Thursday, May 13, 2010

USS McCampbell and USS John S. McCain Arrive in Hong Kong

By Lt. j.g. Colleen R. Praxmarer, USS McCampbell Public Affairs

May 13, 2010 - HONG KONG (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) arrived in Hong Kong May 13 for a port visit during their ships spring deployment.

"We are happy to be here in Hong Kong, which is one of the premier port destinations in the Pacific Region," said Cmdr. Jeffrey Kim, commanding officer of USS John S. McCain. "I know that our Sailors have been looking forward to their opportunity to visit Hong Kong."

Many Sailors are hoping to take advantage of Hong Kong's cultural diversity, shopping, and sightseeing.

"Hong Kong is a perennial favorite port visit for our Sailors," added Cmdr. Charles Johnson, USS McCampbell's commanding officer. "It offers a variety of cultural experiences and time for our crew to relax and recharge. Additionally, we're very grateful for the opportunities to give back to the Hong Kong community through community service when they have so graciously welcomed us."

Throughout the port visit, many Sailors will explore Hong Kong through Navy sponsored Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) tours, a popular options amongst Sailors are kayaking and mountain biking. "I'm really excited since it's my first time kayaking, my first time in Hong Kong, and my first port visit," said Operations Specialist Seaman Apprentice Rodney Davis of Rex, Ga. "Everything is still really new, and I'm looking forward to seeing the difference between the Japanese and Chinese cultures."

Many Sailors will also volunteer for community relations projects at The Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) in Kowloon. Volunteers will play with children, paint the orphanage and assist with minor repair work. "I would rather go to an orphanage and help out," said Gas Turbines Systems Technician (Electrical) 2nd Class Marona Genato of San Diego. "They have no parents, and I want to show them that someone still cares for them and to make them feel loved."

There is also an opportunity for Sailors to become involved in the Hong Kong community is through the Meals in the Home Program. Sailors are matched with Americans or other expatriates living in Hong Kong and treated to some local hospitality such as a home cooked meal or a tour of the city. The program began in the 1970s by the Hong Kong's American Women's Association.

McCampbell and John S. McCain are assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and patrol the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility conducting routine operations. Operating in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets covering 48 million square miles, with approximately 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft, and 40,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any time.

Enterprise Launches and Recovers First Aircraft in Two Years

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristin M. Baker, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

May 13, 2010 - USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) successfully recovered and launched fixed-wing aircraft May 12 after more than two years.

The "Checkmates" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211, landed four F/A-18F Super Hornets aboard the world's first nuclear-powered carrier, and the "Salty Dogs" of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 followed shortly later with the first launch.

Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, also known as the "Red Rippers," also launched and recovered aircraft on a day long anticipated by the crew.

In order to safely recover a jet there must be 16 personnel below the flight deck manning the arresting gear equipment, eight personnel on the flight deck, and one primary operator. These personnel are solely responsible for the safe recovery of any inbound aircraft.

From providing fuel to taxiing the aircraft after recovery, it's a team project.

"No single qualification can recover an aircraft alone," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 1st Class (AW) David T. Ifill, the primary flight control operator for Air department's V-2 catapult division. "Teamwork is the only way a carrier can safely do this."

Enterprise spent more than two years in the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard making sure the ship was ready for her 21st deployment.

During that time frame, Enterprise has seen many Sailors leave the command and many more arrive. There are some who have been on other carriers, seen and participated in flight operations, but many more arrived aboard Enterprise as their first command, new to the fleet.

"I've been in the Navy for more than a year," said Airman Ryan K. White. "I am honored to spend my first enlistment aboard Enterprise. It's an awe-inspiring experience just to be here."

Launching aircraft on an aircraft carrier is just as dangerous as the recovery.

An aircraft launched from an aircraft carrier accelerates from zero to 145 mph in less than three seconds.

"Safety is the priority on the flight deck at all times," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 1st Class (AW) Michael K. Balentine, the bow catapult leading petty officer for Air department's V-2 division. "Keeping your head on a swivel is our motto out there."

Launching one jet off the flight deck requires a minimum of 11 personnel on the flight deck.

"People are the heart of launching jets," said Balentine. "Participating in this specific launch has been an honor for me. I served aboard Enterprise from 2003-2006, and to be a part of this particular event is a dream come true after spending my last three years on shore."

At the completion of flight deck certification, Carrier Air Wing 1 will begin carrier qualification which will allow them to conduct flight operations with Enterprise and her crew until the end of the next deployment.

Enterprise is underway conducting flight deck certification in preparation for her work-up phase and 21st deployment.

Adaptive Sports, Warrior Games Bring Families Together

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

May 13, 2010 - Sharada Akin had her hands full courtside here yesterday as she entertained her 16-month-old daughter, Trinity. Her cheerful, blue-eyed little darling scampered back and forth around the bleachers, laughing and playing with a seemingly endless amount of energy. So keeping up with her husband's archery match wasn't much of an option, Akin said, but she added that the tournament's outcome wasn't all that important. The fact that Army Cpl. Travis Akin can enjoy life again is all she really needs to know.

"The most important thing for our family is that we're happy, healthy and together," Akin said. "And Travis feeling useful again and worth something after being injured in Iraq is a big part of that."

Travis suffers from severe spinal injuries and post-traumatic stress caused by a 2006 roadside-bomb attack in Iraq. He's one of about 200 wounded warriors and disabled veterans competing in Paralympic athletic events at the inaugural Warrior Games at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here.

Travis's injuries took him out of the fight and prevented him from doing a lot of things he'd enjoyed, such as playing the way he used to with his kids, his wife explained. The initial recovery phase was daunting for the entire family, she added.

"It's frustrating when there's nothing you can do, and you know he's in pain and wants to do more, but just can't," Akin said. "We have four kids, and our sons like to play rough, but can't with their dad any more. They want to know why Daddy can't roughhouse, and all you can tell them is because Daddy's hurt."

But, like many troops and their families who have suffered life-changing disabilities, Travis, who's stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, has discovered adaptive sports as a way to persevere. He learned several activities that he never thought he would do, but mostly he was drawn to hunting, which is how he was introduced to a compound bow.

Hunting gives her husband an outlet to focus his energy, as well as a means to relax when stress builds up, Akin said. Travis has come a long way since he was first injured, she added.

"I'm certainly proud of him," she said. "He's come a long way with archery, with himself. He's just accomplished so much in his lifetime. I just want to support him any way we can. That's why I'm here."

Wayne Luttmer and his wife, Cathy, made the trip here from north Texas to show support for their son, Army Sgt. Jeremiah Luttmer, who's competing in archery and marksmanship. Luttmer described his son as a "man with a lot of fight, willpower and pride."

Jeremiah was deployed to Iraq in 2008 when a mortar round shattered his right ankle, Luttmer said of his son's injury.

"It was tough on his mother and I," the father said. "It's not easy to see your son hurt that badly in such a violent way."

Yet, like the Akin family, the Luttmers drew strength from their wounded warrior's ability to overcome his disability and continue on with his life.

"Shooting and things like the Warrior Games have gone a long way to his recovery," Luttmer said. "It's done great things for us, and it's a great way for [wounded warriors] to get motivated again."

Luttmer added that he's also proud of all the wounded warriors competing this week. The games have the potential to make an impact on a lot of families and wounded warriors' lives, he said.

"I love seeing all of the services here together competing against each other," he said. "I'm enjoying the heck out of seeing these troops, who've been through so much, doing so well here. It makes me very proud to be a father of a soldier."

The Warrior Games are a joint venture of the Defense Department, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the USO to promote the positive impact adaptive sports can have on veterans dealing with disabilities.

Marines Earn Gold, Silver in Warrior Games Archery

By Marine Corps Cpl. Scott Schmidt
Defense Media Activity – Marine Corps

May 13, 2010 - When retired Marine Corps 1st Sgt. John Fuller was asked how he thought the inaugural Warrior Games archery competition would turn out, his answer was complicated, yet simple. And it was right. Marines earned both gold and silver medals in the compound-bow competition at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here yesterday – just as Fuller, the Marine team's archery coach, predicted.

Cpl. Beau Parra of Wounded Warrior Detachment Hawaii narrowly missed a perfect mark, scoring 119 out of 120 possible points, closely followed by his fellow Marine, Staff Sgt. Matthew Benack, who shot 118. Army Sgt. Robert Price claimed the bronze medal.

