By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
June 6, 2007 – America's servicemembers are the best-equipped in the world, and people could see and touch an array of all-new or improved military equipment on exhibit on Capitol Hill here today. Attendees examined a revamped Land Warrior ground-soldier system, inspected improved body armor, tasted the latest field rations and viewed a new aerial cargo delivery system along with more equipment on display at the one-day exhibit held inside the Rayburn House Office Building. The exhibit is co-sponsored by the U.S. Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass., and Program Executive Office Soldier based at Fort Belvoir, Va.
The Army's Land Warrior individual combat system was a popular exhibit. Land Warrior is a prototype system that harnesses computer technology and earth-orbiting satellites to boost an infantryman's survivability on the battlefield, while providing senior leaders with real-time information about the situation on the ground, said Army Sgt. Philip Morici, an infantryman who demonstrates the Land Warrior system.
In development since the early 1990s, the current version of Land Warrior is "a great system, but it's obviously not the end-result of what we want," Morici said as he hefted a specially-equipped M-4 carbine that is integrated with the Land Warrior system.
Land Warrior is now being tested by an Army unit in Iraq, the sergeant noted.
"We're slowly getting the info back and we're making the changes we need to," Morici said.
Recent improvements to Land Warrior resulted in an 8-pound weight loss compared to the previous edition, Morici said. Future versions of Land Warrior will likely be smaller, lighter, and be wireless and voice-activated, he predicted.
The improved armored tactical vest now being fielded provides servicemembers with the best protection available, said Francis Hayden, a soldier survivability expert with Program Executive Office Soldier at Fort Belvoir.
The improved vest now weighs 29 pounds for a size medium, a 4-pound weight reduction, Hayden said. It features a new, tailored fit, he noted, that in tandem with expanded sizes for longer torsos, provides increased area of protection coverage.
The vest also has a weight re-distributing internal waistband that makes it more comfortable to wear. The vest still incorporates ceramic-plate inserts that will stop a variety of small-arms projectiles, Hayden noted.
"It provides full, 360-degrees protection on the torso," Hayden said of the new vest, noting it includes detachable protection for the upper arms and groin. The new vest also features a pull-release device for quick removal in case of emergencies, he noted.
"The Interceptor body armor is the best body armor, right now, that we have out on the street for our soldiers," Hayden emphasized.
And, thanks to the new Unitized Group Ration Express, also called "Kitchen in a Carton," U.S. servicemembers deployed to austere locales will soon be able to enjoy hot meals even though there's no dining facility in sight, said Gerald Darsch, director for DoD Combat Feeding at the Natick facility.
The Kitchen in a Carton system is self-heating and features menu items such as turkey dinner with gravy, Darsch said.
"It requires no cook, no fuel, no equipment and no power," he explained, noting each self-contained system is designed to be air-dropped, weighs 40 pounds and feeds 18 servicemembers.
Kitchen in a Carton, Darsch said, is one of two newly developed military field rations. The other new field food is called the "First-Strike Ration," he said, and it's designed for troops on the move.
The all-in-one ration is designed to replace multi-component meals-ready-to-eat, Darsch said, noting they contain about 3,000 calories, enough to feed a warfighter for one day.
"Everything contained in that First-Strike Ration is designed to be consumed on the move," Darsch explained. "Even the beverages come in an ergonomically designed pouch, where you don't have to fumble with the canteen or the canteen cup." Officials hope to field this new ration soon, he said.
And, through the new Joint Precision Airdrop System, the U.S. military has developed a novel method to aerially deliver rations, fuel, ammunition and other vital supplies to troops in the field.
After exiting a cargo plane flying as high as 25,000 feet above the ground, the computer-controlled JPADS parachute system "self-maneuvers using Global Positioning System coordinates to a drop zone as small as 100 meters," Ed Doucette, Natick's director of air delivery and warfighter protection, explained. Computer-controlled twisting or warping of the system's wing-shaped parachute causes the airborne payload to turn left or right, he noted.
A 2,000-pound payload version of the JPADS system has been used in Afghanistan, Doucette said, noting another system with a 10,000-pound capacity also has been developed.
"There are further plans to deploy more of those (2,000-pound systems) over the next six months, and then rapidly field the 10,000-pound systems, as well," Doucette noted.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Navy to Commission New Guided Missile Destroyer KIDD
The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, the USS Kidd, Saturday, June 9, 2007, during an 8 p.m. CDT ceremony in Galveston, Texas.
Designated hull number DDG 100, the new destroyer honors Medal of Honor recipient Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd Sr. On Dec. 7, 1941, Kidd was commander of Battleship Division One and the senior officer present afloat during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From the bridge of his flagship, the USS Arizona, Kidd directed the counterattack against enemy aircraft until the magazine of Arizona exploded by enemy ordnance, eventually sinking the ship. Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Regina Kidd Wolbarsht and Mary Corrinne Kidd Plumer will serve as sponsors of the ship named for their grandfather.
Two previous U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in honor of Kidd. The first ship was a Fletcher-class destroyer that was in service from 1943-1974. It is now a floating veterans' memorial and museum in Baton Rouge, La. The second, the lead ship of the Kidd-class destroyers, was also built at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. It served from 1981-1998 and was sold to Taiwan in 2004 and renamed Tzuo-Ying, and given the hull number designation DDG 1803.
The newest USS Kidd is the 50th ship in the Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers. This multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of strategic maritime operations. Kidd will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously.
Cmdr. Richard E. Thomas of Westwood, N.J., is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead her crew of 276 officers and sailors. The 9,200-ton Kidd has an overall length of 511 feet, a waterline beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 33 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
For more information on Arleigh Burke class destroyers, visit http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=900&ct=4.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Designated hull number DDG 100, the new destroyer honors Medal of Honor recipient Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd Sr. On Dec. 7, 1941, Kidd was commander of Battleship Division One and the senior officer present afloat during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From the bridge of his flagship, the USS Arizona, Kidd directed the counterattack against enemy aircraft until the magazine of Arizona exploded by enemy ordnance, eventually sinking the ship. Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Regina Kidd Wolbarsht and Mary Corrinne Kidd Plumer will serve as sponsors of the ship named for their grandfather.
Two previous U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in honor of Kidd. The first ship was a Fletcher-class destroyer that was in service from 1943-1974. It is now a floating veterans' memorial and museum in Baton Rouge, La. The second, the lead ship of the Kidd-class destroyers, was also built at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. It served from 1981-1998 and was sold to Taiwan in 2004 and renamed Tzuo-Ying, and given the hull number designation DDG 1803.
The newest USS Kidd is the 50th ship in the Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers. This multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of strategic maritime operations. Kidd will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously.
Cmdr. Richard E. Thomas of Westwood, N.J., is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead her crew of 276 officers and sailors. The 9,200-ton Kidd has an overall length of 511 feet, a waterline beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 33 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
For more information on Arleigh Burke class destroyers, visit http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=900&ct=4.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Vice Chairman Receives Honorary Doctorate
By Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff accepted an honorary doctor of engineering degree during a ceremony at the City Center here June 3. Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani was awarded the degree by Polytechnic University of Brooklyn, the second-oldest private engineering school in the United States.
Jerry M. Hultin, the president of the university, nominated the admiral for the degree. Hultin served as undersecretary of the Navy from 1997 to 2000.
Along with the admiral, two other people were on hand to receive their honorary doctorates. Padmasree Warrior, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Motorola, and William A. Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, also received honorary doctor of engineering degrees. The ceremony also was the commencement for 22 doctorate recipients, 452 master's degree recipients and 332 bachelor's degree recipients.
During the citation reading by a Polytechnic staff member, Giambastiani was cited for his visionary leadership on land and sea and for his commitment to the development of new technologies and experimental processes.
Before the admiral addressed the crowd, a member of Polytechnic's teaching staff came forward to say he objected to the admiral receiving the degree because of the war in Iraq. When Giambastiani arrived at the podium to deliver remarks, the admiral addressed the staff member's comments.
"I do what I do, and we as an armed forces do what we do, so that gentleman who just spoke can do what he just did. That's democracy in this country," Giambastiani said, sparking applause from the audience.
During the admiral's speech, he addressed the university's proud history of graduates, who have created technological advances such as the Panama Canal lock system, Teflon and even light beer. He also said it was imperative for the graduates to apply innovation to their life's work.
"I would summarize my advice to you today in a simple phrase: innovate or perish," the admiral said.
He said the first key part to innovation is questioning assumptions.
"Questioning assumptions sounds easier than it is. Assumptions make our life easy. Lots of people have lots of time, energy and money invested in status quo assumptions. Because of the way that assumptions form the way we think and analyze, it may be hard to identify an assumption as an assumption," he said. "But if you approach every problem and every opportunity by looking for and questioning assumptions, you'll be ahead of the 'innovation curve.'"
Giambastiani said a way to spur innovation is to form partnerships.
"I always look for opportunities to partner with individuals and organizations that think differently than I do. As a commanding officer, I would pay close attention to my chaplain, my lawyer and my public affairs officer just because they approach problems and opportunities in a different way, and they made me think deeper and better about issues," he said. "As a senior military leader, I sought partnerships between my commands and industry, academia, think tanks and thought leaders for exactly the same reason."
The admiral said that besides the intellectual benefits, partnerships also are a great way to share risk and expand opportunities. He added that organizations that wish to achieve innovation need to dedicate time, money and people to the task.
"Big organizations -- and you will go on to lead big organizations -- need to have a group of smart people who wake up every day thinking about how to innovate," he said. "Then you need to empower them to go make innovation happen by investing time, money and energy in their work. Every time I have been able to do this in my military career, it has repaid the investment many times over."
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Staff Public Affairs Office.)
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff accepted an honorary doctor of engineering degree during a ceremony at the City Center here June 3. Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani was awarded the degree by Polytechnic University of Brooklyn, the second-oldest private engineering school in the United States.
Jerry M. Hultin, the president of the university, nominated the admiral for the degree. Hultin served as undersecretary of the Navy from 1997 to 2000.
Along with the admiral, two other people were on hand to receive their honorary doctorates. Padmasree Warrior, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Motorola, and William A. Wulf, president of the National Academy of Engineering, also received honorary doctor of engineering degrees. The ceremony also was the commencement for 22 doctorate recipients, 452 master's degree recipients and 332 bachelor's degree recipients.
During the citation reading by a Polytechnic staff member, Giambastiani was cited for his visionary leadership on land and sea and for his commitment to the development of new technologies and experimental processes.
Before the admiral addressed the crowd, a member of Polytechnic's teaching staff came forward to say he objected to the admiral receiving the degree because of the war in Iraq. When Giambastiani arrived at the podium to deliver remarks, the admiral addressed the staff member's comments.
"I do what I do, and we as an armed forces do what we do, so that gentleman who just spoke can do what he just did. That's democracy in this country," Giambastiani said, sparking applause from the audience.
During the admiral's speech, he addressed the university's proud history of graduates, who have created technological advances such as the Panama Canal lock system, Teflon and even light beer. He also said it was imperative for the graduates to apply innovation to their life's work.
"I would summarize my advice to you today in a simple phrase: innovate or perish," the admiral said.
He said the first key part to innovation is questioning assumptions.
"Questioning assumptions sounds easier than it is. Assumptions make our life easy. Lots of people have lots of time, energy and money invested in status quo assumptions. Because of the way that assumptions form the way we think and analyze, it may be hard to identify an assumption as an assumption," he said. "But if you approach every problem and every opportunity by looking for and questioning assumptions, you'll be ahead of the 'innovation curve.'"
Giambastiani said a way to spur innovation is to form partnerships.
"I always look for opportunities to partner with individuals and organizations that think differently than I do. As a commanding officer, I would pay close attention to my chaplain, my lawyer and my public affairs officer just because they approach problems and opportunities in a different way, and they made me think deeper and better about issues," he said. "As a senior military leader, I sought partnerships between my commands and industry, academia, think tanks and thought leaders for exactly the same reason."
The admiral said that besides the intellectual benefits, partnerships also are a great way to share risk and expand opportunities. He added that organizations that wish to achieve innovation need to dedicate time, money and people to the task.
"Big organizations -- and you will go on to lead big organizations -- need to have a group of smart people who wake up every day thinking about how to innovate," he said. "Then you need to empower them to go make innovation happen by investing time, money and energy in their work. Every time I have been able to do this in my military career, it has repaid the investment many times over."
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Staff Public Affairs Office.)
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Positive Attitude, Physical Therapy Turns Things Around for Amputees
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – Working with Army Pfc. Randy Gollinger is, to say the least, challenging. When asked, his physical therapist, Bunnie Wyckoff, used the words "challenging" and "challenge" at least four times to describe her work with Gollinger.
