From Iwo Jima to Computer Crime

April 21, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers who have written a variety of works, from a personal account of the Battle of Iwo Jima to a text on investigating computer crime.

Alfred Stone left his home in Marlin (Texas) as a teenager to join the U.S. Marines during World War II. As a member of the Fifth Marine Division, he participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and after served with the occupying forces in Japan. He was called back to duty during the Korean conflict. Alfred Stone’s 38 year law enforcement career included service as a highway patrol officer and other service with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Alfred Stone is the author of The Investigating of Crimes: An introduction and A Marine Remembers Iwo Jima: Dog Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, Fifth Marine Division; and, a co-author of Strategies for Community Policing.

According to a reader of A Marine Remembers Iwo Jima: Dog Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, Fifth Marine Division, “This is an outstanding transcript of one Marines personal account of the many men who fought on IWO JIMA. The author more importantly wishes the reader to draw their on conclusions from these personal accounts. The history of these events is depicted in the most accurate rendition, more importantly the writer wants the reader to understand these events as they unfold from that standpoint.”

Michael Knetzger is a fourteen-year law enforcement veteran and currently a Lieutenant with the Green Bay Police Department (Wisconsin). Michael Knetzger began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer and detective for the Town of Brookfield Police Department. He is a certified State of Wisconsin Technical College Instructor and teaches criminal justice courses at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Colorado Technical University Online and ITT Technical Institute. Michael Knetzger has successfully completed the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists forensic examiner program, Basic Data Recovery & Analysis course, and several other courses and seminars on investigating internet crimes. He is also a certified tactical instructor and teaches defensive and arrest tactics, firearms, and professional communications skills courses to new law enforcement recruits. Michael Knetzger has a BA in Justice and Public Policy and a Masters in Public Administration. He is the co-author of True Crime in Titletown, USA: Cold Cases and Investigating High-Tech Crime.

Jeremy Muraski is an eight-year law enforcement veteran and currently an Advanced Patrol Officer, Webmaster and Field Training Officer with the Green Bay Police Department. He has worked as a Network Administrator for Kimberly Clark Corporation and at various jobs as a Computer Support Engineer and Help Desk Specialist supporting online investors for Fidelity Investments. Jeremy Muraski is certified to teach for The Wisconsin Technical College System and teaches criminal justice courses at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, including Investigating High Tech Crimes, and Juvenile Law.

Jeremy Muraski has completed AccessData's Forensic Toolkit Course, the National White Collar Crime Center's Basic Data Recovery & Analysis (BDRA) course, and several other courses and seminars on investigating Internet crimes. In addition to having developed college level course work in computer crime, he holds a number of computer certifications such as Microsoft Access Database Design and Administration and Website Design and Computer Network Administration. Jeremy Muraski is a co-author of Investigating High-Tech Crime.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 981 police officers (representing 411 police departments) and their 2079 police books in 35 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

MILITARY CONTRACTS April 16, 2008

AIR FORCE

AAI, Corp., of Hunt Valley, Md., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $67,505,160. This action will provide Spares NSN: 4920-01-461-6316EW, USM 670 Joint Service Combat System Tester applicable to A-10 F-15, F-16, FA-18, E-2, E-6, CV- 22 and HH-60 aircraft. At this time $0 has been obligated. Robins AFB, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-08-D-0002).

Raytheon Co., Intelligence and Information Systems of Omaha, Neb., is being awarded a modified cost plus incentive fee contract for $23,096,392. This action provide for Joint Environment Toolkit (JET), Phase 2, Increment 2. At this time $8,596,128 has been obligated. Hanscom AFB, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8720-04-C-0015 P00024).

NAVY

Quality Performance Inc.*, Fredericksburg, Va., is being awarded a $37,500,000 ceiling-priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of up to 77 Moriah Wind Systems (MWS). The MWS is a wind measuring and indicating system for ships and shore stations, providing digital wind speed and direction information, including crosswind and headwind, that supports decision making for air operations, combat, navigation, tactical planning and firefighting. MWS replaces the current Type F Wind Measuring and Indicating System, providing a single wind measuring system, consistent across all ship classes and shore stations. Work will be performed in Poole, Dorset, England, (75 percent) and Fredericksburg, Va., (25 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Dec. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0015).

Rogers-Quinn Construction, Inc., Bonsall, Calif., is being awarded a $14,800,000 firm-fixed-price contract to design and build a communication and electronics repair building at 43 Area, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed by May 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with four proposals solicited and three offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68711-03-D-7057).

Jacobs Technology Inc., is being awarded $6,365,500 for task order #0017 under previously awarded contract (M67854-02-A-9017) to provide technical support to the Marine Corps Systems Command, Information Systems and Infrastructure Product Group, Marine Corps Network and Infrastructure services (PM MCNIS) program office to provide sustainment support and additional transition support to include assisting in monitoring the cutover progress and attending daily meetings. Throughout the contract period the contractor will be required to coordinate schedules, assist with data collection for assets, user requirements management; application inventory; and related actions necessary to effect transition activities and seat cutover, technical refresh schedules and activities and life-cycle sustainment in the NMCI environment (e. g. SRM data collection, asset reconciliation and tracking). The scope of this task will be structured to reflect support for Major Commands across the Marine Corps sites. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va., and work is expected to be completed in Apr. 2009. Contract funds will expire by the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Integrys Energy Services, Chicago, Ill., is being awarded a maximum $23,948,888.34 firm fixed price, service funded contract to provide electricity. Other locations of performance are in Ill. Using services are Army, Air Force and Federal Civilian Agencies. There were originally 152 proposals solicited with 8 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is May 31, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-8016).

ARMY

Scott Alliance, Inc., A Joint Venture, Chicago, Ill., was awarded on Apr. 16, 2008, a $12,138,000 firm-fixed price contract to design and build a security forces operations facility. Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 62 bids were solicited on Dec. 3, 2007, and five bids were received. Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0013).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Meadows, Ill. was awarded on April 16, 2008, a $6,085,549 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to further develop, fabricate, demonstrate and leverage a two-color uncooled, mid-wave, Lead Selenide Passive Infrared Cueling System. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Ill., and is expected to be completed on April 18, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on July 20, 2007, and two bids were received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J. is the contracting activity (W15P7T-08-C-P001).