Fuller said his prediction was based on observing his team members' individual strengths, as well as their nerves. The two Marines who captured top honors exemplified those strengths, he said.

"We were all sitting around and talking about shooting, and one of the guys asked me, 'How do you think it will come out?'" Fuller said. "Well, I answered truthfully and honestly. I said, 'I think we're going to have Benack and Parra in the gold round, and I think Parra will win it.'"

Parra said the gold medal solidifies a renewed sense of worth, and means overcoming an injury can be just the beginning for the competitors here.

"No matter how bad your wounds are, and no matter how bad you're hurt, we can still come out here and do this," the Prescott, Ariz., native said. "We can still compete and be champions and be winners." But winning the competition was no walk in the park, he acknowledged.

"The competition was close," Parra said. "I looked down the line and tried not to let my nerves get to me, because everyone put their heart into the game. This win wasn't just given away."

Dozens of servicemembers went head to head, but in the end, the compound-bow competition came down to Marine against Marine. The shootout seemed more like a friendly practice round, as the two Marines encouraged each other and even offered pointers during the final rounds of competition. With a difference of only one point separating the two wounded warriors, the event kept both the audience and the competitors on their toes.

Although medals were on the line, Benack said, something more important was going on. All of the wounded warriors, he noted, share a common past and a common goal to recovery. The best part of the Warrior Games is the camaraderie among the services and the way the competitors help and encourage each other through whatever difficulties they face.

Parra said winning the gold medal gives him the confidence to move on and continue recovering.

"It gives you the mindset to take focus off of [post-traumatic stress disorder] and shift it to the game," he said.

Marines also competed in the recurve-bow competition, but failed to place. The Army took all three medals, with the Marines finishing a close fourth. Sgt. Michael Lukow earned gold, Staff Sgt. Curtis Winston won silver, and their fellow soldier Sgt. Jeffery Anderson took the bronze medal.

USNH Yokosuka Honors Caregivers with Appreciation Day

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mike Mulcare, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Japan

May 13, 2010 - YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka's U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) honored its caregivers by declaring May 12 Caregiver Appreciation Day.

Caregivers are the civilian volunteers, Department of Defense medical personnel and service members who provide care to patients such as Hospital Corpsman, chaplains, medical officers, and others who play a role in caring.

"Today, we're celebrating our caregivers with Caregiver Appreciation Day," said Lt. j.g. Michael Anderson, hospital chaplain and Bay City, Mich., native. "We'd like to recognize all the sacrifices caregivers and their families give for the benefit of the mission."

This year marked the first Caregiver Appreciation Day in Yokosuka. The day offered caregivers and their families a magic show for children; a symposium on operational stress, self care, and spirituality and an open floor question and answer session with Anderson.

"I came out here to offer my personal thanks to caregivers," said Mike Applegate, a Red Cross volunteer and magician for the event. "This is the first time anything has been done on this level. We're recognizing what the caregivers do and I thank them for that."

The goal of the symposium was to offer caregivers tools and training on how to care for themselves. Numerous service members from USNH agree that in caring for others, caregivers often neglect caring for themselves.

"Caregivers, because they take care of so many people, often neglect self-care. This conference today has professionals who provide tips and methods for self-care," said Anderson. "Care for the caregiver is very important with all the stresses and high-tempo operations they take part in."

Capt. Kevin D. Moore, the hospital's commanding officer shared his gratitude to caregivers.

"I'd like to thank you all for the things you do and the sarifices you make," said Moore. "It truly is an honor to serve next to each and every one of you."

Safe Harbor Provide Sideline Support at Warrior Games

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sally Foster, Defense Media Activity

May 13, 2010 - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NNS) -- Three days into the inaugural Wounded Warrior Games at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Team Navy's fans are still going strong.

The stands are crowded with spectators, cheering for their family or fellow services members, but none so loud as those in blue and yellow. Team Navy's fans stand out in the crowds, shaking pom-poms and jangling yellow cowbells distributed by Navy Safe Harbor in what were referred to as Navy pride packs.

However, noisemakers were not the only way Safe Harbor contributed to the athlete's journey to the games. Navy Safe Harbor has played a major role in the inaugural Wounded Warrior games, starting with the first step.

"We were basically the recruiting agency for the athletes for the Navy and the Coast Guard," said Lt. Courtney Pollman, Navy Safe Harbor's Special Projects Analyst. "We brought a support staff of 15 people to support our athletes here by providing around the clock availability to a doctor, a physical therapist, a coach, anything from running out and getting them last minute stuff they didn't know they needed, to getting them from point A to point B in time."

Navy Safe Harbor is the Navy's lead organization for coordinating the non-medical care of wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families.

"We provide the Sailors and coast guardsmen with assistance in navigating the bureaucracy," said Lt. Courtney Pollman, Navy Safe Harbor's Special Projects Analyst. "We don't necessarily give them access to anything they aren't already entitled to, but we help them sort out what they're entitled to, what they need, what's in their best interests... We help them establish goals and we help get them there."

"They have pretty much organized, coordinated, and done everything for the Navy warriors as well as their families and spouses," said Stephanie Rose, a Navy Wounded Warrior. "They secured hotels and shuttle services for us, they flew us out here, and they've been ultimately really supportive ever since we've arrived."

The first medal was handed out on day three of the games, and though the Navy team was not the recipient, spirits have not fallen on the courts or in the bleachers. Navy Safe Harbor's Program Director, Capt. Oakley Watkins said the Warrior Games are an outstanding opportunity for competitors to capitalize on and demonstrate their abilities rather than showcasing their disabilities.

"It's really motivating for them as individuals and the whole team to show that they have abilities and they can do things that even some people who are not injured can do," Watkins said. "This really shows the team spirit, that competitiveness between the different services, and shares in that camaraderie that they have, that commonality of being injured. There's no difference between a wounded soldier or a wounded Sailor."

From May 10 to 14, more than 200 service members are participating in the inaugural version of the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Warrior Games are a joint venture of the Defense Department, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the USO to promote the positive impact adaptive sports can have on veterans dealing with disabilities.

Elmendorf officials to open Fisher House

by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
3rd Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2010 - ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) -- Airmen here will take the first big step in building a haven for their wounded brethren when the groundbreaking for the Fisher House of Alaska takes place May 15.

The groundbreaking ceremony is going to be held in concert with the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Anchorage Veteran Affairs Outpatient Clinic and Regional Office.

It is fitting that both ceremonies would be held on the same day, said Lt. Col. Andrea Vinyard, the 3rd Wing Fisher House point of contact and commander of the 3rd Medical Support Squadron. In addition to being located next to each other, personnel from both organizations will be working hand-in-hand.

"The groundbreaking is going to be a fairly significant day for us," Colonel Vinyard said. "It is an incredible project to be a part of."

Fisher House is an organization that provides lodging for patients and families of patients hospitalized at military medical centers. The lodging is either very inexpensive or free. There are now Fisher Houses all across the United States since the first one opened in 1993. The Fisher House here will be the first one built in the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility.

The foundation was started by Zachary Fisher, a prominent real estate figure and philanthropist. A leg injury barred him from serving in World War II, but he spent the rest of his life giving back to the military. The Fisher House program was created when he learned of people forced to sleep in their cars because they couldn't afford hotel lodging to be near their hospitalized loved ones.

"It will be a great place for our wounded warriors and their families to relax and make themselves comfortable while they are recuperating here either at the base hospital or getting care in the local community," Colonel Vinyard said.

The colonel said approximately 115,000 Defense Department beneficiaries and their families, located all across Alaska, will be eligible to use the Fisher House here. As part of her work as the Fisher House POC, the colonel visited Fisher Houses in Virginia and Texas. She said she was impressed with what she saw.

"I think it is a fantastic program," Colonel Vinyard said. "One of the things I was overwhelmed with is the (number) of volunteers who came out to help."

She said that it wasn't just military members and base residents volunteering to help. Local community groups of all types pitched in to help as well.

"They were all giving something back to those who have given to us and helped keep us free.

Colonel Vinyard said that there are no firm dates for when construction will be complete on this Fisher House. She said that construction will be heavy on the house all summer and that the estimated completion date is approximately 12-18 months after the groundbreaking.