"He's challenging. He was very difficult to motivate in the beginning. He turned around like most of the guys do. He's doing fine now. But he likes to challenge me all the way. I'm up for the challenge. I enjoy it," she said.
"He's a challenge," she said again, and laughed.
"I'm a pain in the butt," Gollinger corrected her, and then he laughed.
To be sure, if laughter is the best medicine, Gollinger, a military policeman injured by an explosive device while patrolling in Baghdad, is well on his way to a speedy recovery. An amputee who lost a leg and an eye, Gollinger is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. He keeps Wyckoff on her toes and in stitches at the same time. The two go back and forth like kin, verbally poking and picking.
Wyckoff has been on staff at the center for more than three years and has personally worked with nearly half of the amputees who've received care there. She meets them bedside when they are first brought to the center and follows them through their care -- from being wheeled into the therapy room to, hopefully, walking out on their own.
"I love it here. I love to see the fact that people improve and they get back to living a life that's meaningful to them," Wyckoff said.
Wyckoff works with seven to 10 patients daily. Some are more independent and work through much of their therapy on their own, she said.
The physical therapy room is large, white and full of commotion. Low, padded tables cut through the center of the room providing areas for patients to lie, sit, exercise or rest. Amputees at various stages of therapy go about their recovery in a deliberate, although sometimes frustrating, fashion. Some work on upper body strength with familiar exercises like push ups; others practice walking; and some get help stretching from family members.
Exercise machines are stationed for walking and biking in the physical therapy room. Peer amputee visitors mingle and encourage, and there is even a therapy dog, Troy, who drops a tennis ball at the base of patients' wheelchairs in hopes that it will get thrown and he will get to chase. Some do, some don't, but eventually Troy finds someone who is willing to give the ball a fling across the room.
During this therapy session, Gollinger literally pulled Wyckoff around the outside of the main hospital building. Using a rubber band connected to a belt at Gollinger's waist, Wyckoff held and resisted as Gollinger stepped around the building in a race against fellow amputee Army Sgt. Kevin Brown. Gollinger lost.
Using the same resistance, Gollinger followed up his loss with an indoor race against Brown, maneuvering down a row of colored cones, stopping to squat using his prosthetic leg and touching the cone with his other leg. This race he won, although Wyckoff jokingly accused him of cheating. Friendly competition keeps the therapy fun, Gollinger said.
But the exercises have purpose, each targeting specific areas and concentrating on particular elements of recovery.
The exercises in this session help with balance and confidence using the prosthetic leg, Wyckoff said.
"We want them to be able to control the knee prosthetic, while they are squatting down. They need to be able to learn to pick things up off the floor," she said.
Gollinger has served in the Army for one and a half years, and he has spent nearly half of that time at Walter Reed. Therapy wasn't always as fun for him as it is now.
"At first I was very bitter. I didn't really care. Now it's just kind of like my second home," he said.
"Medically I died twice. I'm pretty thankful to be here today at all, let alone just missing an eye and a leg. You can't really complain about that," he said.
A year-round athlete in high school, Gollinger said he joined the Army to "get out and see the world." He also hoped to get money for college and eventually play college sports.
The 20-year-old said he thought his life was over when he found out his leg was amputated. But therapy and a positive attitude turned it around for him. The New York state native said he plans to enroll in college there to become a teacher and hopes to eventually hit the athletic fields again.
"I went through a really hard time trying to adapt and find things that would interest me," he said. "I figured my life was pretty much over with as far as stuff I liked to do, but I've been reassured that, depending on how good I get, I'll be able to play softball."
Gollinger said his therapy improved when his attitude improved. "As soon as I was mentally prepared ... everything else just took off, and I've been going nowhere else but up," he said.
"How bad do you want it? I want it bad now. Before, I didn't want it bad at all. Riding a wheel chair, I figured, would be my first means of transportation," Gollinger said. "The more I see everybody else I know getting up and walking, the more I realize that I don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life."
Gollinger offered simple advice to those who follow in his footsteps at the center.
"Don't wait for things to happen. Make them happen. Keep your head up. Others have been there. And we're going to help," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – Working with Army Pfc. Randy Gollinger is, to say the least, challenging. When asked, his physical therapist, Bunnie Wyckoff, used the words "challenging" and "challenge" at least four times to describe her work with Gollinger.
"He's challenging. He was very difficult to motivate in the beginning. He turned around like most of the guys do. He's doing fine now. But he likes to challenge me all the way. I'm up for the challenge. I enjoy it," she said.
"He's a challenge," she said again, and laughed.
"I'm a pain in the butt," Gollinger corrected her, and then he laughed.
To be sure, if laughter is the best medicine, Gollinger, a military policeman injured by an explosive device while patrolling in Baghdad, is well on his way to a speedy recovery. An amputee who lost a leg and an eye, Gollinger is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. He keeps Wyckoff on her toes and in stitches at the same time. The two go back and forth like kin, verbally poking and picking.
Wyckoff has been on staff at the center for more than three years and has personally worked with nearly half of the amputees who've received care there. She meets them bedside when they are first brought to the center and follows them through their care -- from being wheeled into the therapy room to, hopefully, walking out on their own.
"I love it here. I love to see the fact that people improve and they get back to living a life that's meaningful to them," Wyckoff said.
Wyckoff works with seven to 10 patients daily. Some are more independent and work through much of their therapy on their own, she said.
The physical therapy room is large, white and full of commotion. Low, padded tables cut through the center of the room providing areas for patients to lie, sit, exercise or rest. Amputees at various stages of therapy go about their recovery in a deliberate, although sometimes frustrating, fashion. Some work on upper body strength with familiar exercises like push ups; others practice walking; and some get help stretching from family members.
Exercise machines are stationed for walking and biking in the physical therapy room. Peer amputee visitors mingle and encourage, and there is even a therapy dog, Troy, who drops a tennis ball at the base of patients' wheelchairs in hopes that it will get thrown and he will get to chase. Some do, some don't, but eventually Troy finds someone who is willing to give the ball a fling across the room.
During this therapy session, Gollinger literally pulled Wyckoff around the outside of the main hospital building. Using a rubber band connected to a belt at Gollinger's waist, Wyckoff held and resisted as Gollinger stepped around the building in a race against fellow amputee Army Sgt. Kevin Brown. Gollinger lost.
Using the same resistance, Gollinger followed up his loss with an indoor race against Brown, maneuvering down a row of colored cones, stopping to squat using his prosthetic leg and touching the cone with his other leg. This race he won, although Wyckoff jokingly accused him of cheating. Friendly competition keeps the therapy fun, Gollinger said.
But the exercises have purpose, each targeting specific areas and concentrating on particular elements of recovery.
The exercises in this session help with balance and confidence using the prosthetic leg, Wyckoff said.
"We want them to be able to control the knee prosthetic, while they are squatting down. They need to be able to learn to pick things up off the floor," she said.
Gollinger has served in the Army for one and a half years, and he has spent nearly half of that time at Walter Reed. Therapy wasn't always as fun for him as it is now.
"At first I was very bitter. I didn't really care. Now it's just kind of like my second home," he said.
"Medically I died twice. I'm pretty thankful to be here today at all, let alone just missing an eye and a leg. You can't really complain about that," he said.
A year-round athlete in high school, Gollinger said he joined the Army to "get out and see the world." He also hoped to get money for college and eventually play college sports.
The 20-year-old said he thought his life was over when he found out his leg was amputated. But therapy and a positive attitude turned it around for him. The New York state native said he plans to enroll in college there to become a teacher and hopes to eventually hit the athletic fields again.
"I went through a really hard time trying to adapt and find things that would interest me," he said. "I figured my life was pretty much over with as far as stuff I liked to do, but I've been reassured that, depending on how good I get, I'll be able to play softball."
Gollinger said his therapy improved when his attitude improved. "As soon as I was mentally prepared ... everything else just took off, and I've been going nowhere else but up," he said.
"How bad do you want it? I want it bad now. Before, I didn't want it bad at all. Riding a wheel chair, I figured, would be my first means of transportation," Gollinger said. "The more I see everybody else I know getting up and walking, the more I realize that I don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life."
Gollinger offered simple advice to those who follow in his footsteps at the center.
"Don't wait for things to happen. Make them happen. Keep your head up. Others have been there. And we're going to help," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates 'Puzzled' By Russian Response to U.S. Missile Defense Plans
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today that he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "are both puzzled by what the Russians are doing" in response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites in Eastern Europe. Speaking at a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, Gates said the two leaders had discussed the issue, including "some of the public statements coming out of Russia recently, especially by President (Vladimir) Putin."
Putin, who has accused the United States of trying to start an arms race, ordered test-firing of new missiles this week.
For the first time in history, the leaders of the U.S. State and Defense departments both have doctorates in Russian studies -- and both are baffled by Russia's activities, Gates noted today.
"I think it is important to be flexible in addressing their concerns on a number of different issues," he said. "At the same time, we should not be in the position of allowing them to obstruct further progress in a number of areas.
"But above all," he said, "we would prefer that they partner with us and be allies in pursuing a number of these initiatives."
Morin declined to state France's specific position on the missile issue, but said it's in nobody's interest to "create conditions that recall older times." He emphasized the need for "constructive dialog with our Russian friends."
During a June 3 question-and-answer session at the Asian Security Summit in Singapore, Gates emphasized that the missile defenses in question wouldn't be technically advanced enough to threaten Russia. Rather, he said, they would be designed to counter rogue countries or terrorist groups.
"In neither case is the ballistic missile defense aimed at weakening the deterrent of either China or Russia," he said.
Gates said the United States will explore "anything we can do to provide transparency on that point and help people understand the capabilities (and) characteristics of the system."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today that he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "are both puzzled by what the Russians are doing" in response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites in Eastern Europe. Speaking at a joint news conference with French Defense Minister Herve Morin, Gates said the two leaders had discussed the issue, including "some of the public statements coming out of Russia recently, especially by President (Vladimir) Putin."
Putin, who has accused the United States of trying to start an arms race, ordered test-firing of new missiles this week.
For the first time in history, the leaders of the U.S. State and Defense departments both have doctorates in Russian studies -- and both are baffled by Russia's activities, Gates noted today.
"I think it is important to be flexible in addressing their concerns on a number of different issues," he said. "At the same time, we should not be in the position of allowing them to obstruct further progress in a number of areas.
"But above all," he said, "we would prefer that they partner with us and be allies in pursuing a number of these initiatives."
Morin declined to state France's specific position on the missile issue, but said it's in nobody's interest to "create conditions that recall older times." He emphasized the need for "constructive dialog with our Russian friends."
During a June 3 question-and-answer session at the Asian Security Summit in Singapore, Gates emphasized that the missile defenses in question wouldn't be technically advanced enough to threaten Russia. Rather, he said, they would be designed to counter rogue countries or terrorist groups.
"In neither case is the ballistic missile defense aimed at weakening the deterrent of either China or Russia," he said.
Gates said the United States will explore "anything we can do to provide transparency on that point and help people understand the capabilities (and) characteristics of the system."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates, French Defense Minister Reaffirm Defense Ties
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Meeting here today on the eve of the 63rd anniversary of the D-Day invasion, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and French Defense Minister Herve Morin agreed to work toward strengthening their two countries' historic ties. Morin told reporters after a 45-minute session with Gates that he considers it "a great honor" that Gates is the first foreign defense leader to visit since Morin took office two weeks ago.
Gates called today's meeting "a good introductory conversation" that covered a full range of defense issues.
Morin said he and Gates shared many common views during their discussions and agreed that they want to work together and collaborate on a variety of issues.
He reiterated France's support for the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, and the Darfur, Sudan, peacekeeping effort.
Asked about France's commitment to Afghanistan, Morin said: "Our role is not to remain forever." Rather, he said, the goal is to develop and reinforce Afghanistan's own institutions so it can stand on its own. He called training of Afghanistan's security forces a priority.
Both leaders said they look forward to visiting Normandy together tomorrow, the 63rd anniversary of D-Day, when thousands of Americans died storming the beaches. Gates is slated to speak at the American Cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer during ceremonies marking the anniversary.
"At the same time we will memorialize those who gave their lives on D-Day, we will also acknowledge and celebrate the long ties that have bound both the United States and France," Gates said.
Morin told reporters his father reminded him often "how much we owe to all the Allied soldiers, especially the young Americans who came to die on our beaches."
"The American graveyards have a great and deep significance," he said.
Gates' visit follows Nicolas Sarkozy's recent election as France's new president. Sarkozy, who has advocated closer relations with the United States, will meet this week with President Bush and other European, Canadian, Japanese and Russian leaders during the G8 conference in Germany.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Meeting here today on the eve of the 63rd anniversary of the D-Day invasion, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and French Defense Minister Herve Morin agreed to work toward strengthening their two countries' historic ties. Morin told reporters after a 45-minute session with Gates that he considers it "a great honor" that Gates is the first foreign defense leader to visit since Morin took office two weeks ago.
