Navy Christens Littoral Combat Ship Fort Worth

The Navy will christen littoral combat ship (LCS) Fort Worth, Saturday, Dec. 4, during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony at Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard in Marinette, Wis.

The ship's name recognizes the city of Fort Worth, Texas. For more than 150 years, the patriotic citizens of Fort Worth have supported the Navy and the men and women in uniform. Home to Ranger outposts, training facilities, aviation depots, and defense manufacturing, Fort Worth has answered the call whenever the nation needed it.

Former Deputy Defense SecretaryGordon Englandwill deliver the principal address at the ceremony. Rep. Kay Granger of Texaswill serve as the ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Granger breaking a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship, which is a time-honored Navy tradition.

Designated LCS 3, Fort Worth is an innovative combatant designed to operate quickly in shallow water environments to counter challenging threats in coastal regions, specifically mines, submarines and fast-surface craft. It is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and can operate in water less than 20 feet deep. Fort Worth will address a critical capabilities gap in the littorals. Carrying out the Navy's mission, it will serve to enhance maritime security by deterring hostility in troubled waters, maintaining a forward presence, and by its ability to project power and maintain sea control.

A fast, agile, and high-technology surface combatant, Fort Worth will be a platform for the launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vehicles. To meet increased demand for mission-tailored packages, its modular design will support interchangeable mission packages, allowing the ship to be reconfigured for antisubmarine warfare, mine countermeasures, or surface warfare missions on an as-needed basis. The LCS will be able to swap out mission packages pierside in a matter of days, adapting as the tactical situation demands. The modular approach also allows us to incorporate new or improved systems into the fleet as advanced technologies mature, providing flexibility and evolving capability. These ships will also feature an advanced networking capability to share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines and joint units.

Fort Worth will be manned by two rotational crews, Blue and Gold, similar to the rotational crews assigned to Trident submarines. These core crews will be augmented by one of the three types of mission package crews as well as an aviation detachment. The prospective commanding officer of the Blue crew is Cmdr. James R. Blankenship, from Ironton, Ohio. The prospective commanding officer of the Gold crew is Cmdr. Warren E. Cupps, from Fort Worth, Texas. Upon being commissioned in the future, Fort Worth will be homeported in San Diego, Calif.

More information on the LCS can be found at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1650&ct=4

GTMO Provides Support to USCGC Sitkinak

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

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Personnel attached to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's (GTMO) Port Operations Department received USCGC Sitkinak (WPB 1329) Dec. 1 for a port visit.

Sitkinak pulled into the naval station to take on 4,500 gallons of diesel fuel, potable water, supplies and take liberty.

When a ship arrives in Guantanamo Bay, Port Control is the communication hub for the entire evolution.

"We have a check list that we go by that breaks down all of the responsibilities that our watch sections must cover for a ship to pull into GTMO," said Operations Specialist 1st Class Frederick Trahan, Port Control's leading petty officer.

"As Sitkinak approached the harbor, we made calls to inform everyone in the bay that the ship was coming in," said Trahan. "We also notified the Coast Guard here so that they could provide an escort for the ship. We then notified the line handlers so that they could ready to receive the ship."

Once the line handlers were notified, the dock master was informed that the ship has arrived as scheduled.

"The communication between Port Control and the dock masters is important because we want to ensure zero mishaps occur in Guantanamo Bay," said Lt. Cmdr. Lareava Meschino, the Port Operations department head.

The dock masters make all of the preparations for meeting a ship's necessities prior to the ship pulling into GTMO. They are also responsible for ensuring that the vessel is moored to the pier safely.

"Prior to Sitkinak arriving we received a logistical requirements request," said Quartermaster 2nd Class Carlton Jones, the dock master's leading petty officer. "The requests listed all of the needs the ship was going to have while they are in Guantanamo Bay."

Once GTMO received Sitkinak's requirements for the visit, a message was sent back to them to inform them of the cost involved for the logistical support, said Jones.

"When Sitkinak arrived to the pier, I was there to meet it," said Jones. "I made sure that they lined up correctly with the fueling station and that their brow was in a safe position. These are the two most important things for getting the ship moored to the pier."

MCPON Sends 2010 Holiday Message to the Fleet

Special from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/SW) Rick D. West

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West released the following Holiday message to the fleet Dec. 1:

"Shipmates and Navy Families,

In anticipation of the holiday season, I would like to take a few minutes to wish you 'happy holidays' and to thank you and our Navy families for the outstanding service and support that you provide our great Navy and nation every day. I could not be more proud of you!

As you know I'm a competitor, and this holiday season I have a challenge for each of you. Are you up for it? The challenge is simple. Be mindful of your shipmates' holiday plans and don't leave any shipmate behind. Take the time to find out what plans your shipmates have over the holidays. No one should be left alone sitting aboard a ship, in the barracks or at home. You've worked hard all year and so have they. Just as our nation supports us and our Navy, let's support each other by making this season one where we are providing our shipmates with the best holiday memories that we can as a Navy family.

Take on this challenge and you'll receive the gift of pride knowing that we each contributed towards making this a memorable and joyous holiday season for our entire Navy family.

Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention and thank those out doing the job. Today, thousands of our shipmates are deployed around the world vigilantly keeping the watch and ready to answer our nations call. Thank you for working hard for our nation's freedom.

As we bring 2010 to a close, please remember to keep safety at the forefront of your daily activities both on and off duty. We've had a great year in safety, and I want to see you continue this trend throughout the end of the year and into 2011.

Happy Holidays, Shipmates, and HOOYAH!"