Air Force Volleyball Team Remains Unbeaten

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Vanessa Young
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio

May 13, 2010 – The Air Force sitting volleyball team took down two Army teams May 11 and yesterday to finish undefeated in pool play and advance to the semifinals at the inaugural Warrior Games here.With only a week and a day of formal practice, Head Coach Nicki Marino said, the Air Force volleyball team stuck to the basics, which has helped them win.

“They are so excited to be out here, and they are really doing a great job of just being a team,” Marino said. “They did a great job of just slowing things down and getting our passes up and really digging in and getting a lot of balls up. We are just frustrating other teams. It’s fun.”

In the first round of pool play May 11, the Air Force team defeated the Army 1 team in two games, 27-25 and 25-16. The Air Force team won its second game by forfeit, and its third match, with the Army 4 team, was decided in three games.

The first game of the match went to the Army team, 26-24.

“We rallied together to rebound from the first game,” said Matt Sanders, the Air Force team captain, who also made the last kill of the match. “When someone made a mistake, we said ‘It’s OK, we’ll get them on the next play,’ and we got them on the next play.”

The Air Force team answered back in the second game, 25-17, forcing the teams to play a final game for the match. The Air Force scored early in the third match, and with one point remaining to win, Marino called time out.

“We don’t need heroes; we just need basics,” Marino said she told her team during the last match. “They really wanted it, so there wasn’t much we as coaches needed to do at that point.”

The Air Force team won the last game, 15-7.

One Air Force team member attributed the team’s success to its “iron curtain” defense.

“That’s our front line,” said retired Staff Sgt. Richard Tackett. “When they serve the volleyball over, we put it back down and force them to play. I think that when we can serve the ball over and force them to play us that we are stronger, and we put our hands up to play really good defense. We put the pressure on them, and it’s smooth sailing from there.

“We’re going to proceed until we win gold,” he added. “We’re not going to stop.”

USS Constitution Sailors Give Caps for Kids

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Frank E. Neely, USS Constitution Public Affairs

May 13, 2010 - SPOKANE, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Constitution Sailors gave Navy ball caps to children during Caps for Kids visits at Sacred Heart and Shriners Hospitals in Spokane, Wash., May 10.

Command Master Chief (SW/SS/AW) David Twiford, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class (AW/SW) Jason Keith, Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SW) Dana Loney, Airman Trina Pardo and Seaman Mark Gonzales participated in the Navy Office of Community Outreach-managed visits as part of Spokane Navy Week, May 10-15. 



"It always feels very good to give like this," said Loney. "I've done Caps for Kids visits before, and it never fails to make you appreciate the work we're doing and the things we should not take for granted."


Constitution's Sailors gave 12 ball caps in total and words of encouragement to children they visited.

"I just wanted them to know that I may not understand exactly what they're going through, but I still hope they get better, and I hope by us being here today, they know we do care about them," said Gonzales.

Caps for Kids became a national outreach effort in 2000. Since then, more than 300 commands and thousands of Sailors have donated ball caps to more than 500 hospitals across the U.S. Most of the children who were given ball caps are dealing with long-term or lifelong health issues.

"It was one of the big points of my day, because when lying in a hospital, I can't do much," said Nicholas Nelson, 15. "And I look up to the people who do this, because they are fighting for our freedoms."

Spokane is one of 20 Navy Weeks planned across America for 2010. Navy Weeks show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

Constitution's Sailors participate in more than 50 volunteer projects annually. The ship is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year.

Soldier Becomes U.S. Citizen

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane Arrington
Joint Task Force Guantanamo

May 13, 2010 - Army Spc. Carlos Baptista of the Rhode Island Army National Guard's 115th Military Police Company had dreamed of becoming an American citizen since he left the island country of Cape Verde off the African coast when he was just 4 years old. Twenty years later, that dream became a reality when he took the oath of allegiance while deployed here with Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

Completing the process makes Baptista proud – and his parents, as well, he said.

"I know this brings a big smile to my parents' faces," Baptista said with a smile of his own, shortly after taking the oath that officially made him a citizen of the country he'd already sworn to support and defend almost four years ago. Along with Baptista, Army Sgt. Ardicio Galvao and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jo Kurosu received their citizenship during the naturalization ceremony.

Baptista joined the Rhode Island Army National Guard on Sept. 11, 2006, and he made it clear it was no coincidence he joined on that date. But while getting his citizenship has always been a goal, he said, it was easier said than done.

"I've always been very busy, but I needed to start working on my citizenship," Baptista said. "[I had to] get it while in Cuba to come on this deployment. I was really lucky to have so many people help me. My command gave me the time I needed to study and prepare."

Army Capt. Nicolas Pacheco, 115th Military Police Company commander, said he's glad to see his soldier's hard work pay off.

"He was very passionate and dedicated," Pacheco said. "We were all proud to see him raise his hand in the first recorded naturalization ceremony in Guantanamo Bay."

Baptista mentioned two of his former officers who he said were instrumental in encouraging him to pursue his dream of citizenship. Army Maj. Samuel Maldonado and Army Capt. Alex Arroyo "gave a lot of their spare time to help me get everything done properly," Baptista said.

"They didn't have to help," he added, "but I'm glad they did."

Baptista was given an American flag during the ceremony. The flag, he said, will be safely sent home and respected.

Now that he's an American citizen, Baptista said, he's glad he can do things he couldn't before, such as applying for a security clearance and an American passport and apply to bring more of his family to the country he has called home for most of his life.

"I always felt like something was missing," Baptista said. "But now that I'm an American citizen, I feel complete."

High School Students Tour Submarine as they Build their Own

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Myers, Submarine group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Students and faculty from Old Saybrook High School visited Submarine Base New London May 10 to tour Virginia-class attack submarine USS Virginia (SSN 774) and Naval Submarine School as part of research and planning process to build their own submersible vessel.

Upon completion, the students plan to build and race their manned, 11-foot submersible at the 11th Annual International Submarine Races held in Bethesda, Md. in June 2011.

"While we got to have some fun, I believe the lesson I learned today is that teamwork is the big key, but, we also need to further develop ways to stop flooding," said Shannon Jorgensen, student team captain.

According to project coordinator Fred Frese, the school's wood shop teacher, Old Saybrook received an invitation after working closely with the Navy on a previous project.

"We are one of three engineering schools in the country invited to this event," said Frese.

Frese also said the students will be training to race even as the vessel is under construction.

"This is their senior project. They all volunteered to undertake this task," Frese said. "Not only will they do all the construction, but they will write a report and give a presentation at the competition."

Lt. Cmdr. Thomas O'Donnell, Virginia's engineering officer, examined a scale model of the project and a drawing of the internal components brought by Frese.

"This is just amazing," O'Donnell said. "I'm a submariner and a diver, but I'm not sure I would be up to the task of driving this vessel."

Frese recently completed a four-year project with a previous class. They built a full-size replica of the world's first combat submarine, known as the Turtle, invented by David Bushnell.

Warrior Games Give Injured Soldier Focus

By Elizabeth M. Collins
Army News Service

May 13, 2010 - It was just an average day of work for Army Staff Sgt. Eugene Ethengain IV, whose job in logistics meant he worked with the Air Force to unload planes coming from the combat theater into McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. Average, that is, until he was pulled out of the aircraft and onto the conveyor belt and then onto the ground.

That was in March 2007. While initial X-rays showed that nothing was wrong, Ethengain was in so much pain he could barely walk. A couple of months later, a wrist specialist ordered MRI exams and found that Ethengain had fractured his left wrist, torn a tendon, and injured four disks in his lower back and three disks in his neck.

"It was actually a shock," he said. "It happened so fast. It's just like if you're riding your bike and you hit something and fall -- by the time you realize you're falling, you're already on the ground, and it's like, 'Ugh! Well, I can move. I must not be too bad.' It wasn't even 24 hours later, I was dragging my leg around. My back was hurting really bad."

Three years later, Ethengain has graduated from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane. He has undergone back surgery, and he competed here in archery yesterday at the inaugural Warrior Games for wounded, ill and injured servicemembers and veterans, even as he prepares for neck surgery in June. Ethengain also is on the Army's sitting volleyball team at the games.

Assigned to the warrior transition unit at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort Meade, Md., Ethengain, who shoots with a compound bow, found out about the games less than a month ago, and instantly knew he had to try for the gold in archery.