Gates called today's meeting "a good introductory conversation" that covered a full range of defense issues.
Morin said he and Gates shared many common views during their discussions and agreed that they want to work together and collaborate on a variety of issues.
He reiterated France's support for the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, and the Darfur, Sudan, peacekeeping effort.
Asked about France's commitment to Afghanistan, Morin said: "Our role is not to remain forever." Rather, he said, the goal is to develop and reinforce Afghanistan's own institutions so it can stand on its own. He called training of Afghanistan's security forces a priority.
Both leaders said they look forward to visiting Normandy together tomorrow, the 63rd anniversary of D-Day, when thousands of Americans died storming the beaches. Gates is slated to speak at the American Cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer during ceremonies marking the anniversary.
"At the same time we will memorialize those who gave their lives on D-Day, we will also acknowledge and celebrate the long ties that have bound both the United States and France," Gates said.
Morin told reporters his father reminded him often "how much we owe to all the Allied soldiers, especially the young Americans who came to die on our beaches."
"The American graveyards have a great and deep significance," he said.
Gates' visit follows Nicolas Sarkozy's recent election as France's new president. Sarkozy, who has advocated closer relations with the United States, will meet this week with President Bush and other European, Canadian, Japanese and Russian leaders during the G8 conference in Germany.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Actors Honor Real-Life Army Counterparts
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Reality met Hollywood last month when the cast and crew of the Lifetime Network's new series "Army Wives" hosted a picnic honoring real Army wives in Charleston, S.C., where the series is filmed. The actors who hosted the May 5 picnic included Catherine Bell, who played Marine Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie on the long-running CBS series, "JAG." She was joined by actress Kim Delaney, who has had recurring roles on several TV series, including "China Beach." Brigid Brannagh, Sally Pressman and Roland Burton also attended with their "Army" spouses, actors Brain McNamara, Terry Serpico, Jeremy Davidson, Drew Fuller and Wendy Davis.
"This wasn't a mandatory, 'You have to show up for this,'" Regina Galvin, editor of CinCHouse.com, said. "The actors were very interested in really hearing the experiences of these women and where they're coming from.
"There was genuine respect, mutual respect, for what the actors were doing and also for what the Army wives were doing in holding down that home front," she said.
The event, which included pampering for the real-life wives from North Carolina and Kansas, provided an opportunity for Lifetime to publicize its new series. More importantly, however, it allowed the network to bring awareness to Operation Homefront, a troop-support group founded by a military spouse, Galvin said.
Lifetime accomplished this through a short film called "Wives on the Homefront." The film, which runs just over 11 minutes, gives voice to the challenges wives face and their feelings about facing those challenges alone. It also allowed for the cast members to reflect on what they learned during their day with the wives.
"Not enough people know what the wives and families of our troops do and how strong they are and how much support they give our troops," Bell said.
Davis agreed. "These are the women who are really what I consider to be unsung heroes," she said. "These are the women who are raising the children; they're holding down the fort at home."
Jane Biter, wife Army Staff Sgt. Robert Biter, currently serving in Afghanistan, is one of those unsung heroes. She is raising her 7-year-old son and 5- and 2-year-old daughters.
"It's hard having to be both Mommy and Daddy," she said. "But it's workable."
The film also included comments from Stefani Pelkey, a former Army captain, whose husband, also an Army captain, took his life after returning from service in Iraq. "When he came back he was not the same happy-go-lucky person as he was before," Pelkey said. "He was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (and) unfortunately, he was not able to get that help when he needed it."
Pelkey now is a contributor to Operation Homefront's online community, CinCHouse.com, a community of military spouses offering support in all areas of military life. As a representative of Operation Homefront's Wounded Warrior Wives program, she works to help other military spouses identify signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and where to find help.
The new program helps wives of wounded servicemembers navigate the many challenges they may face.
Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
The network of support that the wives offer each other impressed the cast.
"They really look to each other," Fuller said. "It's the best support group I've ever seen."
Missy Reese, an Army wife, said she can always count on other Army wives when she needs anything, and other wives can count on her. "Whatever I need, or whatever they need, we're always there," she said. "It's like a pot of support."
To further express their support and appreciation for the real-life Army wives and the work of Operation Homefront, the cast members helped the wives pack care packages. The boxes were put together to fill orders Operation Homefront received through its "eCarePackage" program.
Through this program, visitors to the Operation Homefront Web site can choose items to fill a care package for a servicemember for just the cost of the shipping and handling.
"Wives on the Homefront" originally aired June 3 on Lifetime TV, the same day as the premiere of "Army Wives." In addition, to the TV program, Lifetime TV is offering blogs from four military spouses, three of whom also contribute to CinCHouse.com.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 5, 2007 – Reality met Hollywood last month when the cast and crew of the Lifetime Network's new series "Army Wives" hosted a picnic honoring real Army wives in Charleston, S.C., where the series is filmed. The actors who hosted the May 5 picnic included Catherine Bell, who played Marine Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie on the long-running CBS series, "JAG." She was joined by actress Kim Delaney, who has had recurring roles on several TV series, including "China Beach." Brigid Brannagh, Sally Pressman and Roland Burton also attended with their "Army" spouses, actors Brain McNamara, Terry Serpico, Jeremy Davidson, Drew Fuller and Wendy Davis.
"This wasn't a mandatory, 'You have to show up for this,'" Regina Galvin, editor of CinCHouse.com, said. "The actors were very interested in really hearing the experiences of these women and where they're coming from.
"There was genuine respect, mutual respect, for what the actors were doing and also for what the Army wives were doing in holding down that home front," she said.
The event, which included pampering for the real-life wives from North Carolina and Kansas, provided an opportunity for Lifetime to publicize its new series. More importantly, however, it allowed the network to bring awareness to Operation Homefront, a troop-support group founded by a military spouse, Galvin said.
Lifetime accomplished this through a short film called "Wives on the Homefront." The film, which runs just over 11 minutes, gives voice to the challenges wives face and their feelings about facing those challenges alone. It also allowed for the cast members to reflect on what they learned during their day with the wives.
"Not enough people know what the wives and families of our troops do and how strong they are and how much support they give our troops," Bell said.
Davis agreed. "These are the women who are really what I consider to be unsung heroes," she said. "These are the women who are raising the children; they're holding down the fort at home."
Jane Biter, wife Army Staff Sgt. Robert Biter, currently serving in Afghanistan, is one of those unsung heroes. She is raising her 7-year-old son and 5- and 2-year-old daughters.
"It's hard having to be both Mommy and Daddy," she said. "But it's workable."
The film also included comments from Stefani Pelkey, a former Army captain, whose husband, also an Army captain, took his life after returning from service in Iraq. "When he came back he was not the same happy-go-lucky person as he was before," Pelkey said. "He was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (and) unfortunately, he was not able to get that help when he needed it."
Pelkey now is a contributor to Operation Homefront's online community, CinCHouse.com, a community of military spouses offering support in all areas of military life. As a representative of Operation Homefront's Wounded Warrior Wives program, she works to help other military spouses identify signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and where to find help.
The new program helps wives of wounded servicemembers navigate the many challenges they may face.
Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
The network of support that the wives offer each other impressed the cast.
"They really look to each other," Fuller said. "It's the best support group I've ever seen."
Missy Reese, an Army wife, said she can always count on other Army wives when she needs anything, and other wives can count on her. "Whatever I need, or whatever they need, we're always there," she said. "It's like a pot of support."
To further express their support and appreciation for the real-life Army wives and the work of Operation Homefront, the cast members helped the wives pack care packages. The boxes were put together to fill orders Operation Homefront received through its "eCarePackage" program.
Through this program, visitors to the Operation Homefront Web site can choose items to fill a care package for a servicemember for just the cost of the shipping and handling.
"Wives on the Homefront" originally aired June 3 on Lifetime TV, the same day as the premiere of "Army Wives." In addition, to the TV program, Lifetime TV is offering blogs from four military spouses, three of whom also contribute to CinCHouse.com.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Terrorists Using Chlorine Car Bombs to Intimidate Iraqis
American Forces Press Service
June 6, 2007 – Anyone who doubts that al Qaeda would use chemical, nuclear or biological weapons need only look at the terror group's attacks in Iraq, Defense officials said. Al Qaeda and affiliated groups have used chlorine gas in attacks against civilians, Iraqi forces and coalition forces at least 15 times since October, according to U.S. officials in Baghdad.
"Chlorine is used by terrorists with the intent to harm or kill large numbers of civilians," an official said. "The attacks show that the terrorists are adaptable, but it reflects more on their maliciousness than their sophistication."
The first documented chlorine attack was Oct. 21, 2006, in Ramadi, a Multinational Force Iraq spokeswoman said. In that attack, terrorists drove a car bomb with 12 120 mm mortar shells and two 100-pound chlorine tanks. The attack wounded three Iraqi police officers and a civilian.
The first attack that received media attention was at Taji, where terrorists remotely detonated a 5-ton truck packed with 100 pounds of high explosives and two 1-ton chlorine tanks. The attack killed one civilian and wounded 114 others.
Other chlorine attacks occurred in Fallujah, Balad and Ramadi. The most recent attack was June 3 against Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Diyala province. Again, a suicide car bomber launched the attack, and officials estimate it included two tanks of chlorine and 1,000 pounds of explosive. The cloud from the attack blew over Warhorse and sickened 65 servicemembers, Multinational Force Iraq officials said. All were examined and returned to duty.
Officials in Baghdad cannot tell from their records if anyone has died from chlorine inhalation. A Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said there are anecdotal reports that while the blasts from the attacks have killed, few have died solely from the gas. "We hear that an old man and some babies may have been killed, but we can't pin that down," the spokesman said.
"We have seen attempts made by insurgent forces - al Qaeda in particular - to use debilitating agents like chlorine in their (improvised explosive devices and car bombs) to cause casualties beyond just concussion and blast," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
Whitman said the attacks have been of limited effectiveness, but that does not lessen concerns. "We continue to look at ways to prevent those materials from making their way to those who plant explosive devices," he said.
This is a difficult proposition because many chemicals, like chlorine, have legitimate civilian uses. Chlorine is used to purify water and in other industrial processes.
Without getting into details that could jeopardize operational security, U.S. servicemembers have gear to protect them from such weapons, a Pentagon official said. So the terrorists aim the weapon at civilians in an effort to intimidate populations.
"The car bombs themselves are designed to target innocent civilians," Whitman said. "It reflects the brutality of the enemy we are facing and the total disregard of life to use such an indiscriminate nature."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
June 6, 2007 – Anyone who doubts that al Qaeda would use chemical, nuclear or biological weapons need only look at the terror group's attacks in Iraq, Defense officials said. Al Qaeda and affiliated groups have used chlorine gas in attacks against civilians, Iraqi forces and coalition forces at least 15 times since October, according to U.S. officials in Baghdad.
"Chlorine is used by terrorists with the intent to harm or kill large numbers of civilians," an official said. "The attacks show that the terrorists are adaptable, but it reflects more on their maliciousness than their sophistication."
The first documented chlorine attack was Oct. 21, 2006, in Ramadi, a Multinational Force Iraq spokeswoman said. In that attack, terrorists drove a car bomb with 12 120 mm mortar shells and two 100-pound chlorine tanks. The attack wounded three Iraqi police officers and a civilian.
The first attack that received media attention was at Taji, where terrorists remotely detonated a 5-ton truck packed with 100 pounds of high explosives and two 1-ton chlorine tanks. The attack killed one civilian and wounded 114 others.
Other chlorine attacks occurred in Fallujah, Balad and Ramadi. The most recent attack was June 3 against Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Diyala province. Again, a suicide car bomber launched the attack, and officials estimate it included two tanks of chlorine and 1,000 pounds of explosive. The cloud from the attack blew over Warhorse and sickened 65 servicemembers, Multinational Force Iraq officials said. All were examined and returned to duty.
Officials in Baghdad cannot tell from their records if anyone has died from chlorine inhalation. A Multinational Force Iraq spokesman said there are anecdotal reports that while the blasts from the attacks have killed, few have died solely from the gas. "We hear that an old man and some babies may have been killed, but we can't pin that down," the spokesman said.
"We have seen attempts made by insurgent forces - al Qaeda in particular - to use debilitating agents like chlorine in their (improvised explosive devices and car bombs) to cause casualties beyond just concussion and blast," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
Whitman said the attacks have been of limited effectiveness, but that does not lessen concerns. "We continue to look at ways to prevent those materials from making their way to those who plant explosive devices," he said.
This is a difficult proposition because many chemicals, like chlorine, have legitimate civilian uses. Chlorine is used to purify water and in other industrial processes.
