty airmen from nearby Offutt Air Force Base helped with everything from transporting athletes to venues to serving as road guards as they crossed busy intersections to setting up sporting events, Mike Wittrock, volunteer coordinator, told American Forces Press Service.

The
military volunteers lined softball fields, set up basketball courts, opened doors, and handed towels and water to parched participants. They also helped veterans through the buffet line at the Qwest Center, which served as the hub for five days of activities.

"At every single event, we had at least one
military member doing volunteer duty, and you could tell they were tickled to death to do it," Wittrock said. "The military has really stepped up to the plate, just like the rest of the community, to ensure the games proceed smoothly and that the athletes are taken care of. We couldn't have put on these games without them."

Volunteerism hit record numbers for this year's games, the 28th since they began in 1981, Wittrock said. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America -- cosponsors of the event -- put out a call for 3,000 volunteers, 4,200 stepped forward, he said.

Some of the
military support took center stage. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Phil Stacey, better known as an "American Idol" finalist during season six, opened and closed the games with his booming rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner." Stacey, assigned to Navy Community Outreach in Millington, Tenn., also served as an announcer at several of the events, including yesterday's slalom "super G" obstacle course that drew wildly screaming fans cheering on the participants.

"I'm honored to be here and to be able to meet these amazing athletes," Stacey said. "Seeing what they're able to do makes everything about this amazing."

Meanwhile, Airmen 1st Class Silvia Lisseth and Crystal Holk, both from Offutt
Air Force Base, served as volunteers at a platform in the Qwest Center where winners received their medals.

Lisseth said she was blown away by the veterans' enthusiasm for the games. "It's amazing to see how much they put into this and how much heart they have in it," she said. Holk said she felt honored to announce each winner's awards before the medal presentations. "It's really inspiring to see how motivated they are to come and win these, and then to see the big smiles when they wear those medals," she said.

For
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Guretsky, who returned home to Omaha in July after a 15-month deployment with the Nebraska Guard's 126th Chemical Battalion, volunteering at the wheelchair games offered a chance to give back to veterans who have made big sacrifices.

"All of these athletes are veterans, so it's sort of like we are helping our own," said Guretsky, who with his fellow soldiers moved water and ice, helped tear down tents and pitched in any way he could. "The veterans appreciate it when they see us in uniform, knowing that we support them.

"And it's gratifying for us, too, seeing the competitors smiling and so happy to be out there," he said. "You see them get outside and do things they never thought they could do."

Airmen 1st Class Tim and Stephanie Patenaude, a husband-and-wife team from Offutt
Air Force Base, volunteered throughout the games, wrapping up the final day manning the entrance to the dining hall.

Stephanie, a munitions accountability crewmember, said she felt compelled to volunteer for the games because she recognizes all servicemembers are just one accident or incident away from becoming disabled veterans themselves. "I could be one of these people, and I would want to know that someone was there to support me," she said.

"These guys deserve this," her husband said. "They're all veterans. They have done more than their part for the country, and they deserve whatever we can do for them."

Air Force Maj. Joyce Tow, a nurse with the Nebraska Air National Guard's 155th Air Refueling Wing, helped veterans through the food service line as the wheelchair games wrapped up yesterday. But like her fellow military volunteers, she'd bounced from one job to another throughout the games. She helped the athletes collect their luggage and load on the bus as they arrived at the airport, helped set up the archery competition at a nearby high school, and planned to help the athletes through the airport check-in process today.

Tow called volunteering at the games a welcome change from her more immediate
military duties of patient care. "As a nurse, I see them in the hospital, and I don't know what happens to them afterward," she said. "Here, I'm getting to see them not just function, but function at a very high level. That's pretty gratifying."

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Steve Goodner, a fellow 155th Air Refueling Wing Guardsman, said wearing the uniform gave him a special connection to the veterans. "You can see it in their eyes. They associate with you and relate with you," he said. "They focus on you because you are wearing the uniform, and it's clear that they are very grateful for what we are doing."

California Fire Task Force Mission Becomes 'Wait and See'

By Air Force Capt. Al Bosco
Special to American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - With the latest
California wildfires mostly under control, Army and Air National Guard aircrews supporting the firefighting effort can finally begin to breathe, as many aircraft are pulled from active support to a stand-by role. Since the California fires began June 21, Army and Air National Guard aircrews have flown continuously, supporting the massive firefighting operation.

