Friday, September 25, 2020

Defense Security Cooperation University Hits One-Year Milestone With Great Success

Sept. 25, 2020 | BY C. Todd Lopez , DOD News

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency opened the Defense Security Cooperation University in September 2019 as part of an effort to professionalize the SC workforce and to serve as the Department of Defense's Center of Excellence for the SC community.

A year later, the DSCU is well on its way to meeting the goals it set when it first opened its doors, DSCU President Cara Abercrombie, the school's first and current president, said.

She said despite the obstacles placed in their way by the COVID-19 pandemic, their workforce and university should be proud of what they have achieved together after just a year.

Security cooperation involves all the DOD interactions, programs and activities done with foreign security forces and their institutions. This includes exercises, armaments cooperation, information sharing, collaboration, foreign military sales, ministry advising and humanitarian assistance. Across the Defense Department, about 20,000 personnel are involved in facilitating these activities.

Two military personnel sit on the ground near each other.
A dozen military personnel stand in a clearing for discussion.

The DSCU, which has campuses in Arlington, Virginia, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was set up to, among other things, provide that workforce with the training they need to excel in their careers, accountability for maintaining standards of ethics and integrity in the work they do, a common body of knowledge based on research and experience, and avenues for continuous intellectual and professional development.

Early on, Abercrombie said, goals were set for workforce development. For instance, each of the 20,000 employees in the SC workforce is responsible for attaining at least a basic-level certification in one of five SC areas of concentration.

Areas of concentration include SC Case Lifecycle Management; Execution Support Management; Planning, Oversite and Execution Management; SC Office Operations and Management; and Acquisition Management.[WJJCDNS(1] Certification levels include basic, intermediate, advanced.  

In January, the DSCA set a deadline for employees to complete certification. Abercrombie said 2020 was a "transition year," for meeting that goal, but by January 2021, participation in that certification effort becomes mandatory.

Military personnel in different uniforms shake hands with one another.
Two military personnel each carry a person over their shoulders.

To date, 26 new basic- and intermediate-level courses have been developed by DSCU to provide members of the SC community with the knowledge needed for their professional development.

Already, more than 25,000 discrete courses have been completed by SC members, over 13,000 personnel are in progress toward certification, over 2,000 personnel have completed their basic-level certification, and over 500 are certified at the highest level required for their position.

For SC community members, certification at the most basic level was always going to be virtual, Abercrombie said. But for certification at other levels, and for many other courses the school has available, school leaders expected that students would attend courses in residence at one of its two campuses.

Social distancing requirements changed those expectations.

"The COVID-19 pandemic required us to adapt to a new reality that has demanded extreme flexibility," Abercrombie said. "The SC workforce has risen to this challenge and excelled."

Two men stand in front of a dry-erase board. One writes on the board with a marker.
A man in a military uniform checks under the hood of a military vehicle.

As a result of COVID-19, the school rapidly adjusted expectations and training efforts to accommodate the pandemic and keep SC community members learning. For instance, 20 of the courses the school teaches were rapidly transitioned to virtual experiences as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, the school converted all DSCU executive education courses to be completely online so that SC community members across the globe could attend schooling.

At the one-year mark for DSCU, Abercrombie said the school has accomplished a lot — especially in light of the unexpected burden of COVID-19. But the education of SC community members, she said, must continue unabated.

"Though we have accomplished much, there is still much to do. DSCU's first year has been highlighted by standing up the university, initiating the transition year of the SC Workforce Development Program and adjusting to a completely virtual environment," Abercrombie said. "Now we need to focus on the strategic and more difficult goals of advancing SC as a profession and further strengthening our curriculum and knowledge base while continuing to support those within our SC workforce as they move towards mandatory certification next January."

Testing Site

 

Members of the Michigan Air National Guard work at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site in Sturgis, Mich., Sept. 22, 2020. The Michigan National Guard has partnered with a variety of state agencies to provide free coronavirus tests to Michigan residents.

Coronavirus Testing

 

A Michigan Air National Guardsman administers a COVID-19 test at a drive-thru testing site in Sturgis, Mich., Sept. 22, 2020. The Michigan National Guard has partnered with a variety of state agencies to provide free coronavirus tests to Michigan residents.

General Officer Announcement

 Sept. 25, 2020


Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper announced today that the president has made the following nomination:

Air Force Col. Sean K. Tyler for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.  Tyler is currently serving as the deputy director, Resource Integration, deputy chief of staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.

Aerial Fire

A Marine fires a machine gun out the back of an aircraft.

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicholas Luber fires a machine gun during a training flight over Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., Sept. 4, 2020.

Broaching Drills

 

Army National Guardsmen practice broaching drills on an inflatable boat in Cullaby Lake near Warrenton, Ore., Aug. 16, 2020.

Night Watch

 

A Marine stands watch during a simulated embassy reinforcement exercise in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 13, 2020.

Seahawk Transport

 

A Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter prepares to transport stores from the USNS John Ericsson to the USS Germantown during a replenishment in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 24, 2020.