Without getting into details that could jeopardize operational security, U.S. servicemembers have gear to protect them from such weapons, a Pentagon official said. So the terrorists aim the weapon at civilians in an effort to intimidate populations.
"The car bombs themselves are designed to target innocent civilians," Whitman said. "It reflects the brutality of the enemy we are facing and the total disregard of life to use such an indiscriminate nature."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
New Pentagon Channel Show Helps Make Troops 'Fit for Duty'
By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – Hosts of a new show coming to the Pentagon Channel want to make troops hurt. They want to make them sweat. They want to push servicemembers' limits. Above all, they want to ensure members of the U.S. military are "Fit for Duty." "Fitness is as much a part of the military as the uniform," said retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jim Langdon, who serves as the Pentagon Channel's director of operations and programming as well as executive producer of "Fit for Duty."
"All the services go to great lengths to entice their troops to stay fit," Langdon said. "We wanted to help too."
"Fit for Duty" takes viewers through a high-energy 30-minute workout led by servicemembers with expertise in fitness training. The show makes it simple to follow along and complete exercises demonstrated by the instructors. A military sports medicine physician also offers tips for preventing injuries and avoiding career-ending accidents during each episode of the show.
Fitness instructors on the show represent each branch of the military and were selected after a nation-wide call for auditions was launched through advertisement on the Pentagon Channel's Web site, e-mails to public affairs officers across the country, and word of mouth with the goal of appealing to a military audience.
"We hope they'll identify with our hosts and join us for a daily workout," Langdon said.
"I thought it sounded like fun and a good idea because it isn't built around just one service or one absolute fitness nut," said Marine Corps Sgt. Clint Reynolds, a martial arts instructor selected for the show. "I feel fitness should be part of everyone's life. Now I am not saying you have to run a billion miles every week, live off of grass and bark or anything, but you should keep yourself healthy so that you feel better physically and emotionally, live longer, and enjoy life more."
In developing exercise routines for the show, Reynolds faced some hurdles. "The most challenging part (was) trying to come up with routines that will keep someone motivated and is actually enjoyable to do, and is able to be watched and done in less than 30 minutes," he said. "I hope that it will show that there are many different ways of working out and staying fit and that it will make my own fitness better."
"I enjoy working out," said Air Force Master Sgt. Sandifer Temeria, another "Fit for Duty" instructor. "I also like helping individuals obtain their personal goals in fitness, but I tell them all that it starts with them and positive attitude. Fitness only works when you're having fun, and enjoy what you're doing."
"The Pentagon Channel realizes the need to provide programming that entices our audience to watch," Langdon said. "If you're into fitness, you'll not only improve some exercise techniques, you'll learn some valuable information about your military rights and benefits during our spot breaks -- two good reasons to watch."
"I hope that servicemembers and civilians alike watch the show so they can see all the services in action and the difference between them all, but in the same light see that regardless of those differences we are working as one team to make sure we are up to the challenge to protecting our great nation," Reynolds said.
Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Dave Keblish, an orthopedic surgeon and head of sports medicine at the U.S. Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Md., hosts a "Fit for Duty" segment called "Train Smart Stay Strong" that teaches servicemembers highly effective methods to prevent career-ending injuries.
"I tend to think of fitness as having three main pillars: aerobic conditioning, flexibility and strength," said Keblish, who believes proper fitness workout habits learned early in a military career are paramount.
"If more servicemembers looked at fitness this way and learned a bit more about avoiding common orthopedic injuries, I feel we would have a healthier and less disabled work force," he added. "I have counseled many active-duty members about the severity of their condition after it was too late. There is much truth in the old saying that 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'"
But much like the instructors on "Fit for Duty," servicemembers shouldn't expect the doctor to go easy on slackers.
"I am tired of the cliche of the washed-up sports jock with a dozen aches and pains from old sports injuries and surgeries," Keblish said. "I was a stoic athlete myself, and I don't relate well to patients who are too lazy to get in shape or too whiny to endure a bit of pain along the way. However, I strongly believe that we work hard, we play hard, and when we're injured we need to rest hard."
"Fit for Duty" is one of the most technically challenging productions the Pentagon Channel has undertaken. A crew of 10 set up an elaborate field studio at Bolling Air Force Base, in Washington, D.C., to shoot the first dozen shows over a hectic three-day shoot schedule. In the future, "Fit for Duty" producers hope to take the show to military installations across the country and around the world.
"The Pentagon Channel is breaking new ground with this original program," Langdon said. "Our channel has many news and information programs, but this is the first interactive program."
"Fit for Duty" is just one of many lifestyle shows the Pentagon Channel plans to present soon. An upcoming military cooking show, "Combat Kitchen," will introduce viewers to the "Grill Sergeant" who will "get you locked and loaded with some tasty meals," Langdon said. "We will continue to develop programming deserving of those who keep and protect our freedom."
"Fit for Duty" debuts June 18 on the Pentagon Channel. It will also be available via podcast and video on demand. For complete program schedule, check www.pentagonchannel.mil.
(David Mays works for the Pentagon Channel.)
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – Hosts of a new show coming to the Pentagon Channel want to make troops hurt. They want to make them sweat. They want to push servicemembers' limits. Above all, they want to ensure members of the U.S. military are "Fit for Duty." "Fitness is as much a part of the military as the uniform," said retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jim Langdon, who serves as the Pentagon Channel's director of operations and programming as well as executive producer of "Fit for Duty."
"All the services go to great lengths to entice their troops to stay fit," Langdon said. "We wanted to help too."
"Fit for Duty" takes viewers through a high-energy 30-minute workout led by servicemembers with expertise in fitness training. The show makes it simple to follow along and complete exercises demonstrated by the instructors. A military sports medicine physician also offers tips for preventing injuries and avoiding career-ending accidents during each episode of the show.
Fitness instructors on the show represent each branch of the military and were selected after a nation-wide call for auditions was launched through advertisement on the Pentagon Channel's Web site, e-mails to public affairs officers across the country, and word of mouth with the goal of appealing to a military audience.
"We hope they'll identify with our hosts and join us for a daily workout," Langdon said.
"I thought it sounded like fun and a good idea because it isn't built around just one service or one absolute fitness nut," said Marine Corps Sgt. Clint Reynolds, a martial arts instructor selected for the show. "I feel fitness should be part of everyone's life. Now I am not saying you have to run a billion miles every week, live off of grass and bark or anything, but you should keep yourself healthy so that you feel better physically and emotionally, live longer, and enjoy life more."
In developing exercise routines for the show, Reynolds faced some hurdles. "The most challenging part (was) trying to come up with routines that will keep someone motivated and is actually enjoyable to do, and is able to be watched and done in less than 30 minutes," he said. "I hope that it will show that there are many different ways of working out and staying fit and that it will make my own fitness better."
"I enjoy working out," said Air Force Master Sgt. Sandifer Temeria, another "Fit for Duty" instructor. "I also like helping individuals obtain their personal goals in fitness, but I tell them all that it starts with them and positive attitude. Fitness only works when you're having fun, and enjoy what you're doing."
"The Pentagon Channel realizes the need to provide programming that entices our audience to watch," Langdon said. "If you're into fitness, you'll not only improve some exercise techniques, you'll learn some valuable information about your military rights and benefits during our spot breaks -- two good reasons to watch."
"I hope that servicemembers and civilians alike watch the show so they can see all the services in action and the difference between them all, but in the same light see that regardless of those differences we are working as one team to make sure we are up to the challenge to protecting our great nation," Reynolds said.
Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Dave Keblish, an orthopedic surgeon and head of sports medicine at the U.S. Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Md., hosts a "Fit for Duty" segment called "Train Smart Stay Strong" that teaches servicemembers highly effective methods to prevent career-ending injuries.
"I tend to think of fitness as having three main pillars: aerobic conditioning, flexibility and strength," said Keblish, who believes proper fitness workout habits learned early in a military career are paramount.
"If more servicemembers looked at fitness this way and learned a bit more about avoiding common orthopedic injuries, I feel we would have a healthier and less disabled work force," he added. "I have counseled many active-duty members about the severity of their condition after it was too late. There is much truth in the old saying that 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'"
But much like the instructors on "Fit for Duty," servicemembers shouldn't expect the doctor to go easy on slackers.
"I am tired of the cliche of the washed-up sports jock with a dozen aches and pains from old sports injuries and surgeries," Keblish said. "I was a stoic athlete myself, and I don't relate well to patients who are too lazy to get in shape or too whiny to endure a bit of pain along the way. However, I strongly believe that we work hard, we play hard, and when we're injured we need to rest hard."
"Fit for Duty" is one of the most technically challenging productions the Pentagon Channel has undertaken. A crew of 10 set up an elaborate field studio at Bolling Air Force Base, in Washington, D.C., to shoot the first dozen shows over a hectic three-day shoot schedule. In the future, "Fit for Duty" producers hope to take the show to military installations across the country and around the world.
"The Pentagon Channel is breaking new ground with this original program," Langdon said. "Our channel has many news and information programs, but this is the first interactive program."
"Fit for Duty" is just one of many lifestyle shows the Pentagon Channel plans to present soon. An upcoming military cooking show, "Combat Kitchen," will introduce viewers to the "Grill Sergeant" who will "get you locked and loaded with some tasty meals," Langdon said. "We will continue to develop programming deserving of those who keep and protect our freedom."
"Fit for Duty" debuts June 18 on the Pentagon Channel. It will also be available via podcast and video on demand. For complete program schedule, check www.pentagonchannel.mil.
(David Mays works for the Pentagon Channel.)
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Servicemembers Missing From WWII Now Listed In Electronic Database
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that an electronic database listing the names of servicemembers still unaccounted for from World War II is now available for family members and researchers.
This new listing will aid researchers and analysts in WWII remains recovery operations. Prior to this three-year effort, no comprehensive list of those missing from WWII has existed.
This database, listing nearly 78,000 names, was compiled by researchers from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. They used hard-copy sources including "The American Graves Registration Service Rosters of Military Personnel Whose Remains were not Recovered" from the National Archives II repository in College Park, Md., and "The World War II Rosters of the Dead." Once transferred into electronic formats, they used computer programs to compare the two lists and determined possible discrepancies among the entries. These differences were then resolved using additional sources from the National Archives and thousands of personnel files from the Washington National Records Center.
After more than three years of research and coordination to transfer information into an electronic format, efforts to gather more data on unaccounted-for WWII servicemembers continue. New names and information will be added as historical documents and personnel files are located. The names of servicemen whose remains are recovered and identified in the future will be removed as families accept the identification and inter their loved ones in cemeteries of their choice.
This WWII database, along with databases listing the missing from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War and Gulf War, are available on DPMO's Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo. For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site or call (703) 699-1169.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
This new listing will aid researchers and analysts in WWII remains recovery operations. Prior to this three-year effort, no comprehensive list of those missing from WWII has existed.
This database, listing nearly 78,000 names, was compiled by researchers from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. They used hard-copy sources including "The American Graves Registration Service Rosters of Military Personnel Whose Remains were not Recovered" from the National Archives II repository in College Park, Md., and "The World War II Rosters of the Dead." Once transferred into electronic formats, they used computer programs to compare the two lists and determined possible discrepancies among the entries. These differences were then resolved using additional sources from the National Archives and thousands of personnel files from the Washington National Records Center.
After more than three years of research and coordination to transfer information into an electronic format, efforts to gather more data on unaccounted-for WWII servicemembers continue. New names and information will be added as historical documents and personnel files are located. The names of servicemen whose remains are recovered and identified in the future will be removed as families accept the identification and inter their loved ones in cemeteries of their choice.
This WWII database, along with databases listing the missing from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War and Gulf War, are available on DPMO's Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo. For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site or call (703) 699-1169.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Pace Promotes Future Cooperation with Malaysia
By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – The United States and Malaysia have had "a long, very strong and prosperous relationship," Marine Gen. Peter Pace said here today, noting that Malaysia is the United States' 10th largest trade partner. Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he came to Malaysia to "listen and learn how the two nations' militaries can work together in the future." He met with Prime Minister Abdullah bin Amad Badawi in Putrajaya, the new federal government center a half hour's drive from the capital. He also met with senior defense officials at the Ministry of Defense to discuss U.S.-Malaysia relations.
Pace arrived here yesterday after attending the Institute for Strategic Studies' Asia Security Conference in Singapore. Shortly after arriving, Pace visited the capital city's Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest freestanding twin towers at 451.9 meters, and toured the Islamic Arts Museum.
Today, Pace discussed security issues with of Defense Minister Mohamed Najib Abdul Razak and Chief of Defense Gen. Abdul Aziz Zainal before addressing about 200 students at the Malaysia Armed Forces Staff College. Military officials said the audience included students from 37 armed services from 29 countries.
The hour-long event was closed to the media, but at a luncheon afterwards, students said they found Pace to be "very open and direct" in answering their questions about regional and global security issues. The students also said they would like to see more U.S. senior leaders visit the moderate Islamic country.
