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.

Husband, Wife Coach Marine Shooting Team

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Graham Benson
U.S Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment

May 13, 2010 - The Marine Corps teams competing at the inaugural Warrior Games here have a wealth of coaching knowledge available to their athletes. But the Marines on the shooting team have an unusual pair of coaches at their disposal.

Marine Corps Sgt. Mark Windmassenger and his wife, Marine Corps Sgt. Emily Windmassenger, are coaching the Marine shooters in the games. Both coaches are accomplished marksmen on the All-Marine shooting team in Quantico, Va.

"I absolutely love training Marines," said Mark Windmassenger, a 25-year old Quakertown, Pa., native. "Training the wounded warriors is the most rewarding thing I have done since I've been on the shooting team. They are extremely motivated, and are willing to train harder than most."

Emily, 23, agrees with her husband. "The feeling I get from watching these athletes overcome their struggles and disabilities and execute what I'm teaching them gives me more pleasure than improving my own skills," the Loves Park, Ill., native said.

Both coaches have been on active duty since 2005. In 2007, they met and married while they were finance clerks before qualifying for the marksmanship team.

Shooting is one of their passions, and they are ecstatic to be sharing it together.

"It's great that we're getting to do something that we both love so much and are so passionate about," Mark said. "I think the athletes are also getting a good deal out of it, because she and I work so well as coaches together."

Twenty Marine shooters will compete in both air rifle and air pistol events during the Warrior Games. The games feature some-200 wounded servicemembers and veterans competing in a variety of Paralympic-style events while representing their respective services.

Louisiana Guard Supports Shoreline Protection Mission

By Army Pfc. Tarell J. Bilbo
241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

May 13, 2010 - Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard's 1023rd Vertical Engineer Company, 528th Engineer Battalion, continued transporting water diversion system materials from here yesterday in support of the shoreline protection mission near the southwest pass of the Mississippi River delta. The water diversion system replaces sandbags, and it's composed of a series of interlocking flexible tubes that are inflated with water to form a temporary dam or levee.

After transporting the material, the soldiers will pre-position and construct 7.1 miles of the shoreline protection system along the southwest pass.

The 1023rd, with headquarters in Oak Grove, La., began preparing the equipment for transport by placing pallets into cargo nets to be wrapped for helicopter transport.

"Dealing with helicopter missions like this can be very dangerous," said Army 1st Lt. James G. Jones, executive officer for the 1023rd. "Safety is always paramount at a time like this."

This is a unique mission for the 1023rd, and morale is high among the soldiers.

"I'm very pleased with the great job we've been doing," said Army Sgt. Terrence L. Pleasant, heavy equipment operator. "We've been putting forth a great effort with all the missions that we've been tasked with."

Pearl Harbor Shipyard Executes Double Undocking

May 13, 2010 - PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) successfully undocked USS Hawaii (SSN 776) May 5 and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) May 7.

Hawaii has been in Dry Dock 2 since March 31 for regularly scheduled maintenance. Hawaii became the inaugural Virginia-class submarine in the U.S. Pacific fleet to undock at PHNSY & IMF, a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) field activity. Shipyard workers then rapidly transitioned to Dry Dock 4 to undock Paul Hamilton two days later.

"It was a very challenging evolution conducted over three days - undocking Hawaii on Wednesday and returning the dry dock to normal condition in order to undock Paul Hamilton on Friday," said Shipyard Docking Officer Lt. Lorenz Tate. "It was especially challenging to plan the docking in accordance with the first- and second-shift personnel turnover, ensuring a safe maneuver."

Paul Hamilton underwent $20 million of hull preservation, shafting and valve work during the Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability. NAVSEA continuously improves its maintenance and modernization processes to ensure capability is delivered in a cost-effective way.

"The undocking was successful, and the ship is set to finish its availability on schedule on May 21," said Capt. Lynn Hampton, head of the surface ship maintenance department at PHNSY.