VP-16, El Salvadorian Military Personnel Host Holiday Festival

By AZ1 (AW/SW) Natalia Luchetti, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

COMALAPA AIR FORCE BASE, El Salvador (NNS) -- Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 and Comalapa military service members hosted 49 children and the founders of the Exodus Foundation at a holiday festival aboard Comalapa Air Force Base Nov. 22.

The Exodus Foundation, founded in 1996, is a non-governmental organization created to restore the lives of boys and girls in situations of risk, providing them academic and physical care, and developing them emotionally, spiritually and socially in a home environment.

The hosted group was given a tour and history brief of the P-3C Orion aircraft, in which they got to experience the different communication and navigation systems.

The guests were treated to a pizza party and received candy from a "Jack Frost" pinata. The party concluded with a surprise visit from Santa Claus.

"I am so grateful for the work you have done," said Patricia de Parras, Exodus Foundation founder. "For you have put a memorable smile on these children's faces, and as the Bible says: start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they would not turn from it."

This event was made possible by voluntary contributions from Comalapa and VP-16 detachments. These Sailors were all key in ensuring safety was number one priority at all times and that an unforgettable memory was stamped in each one of the kid's heart.

"Getting to see the kids so excited and thankful for what we did for them," said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Jonathan Castillo. "This experience was one of the most humbling of my career."

CSL Comalapa is a cooperative security location located on a Salvadoran air base near the San Salvador Municipal Airport. The CSL is a regional monitoring center for the control of drug-trafficking, which stood up in 2001.

COMUSNAVSO is the naval component command for U.S. Southern Command and is responsible for all naval personnel and assets in the area of responsibility. COMUSNAVSO conducts a variety of missions in support of the U.S. maritime strategy, including theater security cooperation, relationship building, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, community relations, and counter-illicit trafficking operations.

Lincoln Hosts Ambassadors During Bahrain Port Visit

From USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The U.S. ambassador to Bahrain and five other international ambassadors, as well as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), visited USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Nov. 18.

U.S. ambassador to Bahrain Adam Ereli and ambassadors from France, England, Germany, Japan and India were treated to a reception, dinner and tour while the ship was in Manama for a port visit to strengthen partnership and theater security cooperation in the region.

Rear Adm. Mark Guadagnini, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, welcomed the opportunity to host such a diverse group of guests.

"Working with allies and regional partners in a wide range of exercises and operations is an essential aspect of our mission," said Guadagnini. "Without the efforts of many nations, and many navies, we could not conduct the breadth of missions as successfully as we do."

While in port, Lincoln Sailors participated in several sporting events with local teams, experienced the Bahraini culture through Morale, Welfare and Recreation tours and participated in a community service project.

Commander, NAVCENT, Vice Adm. Mark Fox stressed the importance of U.S. Navy port visits in the region and cooperation among regional partners.

"We welcome the opportunity to give back to our neighbors and friends," Fox said. "The Lincoln Sailors did a great job in furthering our friendships here in Bahrain."

CSG 9 consists of flagship Abraham Lincoln, embarked Carrier Air Wing 2, USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9.

Ships assigned to DESRON 9 include destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92), USS Shoup (DDG 86), USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

Mullen Calls for Stronger U.S.-China Military Ties

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2010 – Upcoming meetings agreed to by the military leaders of the United States and China have renewed the prospect of strengthened military-to-military engagement, the chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff said today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke at the Center for American Progress in Washington on continuing challenges for cooperation between the nations and opportunities that may arise from adversity.

“Now that both countries have agreed to resume routine contacts as part of this important [aspect] of our relationship, the hard work really begins,” Mullen said. “The United States stands ready to do our part.”

The Chinese military suspended its military-to-military relationship with the United States earlier this year over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Then in October, when the U.S. and China sent representatives to Hanoi, Vietnam, for an inaugural meeting of defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie formally invited Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to visit Beijing. Gates plans to make the trip early next year.

Next week, Mullen said, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy will host her Chinese counterpart during defense talks and a main point of discussion will be U.S.-China military ties. And Mullen has invited his counterpart -- Gen. Chen Bingde, chief of the Chinese army’s general staff -- to visit the Pentagon, he said.

In November 2009, President Barack Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao made a commitment to advance sustained military-to-military relations, Mullen said.

“While we have not met that objective -- and indeed have continued to encounter turbulence in the military-to-military relationship -- it appears that we are on an upward trajectory,” the admiral added.

Working from a posture of mutual respect, thinking locally and globally about mutual security issues, and looking toward a shared future would make the resumption of military exchanges between the United States and China “most fruitful,” the chairman said.

“Many of our security issues have a common dimension, centered in places where China can exert a great deal of constructive influence and where our interests are aligned,” Mullen said.

This includes stability on the Korean peninsula, the safety of shipping lanes in Southeast Asia and assured access and equitable use of the global commons, he said.

The U.S.-China exchange should range farther and wider than the Asia-Pacific region, Mullen said, noting that China’s reach increasingly extends to extra-regional and global defense concerns, including Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and security in south and central Asia.

Both nations “recognize the emerging challenges of nuclear proliferation, terrorism, growing global energy demands,” he said, “and the geopolitical implications and stresses of climate change.”

China’s constructive role is essential “as we address the most recent of a long string of reckless acts by North Korea,” Mullen said.

With North Korea’s Nov. 20 revelation of a sophisticated uranium enrichment plant and its unprovoked Nov. 23 attack on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island that killed four people, “the ante is going up and the stakes are going up,” he said.

“The United States and China may view the situation differently, but we certainly share an interest in stability along the Korean peninsula,” the admiral said, adding that China is uniquely positioned “to guide North Korea to a less dangerous place.”

“The real question is will China answer that call?” Mullen said. “I am hopeful the answer will be yes.”