Malaysian military officials briefed the chairman on their plans to establish a joint forces headquarters. Pace invited the senior officers to visit the Pentagon to meet with members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to share the U.S. experience of setting up a joint headquarters.
During a joint news conference with Aziz at the Ministry of Defense, Pace responded to local reporters' questions on Malaysia's role in peacekeeping and countering piracy, Iraq, China, and the war on terrorism.
In response to a query on the day's talks on military cooperation, Pace said: "Malaysia has been a world leader in peacekeeping operations for many years.
"As we sit here now, there are 10 or so peacekeeping operations Malaysia is involved in," he said. "Malaysia also has a world-class peacekeeping center here that is available to your friends and neighbors. Peacekeeping is certainly an area where we'd like to continue to facilitate cooperation."
As a result of the "terrific cooperation" between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, he said, piracy in the Strait of Malacca has dropped drastically. "We're eager to continue to provide whatever information we can to assist in those kinds of activities."
"We're eager to find ways we can cooperate, that we can learn from each other, and that we can assist the region and the United States in being good partners and friends in a way that can help all the countries," Pace said.
In terms of military-to-military ties, Aziz said, the U.S.-Malaysian relationship has been strong. "In terms of enhancing security, our objective is the same: maintaining and ensuring peace in this part of the world. We always consider the United States as the security provider."
Asked about a recent International Herald Tribune article saying that the United States is considering using Korea as a model for Iraq, Pace said he had not had a chance to read the report. He said that he had, however, participated in very open discussions with Iraqi government officials in Washington.
"Clearly, as a sovereign nation, Iraq will determine who it wants to invite to be guests in their country for the long term," he said.
Pace said that he'd heard discussion about the Korea model, where the Iraqi government officials would determine the kind of long-term assistance they would like to have and then the two governments determining together how best to meet those requirements by having some U.S. forces present in the country. "Again, that would be after a thorough dialogue with respect to Iraq's sovereignty," the chairman said.
Asked about the U.S. military buildup on Guam, Pace said the island has been "a strategic location for the United States and for our support for our friends in the region" for many years.
Pace said he is delighted that U.S. officials and the government of Japan have come to an agreement that will reduce the number of U.S. Marines in Okinawa and move them to U.S. territory on Guam.
"This is just a continuation on American soil of the U.S. commitment to this region in a way that will signal to our friends that we are here as a Pacific nation and that we intend to remain here as a Pacific nation," he said.
"This part of the world is vital to the prosperity of the United States and, collectively, we can do things that will provide for dependable security for all the nations in the region so they can continue to trade with each other and prosper," he said.
Regarding threats in the region, the chairman told reporters that a threat is based on capacity and intent. "I don't ascribe to any nation intent to attack neighbors in this region or to attack the United States," he said. "But we need to have the capacity to respond should intent change."
Pace said he is optimistic about continuing good relations with China. "China is a very important part of the global community. They continue to grow and to prosper. They are modernizing their military, for sure. We in the United States are encouraging them to be as transparent as possible so we can understand what they intend to do and how much money they're spending on modernizing.
"I see much more probability of trade between all the nations in the Pacific than I do any kind of conflict," he said.
The general said he was glad China sent representatives to the Asia Security Conference because it is a terrific forum for dialogue that can help further understanding.
With regard to terrorist threats, Pace said that he and the Malaysian officials spent their time discussing how they can better understand each other.
"Understandably, different cultures have different ways of looking at problems, not only Malaysia and the United States, but all countries," he said. "How might we collectively get together and share our ideas, understand what we see as a terrorist threat, what we see that is the same and what we see as different so that as friends we can understand the perspective from which we all see the current threat so we can find the best way forward that respects each other's sovereignty and views on how to deal with the problem?"
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – The United States and Malaysia have had "a long, very strong and prosperous relationship," Marine Gen. Peter Pace said here today, noting that Malaysia is the United States' 10th largest trade partner. Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he came to Malaysia to "listen and learn how the two nations' militaries can work together in the future." He met with Prime Minister Abdullah bin Amad Badawi in Putrajaya, the new federal government center a half hour's drive from the capital. He also met with senior defense officials at the Ministry of Defense to discuss U.S.-Malaysia relations.
Pace arrived here yesterday after attending the Institute for Strategic Studies' Asia Security Conference in Singapore. Shortly after arriving, Pace visited the capital city's Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest freestanding twin towers at 451.9 meters, and toured the Islamic Arts Museum.
Today, Pace discussed security issues with of Defense Minister Mohamed Najib Abdul Razak and Chief of Defense Gen. Abdul Aziz Zainal before addressing about 200 students at the Malaysia Armed Forces Staff College. Military officials said the audience included students from 37 armed services from 29 countries.
The hour-long event was closed to the media, but at a luncheon afterwards, students said they found Pace to be "very open and direct" in answering their questions about regional and global security issues. The students also said they would like to see more U.S. senior leaders visit the moderate Islamic country.
Malaysian military officials briefed the chairman on their plans to establish a joint forces headquarters. Pace invited the senior officers to visit the Pentagon to meet with members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to share the U.S. experience of setting up a joint headquarters.
During a joint news conference with Aziz at the Ministry of Defense, Pace responded to local reporters' questions on Malaysia's role in peacekeeping and countering piracy, Iraq, China, and the war on terrorism.
In response to a query on the day's talks on military cooperation, Pace said: "Malaysia has been a world leader in peacekeeping operations for many years.
"As we sit here now, there are 10 or so peacekeeping operations Malaysia is involved in," he said. "Malaysia also has a world-class peacekeeping center here that is available to your friends and neighbors. Peacekeeping is certainly an area where we'd like to continue to facilitate cooperation."
As a result of the "terrific cooperation" between Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, he said, piracy in the Strait of Malacca has dropped drastically. "We're eager to continue to provide whatever information we can to assist in those kinds of activities."
"We're eager to find ways we can cooperate, that we can learn from each other, and that we can assist the region and the United States in being good partners and friends in a way that can help all the countries," Pace said.
In terms of military-to-military ties, Aziz said, the U.S.-Malaysian relationship has been strong. "In terms of enhancing security, our objective is the same: maintaining and ensuring peace in this part of the world. We always consider the United States as the security provider."
Asked about a recent International Herald Tribune article saying that the United States is considering using Korea as a model for Iraq, Pace said he had not had a chance to read the report. He said that he had, however, participated in very open discussions with Iraqi government officials in Washington.
"Clearly, as a sovereign nation, Iraq will determine who it wants to invite to be guests in their country for the long term," he said.
Pace said that he'd heard discussion about the Korea model, where the Iraqi government officials would determine the kind of long-term assistance they would like to have and then the two governments determining together how best to meet those requirements by having some U.S. forces present in the country. "Again, that would be after a thorough dialogue with respect to Iraq's sovereignty," the chairman said.
Asked about the U.S. military buildup on Guam, Pace said the island has been "a strategic location for the United States and for our support for our friends in the region" for many years.
Pace said he is delighted that U.S. officials and the government of Japan have come to an agreement that will reduce the number of U.S. Marines in Okinawa and move them to U.S. territory on Guam.
"This is just a continuation on American soil of the U.S. commitment to this region in a way that will signal to our friends that we are here as a Pacific nation and that we intend to remain here as a Pacific nation," he said.
"This part of the world is vital to the prosperity of the United States and, collectively, we can do things that will provide for dependable security for all the nations in the region so they can continue to trade with each other and prosper," he said.
Regarding threats in the region, the chairman told reporters that a threat is based on capacity and intent. "I don't ascribe to any nation intent to attack neighbors in this region or to attack the United States," he said. "But we need to have the capacity to respond should intent change."
Pace said he is optimistic about continuing good relations with China. "China is a very important part of the global community. They continue to grow and to prosper. They are modernizing their military, for sure. We in the United States are encouraging them to be as transparent as possible so we can understand what they intend to do and how much money they're spending on modernizing.
"I see much more probability of trade between all the nations in the Pacific than I do any kind of conflict," he said.
The general said he was glad China sent representatives to the Asia Security Conference because it is a terrific forum for dialogue that can help further understanding.
With regard to terrorist threats, Pace said that he and the Malaysian officials spent their time discussing how they can better understand each other.
"Understandably, different cultures have different ways of looking at problems, not only Malaysia and the United States, but all countries," he said. "How might we collectively get together and share our ideas, understand what we see as a terrorist threat, what we see that is the same and what we see as different so that as friends we can understand the perspective from which we all see the current threat so we can find the best way forward that respects each other's sovereignty and views on how to deal with the problem?"
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Positive Attitude, Physical Therapy Turns Things Around for Amputees
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – Working with Army Pfc. Randy Gollinger is, to say the least, challenging.
When asked, his physical therapist, Bunnie Wyckoff, used the words "challenging" and "challenge" at least four times to describe her work with Gollinger. "He's challenging. He was very difficult to motivate in the beginning. He turned around like most of the guys do. He's doing fine now. But he likes to challenge me all the way. I'm up for the challenge. I enjoy it," she said.
"He's a challenge," she said again, and laughed.
"I'm a pain in the butt," Gollinger corrected her, and then he laughed.
To be sure, if laughter is the best medicine, Gollinger, a military policeman injured by an explosive device while patrolling in Baghdad, is well on his way to a speedy recovery. An amputee who lost a leg and an eye, Gollinger is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. He keeps Wyckoff on her toes and in stitches at the same time. The two go back and forth like kin, verbally poking and picking.
Wyckoff has been on staff at the center for more than three years and has personally worked with nearly half of the amputees who've received care there. She meets them bedside when they are first brought to the center and follows them through their care -- from being wheeled into the therapy room to, hopefully, walking out on their own.
"I love it here. I love to see the fact that people improve and they get back to living a life that's meaningful to them," Wyckoff said.
Wyckoff works with seven to 10 patients daily. Some are more independent and work through much of their therapy on their own, she said.
The physical therapy room is large, white and full of commotion. Low, padded tables cut through the center of the room providing areas for patients to lie, sit, exercise or rest. Amputees at various stages of therapy go about their recovery in a deliberate, although sometimes frustrating, fashion. Some work on upper body strength with familiar exercises like push ups; others practice walking; and some get help stretching from family members.
Exercise machines are stationed for walking and biking in the physical therapy room. Peer amputee visitors mingle and encourage, and there is even a therapy dog, Troy, who drops a tennis ball at the base of patients' wheelchairs in hopes that it will get thrown and he will get to chase. Some do, some don't, but eventually Troy finds someone who is willing to give the ball a fling across the room.
During this therapy session, Gollinger literally pulled Wyckoff around the outside of the main hospital building. Using a rubber band connected to a belt at Gollinger's waist, Wyckoff held and resisted as Gollinger stepped around the building in a race against fellow amputee Army Sgt. Kevin Brown. Gollinger lost.
Using the same resistance, Gollinger followed up his loss with an indoor race against Brown, maneuvering down a row of colored cones, stopping to squat using his prosthetic leg and touching the cone with his other leg. This race he won, although Wyckoff jokingly accused him of cheating. Friendly competition keeps the therapy fun, Gollinger said.
But the exercises have purpose, each targeting specific areas and concentrating on particular elements of recovery.
The exercises in this session help with balance and confidence using the prosthetic leg, Wyckoff said.
"We want them to be able to control the knee prosthetic, while they are squatting down. They need to be able to learn to pick things up off the floor," she said.
Gollinger has served in the Army for one and a half years, and he has spent nearly half of that time at Walter Reed. Therapy wasn't always as fun for him as it is now.
"At first I was very bitter. I didn't really care. Now it's just kind of like my second home," he said.
"Medically I died twice. I'm pretty thankful to be here today at all, let alone just missing an eye and a leg. You can't really complain about that," he said.
A year-round athlete in high school, Gollinger said he joined the Army to "get out and see the world." He also hoped to get money for college and eventually play college sports.
The 20-year-old said he thought his life was over when he found out his leg was amputated. But therapy and a positive attitude turned it around for him. The New York state native said he plans to enroll in college there to become a teacher and hopes to eventually hit the athletic fields again.
"I went through a really hard time trying to adapt and find things that would interest me," he said. "I figured my life was pretty much over with as far as stuff I liked to do, but I've been reassured that, depending on how good I get, I'll be able to play softball."
Gollinger said his therapy improved when his attitude improved. "As soon as I was mentally prepared ... everything else just took off, and I've been going nowhere else but up," he said.
"How bad do you want it? I want it bad now. Before, I didn't want it bad at all. Riding a wheel chair, I figured, would be my first means of transportation," Gollinger said. "The more I see everybody else I know getting up and walking, the more I realize that I don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life."
Gollinger offered simple advice to those who follow in his footsteps at the center.