Creech, Miller and Katz

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

April 16, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added two law enforcement officers from Texas and one from Florida.

Paul Creech began his 40 year law enforcement career with the Texas Highway Patrol which became part of the Texas Department of Public Safety. After ten years as a Highway Patrol Officer, Paul Creech began to fly aircraft for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Paul Creech is the author of Eagle with a Badge.

According to the book description of Eagle with a Badge, it “is the true story of pilot Paul Creech, who flew state police helicopters and other aircraft for thirty years, preceded by ten years as a highway patrolman. It was a life of extreme danger, with times of stark terror, interspersed with the routine that all police officers know. By day, by night, in weather ranging from floods and tornadoes to snowstorms, Paul rescued people, and helped ground officers apprehend bank robbers, murderers, and escaping convicts.”

After graduation from high school, Rick Miller served three years as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. He served almost twelve years as an officer, detective, and supervisor with the Dallas Police Department, after which he was the chief of police for the Killeen Police Department (Texas) and the Denton Police Department (Texas). After receiving his juris doctorate from Baylor University in 1983, Rick Miller entered the private practice of law in Killeen. Rick Miller is the author of Sam Bass & Gang, Bloody Bill Longley: A Biography, The Train Robbing Bunch and Bounty Hunter.

According to the book description of Sam Bass & Gang, “the legendary Sam Bass refused to give up his companions to the trailing lawmen. In 1878, the chase ended with the famous gunfight on the streets of Round Rock, Texas.”

Marty Katz is a retired sergeant from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Marty Katz is the author of Past the Uniform. According to the book description, “Ever wonder what it is like to be on the other side of a 9-1-1 call? Come along for the ride. View the world through the windshield of a patrol unit and behind the yellow tape of crime scenes.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 978 police officers (representing 409 police departments) and their 2074 criminal justice books in 35 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Squint, Gilbreath and Sweatt

Editor's Note: Two of the authors are former servicemembers.


April 16, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three Texas law enforcement officials.

Dale Squint entered the US Army in 1956 and served a three year enlistment which included duty Japan and Korea. In 1960, he began his law enforcement career with the El Paso Police Department. Dale Squint worked uniform patrol for approximately four years and then was promoted to detective. In 1967, he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety and served in the Highway Patrol until 1970. Dale Squint joined the Border Patrol in 1970, serving out the remained of his law enforcement career. Dale Squint is the author of My Border Patrol Diary: Laredo, Texas.

After serving in the United States military, West Gilbreath joined the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department in Las Cruces, New Mexico. On February 1, 2001, West Gilbreath retired as the Lieutenant of the Criminal Investigations Division to start a second career. He and his family relocated to Denton, Texas where he is a criminal investigator for the University of North Texas Police Department. West Gilbreath is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and received a Heritage Award for preserving the history of the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department through the creation of the Historical Museum of Lawmen. West Gilbreath is the author of Death on the Gallows: The Story of Legal Hangings in New Mexico, 1847-1923.

John Sweatt is a technical associate with ATA Associates, Inc. A retired, twenty-two-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, he worked extensively in the hit and run accident detail and accident investigation division. He received his BS in 1978 from the University of Houston and has continued to develop expertise in advanced accident reconstruction, radial tire belt separations, restraint systems examinations, truck brake failure analysis, vehicle damage analysis, ground base aerial crush photography, airbag technology and development, and tractor-trailer rollovers and underride accidents.

John Sweatt’s areas of specialized expertise include: accident investigations, accident reconstruction, and commercial vehicle investigations and reconstruction. He is a licensed private investigator in the state of Texas and is HAZWOPER certified. John B. Sweatt is the co-author of Handbook of Charts and Tables for Vehicle Dynamic Analysis.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 975 police officers (representing 409 police departments) and their 2068 criminal justice books in 35 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Morale, Resale Programs Reach Out to Reserve-Component Families

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

April 17, 2008 - Military Resale and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs are working to support members of the military community regardless of their proximity to installations, a defense official told the House Armed Services Committee today. "Our Resale and MWR programs are more effectively reaching out to our active-duty, Guard and reserve families, our retirees, the digital generation of our members, and our military spouses who work," said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy.

Part of that MWR outreach will benefit what Arsht described as "far-flung military members and families."

Access to books and other educational materials will be available through the Military OneSource Web site and the services' library portals. In addition, Internet speed, reliability and access have been enhanced, she said. These moves make it easier for deployed servicemembers who communicate with family and friends via Internet applications like YouTube and Facebook.

Extending opportunities for families of deployed Guard and reserve members to access facilities that promote physical health and well-being also is a goal of the Military Community and Family Policy's MWR program.

"To expand the MWR benefit for families of deployed Guard and reserve members, we will buy ... family memberships to fitness and recreation centers in local communities," Arsht said.

Another benefit expansion came as a direct request from the president in his State of the Union address, she said. He asked that Congress support more child care and educational opportunities for military families.

"With the help of enabling legislation, we plan to increase the availability of affordable child care by further accelerating on-base construction programs and by creating more partnerships for child care in communities outside the gate," Arsht said. "We are also expanding spouse career and education opportunities."

The deputy undersecretary went on to say that commissary and exchange leaders have renewed their commitment to work together to better serve their customers. Past joint sales events have attracted families from surrounding communities, including retirees, to retail complexes on military installations.

The Defense Commissary Agency initiated these prototype events at Guard and reserve locations last year. The plan is, with exchange cooperation, to increase the number of events held this year.

Arsht thanked Congress, MWR and Resale employees and industry partners for their willingness to work together to sustain these essential programs.

"We will need your continued support as we adapt our programs to better serve the deployed Guard and reserve communities and implement the president's initiatives for military families," she concluded.

New Report on Vets' Mental Health 'Very Consistent' with Military Findings

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

April 17, 2008 - A study released today shows that nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, findings that military health officials called "very consistent" with their own. During a media roundtable at the Pentagon this morning, officials said the report by the RAND Corporation, titled "The Invisible Wounds of War," helps clarify mental health hurdles the Defense Department is seeking to overcome.