At the height of the operation, more than two dozen aircraft from as many as 14 states, as far away as New York, were assigned to Joint Task Force Sentinel.

Aircrews endured the stifling heat and smoke, flying continuous
fire-suppression missions and dropping nearly 4 million gallons of water on the flames that have scorched more than 900,000 acres, or an area roughly equivalent to the size of Rhode Island. In fact, just a week ago, the flight line at this former Air Force base near California's capital of Sacramento sat mostly empty, with the exception of aircraft requiring maintenance and a couple of spare aircraft ready to go if called upon.

Army Maj. David Hall, a JTF Sentinel operations officer, said operations from Mather are being scaled back based on direction from the state's Joint Forces Headquarters and as a result of inputs from the Office of Emergency Services, California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection -- known as Calfire -- and other civil agencies indicating forces on the ground, along with civil aircraft support, are sufficient to handle the current fire situation.

"This is a balancing act, and we work with multiple agencies to determine what type of support they need from us," Hall said. "Downsizing typically occurs when our partner agencies believe they can manage the fires still burning with the civilian air and ground assets they have available."

He added that although Guard aircrews aren't likely going to see the same level of tasking, they will maintain a presence, along with ensuring aircraft are immediately available to support state missions as required.

"We have six aircraft still supporting active missions, but we'll have about four additional aircraft available that will serve as alert aircraft able to launch if needed," Hall said.

Interestingly, most of the aircraft currently on mission aren't
California assets. In fact, Hall said, many of the out-of-state aircrews are taking the lead role in the effort affording the California crews a much-needed break.

"The out-of-state units showed up, and were eager to help out with the mission, so we're sending them out," Hall said. "This is a great opportunity for us and them, since they are getting some hands-on experience fighting the fires, helping out California and also giving our aircrews a chance to breathe."

In fact,
Army Staff Sgt. Jim Irby, an Alabama National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, said he's anxious to get his unit's aircraft on the fires.

"We got here July 16 and completed our training, so now we're ready to get out there and help," Irby said. "We almost got to launch twice yesterday, but
firefighters in the area were able to gain control of the situation quickly."

The unit got a mission July 18 -- to swap out with the Kansas National Guard aircrews supporting the Chico Complex fires, making pilot
Army Chief Warrant Officer Randy Kirkland smile.

"This is what we came here for," he said as he and his crew prepared to head for their aircraft.

Calfire Wildland Battalion Chief Scott Watson said the Guard's quick response, coupled with excellent communication among the agencies, was a critical factor in the civil authorities' ability to gain control of the fire so quickly.

"It's been remarkable to take so many aircraft from different states, bring them to
California and train and utilize them," Watson said. "This is a first -- an historic event -- and we've built a template showing that allegiances like this are critical. I think from this we can actually work toward a national standard for emergency response."

(
Air Force Capt. Al Bosco serves with the California National Guard.)

Vets Wrap Up Wheelchair Games With Inspiration, Life Lessons

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - Nearly 500 disabled veterans closed the 28th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here last night celebrating new friendships made, new pride in what they've accomplished, and confidence in their abilities. Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield praised participants in the world's largest annual wheelchair sports competition during the closing ceremonies and urged them to take home the lessons learned here.

Mansfield said his message to the veterans boils down to four simple words: "You can do it."

"For the young ones, whether it's going back to school or going through job training or starting a family or getting a job, you can do it -- just like you can do it here playing these games."

And for the older veterans, Mansfield reminded them, "You can keep on doing it."

The wheelchair games bring individuals together, randomly assigning them to teams that have to work together to be competitive, he said. "The starting point is that they are veterans, and we are building on what they have learned as veterans: how to work hard, how to train, how to figure out the way to get something done, and then how to work together to make it better."

For many, this reignites the sense of camaraderie they experienced in the
military. Mansfield said he's touched to see the way the veterans support and cheer each other on -- in many cases, even those they're competing against, Mansfield said. "That's the attitude you find here," he said. "It really is unbelievable."

For Tricia Labar, a former
Army private first class with knee and spinal cord injuries, the last day of the wheelchair games was bittersweet. Proudly showing off the gold medal her team earned in yesterday's basketball finals, her third gold medal of the games, she said she couldn't believe how quickly the five days of events had flown by.

"I love these games," said Labar, here for her 13th straight year. "I love these guys," she said of her fellow disabled veterans. "But I hate when it's all over."