Official Briefs Congress on Missile Defense Progress

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2010 – A hallmark of the four-phase U.S. approach to European missile defense is its ability to adjust to the unpredictable, a senior Defense Department official told Congress today.

James N. Miller, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy, spoke to the House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces subcommittee today on progress of the phased, adaptive approach to European ballistic missile defense.

“Further advances of technology or future changes in the threat could modify the details or timing of later phases –- that is one reason this approach is called ‘adaptive,’” Miller said in prepared testimony.

President Barack Obama approved the approach in 2009, and allies endorsed the concept at the recent NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

“At the Lisbon summit, NATO leaders took the unprecedented step to decide to develop a missile defense capability to protect the alliance’s populations and territories in Europe against ballistic missile attacks,” Miller said, noting the U.S. approach will serve as its contribution to the alliance’s territorial missile defense.

“This structure will allow our allies to plug in their national missile defense capabilities to achieve even greater capabilities over time,” he said.

The phased, adaptive approach offers several advantages over previous ballistic missile defense strategies, Miller said. The plan, he said, allows the United States to defend its troops and allies in Europe much sooner against the threat posed by short- and medium-range missiles starting in 2011, rather than in 2016 or 2018 under previous plans.

The approach will cope with dozens or scores of ballistic missile attacks, versus only five for the previous architecture, Miller said, and it will adapt more rapidly to changes in the threat through the ability to deploy additional interceptors as needed to land-based sites and on ships.

The approach also will offer more opportunities for U.S. allies to participate, “thereby strengthening both our combined defenses against the ballistic missiles and the solidarity of the NATO alliance,” Miller said.

Miller said the approach also furthers missile defense cooperation with Russia.

“As part of the announcement of [the plan] last year, the administration welcomed Russian cooperation to bring its missile defense capabilities into a broader defense of our common strategic interests,” Miller said. “Over the past 14 months, we have moved forward transparently in this area.”

Miller said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly E. Serdyukov agreed in September to create the new Defense Relations Working Group.

“This body is intended to be a venue for discussing defense policy topics such as missile defense,” Miller said. “I will co-chair two sub-working groups: Missile Defense Cooperation and Defense Technology Cooperation. The first meeting of these sub-working groups is planned for early next year.”

Miller outlined the approach’s four phases, set to proceed through 2020.

Phase 1, through 2012, calls for U.S. missile interceptors deploying to the Mediterranean Sea with a forward-based sensor situated in southern Europe.

The second phase, from 2012 through 2015, will deploy improved interceptors and sensors in both sea-based systems and a land-based site in Romania.

Phase 3, from 2015 through 2018, will establish a land-based interceptor site in Poland and field more advanced interceptors both on land and at sea. The final phase, from 2018 through 2020, will deploy next-generation interceptors intended to counter long-range ballistic missiles during their ascent phase, Miller said.

First Lady Welcomes Marine Families to White House

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2010 – First Lady Michelle Obama today welcomed Marine Corps families to the White House for an event that highlighted the Toys for Tots charity and allowed military children to make holiday crafts with the first lady.

Active duty and reserve Marines and their families from the Washington area received one of the first public tours of the annual White House holiday decorations during an event in which Obama paid tribute to their community volunteerism.

Obama said she was honored to be with the families who go beyond the call of duty in volunteering with Toys for Tots. “We’re honored to be joined by so many members of the military and their families, folks who show us every day with their service, truly, what it means to put others above self,” she said.

With pine aroma in the air, the Marines in their dress blues and spouses and children in holiday attire, toured the multihued rooms of the East Wing that hold 19 ornately decorated trees. Under the first lady’s holiday theme of “Simple Gifts,” the trees were decorated along themes such as music, nature, Christmas gatherings, and for the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room, the “Gift of the American Spirit.”

Down the hall in the Booksellers area “The Children’s Tree” stood as a tribute to the youngest members of military families. The tree was decorated with ornaments handmade by 300 military children chosen by Deborah Mullen, who also attended today’s event and is the wife of Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The tree shared space with an oversized statue of First Dog Bo, made by 100 volunteers using 40,000 pipe cleaners, a tour guide said.

In the East Entrance Landing, the military families viewed the “Military Appreciation Tree,” conceived of by the first lady to honor servicemembers, and adorned with glass ball ornaments depicting each service color and seal and topped with a handmade dove to signify peace.

The first lady spoke to the families in the East Room, along with retired Marine Corps Gen. H.P. “Pete” Osman, president and CEO of the Toys for Tots Foundation.

“As first lady, I’ve had the privilege of meeting our men and women in uniform on bases and in hospitals and in communities all over the country,” she said. “When I make those visits, I come away not just with a sense of pride and gratitude, but also with a sense of awe, both at their courage and their sacrifice and at their commitment to serving their country and their communities.”

Toys for Tots volunteerism “is just one example of how our military families are serving our communities and Americans in need all around the country, year-round,” Obama said, adding that the White House will sponsor a toy drive for the charity for the second year in a row.

Toys for Tots had a very successful year last year, Osman said, “and there’s no doubt in my mind that the first lady standing behind it really made it successful.”

The charity has distributed more than 400 million toys to almost 200 million children over 63 years, Osman said. “Our military servicemembers today are making a difference, certainly Marines among them,” he said.

Obama and Osman appealed to Americans to support Toys for Tots this holiday season, noting that gifts for older children are especially needed.

“I want to thank you for your service and your work,” she told the Marines. “I want to thank your families for the sacrifices you all make, especially our little people who sacrifice just as much as the big people do. This is your time of year. So, we wish you guys a happy and healthy holiday season. We want you to enjoy this day.”

Obama then joined the children in the State Dining Room where she worked alongside them, making fruit and vegetable stamps and decorations out of recycled paper, and decorated gingerbread cookies.

Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Jason Armistead attended the event with his wife, Sara, and toddler daughters, Brooke and Avery. Armistead, who deployed twice to Iraq, said he enjoys volunteering with Toys for Tots at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va., especially seeing the joy it brings parents who can’t afford to buy their children Christmas presents.

“I was brought up to believe that Christmas is more about giving than receiving,” he said. “With the economic problems the country is in, this is an easy way for people to help out. Most stores have collection boxes and those gifts go out to your own local area.”

Sara Armistead also volunteers for the charity in Quantico and said they have had no trouble getting help from Marines. “I think they really enjoy it,” she said. “The fact that this is so different from their day job, I think it makes them feel good and it’s good stress relief.”

Marine Cpl. Joshua Quill expressed how important the first lady’s invitation was to the Marines. “I think it’s absolutely amazing that the first lady takes time for Toys for Tots, and it’s very gracious for them to open their home to us.”

Navy Program Increases Operational Stress Awareness

By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2010 – While high operational tempo and manning issues continue to remain in the forefront for deployed sailors, the Navy’s Operational Stress Control program is having success in helping sailors and their families deal with related stresses, the program’s coordinator said yesterday.

In a “DOD Live” bloggers roundtable, Navy Capt. Lori Laraway discussed the program, its success in increasing awareness of operational stress, and the need to build psychological resilience.

“Feedback from our 2010 behavioral health quick poll, [a] Naval Personnel Command poll, other surveys and focus groups indicated growing awareness of the Navy’s stress continuum model and the importance of leaders and individuals recognizing stress at work and home,” Laraway said. “However, while awareness and stress issues are improving, this year’s quick poll respondents also indicated that longer deployments and manning issues continue to contribute to increasing levels of their stress.”

Laraway said the quick poll revealed a larger percentage of sailors reporting positive ways they are coping with stress in their day-to-day lives. The survey indicated they are talking to family, friends, shipmates, counselors at fleet and family support centers and chaplains, and they’re using their chain of command to constructively solve problems, she said.

While awareness of stress issues is improving, Laraway added, the Operational Stress Control program supports an aggressive education, training and communication campaign that integrates policies and initiatives under one overarching umbrella.

“Training has expanded this past year to include eight new e-learning courses designed for Navy leaders,” Laraway said. These Web-based offerings are part of the Navy’s effort to embed Operational Stress Control program concepts across all education and training programs, she explained. This new curriculum builds on courses already taught to 176,000 sailors, family members and health care providers to navigate stress for day-to-day operations, she added.

While the program is about helping commands, sailors and families to become more resilient by increasing their ability to prepare for, recover from and adjust to life in the face of stress, adversity, trauma or tragedy, Laraway said, the expanded curriculum also helps families cope with stress.

“A mission-ready sailor incorporates a mission-ready family,” she said. “When things are going on in the home or in the family that are causing stress, it has an impact on the sailor’s ability to perform the mission.”

Working with the fleet and family support centers, Laraway added, Operational Stress Control program officials developed training and a formal curriculum tailored for families that would complement and support existing programs and have found other ways to get the vital information to family members.

“Our curriculum has been translated into Spanish and American sign language, recognizing that English is not only the primary language to get information out to families,” she said.

Program officials also are working with the Navy Medicine Focus program to develop relationships with families who deploy more frequently. By doing so, Laraway explained, Operational Stress Control training components can better define stress zones for sailors, Marines and their family members in the same, common language, which she said is vital to helping them understand those stress points.

“What we are teaching or presenting to sailors and Marines is the same language that family members use here at the fleet and family support centers,” she said. “That common language is very important when looking to change our culture.”

Operational Stress Control program officials have developed four color-coded categories to assist in classifying and recognizing stress: green indicates a “ready” status, yellow indicates a “reacting” status, orange indicates an “injured” status, and red indicates an “ill” status.

“We recognize that for the most part, our sailors and families are in the green zone,” Laraway said. “They are physically fit, they have had good training, they have good communication skills, [and] they know what to do and how to go about doing it.”

Laraway added that if sailors and their families facing difficulty have resilience and life experience, as well as the training and knowledge, they can move back into the green zone. Occasionally, she added, something happens to shift the stress in the family, and it is perfectly normal to move across the continuum.

An important ingredient of the Operational Stress Control program’s success, Laraway said, is increasing the acceptance of seeking help for stress-related injuries and illnesses.

“Our work to change attitudes has begun with promoting Navy leadership’s belief that asking for assistance and guidance is a sign of strength, and not weakness,” she said.

She added that they are dedicated to using humor as a method to teach leaders and sailors to recognize their stress zones, and established a social media presence with their blog and Facebook accounts.

Face of Defense: Soldier Makes the Right Moves

By Army Sgt. William E. Henry

Indiana National Guard

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 30, 2010 – In the Army, infantry is known as the “Queen of Battle,” and artillery is known as the “King of Battle.” An Indiana National Guard soldier recently was able to command all the pieces and was not just a pawn in the game.

Army Spc. Nathaniel Rockhill, a Hope, Ind., native assigned to the 38th Infantry Division, tested his chess-playing skills against military members from 14 other countries during the 21st NATO Chess Championship in Koege, Denmark, in October. More than 80 chess players competed in the event.

Rockhill, an instrumentalist for the 38th Division Band, said he earned his seat after he competed at the 2010 All-Army Chess Championship in May. He was one of six top Army players to advance to the NATO tournament.

“I had never competed at an international level, so I wasn't sure how I would do,” said Rockhill, who placed 51st overall in the NATO event. Though he was slightly disappointed at his performance, he said, he did place higher than the tournament staff projected he would.