While the games mark his first time competing in archery and he didn't do as well as he would have liked, he has loved the sport -- as well as bow hunting -- since childhood, he said. It also doesn't strain his injuries; the hardest part, he said, is walking to the archery range and bending over to pick up stray arrows.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said. "It's like my last 'Hooah' for the Army, because I don't know if they're going to let me stay in the Army or whether I'm going to be retired.

"I don't really want to retire," he added, "but eventually, at some point, we all have to get out of the uniform and transition to become a civilian. I'll make the best of it."

Ethengain said he hopes one day to join the Army's archery team or its Paralympics archery team.

In April, Ethengain joined other soldiers for several days of training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. That training was the first time he had picked up a bow and arrow since his accident. It was like riding a bike, he explained -- something he could never forget.

Although he was eliminated before the final round of the competition at the Warrior Games, he said had a great time.

"I had fun anyway, and I knew I had good competition," he said. "I think I did really well, but I could have [done] better."

The games also have given him something other than his surgery and medical appointments to focus on.

"It was good to get away from the hospital and get a chance to shoot," he said of the practice and training he participated in prior to the games.

Ethengain is member of the Nanticoke Indian tribe, he said, and his ancestors have hunted with bows and arrows for centuries -- so archery is in his blood. He said "it feels good" to carry on the family tradition. In fact, the father of 11 and grandfather of three said, he most looks forward to completing his recovery so he can take his sons hunting and teach them about their heritage.

At the Warrior Games, soldiers swept the recurve-bow category in archery. Sgt. Michael Lukow, Staff Sgt. Curtis Winston and Sgt. Jeff Anderson took home the gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. Sgt. Robert Price came in third in the compound-bow category, while Marines took home the gold and silver.

Slow Start for Navy Means High Hopes for Future

By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class R. Jason Brunson
Defense Media Activity

May 13, 2010 - The numbers tell the story. Or, do they? An early look at the scorecard reflects a winless record for Navy after the first two days of competition at the inaugural Warrior Games at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here. In the May 11 preliminary rounds, the Army and Air Force edged out Navy in sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball. The Marine Corps came out on top for that evening.

But Navy's team coach Mark Heniser said that although they didn't get a win, the team did pretty well and came out with a respectable score, considering they had never played together before that night.

"Literally, we ran from a volleyball game to this game and put guys on the roster who had never even sat in a wheelchair before, so I think they did great," Heniser said.

Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Hathorn said he previously had not had much experience in basketball, and that playing in a wheelchair is much harder than it appears.

"I lost a few layers of skin off my hands, but it was loads of fun. I think everyone had a great time," Hathorn said. "We'll get it together. We have only had had two days to gel, but doing stuff like this, even with a loss, really helps us as a team."

Yesterday morning, the Army came on "Army Strong," securing four of the six medals awarded during the archery competition, including the first gold medal presented in the games. Later in the afternoon, the tides seemed to change for Navy at the swim competition preliminaries, with wins in several of the individual heats.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan DeWalt said that without a doubt, the Navy's strong point is swimming.

"I have every confidence in my teammates," he said. "We are going to bring home a lot of medals.

DeWalt, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 2008 that left him paralyzed from his T3 vertebra and below, is a competitor in the 50-meter backstroke, and he said he looks forward to showing everyone that the Navy team will be a force to reckon with at tomorrow's swim finals, as well as next year.

General Officer Assignments

May 13, 2010 - The Chief of Staff, Army announced today the following assignments:

Maj. Gen. Dana J. H. Pittard, deputy chief of staff, operations and training, U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Va., to senior commander for Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Brig. Gen. Edward P. Donnelly Jr., deputy director of strategy, plans and policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U. S. Army, Washington, D.C., to director, joint and futures, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U. S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Brig. Gen. Raymond P. Palumbo, deputy commanding general, U. S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N. C., to commanding general, U. S. Army Alaska/deputy commander, U. S. Alaskan Command, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Spokane Area Sailors Help Build Homes During Navy Week

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Susan Hammond, Navy Office of Community Outreach

May 13, 2010 - SPOKANE, Wash. (NNS) -- Spokane-area Navy recruiters volunteered their time, skills and energy at a Habitat for Humanity job site in Spokane May 12.

Volunteers painted and installed pipes and plumbing for a nine-unit home building project during Spokane Navy Week.

Navy Week kicked off May 10 with events designed to give the public a close-up look at what the men and women of the U.S. Navy.

Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Seattle and Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Spokane join forces this week, along with Sailors from the USS Constitution and Navy Band Northwest to showcase the Navy May 10-15. Spokane Navy Week takes place in conjunction with the Spokane Lilac Festival and is one of 20 Navy Weeks being held across America in 2010.

The volunteers for the project, recruiting staff of NRD Seattle, are familiar to the Habitat for Humanity organizers because they volunteer throughout the year. NRD Seattle includes recruiting stations in western Washington, and northern Idaho and Montana, and recruiters often come to Spokane for volunteer projects.

"We are excited to be a part of Navy Week, and we love it when the Navy volunteers," said Michone Preston, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Spokane, which builds 10-20 homes a year for disadvantaged families.

"They are people with skills, people with work ethic, people with a positive attitude, strength and community focus," Preston said. "They are the cream of the crop of our volunteers!"

The recruiters worked alongside the Habitat for Humanity staff, AmeriCorps and Vista volunteers, as well as the homeowners themselves, who are required to put in 500 hours of work on the homes they will occupy.

Some of the recruiters are very involved with community assistance projects like this, such as Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Devin McConnell of Navy Recruiting Station Spokane. He is a member of the Spokane Homeless Coalition, an organization composed of several area helping agencies. McConnell is president of his First Class Petty Officers Association and asks the association's membership to volunteer for projects like this.

"It's very rewarding to see the outcome and how we've helped to get people into homes," said McConnell.

Navy Week continues this week with performances by the Navy Band Northwest rock band, "Passage," as well as other community service projects supported by Sailors from USS Constitution, NOSC Spokane and NRD Seattle. The schedule of events also includes civic, corporate and educational engagements by Vice Adm. Bruce W. Clingan, deputy chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. Rear Adm. James A. Symonds, commander, Navy Region Northwest, participated in several engagements earlier in the week.

Interactive displays such as the Navy Suburban, a wrapped Navy-theme media center on wheels, equipped with video games, and the Navy Simulator, featuring live-action Navy films programmed to move in sync with point-of-view imagery presented on a large screen, provides additional entertainment during Navy Week events at a variety of locations.

Spokane Navy Week concludes May 14 when area Sailors display their float in the Lilac Festival Parade.

Navy Safe Harbor Helps Wounded Warriors

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sally Foster
Defense Media Activity

May 13, 2010 - Three days into the inaugural Wounded Warrior Games at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here, it's clear the games have really taken off for the Navy team.

The stands are crowded with spectators cheering for their family members or fellow servicemembers, but none so loud as those in blue and yellow. Team Navy's fans stand out in the crowds, shaking pom-poms and jangling yellow cowbells distributed by Navy Safe Harbor in "Navy pride packs."

But noisemakers are not the only way Navy Safe Harbor has contributed to the games. Safe Harbor is the Navy's lead organization for coordinating the nonmedical care of wounded, ill, and injured sailors, Coast Guardsmen and their families.

"We provide the sailors and Coast Guardsmen with assistance in navigating the bureaucracy," said Lt. Courtney Pollman, Navy Safe Harbor's special-projects analyst. "We don't necessarily give them access to anything they aren't already entitled to, but we help them sort out what they're entitled to, what they need, what's in their best interests. ... We help them establish goals, and we help get them there."

Navy Safe Harbor has played a major role in the inaugural Wounded Warrior games, starting with the first step. "We were basically the recruiting agency for the athletes for the Navy and the Coast Guard," Pollman said. "We brought a support staff of 15 people to support our athletes here by providing around-the-clock availability to a doctor, a physical therapist, a coach -- anything from running out and getting them last-minute stuff they didn't know they needed to getting them from Point A to Point B in time."

One of the Navy's wounded warriors expressed gratitude for Navy Safe Harbor's support. "They have pretty much organized, coordinated and done everything for the Navy warriors as well as their families and spouses," Stephanie Rose said. "They secured hotels and shuttle services for us, they flew us out here, and they've been ultimately really supportive ever since we've arrived."