Labar said she remembers reluctantly attending her first wheelchair games shortly after finding herself in a wheelchair. She was overweight and withdrawn, and her stomach churned with nervousness about what was in store for her.

But participating in the games changed her forever. "By the end of the week, I was so excited. I was counting the days until the next one," she said.

Now trim, athletic and highly competitive, Labar said she loves the challenge of the games, but also the many friendships she's built attending them. "This is like the world's largest family reunion," she said. She reaches out to new "family members" -- recently disabled veterans -- to share her excitement about the games and the lessons she said they instill.

"When you get home, any time you find yourself hitting a wall, you can say, 'I did the Super G [slalom] and made it all the way through, so I can do this too," Labar said. "Not everyone is an athlete, but what you experience here can help you through any challenge that comes your way. It really does make a difference in your life."

Like Labar, Raul Acosta, a
Marine veteran, said he renewed old friendships and built new ones during his ninth year at the wheelchair games.

"I love coming back and enjoying the camaraderie here. We all feel like family catching up," said Acosta, who had his right leg amputated due to complications from cancer surgery.

With his gold medal from the basketball competition dangling from his neck, Acosta said the games help show younger veterans they, too, can excel. "That's the big lesson here," he said. "It's one of the big things I've gotten out of these games."

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony Felder, who lost his left leg in a 2006 motorcycle accident but will remain on active duty as an F-15 crew chief, said he accomplished everything he'd set out to do during his second wheelchair games. His team won the gold medal in basketball -- the most coveted award of the competition, he said -- but he gained much more on a personal level, as well.

"I got to meet a lot more of the new people and spend time talking with them," he said. "It's great being around people in similar situations and being able to share stories and network. Everybody wants to win. But being around here and getting to learn from each other is inspirational."

Felder didn't skip a beat when asked if he plans to return next year. "I'll be here, without a doubt," he said.

The games are cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, with financial assistance from corporate, civic, and veterans service organizations.

In addition to the wheelchair games, the VA cosponsors three other national rehabilitative events: the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, the National Veterans Golden Age Games and the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

In September, the VA will host a new summer sports clinic pilot program. That event will introduce water and adventure sports such as sailing, surfing, kayaking, cycling, and track-and-field events to recently injured veterans.

Army Olympians Prepare for Beijing

American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - Nine U.S.
Army soldiers will take aim at Olympic gold in Beijing. The soldier-Olympians are wrapping up their training throughout the United States and will depart for China in August.

Among the elite athletes is three-time Olympian Staff Sgt. Libby Callahan, a 23-year
Army Reserve soldier, who at age 56 will earn the distinction of being the oldest U.S. woman Olympian ever to compete and stands a chance of becoming the oldest woman Olympic medalist ever at the Summer Games.

"It's an honor to represent the country I am proud to serve," said Callahan, who will compete in the women's sports pistol event. "The
Army has not only provided me with the training and opportunities to succeed, it has given me the encouragement I need to go for the gold at the Olympics."

Staff Sgt. Dremiel Byers, a member of the U.S.
Army World Class Athlete Program, is ranked No. 1 in the United States in his weight class for Greco-Roman wrestling and earned a spot on the 2008 Olympic Team by winning the trials held in Las Vegas in June. Byers said the Army provides the training and opportunities to succeed. "We're very fortunate to do what we do," he said. "I've been with the program since 1997, and now I get to represent my country in the Olympics. The Army allows you to dream big."

Marksman Maj. Michael Anti will make his fourth Olympic appearance at the Beijing Games. After earning a silver medal in the prone rifle event at the 2004 Games, Anti purchased a silver Corvette. His goal is to upgrade to a new gold model to match the medal he hopes to earn at the 2008 Games.

The soldiers, including track and field athletes, world-class boxers, marksmen and more, are the latest in a storied line of 644
Army athletes who have participated in the Games since 1948.

"We coach elite-level athletes who already have a high level of discipline from their
Army experience." said Capt. Dominic Black, commander of the Army's World Class Athlete Program. "By providing these athletes with the best training, coaching, equipment and overall support, the Army is preparing them for victory at the Olympics and beyond."

Other soldier-athletes representing the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics are:

-- Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker -- air rifle and three-position rifle;

-- Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski -- men's 50-meter free pistol;

-- Pfc. Vincent Hancock -- skeet;

-- Spc. Jeffrey Holguin -- double trap;

-- Spc. Walton Glenn Eller III -- double trap; and

-- U.S.
Military Academy Cadet Stephen Scherer -- air rifle.