“It was a great honor to represent the United States and the Army at such an event,” he said. “Very few people get that chance, and I'm proud to have had this opportunity.”

Rockhill said the endurance and dedication required in chess relate to his service as a military member.

“It requires extreme patience to succeed in chess,” he said, noting that a single chess game can last five to six hours. “It also requires a fighting spirit and dedication. These attributes directly relate to my experience with the military. You don't get far in the Army if you're impatient and don't have dedication to what you do.”

Obama: ‘Don’t Ask’ Report Confirms Nation Is Ready for Change

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 – In a statement issued today, President Barack Obama urged the Senate to act swiftly so he can sign the repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law this year, citing the Defense Department’s report as proof that the nation “can transition to a new policy in a responsible manner.”

Here is the full text of the president’s statement:

As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipline within our military ranks. That is why I directed the Department of Defense earlier this year to begin preparing for a transition to a new policy.

Today’s report confirms that a strong majority of our military men and women and their families -- more than two thirds -- are prepared to serve alongside Americans who are openly gay and lesbian. This report also confirms that, by every measure -- from unit cohesion to recruitment and retention to family readiness -- we can transition to a new policy in a responsible manner that ensures our military strength and national security. And for the first time since this law was enacted 17 years ago today, both the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have publicly endorsed ending this policy.

With our nation at war and so many Americans serving on the front lines, our troops and their families deserve the certainty that can only come when an act of Congress ends this discriminatory policy once and for all. The House of Representatives has already passed the necessary legislation. Today I call on the Senate to act as soon as possible so I can sign this repeal into law this year and ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally. Our troops represent the virtues of selfless sacrifice and love of country that have enabled our freedoms. I am absolutely confident that they will adapt to this change and remain the best led, best trained, best equipped fighting force the world has ever known.

Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen delivers remarks at 11:30 a.m. EST at the Center for American Progress, 1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor, Washington D.C.  Media interested in attending should contact the Center at  202-682-1611 or CJCS PA, Russell.Goemaere@js.pentagon.mil at 703-697-4272.

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen delivers remarks at 7 p.m. EST at Newman’s Own Foundation/Salute Our Troops Reception in the Library of Congress/Madison Hall, Washington, D.C.  Media interested in attending should contact CJCS PA Russell.Goemaere@js.pentagon.mil at 703-697-4272.

Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy James N. Miller and Director, Missile Defense Agency, Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O’Reilly testify at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on the status of the phased adaptive approach at 2 p.m. EST in room 2212, Rayburn House Office Building.

This Day in Naval History - Nov. 30

From the Navy News Service

1942 - In Battle of Tassafaronga, last major naval action in Solomons, U.S. forces stop the Japanese attempt to reprovision the Japanese troops on Guadalcanal. Six U.S. ships are damaged in the action.

Intentional Chocolate™ Provides Sweet Relief Southern California Chocolate Maker Pledges 20% to USA Cares

RADCLIFF, KY— November 30, 2010—Intentional Chocolate of Los Angeles, CA (has partnered with USA Cares pledging a 20% donation of net profits to the military charitable organization serving post-9/11 service members, veterans and their families. Among USA Cares four program areas is Warrior Treatment Today (http://usacares.org/index.php/assistance/sub/category/warrior_treatment_today) which provides assistance to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) by removing the financial barriers to treatment. USA cares helps these “invisibly” wounded soldiers by assuring that the financial burden of maintaining their households is alleviated while they seek much needed in-patient treatment.

Jim Walsh, CEO of Intentional Chocolate—who learned about USA Cares from their spokesperson, radio host Dennis Miller—knows how difficult TBI can be. At the age of 32, he suffered a traumatic brain injury. “TBI and PTSD are some of the loneliest conditions there are,” says Walsh. “The outside world doesn’t see any evidence of damage, but inside, it’s extremely debilitating. We hope to help these individuals, and their families, however we can. That’s why we’re donating 20 percent of our net profits—up to one million dollars—to USA Cares.”

Gifts of Intentional Chocolate can be purchased from their website at http://www.intentionalchocolate.com/ or Amazon.

About USA Cares™
USA Cares is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps post-9/11 military and their families with basic financial needs, assists veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), works to prevent home foreclosures and evictions, and assists veterans with career placement. USA Cares has received over 26,000 requests for help and responded with more than $7.4 million in grants. Post-9/11 military and family can apply for assistance at http://usacares.org/ .

About Intentional Chocolate™
Intentional Chocolate’s mission is to co-create a more just and compassionate world—starting by bringing more love and positive intentions into areas of society that need it most, such as our military. It is not their desire to be part of any dialogue on the correctness of what we are doing in Iraq or elsewhere. It is their desire to continue to make sure that our military families know they are not alone. For more information visit http://www.intentionalchocolate.com/.

Vietnamese-American Returns to Birthplace — USS Tarawa

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark Logico

Commander Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- A 31-year-old Vietnamese-American woman returned to her place of birth, the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), presently moored at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Nov. 29.

"This is wonderful," said Grace Tarawa Tran, who was born aboard Tarawa on May 10, 1979, two days after 442 other Vietnamese refugees were rescued in the South China Sea. Being born on U.S. property, Tran immediately became a U.S. citizen. "I never thought this day would come. Meeting all the Marines, coming to see the ship where I was born on, my parents told me a lot of stories. I just never really imagined that this would happen."

Tran was later taken by surprise when the corpsman who delivered her joined her on the flight deck of the ship. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Richard Reed, "Doc Reed" as he was referred to back then, was assigned to the Marine Corps' Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2/3, attached to Tarawa at the time, when the ship was performing the humanitarian rescue effort that rescued the Vietnamese refugees.