"We're on a journey, and we've come a long way, ... but we've got a long way to go," said Army Col. Loree Sutton, chief of the newly created Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. "That's why we're so thankful to teams like the RAND team that have stepped up and helped us better understand our challenges."

Sutton called it "heartening" that the RAND report's conclusions are "very consistent" with previous studies by the Army's Mental Health Advisory Team and other results published in a private medical journal. "We appreciate their efforts to inform our efforts," she added.

One of the study's findings is that just more than half of servicemembers reporting symptoms actually seek care for post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. For those who do seek help, only about half receive treatment that researchers consider "minimally adequate," the report states.

"Clearly, that's a finding that concerns us," Sutton said.

"It's very consistent with the civilian literature, as well as with our own assessment of the challenges in this area," she said. She cited "closing the gap" between knowledge and practice as a top priority. "We will redouble our efforts," she said.

Sutton said the military health community has used $500 million appropriated in 2007 to fund more than 25 major new programs supported by more than 125 initiatives, many of which "get to the heart of that concern." She added, "We want to provide evidence-based care, the very highest quality care."

One reason many troops avoid psychological treatment, the RAND report says, is because they fear it will harm their careers.

"In general, respondents were concerned that treatment would not be kept confidential and would constrain future job assignments and military careers advancement," the report said.

Sutton said the military health community is attempting to transform military culture with regard to its approach to psychological care. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has bolstered these efforts, she said, by seeking to remove a question about health care history that appears on security clearance questionnaires.

"That's in the process of being revised right now," she said. "We think that that's going to be a big step forward to help our servicemembers understand that seeking care, in fact, is a sign of strength."

Joining Sutton at the roundtable was Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Jaffee, director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. Jaffee said the "big cultural challenge" also occurs in the combat theater, especially in servicemembers' attitude about seeking treatment for possible battlefield concussions.

"Our culture is so towards performance that we think we can shake it off; if we toughen up, we can get by it," he said. "It's very similar to the professional athlete who may not want to be taken out of the game.

"So it really speaks to that big cultural challenge," he said, "which is one of the main challenges in front of us."

While the healthcare community has a long road ahead, it took a step in the right direction over the past year by hiring nearly 8,000 additional mental health professionals and other staffers, Sutton said.

The colonel also highlighted the Center of Excellence, a state-of-the-art hub for psychological health and traumatic brain injury treatment that opened its doors in November. One of her main duties there, she said, is to assess the efficacy of the more than 150 new programs and initiatives, increasing funding for those that are most efficient and scrapping those that flounder.

Underscoring a sense of urgency in her mission, Sutton stressed the need for "less talk and a lot more action" in regard to mental health clinical care, education, training, research funding, and outreach. She said spreading the importance of military mental health care is an issue of national importance.

"It's a national educational campaign," she said. "Not just for those of us in the military and the veterans community, but for our entire country."

National Guard Troops Vigilant in Kosovo's Transition to Nationhood

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 17, 2008 - Thronged sidewalks and cafes, jammed roads and packed store shelves suggest progress in this former war zone where National Guard troops play a key role in an international effort to keep the world's newest country on the path of peace. The governors of Iowa and Minnesota, whose National Guard troops are deployed here, toured this Delaware-sized new nation April 11-13, joined by Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and other senior military officials.

"You see notable improvement," Blum said after a foot patrol through the eastern city of Gnjilane. "It is slow, but it's steady progress. We saw economic vitality I had not seen on previous visits. We see people walking around, feeling safe. We see multiethnic mingling, children playing, business going on, traffic jams.

"Nobody likes a traffic jam, but it's a sign of development. People have more money," Blum. "They can afford to operate motor vehicles. They're feeling pretty good about themselves and their future."

Through the 1990s, Kosovo was wracked by Serbian repression of the Albanian majority and by an insurgency bent on independence. NATO intervention in 1999 ended the violence. U.S. troops, including the National Guard, have been part of a NATO and United Nations Police force on the ground ever since. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17.

"The National Guard's contribution has been a critical part of NATO's Kosovo Force, maintaining the peace between the Albanians and the Serbians, and it's pretty clear that peace would not exist but for the presence of American troops," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, chairman of the National Governors Association. "If Kosovo's destabilized, it destabilizes an entire region, and that really begins to impact what our future obligations and dangers are going to be for the United States in this volatile part of Europe and our interests abroad elsewhere."

Pawlenty and Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, federal liaison for the 28-member Democratic Governors Association, thanked the Kansas National Guard's 35th Infantry Division deployed in Kosovo, which includes sizable numbers of troops from their states.

Blum called the United States' military role as leader of KFOR's Task Force East in Kosovo, "a very sophisticated, nuanced mission at a time that's probably as critical in Kosovo as any time in their history. It's exciting to see the National Guard responsible for the American contribution to guarantee a safe and secure environment for a nation that has just literally been born."

Led by Army Brig. Gen. John Davoren, the 35th Infantry Division's missions include extensive presence patrols, military liaison with civilian authorities, and contingency support for the KFOR commander, French Lt. Gen. Xavier Bout de Marnhac. Guardmembers also distribute clothing and educational supplies and help rebuild schools. De Marnhac credited the National Guard troops from TF East for their timely and crucial reinforcement of TF North troops confronting a serious outbreak of violence in northern Mitrovica following independence.

"We're uniquely suited for this," Blum said. "We come in with civilian-acquired expertise that is highly useful and effective in a stabilizing mission like this and, at times, actually is more important than the military skills themselves. Of course, you have to underpin civilian-acquired capabilities with solid military skills and the ability to apply force if necessary."

The governors met with military commanders and toured TF East's area of responsibility for eastern Kosovo, which shares borders with Serbia and Macedonia. At town hall meetings with Guardmembers, they heard about issues they said they would address with state legislators.

"My main sentiment as I talk to the troops is gratitude and respect," Pawlenty said. "I realize what they go through to do what they're doing, in terms of the burden that it imposes on their families and them. I am overcome with a sense of gratitude that we have men and women like that who continue to raise their hand and lay it all on the line for our country. I have a deep, deep sense of respect and awe for them."

"I couldn't be more impressed," Culver said. "They are doing a magnificent job. They've got a very impressive record of accomplishment ... whether it's the border security missions, the humanitarian efforts, the diplomacy, and communication with local officials and civilians."