Hawaii is undergoing $2.5 million of regularly scheduled maintenance during its Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV) at the shipyard. Submarines are routinely dry-docked every 4-6 years to perform work that cannot be completed pierside. The Hawaii project team went through nearly two years of preparation for Virginia-class docking evolutions. During the undocking, Navy divers carefully inspected the warship as she lifted off the blocks in the dry dock - an extra precaution not normally employed for Los Angeles-class submarines.

"Superintendent Jeff Long and his project team did a superb job in executing the Hawaii CMAV," said PHNSY & IMF VACL Program Manager Cmdr. Leonard Laforteza. "The dry-docking of our first Virginia-class submarine not only validated what we had planned, but also provided us lessons learned that we can apply to future dry-dockings. We are now in a position to redefine some of the areas to improve in that only became evident after executing an actual dry-docking."

According to Laforteza, the Shipyard will perform its first Extended Dry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) of a Virginia-class submarine in summer 2012. Whereas a CMAV is a minor availability lasting two to six weeks, an EDSRA is a DSRA expanded in scope to include maintenance and modernization that cannot be accomplished in a DSRA. EDSRAs are major chief of naval Ooerations availabilities and are approximately 15 months in duration.

"The USS Hawaii docking and undocking have great significance for the Shipyard," said Capt. Greg Thomas, Shipyard commander. "Our future depends, to a large extent, on Virginia-class submarines. By successfully executing these complex evolutions on Hawaii, we are demonstrating our ability to support the Navy's next generation of submarines."

Hawaii, which arrived at Pearl Harbor on July 23, 2009, is the first Virginia-class submarine to be homeported in Pearl Harbor and the first commissioned U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name of the Aloha State. Hawaii represents the very latest in submarine technology and capability. The submarine features an advanced combat control system and sensors and improved surveillance, reconnaissance and special operations forces (SEAL) capabilities. Seventeen of the 30 Pacific-based attack submarines are homeported at Pearl Harbor, and each of these contributes about $17 million a year to the local economy in Hawaii, according to Gov. Linda Lingle.

PHNSY & IMF is strategically located about two weeks of steam time from potential major regional contingencies in East Asia and roughly seven days closer than sites on the West Coast. It is the largest industrial employer in the state of Hawaii with a combined civilian and military workforce of over 4,800. PHNSY & IMF has an operating budget of $687 million, of which more than $426 million is payroll for civilian employees.

Army Releases April Suicide Data

May 13, 2010 - The Army released suicide data today for the month of April. Among active-duty soldiers, there were ten potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and nine remain under investigation. For March, the Army reported 13 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of the report, four have been confirmed as suicides, and nine remain under investigation. During April 2010, among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty, there were five potential suicides. For March, among that same group, there were nine total suicides. Of those, three were confirmed as suicides and seven are pending determination of the manner of death.

The Army is also announcing updated numbers for 2009 to now reflect 163 active duty suicides. This adjustment is based on subsequent review of additional case information by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, resulting in the re-characterization of 2 cases initially deemed to be accidental deaths, now confirmed as suicides, and one case, previously pending determination, now also confirmed as suicide.

"So far for 2010 we are noticing an upward trend in the number of non-active duty suicides. There are some indications that our reservists are being doubly affected with additional stress by the challenging job market, recovering economy and uncertainty" said Col. Chris Philbrick, director, Army Suicide Prevention Task Force.

"The Army continues engagement efforts with a multitude of veteran and military service organizations, other government agencies, concerned citizens, and the total Army family to develop innovative and comprehensive strategies to help both our active and non-active duty soldiers," said Philbrick. "Given the complex nature of suicide, and the different environments our soldiers serve in, and are returning to, we welcome the opportunity to develop relationships and common approaches to this national challenge. Our soldiers are representatives of our nation." he said.

Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact Military OneSource or the Defense Center of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Outreach Center. Trained consultants are available from both organizations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

The Military OneSource toll-free number for those residing in the continental U.S. is 1-800-342-9647; their Web site address is http://www.militaryonesource.com . Overseas personnel should refer to the Military OneSource Web site for dialing instructions for their specific location.

The Army's comprehensive list of Suicide Prevention Program information is located at http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/suicide/default.asp .