Though the Navy team didn't receive any of the first medals awarded at the games, spirits have not fallen on the courts or in the bleachers. Capt. Oakley Watkins, Navy Safe Harbor's program director, said the Warrior Games are an outstanding opportunity for competitors to capitalize on and demonstrate their abilities rather than showcasing their disabilities.

"It's really motivating for them as individuals and the whole team to show that they have abilities and they can do things that even some people who are not injured can't do," Watkins said. "This really shows the team spirit, that competitiveness between the different services, and shares in that camaraderie that they have; that commonality of being injured. There's no difference between a wounded soldier or a wounded sailor."

Former Medic Participates in Warrior Games

Air Force Staff Sgt. Vanessa Young
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio

May 13, 2010 - As a former firefighter, emergency medical technician and Air Force aeromedical evacuation airman, retired Staff Sgt. Ricky Tackett dedicated his life to taking care of others.

As a member of the Air Force team participating in the inaugural Warrior Games, people -- his teammates, in particular -- continue to be his No. 1 priority.

“I’m a team player, so I want to make sure taking care of our folks is No. 1,” Tackett said. “Even though we are here competing, we are here because we have limitations and mobility issues. We all have a responsibility to take care of each other and watch out for each other’s limitations.”

The Warrior Games are part of an effort to inspire recovery, capitalize on physical fitness and promote new opportunities for growth and achievement. Wounded, ill and injured athletes from all services are competing in shooting, swimming, archery, sitting volleyball, cycling, track, wheelchair basketball, discus and shot put.

Tackett, an injured airman who also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, came to the games ready to compete in the 100-meter free sprint, shot put, prone rifle marksmanship and sitting volleyball. However, due to a training injury, a stress fracture in his leg, Tackett will compete only on the volleyball squad.

“I’m not going to quit, and they can’t make me,” he said. “I’ve got to play, because sitting volleyball is my only chance to do well for my team.”

Tackett said being chosen as a member of the Air Force team is a great responsibility and an honor. The Air Force head coach, Cami Stock, said Tackett has overcome a lot with his injury and still is “bringing it” for his teammates.

“He’s still out on the court doing everything for the team he possibly can,” she said about his sitting volleyball performance. “He likes to be part of the team. I think it’s one of the most important parts of it for him.”

For Tackett, the results of the competition are secondary. “It’s been a great bonding experience to meet people from all different backgrounds with different injuries and illnesses,” he said. “I’m not here to win any medals. I’m here to participate and have a great time.”

While in the Air Force, Tackett was responsible for the aeromedical evacuation of wounded warriors out of combat areas and back to the United States. After an injury and illness, he said, he had to re-evaluate his position as a medical aircrew member.

“I wanted to continue to fly, but at some point you have to look and reflect seriously on yourself and ask, ‘Am I the best person in this position?’” he said. “As aircrew, my mission is to provide the best medical care I possibly can to someone. I had to evaluate if my injury would put my aircrew or the patient in jeopardy. I realized I needed to take two steps back and be evaluated [by medical professionals]. I had to step out of [aeromedical evacuation].”

After medical retirement, Tackett continues to dedicate his life to the medical career field and stays active by teaching emergency medical technicians and American Red Cross courses. Along with sharing his medical knowledge, he also shares what he knows about dealing with the effects of PTSD.

“It’s still new to me, and I’m trying to understand what I’m going through,” Tackett said, noting that his wife, a nurse, has helped him with his disorder. “Help, counseling and meeting other veterans so that you are not alone, is key. A lot of people won’t seek help because they are afraid of that social stigma [of mental illness] and isolate themselves.

“You really have to be a warrior and stay focused and get out there and fight those social stigmas and say, ‘Hi, I’m a regular person. Like you, I just have some sensitivity to some subjects or other surroundings,’” he added.

Tackett said the Warrior Games environment helps him with his PTSD because he’s in a community of people who understand what he has been through.

“To be in a community of veterans and other folks that understand exactly what [I’ve] been through, and [being] able to talk to them and work things out -- it’s a whole other level of comfort,” he said.

Tackett said it is really important to make everyone feel comfortable in their environment and to make his teammates feel part of the Air Force team.

“The Air Force family is really close, and they have taken excellent care of us,” he said. “I think this is another excellent example of taking care of our wounded warriors. We are all winners.”

MILITARY CONTRACTS May 13, 2010

TRICARE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, Rancho Cordova, Calif., is being awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide managed care support to the Department of Defense (DoD) TRICARE program. The face value of the awarded contract will comprise a base period for $52,504,134 using fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010 one-year funds. The total potential contract value, including the 10-month base transition-in period and five one-year option periods for health care delivery, plus a transition-out period, is estimated at $17,218,484,626. The North Region contractor will assist the Military Health System in operating an integrated health care delivery system combining the resources of the contractor and the military's direct medical care system to provide health, medical and administrative support services to eligible beneficiaries in the North Region. The North Region includes the District of Columbia and the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa (Rock Island Arsenal area only), Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri (St. Louis area only), New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The work to be performed includes management of provider networks and referrals, medical management, enrollment, claims processing, customer service, and access to data, among other requirements, while providing beneficiary satisfaction at the highest level possible. The majority of the work to be performed will be in Rancho Cordova, Calif. This contract was competitively procured via the TRICARE Management Activity e-solicitation Web site with two offers received. The TRICARE Management Activity, Aurora, Colo., is the contracting activity (H94002-10-C-0001).

ARMY

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems, Inc., Bethesda, Md., was awarded on May 10 a $142,086,975 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Operational Integration Center Analytical Support Team supplement. Work is to be performed in Reston, Va. (60 percent), and Afghanistan (40 percent), with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2013. Four bids were solicited with three bids received. Research, Development and Engineering Command - Contracting Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W91CRB-08-D-0024).

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla., was awarded on May 10 a $20,479,783 basic ordering agreement with firm-fixed-price delivery orders. This award is made under the terms of the existing basic ordering agreement for the small caliber ammunition second source prime contractor for the production of 5.56mm; 7.62mm; and caliber, 50 small arms ammunition. This ammunition is used in M4 carbines; M16A2 rifles; M249 light machine guns, 5.56mm; M240 series machineguns, 7.62mm; and M2 and other caliber, 50 heavy machine guns. Work is to be performed in St. Petersburg, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 27, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with two bids received. HQ, U.S. Army Field Support Command, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52P1J-05-G-0002).

Watts-Weitz, JV, Denver, Colo., was awarded on May 11 a $18,715,000 firm-fixed-price contract to construct a 120,104 square foot commissary at Fort Carson, Colo. Construction is to include required utilities, equipment, and site development. Work is to be performed at Fort Carson, Colo., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 23, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 24 bids received. U.S. Army Corp of Engineer, Omaha District, Omaha, Neb., is the contracting activity (W9128F-10-C-0022).

Walton Construction Company, LLC, Harahan, La., was awarded on May 11 a $15,463,000 firm-fixed-price contract to construct training area infrastructure at the One Station Unit Training maneuver training area. Primary facilities include new training area tank trails, existing training area tanks trail repairs, low water crossing, fording sites, traffic signage, and field training/staging area. Work is to be performed in Fort Benning, Ga., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 19, 2011. Four bids were solicited with four bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-07-D-0016).

James Talcott Construction, Great Falls, Mont., was awarded on May 11 a $12,893,400 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of approximately 70 units, including work on expanding and replacing existing utility infrastructure and site utilities; landscaping; and miscellaneous site development work. Work is to be performed in Fort Lewis, Wash., with an estimated completion date of Nov. 15, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with 11 bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, Wash., is the contracting activity (W912DW-10-C-0014).

Speegle Construction, Inc., Niceville, Fla., was awarded on May 10 an $11,028,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of the 7th Special Forces Group (7SFG) backyard training ranges, 7SFG compound, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Work is to be performed in Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 1, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 18 bids received. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile Regional Contracting Center, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-10-C-0053)

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on May 11 an $8,744,874 cost-plus-award-fee contract. This contract is for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Long Range Navigation (LORAN) mission scheduled for termination. Coast Guard Long Range Navigation Station in Alaska will be conditioned for layaway and re-use as deemed appropriate by USCG. The ultimate objective is to adequately protect and secure the interests of the USCG and to reduce potential safety and regulatory risk throughout the duration the facility is in layaway status. This scope of work covers layaway and demolition activities at LORAN stations Port Clarence, Attu, Shoal Cove, and Tok. Work is to be performed in Anchorage, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of May 10, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Engineer District Alaska, Contracting Division, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-06-0006).