"Don't wait for things to happen. Make them happen. Keep your head up. Others have been there. And we're going to help," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – Working with Army Pfc. Randy Gollinger is, to say the least, challenging.
When asked, his physical therapist, Bunnie Wyckoff, used the words "challenging" and "challenge" at least four times to describe her work with Gollinger. "He's challenging. He was very difficult to motivate in the beginning. He turned around like most of the guys do. He's doing fine now. But he likes to challenge me all the way. I'm up for the challenge. I enjoy it," she said.
"He's a challenge," she said again, and laughed.
"I'm a pain in the butt," Gollinger corrected her, and then he laughed.
To be sure, if laughter is the best medicine, Gollinger, a military policeman injured by an explosive device while patrolling in Baghdad, is well on his way to a speedy recovery. An amputee who lost a leg and an eye, Gollinger is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. He keeps Wyckoff on her toes and in stitches at the same time. The two go back and forth like kin, verbally poking and picking.
Wyckoff has been on staff at the center for more than three years and has personally worked with nearly half of the amputees who've received care there. She meets them bedside when they are first brought to the center and follows them through their care -- from being wheeled into the therapy room to, hopefully, walking out on their own.
"I love it here. I love to see the fact that people improve and they get back to living a life that's meaningful to them," Wyckoff said.
Wyckoff works with seven to 10 patients daily. Some are more independent and work through much of their therapy on their own, she said.
The physical therapy room is large, white and full of commotion. Low, padded tables cut through the center of the room providing areas for patients to lie, sit, exercise or rest. Amputees at various stages of therapy go about their recovery in a deliberate, although sometimes frustrating, fashion. Some work on upper body strength with familiar exercises like push ups; others practice walking; and some get help stretching from family members.
Exercise machines are stationed for walking and biking in the physical therapy room. Peer amputee visitors mingle and encourage, and there is even a therapy dog, Troy, who drops a tennis ball at the base of patients' wheelchairs in hopes that it will get thrown and he will get to chase. Some do, some don't, but eventually Troy finds someone who is willing to give the ball a fling across the room.
During this therapy session, Gollinger literally pulled Wyckoff around the outside of the main hospital building. Using a rubber band connected to a belt at Gollinger's waist, Wyckoff held and resisted as Gollinger stepped around the building in a race against fellow amputee Army Sgt. Kevin Brown. Gollinger lost.
Using the same resistance, Gollinger followed up his loss with an indoor race against Brown, maneuvering down a row of colored cones, stopping to squat using his prosthetic leg and touching the cone with his other leg. This race he won, although Wyckoff jokingly accused him of cheating. Friendly competition keeps the therapy fun, Gollinger said.
But the exercises have purpose, each targeting specific areas and concentrating on particular elements of recovery.
The exercises in this session help with balance and confidence using the prosthetic leg, Wyckoff said.
"We want them to be able to control the knee prosthetic, while they are squatting down. They need to be able to learn to pick things up off the floor," she said.
Gollinger has served in the Army for one and a half years, and he has spent nearly half of that time at Walter Reed. Therapy wasn't always as fun for him as it is now.
"At first I was very bitter. I didn't really care. Now it's just kind of like my second home," he said.
"Medically I died twice. I'm pretty thankful to be here today at all, let alone just missing an eye and a leg. You can't really complain about that," he said.
A year-round athlete in high school, Gollinger said he joined the Army to "get out and see the world." He also hoped to get money for college and eventually play college sports.
The 20-year-old said he thought his life was over when he found out his leg was amputated. But therapy and a positive attitude turned it around for him. The New York state native said he plans to enroll in college there to become a teacher and hopes to eventually hit the athletic fields again.
"I went through a really hard time trying to adapt and find things that would interest me," he said. "I figured my life was pretty much over with as far as stuff I liked to do, but I've been reassured that, depending on how good I get, I'll be able to play softball."
Gollinger said his therapy improved when his attitude improved. "As soon as I was mentally prepared ... everything else just took off, and I've been going nowhere else but up," he said.
"How bad do you want it? I want it bad now. Before, I didn't want it bad at all. Riding a wheel chair, I figured, would be my first means of transportation," Gollinger said. "The more I see everybody else I know getting up and walking, the more I realize that I don't want to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life."
Gollinger offered simple advice to those who follow in his footsteps at the center.
"Don't wait for things to happen. Make them happen. Keep your head up. Others have been there. And we're going to help," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Vice Chairman Plans to Retire in August
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – After 37 years of commissioned service, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. will retire in August. Giambastiani will retire after serving two years as America's second-highest ranking military officer. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 and is a career submariner who has spent an extensive amount of time in joint assignments and in experimentation and concept development.
During his career, the admiral has worked on every Quadrennial Defense Review, and has worked to implement the recommendations of those important documents.
Giambastiani spoke about his tenure as vice chairman during an interview today. He said he came back to the Pentagon in 2005 after serving as Commander Joint Forces Command and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation to work on the "business of business" of the Department of Defense. He teamed with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England to refine management processes and change the way the department develops, acquires and maintains defense capabilities.
"Ed Giambastiani has given a lifetime for service to his Nation and he will be deeply missed," England said. "His strong, steady leadership has ensured that our military is prepared for any challenge it may face, both today and in the future.
"He has been a close partner and friend to me and a champion of the men and women of our armed forces and their families," England continued. "America will miss this great Naval Officer, and we wish Ed and his family every blessing in their future."
Giambastiani says that transforming the military will continue under Defense Secretary Gates. "You try to make yourself a learning institution, you want to embed a 'change culture,' and you want people to understand that a 'change culture' is good," the admiral said.
Giambastiani also talked about how the military needs to continue the process of change, identify and act on lessons learned and look at itself critically. "We've embedded some of this, but frankly this mindset, this culture and this process need to be reinforced continually," he said.
The military has developed institutions to do this, and developed leaders at all levels to continue this process, the admiral said.
He said that Deputy Defense Secretary England is a "national treasure" and a key person in the whole change process. Giambastiani said that it has been an honor to work with Secretary England.
"He is dedicated to the department, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and he brings a focus to this that is really quite remarkable and healthy for the system," he said.
Giambastiani and England have been involved in making the Defense bureaucracy more agile and able to move quickly. The two have worked to include the combatant commanders and the Pentagon stakeholders in an expanded Joint Requirements Oversight Council, as well as working with civilian and uniformed leaders on the Defense Acquisition Board and the Deputies Advisory Working Group.
The refined, collaborative and transparent business processes being employed by these entities improve resource decisions that affect servicemembers serving in combat zones. Among these are the decision to get combat capabilities like the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle to troops faster. Other decisions include accelerating unmanned aerial vehicle acquisition and development of intelligence capabilities.
Establishing the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization is another example of working to develop comprehensive fixes to a problem - that of IEDs and car bombs - which cuts across the department and includes technology, tactics, techniques and procedures to combat the threat, he said.
Giambastiani said his most memorable time in the military has been "continuously working all these years with the fine young people. They are inspirational and remarkable. Getting up every morning and coming to work with them, working to help them be successful, and trying to provide them with the equipment and capabilities they need to get their job done has been the most rewarding part."
The admiral also said that meeting with servicemembers worldwide and "seeing how they apply themselves to the mission at hand" has been inspiring.
The admiral, from Canastota, N.Y., has not given any thought to what he will do after retirement. "I'll decide that after I retire, I'm too busy now," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 4, 2007 – After 37 years of commissioned service, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. will retire in August. Giambastiani will retire after serving two years as America's second-highest ranking military officer. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 and is a career submariner who has spent an extensive amount of time in joint assignments and in experimentation and concept development.
During his career, the admiral has worked on every Quadrennial Defense Review, and has worked to implement the recommendations of those important documents.
Giambastiani spoke about his tenure as vice chairman during an interview today. He said he came back to the Pentagon in 2005 after serving as Commander Joint Forces Command and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation to work on the "business of business" of the Department of Defense. He teamed with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England to refine management processes and change the way the department develops, acquires and maintains defense capabilities.
"Ed Giambastiani has given a lifetime for service to his Nation and he will be deeply missed," England said. "His strong, steady leadership has ensured that our military is prepared for any challenge it may face, both today and in the future.
"He has been a close partner and friend to me and a champion of the men and women of our armed forces and their families," England continued. "America will miss this great Naval Officer, and we wish Ed and his family every blessing in their future."
Giambastiani says that transforming the military will continue under Defense Secretary Gates. "You try to make yourself a learning institution, you want to embed a 'change culture,' and you want people to understand that a 'change culture' is good," the admiral said.
Giambastiani also talked about how the military needs to continue the process of change, identify and act on lessons learned and look at itself critically. "We've embedded some of this, but frankly this mindset, this culture and this process need to be reinforced continually," he said.
The military has developed institutions to do this, and developed leaders at all levels to continue this process, the admiral said.
He said that Deputy Defense Secretary England is a "national treasure" and a key person in the whole change process. Giambastiani said that it has been an honor to work with Secretary England.
"He is dedicated to the department, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and he brings a focus to this that is really quite remarkable and healthy for the system," he said.
Giambastiani and England have been involved in making the Defense bureaucracy more agile and able to move quickly. The two have worked to include the combatant commanders and the Pentagon stakeholders in an expanded Joint Requirements Oversight Council, as well as working with civilian and uniformed leaders on the Defense Acquisition Board and the Deputies Advisory Working Group.
The refined, collaborative and transparent business processes being employed by these entities improve resource decisions that affect servicemembers serving in combat zones. Among these are the decision to get combat capabilities like the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle to troops faster. Other decisions include accelerating unmanned aerial vehicle acquisition and development of intelligence capabilities.
Establishing the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization is another example of working to develop comprehensive fixes to a problem - that of IEDs and car bombs - which cuts across the department and includes technology, tactics, techniques and procedures to combat the threat, he said.
Giambastiani said his most memorable time in the military has been "continuously working all these years with the fine young people. They are inspirational and remarkable. Getting up every morning and coming to work with them, working to help them be successful, and trying to provide them with the equipment and capabilities they need to get their job done has been the most rewarding part."
The admiral also said that meeting with servicemembers worldwide and "seeing how they apply themselves to the mission at hand" has been inspiring.
The admiral, from Canastota, N.Y., has not given any thought to what he will do after retirement. "I'll decide that after I retire, I'm too busy now," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
New Technology Tests for IEDs
Improvised explosive devices based on peroxide containing materials have increasingly been used in recent years by various terrorist organizations. The main reason is that such peroxide-based explosives can be easily “home-made” using inexpensive, readily available starting materials which can be purchased in most hardware and paint stores, even in bulk quantities.
A new patented peroxide explosive tester - ACRO-P.E.T., developed by Acro, Inc.(www.acrosec.com). The innovative pen-like tester is able to identify peroxide based explosives, such as Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), which may appear in a variety of shapes and forms, including liquid explosives. Peroxide-based explosives are almost impossible to identify since they don't contain nitro groups and are colorless.
ACRO-P.E.T has been designed for rapid, on-site detection of peroxide-based explosives using three chemical solutions, through direct contact with the suspicious substance. Its main advantages are high sensitivity, high selectivity, fast response, simple operation, small size and cost effectiveness. For example, ACRO-P.E.T can detect less than 50 micrograms (0.00005 gram) of TATP.
ACRO-P.E.T. is based on an invention of Professor Ehud Keinan of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Prof. Keinan is the former Dean of the Technion's Faculty of Chemistry. He is a member of Acro's board of directors and the company's chief scientific advisor. Prof. Keinan is one of the world’s foremost experts in the science of improvised explosives, winner of the Technion award for security science and technology, and consultant to many US and European government agencies in the area of improvised explosives.
Acro’s Advisory Board includes General (ret.) Ehud Barak, former IDF Chief of Staff and former Prime Minister of Israel, Prof. K. Barry Sharpless, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and Prof. Richard A. Lerner, President and CEO of The Scripps Research Institute, which is considered one of the most influential scientific institutes worldwide.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
A new patented peroxide explosive tester - ACRO-P.E.T., developed by Acro, Inc.(www.acrosec.com). The innovative pen-like tester is able to identify peroxide based explosives, such as Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), which may appear in a variety of shapes and forms, including liquid explosives. Peroxide-based explosives are almost impossible to identify since they don't contain nitro groups and are colorless.
ACRO-P.E.T has been designed for rapid, on-site detection of peroxide-based explosives using three chemical solutions, through direct contact with the suspicious substance. Its main advantages are high sensitivity, high selectivity, fast response, simple operation, small size and cost effectiveness. For example, ACRO-P.E.T can detect less than 50 micrograms (0.00005 gram) of TATP.