Army leaders can access current health promotion guidance in newly revised Army Regulation 600-63 (Health Promotion) at: http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r600_63.pdf and Army Pamphlet 600-24 (Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention) at http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/p600_24.pdf

Marines Dominate in Early Competition at Warrior Games

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

May 12, 2010 - The Marine Corps team is on top after yesterday's first day of competition at the inaugural Warrior Games here, sweeping their opponents and finishing 4-0 in team play. Team Marine ended the day 2-0 in sitting volleyball and 2-0 in wheelchair basketball at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

The Marines' run started on the volleyball court with a victory over Team Army 2 in the opening match. Team Army 2 fought hard, but the Marines took the first two games of the best-of-three series fairly easy.

The second game, against Team Army 3, was a different story. The Marines barely pulled off the win in a 30-28 Game 3 nail-biter. After losing the first game, Team Army 3 took a quick 8-0 lead in the second game. But, the poised Marines patiently clawed their way back to tie the game at 20. The intensity in the bleachers picked up, as bellowing chants of "Let's go, Army!" and "Marine Corps! Marine Corps!" thundered back and forth across the court.

In the end, the pressure was just too much for the Army, and it was the Marine cheering section that rushed the floor to celebrate victory.

"This is great!" Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Marcus Wilson shouted. "This is what we've been training for the last two weeks."

Wilson gave credit to the Army team. The victory was much sweeter against a strong opponent, he said, and Team Army 3 was a tough squad.

"They were tough, and they did a great job with a lot of heart, but this is what we've been training for – this exact situation," Wilson said. "This type of scenario is something our coaches have been working on with us in practice, so we were ready."

The Marines also dominated competition the basketball court. With their high field goal percentage and quick guard play, the Marines showed why they are heavily favored to win the gold medal. The Marines routed the Air Force 68-13 in their first game, and followed up that win by beating Army 45-18 in a game that was a little closer than the score indicates.

The Air Force didn't have an answer for the speed of Retired Marine Corps Cpl. Travis Greene and Cpl. Raymond Hennagir. The two double-leg amputees zipped up and down the floor in tandem, while Air Force defenders could only watch.

The Army, however, made a strong showing again early on in the second game. But their hope of winning slowly began to fade with the loss of smooth-driving point guard Spc. Craig C. Smith to a leg cramp in the second half. The Marines took advantage of Smith's absence, cruising to victory behind a 20-2 run.

After getting through the first day of competition unscathed, the Marines are going into today's second day of competition optimistic about their chance to win the Chairman's Cup, the games' top award that will be presented to the service with the highest medal count.

"The first day of competition, we rock-and-rolled," Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Luis Nino, the senior staff noncommissioned officer for the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, said. "To turn around and see my Marines, my country's Marines, do so well in competition is highly motivating."

An avid sports fan, Nino said watching yesterday's competition was more exciting than sitting in the stands at Yankee Stadium in October, where he watched his New York Yankees come from behind on a late-inning home run from Alex Rodriguez in a playoff game.

"Even that game didn't compare to the last game we played against the Army in volleyball," Nino said. "I've never screamed as loud as I did or got light-headed from cheering the way I did in that game."

Although the athletes have proven to be highly competitive, the Warrior Games are about more than victory and medals. Most importantly, the games are about competitors rising to new challenges and gaining a sense of normalcy and renewed confidence.

So far, the Warrior Games have panned out to be better than the athletes and organizers ever could have imagined, said U.S. Paralympian and Army Gulf War veteran John Register.

"I don't think the first day of competition could've gone any better," said Register, who lost his left leg to a hurdling accident in 1994 while training for the 1996 Summer Olympics. "Even though we're one team, one fight as a country, when you get the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps [and] Coast Guard in here, it's a phenomenal experience to see the camaraderie and esprit de corps take over. We're seeing that right now with our servicemembers.

"When you look around, you see no one harping on disabilities," Register added. "It's all about ability and getting into the spirit of the games."

