Seven WWII Airmen buried at Arlington National Cemetery

by Michael Tolzmann
Defense Media Activity

7/16/2010 - ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. (AFNS) -- The remains of seven Airmen missing in action from World War II were buried July 15 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The Airmen are Capt. Joseph M. Olbinski, Chicago; 1st Lt. Joseph J. Auld, Floral Park, N.Y.; 1st Lt. Robert M. Anderson, Millen, Ga.; Tech. Sgt. Clarence E. Frantz, Tyrone, Pa.; Pfc. Richard M. Dawson, Haynesville, Va.; Pvt. Robert L. Crane, Sacramento, Calif.; and Pvt. Fred G. Fagan, Piedmont, Ala.; all U.S. Army Air Forces.

According to information provided by the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, the Airmen were aboard a C-47A Skytrain that departed Dinjan, India, May 23, 1944, on an airdrop mission to resupply Allied forces near Myitkyina, Burma. When the crew failed to return, air and ground searches found no evidence of the aircraft along the intended flight path.

Fifty-eight years later, a missionary provided U.S. officials a data plate from a C-47 crash site, located approximately 31 miles northwest of Myitkyina. And in 2003, a Burmese citizen turned over human remains and identification tags for three of the crewmembers.

A Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command team excavated the crash site in 2003 and 2004, recovering remains and equipment. Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA, which matched some of the crewmembers' families, as well as dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

Two caskets were used. Lieutenant Auld's remains were individually identified and buried separately in a gravesite adjacent to a group burial site for all of the others. Another casket contained remains that were positively identified to be Anderson along with co-mingled group remains that could not be individually identified. A marker with the names of all crewmembers will be placed at the gravesite.

Family members from six of the seven Airmen were present for internment that took place in Section 60, an active burial section of Arlington National Cemetery. The section is approximately two-thirds full, with burials taking place there almost daily. Veterans from many different eras, including World War II, Korea and Vietnam, are buried in this section, alongside the servicemembers killed in the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

ACC hosts MWD training seminar at Langley

by Airman 1st Class Jason J. Brown
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

7/16/2010 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) -- Military working dogs and their handlers from across Air Combat Command assembled here June 28 through July 2 for the first military working dog training seminar.

The handlers and dogs attended the five day course, hosted by the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, to receive intensive education and training, including dog psychology and behavior, decoy training, and ways to improve working dog performance.

The seminar provided the upgrade training for security forces MWD teams to be successful at home and while deployed, said Staff Sgt. Gary Cheney, a 633rd SFS MWD handler.

"These dogs are safeguards on the front lines, at the gates finding bombs and drugs, supporting our sister services outside the wire," he said. "This training ensures that dogs and handlers can perform in the real world."

Master Sgt. Antonio Rodriguez, the 902nd Security Forces Squadron law enforcement operations superintendent from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and Chris Jakubin, a U.S. Air Force Academy kennel master, administered the course, which began with a classroom session before handlers and dogs began hands-on decoy and prey training.

The instructors designed the program to enhance the dogs' abilities and educate handlers who, in turn, return to their respective units and share the training with other handlers.

Training activities included catching and "reading dogs," avoiding being bitten and interpreting a dog's behaviors and mannerisms.

Much of the training focused around gauging a dog's willingness to engage a suspect, known as a dog's "drive," Sergeant Cheney said.

"Learning the dog's psychology and doing decoy training allows me and the dog to do better patrol work," he said.

In addition to testing the dogs' behavior during decoy training, handlers donned tactical bite suits for dogs to apply their training as realistically as possible.

"Getting bit by your dog allows you to understand what the suspect is going through, just like when we use tasers and pepper spray on one another in training," Sergeant Cheney said. "The tactical bite suit made it more realistic. The dog recognizes the suspect is in pain and knows what to do."

In addition to hands-on training, handlers took advantage of the wealth of knowledge the kennel masters and more experienced handlers brought to the seminar.

"It was humbling to be around veteran kennel handlers," said Senior Airman Jonathan Bourgeois, a 633rd SFS military working dog handler. "I asked a lot of questions, trying to pull as much information as possible, because it's so rare to be around that much experience."

Guard members respond to brush fires in California

by Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
National Guard Bureau

7/16/2010 - ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems 2 aircraft from the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Island ANG Station, Calif., responded to a fire July 15 in Riverside County, Calif.

Guard officials said the unit was requested by the U.S. Forest Service through the National Interagency Fire Center after lightning caused a brush fire near Temecula.

The two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft flew one sortie for almost two hours and dropped 3,000 gallons of fire retardant on what the Riverside County Fire Department dubbed the "Skinner fire."

More than a dozen fires broke out in the county, as powerful thunderstorms rolled across the region, National Weather Service officials said.

The fire had burned about 711 acres and was about 15 percent contained by late July 15, according to local news reports. Full containment was estimated for July 16.

Assistance by the military is normally requested when national civilian resources are committed to fires and more resources are needed, guard officials said. The 146th AW was called to respond to this fire, because it needs 13 drops on actual fires for certification on the new MAFFS 2 system.

The unit was the first to transition to the MAFFS 2 system in 2008, and it remains the only unit flying the new system on the C-130J Super Hercules.

MAFFS 2 systems incorporate new design features and technology that provide a number of advantages over the legacy MAFFS systems, including improvements in fire retardant coverage level, improved safety features, reduction of corrosion of the aircraft and an on-board compressor.

MAFFS is a portable fire retardant delivery system that is rolled into the back of the C-130J Super Hercules cargo compartment. The system is capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant or water on wildfires. They can discharge their entire load in under five seconds.

Along with the 146th AW, there are three other MAFFS units, including the Wyoming ANG's 153rd AW, the North Carolina ANG's 145th AW, and the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd AW, based in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Since 1974, National Guard and Air Force Reserve pilots have flown 6,500 firefighting missions, dropping 167 million pounds of fire retardant around the western U.S., officials said.

AF Personnel Center news service keeps Airmen informed

by Staff Sgt. Steve Grever
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

7/16/2010 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- An electronic news service featuring the latest Air Force manpower, personnel and services information is available to help Airmen make informed decisions about their careers.

More than 15,000 members subscribe to the Manpower, Personnel and Services News Service. However, Air Force leaders encourage all Airmen to subscribe in order to ensure they keep aware of key program updates, initiatives and other news from the Air Force Personnel Center, the Air Force Manpower Agency and the Air Force Services Agency.

"One of the best ways to stay current on Air Force personnel, manpower and services programs is through this news service," said Paige Hughes, the AFPC, AFMA and AFSVA chief of public affairs. "It allows subscribers to receive timely e-mails with the latest news releases and articles related to a variety of Air Force-level programs that affect many aspects of Airmen's lives."

For the past six months, the news service has been used to distribute vital information on force management updates, civilian employment and career development opportunities, Air Force-level awards and the new fitness program.

Army Spouse Shares Deployment Tips

By Lee McMahon
Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

July 15, 2010 - Sheet protectors, a frank discussion ahead of time and an 8x10 photo taped to the car seat -- these are a few of the tips Army spouse and mother Rebekah Sanderlin has come up with to help cope with family separations after more than a half-dozen deployments.

First: the sheet protectors.

"It is absolutely essential that the spouse at home has all the important documents in one, easy to find, place," the 28-year-old mother of two said during an interview with the Defense Media Activity.

Sanderlin points to sheet protectors and a three-ring binder as her go-to resource for birth certificates, Social Security cards, shot records, DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System) enrollment forms, physical forms, her marriage license, and photo copies of passports, driver's licenses and military ID cards.

Another tip she recommends: start early.

"Several months before the deployment" Sanderlin said, "the servicemember-spouse should begin transitioning chores over to the at-home spouse. She [or he] will be the one doing everything and it's best that all the kinks get worked out ahead of time."

It does not hurt to try and be a mind-reader either, she noted.

"Try to foresee possible problems," Sanderlin said. "I think it would be helpful for soldiers to pass a list around where they could give the names and numbers of plumbers, electricians, and handy men that they have had good experiences with. When it's the middle of winter and the wife comes home late at night to find burst pipes, she's not going to have time to check the references on a plumber."

While no military family wants to talk about it, Sanderlin recommends not putting off the uncomfortable discussions. Like those around planning a spouse's final wishes.

"Do not write that you want Guns N' Roses played at your funeral unless you really, truly, do. I've seen exactly that happen and it is not pleasant," she said.

"My advice is for the military couple to do this packet together; that way the spouse already knows all the wishes. My husband and I managed to lighten the mood on this a bit by discussing my wishes at the same time. That made the conversation a little less awkward. We also discussed what we would want to happen to our children in the event of both of our deaths," she said.

When it comes to children, Sanderlin said, it is all about advance planning.

"If you have kids, try to think about the deployment from their perspective," she said. "What events will the deployed parent miss? Can you celebrate those or make accommodations before hand? We have had years where my son has had two birthdays – one way in advance, so that his dad could be there."