"It's wonderful," said Reed who hasn't seen Tran since he delivered her aboard the ship. "She has grown to be a pretty lady. It's amazing that one day you're holding her in your arms, and then the next day she's fully grown."

When Tran's mother gave birth, Reed wrapped Tran up and attended to the infant's needs.

"She seemed like my own child, a daughter from a different country."

Tran cried as Reed revealed himself to her and presented her with flowers and copies of pictures and news clipping of the eventful day. Reed showed Tran old pictures of the day of the rescue, the birth and the days that followed, most of which she has never seen before.

"The events, my experiences with the BLT and seeing the suffering the Vietnamese went through, it changed my life," said Reed. "That's why I'm a pastor today. I've been a pastor now for the past 26 years, and it was all because of this young lady right here. It was a change in my life. It was an unexpected surprise especially for me as a corpsman. I was used to taking care of Marines, sewing them up, giving them shots, taking them to sick call, but delivering a baby— that was a brand new experience. It was a once in a lifetime experience. She was my first and my last."

Tran said she was also overwhelmed meeting Reed as the two went through the photo album that showed photos of other Vietnamese refugees and the wooden motor boat that they were on.

"There are no words that can express how grateful we are for the aid and comfort that all of you provided us while aboard the USS Tarawa," said Tran. "My family along with 400 other Vietnamese citizens fled Vietnam in search for a better life. They fled on a 20 feet wooden motor boat, which later malfunctioned. While adrift, they were robbed by Thai pirates eleven separate times over the course of a week. Condition on the boat was horrible, and they had very little food and water to consume. Exhaustion and hunger took over them that they no longer feared for their lives. So, you can only imagine the joy they felt when the U.S. military came to their rescue."

Despite the end of the Vietnam War with the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, waves of South Vietnamese refugees escaped the war-torn country in search of a better life. More than two million people fled Vietnam in small, unsafe crowded boats ending up in countries like Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

"My parents wanted to get away from the war and the communism," said Tran. "So they, along with 400 others, fled Vietnam. They did not know which nation they were going to, they just wanted to escape Vietnam. My mother said she was really scared, but this was the opportunity to leave Vietnam and find freedom. They took a really big risk."

After the rescue at sea, Tarawa delivered Tran and the refugees to an asylum camp in Thailand where they began the process of immigrating to the U.S. Tran said that in three months the refugees were divided up and distributed to several states. Tran's family was eventually immigrated to Philadelphia, PA.

Today, Tran works as a financial analyst for an insurance company in Philadelphia.

Decommissioned in March 2009, Tarawa was the lead amphibious assault ship, and the second ship to be named after Tarawa Atoll, a site of a Marine landing during World War II. Tarawa is currently moored in West Loch, Pearl Harbor, and is considered a retention asset for the U.S. Navy.

Guard Leaders Hope Efficiencies Will Extend Border Role

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2010 – National Guard soldiers and airmen are making a big difference to civilian law enforcement officers working along the U.S. southwest border, and officials hope smart fiscal oversight will allow them to stay through the spring, a National Guard Bureau official said.

Homeland Security Department officials have told military leaders at the Pentagon that they are “very impressed” with the support from 1,195 soldiers and airmen deployed to the border to help DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection agents, Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Aylward told American Forces Press Service in a Nov. 24 interview.

Representatives from Homeland Security, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, and the adjutants general for California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas discussed the Guard’s contribution along the border and their deployment schedule during a Nov. 23 video teleconference, said Aylward, a special assistant to the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano visited California National Guard members in San Diego, along with her top military advisor, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Chuck Michel, on Oct. 18. Michel reported back that there is a high return on investment from President Barack Obama’s directive in May to send up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the border, Aylward said.

“He said they are very impressed with the attitude, professionalism, and great support the National Guard soldiers and airmen are providing in the San Diego sector, and across the board in the other states,” he said. “The troops are doing great work, and it’s greatly appreciated by our colleagues who are working to hire and train 1,000 agents.”

The Guard members were asked to support the federal agents until the new hires are on board. The Guard reached capacity for the mission in October, and the directive calls for the drawdown of troops to begin in February. Government officials, though, are still working out the redeployment schedule, Aylward said. Redeployment is tied to the $135 million allocated to the mission, which is shared equally between the Homeland Security and Defense departments.

“How long we sustain the 1,200 folks on the border is part and parcel to the $135 million,” he said. “The rampdown schedule is something the team is working through right now with the four states. The reality is we have had no change to the existing requirement and don’t anticipate a change to that requirement.” The challenge, he added, is how to execute that requirement within the budget allocation.

Because of the “great fiscal stewardship” of the four adjutants general, Aylward said, officials hope to extend the drawdown timeline into late spring, and perhaps into June. The adjutants general cut costs for the operation by using lower-level personnel and finding alternatives to work-related travel to stretch the appropriated funds, he said.

Defense and Homeland Security officials are reviewing the drawdown schedule to determine how long they can fund it, Aylward said.

The troops are working mostly in “entry identification teams” that operate in secret locations to provide oversight of the 2,000-mile border between the four states and Mexico, the general said.

“For us, it’s really nothing new,” he said. “They work in listening posts, observation posts, gathering information to give to law enforcement for prosecution.”

The Guard members also work as criminal analysts in support of immigration and customs officials, Aylward said. “We do a great job with analytical work and intelligence around the globe, so this is a great fit for us,” he said.

“This, frankly, is just another chapter in this initiative [to reduce transnational threats along the southwest border] that began even before DHS started, going back to 1993 with Customs and Border Protection,” he added.

This year has seen an improvement along the border, with illegal immigration down 23 percent between January and August, Aylward noted. During the same time, drug seizures were up 15 percent and weapons seizures were up 30 percent. At the same time, drug violence has surged in Mexico, but little has spilled over to the U.S. states, he said.