Official Day 1 results are:

In sitting volleyball:

-- Marines defeated Army 2; 2-0; 25-11, 25-8

-- Air Force defeated Army 1; 2-0; 27-25, 25-16

-- Marines defeated Army 3; 2-0; 25-7, 30-28

-- Army 2 defeated Navy; 2-0; 25-22, 25-13

-- Army 1 defeated Marine 2; forfeit for not enough players

-- Army 4 defeated Marine 2; forfeit for not enough players

In wheelchair basketball:

-- Army 15, Navy 10

-- Marines 68, Air Force 13

-- Marines 45, Army 18

-- Air Force 22, Navy 18

Today, athletes are set to compete in archery, cycling and swimming, as well as the second round of pool play in wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.

The inaugural Warrior Games, which run through May 14, feature about 200 wounded warriors and disabled veterans from all five branches of military service in Paralympic-type competitions. The U.S. Olympic Committee hosts the games in partnership with the Defense Department and the USO.

Patriot Returns from Spring Patrol

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Mine counter-measures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) returned to Sasebo, Japan, May 12, after an almost four-month spring patrol.

Patriot made five theatre security cooperation (TSC) port visits with navies of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Malaysia and Thailand.

"The chance to get to participate in just one TSC visit, working and training with just one foreign country's navy … that's a pretty special feeling," said Command Master Chief Brent Tidwell, "but the opportunity to get to do that five times has been an incredible honor."

Patriot also participated in five community service projects during its deployment.

Mineman 2nd Class Zachary Sund, who has not missed a service project since reporting to Patriot two years ago, participated in all of them.

"The one that hit me the most was Cambodia," said Sund, where Patriot brought backpacks, mosquito nets and soccer balls provided by Project Handclasp to the Village D'Enfants orphanage.

"We didn't have enough things for everybody, so we all pooled our money together and went out and bought a bunch of stuff for the kids. We all kind of came back with a whole bunch of new toys and things, I'm sure they weren't expecting," said Sund.

Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Walter Mainor was pleased with the crew's performance during Patriot's 10-port, eight-country, 10,360 nautical mile odyssey.

"The crew has performed outstanding. There are a lot of repairs that we made that normally would take, maybe days or weeks in port, that we did in hours. They were wonderful ambassadors on shore duty. They performed just superbly. I couldn't ask for a better crew or a better ship," said Mainor.

Electronics Technician 2nd Class Benjamin Rogers was looking forward to returning to Sasebo.

"It was a good cruise. We saw a lot of ports. But, on the other hand, it was a lot of work, and I think this was a very long cruise for a minesweeper. To be on a ship this small for four months straight can take a real toll on somebody. But, right now, looking forward to getting back with the wife, spending some quality time," said Rogers.

The Patriot crew reports to Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, based in Okinawa, Japan.

Task Force Tackles Integration of Women into Sub Crews

By Ian Graham
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

May 12, 2010 - A Navy task force is relying on the service's experience with similar milestones as it works to implement the lifting of a long-standing ban on women serving on submarine crews.

In a "DoD Live" bloggers roundtable yesterday, Navy Rear Adm. Barry L. Bruner, commander of Submarine Group 10 and leader of the integration task force, noted that the first female sailors were assigned to noncombat ships in 1978, and the 1994 repeal of the Combat Exclusion Law allowed women to serve on Navy combat ships.

"As we go back and look at the lessons we learned in both 1978 and 1979, and again in 1994 and 1995, the Navy's got a great history of working our way through an integration like this," he said.

The first batch of officer trainees has been accepted into the submarine training program, and will serve on crews by late 2011 or early 2012, the admiral said. The Navy is considering the cost of modifying submarines to allow enlisted women to serve on their crews, he added, though no timeline is set for integrating enlisted crews yet.

One concern about bringing women onto submarines was that living quarters offered little privacy and weren't considered suitable for mixed-gender habitation, Bruner said.

"We're trying in a very deliberate fashion to ensure that one, we're treating the men and women exactly the same, and two, to be brutally frank, we're very careful that we're doing the right thing both in representing the taxpayers' dollars and America as a whole," he said.

Over the past 40 years, Bruner said, the percentage of men in the Navy going to college and earning technical degrees has dropped from 70 percent to 25 percent, while the number of women earning technical degrees in the Navy has risen.