Sanderlin gave birth to both her son and her daughter shortly before two separate deployments. That doesn't mean her husband returned home as a stranger, though.

"Another thing I did with both of my children when they were infants was to enlarge a picture of my husband to 8 x10 size, basically a headshot, and put it in a sheet protector that I taped to the seat of the car," she explained. "That way, every time we were in the car they were looking at him. It worked! When he came home our kids instantly recognized him!"

There are also finances to consider, Sanderlin said. Whether one or both spouses manage the family finances when together, she said, it is a different situation during deployments.

"As for being organized, set a budget," she recommended. "Look at your normal monthly expenses and use that as a guide. The spouse at home will spend more money during a deployment. Expect it, accept it, and budget for it. If you create a new deployment budget - and stick with it - you can still save a lot of that extra money."

On a lighter note, Sanderlin said she has also "learned that deployments can be a great time to lose weight because I have more time to exercise and don't have to worry about cooking the foods my husband likes."

Overall, a military spouse's deployment is a difficult situation to understand unless you have experienced one, said Sanderlin.

"I don't think soldiers, for the most part, really get what a deployment is like for the family," she said. "When we give you that last hug before you leave, we are thinking that it might be the last time we ever see you alive. As casualties begin to occur during the deployment, we constantly wonder if you will be the next one.

"We freak out every time a strange car slows down on our street or an unexpected guest knocks on our door," Sanderlin continued. "It never gets easy, but all of these feelings are even stronger for young spouses or spouses enduring a deployment for the first time. There's nothing a soldier can do about any of this except to be aware and be sensitive."

With that in mind, she said, deployed troops should not tell their spouses about their near-death experiences.

"When you call home, do not tell your spouse about how you almost hit an IED or got shot at," Sanderlin advised. Such "what ifs," she said, will upset an already-anxious spouse.

"Try to imagine how you'd feel if she told you someone in the neighborhood was trying to kill her and you were helpless to prevent it," Sanderlin said. "In many ways, ignorance can be bliss."

Deployments put huge stresses on military families, Sanderlin acknowledged, adding, there is "just no avoiding it."

"Do not lose sight of the big picture. What really matters is that you come home, safe and sound, to an intact family," she said. "Keep your eye on that prize and make sure that all the choices you make help you get to that goal."

While such tips may be similar or the same, every military family is different, Sanderlin said.

"What works best, in my opinion, is for the spouse at home to look at her personality, her lifestyle and her responsibilities and make the best decision she can," Sanderlin said. "There are no awards given to spouses and no one will think higher of her for enduring more than she can handle, especially if the price of that endurance is her own sanity."

And, after years of deployment separation experience, Sanderlin has perceived one constant.

"Deployments suck, that's the main lesson and it has not changed from the first deployment to the most recent one, but there are some life lessons that I would not have learned without having my husband deployed," she said. "I am definitely a much-stronger person because of what I have endured and my confidence soars with each deployment.

"I also know that when the history of this war is written, I – and all the people reading this – will have done more than my part to help our nation and the world."

(Editor's Note: Sanderlin writes the "Operation Marriage" blog for The Fayetteville Observer. You can read her latest entries at: http://blogs.fayobserver.com/operationmarriage.)

Gates Plans Visit to South Korea for '2-plus-2 Talks'

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

July 16, 2010 - Sending North Korea a strong message of deterrence and underscoring the strength of the U.S.-South Korean alliance are key aims of an upcoming visit to South Korea by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Pentagon officials said here yesterday.

Gates leaves this weekend for a visit that will include high-level talks with South Korean officials and a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will meet with their South Korean counterparts in the first "2-plus-2 Talks" between the two nations. Among other topics, Morrell said, they will discuss upcoming military exercises involving U.S. and South Korean forces.

The visit and the discussion of military exercises come as world reaction continues to North Korea's March 26 sinking of the frigate Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors.

"There are a number of messages that we're trying to send," a senior Defense Department official speaking on background said. "We're trying to send a clear message of deterrence to North Korea, which we hope will have an effect of impressing upon them that they need to reconsider the sort of behavior they've been engaged in, including the Cheonan [incident]. We're also seeking to work with [South Korea] to increase and enhance the alliance's capabilities -- readiness, flexibility and our operational capacity. So I think there's a real purpose to these exercises."

Also on the agenda for the talks is the transfer of wartime operational control of forces on the Korean peninsula to the South Korean military by December 2015. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak announced a delay in that transfer – originally scheduled for April 2012 – after they met during June's G-20 Summit in Toronto.

"This gives us appropriate time ... within the existing security context to do this right," Obama said in Toronto, "because this alliance is the linchpin of not only security for the Republic of Korea and the United States, but also for the Pacific as a whole."

The senior defense official explained that the new target date allows time to "synchronize all of the different moving pieces" of the operational control transfer.

"If we had gone forward with the April 2012 date, [South Korea] would have been fully militarily prepared to take over wartime operational control at that point," the official said. "But we have an opportunity to do an even better job, and to make sure that all of the different pieces that are associated with the [operational control] transition and with our security and defense relationship are locked up."

With both Gates and Clinton on hand to meet with their South Korean counterparts, the official added, the format provides for high-level discussions of not only the military alliance, but also the diplomatic and economic relationships between the two countries.

News service keeps Airmen informed

By Staff Sgt. Steve Grever
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – An electronic news service featuring the latest Air Force manpower, personnel and services information is available to help Airmen make informed decisions about their Air Force careers.

More than 15,000 members subscribe to the Manpower, Personnel and Services News Service, however Air Force leadership encourages all Airmen to subscribe to ensure they keep aware of key program updates, initiatives and other news from the Air Force Personnel Center, Air Force Manpower Agency and Air Force Services Agency.

“One of the best ways to stay current on Air Force personnel, manpower and services programs is through this news service,” said Paige Hughes, AFPC, AFMA and AFSVA chief of public affairs. “It allows subscribers to receive timely e-mails with the latest news releases and articles related to a variety of Air-Force level programs that affect many aspects of Airmen’s lives.”

Over the past six months, the news service has been used to distribute vital information on force management updates, civilian employment and career development opportunities, Air Force-level awards and the new fitness program. To subscribe, visit the Air Force “subscribe” Web page at www.af.mil/subscribe and click the radio button next to “Manpower, Personnel, and Services News.” Then, enter your name and e-mail address to complete the subscription form.

For more information visit the AFPC website at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/

The USO to Carry Out “Operation Thriller” on U.S. Troops Stationed in Persian Gulf

Five of Today’s Most Celebrated Thriller Writers to Embark on Week-Long USO Tour to Combat Zone in Fall 2010

WHAT: USO Tour Featuring Bestselling Authors from International Thriller Writers (ITW), the nation’s first and only professional organization devoted solely to thriller authors:

• Steve Berry (The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit and The Venetian Betrayal, among others)
• David Morrell (First Blood, in which Rambo was created, and The Brotherhood of the Rose)
• Doug Preston (The Monster of Florence and Relic, which later became a number one box office hit)
• James Rollins (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the Sigma Force series including The Devil Colony)
• Andy Harp (A Northern Thunder)

WHEN: Fall 2010

WHERE: Washington, D.C. and Persian Gulf Note: Due to security reasons, the countries and tour dates cannot be released at this time.

WHY: In Fall 2010, some of the nation’s New York Times best-selling thriller authors will deploy to the Persian Gulf on a week-long USO tour to visit and uplift troops. The tour, fittingly entitled Operation Thriller, will kick off with a special visit to Washington, D.C., where the group will visit with troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center. The group will then fly to the Persian Gulf to talk fiction, inspire, spread cheer and, most importantly, show their heartfelt gratitude.

Participating in what will be their first USO tour, the authors will visit multiple posts, sign autographs, pose for photos and distribute advance copies of their upcoming novels.

From July 7-10, 2010, the authors attended ThrillerFest V, a four-day celebration of thriller books organized

CONTACTS:
Oname Thompson, USO, 703-908-6471
othompson@uso.org
Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. 203-226-0199
meryl@mediamuscle.com

Naval Weapons Station Charleston NEX Brings Home Bingham Award

By Eric Sesit, Naval Weapons Station Charleston Public Affairs

CHARLESTON, S.C. (NNS) -- Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Charleston's Navy Exchange (NEX) management and employees were presented the prestigious Bingham Award at a ceremony held at the NWS Charleston NEX in Charleston, S.C., July 15.

Charleston placed first in the 20 to 40 million dollar category with more than 24 million dollars in sales for 2009.

Rear Adm. Steven J. Romano, commander, NEX Service Command, was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

"This award demonstrates that you are one of the best Navy Exchanges in the world; only nine other stores out of 103 can claim this award," said Romano, to the crowd of NEX employees. "This is like winning an Olympic gold medal."

Romano added that as he walked through the facility, he noticed four qualities that led to the Charleston NEX's success.

"You do the basics right, you make a mature facility look great; you are managed by extraordinary leadership and you have great training," said Romano.