“Our challenge is how to have rules that facilitate trade, tourism and commerce, but eliminate transnational threats and illegal activity,” Aylward said. “We’re part of those who are helping with those solutions by screening out the transnational threats.”

The breakdown of Guard members along the border is 224 in California, 524 in Arizona, 72 in New Mexico, and 250 in Texas. Another 130 are working command and control, officials said.

Customs and Border Protection spokeswoman Kelly Rose Ivahnenko said the National Guard teams help to fill gaps in surveillance coverage along the border, enhance interdiction efforts with analysis and technology such as infrared sensing devices and truck-mounted cameras, and provide agents with real-time information.

“National Guard troops serve as valuable partners and are a tremendous asset in bolstering our border security efforts, along with unprecedented resources in manpower, technology and infrastructure that have been allocated by this administration,” Ivahnenko said.

As examples, Ivahnenko said, Guard members have assisted Border Patrol with 2,500 apprehensions and the seizure of nearly 3,000 pounds of marijuana in the Tucson, Ariz., sector. In Texas, Guard members have helped to secure 25 apprehensions and 200 pounds of marijuana in the El Paso sector and 430 apprehensions and 1,348 pounds of marijuana in the Rio Grande Valley sector. California National Guardsmen have detected 1,046 illegal entries that resulted in arrests by Border Patrol agents, she said.

Obama Proposes Federal Pay Freeze

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2010 – President Barack Obama today proposed a two-year federal pay freeze to aid in reducing the federal deficit.

The proposed freeze would not affect military pay, and would require congressional action to become law.

“[The freeze] would save $2 billion over the rest of this fiscal year and $28 billion in cumulative savings over the next five years,” the president said in announcing the proposal.

Obama said federal employees must help bear the burden of economic sacrifices to put the federal budget back on track along with Americans in the private sector, but he acknowledged the pay freeze proposal is a decision that didn’t come easily.

“This is not just a line item on a federal register,” he said. “These are people's lives. They're doctors and nurses who care for our veterans, scientists who search for better treatments and cures, men and women who care for our national parks and secure our borders and our skies, Americans who see that the Social Security checks get out on time, who make sure that scholarships come through, who devote themselves to our safety.”

When Obama took office in January 2009, he immediately froze salaries for senior White House officials. Earlier this year, he also proposed freezing salaries for all political appointees throughout the government, White House officials said.

Obama noted today that he also has proposed a three-year freeze on all nonsecurity discretionary spending, a step he said would bring that spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy in 50 years.

Veterans’ Reflections: Joining Up to Do His Part

By Ian Graham

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2010 – The military can be a lot of things to people looking to enlist. It can be a demonstration of patriotism, a college payment plan, or just a way to get out of town and start adulthood.

For Ryan Berkshire, it was all three.

In January 2003, one semester before graduating from high school and two months prior to the start of the war in Iraq, Berkshire signed up with the Montana Army National Guard. The Guard gave him the long-term opportunity to pay for college, where he could study music, and the short-term opportunity to leave his hometown of Billings, Mont., for a while.

“The entire time you’re in high school in Billings, you talk about getting out,” Berkshire said. The National Guard and the Montgomery GI Bill, added, were the best options he had.

“It was really more my need for money for college, and I kind of felt like I needed to earn my right to live in this country,” he said. “There are so many people that say they’re going to do big things, and I just wanted to be one who could say it and back it up.”

Shortly after receiving his high school diploma, Berkshire shipped off to boot camp and advanced training. He would end up serving the in the Guard for six years, followed by two years in the inactive ready reserve. He’ll finish his service completely in January as a sergeant.

By November 2003, Berkshire was leaving for Iraq as a cook with the 639th Quartermaster Company, a petroleum and basic supply company made up of soldiers from different Montana National Guard units who soon would become some of his closest friends.

“For as much as you have to put up with, there are a lot of good times in the Guard, too,” he said.

Talil Air Base, near Nasiriyah, was his home and his work for the next 12 months in Iraq. He worked in a cycle of eight 12-hour days followed by a day off, supervising kitchen contractors brought in from India, Pakistan and Nepal, ensuring they were following military sanitation and food preparation standards.

“Alongside my duties in the dining facility, I did some guard duty,” he said. “I had to escort kitchen employees to the nearby Korean hospital for medical checkups and a lot of escorting food from the gate to the dining facility and back.”

It was during the trips to the nearby civilian hospital, operated by South Korean forces for local Iraqis and contracted civilians on base, that gave Berkshire increased pride about the American mission in Iraq, he said. He spoke with local families who were appreciative of the U.S. and coalition military presence, he recalled, and they were getting medical services and humanitarian aid they hadn’t received in years under Saddam Hussein.

“To see these kids and their parents who were so appreciative of us being there, that was it for me. It really meant a lot,” he said. “It gave me purpose for the rest of the time I was there.”

Berkshire said he felt frustrated for a long time by a widening gap between public opinion and his own experience in Iraq. Though he “wasn’t in the worst situation” –- his base was mortared only a few times a week and received direct missile fire only a handful of times during his tour -– he heard conflicting reports of conditions in the country when he turned on the news.

“It wasn’t like Baghdad, where there was constant fire,” he said. “I had a pretty easy time compared to other servicemembers who had more high-intensity [jobs]. I consider myself pretty lucky.”

Berkshire experienced difficulty when he returned to the United States and attended college, he said, where he was surrounded by opinionated people, for and against the war, who never would have dreamed of experiencing the war first-hand.

“There are a lot of people in America that hear things, but unless you actually experience it, you don’t really have anything to say,” he said. “I’m one of the few people who saw how it actually is over there.”