Charpie-Kortie, JV, Chicago, Ill., was awarded on May 10 a $5,850,600 firm-fixed-price contract for design/build of the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Work is to be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., with an estimated completion date of Feb. 24, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with nine bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W710QR-10-C-0051).

NAVY

Colonial Assembly & Design, LLC, Fredericksburg, Va., is being awarded a $33,111,192 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the design, rapid prototyping, special acquisition, and technology insertion related to circuit board design, radio frequency distribution assemblies, and fabrication services. Work will be performed in Fredericksburg, Va., and is expected to be completed by May 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities and Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web sites, with one offer received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., is the contracting activity (N00178-10-D-3016).

AIR FORCE

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24,302,677 contract which will provide combat-ready forces to conduct secure cyber operations in and through the electromagnetic spectrum, with air and space operations. At this time, $496,032 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Deliver Order 0414).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24,283,152 contract which will provide innovative recommendations on information assurance disciplines for Systems Center Atlantic to develop information assurance capabilities for the Federal Compliance Program. At this time, $122,060 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0407).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $23,302,445 contract which will provide instrumented live, virtual and constructive joint exercise enabled via the Joint National Training Capability's global grid to enhance information assurance/cyber activities under U.S. Space Command's span of control. At this time, $2,672,756 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0417).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $19,835,902 contract which will provide information integrity and integration of information assurance capabilities into existing operational command and control networks and systems. At this time, $5,000 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0415).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $19,831,145 contract which will define information assurance scientific and technical analysis to be applied to future military satellite communication systems development and assess vulnerabilities of emerging satellite communication systems to provide secure end-to-end communications services to deployed warfighters. At this time, $1,607,798 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0411).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $15,870.840 contract which will provide secure and highly reliable network operations and computer network defense components in order to carry out Air Combat Command's mission. At this time, $45,120 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Deliver Order 0408).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $14,877,735 contract which will provide information assurance and information systems security improvements to U.S. military ground communication systems and onboard U.S. military airborne systems and platforms. At this time, $2,692,270 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0413).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $14,880,375 contract which will provide state of the art information assurance capabilities in order to increase interoperability and availability of secure information to improve decision making. At this time, $347,793 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0409).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded an $8,925,518 contract which will develop innovative cyber security capabilities and network defense for Air Force information systems. At this time, $164,682 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-98-D-4002, Delivery Order 0410).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Navigation Systems Division, Woodland Hills, Calif., was awarded a $14,109,480 contract which will provide 252 embedded GPS/inertial navigation system production units for the Air Force F-16. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8628-06-C-2066 P00072).

Honeywell International, Inc., Defense & Space Electronic Systems, Clearwater, Fla., was awarded a $6,570,904.97 contract which will provide 81 embedded GPS/inertial navigation system production units for the Army OH-58D CDS5, and Navy CH-53 and SPN-46 platforms. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 647 AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8628-06-C-2065 P00145).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

McRae Industries, Inc.*, Mount Gilead, N.C., is being awarded a maximum $21,434,519 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, total set-aside contract for hot weather Army combat boots. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were nine responses to the original proposal. This contract is exercising the third option-year period. The date of performance completion is May 16, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-07-R-1521).

Sysco Central Florida, Ocoee, Fla. is being awarded a maximum $16,073,940 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity, prime vendor contract for full-line food service distribution. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with three responses. The date of performance completion is May 14, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-10-D-3371).

Caterpillar Inc., Mossville, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $5,599,230 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, long-term delivery order contract for wheel tractors. Other location of performance is Illinois. Using service is Navy. There were originally three proposals solicited with one response. The date of performance completion is April 30, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-01-D-0059-0439).

Kitsap Sailors Key-In to Motorcycle Safety

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lawrence Davis, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

May 13, 2010 - KEYPORT, Wash. (NNS) -- Sailors, Marines and Department of Defense (DoD) personnel from Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor participated in a motorcycle safety standdown at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, Wash., May 12.

Service members engaged in interactive discussions about personal riding experience, executed fundamental riding and handling skills on a basic training course, and learned key-points of motorcycle safety.

"Today's event is a refresher course and a reminder to practice safety before the warm season when [riders] start getting back on their bikes," said Marty Goldenpenny, regional safety specialist and installation traffic coordinator.

The standdown consisted of three events designed to help riders practice basic fundamentals including a "cornering challenge", "box master" and a "slow-ride" competition.

More than 100 attendees participated in the NBK-sponsored, free event.

"It's great to see so many people supporting this event," said Lt. j.g. Dillan Masellas, reactor control assistant, USS Maine (SSBN 741) (Blue) and attendee. "I'm really impressed with the riding community up here."

Masellas, who has attended several rider's safety standdowns expressed his appreciation for the training.

"It makes you realize how much better of a rider the training has made you," said Masellas. "It's really made a difference in my riding ability."

The standdown is also scheduled to occur on other installations in the Northwest including Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and Naval Station Everett.

According to the Naval Safety Center website, eight Sailors or Marines died from motorcycle related accidents in 2009. The Navy continues to support motorcycle safety worldwide to ensure that its members practice safe and proper riding habits and remain fit for duty and are mission-capable.

"Training is an ongoing thing no matter how long you've been riding," said Goldenpenny. "If you don't use the training you've gained, you tend to forget it."

Pacific Angel participants see continued bilateral cooperation

by Capt. Timothy Lundberg
36th Wing Public Affairs

5/13/2010 - CAN THO, Vietnam (AFNS) -- A U.S. and Vietnam servicemember-hosted medical clinic concluded three days of centralized free care to Vietnamese patients as part of Operation Pacific Angel 10-2 here May 12.

Servicemembers at the Tan Thoi Village Elementary School had cared for more than 1,250 patients in the pediatric, family practice, optometry, dental and women's health clinics.

Of the 1,250 patient encounters, 428 were at pediatrics, 564 family practice, 217 at optometry, 78 at dental, 51 to the women's health clinic and 2,571 prescriptions were provided to their respective patients.

Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation conducted in the Pacific area in support of U.S. Pacific Command capacity-building efforts. It also trains civil-military operators to work together with a focus on civic assistance. The medical and engineering missions are scheduled to run May 10 through 17 in Vietnam.

The Pacific Angel team has moved the second portion of medical care to Troung Thanh, a nearby village. It will be conducted May 12 through 15 and is expected to see upwards of 500 patients per day.

The level of care and professionalism showcased by the Vietnamese and their U.S. counterparts was commended by Vietnam Army Lt. Col. Duong Van Tham.

"Cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnamese military has been outstanding," said Colonel Duong. "The Vietnamese soldiers appreciate the cooperation we've seen."

In addition to the medical care provided at the school, civil engineers are continuing construction work at the Tan Thoi Village and Truong Thanh Thai Lai Medical Clinics. More doors and windows have been attached, and an additional 700 feet. of electrical wiring was installed so ceiling fans and interior lighting could be placed in the treatment facilities. In all, renovations were completed in eight of the rooms.

"A lot of meaningful work for the Vietnamese people in this rural area has been done, and this has been especially good for our relationship with the U.S. and Vietnam," Colonel Duong said. "The Americans are disciplined and have been very hard working and we've been very impressed with how they want to help."

The U.S. and Vietnam medical and civil engineer teams will continue to care for local Vietnamese residents and complete additional construction projects through May 15.

Fundraiser to Benefit the VFW National Military Services

"Serving Those Who Serve Us"

VFW State Commander George Murray & State President's Special Project 2010 & 2011

HOSTED BY: Boston Police VFW Post 1018
DATE: Saturday, July 10, 2010
TIME: 1:00PM till 5:00pm
LOCATION: 205 American Legion Highway, Dorchester. Intersection of 500 Morton Street
OUTDOOR Event, (Bring your own lawn chairs)
Great Food!! All You Can Eat Barbecue Cookout

Great Entertainment:
Star Spangled Banner - Kim Tavares
Signature Sound Entertainment - Brian Ray
Queen of Country - Kathleen Berry
Rumble House Rockabilly - Live Band
Gypsy's Tramps and Thieves (Cher) -Dini Gelg
Elvis in Concert - Marty Colombo
Join Members of Post 1018 in a salute to Soldiers, past and present.