NWS Charleston NEX General Manager Beth Munoz gave credit to the employees who operate the store on a daily basis.

"This team has always had the necessary skill and teamwork in them to win this award, and they show it every day," said Munoz.

The team includes long-time employees Willie Ellis and Bernice Mac. Mac has been working at the NEX for 20 years, while Ellis has been with the company for 37.

Looking to retire in the near future, Ellis was thrilled to see all the hard work put in by him and his fellow employees has paid off.

"It's a very prestigious award for us," said Ellis.

"This took a lot of team effort, but in the end, it was worth it. This award is just great for morale and makes us want to keep working hard," said Mac.

The Bingham Award recognizes NEXs that have demonstrated excellence in customer service, operations and management. The award is named after the late Capt. W.H. Bingham, who was the chief executive of the R.H. Macy's Company and in 1946 was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to lead an advisory board for the establishment of the NEX system.

Navy Signs MOU Agreeing to Partner with Government of Guam on Utility Solutions

By Catherine Cruz Norton, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas

HAGATNA, Guam (NNS) -- The Navy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Consolidated Commission on Utilities (CCU), Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) and the Guam Power Authority (GPA) July 16 in Hagatna, Guam.

By signing the MOU, the Navy is agreeing to collaborate on solutions to improve utilities on Guam in preparation for the Marine relocation from Okinawa, Japan.

During a signing ceremony in the conference room at the Governor's complex both military and government of Guam officials convened in the spirit of partnering to formalizing months of technical meetings and cooperative discussions.

"This is a great day," said Capt. Peter Lynch, commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas. "This MOU is a historic document which signifies many months of technical discussions to identify utility requirements and solutions. We are extremely pleased to agree in principal to a collaborative approach to solutions for power, water and waste water requirements."

The intent of the partnering sessions was to ensure capability and capacity of government of Guam assets and resources to handle impending impacts due to the additional demand based on military surge in the realignment effort.

"These MOUs provide the conceptual framework to address viable solutions to insure that GPA and GWA can serve the energy, water and waste water needs of the proposed military build-up without compromising or adversely affecting the quality or cost of service to meet all future needs of Guam – both civilian and military," said CCU Chairman Simon Sanchez II.

Sanchez said DoD and GWA are already working collaboratively with the University of Guam's Water and Energy Research Institute (WERI), the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine how best to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Northern Guam lens aquifer. In addition, a civilian-military advisory group is proposed to help provide long-term aquifer management.

As it concerns electricity requirements, the MOU states the DoD and local team will work together to identify ways to meet the projected power demand of the military buildup. The projected demand is 30 mega-watts, according to the CCU. The MOU provides an agreement that the team will work toward upgrades and reconditioning of three or more of GPA's combustion turbines to meet the additional load at no cost to ratepayers. The group has also agreed to explore opportunities to work together on renewable energy projects.

"We expect this to be a mutually beneficial arrangement for the entire community, both our civilian neighbors, military service members and their families," said Rear Adm. Paul Bushong, commander, Joint Region Marianas. "We are committed to minimizing the impact on the island's utilities and protecting our natural resources."

While infrastructure improvements or construction associated with the military buildup will not take place until the record of decision is signed, this team of DoD and local government representatives continue to work on technical solutions to ease the impacts associated with population growth.

Northwest Sailors, Marines Test Their Battle Readiness

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Dagendesh, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Northwest

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- More than 150 Sailors and Marines attached to Marine Corps Security Force Battalion (MCSFB) Bangor from Bravo Company participated in an all-day super squad competition, consisting of seven events, in Silverdale, Wash., July 13. The competition challenged Bravo Company with a mental and physical competition, testing their ability to comprehend and execute security skills while building espirit de corps with their company.

"Today's super squad competition event is composed of Sailors and Marines arranged into nine squads of 10 Sailors and 10 Marines each and split up to do seven different events," said Master-At-Arms 1st Class Virginia Horton, event coordinator.

Included were an obstacle course, weapons disassemble station and a recapture and recovery drill spread throughout Naval Base Kitsap Bangor.

"The experience was a one-of-a-kind because being in the Navy we don't do a lot of the training the Marines do and so we have to work with the Marines, become one team, get along and follow one order," said Master-At-Arms Seaman Lindsey Zwaagstra, a member of MCSFB, Squad 3.

Events like this competition prepare the Sailors and Marines for real-life situations, said Horton.

"With the obstacle course and anything that is physical, it just steps up their physical ability," said Horton. "The goal is to raise the level of esprit de corps within the Navy and Marine Corps so that we can all work hand-in-hand together."

Horton also said the competition will help prepare the Sailors and Marines to respond to real-life scenarios.

"It was pretty fun and motivating. I think most of it is in your attitude," said Master-At-Arms Seaman Eric Rock, a member of MCSFB, Squad 4. "I think this training is important in a teamwork aspect because Sailors and Marines are working together building good camaraderie with each other."

"Although our hump back was approximately five miles and was probably the hardest part because of trying to keep up with each other, we made it," said Zwaagstra. "I learned that hard work and a good attitude will get you through anything, and I would definitely do this again."

Acquisition Reform Plays Key Role in Pentagon's Cost Savings

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

July 15, 2010 - The Defense Department has the opportunity to save billions of taxpayer dollars through acquisitions reform, but only if it grows its workforce with the right federal workers in place to oversee contracts, a senior Pentagon official said today.

"There is a significant opportunity to save billions of dollars, but only if we have a well-trained and sufficient workforce," Shay Assad, the acting director of the department's procurement and acquisition policy, said during a Senate Budget Committee hearing.

Assad called acquisitions reform and improved efficiencies a top priority of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, with a goal of $100 billion in savings over five years, starting in fiscal 2012. He said the secretary ordered his staff to consider two questions with regard to old-style contracting procedures: Is this respectful of the American taxpayer at a time of economic and fiscal duress? And, is this the best use of limited dollars?

With cost savings derived from better efficiencies, Assad said, department officials hope to attain 2 to 3 percent net growth in warfighting capabilities without a mirrored budget increase.

Earlier this month, Ashton Carter, undersecretary of defense for logistics, "directed all echelons of the department to take a hard look" at ways to cut costs, Assad said. Carter's directive, he said, "really was about increasing the buying power of the department and in getting a better deal for taxpayers."

"We need to examine not only what we acquiring, but how we are acquiring it," Assad added.

The department procured three million contracts in fiscal 2009, amounting to $375 billion, Assad said. It spent $372 billion in contracts last year, he said. About 53 percent of those costs, he said, go to contracted services, while 47 percent go to products, such as equipment.

Overall, the entire federal government, including defense, spent $560 billion in fiscal 2009, according to Daniel I. Gordon, administrator of federal procurement policy in the White House's Office of Management and Budget, who testified alongside Assad. That compares to $535 billion the government spent in fiscal 2008, Gordon said, adding that this year's amount would have been much larger without major cost-cutting initiatives.

Agencies are now pooling their purchases, using more fixed-price contracts, having Internet-based "reverse auctions" for contracts, and paying more attention to contract management, Gordon said. The result, he said, is a drop in annual contract growth that averaged 12 percent every year between 2001 and 2008, to an average of 4 percent since then.

During that time, Gordon said, there was no expansion of the federal workforce to oversee the "tsunami" of contracts coming through. Over the next several years, the Obama administration is investing in hiring thousands of new federal procurement officers, the "lifeblood" of acquisition reform, he said.

To improve the procurement of services, Assad said, the defense department also must expand competition, move away from longstanding "incumbent" contractors, ensure that work statements are understood, and use proper contracts.

With regard to weapons systems, Assad said, "It's all about properly defining the requirements." Contractors now are "spending a lot of time up front" to ensure that contracts are realistic to avoid future add-on costs, he said.

In the past, defense procurement officials spent too much time measuring processes rather than outcomes, Assad said. And that, he said, is where expanding the workforce with highly trained acquisition professionals comes in.

The Pentagon plans to add 20,000 federal procurement workers over the next five years, Assad said. Among other things, he said, the additional workers are needed to properly oversee contracts "from an arm's length."

The department is making good progress, having already hired 4,600 acquisitions and procurement workers, Assad said. Many of the workers, he said, are former servicemembers who'd used the equipment and services they will now help to procure.

Officials Commit to Disabled Veterans' Businesses

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

July 15, 2010 - Defense Department officials are committed to providing service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses with contracting opportunities, and are closer to its goal of awarding 3 percent of department contracts to such businesses, the acting director for the Pentagon's Small Business Programs Office said today.

Testifying before the House Small Business Committee, Linda B. Oliver said the department has seen a steady increase in its annual contract awards to such businesses since 2003, when $300,000 was awarded to disabled-veteran-owned small businesses.

In 2009, $4.3 billion in contracts was awarded to disabled-veteran-owned small businesses.