Pawlenty previously visited National Guard troops in Kosovo in 2004. "The situation on the ground has improved somewhat," he said. "It's important that there be a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo because, if there isn't, you'll have large numbers of people killing each other. KFOR, bolstered by our Minnesota troops and other American National Guard forces, is playing a pivotal and key role."

For Culver, elected in 2006, it was his first visit with his state's troops deployed overseas. "I came away even more committed than ever before to make sure we address their needs not only here on the ground in Kosovo but ... when they return to the states," he said.

Culver has called out the Guard in the aftermath of severe storms. "I saw them step up to the plate back in Iowa when we really needed them in terms of public safety and homeland security, and now to see them here in Kosovo makes me very appreciative of the great work that they're doing at home and abroad," he said.

"These dual roles at home and abroad are a huge benefit to Iowans," Culver said. The skills they learn over here, the additional courses that they're taking, the promotions that take place because of the opportunities that a mission like this presents -- as a result of that, we're going to have a better prepared force back at home."

Pawlenty said the 13,000-strong Minnesota National Guard is deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and 11 other countries.

"We're very proud of these men and women," Pawlenty said. "They're serving in important roles to advance America's strategic interests across the globe. They do it at great cost and expense to them and their families. They're courageous people. They're people of great patriotism and strength with impressive dedication. They deserve our thanks."

Among officials visiting National Guard troops in Kosovo were the adjutants general of Iowa and Minnesota, Air Force Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis and Army Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, and Army Maj. Gen. Frank Grass, U.S. European Command director of mobilization and reserve-component affairs.

Noncommissioned officers were among those briefing the senior leaders, a contrast with briefings by officers from foreign armed forces.

"That's unique to the United States Army and particularly a strong suit of the National Guard," Blum observed. "Our NCOs are extremely gifted and talented professionals with deep and wide civilian experience, and you will see noncommissioned officers performing roles and functions ... that you would not see in any other army in the world."

The Missouri National Guard's 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is scheduled to assume command from 35th Infantry Division later this year.

(Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill is assigned to the National Guard Bureau.)

Face of Defense: Iraqi-Born Marine Becomes American Citizen in Country of Birth

By Marine Cpl. Scott McAdam
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 17, 2008 - Marine Lance Cpl. Evan Eskharia, a basic water systems technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), received his United States citizenship during a naturalization ceremony at Al Faw Palace here April 12. Receiving his U.S. citizenship in the war-torn country of his birth represents the culmination of his family's determination and will to flee an oppressive regime and seek the freedoms and opportunities only offered in America.

"This is in my top three proudest days of my life," said Eskharia, who lived in El Cajon, Calif., prior to joining the Marine Corps. "It's up there with the birth of my son and receiving my eagle, globe and anchor," he said referring to the Marine Corps symbol.

The naturalization ceremony was the largest outside the United States, with 259 servicemembers from 71 different countries receiving their citizenship.

"It's that feeling in your heart, that now you're a U.S. citizen; it feels really good," Eskharia added.

When Eskharia was 9 years old, he and his family fled Iraq to Turkey due to Saddam Hussein's oppressive regime. At the time, when an Iraqi boy turned 16, he would be drafted into the Iraqi military. Having five male children, Eskharia's mother and father decided they would rather leave the country than see their children become part of Saddam's tyranny.

"It was very difficult for my parents to leave everything behind," Eskharia explained. "My parents wanted us to have a better life and better opportunities, so we left."

Once the Eskharia family reached Turkey, the Turkish government placed them in a refugee camp in Istanbul for more than three years.

Eskharia remembers his time in the refugee camp as difficult -- his family treated horribly, with clean water scarce, very little liberty to go outside, and living with nine to 10 people in rooms built for three.

In 1993, the Eskharias applied for and received a green card from the United States. The family moved to California and started a new life as so many immigrants have done before them.

Even though the time in Turkey was hard for the Eskharia family, it made coming to the United States and enjoying the freedom afforded to Americans well worth it.

To repay the country who took him and his family in, Eskharia made a decision few American citizens and even fewer immigrants make -- to join the United States Marine Corps.

"He's (Eskharia) put in a lot of hard work to get into the Marine Corps and to get his naturalization," said Eskharia's brother-in-law, Sgt. Wendall F. Anderson, a special intelligence systems administrator in 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). "He feels that since America took him and his family in, he owes America a debt of gratitude and that's why he joined the Marine Corps."

While in the Marine Corps, Eskharia used his newfound brotherhood as a support system while applying for citizenship.

"It is a great feeling knowing you have the backup and support of the Marine Corps," Eskharia said. "They are always there for help."

Through deploying with the Marine Corps, Eskharia found himself back in the country of his birth.

"It feels good knowing that I can contribute to Iraq," Eskharia said. "I do speak Arabic, not fluently, but I can still understand what people say, and if Iraqis have a question, I can help them out and try to explain what is going on."

Though a lot has changed in the last 15 years, being in Iraq has brought back some childhood memories.

Currently stationed at Taqaddum, Eskharia remembers Lake Habbaniyah, where he, his father and two brothers used to fish and swim.

"We drove by Lake Habbaniyah the other day, and I was like, 'Huh, I remember this lake,'" Eskharia said. "I remember the hills around there, but there is a lot of barbed wire and fences now that weren't there before. It's a lot different now."

Conquering one of his life goals, Eskharia stays focused on his future. Speaking Aramaic, and with his knowledge of Arabic, Eskharia would like to go to military linguist school in Monterey, Calif., to hone his Arabic language skills and become a linguist for the Marine Corps.

"I feel he makes a great Marine; he's a good person, a good father, a good husband and a good brother," said Anderson, a Buffalo, Mo., native. "I think this is well-deserved."

"In my heart, this is what I've always wanted to do," Eskharia explained. "I've wanted to be a U.S. citizen ever since we came to the states from Baghdad. It's very important to me because it's an accomplishment and an achievement in my life."

(Marine Cpl. Scott McAdam is assigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.)