More Information
http://www.executiveprotectioninternational.com/epi1.htm

Navy Chief Rescues Baby

By April Phillips, Naval Safety Center Public Affairs

May 13, 2010 - JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- A Navy Chief rescued an infant from a burning house May 11 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Chief Gas Turbine System Technician – Electrical (SW) Bryain Williams suffered an injury in his arm while trying to get access to the smoke-filled home. The Naval Safety Center received a report about a cut Williams received that required six stitches.

Williams and his wife were at the house because they were considering adopting a mastiff-bloodhound mix from a woman who lived there.

"We decided we were going to take the dog and were getting back in the car to drive off when she ran back out and told us there was a fire and her four-month-old baby was in the house," Williams said.

The fire started in the kitchen and quickly spread. Williams saw the smoke and acted quickly.

"I'd been on ships for a long time, so I know what that much smoke means," he said.

Although he'd never been inside the house, and the woman was too hysterical to tell him where the baby was, he quickly located a crib through the dense smoke.

"I tried to push the crib out the door, but it was too big, and I couldn't see, so I grabbed the baby and got him out," Williams said.

He delivered the child to his screaming mother, and thought she said there was an older child still in the house. The front door had locked behind him, so he went back in by breaking through a double-paned glass door in the back. That's how he sustained the cut. He was seeking the second child when the mother's hysteria subsided and she realized that he was safe at his grandmother's house. She called Williams out of the fiery home.

In spite of the danger, Williams said he never thought twice about entering the house.

"I've got a two-year-old and that's all I could think about," he said.

Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, Commander, Naval Safety Center, said he was pleased to hear about Williams' quick thinking.

"The vast majority of mishap reports received at the Naval Safety Center highlight poor decision making, risk management or training," he said. "It's refreshing to get one from the other end of the spectrum, highlighting heroic actions, outstanding risk management and superbly inculcated Navy training."

Williams does credit his Navy training for allowing him to save the infant. He was qualified as Engineering Officer of the Watch on his last ship, and said that training allowed him to act quickly.

Williams said the baby he rescued is doing great, and he and his wife have welcomed a new addition into their own family. They adopted the dog, whose name is Goliath. Williams thinks there's a reason he was in the right place at the right time.

When he was stationed in Hawaii, he and his wife wanted to adopt a mastiff. They'd already decided to name it Goliath when his wife was diagnosed with cancer and they determined it wasn't the right time to get such a large dog. Now living in Jacksonville, they figured it was meant to be when they saw that a mastiff named Goliath needed a good home. Williams believes he was meant to get that dog and be there to save the child.

"I told the family that God works in mysterious ways," he said. "I really believe that."

Survey to Explore Deployment Impact on Families

By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service

May 13, 2010 - Defense officials have launched a large-scale survey in hopes of getting a better sense of how military families are weathering nearly a decade of war.

The Military Family Life Project, a longitudinal, department-wide survey, is designed to capture the long-term impact of deployment on families and to improve the support provided to them, officials said.

Beginning this month, 100,000 military spouses and 40,000 married active-duty servicemembers, selected at random from all services, will be invited by mail to participate in this confidential online survey.

"We are now in the eighth year of overseas contingency operations and recognize that there are still gaps in our ability to understand the emerging and changing needs of military families, as well as the cumulative effect of multiple deployments," said Virginia S. Penrod, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy.

"This survey will provide a better understanding of the impact of deployment and help us assess the effectiveness of current policies, programs and services," she added.

Penrod encouraged those selected to participate. "This is your chance to be heard on issues that directly affect you and your family," she said. "Your answers will help shape policy, programs and services for military spouses and families."

All participants will be surveyed again a year from now, she noted, and the survey's results will be released soon after.

Understanding the impact of deployment is an ongoing, high-priority family readiness issue, Penrod said.

"Military families are strong, resilient and deserving of our support, yet separations resulting from deployment can strain even the strongest of families," she said. "When a servicemember deploys, the whole family deploys."

First Lady Michelle Obama commended the Defense Department for launching this "landmark" study when speaking to the National Military Family Association's summit yesterday.

"I want to encourage all the spouses who were selected to fully participate in this project, because the more that this nation knows about your priorities, the more we can do to meet them," the first lady said.

Millbury Man Pleads Guilty to “Stolen Valor” Charge

May 13, 2010 - WORCESTER, MA—A Millbury man was convicted today in federal court of wearing combat decorations, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with combat “V,” that he did not earn.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division and Chief Gary Gemme of the Worcester Police Department announced today that MICHAEL P. FRISOLI, 46, of Millbury, MA. pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Timothy S. Hillman to an Information charging him with one count of wearing unauthorized military decorations under the Stolen Valor Act.

At today’s plea hearing the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that between June and October 2008, FRISOLI purported to be a U.S. Marine First Sergeant who had earned multiple awards for valor in combat, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with “V”; Navy Commendation Medal with “V”; Army Commendation Medal with “V”; Navy/Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon; and numerous other individual and unit awards that he did not earn. During the relevant time period FRISOLI appeared at various public events in uniform wearing these decorations, posing for photographs with state and local officials. He also appeared at a Millbury Board of Selectman’s meeting on June 24, 2008 at which he received a plaque from the town in recognition of his service and his work for Toys for Tots.

“Those who falsely claim to have earned prestigious awards like the Purple Heart and Bronze Star undermine the public’s respect and admiration for those men and women who honorably serve our country in the Armed Services,” said U.S. Attorney Ortiz.

Sentencing has been scheduled for August 5, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. FRISOLI faces up to one year imprisonment, to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Massachusetts State Police and Worcester Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Fuller of Ortiz’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit.

Flournoy: Departmental Efficiencies to Begin at Top

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

May 13, 2010 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' call last week for more efficiency and less waste is starting at the top, with Pentagon components being told they'll lead the rest of the department by example, the secretary's top policy advisor said here today. "We have been put on notice; we are going to start this review for efficiencies with ourselves," Michele Flournoy, undersecretary of defense for policy, said during an appearance at the National Press Club.

Flournoy said she's reviewing her own organizational chart to identify how the office can do its job more efficiently. The ultimate question, she said, is, "Where can we get some savings that we can contribute to the pie?"

"I think every single [Defense Department] component is going to go through that exercise," Flournoy said. For some components, she said, the review will involve "fundamental, existential questions: 'Do we need this particular organization that may have been created 40 years ago in the new world we are in?'"

Flournoy emphasized that Gates' May 8 speech at the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kan., was about cutting duplicative overhead, bloat and needless spending – not capability.

"It's not [about] defense cuts," she said. "It's saying, 'We have to become more efficient and make better use of taxpayer dollars in how we operate.'"

Broad reviews of how the Defense Department is organized are just one part of the equation, she said. Gates' mandate also includes reforming the acquisition process, conserving energy and creating greater efficiencies throughout the department. Savings, she said, would be reinvested where they are most needed to support current security needs and to prepare for future ones.

These efforts began with the fiscal 2010 budget, which Flournoy said represented a "pretty dramatic set of decisions." The Quadrennial Defense Review and fiscal 2011 budget request build on this start, she added.

Not all the decisions have been popular within the Pentagon or on Capitol Hill, Flournoy conceded.

Gates has made it clear he will recommend that the president veto the fiscal 2011 budget if Congress adds costly items such as more C-17 transport aircraft to it. "We have got to be able to make choices about how to invest our next dollar for the nation's defense needs," Flournoy said. "We can't be forced to buy things we don't need any more."

The defense secretary, Flournoy said, is putting together "far-reaching plans" aimed at improving efficiencies and providing the department with the capabilities needed in the 21st century and beyond. Many proposed changes, she said, will require congressional approval.

"We are putting together a dramatic reform package for export control reforms to update the system. We can't do it without Congress," Flournoy said. "We are seeing to overhaul the way we do security assistance. We can't do it without Congress. We need relief on the health-care front, and we absolutely have to have Congress to help us."

Flournoy turned her attention to what many on Capitol Hill have considered a sacred cow – military personnel costs, particularly for health care.

The United States has made great progress, particularly since 2001, in closing the gap between military and civilian pay, she said, but the problem is that as a show of support for the force, Congress has regularly increased pay over levels the administration requested.