"We are proud of this progress, one that shows a 14-fold increase," Oliver said in her written testimony, which also noted the number of contracts awarded also has increased. "It is good for [veterans] when the percentages are increasing in an upward trend and also when the total dollars are increasing at an even faster pace.

"While these trends are positive and encouraging, we cannot and will not relax our efforts until we achieve the government-wide goal of 3 percent," she continued.

Also, the number of firms awarded defense contracts has steadily increased from 751 in 2003 to more than 3,000 in 2009. Of the $7.4 billion appropriated to the Defense Department in Recovery Act funds, $157 million was awarded and being worked by disabled-veteran small businesses, she said.

Oliver credits the Pentagon's Mentor-Protégé Program and other training opportunities geared toward such contractors for the positive trend. The program helps "protégé" companies learn from established "prime" contractors through a three- or four-year agreement, Oliver explained.

"As a result, protégé firms that graduate from the program are generally valuable additions to the department's supplier base," she added.

The Pentagon also has undergone research to better understand the characteristics of disabled-veteran contractors, she said. Oliver's office monitors the Central Contract Registration, which has received registrations from 500 businesses this year, she said.

Analysis shows that more disabled-veteran contractors each year want to do business with the federal government, Oliver said. Also, a majority of these contracts are awarded to businesses in specific categories. These areas include professional, scientific and technical services, construction and administration specialties, she explained.

"I believe that we are gaining insights that will help us develop mechanisms that will, in turn, allow us to make even greater use of [service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses] in our contracting program," Oliver said.

Another initiative to help service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses attain federal contracts is eliminating fraud and enhancing participation among deserving business owners, said Timothy Foreman, executive director of the Veterans Affairs Department's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, who also testified before the committee.

"Small business enterprise can best serve as an engine of ingenuity and creativity with favorable impact on both business and government when it is free of fraud and enthusiastically engaged in its work or mission," Foreman said in his submitted remarks. Foreman is set to become chairman of VA's newly-formed Suspension and Debarment Committee for non-federal acquisition regulation debarment actions, he said. The committee will be a tool to deter fraud from companies posing as service-disabled, veteran owned businesses, he added.

"Keeping the pretenders out of the competitive process will prevent them from stealing the statutory and regulatory rights due only to real [veteran-owned small businesses] and [service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses]," he said. "[The committee] will prevent them from stealing the valor of those who are entitled to meaningful procurement advantages."

VA awarded 16 percent of its fiscal 2009 contracts to disabled-veteran businesses, exceeding its goal of 7 percent. Still, the VA stands to improve, he said.

Foreman pointed to VA's current lack of tracking veteran subcontractors as one such area. Also, he noted shortfalls in verifying veteran- and disabled-veteran owned businesses as another reason for fraud.

Currently, businesses appear in VA's data base as "VA-verified or self-verified," he said. But by 2012, he added, only VA-verified businesses will be visible in the database.

VA hopes to accomplish this through the Suspension and Debarment Committee. VA's robust framework to identify fraud may be mirrored by other government agencies, Foreman said, with hopes of deterring fraud throughout the government.

As VA programs grow, "our veteran clients will continue to receive quality services and products from increasing numbers of service-disabled veteran suppliers who, as fellow veterans, better understand the needs of the community VA serves," Foreman explained. "This symbiotic aspect of VA's program is a win-win."

NAVFAC Midwest Finishes Decade-Long Boot Camp Modernization

By Bill Couch, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- The Navy officially accepted its completely overhauled boot camp during a ceremony in Great Lakes, Ill., July 14, after more than a decade of constant demolition and construction zones.

Leaders from Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Recruit Training Command (RTC), Naval Station Great Lakes, Navy Region Midwest and Naval Service Training Command, along with more than 200 attendees, including representatives of more than a dozen design and construction companies who had been involved in the 12-year, $770-million program, celebrated the milestone.

"Today is a special day for many of us who have supported and participated in this significant undertaking and a chance to say thank you for all you've accomplished as a team," said guest speaker Rear Adm. Kevin Slates, commander of NAVFAC Atlantic. "It's also a milestone event where we transition from a recruit training vision that was created nearly two decades ago to actual facilities that proudly serve as the training platform for the best recruits our country has to offer."

Following the Navy's consolidation in the mid-1990s of its basic training facilities into RTC Great Lakes, the Navy began a complete rebuilding of boot camp infrastructure to better meet the training requirements of 21st-century Sailors.

Beginning in 1998, the Navy built 13 new barracks - each with dining and computer classroom areas - three new drill halls and other new training facilities, steadily replacing 1950s-era buildings with state-of-the-art facilities for training, feeding and housing new recruits during their eight-week indoctrination into Navy life.

Each new barracks can accommodate 12 recruit divisions of up to 88 recruits each. These 172,000-square-foot buildings support a much more efficient training day for recruits by reducing their transit time between classes, meals and other activities.

"This phenomenal recapitalization has allowed us to dramatically change the way that we train men and women to become Sailors," said Capt. John Peterson, commanding officer of RTC. "The recapitalization has allowed us not only to be more efficient, but also to do much more in the time we have the recruits under our charge."

"To the Naval Facilities Engineering Command team, well done, shipmates," added Peterson. "Contractor or government, small or large, senior or junior, we, today's custodians of the recruit training mission, owe you a great debt. Thank you each for your superb teamwork - your execution of a vision that is RTC today."

NAVFAC Midwest Commanding Officer Capt. Jake Washington, in turn, praised the men and women of RTC, saying, "This magnificent training complex we have today could not have come together so successfully if not for the patience and flexibility of RTC, working around the barriers and the cones, putting up with the noise, dust and the many other challenges we asked your team to endure so that this day might come."

Washington, who also helped start the recapitalization program in 1998 when he was then a lieutenant commander on the staff of Engineering Field Activity Midwest, also noted his personal connection to the construction program.

"One of the reasons I wanted to return to Great Lakes was to see finished what was started back then," said Washington. "Between then and now stretches a chain of engineer custody I am honored to be a part of."

Washington also noted how then-Naval Training Center Great Lakes evolved over the intervening years, with the creation of Naval Service Training Command to oversee virtually all of the Navy's accessions training, the stand-up of Navy Region Midwest as Navy Installations Command's land owner in the Midwest and now-Naval Station Great Lakes providing support services for Great Lakes' tenant commands, including RTC.

"Organizationally, a lot has changed, NAVFAC notwithstanding," said Washington. "But there has been one constant, and it is the reason why we have done what we have done - and why we come to work every day at Great Lakes - to make civilians into U.s. Sailors.

They deserve our collective best, and in this effort, we can all be justifiably proud that we have given it to them," continued Washington.

Year of the Air Force Family promotes sense of community

7/15/2010 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force's top uniformed officer and his wife welcomed the Air Force's newest Airmen into the service during a visit here July 8 and 9.

The Basic Military Training graduation at the "Gateway to the Air Force" was the perfect backdrop for Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife Suzie to reflect on the efforts of the service's leaders over the past 12 months during the Year of the Air Force Family campaign. The initiative runs through July.

"The year really referred to a larger audience than just families," General Schwartz said. "It referred to family members, single Airmen, retirees, civilian employees of the Air Force and so on. In a broader sense, what we really were seeking to do is rekindle that sense of community we have had as an Air Force."

The general said the initiative largely was to focus on assessing what the service was doing right, and what it could be doing better, in supporting the entire Air Force family.

Through feedback from leaders and Airmen across the Air Force, General Schwartz said there were several issues brought to light.

"A couple of them were somewhat surprising," he said. "Some of them were not. One thing that we are not as good at as we need to be is how we assist our family members and families with special needs children. Another area of concern is, not surprisingly, education."

"Education came out as the number one issue affecting our families," Mrs. Schwartz said.

She said that information led Air Force officials to move forward more aggressively with a plan to establish primary points of contact across the service to help families navigate local school systems.

"The Air Force has been able to put some funding behind more school liaisons...and we now have a school liaison office at almost every Air Force base," she said.

Along those same lines, officials at each Family Readiness Center identified a single individual to serve as an information resource for Airmen with special needs family members, Mrs. Schwartz said. Air Force leaders had identified that the Exceptional Family Member Program needed to evolve from an assignment-focused program into a more comprehensive and proactive family support program.

Another program that gained momentum for mobile military families this year was the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

The general said the intent of the Interstate Compact is to facilitate transitions between school districts so that when families move "the whole process of integrating into a new school will be much, much easier and more standardized."

The Interstate Compact spans 35 states nationwide "and we continue to encourage the other states to enact the agreement," the general said.

Simply put, the Year of the Air Force Family has been about connecting Airmen with the resources they need. In some cases, that simply meant doing a better job about making sure Airmen know what programs are already available, Mrs. Schwartz said.

"To me, I think it was even more about communication than anything else," she said. "We think we communicate really well, but sometimes we don't.

To bolster communication, Mrs. Schwartz said Air Force leaders reached out in new ways, such as hosting the first Single Airmen Summit, and worked to enhance programs already in place, like the Key Spouse program, which equips spouse representatives at bases to help spread the word about support resources available at the base.