The Army's World Class Athlete Program is composed of soldier-athletes in a variety of sports who demonstrate the potential to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team. Soldier-athletes who apply to the program must have recently attained a high national ranking or placed high at a major national or international event. Soldiers in the WCAP have earned 131 Olympic medals since 1948.

The
Army Marksmanship Unit, which is sending six shooters to Beijing, has gained worldwide respect by winning hundreds of individual and team national shooting titles, more than 40 world championships and 21 Olympic medals. Since the AMU was established in 1956, its shooters have won more than half of all medals earned by U.S. shooters.

(From a U.S. Army news release.)

America Supports You: Unusual Fundraiser Helps Group Benefit Troops

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

July 30, 2008 - "The Gigantic Garage Sale" at the South
Florida Fairgrounds in Palm Beach County July 26 proved to be not only fun for shoppers, but also was lucrative for "Forgotten Soldier Outreach," a care package organization. "The United Way of Palm Beach County and the South Florida Fair ... do this once a year," said Sue Beard, Forgotten Soldier Outreach's Palm Beach County manager. "It was great! We got $500 for a day's work."

The group began soliciting donations for the sale earlier this month. Contributions included jewelry, lamps, candles, collectibles and "re-gift" items, which Beard described as the gift sets typically available for major holidays.

Only clothing, furniture and stuffed animals were turned down. Those items would have taken up too much room in the group's allotted space, she said.

As it turned out, jewelry, the gift sets and toys and games were the three top-selling categories.

The $500 raised surpassed the organization's expectations for its first-time participation in the garage sale. "I thought maybe $300," Beard said.

The funds raised will cover postage to ship packages to servicemembers on a monthly basis.

"During the summer months, funds tend to dwindle, but our cause and mission continues to grow," said Lynelle Chauncey Zelnar, Forgotten Soldier Outreach's founder and executive director, in a statement. "This [helped] us raise much-needed funds in order for FSO to be able to continue our mission this summer by sending a little bit of home to our soldiers overseas to assure they're not forgotten."

In addition to the money raised through the garage sale, Forgotten Soldier Outreach was the beneficiary of
Florida Power & Light's third annual collection drive and fundraiser to benefit the organization.

Throughout June, the company's employees donated CDs, DVDs and calling cards for troops. An annual "Jeans Day," which allowed employees to wear jeans to work for a $5 donation, raised $5,300 for the organization.

"This fundraiser could not [have] come at a better time. ... Unfortunately, funds have been at a shortfall," Zelnar said. "It's so wonderful to see a local corporation, such as
Florida Power & Light and their employees, continue to show their support of our troops overseas."

Forgotten Soldier Outreach is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

MILITARY CONTRACTS July 30, 2008

Navy

Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $312,495,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design/build to collocated
Military Department (MILDEP) Investigative Agencies, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. The contract value includes contract line item 000l, base bid, three chillers enhancement, heater exchange enhancement, upgraded lobby/finish enhancement, and upgrade executive spaces enhancement. The contract is incrementally funded with the first increment of $134,066,765 being allocated at the time of award. The scope of the contract includes complete design and construction of the Collocated MILDEP Investigative Agencies, authorized under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) initiatives. This project involves the construction of a multi-story facility/facilities for the BRAC directed collocation of Military Department Investigative Agencies (MDIA) composed of the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA), Headquarters Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), Headquarters Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Headquarters Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and the Defense Security Service (DSS). It also includes the construction of a collocated "School House" for the Joint Counterintellegence Training Academy (JCITA) and the DSS and off-site development of utilities, bridge and roadway improvements. The work will be performed at the Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va., and is expected to be complete by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities websites, where five proposals were received for Phase I. Three proposals were submitted under Phase II and a negotiation period followed with conclusion by submission of a final proposal. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity, contract number (N40080-08-C-0020).

McDonnell Douglas Corp., DBA the Boeing Company, St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $153,044,318 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for an Assault Breaching System (ABS) Countermine System (CMS). The CMS will use a precision guided, stand-off munition capable of delivery by
Air Force (AF) bombers and Navy (USN) tactical aircraft (TACAIR). The CMS shall attack surface laid and buried mines through a controlled dispense of countermine munitions. These munitions will be designed to neutralize mines and either consume the explosive fill or to cause a detonation of the mine. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (40 percent); Orlando, Fla. (31 percent); Niceville, Fla. (16 percent); and Mesa, Ariz. (13 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2013. The contract will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division website, with multiple proposals solicited and one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City, Fla. is the contracting activity (N61331-08-C-0032).