"Today, women are actually earning more technical degrees than men are," he said. "We really need to open up the talent pool so we can maintain the best options available in our submarine force."

Implementing the policy change will begin by assigning three female officers in eight different crews of guided-missile-attack and ballistic-missile submarines. The assignments involve two submarines on the East Coast and two on the West Coast, each of which is supported by a Blue and Gold crew, Bruner explained. More living space is available aboard these platforms, he noted, so no modifications are necessary, permitting the Navy to move quickly on integrating female officers into submarine crews.

"We may end up with more than three or four women being brought into these crews –the plan right now is to have two ensigns and a supply officer," Bruner said.

The integration of women into the submarine force is an emotional topic for some, the admiral acknowledged, but the Navy is taking the correct measures and is going about the integration in a deliberate fashion.

"As we implement this, we'll learn lessons," he said. "Based on what we learn, then we'll make a decision on what the next step ahead is."

Marine Publishes Book of Poetry

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brian Adam Jones
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

May 12, 2010 - Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Laura Stanislaw looked down at her desert camouflage uniform through big, piercing blue eyes. Her slender fingers and well-manicured fingernails played with the pen on her desk as she considered a question from a visitor who wanted to know what motivates her to get out of bed every morning. "I'm just happy," Stanislaw finally said with a shrug and a smile. The family readiness officer for Marine Aircraft Group 40 described her job as the most rewarding work she has done in the Marine Corps.

Stanislaw's work, and every other piece of her day-to-day life, has inspired her to publish a book of poetry. "One Heart, True Words" is slated to be published by the end of May and will feature 18 poems she has written since 2005.

It all started with the poem "Passion," Stanislaw said. She was dating a man and spontaneously decided to write a poem about the relationship. She then easily transitioned into writing about everything in her life, she explained, good or bad.

"I've been through a lot in my life," she said. "Over the years, I've learned to turn every negative into a positive. I've been sad and unhappy before. That's no place to be. It's unhealthy."

Stanislaw's poetry probes every aspect of her life without preference or prejudice, a feature she described as being important to the therapy the poems provide.

"She is an ambitious and energetic person," said Dawn Rae, the family readiness officer for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. "She seems to get great satisfaction from helping people."

Stanislaw said when she was participating in an advanced course in Quantico, Va., a gunnery sergeant stood up and told a story about a friend of his who was killed by a roadside bomb. As he told his story, Stanislaw said, she could see the shrapnel wounds from the event on the Marine's face. That event was the driving inspiration behind the poem "Sacrifice," one of her favorite poems from her book.

"Life is not as perfect as a bed of roses," Stanislaw said. "There are ups and downs, positives and negatives. In the end, stick it out and turn into the person you want to be."

Rae said she is a big fan of Stanislaw's poetry and finds it absolutely inspiring. "Through her words, feelings and emotions come alive," Rae said.

More Information
Laura Stanislaw

Klakring Delivers Project Handclasp Materials to Shelter

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Michael J. Scott, CTG 40.0 Public Affairs

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (NNS) -- The Center for the Promotion of Human Dignity (CEPRODIH), a shelter for battered women received a special gift May 8 from USS Klakring (FFG 42) and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 Det. 10 Sailors on behalf of Project Handclasp.

U.S. Navy Sailors unloaded pallets of hygiene items and stuffed animals from the ship right into embassy vehicles waiting on the pier. No ceremony or fanfare was made, but the women will benefit from the generosity and kindness of others.

"Project Handclasp donations such as those delivered by USS Klakring provide an opportunity for us to put smiles on the faces of mothers and children," said Cmdr. George Boudreau, Uruguay's U.S. Embassy Navy representative, "in this case a battered women's shelter located in one of Montevideo's poorest neighborhoods."

Project Handclasp accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill material overseas on a space-available basis in U.S. Navy ships. Materials are distributed directly to needy recipients by U.S. service personnel stationed in overseas areas or embarked in U.S. Navy ships that visit these areas. Klakring was in Montevideo as part of the six-month Southern Seas 2010 deployment to the Caribbean and Latin America in support of U.S. Southern Command's (USSOUTHCOM) Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy.