"We really put some time and effort in to the Key Spouse Program," Mrs. Schwartz said.

The goal was to harness the speed and efficiency of the spouse network to better communicate with families and "use it more as a communication tool for all times and not just for deployments."

The Year of the Air Force Family programs not only helped Air Force leaders get their messages to Airmen, but allowed Airmen to voice their concerns to Air Force leaders as well.

"We held an annual Caring for People conference," Mrs. Schwartz said. "In that forum, instead of getting information out, we were able to get information back in. It was really a great tool to find out what works and what doesn't for Airmen and their families."

A goal of the Year of the Air Force Family was to focus on such a dialogue. Follow-on efforts will build upon the knowledge and momentum gained from the Year of the Air Force Family, especially in the area of feedback, she said.

"For me the number one event is the Caring for People forum," Mrs. Schwartz said. "I really see that as a lasting forum that will continue each year, bringing out people from across the bases and telling us what's working and what isn't."

She said getting such feedback from the base level is best, and armed with that feedback "we will continue working to improve family satisfaction."

(Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes contributed to this story)

Olympic Silver Medalist, NASA Astronaut Visit GTMO

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Bill Mesta, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- An Olympic medalist and a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut were members of a group that visited Naval Station (NAVSTA) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, July 13.

Heavy Medal Tour II, sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) in concert with NAVSTA Guantanamo Bay's Moral, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program, included silver medalist and five-time Olympian skier, Todd Lodwick; two-time shuttle astronaut and four-time space walker, Steve Swanson; and U.S. Olympic committee VIPs John Ruger and Robi Powers.

"We brought America's heroes to the world's heroes," said Robi Powers, Olympic ski coach and founder of The Warrior Tours Foundation.

The Heavy Medal Tour II group was brought to Guantanamo Bay as a result of the efforts of the base's MWR program.

"We were approached by AFE about the tour and what is it they do when they visit bases." said Corey Grier, Guantanamo Bay's MWR community activities director. "After hearing more about their hands-on approach and looking into the response from other bases they visited, we jumped at the chance to bring in the group."

The group started its tour with NAVSTA Guantanamo Bay's Security Department. The group interacted with Sailors attached to the Security Department and were given a demonstration by the K-9 unit.

"The security force was an incredible group of naval law enforcement personnel," said Powers.

The group continued its tour of the base at Guantanamo Bay's Radio Station as guests called the weekly "Open Line" show with remarks.

During the broadcast, the group presented Command Master Chief J.D. McKinney, NAVSTA Guantanamo's command master chief, with an autographed t-shirt.

"These t-shirt went from Bagdad to Bahrain and now finds itself in one of the greatest military installations in the world, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba," said Powers. "We are dropping them off at the various units we are visiting and asking your chiefs to use them as part of their rewards prize vault or enlisted recognition program for service members who excel and go above and beyond."

McKinney thanked the group for their visit to NAVSTA Guantanamo Bay.

"The Heavy Medal Tour (II) is a thank you tour for the service members," said McKinney. "But it is more than that. You guys are here spreading inspiration."

During the evening, the group hosted a meet and greet for the entire base community at Denich Gym. The event provided service members, civilians and families an opportunity for autograph signing, photograph opportunities and provided them a chance to hold Lodwick's Olympic silver medal.

The event also gave community members the opportunity to ask questions and interact directly with the guests.

"It is our pleasure to come and meet everybody and share our experiences with them," said Swanson.

USS George H.W. Bush Hosts Namesake

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman J. Scott St. Clair, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the Navy's 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, received a visit from its namesake, former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, while underway July 14. Bush and Barbara were escorted on board by Adm. J.C. Harvey, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

During his two-day visit to the aircraft carrier, Bush toured the ship, observing day-to-day operations and spending time with the crew, as well as taking part in a reenlistment ceremony for nearly 60 Sailors, which he said was an honor.

"I am proud of every man and woman on this ship," said Bush. "I was honored to be able to reenlist those who are ready to serve again. I am very emotional about service to country, particularly the Navy. I am very proud of the Navy and extremely proud of this ship. That this ship is named after me knows no bound in terms of my emotion and my pleasure and the honor that I feel."

Commanding Officer Capt. Chip Miller expressed what a huge privilege and inspiration it was to host two individuals who devoted their lives to selfless service.

"What an honor it is to have our special guests on board to see freedom at work first hand," said Miller. "We are so grateful to have them join us at sea to see what we do and how we do our part to defend freedom."

Barbara pointed out how much the aircraft carrier and its crew meant to her and her husband.

"This ship is probably the greatest honor that George Bush ever had given to him," said Barbara. "He and I pray for this crew every single night of our lives. This crew is the greatest, and we are thankful to you for what you're doing and what your families do for all of us."

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman Apprentice Sutton C. Hout, of the ship's Air department, was thankful for the opportunity to interact with the namesake of the aircraft carrier.

"It was really exciting to spend time with a former president," said Hout. "It was an honor to meet him. It was great experience interacting with the namesake of this great ship and someone who played such a significant role in U.S. history. It's not every day that you get to meet the 41st president of the United States."

Miller also noted that one of the command's primary goals is to emulate the qualities of its respected namesake.

"We run this ship, and we harp on our guiding principles," said Miller. "President Bush is an example to every single one of us and Barbara is an example that inspires us every day. Our number one guiding principle on board this ship is that, like our namesake, we are professionals who serve our country with integrity. It drives us. It fuels us. George H.W. Bush is a professional who continues to serve his country with integrity."

The former president expressed his confidence and high hopes for the command concerning the aircraft carrier's upcoming maiden deployment and reinforced his gratitude to the military and its service members.

"This ship will do a wonderful job supporting freedom around the world," said Bush. "When this ship deploys, I know that you will carry the flag with great honor, the flag of the United States, a flag of freedom. We are so blessed that freedom works in this country. What a great country this is and what a wonderful thing it is to be an American. We are so lucky to have people serving, all volunteers, volunteering for this country and to be a part of this magnificent ship."

Bush, a former Navy pilot, was stationed on the USS San Jacinto (CVL 30) during World War II and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his combat service in the Pacific in 1944.

USS George H.W. Bush is the only U.S. Navy aircraft carrier with a living namesake. This visit marked the second time at sea for the former president, but was Barbara's first time underway aboard the ship named after her husband.

The Bush's daughter and ship's sponsor, Doro Bush Koch, went underway aboard the ship for a Friends and Family Day Cruise in May 2010.

The entire Bush family has been actively involved in the command and events involving its crew since the ship's commissioning in January 2009.

General Officer Announcements

The Secretary of Defense announced today that the President made the following nominations:

Marine Corps Reserve Col. William T. Collins has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Collins is currently serving as the assistant chief of staff, G-5, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in Fort Worth, Texas.

Marine Corps Reserve Col. James S. Hartsell has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Hartsell is currently serving as chief of staff, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Individual Mobilization Augmentee Detachment in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Marine Corps Reserve Col. Roger R. Machut has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Machut is currently serving as deputy commander, 4th Marine Logistics Group in New Orleans, La.

Marine Corps Reserve Col. Marcella J. Monahan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Monahan is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, G-7, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Bonhomme Richard Conducts MISSILEX for RIMPAC 2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marcus L. Stanley, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted a live-fire missile exercise July 9 while underway for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010, a biennial multinational exercise designed to strengthen operational readiness and improve multinational interoperability.

"To be the one to actually fire the missile was great," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Caleb Scott. "It's very rare that we get to do this, and we've put in a lot of man hours preparing for this."

During the firing exercise, Bonhomme Richard launched a NATO Sea Sparrow RIM-7P missile, giving the ship credit for a live missile shoot.

Two teams stood by ready to fire, and as the launch took place Bonhomme Richard Sailors and Marines, along with an array of multinational militaries on board the ship, had the opportunity to witness the firing.

"It was an amazing event to see," said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Raphael Hobson. "That was my first time ever experiencing something like that."

In preparation for the firing, Combat Systems Fire Control 4 workcenter completed more than 50 maintenance checks, more than 300 hours of pre-fire requirement checks and more than 100 hours of troubleshooting faults to ensure that the missile systems were up to standards to conduct a safe missile firing.

"Our guys put in a lot of time getting ready for the firing," said Fire Controlman (SW/AW) Chief Jose Zertuche. "Everyone was a major contributor, from the maintenance guys to those who were a part of the administration portion in getting ready for this."

Zertuche added that anytime you are conducting missile shoots safety is paramount, and every safety precaution was taken into consideration during the exercise.

"What a great day of training aboard such a magnificent warship," said Capt. John W. Funk, Bonhomme Richard's commanding officer. "Superb efforts went in from everyone that participated in the missile exercise, and a Bravo Zulu goes out to everyone for successful completion of such a challenging event."