"What's happening, cumulatively, is that we are not considering the tradeoffs," Flournoy said. This is particularly troubling in the health-care arena, she said, with the Defense Department extending Tricare coverage to military retirees.

"We are now in a situation where people in the private sector forgo their private-sector benefits because it is better for them to stay in Tricare," Flournoy said. "Employers are saying, 'Take the military benefit and then I will give you another benefit instead,' so the government is carrying a lot of weight for the private sector in health care.

"If there was an infinite pot of money, that would be fine," she continued. "The problem is there is not an infinite pot of money. So those dollars are dollars we can't invest in equipment that our military needs today, and in the capabilities they are going to need to adapt to the future."

The long-term impact will be devastating, she warned.

"When you look at the budget pie over time, the amount of discretionary spending available for investment is getting smaller and smaller and smaller," she said. "If we don't somehow address this trend, you are going to get to a point where you don't have enough investment dollars to equip the force you need."

Flournoy said Gates is totally "committed to the care and support of our military men and women." However, she added, Gates also is concerned for the military's financial future.

"He feels this stewardship part of his job very deeply," Flournoy said. "But he also feels that part of that is worrying about being able to ensure he can equip the force for the future. And we are on a ... bad trajectory there. We have somehow got to rebalance."

Air Force Earns First Gold in Warrior Games

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Vanessa Young
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio

May 13, 2010 - The Air Force Warrior Games team earned two medals, including its first gold, in cycling at the U.S. Air Force Academy today. Senior Master Sgt. Michael Sanders took gold in the 10-kilometer recumbent bike race, smoking the competition with a time of 24:03, six minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.

"After the first half mile or so, we shifted gears and just kept going really hard," he said. "We shifted into the hardest gears we could go and just kept hammering. I kind of pulled away at that point.

"Today I wanted to make a memory, and we made a memory today, and I praise God for all that," he said.

The 20-kilometer upright bike race was tight from the beginning, with the two Air Force cyclists, Staff Sgt. Marc Esposito and former Capt. Adam Tanverdi, leading the pack after the first 10 kilometers.

The team led the race until last kilometer.

"Marc was on my wheel [up the last hill and] as soon as we started to crest the hill, I pulled off and Marc took over," Tanverdi said. "I wanted to pull uphill to put him in a good position for the sprint."

Esposito finished five seconds behind the first-place Marine Corps cyclist, and two seconds behind the second-place Marine cyclist to earn bronze. Tanverdi finished shortly after in fourth place.

"I would've liked to have been first and second, but we raced exactly how we planned it," Tanverdi said.

Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro finished sixth in the recumbent 10-kilometer race with a time of 35:44, and Jeanne Goldy-Sanitate finished the handcycling 10-kilometer race in 42:24.

Army Earns Archery Medals, Has Top Swimming Qualifying Times

By Army Master Sgt. Doug Sample
Army News Service

May 13, 2010 - What a difference a day makes. After a dismal start during opening competition May 11 at the inaugural Warrior Games, Army teams now have something to cheer about after taking home four medals in archery and qualifying with the best time in 12 of 24 preliminary swim categories.

Army archers swept the recurve-bow medal round, with Sgt. Michael Lukow winning gold, Staff Sgt. Curtis Winston taking silver, and Staff Sgt. Jeffery Anderson earning bronze. Staff Sgt. Robert Price earned bronze in the compound-bow event, while Marine Corps Cpl. Beau Parra won the gold.

Lukow, who is from Colorado and has practiced the sport for two years, said his performance could have been better.

"I don't think I shot as good as I could have," he said. "I just came here looking to do my best, and I did." Now, he added, he wants to continue the sport in the Army World Class Athlete Program.

Winston may have been surprised by his performance as well, because he started shooting just a month ago.

"I came here with no expectations at all," he explained. "I really thought I would finish dead last. I started practicing an hour each day, and I started to pick it up more and more."

Price, who makes his own arrows, was determined to bring home one of the top prizes.

"I came here with a mission to bring home a medal, and I'm taking one home," Price said. "Everybody wants the gold, but I'll settle for the bronze. Can't be too greedy about it."

Meanwhile, Army swim coach Holly Roselle couldn't be more proud of her team's results heading into tomorrow's medal events, as Army swimmers turned in many of the best times during preliminary heats.

Sgt. Cayle Foidel and Sgt. Jonathan Moreno placed first and second in the men's 50-meter freestyle competition for swimmers with lower-back injuries, and Foidel again placed first in the 100-meter event. Sgt. Gavin Sibayan, another medal hopeful, had the fastest times in the men's 50- and 100-meter freestyle event for competitors with traumatic brain injuries, and the 50-meter backstroke in that category. For the women, Randi McCartney had the fastest time of 34.36 in the 50-meter freestyle event for swimmers with TBI.

"I'm really proud of my guys," Roselle said. "A lot of them came into this situation doing things they had never done before. I think to have the courage to step up and try something new, especially in a competitive environment, is so admirable. A lot of them overcame injuries and a lot of pain to be able to complete at these events. So this was a really great day, and I'm so proud of them. I think they did great."

In other Army news from the Warrior Games, the service's wheelchair basketball team may have found a new offensive weapon in Spc. Michael Ortiz. Ortiz was a one-man show yesterday with a team-high 15 points to give Army a 41-12 rout over Air Force. It was Army's highest point total of the tournament. He even surprised himself.

"Every time I was rolling down the court and scored, I looked over at my guys and I was like, 'Was that me?'" he said, jokingly. Army also got help from Sgt. Paul Roberts, who added eight points in the win. Staff Sgt. Chris D'Angelo led the Air Force squad with four points.

Army coach Alonzo Lunsford was all smiles to see his basketball team finally find its shooting range after a poor outing against the Marines on May 11, in which Army scored just two points the entire second half.

Lunsford said his Army squad looks like a "whole different team" now.

"We finally put our heads together," he said. "We came up with some new plays, we found out where the kinks are, and now we're going to make it happen on the floor."

The Air Force captured the bronze medal after defeating Navy 13-10 yesterday. The tournament continues today, pitting Army against the Marines for the gold medal, where the "Devil Dogs" are favored to win it all. But if you ask Sgt. 1st Class Jacques Keesler, Army won't just roll over.

"We are going to go in and do what we can," Keesler said, flexing his muscles. "If we face the Marines, then we are going to give them everything we've got."

Joint Task Force Haiti Prepares for 'New Horizon'

By Christen N. McCluney

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

May 13, 2010 - Joint Task Force Haiti is preparing to stand down its disaster-relief mission in Haiti at the beginning of June, nearly six months after a Jan. 12 earthquake devastated the country.

"We will stand down the joint task force on the first of June," Army Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas, the task force's commanding general, said during a "DoD Live" bloggers roundtable yesterday. "That is when I will take the last elements of United States Army South home and send those sister-services personnel back to their home stations."

More than 22,000 U.S. servicemembers were in Haiti at the height of the mission. Of those, about 14,000 were in ships at sea, while 8,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen were on the ground at any given time during the height of operations, Trombitas said.

The mission remains to save lives and alleviate suffering while transitioning into mitigating the ill effects of weather, the general said.

Currently, there are about 850 servicemembers on the ground in Haiti. Once the joint task force stands down, eight people will stay in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince to work with a traditional military liaison office. Their job will be to coordinate humanitarian missions with the U.S. Agency for International Development -- the lead U.S. federal agency in the effort -- and the Haitian government during an already-scheduled theater security cooperation exercise called "New Horizons."

The exercise will bring in about 500 soldiers, mainly from the Louisiana National Guard -- along with soldiers from the Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Puerto Rican and Virgin Island National Guards -- to conduct engineering activities and medical readiness training exercises around Gonaives, which is north of Port-au-Prince. The group will work on engineering projects that include rebuilding three schools and building a fourth. They also will receive training to become culturally aware of the activities in the country while bringing medical help to people in need.

When asked to measure the success of Joint Task Force Haiti so far, Trombitas said he doesn't believe that success can be measured in numbers.

"Our first success was the incredible flexibility of our military," he said. Success is measured, he added, in how the Haitian people see the U.S. effort.

"Our success is measured and will be continued to be measured in those things that we have done here and how the Haitian people remember us," the general said.