Through the cooperation of numerous donors, Project Handclasp has been able to ship approximately 1.5 million pounds of charitable materials overseas annually for the past several years.

CEPRODIH is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization. Their main mission is to promote initiatives to assist the poorest sectors of society and defend their rights and interests. They provide help for families and victims of domestic violence, as well as caring for abandoned and forsaken elderly.

Since 2000, CEPRODIH has been carrying out an integral program which works with families to: improve all aspects of family life (lodging, nutrition, health, documentation, etc.); provide training in areas like hygiene, gastronomy, information technology, sewing; and assist personnel in obtaining employment through partnerships with various firms and/or the formation of cooperative enterprises/associations.

"The donations were delivered today by the U.S. Embassy. The women and children were very happy, and wanted me to send my thanks to the Klakring crew, and to the American people," said Boudreau.

Klakring, as part of Task Group 40.0, is on a six-month deployment to South America and the Caribbean as part of Southern Seas 2010 (SS10). Southern Seas is an annual USSOUTHCOM-directed operation implemented by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) and executed by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40 as Commander, Task Group 40.0. Southern Seas focuses on conducting a variety of exercises and multinational exchanges to enhance interoperability, increase regional stability, and build and maintain regional relationships with partner nations. SS10 includes the guided-missile frigate, USS Klakring (FFG 42), HSL-42 Det. 10, and DESRON 40 serving as the command element.

SECNAV Visits USS New Mexico

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Kevin S. O'Brien

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus visited Sailors aboard the Navy's newest Virginia-class submarine, USS New Mexico (SSN 779), during his first submarine embark as secretary May 11.

Mabus experienced the ship's movement during angles and dangles, high speed turns, and standing on the bridge in the ship's sail while the submarine was surfaced.

"This has been such an informative day. I am amazed at the level of skill and the level of expertise of our Sailors," Mabus said. "The ability to fully operate a Virginia-class submarine and all of its complex systems is truly remarkable. Our Sailors continually show that they are the best trained and the best skilled force our nation has seen."

Mabus also took part in a submarine warfare qualification pinning known as the Dolphin Ceremony. It recognizes enlisted and officers' completion of a yearlong qualification process that familiarizes them with virtually all of the submarine's systems. Mabus pinned the newly acquired submarine warfare insignia on Lt.j.g. Vincent Bove and Sonar Technician Seaman Kyle Hassler.

"This has been an extraordinary experience for me. The reason I'm here today is to thank you for you service," Mabus said. "Your expertise is so crucial to the Navy's mission. Because of your vital role, you spend more time away from home and your families. I want you to know that I appreciate you and your families' service and sacrifice."

New Mexico is the sixth submarine of the Virginia-class. It has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements to meet the challenges of the 21st century and the Navy's multi-mission requirements.

Personnel Systems have Scheduled Outage for Continued Cleaning

By Wm. Cullen James, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Due to ongoing flood recovery efforts, some Navy Personnel Command (NPC) information technology systems are being taken offline for building cleaning and inspection May 14-17.

The following systems will be unavailable from 7 p.m. May 14 to 6 a.m. May 17, Central time:

• BUPERS Online and associated applications (including, but not limited to: Web Enabled Record Review, Navy-Marine Corps Mobilization Processing System, Physical Readiness Information Management Systems, Corrections Management Information System, Flag Fitness Reports, Overseas Screening, view orders, and e-submissions)

• Electronic Military Personnel Record System

• NMCI connectivity for all Millington NMCI users (Internet, e-mail and shared drive access)

This scheduled outage is being performed to continue the cleanup and restoration efforts of the data server building following the flood that occurred at Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Millington, Tenn., May 1.

"Some of the electrical cabling needed additional cleaning to make it environmentally safe for our watch standers," said Randy Wyatt, NPC Application and Engineering Branch Head. "So we're going offline to perform a thorough cleaning."

According to the NPC IT Services Branch, scheduled outages are part of routine business.