Bonhomme Richard Sailors Lend a Helping Hand

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Ebalo, USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) participated in various community service projects June 28 to July 2 during a port visit to Pearl Harbor, in conjunction with the biennial multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercise.

During their stay, more than 50 Sailors volunteered their time to help out the local community with four different community service events on and off Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Sailors rolled up their sleeves and assisted in the preservation of the Battleship Missouri Memorial and performed landscaping and restoration at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Waimea Valley Historical Nature Park and He'eia Stream.

"In addition to sightseeing and enjoying the local nightlife, I wanted to do something constructive with my free time, so I volunteered to help out at more than one event," said Aviation Boatswains Mate (Fuels) 2nd Class (AW/SW) Albert Vencer. "Being from Warren, Michigan, I never imagined I would ever be in Hawaii helping clear out a hiking path through the mountains, waterfalls and jungle. The sun was really hot out there and the mosquitoes were biting, but it was worth it. I enjoyed myself, and I found a new way to experience the island."

For some of the junior volunteers, it was their first time participating in the community relations projects, but not their last.

"I honestly had a lot more fun volunteering than I thought I was going to have," said Religious Programs Specialist Seaman Jakarta Henderson, a native of Augusta, Ga. "It was hard physical work, but it felt really good to help out and it was encouraging to see many of the senior Sailors leading by example in their off time. I was proud to represent our ship alongside them, and I'm looking forward to doing more in the future."

The community service effort of Bonhomme Richard's Sailors made an immediate impact on the locals.

"The work the Sailors put in will benefit the natural environment of Hawaii as well as the locals and tourists alike for decades," said Laurent Pool, Waimea Valley Historical Nature Park Conservation land specialist. "By clearing out the hiking paths we are able to identify and protect our endangered plants and trees and, most importantly, educate our kids and community on our beautiful surroundings. We are extremely grateful for their help and thank them for their service to our country and to Hawaii."

RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational maritime exercise, with 14 nations, 32 ships and more than 20,000 personnel participating in RIMPAC 2010. A biennial exercise, RIMPAC stresses the necessity of operational readiness in the Pacific and the sentiment that building relationships with our global partners ensures maritime freedom for all. This year marks the 22nd in a series of RIMPAC exercises conducted since 1971.

National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of July 13, 2010

This week the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy announced no change. The net collective result is 1,818 fewer reservists activated than last week.

At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 90,144; Navy Reserve, 6,354; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,457; Marine Corps Reserve, 4,917; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 787. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 118,659, including both units and individual augmentees.

A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100713ngr.pdf

U.S., Korean Leaders to Meet in Seoul

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 14, 2010 - The defense and foreign ministers of the United States and South Korea will meet next week to discuss joint exercises between the two nations and a recently announced delay in the transfer of operational wartime control of forces on the Korean peninsula to the South Korean military, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will join with South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and Defense Minister Kim Tae-young in the first "2-plus-2" meetings in the South Korean capital of Seoul on July 21, Morrell said.

The talks will address the full range of security and alliance issues, including development of the new operational control transfer implementation plan and other enhancements to military readiness and deterrence, Morrell added during a Pentagon news conference.

South Korea already is a strong and close treaty ally, Morrell said, but since the unprovoked attack and sinking of the South Korean frigate Cheonan in March, President Barack Obama directed the Defense Department to further strengthen cooperation.

"Ever since," Morrell added, "we have been engaged in high-level, close consultations in an effort to devise additional ways to bolster alliance capabilities and improve regional stability."

Part of the 2-plus-2 talks will be to approve a proposed series of U.S.-South Korean combined military exercises, including new naval and air exercises in both the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.

"We are not yet ready to announce the precise details of those exercises," Morrell said, "but they will involve a wide range of assets and are expected to be initiated in the near future. They will augment already planned bilateral exercises."

The exercises will be defensive in nature, but will send an unmistakable signal to North Korean leaders and "will send a clear message of deterrence to North Korea and demonstrate our steadfast commitment to the defense of South Korea," he said.

The South Korean military had been scheduled to take wartime operational control of forces on the peninsula in April 2012. Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed in Toronto last month to delay the transfer to December 2015.

"We think, from a warfighting control perspective, that the [South Korean] military would be capable of taking over operational control at the original date," Morrell said, but he added that delaying the process makes sense.

"By doing so, we would be able to sort of broaden the scope of what is transferred, and we would be able to better synchronize some of those transformation efforts," he explained.

Officials in both countries will work to perfect the South Korean military's force management, defense reform and ground operations command efforts, Morrell said.

USS Curts Returns to San Diego

From USS Curts (FFG 38) Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Curts (FFG 38) will return to San Diego July 16 completing an independent, six-month deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR).

The deployment was defined by extensive participation with coalition forces across the entire spectrum of maritime operations.

Curts' efforts fostered strong diplomatic and military relations with regional partners in support of mutual interests on the high seas.

"We are immensely proud to have been afforded the opportunity to serve our Navy and our nation abroad," said Cmdr. H. Thomas Workman, Curts' commanding officer. "This crew trained with passion, intensity and success to ensure preparedness for all operational challenges that we encountered. Those preparations coupled with selfless dedication allowed Curts to succeed in every assigned mission."

While conducting 5th Fleet missions, Curts operated as part of multiple coalition task forces, ensuring the safety of merchant shipping traffic within the internationally recognized trade corridor across the Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Straits and Red Sea.

Along with coalition partners, Curts provided force protection and emergency medical support to distressed merchant vessels. These efforts are designed to improve maritime stability within the region and protect free use of the sea lanes by thwarting the activities of violent extremists and criminal organizations.

Additionally, Curts conducted four Suez Canal transits, two exercises with the Egyptian Navy and participated in Exercise Malabar 2010, a week-long bilateral military exercise which aims to promote the interoperability of the U.S. Navy and Indian Navy.

In support of 7th Fleet, Curts conducted various freedom of navigation exercises; economic exclusion zone patrols and port visits to Guam; Sepangar, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; and Male, Maldives.

In Malaysia, the crew joined the Rotary Club in extensive maintenance and repair of the Kota Kinabalu Orphanage. In Thailand, 35 Curts Sailors joined the Navy League and local Rotary Club in extensive landscaping refurbishment at a local school and orphanage which were devastated during the 2004 tsunami.

Curts helps provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50-million square mile AOR in the Eastern Pacific, as well as supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.

Lack of Supplemental Funding Poses Problems for Pentagon

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

July 14, 2010 - Because Congress has yet to pass a supplemental funding bill, the Defense Department must start taking measures to ensure uninterrupted war operations, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.

If Congress doesn't act on the fiscal 2010 request for supplemental war funding, Defense Department employees may not get paid, Morrell said during a news conference.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is disappointed that Congress did not pass the supplemental spending bill before its Fourth of July break, Morrell told reporters.

"He's very concerned about the predicament that puts us in," he said. "And in order to assure that war operations are not interrupted, the services will now have to begin cash-flowing operating costs for war activities using their base budgets." This means that the services will begin borrowing money from fourth-quarter accounts to pay for current obligations, but even that won't be enough, he added.

"We project that certain Army and Marine Corps accounts will run dry in August," Morrell said. "So we urgently need Congress to pass the supplemental before members leave town for the next break in August."

In the meantime, he added, the department is obligated to begin planning what to do if Congress does not pass the spending measure. "Needless to say, all of this is extraordinarily disruptive to the department," he said.

This is not the first time this has happened, Morrell said. "While we have faced this circumstance in years past, the situation we find ourselves in this year is much more difficult, because it comes so late in the fiscal year," he explained. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

"The department has a supreme obligation to protect this nation and support the hundreds of thousands of personnel that are deployed in harm's way," Morrell said. "We will take every step possible to fulfill these obligations in the months ahead until this matter is settled in Washington.

"It may involve asking a lot of hard-working people in this department to report to duty without an ability to pay them, or other extreme measures we would rather avoid," he continued. "But we will get the job done, including in Iraq and Afghanistan and wherever else we operate around the world."

MILITARY CONTRACTS July 14, 2010

ARMY

Linc Government Services, LLC, Hopkinsville, Ky., and Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., were awarded on July 9 a $300,000,000 firm-fixed-price, time-and-material task order contract. This acquisition is for acquiring operations and maintenance services under North American Industry Classification System Code 561210, facilities support services, to preserve and maintain government medical and non-medical real property facilities on such a condition that they may be effectively used for their designated functional purpose. This acquisition applies to medical and non-medical facilities inside and outside the contiguous U.S. This acquisition will provide operations and maintenance engineering enhancement services at highly complex facilities including in-patient medical facilities, medical research facilities, and medical facilities having unusual or complex systems that are not normally found in the typical medical facility or medical centers over 300,000 square feet in size. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated completion date of June 21, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with eight bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W912DY-10-D-0049).