ACRO-P.E.T. is based on an invention of Professor Ehud Keinan of the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Prof. Keinan is the former Dean of the Technion's Faculty of Chemistry. He is a member of Acro's board of directors and the company's chief scientific advisor. Prof. Keinan is one of the world’s foremost experts in the science of improvised explosives, winner of the Technion award for security science and technology, and consultant to many US and European government agencies in the area of improvised explosives.
Acro’s Advisory Board includes General (ret.) Ehud Barak, former IDF Chief of Staff and former Prime Minister of Israel, Prof. K. Barry Sharpless, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and Prof. Richard A. Lerner, President and CEO of The Scripps Research Institute, which is considered one of the most influential scientific institutes worldwide.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Gates: Asian Leaders Receptive to Call for More Help in Afghanistan
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 3, 2007 – Asian defense and military leaders meeting here showed "great receptivity" to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' call for Asian countries to contribute more toward stabilizing Afghanistan and Central Asia, Gates told reporters today. Gates issued a challenge here yesterday to participants in the International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, urging their countries to help Afghanistan and its newly independent neighbors in Central Asia become secure, fully sovereign nations.
He asked participants to contribute through economic development, counterterrorism and counternarcotics support and by providing military trainers, peacekeepers and advisors to strengthen new defense establishments.
Today, Gates said representatives of 25 Asia-Pacific nations at the three-day conference engaged in "a protracted discussion" of the request. They talked during a defense minister's luncheon following his address about getting more Asian countries to join the 42-nation coalition in Afghanistan and increasing the support among those already involved, he said.
The talks extended to improving the way coalition members coordinate their activities. Gates cited the need for this during a question-and-answer session following yesterday's keynote address.
"We need to do a much better job of sharing with each other what we are doing in a place like Afghanistan and coordinating those efforts so we can benefit from the experience that each has had," he said.
Gates emphasized today that while many in the group were open to his request, no formal new commitments have yet been made.
"It's important to understand that the people at this conference are defense ministers and representatives of the defense ministries," he said. "Additional commitments to Afghanistan, in virtually every case, require a political decision on the part of their governments."
Defense representatives wrapping up the conference's third and final day will have to go back to their capitals and work with their governments before making firm new commitments, he said.
Gates said he did not specifically extend his request to include Iraq. We have not made any requests for new commitments in Iraq from Asian countries," he said. "We have encouraged those who are already there to sustain their presence, to sustain their help."
During yesterday's speech, Gates emphasized the far-reaching security consequences of failed governments in the region.
"Whatever your views on how we got to this point in Iraq, it is clear that a failed state in that part of the world would destabilize the region and embolden violent extremists elsewhere," he told the group. "The effects of chaos in Central or Southwest Asia will not recognize national, continental or regional boundaries."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 3, 2007 – Asian defense and military leaders meeting here showed "great receptivity" to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' call for Asian countries to contribute more toward stabilizing Afghanistan and Central Asia, Gates told reporters today. Gates issued a challenge here yesterday to participants in the International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, urging their countries to help Afghanistan and its newly independent neighbors in Central Asia become secure, fully sovereign nations.
He asked participants to contribute through economic development, counterterrorism and counternarcotics support and by providing military trainers, peacekeepers and advisors to strengthen new defense establishments.
Today, Gates said representatives of 25 Asia-Pacific nations at the three-day conference engaged in "a protracted discussion" of the request. They talked during a defense minister's luncheon following his address about getting more Asian countries to join the 42-nation coalition in Afghanistan and increasing the support among those already involved, he said.
The talks extended to improving the way coalition members coordinate their activities. Gates cited the need for this during a question-and-answer session following yesterday's keynote address.
"We need to do a much better job of sharing with each other what we are doing in a place like Afghanistan and coordinating those efforts so we can benefit from the experience that each has had," he said.
Gates emphasized today that while many in the group were open to his request, no formal new commitments have yet been made.
"It's important to understand that the people at this conference are defense ministers and representatives of the defense ministries," he said. "Additional commitments to Afghanistan, in virtually every case, require a political decision on the part of their governments."
Defense representatives wrapping up the conference's third and final day will have to go back to their capitals and work with their governments before making firm new commitments, he said.
Gates said he did not specifically extend his request to include Iraq. We have not made any requests for new commitments in Iraq from Asian countries," he said. "We have encouraged those who are already there to sustain their presence, to sustain their help."
During yesterday's speech, Gates emphasized the far-reaching security consequences of failed governments in the region.
"Whatever your views on how we got to this point in Iraq, it is clear that a failed state in that part of the world would destabilize the region and embolden violent extremists elsewhere," he told the group. "The effects of chaos in Central or Southwest Asia will not recognize national, continental or regional boundaries."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Gates: New U.S.-China Hotline Represents 'Step Forward'
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 2, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today lauded movement toward establishing a defense hotline between the United States and China. He called it "another step forward" in the two countries' developing relationship. Gates, here for the International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, expressed optimism about the Chinese delegation leader's assertion that the hotline issue will be settled this fall.
Lt. Gen. Zhang Qinsheng, director of military intelligence for the People's Republic of China and the highest-level Chinese military official ever to attend this conference, said the hotline issue will be nailed down during defense meetings in the United States slated for September.
Gates called the concept of a hotline -- a secure landline provided through the "Defense Telephone Link" structure -- "just the next step forward" for the United States and China. "It is an important start," he said.
"These hotlines are established principally to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations and provide a direct linkage so if there were an incident or something was to happen, there could be direct contact and people could understand exactly what was going on," he said. "So I see it as another step forward in the further development of the relationship."
Gates told reporters he considered Quinsheng's speech "very matter of fact." In the speech, Quinsheng defended China's military buildup as defensive posturing. The secretary said Quinsheng "dealt fairly directly with the issues before us."
Gates said he welcomes further dialogue between the two countries. "I think there are further opportunities for understanding better some of the strategic intentions of the Chinese and some of their modernization programs," he said "I think further dialogue will provide the opportunity for that."
During his keynote address to defense and military leaders from 25 Asian nations, Gates recognized that the United States shares common interests with China on issues such as terrorism, counterproliferation and energy security.
"But we are concerned about the opaqueness of Beijing's military spending and modernization programs."
Gates avoided dwelling on that subject, one that dominated the Shangri-La Dialogue conference two years ago. Instead, he noted improvements in the U.S.-China relationship. "I believe there is reason to be optimistic, he said.
The secretary cited Marine Gen. Peter Pace's last visit to China, during which the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat in the cockpit of a top-of-the-line Chinese fighter jet.
Gates also noted the "huge economic and trade relationship" between the two countries. "Indeed, I have been told that if just one American (business), Wal-Mart, were a country, it would be China's eighth-largest trading partner," he said.
He expressed confidence that this economic bilateral relationship will continue to improve through efforts such as the second meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, which wrapped up last week in Washington.
"As we gain experience in dealing with each other, relationships can be forged that will build trust over time," he said.
Gates talked with reporters following bilaterial meetings with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean, Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony and South Korean National Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo.
Gates and Kim reported after their meeting that they had constructive talks about topics including the relocation of U.S. bases south of Seoul and the transition of wartime operational control of South Korea's forces to its own control. The United States and South Korea have agreed to transition U.S. command over these forces in April 2012.
Gates said he also asked South Korea to reconsider its timetable for withdraw from Afghanistan.
Today's meeting helped resolve several difficult issues "and paves the way for future, even closer cooperation," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 2, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today lauded movement toward establishing a defense hotline between the United States and China. He called it "another step forward" in the two countries' developing relationship. Gates, here for the International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, expressed optimism about the Chinese delegation leader's assertion that the hotline issue will be settled this fall.
Lt. Gen. Zhang Qinsheng, director of military intelligence for the People's Republic of China and the highest-level Chinese military official ever to attend this conference, said the hotline issue will be nailed down during defense meetings in the United States slated for September.
Gates called the concept of a hotline -- a secure landline provided through the "Defense Telephone Link" structure -- "just the next step forward" for the United States and China. "It is an important start," he said.
"These hotlines are established principally to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations and provide a direct linkage so if there were an incident or something was to happen, there could be direct contact and people could understand exactly what was going on," he said. "So I see it as another step forward in the further development of the relationship."
Gates told reporters he considered Quinsheng's speech "very matter of fact." In the speech, Quinsheng defended China's military buildup as defensive posturing. The secretary said Quinsheng "dealt fairly directly with the issues before us."
Gates said he welcomes further dialogue between the two countries. "I think there are further opportunities for understanding better some of the strategic intentions of the Chinese and some of their modernization programs," he said "I think further dialogue will provide the opportunity for that."
During his keynote address to defense and military leaders from 25 Asian nations, Gates recognized that the United States shares common interests with China on issues such as terrorism, counterproliferation and energy security.
"But we are concerned about the opaqueness of Beijing's military spending and modernization programs."
Gates avoided dwelling on that subject, one that dominated the Shangri-La Dialogue conference two years ago. Instead, he noted improvements in the U.S.-China relationship. "I believe there is reason to be optimistic, he said.
The secretary cited Marine Gen. Peter Pace's last visit to China, during which the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat in the cockpit of a top-of-the-line Chinese fighter jet.
Gates also noted the "huge economic and trade relationship" between the two countries. "Indeed, I have been told that if just one American (business), Wal-Mart, were a country, it would be China's eighth-largest trading partner," he said.
He expressed confidence that this economic bilateral relationship will continue to improve through efforts such as the second meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, which wrapped up last week in Washington.
"As we gain experience in dealing with each other, relationships can be forged that will build trust over time," he said.
Gates talked with reporters following bilaterial meetings with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean, Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony and South Korean National Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo.
Gates and Kim reported after their meeting that they had constructive talks about topics including the relocation of U.S. bases south of Seoul and the transition of wartime operational control of South Korea's forces to its own control. The United States and South Korea have agreed to transition U.S. command over these forces in April 2012.
Gates said he also asked South Korea to reconsider its timetable for withdraw from Afghanistan.
Today's meeting helped resolve several difficult issues "and paves the way for future, even closer cooperation," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Diplomacy Best Way to Confront Iran's Nuclear Programs, Gates Says
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 2, 2007 – A diplomatic solution is best way to deal with Iran's nuclear program, because "having to take care of this problem militarily is in no one's interest," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. Speaking at the sixth annual International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, Gates expressed optimism about progress in curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions through the "Six-Party Talks." He said he's hopeful the diplomatic approach will prove successful in addressing Iraq's efforts, too.
Iraq poses a threat to Southwest Asia and potentially Europe, particularly as it builds missiles of increasing range, Gates told defense and military leaders from 25 Asian nations during his keynote address.
During a question-and-answer session that followed the speech, Gates said the U.S. intelligence community generally agrees that Iraq will be able to develop a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015, and possibly even earlier. "There are those who believe that that could happen much sooner, in late 2008 or 2009," he said.
Efforts to get Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities aren't aimed at legitimate energy-production programs, he stressed. "I don't think anyone begrudges Iran the capacity to have peaceful nuclear power under proper safeguards and supervision," he said. "They key is whether they will have nuclear weapons."
That's a distinction Gates said is impossible to make due to the way Iran conducts its affairs. "The reality is ... we really don't know," he said.
As a result, Gates called on the United Nations Security Council to "ratchet up pressure" on Iran, "not next year or the year after, but right now."
In addition, he called for the international community to come together to strengthen sanctions against Iran so it has to make some hard decisions.
These sanctions would force the Tehran government to "begin to face some serious tradeoffs in terms of their economic well-being and their economic future for having nuclear weapons," Gates said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 2, 2007 – A diplomatic solution is best way to deal with Iran's nuclear program, because "having to take care of this problem militarily is in no one's interest," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. Speaking at the sixth annual International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, Gates expressed optimism about progress in curbing North Korea's nuclear ambitions through the "Six-Party Talks." He said he's hopeful the diplomatic approach will prove successful in addressing Iraq's efforts, too.
Iraq poses a threat to Southwest Asia and potentially Europe, particularly as it builds missiles of increasing range, Gates told defense and military leaders from 25 Asian nations during his keynote address.
During a question-and-answer session that followed the speech, Gates said the U.S. intelligence community generally agrees that Iraq will be able to develop a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015, and possibly even earlier. "There are those who believe that that could happen much sooner, in late 2008 or 2009," he said.
Efforts to get Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities aren't aimed at legitimate energy-production programs, he stressed. "I don't think anyone begrudges Iran the capacity to have peaceful nuclear power under proper safeguards and supervision," he said. "They key is whether they will have nuclear weapons."
That's a distinction Gates said is impossible to make due to the way Iran conducts its affairs. "The reality is ... we really don't know," he said.
As a result, Gates called on the United Nations Security Council to "ratchet up pressure" on Iran, "not next year or the year after, but right now."
In addition, he called for the international community to come together to strengthen sanctions against Iran so it has to make some hard decisions.