DG21 LLC,
Dallas, Texas, is being awarded an estimated $28,365,264 modification P00034 under previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract with award fee provisions (N62742-06-D-4501) to exercise the second option period for Base Operating Support Services at the U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia in support of its mission in the British Indian Ocean Territory. The work to be performed provides for all management, labor, administration, supervision, materials, supplies, and equipment. After exercise of this modification, the total cumulative contract amount will be $467,728,084. Work will be performed at the U.S. Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed July 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured with 78 offers solicited, three proposals received, and award made to DG21 on 06 July 2006. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded an $11,750,505 modification to delivery order #0056 under their existing previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-04-D-5016) for the installation of reducible height armor kits and survivability upgrade kits on Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) variants. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis. (70 percent); Jacksonville, N.C. (22 percent); and
Oceanside, Calif. (8 percent), and work for this delivery order is expected to be completed by June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Tetra Tech EC, Inc. (company's name changed from Tetra Tech
Foster Wheeler, Inc.), San Diego, Calif. is being awarded $7,495,141 for modification 42 to Task Order #0072 under a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N68711-98-D-5713) for base-wide radiological surveys and remediation at Hunters Point Shipyard. Work will be performed in San Francisco, Calif., and is expected to be completed June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Technical Services Sector, Herndon, Va., is being awarded a $6,322,098 cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract for approximately 89,886 hours of engineering and logistics services in support of E-2C, C-2A test and E-2D System Design and Development (SDD) aircraft located at the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWO ZERO (VX-20), Patuxent River, Md. Services to be provided include modification and preparation of the aircraft for test operations, correct safety of flight discrepancies, quality control inspections, engineering investigations, and logistics and parts support. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in July 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-08-C-0065).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Hess Corp., Woodbridge, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $69,992,650 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for direct supply natural gas. Other locations of performance are N.Y., Mass., Pa., and N.H. Using services are
Army, Navy, Air Force and Federal civilian Agencies. There were originally 166 proposals solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7508).

Army

JCB Inc., Pooler, Ga., was awarded on Jul. 28, a $6,151,111 contract for definitizing a current UCA for the procurement of 50 Add-on-Armor B-Kits for High Mobility Engineer Excavator vehicles, and the associated integrated logistics support. Work will be performed in Pooler, Ga., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 23, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There was one bid solicited on Jan. 4, 2008. U.S.
Army TACOM LCMC, Warren, MI, Deployment Acquisition Group, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-D-0414).

BAE Systems
Technology Solutions & Services, Inc, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 28, 2008, a $22,782,322 cost plus award fee, contract for logistical support and services consisting of the three major functional areas of maintenance, transportation and supply on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work will be performed in Schofield Barracks, East Range, Fort Shafter, Wheeler Army Airfield, Island of Oahu; and Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2017. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 54 bids solicited on Jun. 16, 2006, and 7 bids were received. Regional Contracting Office, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).

BAE Systems
Technology Solutions & Services, Inc, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., was awarded on July 28, 2008, a $22,782,322 cost plus award fee, contract for logistical support and services consisting of the three major functional areas of maintenance, transportation and supply on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Work will be performed in Schofield Barracks, East Range, Fort Shafter, Wheeler Army Airfield, Island of Oahu; and Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2017. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 54 bids solicited on Jun. 16, 2006, and seven bids were received. Regional Contracting Office, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (W912CN-08-C-0085).

Air Force

The
Air Force is exercising an option by modifying a firm fixed price contract for $34,074,850 with Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Ariz. This action will provide for MALD Low Rate Initial Production units (154 assets), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Trainer (5 assets), Decoy Trainers (41 assets), and Warranty for the LRIP units. At this time all funds have been obligated. 692 ARSS/PK, Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (F08635-03-C-0002 P00079).

The
Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract for $7.5 million with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems/Electromagnetic Systems Laboratory of San Jose, Calif. The purpose of this action is to award the ASIP Objective Performance Incentive. At this time all funds have been obligated. USAF/AFMC, Reconnaissance Systems Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-03-C-4318 Mod Nr: P00060).