America Supports You: ESGR Freedom Award Nominations Nearly Double

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

April 17, 2008 - When the nomination period closed on Jan. 21, the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve had received a record 2,199 nominations for its 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, a 97 percent increase over the previous year's 1,119 nominations. That can be attributed, at least in part, to the relationships the organization has fostered with reserve components as well as media outlets, said Air Force Lt. Col. Michelle Barrett, ESGR's public affairs officer.

"We had a lot of the reserve-component leadership kind of pushing it down to the troops, and then we have a pretty good network within each service's public affairs office," she said. "They kind of helped push it out and advertise, so that helped, as well."

ESGR also worked with a Washington public relations firm to get the word out by sending information about the award through its channels in the business world.

"The fact that we have so many nominations, the word is getting out that, number one, there are great employers out there, but number two, that there are servicemembers who are benefitting from the great support that they get from the employers," Barrett said. "It's great to read all the nominations, not just the final 15.

"So we're also looking to reach out to those other employers who were nominated because clearly somebody thinks that what they're doing is benefitting them enough and helping them do their job overseas and helping their family back home," she added.

The Freedom Award was established in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The award allows for the recognition of 15 employers who go above and beyond in their support of activated reserve-component members. Nominated employers are considered for the award in three categories: large business, small business and public sector.

Past recipients have included General Motors; Starbucks; Home Depot; the family owned Augustine & Sons farm, in Rose Hill, Iowa; and Turbocam International. Public-sector employers garnering recognition include the State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A variety of support to their military employees and their families earned these employers the prestigious award. That support included everything from providing the employees full salary, continuing benefits, sending care packages, and even providing home and lawn care while troops were away.

The 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards will be presented during a Sept. 18 ceremony in Washington.

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency established in 1972, is a supporter of another Defense Department program, America Supports You. America Supports You connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

Two Rangers and a Marine

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

April 15, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added two Texas Rangers and one police officer who is a former Marine.

W. J. L. Sullivan was a sergeant with the Texas Rangers from 1889 to 1901. He is the author of Twelve Years in the Saddle with the Texas Rangers.

Captain Daniel Roberts joined the Texas Rangers in 1874 and served periodically until 1882. Captain Daniel Roberts’ autobiography, Rangers and Sovereignty, was published in 1914.

David Cortez is a former United States Marine who served one year with the Third Reconnaissance Battalion in Okinawa, Japan. David Cortez is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and holds a BA in business administration. He is a twenty-four year veteran of the Fort Worth Police Department, where he currently serves as a sergeant in the Patrol Division. Among his many assignments in police work are the Patrol Division, Vice, Intelligence, Narcotics, Burglary, Detective, Gang Unit, Federal Drug Task Force, (known as Weed-n-Seed) and the Training Division. David Cortez is the author of A Personal Guide for Cabin and Cockpit Self Defense.

According to the book description of A Personal Guide for Cabin and Cockpit Self Defense, “This book outlines a variety of self defense related issues. First it recognizes terrorism profound impact on the flight industry and the American way of life. Secondly, it draws informal parallels between the current flight industry and our system of policing while defining some terrorist methods of operations. Moreover, the book addresses a need for a change in attitude and purpose as it relates to flight personnel. Varied issues involving fear, emotional control, legality, personal attitudes, edged weapons defenses, and personal weapons, are delineated in this book.. What’s more, realistic self-defense measures are clarified for Cabin and Cockpit Defense. This book is a classic "HOW TO" on Self-Defense and a must read for airline personnel, police and the military.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 972 police officers (representing 408 police departments) and their 2065 criminal justice books in 35 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Face of Defense: Soldier 'Pays It Forward' to Help Others

By Army Sgt. Brandon Little
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 16, 2008 - Throughout his life, Army Staff Sgt. Steven Atlas has tried to live by one philosophy: "Pay it forward." The basic principle of this creed is simple; if someone helps you, then in return, you should try to help someone else. The title of this philosophy may have come from a movie, but his actions and the people they affect are real.

Atlas grew up in a single-parent home, and at an early age he was forced to become an adult faster than many of his friends.

"My mom and dad separated when I was really young, so my mom had to raise me and my three sisters without any help," said Atlas, a computer systems maintainer in Company C, 412th Aviation Support Battalion. "Being brought up in a predominantly female household meant that I had to play the role of big brother, and sometimes dad, to my sisters. This was something that a lot of my friends didn't have to experience and helped me to mature at an early age."

Being forced into this role wasn't the biggest obstacle he would face as a young man; he also was forced to watch as two of his sisters lost their battles with cancer.

"My older sister passed away when I was in junior high, and my younger sister passed away when I was going into my freshman year of high school," the Chicago native said. "Having to help take care of my sisters while they were dealing with the chemotherapy and being hospitalized so much forced me to look at things in a more adult perspective. I was never that kid who was just able to sit back and play video games or just go outside and play whenever I wanted."

Taking care of his sisters, he said, was something that motivated him to do better in life instead of getting sucked into the trouble found throughout his neighborhood.

"Growing up on the south side of Chicago, I learned that if you weren't careful you could easily find yourself in a bad situation," Atlas said. "I think I owed it to my mom, if not myself, to be the first one of her children to graduate from high school and go on to do something positive, because she saw so much bad stuff throughout her life."

After graduating from high school, he chose to put his goal of joining the military on hold to help support his family while his mother went back to school to get a degree. He got a job working in a restaurant owned by his uncle to help support his mother and youngest sister.

"Once she completed her degree, I went to her and said, 'This is my time. I want to join the Army, and I feel this is my time to do it,'" Atlas recalled. "She didn't want me joining at that time, because it was [during the peak] of Desert Shield/Desert Storm; I told her that there was never a 'good time' to join, because the Army's job is to fight wars, and if you're not fighting, you're training to fight."

His mother earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and worked as a counselor, helping unwed teenage mothers in Chicago for many years -- paying it forward.

When Atlas joined the Army, he first joined as a laboratory technician, but later became a signal soldier.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to join the military; I just didn't know which branch to join," he said. "Talking with Army recruiters helped me make that choice."

Throughout his 16 years in the military, he has tried to continue to live by his "pay it forward" principle. He said he tries to provide soldiers with knowledge not only from his career, but also from his religion.