Berkshire said both sides of the argument were right and wrong about certain things. It was a difficult time, he acknowledged, but he added that he felt the military did a lot to mitigate the stresses of combat. The morale, welfare and recreation facilities on base, he said, helped the troops “keep their heads on their shoulders.”

“They had a Burger King trailer and a Pizza Hut trailer, they had welfare centers where we could watch movies and play video games,” he said. “They had a lot set up so it didn’t have to be such a difficult or dark place.”

Berkshire said it took a while after he returned from Iraq to come to terms with the fact that most people around him hadn’t served, and would never serve. He said he felt as if he was part of a minority because he believed he needed to give something back to his country.

“When I came back from Iraq, I had the same problem trying to figure out who I was,” he said. “For a while, I felt like I had a superiority complex, because I was one of only a handful of individuals that actually went out and did something for this country. I really feel like I’m an American citizen, because I served.”

In the end, Berkshire said, he served in the military because he wanted to. Soldiering isn’t a job that’s performed for the glory, he said, and it doesn’t make you a better or worse person whether you’d served in the military or not.

“I’ve had people buy me food, buy dinners and drinks, because I’m a veteran,” he said. “I don’t want praise for it. That’s not what I’m looking for. I just want to be able to say I did my part at the end of the day. It’s the small things that matter to me.”

(“Veterans’ Reflections” is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.)

Coast Guard Aviation Association CG-1705 Memorial

By U.S. Coast Guard PPC, Topeka

On the evening of October 29, 2009, Coast Guard HC-130 Rescue aircraft 1705 was conducting a search for a missing boater near San Clemente Island off the southern California coast.  Simultaneously, a flight of four Marine Corps helicopters from nearby camp Pendleton was on a training mission in the same area.  At 7:10 p.m., all communications with Rescue 1705 were lost. Subsequently, it was learned that Rescue 1705 had been involved in a mid-air collision with one of the Marine Corps helicopters. Despite an extensive search by multiple assets, no survivors were found; seven Coast Guard and two Marine Corps personnel perished in the accident.

A Coast Guard Memorial, funded entirely by donations, will be constructed under the auspices of the Coast Guard Aviation Association. It will be located at the Coast Guard Air Station in Sacramento, CA, and its centerpiece will be a bronze C-130 with a 10' wingspan.  Bronze plaques surrounding the memorial will tell the story and honor the nine individuals who gave their lives in the line of duty.  Memorial funds are being raised through direct donations to the Coast Guard Aviation Association, purchase of engraved memorial bricks, and purchase of Rescue 1705 commemorative coins and patches.  More information regarding the Memorial may be obtained by visiting the website http://www.rescue1705.com/.  All donations will be greatly appreciated.

Operation Fireside: A home away from home

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

On a typical day at boot camp, recruits wait in line for “chow,” at the Coast Guard’s Training Center in Cape May, N.J. standing in a straight line, with shoulders to the “bulkhead” as Company Commanders bark orders. This past Thursday, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, recruits found a small reprieve from this daily routine at boot camp as they settled onto comfortable sofas, surrounded by the aromas of a home-cooked meal.

The recruits, who have endeared weeks of grueling training, earned the privilege to go off base on Thanksgiving Day as part of Operation Fireside. A holiday tradition since 1981, Operation Fireside is sponsored by both the Cape May County chapter of the American Red Cross and the Coast Guard and allows recruits to spend time with families in the community for a break from their now regimented lives.

This year, Operation Fireside matched up 372 Training Center Cape May recruits with 111 host families who took in the recruits for a day of food, fellowship, and of course well-deserved rest and relaxation

Used to starting their day at the crack of dawn and not hitting the rack until 10 p.m., the recruit’s day off started at 9:00 a.m. where they were picked up by a host family and soon found themselves in the warm homes of the local community where smiles and handshakes were a welcome replacement from verbal commands and orders.

The recruits who participated called home to talk to loved ones, watched television, especially football, or for many recruits who welcomed the break from their regulated schedule, just sitting and talking felt good.

One of the participants was Seamen Recruit William Sinclair, who traveled off base with one other recruit to enjoy amenities that were dearly missed. Originally from Whitney Point, N.Y., this was Sinclair’s first time away from home for Thanksgiving, so being able to talk to his family was a highlight of his day.

In between eating both breakfast and a traditional thanksgiving meal and watching television, Sinclair found time to video chat with his family who was back home and eating their Thanksgiving dinner without him for the first time.

“It really means a lot to share in something like this after being stuck here for so long,” said Sinclair. “Here at boot camp everything looks exactly the same as every other room, so it was great just being able to get off the base and being in a home atmosphere.”

The home-cooked food that nourished the recruit’s was only part of the affects the day had on the recruits. For many of the young men and women, who arrived in Cape May from all across the country, missing family and friends was a daily occurrence.

Seaman Recruit Christopher Stevenson was far from his hometown of Chicago, Ill., but his participation in Operation Fireside surrounded him with the comfort and hospitality that can only come from close friends.

“From the time we stepped into the house until they dropped us off back at the base, they acted like we were family,” said Stevenson. “It was such a great thing to go off base and have someone welcome you with open arms and make you feel like you are home, when you are so far from it.”

Stevenson was overjoyed with the camaraderie he shared with his host family and their generosity, but also made sure to note how delicious the food was.

“I think it was the best turkey I’ve ever had in my life,” said Sinclair.

Being away for the holidays is something that often comes with service, and for both Sinclair and Stevenson, recruits from Delta 184, this may not be the last time they are not home for the holidays. Delta 184 will be graduating this Friday and both recruits will be stationed at units far from their hometowns. For them, this holiday and Operation Fireside, was a reminder that despite the fact they are away from their own families, they can still find their way “home.”