Shipyard Spritz

 

A dock worker cleans the anchor chain of the USS Mount Whitney as the command and control ship undergoes a regularly scheduled overhaul at the San Giorgio Del Porto shipyard in Genoa, Italy, Sept. 24, 2020.

Puppy Love

 

Coast Guard Adm. Karl Schultz, the commandant of the Coast Guard, pets Bingo, a German shorthaired pointer, in San Diego, Sept. 10, 2020.

Amphibious Ops

 

An air-cushioned landing craft attached to the USS Germantown conducts amphibious operations off Blue Beach in Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 19, 2020.

Reaper Mission

 

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft flies above the smoky San Gabriel Mountains of southern California on its way to a fire mission in the northern part of the state, Aug., 2020

Valiant Shield

 

From left: the USNS Charles Drew, the USS Comstock, the USS Shiloh, the USS New Orleans, the USS Chicago, the USS America, the USS Ronald Reagan, the USNS John Ericsson, the USS Antietam, the USS Germantown and the USNS Sacagawea sail in formation with Navy and Air Force aircraft during Valiant Shield in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 25, 2020. The exercise is designed to focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces.

Generator Work

 

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Sylandy Wright performs maintenance on a generator aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Sept. 22, 2020.

Navy to Commission Guided Missile Destroyer Delbert D. Black

 Sept. 25, 2020


The U.S. Navy will commission the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the commissioning is a private event, rather than the traditional public commissioning ceremony.

The ceremony’s principal speaker is Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russel L. Smith.

“Commissioning a ship after the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy is an honor without equal. The Navy has always been and will always be indelibly influenced by the leadership of our senior enlisted sailors epitomized by Delbert Black,” said Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite. “They are the ones who teach both our junior enlisted as well as our junior officers what it means to lead. They lay the keel by which the Navy operates and as such this ship named for one of the most influential master chiefs ever to wear three stars will be a visible reminder of their importance to our Navy. As MCPON, Master Chief Black fought for increased sea-pay, family support programs, expanded uniform guidance and a host of other issues that improved the quality of life of not only junior enlisted, but all sailors and officers. By making life better for sailors, he made our Navy stronger for us all. This ship will undoubtedly continue on his great legacy of service above self.”

USS Delbert D. Black is named for the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the highest possible enlisted rank and the enlisted representative to the Chief of Naval Operations. Established by the Navy in 1967, Black oversaw the establishment of the senior enlisted advisor position, which eventually became known as Command Master Chief. Black was the first Navy enlisted man to receive the Distinguished Service Medal. Upon retirement from active duty, Black continued his involvement with the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. He still serves as an enduring example for the Chief’s Mess, with his service, character and performance demonstrating the highest ideals of a Navy chief petty officer in the world’s finest Navy.

Mrs. Ima Black, MCPON Delbert D. Black’s widow and a former sailor, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. Mrs. Black served during World War II in the Navy WAVES - Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. During the time-honored ceremony, Mrs. Black will give the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life.”

Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Delbert D. Black is the 68th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer to be delivered to the Navy and the first to bear his name. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security.

Following commissioning, USS Delbert D. Black will be homeported in Mayport, Florida, with sister ships USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117).

The event will be livestreamed to offer maximum viewing by the general public at https://allhands.navy.mil/Live-Stream.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. Additional information about guided missile destroyers is available online at http://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169871/destroyers-ddg/.

For more news from Naval Surface Forces, visit www.dvidshub.net/unit/COMNAVSURFPAC and www.public.navy.mil/surfor/.

Additional information about MCPON Delbert D. Black can be found online at: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/master-chief-petty-officers/black-bio.html and https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/people/master-chief-petty-officers/black-bio/black.html.

Leg Lift

 

Marines participate in a physical training session during an advanced infantry Marine preparatory course in Bardufoss, Norway, Sept. 18, 2020.

Prototype Patrol

An airman walks beside a four-legged robot on a tarmac.

 

Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Rodiguez patrols with a Ghost Robotics Vision 60 prototype during the Advanced Battle Management System exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 3, 2020.

Army North's New Senior Enlisted Advisor Reflects on COVID-19 Response

 Sept. 25, 2020 | BY Lori Bultman, Air Force

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Phil K. Barretto, the new senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Army North, arrived at Joint Base San Antonio in July from South Korea, where he served as the 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Division command sergeant major.

The new addition to the Strength of the Nation team looks forward to supporting homeland defense and civil authorities, while also securing initiatives to defend America.

Army Lt. Gen Laura J. Richardson gives Army Command Sgt. Maj. Phil K. Barretto a command flag.

Upon his arrival, Barretto hit the ground running, visiting San Antonio medical centers where Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force members are providing support during the local COVID-19 surge.

"My first impression was the amazing medical teams I encountered on the ground," he said. "Right off the bat, I could see that they are caring professionals who work tirelessly every day to save lives throughout our communities."

As U.S. Northern Command's designated lead component to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the support that U.S. Army North provides both locally and across the country is intended to relieve the pressure on the country's overwhelmed civilian medical facilities.