"I've had some ups and downs being of Islam faith, especially during 9/11, because many people tried to categorize all Muslims with the ones who carried out those attacks," said Atlas, who is now married with three children. "I think I've been able to change those beliefs in many of the people I have come across by giving Islamic cultural awareness classes and letting them know what we do and what we believe, as opposed to what they have seen on TV."

The command sergeant major of Task Force 12 here saw the opportunity presented by Atlas' willingness to explain his faith.

"After I found out about his religious background, I asked him to give a class to the soldiers, and he was really excited about doing it," said Army Command Sgt. Maj. H. Lee Kennedy, who is also one of Atlas' mentors.

The soldiers who attended that class got more information about Islamic cultures and now are able tell their friends the difference between a regular person of Islamic faith and an Islamic extremist -- paying it forward.

"He's a very eager and understanding young man, and it's a pleasure to guide him," Kennedy said. "Leadership in units may come and go, and won't affect the unit too much; but when soldiers like Atlas leave units, everyone loses out."

In addition to Kennedy, Atlas also considers his roommate, Army Sgt. Archie Martin, to be a mentor and close friend.

"[Atlas] is an outstanding noncommissioned officer who is very knowledgeable and caring," said Martin, also a computer systems maintainer in Company C and a native of Montgomery, Ala. "He has really helped me learn more about my job and how to be a better soldier."

Martin, also trained as an AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter maintainer, uses his spare time to help soldiers who work long hours fixing Apaches to pay it forward.

With more than 40 years of experience in life, Atlas also tries to spread some of his knowledge and lessons learned in life to anyone in need of guidance.

"If I do something good for one or two people, it will let them see that there are still people out there doing good things, and in turn, maybe they'll do good things," he said.

(Army Sgt. Brandon Little serves with Multinational Division Baghdad in the Task Force 12 Public Affairs Office.)

America Supports You: Actor Honored for Exceptional Public Service

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

April 16, 2008 - A jack of many trades and master of the deadpan delivery, Ben Stein yesterday added one more title to a list that already includes actor, economist, educator and writer: that of exceptional public servant. For his contributions to the men and women of the armed forces, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England presented Stein with the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Exceptional Public Service Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

The award also was presented to Bonnie Carroll, chairman and founder of TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. TAPS is a national organization for all those who have lost a loved one serving in the military.

"We don't have too many opportunities in the building to really recognize great Americans who are hugely supportive of this building and our military," England said. "You both have been absolute yeomen in supporting the [military], and this is our day to say, 'Thank you for your great work on behalf of our military members and their families.'"

Stein, perhaps best known for his role as the monotone economics teacher in the hit movie, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," has written books and screenplays, studied law and shed light on injustices in American society. He's also no stranger to Washington and politics, having served as a speechwriter for presidents Nixon and Ford, though he makes it clear in his biography that he did not write the line, "I am not a crook."

He's also a fervent supporter of the military, and despite his iconic status, his comments often belie the humility he feels for individuals who wear the uniform and their families.

"My work is incredibly trivial and unimportant compared with their work," Stein said. "My whole 63 years, [what I've done is] not as important as what a man or a woman going out on patrol in Basra or Ar Ramadi or An Nasiriyah does in five minutes, maybe five seconds."

One of his latest public acts of gratitude to the military is the book "The Real Stars." It's an answer to a question Stein, who has a home in Malibu, Calif., hears frequently regarding living among the real stars. His verbal answer to askers is that he doesn't live among the real stars, but highly paid entertainers.

Stein admitted receiving the award was an honor, but he continued to deflect the gratitude back at the servicemembers and their families.

"[What I do for the military,] it's nothing compared to what the military does for me," he said. "People whine and moan about their taxes. People whine and moan about jury duty -- I must say I try my best to get out of it -- but the people who give their lives and the families left behind,what could we possibly do to recognize them adequately?

"There's nothing we can do to recognize them adequately," Stein said, answering his own question. "There is no adequate way that we can thank [the military], and we are just at your feet and in deep, deep, deep gratitude."

While nothing may serve as an adequate thank you to the servicemembers who make the ultimate sacrifice, Stein, who serves as a TAPS honorary board member, said the organization works hard to take care of the families left behind. The group's founder, Carroll, agrees.

"Families who have lost a loved one serving in the armed forces have made a tremendous sacrifice," she said. "Through TAPS, we've come together to help each other heal, to remember the life and the love that we've lost.

"Our loved ones died, but they [also] lived, and they made an incredible contribution," Carroll added. "They served with pride, and we are proud of them today."

She knows that all too well. Her husband, Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, was killed in 1992 when his military plane crashed. Seven other soldiers lost their lives in that crash.

The ceremony at the Pentagon concluded just hours before Carroll and her TAPS organization honored Stein at the inaugural TAPS Honor Guard Gala in Washington. On behalf of TAPS, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen presented the TAPS Honor Guard Award to Stein for his support of the organization and its families.

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

Army Vet, Hockey Player Puts Iraq War Injuries 'On Ice'

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

April 16, 2008 - Retired Army reservist Joseph L. Bowser was 9 years old when he first experienced the thrill of skating and using his hockey stick to whack a rubber puck across the ice on a frozen pond in his birthplace of Toledo, Ohio. Today, the 48-year-old Iraq veteran still plays ice hockey, despite the loss of the lower portion of his right leg four years ago during a rocket attack on Camp Anaconda, in Balad, Iraq.

Bowser, then a truck driver with 283rd Transportation Company based in Fairfield, Conn., recalled that the enemy attack occurred on April 12, 2004, soon after he returned to Camp Anaconda after delivering a 5,000-gallon load of jet fuel.

Bowser credits Connecticut Army National Guard Maj. Michael McMahon, a physician assistant, for saving his life. McMahon, he said, used his fingers to slow the bleeding from a gashed artery on Bowser's injured right leg.

"He reached up on my leg to clamp off my artery so I wouldn't 'bleed out,'" Bowser recalled.

McMahon, now 45, recalled during a recent phone interview from his home in Hamden, Conn., that his military training kicked in when he saw the stricken Bowser bleeding profusely.

"You just react," McMahon said. "We took care of him and got him stabilized. There was a combat surgical hospital in Balad.

"Once we got the bleeding controlled, ... I thought he was going to make it," McMahon recalled. Bowser and McMahon keep in touch; they met up in February when Bowser was in Connecticut to play a hockey game.