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington, Vt., was awarded on July 8 a $48,215,074 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for 12,180 Bradley reactive armor skirt tiles and 435 installation kits for the Bradley fighting vehicle system. Work is to be performed in Haifa, Israel (47.4); Burlington, Vt. (23.2 percent); Niceville, Fla. (6.4 percent); Garland, Texas (6.3 percent); Lyndonville, Vt. (6 percent); Stone County, Miss. (3.6 percent); Saugerties, N.Y. (3.1 percent); College Park, Ga. (1.6 percent); Stoughton, Mass. (1 percent); Aberdeen, Md. (0.3 percent); St. Paul, Minn. (0.3 percent); Warrendale, Pa. (0.2 percent); Williamston, S.C. (0.2 percent); Austin, Texas (0.1 percent); Middletown, Iowa (0.1 percent); Montreal, Canada (0.1 percent); and Rochester, N.Y. (0.1 percent), with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2011. One bid solicited with one received. U.S Army Contracting Command, CJM-MA, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-10-C-0006).

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington, Vt., was awarded on July 7 a $35,212,375 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is to purchase 6,180 M2E2 quick change barrel kits, providing warfighters with a faster, more accurate way to change barrels on the M2 machine gun and decreasing exposure to enemy fire. It is critical that the warfighter have the capability to quickly change the barrel and resume firing without resetting the headspace and timing, and to maneuver with the weapons in a ready-to-fire fashion. Work is to be performed in Saco, Maine, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 23, 2012. Three bids were solicited with three bids received. Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Management Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-09-C-0060).

NAVY

Raytheon Technical Services Co., Reston, Va., is being awarded a $20,372,898 modification (P00070) under previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00140-05-C-0015) for services in support of the Navy Forces Surveillance Support Center relocateable over-the-horizon radar system. Work will be performed in Reston, Va. (40 percent); Texas (30 percent); and Puerto Rico (30 percent). Work is expected to be completed by July 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded a $9,972,000 modification (P00214) under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-02-C-2052) to purchase 120 generator environmental control unit and tent trailers. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, Manassas, Va., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $9,653,513 undefinitized modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-6247). This modification is for the procurement of 10 AN/BVY-1 Integrated Submarine Imaging Systems (ISIS). This is the first delivery order for the Technical Insertion 10 (TI-10) variant of the ISIS system to be delivered to the Navy. The ISIS provides mission critical, all-weather, visual and electronic search, digital image management, and indication, warning and platform architecture interface capabilities for attack submarine (nuclear propulsion) (SSN) SSN 688 (Los Angeles class); SSN 21 (Seawolf class); submersible, ship, guided, nuclear (SSGN Ohio class); and SSN 774 (Virginia class) submarines with potential for ship, submersible, ballistic, nuclear (SSBN) (Trident class) and potentially other submarines. Work will be performed in Manassas, Va. (32 percent); Wake Forest, N.C. (20 percent); Chantilly, Va. (19 percent); Johnstown, Pa. (12 percent); Northampton, Mass. (11 percent); Paoli, Pa. (3 percent); Eagan, Minn. (2 percent); and Middletown, R.I. (1 percent). Work is expected to be completed by July 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Boeing Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Seattle, Wash., was awarded a $5,915,735 contract modification which will exercise the options for the Phase II-A production requirements of the Radar System Improvement Program capability for the Royal Saudi Air Force Airborne Warning and Control System fleet of five aircraft. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. AASSD/HBSK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-01-D-0016; Delivery order 0070; Modification 001).

USNS John Ericsson Rescues Fishermen After Typhoon Passes Philippines

By Lt. Mike Morley, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- Fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson's (T-AO 194) crew of civil service mariners rescued five Filipino fishermen from the South China Sea 10 miles off the coast of Luzon, Philippines, July 14.

John Ericsson's crew rescued the fishermen nine hours after their boat capsized in rough seas as Typhoon Conson passed over the island of Luzon.

Ericsson had sortied from Subic Bay to sea July 13 to avoid the storm and was returning to Subic Bay when Able Bodied Seaman Charles Wright spotted the fishermen at 1:10 p.m., clinging to their overturned banka boat and waving a yellow flag.

At 1:33 p.m., Ericsson lowered its rigid hull inflatable boat into the sea, and 10 minutes later all five fishermen were safe on Ericsson's deck, where a physician examined them.

"They were a bit shaken up because the seas were rough, but otherwise were in good health and happy to be on our ship," said Tiffany Brockman, Ericsson's chief mate. "We gave them fresh clothing, new socks and boots and a nice meal."

A few hours after their rescue, the fishermen were ashore and handed over to the care of the Philippine Coast Guard.

"The crew was pretty excited to have played a role in helping these fishermen," said Brockman, noting that the Ericsson had several Tagalog-speaking members in its crew, making communication easy. "At first, nobody was happy that we had to sortie due to the typhoon, but being able to help these mariners in need made it all worth it."

Ericsson is a Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler, crewed by 92 civil service mariners working for MSC, who operate and navigate the ship, and three sailors who provide communications support and supply coordination. The ship provides underway replenishment of fuel to Navy combat ships and jet fuel for aircraft aboard aircraft carriers at sea.

Hickam's total force integration, F-22s strengthen warfighting might in Pacific

by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
15th Wing Public Affairs

7/14/2010 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) -- Total force integration set the stage for the Hawaii National Guard, alongside Airmen from the Pacific Air Forces, as they marked the arrival of the first pair of F-22 Raptors during a ceremony here July 9.

The Raptors' arrival to the 199th Fighter Squadron and the 15th Wing marks the first Air National Guard lead F-22 association in the nation. This partnership is a "reverse association," where the active-duty counterpart will soon re-activate the 19th Fighter Squadron.

"This construct marks an important partnership between the National Guard and the active-duty forces," said Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the National Guard Bureau chief. "I couldn't be more proud ... about taking pride in total force integration. I think it's a crown jewel, in all of our services, to have this type of team spirit here in evidence today."

The ceremony marked the beginning of the newest partnership between the Hawaii Air National Guard and the active-duty Air Force flying the "fifth generation" fighter at Hickam Air Force Base. The F-22s will be flown by pilots from the 199th Fighter Squadron, 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard, and active-duty pilots from the 19th Fighter Squadron. The aircraft will also be maintained by a combination of Hawaii Air National Guardsmen and active-duty Airmen.

"Total force integration is a force multiplier," said Lt. Col. Harvey Newton, the 15th Operations Group and incoming 19th Fighter Squadron commander. "We bring the best of both together and capitalize on each other's strengths. The Air National Guard has highly experienced pilots, operations personnel and maintenance professionals who are the best at what they do."

From experiences in the field and at home, Colonel Newton said he believes each group is great at what they do because they have spent years honing their trades to become the best. The active component brings a breadth of experience from around the combat air forces and a full-time work force that can be tasked at anytime.

"We have recognized the synergy that is gained from (total force integration), and it has become the Combat Air Forces model," Colonel Newton said. "The HIANG (Hawaii Air National Guard) is a highly respected ... unit and their merits stand on their own. (Total force integration) will only help the HIANG and 15th wing to reach new heights."

Those new heights will come in the way of increased operations tempo as the Hawaii F-22 squadron is only one of seven operational squadrons, Colonel Newton said.

Until now, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, has been the exclusive home to the F-22 in the Pacific Air Forces area of operations. The introduction of the most advanced fighter jet in the world further strengthens the Pacific.

"We owe it to our nation, and her protected citizens, to equip our Airmen, our nation's sons and daughters, with the very best that we can," said Gen. Gary L. North, the Pacific Air Forces commander. "The F-22's advanced technologies are an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities for the U.S. forces. Alongside our superb Airmen who operate, maintain, support this aircraft, it represents an overmatching capability to any known or projected adversary fighter aircraft."

The arrival of the F-22 reverse association at Hickam AFB is not a new concept for these Airmen working side-by-side. The active-duty and guard members already share the C-17 Globemaster III in a traditional association where the active-duty Airmen take the lead.

"Our Airmen in uniform, alongside their civilian counterparts, form the total force integration of active association initiatives where the Hawaii Air National Guard has the lead and our active-duty Airmen will operate alongside," General North said. "This partnership ... forms the bond in testament of our total force and it is the envy of the world."

The F-22s will replace the F-15 Eagles that the 199th Fighter Squadron has flown since 1987. The F-22 is designed to counter lethal threats posed by advanced surface-to-air missile systems and next-generation fighters equipped with a launch-and-leave missile capability.

For Colonel Newton, an F-22 pilot, there isn't an amusement park or thrill ride on the face of the planet that measures up to flying the most advanced fighter jet known to man.

"Imagine the best amusement park and the best ride and then quadruple the experience -- and that is what it feels like to fly the F-22," he said. "It is awesome."

Air Force officials launch new uniform website

by Staff Sgt. Steve Grever
Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

7/14/2010 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials launched a new public website this month to help educate and inform Airmen about the service's dress and appearance standards and policies.

Air Force Directorate of Service's Uniforms and Recognition Branch officials, in conjunction with officials from the Air Force Personnel Center and several other agencies, created the website that features interactive slideshows, uniform regulations, detailed photos and uniform policy updates from the Air Force Uniform Board.