"We work hand-in-hand to support our lead federal agencies in all responses, [including] COVID-19," Barretto said. "Coming from Korea, it's been an eye-opening experience to see firsthand how federal agencies respond to national-level crises."

Barretto is thankful to the joint-service men and women assigned to U.S. Army North who have answered the call during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am both proud and thankful for their efforts," he said. "Every single day, these men and women are putting on gear and facing one of the greatest challenges our nation has seen in a long time."

Soldiers talking to health care providers.

Part of U.S. Army North's mission is to remain continuously prepared to support those in need during homeland disasters or emergencies.

"As the Joint Force Land Component Command to U.S. Northern Command, we have to be ready at any time," Barretto said. "This response has sharpened our knife. As a learning organization, we are always looking for ways to improve based on lessons we learn from each response."

The command sergeant major looks forward to continuing his support of the dedicated soldiers of U.S. Army North during his tenure.

"This is a very challenging organization. I have never seen anything like this in my military career," Barretto said. "But I am so proud to lead an organization that works tirelessly to serve our nation and defend the homeland."

Barretto, an Aiea, Hawaii, native, served previously as the commandant of the Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Fort Drum, New York, and as command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. 

(Lori Bultman is assigned to the 502nd Air Base Wing)

Southcom Donates Field Hospital to Jamaica in Support of COVID-19 Response

 Sept. 25, 2020

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft transported a large mobile field hospital from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to Kingston, Jamaica, to be donated to health care providers and used to support the Caribbean nation's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sept. 19, 2020.

The donation, made on behalf of the American people, cost $753,000 and was purchased as part of U.S. Southern Command's ongoing assistance to nations responding to the global pandemic in the Caribbean, Central America and South America and funded by the command's humanitarian assistance program, or HAP.

Ramp service technicians wearing face masks off-load a mobile field hospital.
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The Southcom-funded hospital can house up to 70 patient beds and will support health and public-safety professionals caring for patients, saving lives and mitigating suffering. The modular hospital is equipped to operate autonomously and includes a HEPA and ultraviolet-light air-scrubber system, two diesel generators and eight air conditioning units. Medical teams using the hospital can configure it to isolate patients and conduct surgery, if needed.

The field hospital was set up Sept. 21-23 and delivered ready for the Jamaican government to staff, equip and operate. A team of civilian trainers instructed Jamaican medical and support teams chosen to run the mobile hospital on its assembly, set up, use, disassembly, transportation and storage.

Ambassador Donald Tapia, U.S. ambassador to Jamaica, accompanied by Navy Adm. Craig Faller, commander of Southcom, officially handed over the field hospital Sept. 24, at a ceremony at the National Chest Hospital in Kingston. Dr. Horace Chang, Jamaica's deputy prime minister and minister of national security, and Dr. Christopher Tufton, Jamaica's minister of health and wellness, were also in attendance.

In addition to the field hospital, Southcom has also funded the donation of hand-held thermometers and patient beds, at a cost of approximately $86,000. Overall, the U.S. government has provided Jamaica with $2 million in foreign assistance funding to support the country's ongoing COVID-19 response, and efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases.

Components of a field hospital are packed on a plane.

The command has also delivered mobile field hospitals to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

In total, Southcom will donate 24 field hospitals to 11 countries.

Southcom's support to COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts began in late March, as the first signs of COVID-19 infections emerged and nations requested assistance from the U.S. government.

The first phase of Southcom's assistance focused on supporting the countries' immediate response to the pandemic by providing much-needed resources, procured locally, to first responders and health care providers on the front lines. During that initial phase, more than 80 HAP projects donated personal protective equipment, consisting of N-95 masks, gloves, face shields, protective coveralls and disposable aprons. Medical supplies, medical equipment and COVID-19 testing supplies were also donated during the initial phase.

The field hospitals are among the donations funded in the second phase of Southcom's assistance to the region, which is focused on supporting the region's long-term preparedness and prevention efforts.

To date, the command has funded more than 320 HAP projects, purchasing more than $17 million in supplies, equipment and other vital resources to support the COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts in 28 nations. In total, the U.S. government has provided more than $135 million in COVID-19 response assistance to the region.

HAP helps partner nations build their disaster readiness, response and mitigation capabilities. The program funds infrastructure, equipment and training to help nations prepare before disasters and crises strike, but also supports countries who request assistance from the U.S. government when they experience health- and weather-related emergencies.

Airmen and Jamaican airport workers offload a mobile field hospital.

COVID-19 assistance projects are funded under HAP to support requests from partner nations for supplies and equipment needed to respond to the virus outbreak, treat infected patients and prevent additional exposures. The U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development review the projects and concur with their proposed assistance before they are approved. All COVID-19 assistance items donated under the program were purchased from host-nation or regional suppliers with no impact on the Defense Department's force health protection supply chain.

To date, the countries that have been assisted under HAP include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay.

(U.S. Southern Command Courtesy Story).