Wearing body armor probably also saved his life, Bowser said, noting his armored vest was riddled with shrapnel damage. The then-staff sergeant also suffered shrapnel injuries to his left hand.

Bowser said he arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here about a week after being wounded. The doctors thought he would have more mobility with a prosthetic leg, he recalled, rather than by keeping his mangled limb.

"The first thing that I thought of was that I wanted to play hockey again," Bowser said. "So, I said I wanted to have it amputated."

Bowser spent more than two years of inpatient and outpatient recovery at Walter Reed, and he was medically retired from the Army as a sergeant first class in July 2006. He rates the medical care he received at Walter Reed as "awesome."

"You couldn't ask for a better place," Bowser said of Walter Reed.

Bowser now works at the Pentagon as an administrator for Army Secretary Pete Geren. In his spare time he plays pickup hockey games at Maryland rinks near his present-day home near Baltimore. He also occasionally travels to play in hockey tournaments.

Bowser plays right wing, one of the three forwards on an ice hockey team. The center and left winger make up the other two-thirds of the forward line, and their job is to harass the opposing team and score goals. Two defensive players are positioned rearward to protect the goalie.

Bowser said his artificial leg can be adjusted to accommodate his skating style, and that having a prosthetic limb actually has its advantages during a rough-and-tumble game of hockey.

"You don't have to worry about getting a puck slapped on your foot," Bowser said, noting he enjoys ice hockey's speed of play and physical aspects.

Bowser completed as a member of the U.S. National Amputee Hockey Team during the 2008 Standing Amputee Hockey World Championships that were held April 2-6 in Marlborough, Mass. Team USA won the silver medal at that four-team tournament, beating out teams from Latvia and Finland. Canada won the gold medal, and Finland took the bronze.

Before he got his job in the secretary of the Army's office, Bowser had volunteered to work with injured military veterans as part of an initiative administered through Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England's office.

Bowser met with a number of Washington Capitals professional ice hockey team players and coaches when they paid an April 6 visit to the Pentagon last year. Later, he got to skate with some Capitals players during a team practice.

The Capitals hockey club has sponsored several Military Appreciation Nights at the Verizon Center here for servicemembers and their families, Bowser noted.

"I've gone there several times with wounded warrior guys from Walter Reed," Bowser said. "They've just opened their doors to us. They totally support us."

Bowser, who got married April 12, said God gave him a second chance at life after being severely wounded in Iraq. Grateful for each day of existence, he strives to help his fellow wounded warriors.

MILITARY CONTRACTS April 16, 2008

ARMY

AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on Apr. 15, 2008, a $127,595,750 firm-fixed price contract for the full rate production buy for 14 SHADOW unmanned aerial vehicle systems and associated support equipment. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., and is expected to be completed on Mar. 15, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 16, 2007. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command is the contracting agency (W58RGZ-08-C-0023).

Thales-Raytheon Systems Co., LLC, Fullerton, Calif., was awarded on Apr. 15, 2008, a $61,597,819 firm-fixed price contract for the purchase of 11 each of reliability, maintainability, and improvement modification kits and production ramp-up. Work will be performed in Fullerton, Calif., and is expected to be completed on Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Feb. 29, 2008. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J. is the contracting activity (W15P7T-06-D-T001).

General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Apr. 14, 2008, a $44,773,920 firm-fixed price contract for 2,832 loaders' armor gun shields II to support the Abrams Tank Urban Survivability Kits. Work will be performed primarily in Lima, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Oct. 5, 2007. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-G-0006).

General Atomics Aeronautical System, San Diego, Calif., was awarded on Apr. 14, 2008, a $38,465,000 cost-plus incentive fee contract for the acquisition of eight extended range multi-purpose quick reaction capability unmanned aircraft vehicles and assorted support equipment. Work will be performed primarily in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be complete on May 15, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Mar. 17, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-05-C-0069).

BioEngineering/ARCADIS LLC, Metairie, La., was awarded on Apr. 15, 2008, a $20,251,574 firm-fixed price contract for inner harbor navigation canal hurricane protection project professional support for design and construction management. Work will be performed in St. Bernard Parish, La., and work is expected to be completed on Dec. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Feb. 27, 2008, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-07-D-0021).

L3 Communication Titan Corp., Reston, Va. was awarded on Apr. 15, 2008, a $12,511,901 firm-fixed price contract for the exercise of option three for continued contractor support to the Joint Staff systems integration services firm fixed price effort. Work will be performed at the Pentagon, and is expected to be completed on Apr 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Oct. 12, 2005. Contracting Center of Excellence, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity (W74V8H-05-D-0004).

General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Apr. 14, 2008, a firm-fixed price contract for 2,832 loaders' armor gun shields II to support the Abrams Tank Urban Survivability Kits. Work will be performed primarily in Lima, Ohio, and is expected to be completed on Feb. 28, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Oct. 5, 2007. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-G-0006).

Benham Constructors, Oklahoma, Okla., was awarded on Apr. 14, 2008, an $11,744,344 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of an aircraft component repair facility. Work will be performed at Robbins Air Force Base, Ga., and work is expected to be completed on Oct. 6, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 120 bids were solicited on Sep. 10, 2007, and four bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0018).

NAVY

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded $69,335,504 for fixed-price delivery order #0048 under a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-04-D-5016) for the purchase of 284 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement vehicles (254 cargo, 20 dump and 10 wrecker variants). Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., and work is expected to be completed by Nov. 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $33,765,946 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-4403) to exercise an option for the USS Wasp (LHD-1) FY08 drydocking phased maintenance availability. There are 80 plus work items that are repair/replace/preserve/install/clean in nature. The following ship alterations will be accomplished: LHD1-6 SCD 3263 – fuel oil compensation stability improvement modifications (requires drydock), LHD1-0248K – install additional A/C plant, LHD1-0270K – install nitrogen generator, LHD1-0274K – accomplish MV-22 service and shop modifications, LHD1-0283K – accomplish MV-22 topside modifications, and S/A 71265K – low light flight deck surveillance system. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Va., and work is expected to be completed by Nov. 2008. Contract funds in the amount of $33,765,946 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.

Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $20,385,443 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for specialized network infrastructure support for the legacy force-wide tactical information and combat support systems for the Program Executive Office for command and control, communications, computer and intelligence (PEO C4I, PMW 160.1). Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured since it was determined that SAIC is the only firm with the requisite engineering experience to provide sustainment support to five legacy afloat network programs during a 24-month transition to the new network security architecture. A sole-source justification and approval was signed in accordance with FAR Subpart 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), for Only One Responsible Source. The sole source synopsis was published on the Federal Business Opportunities web site and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) e-Commerce web site on Oct. 9, 2007. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0003).

Phoenix Air Group, Cartersville, Ga., is being awarded a $10,313,147 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for range clearing support for missile testing performed by the Theatre Missile Defense systems and fleet training exercises. This testing includes sub-surface, surface, and air testing with a number of multi-service projects for the research, development, test and evaluation community at Pacific Missile range Facility, Hawaii as well as other DOD ranges. Work will be performed in Kekaha, Hawaii (90 percent) and Point Mugu, Calif., (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Apr. 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured through an electronic request for proposals and two offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-08-D-0011).

American Society for Engineering Education, Washington, D.C., is being awarded a $10,101,544, cost reimbursement, service contract to provide postdoctoral engineers and scientists, also know as fellows, of unusual promise and ability with opportunities for research on problem, largely of their own choice the area compatible with the interests of the Navy and other Department of Defense agencies, such as the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Centers (SPAWAR); Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC); Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA); and Naval Surface Warfare Centers (NSWC). Work will be performed in Indian Head, Md., and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2013. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity (N00174-08-C-0025)

International Military and Government LLC (IMG), Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded $261,373,172 for firm-fixed-priced contract modification under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for engineering change proposals to upgrade Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) low rate initial production vehicles. The government will procure several engineering changes which will provide additional armor protection to increase the survivability of the MRAP Category I (CAT I) vehicles. The order also includes ambulance kits for the vehicles. Work will be performed in WestPoint, Miss., and work is expected to be completed Nov. 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Sea Box, Inc.*, East Riverton, N.J., is being awarded an $8,314,746 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for shop equipment, general purpose Common 10 and Common 12 to store general mechanics toolboxes and various items under a wide variety of conditions. These units shall consist of a Quadcon with adjustable shelving and a device to retain items in their intended locations. The contract contains options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $28,311,438. Work will be performed in New Riverton, N. J., and work is expected to be complete in Apr. 2009 (Apr. 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is awarded as a result of a full and open competitive unrestrictive solicitation. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-08-D-3000).

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Microelectronics Advanced Research Corp., Durham, N.C., is being awarded a $7,500,000 modification to a previously awarded other transaction agreement for phase four of the Focus Center Research Program. Work will be performed in Durham, N.C., (nine percent), Pittsburgh, Pa., (18 percent), Atlanta, Ga., (20 percent), Cambridge, Mass., (17 percent), Berkeley, Calif., (21 percent), and Los Angeles, Calif., (15 percent), and is expected to be completed Nov. 2008. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This is a sole source award. The contracting activity is the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Va., (HR0011-07-3-0002, P00003).

AIR FORCE

Honeywell International Incorp., of Clearwater, Fla., is being awarded a modified contract for $7,327,481. This action will provide research and development under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) VS-07-03, call 00007), entitled "Advanced Inertial Measurement Unit" for the Advanced Ballistic Missile Technologies Program. At this time $225,558 has been obligated. Kirtland AFB, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA9453-08-C-0612, Option 1).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

International Resources, Inc., Glendale Springs, N.C.*, is being awarded a maximum $6,545,200 firm fixed price contract for delivery of bituminous coal. Other locations of performance are in West Virgina. Using services are federal civilian agencies. There were originally 160 proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is May 31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-0651).

Military Indebted to Surviving Families, Chairman Says

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

April 16, 2008 - The sacrifice of military families who have lost loved ones in service to their country is integral to the strength of the military itself, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a speech here last night. "Of those who serve, yours have paid the ultimate sacrifice," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said in his address to many military families gathered for the inaugural TAPS Honor Guard Gala here. "Your support of those who've served has been such an integral part of that service, of that sacrifice."

TAPS, or the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, is a national organization in which families who have lost a loved one in military service can come together to help each other heal. It was founded by Bonnie Carroll after the 1992 death of her husband, Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll.

Though the military can never repay its debt to these families, its leadership has an obligation to reach out to these survivors, Mullen said.

"While we have progressed greatly in making sure that we take care of these families, there are still things we need to do," he said. "We need to remain committed to ensure that we never lose touch with these families.

"[And] the best way for this to work is for us to support you, and that you support each other," Mullen added, referring to TAPS.

The evidence of TAPS' work was scattered throughout the room. Many of the families in attendance have lost a mother, father, son, daughter, sister or brother in the global war on terrorism.

The organization's success also was evident in a former Army sergeant first class who said just four months ago he had difficulty speaking without tearing up. His fiancée, Army Capt. Maria Inez Ortiz, 40, was the first Army nurse to die in combat since Vietnam. She was killed by mortar fire in Baghdad's International Zone in July, just four months before she was to return home.

"The TAPS organization is a platform where all [military] family members that have lost a loved one can come and share their grief," said Juan Casiano. "[It allows] us to come together where we can accept, understand, learn and then start living again."

Casiano said his experience has provided him with an extended family that truly understands what it means to lose a loved one in military service.

That extended family includes Beth and Michael Belle, whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kirven, was killed by sniper fire in Afghanistan on May 8, 2005, Mother's Day. He was six months shy of completing his tour.

"I can't imagine not being a part of this. The people that we've met through TAPS ... are truly connected to us in a way that no one else is," Beth said.

Still, she said, it took her a couple of weeks before she could look through the material the casualty assistance officer had left with the family. "When I did and I saw what TAPS was about, I made the phone call," she said. A TAPS representative answered phone, and the two talked for more than an hour.

"She listened to me and she made me just feel like I wasn't alone," Beth said. "TAPS is an amazing organization. It's been a lifesaver for us."

TAPS offers many different programs, including peer support, grief support and other resources. Children can take advantage of "Good Grief Camps," where they have a chance to meet others their age dealing with similar issues.

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