The new website was developed to be a comprehensive online resource that is available 24/7 for Airmen stationed around the world, said Ruth Ewalt, the Air Force Uniforms and Recognition Branch director.

"We wanted to create a place where all Airmen can view any uniform combination in detail," Mrs. Ewalt said. "This eliminates confusing rumors about the latest versions of Air Force uniforms."

Airmen also wanted an uncomplicated website that was user friendly and did not require excessive navigation to find information about different combinations of the Air Force uniform, Mrs. Ewalt said.

"We needed a website that would not take more than two or three clicks of the mouse to get an answer to a uniform inquiry," she said.

Having this information on a public website ensures uniform changes and updates are readily available to the field, rather than waiting for updates to Air Force Instruction 36-2903, which is being revised.

"The information will be updated quicker and more effectively," she said.

Putting the website in the public domain allows users to access it without their common access card, which is helpful for Airmen researching uniform information from computers or smart phones off the military network.

While the new site will be a valuable resource, Airmen should continue to work through their chain of command for clarification and guidance on Air Force dress and appearance standards and policies.

For more information, visit the Air Force Dress and Appearance public website at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dress/index.asp

56th Medical Group Airmen provide medical support in Haiti

by Army Spc. Jessica M. Lopez
Task Force Public Affairs

7/14/2010 - MANDRIN, Haiti (AFNS) -- Airmen with the 56th Medical Group at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., provided general medical health care at the U.S. Army South New Horizons-Haiti 2010 Task Force Kout Men Ennery medical assistance site here June 13.

New Horizons officials, in partnership with officials from the government of Haiti, are conducting various medical, dental and engineering missions for people in Gonaives, Haiti.

"We have a medical team with nine providers," said Col. Tom Steinbrunner, the deputy commander of the 56th Medical Group.

The medical team is providing general medicine, optometry and dental support.

Task Force Kout Men was asked by Haitian officials to provide health care to this area where they normally do not have access to adequate primary care, Colonel Steinbrunner said. "This area has a very small clinic that does not have the ability to meet the needs of the patients here.

"This is a part if the country that is not reached much by (non-governmental organizations)," Colonel Steinbrunner said.

In addition to providing medical care to the people of Haiti, New Horizons also provides training in a real-world environment for servicemembers.

For the majority of the team, it's their first deployment; very few have been on a humanitarian mission, Colonel Steinbrunner said. "This is a great opportunity for them to learn the deployed environment and also be able to provide care outside of the country."

"I am getting lots of hands-on experience," said Airman Michael Palmer, a medical services apprentice with the 56th Medical Operations Squadron. "Some of the things we learned in the clinic were a little bit improvised here in the field.

"I did an ear irrigation, and I had to modify some of the equipment," Airman Palmer said. "We don't have the same equipment out here as we do back in the clinic. We kind of make do with what we have and make things work.

"Everyone is working well together," Airman Palmer said. "The providers take their time and are excellent to work with."

The 56th Medical Group is scheduled to operate here through July 21.

Vinson Celebrates 200,000 Traps

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Zachary Bell, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) reached a historic milestone with the success of its 200,000th trap on its flight deck July 13.

Vinson celebrated with two ceremonies, where cakes were presented in Wardroom III to the aviators who landed the EA-18G Growler, and in Arresting Gear Room 4, to the Sailors manning the V-2 engine room who manned the arresting gear for the landmark trap.

Lt. Ben Hartman and Lt. Ian Hudson, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, said they were honored and surprised to learn they got the 200,000th trap.

"It feels good to be part of Carl Vinson's history. It's a new community we're apart of, so everything is new and exciting," said Hudson. "It takes 25 years plus to accumulate 200,000 traps on an aircraft carrier. It's really surprising we got the 200,000th."

The aviators expressed how proud they were to be manning the aircraft, but also recognized the Sailors who made this monumental achievement possible.

"It definitely feels good, but it's more of a testament to the guys working on the flight deck and the arresting gear. They're the ones working hard all day every day," said Hartman.

The team that was working hard to catch Hudson and Hartman's plane was Air Department's V-2 Division. The aircraft was caught by the arresting gear on the fourth wire, which was being manned by Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Shawn Greer.

"I'm honored to be apart of Carl Vinson's history and V-2's history with arresting gear," said Greer. "Working in the V-2 engine room can be high pressured because it's not just the pilot's lives on our hands, but everyone working on the flight deck as well. That's why me and my boys in the V-2 Division always execute the highest level of safety."

V-2 Division is responsible for the safe recovery of all aircraft on the ship's flight deck. V-2 performs maintenance on industrial cables which catch the planes, as well as the hydraulic machinery that assists in stopping them.

"This is a testament to the kind of Sailors we've had working this flight deck for the past 28 years," said Cmdr. Richard Wiley, Carl Vinson's air department head. "Two-hundred thousand traps means we've done it right, and we've done it safely for a long, long time. Carl Vinson, also known as the 'Gold Eagle,' has built a legacy of excellence, and it's been built by the Sailors we had out there today and the men and women who served before them."

George Washington Sailor Aids in Rescue of Fuji Hiker

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Devon Dow, USS George Washington Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to USS George Washington (CVN 73) assisted in the rescue of an American tourist July 8 while climbing Japan's world famous Mount Fuji. Lt. Jay Furman, a George Washington assistant strike operator officer and a native of Austin, Texas, assisted Mr. Erwin Kuhns, an 84-year-old American tourist also climbing Fuji. "I did anything that anyone else would have done in my situation on that mountain," said Furman. "There was someone who needed assistance, and I had the abilities to take care of the situation. I was blown away at how appreciative everyone was and have been since that day."

Furman, an avid outdoors man, began his 12,388-foot journey up Fuji around noon, although he had initially planned to begin his journey up the mountain before daybreak.

"With the ship being in for a few days, I didn't want to miss the chance of climbing Fuji before we had to return to sea," said Furman.

Furman reached the summit of Fuji, a feat typically taking five to six hours, in four hours.

"It was a gloomy day to climb," said Furman. "The weather conditions were not in the hiker's favor to see any views from the top. It was windy, cold and there was a drizzly haze that would not go away that day."

While descending the mountain, Furman came across Kuhns, a hiker who had become separated from his son during their trek down the mountain, and noticed the man was having difficulties.

"He looked physically worn out," said Furman.

Furman began to assist Kuhns back down the mountain, learning that Kuhns was a U.S. Navy coxswain's mate in World War II on a landing ship, ferrying troops to the beaches of Normandy during D-Day. Furman also learned that Kuhns had climbed Fuji more than 60 years ago and recently returned to climb it again with his son.

After carrying Kuhns some distance down the mountain, Furman noticed the sun was setting and the weather was worsening. He realized that he and Kuhns were the only ones left on the trail and that Kuhn's condition was continuing to deteriorate.

"I pulled us to the side of the hiking trail and tried to find shelter due to the blowing and freezing rain at the time," said Furman. "Once I did that, I climbed a little crevice nearby to try to get a cell phone signal."

After not being able to get in contact with the Fuji park rangers, Furman was able to contact the Navy liaison at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for assistance. Informing them of his situation, they immediately called the Japanese police and alerted authorities about the men on Fuji. The Japanese police and park rangers arrived to the base of the mountain and began to search for the men.

Hours passed as Furman assisted in guiding the rescue team to his location by using a hiking trail map, his cell phone, a flashlight and whistle that he brought along for the hike. His constant communication with the Japanese rescue team led to the end of his and Kuhns ordeal around 10 p.m. July 8.

Kuhns, now reunited with his son, was sent to the hospital and treated for dehydration and exposure. Furman, who was graciously thanked for his efforts by the entire rescue team and Japanese police on site, was escorted to the police station to fill out some paperwork.

"When I went to the police station to fill out the report, the police chief asked for my work number," said Furman.

The police chief called Furman's commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas Bush, to thank him personally for Furman's assistance on Fuji.

"Lt. Furman is a model officer in all respects," Bush said. "Therefore, I was not surprised to hear he took charge of the situation on the mountain and saw things through to a safe and successful outcome."

Furman's service to the Navy and forward deployed naval forces will continue beyond his tenure aboard George Washington. According to Bush, Furman was recently selected to become the next flag aide to Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, commander, Carrier Strike Group 5/Task Force 70.

"I have no doubt Furman will excel in that role," said Bush.

While overseas, U.S. service members serve as ambassadors who are held to an exceptional standard when stationed in host countries and visiting ports of call. Furman said his efforts to help Kuhns would not have been possible without the work between himself and the Japanese law enforcement.

Furman's climb to the top of Fuji and rescue of a fellow shipmate and World War II veteran was an adventure Furman said he will long remember.

"Mr. Kuhns is an amazing man I'll never forget," he said. "I'd be darned if he didn't do what he said he would and climb the mountain again at 84-years-old. Now that is impressive."