These sanctions would force the Tehran government to "begin to face some serious tradeoffs in terms of their economic well-being and their economic future for having nuclear weapons," Gates said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates: U.S. Continues to Build, Strengthen Asian Relationships
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
June 2, 2007 – The United States hasn't let Asia slip from its radar screen in light of operational demands in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates assured Asian defense and military leaders here today. "In fact, far from neglecting Asia, the United States is more engaged than ever before," Gates told representatives of 25 countries participating in the International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Gates said the U.S. is building on its long history of engagement with Asia to strengthen existing relationships in the region and build new ones to confront current challenges, including terrorism.
The secretary cited the United States' historical roots as a Pacific nation committed to stability and peace in the region and the price it has paid over the past century in both lives and treasure to live up to that commitment.
"We are an Asian power with significant and long-term political, economic and security interests," he told the audience. "Our commitments elsewhere notwithstanding, we will fulfill our commitments in Asia."
The United States has been "extraordinarily busy" reshaping and strengthening its security ties in the region in recent years, he said. As part of that process, it has formed new bilateral relationships and renewed and modernized others.
Gates cited the U.S. relationships with South Korea and Japan as examples. As South Korea is assumes more responsibility for its own defense, the United States is reducing its military footprint there. Similarly, the United States is realigning and repositioning its forces in Japan while cooperating in new areas, such as missile defense.
These moves shouldn't be viewed as a U.S. retreat from the region, he said, but rather as an effort to create stronger, more balanced security partnerships. "In carefully calibrating and refining each of these important relationships, we are guided by one overarching principle: to make each relationship more relevant, more resilient, more responsive and more enduring," he said.
Gates pointed to improved U.S. relationships elsewhere in the region, including expanded ties with India and Mongolia and the reestablishment of military-to-military relationships with India and Pakistan that were cut off in the late 1990s.
Meanwhile, he said, the U.S. also has been active in key regional initiatives focused on counterterrorism, non-proliferation, missile defense, maritime security, and crisis response.
U.S.-Asian relationships and the security benefits they yield offer a blueprint for the cooperation needed to confront violent extremism and other emerging threats, he said.
No single country, however wealthy or powerful it might be, can face these threats alone, he said. They demonstrate "the need for civilized nations to come together in new and dynamic ways -- as we are doing in Asia," he said.
Gates said the cooperation demonstrated in Asia, which has had a longstanding impact on the region's security, is proving even more important today. "Through commitment, partnership, cooperation and resolve, we are overcoming current challenges to our freedom, prosperity and security as we overcame the threats of the past," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 2, 2007 – The United States hasn't let Asia slip from its radar screen in light of operational demands in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates assured Asian defense and military leaders here today. "In fact, far from neglecting Asia, the United States is more engaged than ever before," Gates told representatives of 25 countries participating in the International Institute of Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Gates said the U.S. is building on its long history of engagement with Asia to strengthen existing relationships in the region and build new ones to confront current challenges, including terrorism.
The secretary cited the United States' historical roots as a Pacific nation committed to stability and peace in the region and the price it has paid over the past century in both lives and treasure to live up to that commitment.
"We are an Asian power with significant and long-term political, economic and security interests," he told the audience. "Our commitments elsewhere notwithstanding, we will fulfill our commitments in Asia."
The United States has been "extraordinarily busy" reshaping and strengthening its security ties in the region in recent years, he said. As part of that process, it has formed new bilateral relationships and renewed and modernized others.
Gates cited the U.S. relationships with South Korea and Japan as examples. As South Korea is assumes more responsibility for its own defense, the United States is reducing its military footprint there. Similarly, the United States is realigning and repositioning its forces in Japan while cooperating in new areas, such as missile defense.
These moves shouldn't be viewed as a U.S. retreat from the region, he said, but rather as an effort to create stronger, more balanced security partnerships. "In carefully calibrating and refining each of these important relationships, we are guided by one overarching principle: to make each relationship more relevant, more resilient, more responsive and more enduring," he said.
Gates pointed to improved U.S. relationships elsewhere in the region, including expanded ties with India and Mongolia and the reestablishment of military-to-military relationships with India and Pakistan that were cut off in the late 1990s.
Meanwhile, he said, the U.S. also has been active in key regional initiatives focused on counterterrorism, non-proliferation, missile defense, maritime security, and crisis response.
U.S.-Asian relationships and the security benefits they yield offer a blueprint for the cooperation needed to confront violent extremism and other emerging threats, he said.
No single country, however wealthy or powerful it might be, can face these threats alone, he said. They demonstrate "the need for civilized nations to come together in new and dynamic ways -- as we are doing in Asia," he said.
Gates said the cooperation demonstrated in Asia, which has had a longstanding impact on the region's security, is proving even more important today. "Through commitment, partnership, cooperation and resolve, we are overcoming current challenges to our freedom, prosperity and security as we overcame the threats of the past," he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
22 Months Undercover
Note: The author is former US Navy.
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. Michael Egbert of the Houston Police Department is the 564th state or local police officer to be added to the website.
Michael Egbert first experienced law enforcement during his enlistment with the United States Navy. In the Navy, he was temporarily assigned to the Armed Forces Police detachment on Guam. His short assignment in the Navy changed the career course of his life. After his discharge, Michael Egbert joined the Arapahoe County Sheriff Department as a jailer in 1973 and quickly transferred to patrol. He attended the state police training academy in Golden, Colorado and achieving certification in November 1974.
His law enforcement career accelerated when he was hand picked to join the Special Crime Attack Team then promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December 1977. Michael furthered his career by joining the Houston Police Department in April 1981 and obtaining Texas State certification and currently holds the highest certification, that of Master Peace Officer.
For a short while, Michael Egbert was assigned to the Houston Police Department Helicopter Patrol where he gained more than 700 hours of flight time as an observer in 1985. Michael received media attention for an assignment he worked from 1989 through 1991 where he was credited with over 4000 arrests during that two-year period. In 1997 Michael represented the Houston Police Department as a member of the International Police Task Force in Bosnia.
Michael Egbert is the co-author of S.C.A.T. According to the book description, “Michael Egbert spent 22 months with an undercover unit somewhere in Colorado where he dealt with an unbelievable array of career criminals. From spending the night in jail with a murderer to posing as an infamous underworld figure, Michael Egbert has a story to tell, a story that will keep you turning the pages, and wanting to read more. This book will give you a whole new appreciation for the brave men and women who protect and serve.”
One reader of S.C.A.T. remarked, “This was the first book I had ever read about law enforcement. I was hooked from the first chapter by its sensitivity. The stories showed brave men and women doing dangerous jobs while remaining sensitive to the victims. I laughed at times and bit my nails at other times anticipating what might happen next. I did not want the book to end and will be anxious to read Michaels next book. I sure hope there will be another one.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 564 police officers (representing 235 police departments) and their 1184 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. Michael Egbert of the Houston Police Department is the 564th state or local police officer to be added to the website.
Michael Egbert first experienced law enforcement during his enlistment with the United States Navy. In the Navy, he was temporarily assigned to the Armed Forces Police detachment on Guam. His short assignment in the Navy changed the career course of his life. After his discharge, Michael Egbert joined the Arapahoe County Sheriff Department as a jailer in 1973 and quickly transferred to patrol. He attended the state police training academy in Golden, Colorado and achieving certification in November 1974.
His law enforcement career accelerated when he was hand picked to join the Special Crime Attack Team then promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December 1977. Michael furthered his career by joining the Houston Police Department in April 1981 and obtaining Texas State certification and currently holds the highest certification, that of Master Peace Officer.
For a short while, Michael Egbert was assigned to the Houston Police Department Helicopter Patrol where he gained more than 700 hours of flight time as an observer in 1985. Michael received media attention for an assignment he worked from 1989 through 1991 where he was credited with over 4000 arrests during that two-year period. In 1997 Michael represented the Houston Police Department as a member of the International Police Task Force in Bosnia.
Michael Egbert is the co-author of S.C.A.T. According to the book description, “Michael Egbert spent 22 months with an undercover unit somewhere in Colorado where he dealt with an unbelievable array of career criminals. From spending the night in jail with a murderer to posing as an infamous underworld figure, Michael Egbert has a story to tell, a story that will keep you turning the pages, and wanting to read more. This book will give you a whole new appreciation for the brave men and women who protect and serve.”
One reader of S.C.A.T. remarked, “This was the first book I had ever read about law enforcement. I was hooked from the first chapter by its sensitivity. The stories showed brave men and women doing dangerous jobs while remaining sensitive to the victims. I laughed at times and bit my nails at other times anticipating what might happen next. I did not want the book to end and will be anxious to read Michaels next book. I sure hope there will be another one.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 564 police officers (representing 235 police departments) and their 1184 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
The Moral Warrior
Editor's Note: One of the authors is a decorated Vietnam Veteran.
June 2, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website has added Rocky Warren and David Rose, who co-authored Paradigm of the Moral Warrior.
Rocky Warren is a retired Sergeant from the Placer County Sheriff's Department (California). He has more than twenty-eight years of experience of law enforcement experience. As a former SWAT member, defensive tactics, impact weapon, firearms, and police use of force instructor he’s formed Warren Consulting to offer police training and expert witness services. Rocky is currently on staff at two community colleges.
Rocky Warren is a court tested expert in use of force, choking, firearms and police practices. He is the author of two published books; Behind the Badge: Real Stories from the Police Beat and Police Use of Force Case Law: Instructor's Manual. He is also the co-author of Paradigm of the Moral Warrior with Lieutenant David Rose, Placer County Sheriff’s Department (ret.).
Pulitzer Prize nominated author Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman (ret.) endorsed Paradigm of the Moral Warrior, saying, “The Paradigm of the Moral Warrior has the highest concentration of warrior wisdom I have ever found. Not just the remarkable, valuable and useful quotations, but the wise words of the authors will be of great service to warriors, (be they cops, soldiers or Marines) for many years to come. I will personally be mining nuggets (for my own writing) from this rich vein for many years to come.”
David Rose is a retired lieutenant from the Placer County Sheriff’s Department (California). He was with the Sheriffs Department since 1978. He was the departments lead physical skills instructor since 1982. Dave was a member of the department's Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.E.T) since 1980. He has been a team member, entry team leader, assistant team leader, team leader, and retired as the team commander. He has planned, participated in, or commanded over 200 Critical Incidents in his career.
David Rose has been awarded 2 Bronze Medals of Honor, 1 Bronze Medal of Valor, and 3 Silver Stars for Bravery. He received the J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Medal for Distinguished Public Service from the American Police Hall of Fame (Nov. 2002). He appeared in the premier edition of the American Police Hall Fame "Heroes in Blue" baseball card edition. He is a U.S. Army Military Police Vietnam Veteran and was awarded a Bronze Star for his tour of duty.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 563 police officers (representing 235 police departments) and their 1183 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
June 2, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website has added Rocky Warren and David Rose, who co-authored Paradigm of the Moral Warrior.
Rocky Warren is a retired Sergeant from the Placer County Sheriff's Department (California). He has more than twenty-eight years of experience of law enforcement experience. As a former SWAT member, defensive tactics, impact weapon, firearms, and police use of force instructor he’s formed Warren Consulting to offer police training and expert witness services. Rocky is currently on staff at two community colleges.
Rocky Warren is a court tested expert in use of force, choking, firearms and police practices. He is the author of two published books; Behind the Badge: Real Stories from the Police Beat and Police Use of Force Case Law: Instructor's Manual. He is also the co-author of Paradigm of the Moral Warrior with Lieutenant David Rose, Placer County Sheriff’s Department (ret.).
Pulitzer Prize nominated author Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman (ret.) endorsed Paradigm of the Moral Warrior, saying, “The Paradigm of the Moral Warrior has the highest concentration of warrior wisdom I have ever found. Not just the remarkable, valuable and useful quotations, but the wise words of the authors will be of great service to warriors, (be they cops, soldiers or Marines) for many years to come. I will personally be mining nuggets (for my own writing) from this rich vein for many years to come.”
David Rose is a retired lieutenant from the Placer County Sheriff’s Department (California). He was with the Sheriffs Department since 1978. He was the departments lead physical skills instructor since 1982. Dave was a member of the department's Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.E.T) since 1980. He has been a team member, entry team leader, assistant team leader, team leader, and retired as the team commander. He has planned, participated in, or commanded over 200 Critical Incidents in his career.
David Rose has been awarded 2 Bronze Medals of Honor, 1 Bronze Medal of Valor, and 3 Silver Stars for Bravery. He received the J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Medal for Distinguished Public Service from the American Police Hall of Fame (Nov. 2002). He appeared in the premier edition of the American Police Hall Fame "Heroes in Blue" baseball card edition. He is a U.S. Army Military Police Vietnam Veteran and was awarded a Bronze Star for his tour of duty.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 563 police officers (representing 235 police departments) and their 1183 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
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