DoD Official Highlights U.S. Relationship With Georgia

By Lisa Ferdinando, DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- A top defense official hailed the U.S. relationship with the country of Georgia, saying it is an “incredibly important strategic partnership” with a nation that shares values and interests with the United States.

The U.S.-Georgia defense relationship is “important and blossoming,” Robert S. Karem, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, said here today.

Karem spoke at the United States Institute of Peace, at the second annual U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Conference. He was part of a panel discussion, Geopolitics and Security: U.S.-Georgia Strategic Alliance in Making.

The principles enshrined in the U.S.-Georgia Charter -- the rule of law, territorial integrity and sovereignty -- are all under assault today, Karem said.

Russia and China are seeking to undermine the rules-based international order that  helped create the conditions for  peace and prosperity, he said.

“That peace and prosperity will only last if we can defend it, and it's very important for the United States to have partners like Georgia who are so willing to contribute to our common security," he said.

He highlighted U.S. efforts to support Georgia, including the Georgia Defense Readiness Program, which is a training initiative to enhance combat readiness and institutional capacity of Georgia’s armed forces.

‘Truly Impressive’ Commitment to Security, Values

It has been 100 years since Georgia originally declared independence, Karem pointed out. That independence was followed by Soviet conquest in 1921, which lasted until the fall of the Soviet Union and Georgia’s second declaration of independence in 1991.

It has been 10 years since Russia invaded Georgia, he said, explaining that Russia continues to occupy 20 percent of Georgia.

“It's hard not to be impressed and surprised at the progress that Georgia has made, in spite of so much adversity,” he said. Karem highlighted the progress made in defense reform and defense spending, adding its “commitment to defending its people, and its values and its commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration is truly impressive."

Contributions to Global Peace, Security

Karem commended Georgia for its commitment to global peace and security, pointing out its troop contributions to missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali and the Central African Republic.

“This has come at considerable cost,” he said, paying tribute to the dozens of Georgian soldiers who have been killed and the hundreds wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The conflicts, he pointed out, “are far away from Georgia, but the things that we are fighting for as partners I think resonate in Tbilisi as they do in Washington."

Karem cited Georgia as a model to other nations for its defense modernization and reform to meet the challenges of today. He echoed Vice President Mike Pence’s statement that Georgia will one day become a member of NATO.

Face of Defense: Depression Recovery Like Coming Out of Darkness, Soldier Says

By Annette P. Gomes, U.S. Army Warrior Care and Transition

ARLINGTON, Va. --  For Army Sgt. 1st Class Julio Rodriguez, the first two days of March 2015 will remain embedded in his mind forever.

“Those two days were the end of who I was, and the beginning of the person I am becoming,” he said.

Deployed to Iraq that year, Rodriguez said, he quickly found himself in a very dark place after personal demons set in.

Suicidal Thoughts

“On March 1, I had my first suicidal thought -- a vivid mental picture of me laying on my bunk with my Beretta pistol pointed to my head,” he said. “I realized I broke at that point, but I was determined not to give in. I quickly snapped out of it and thought that I regained my composure, but I didn't.”

The next day, he said, another vivid mental picture popped into his head. “This time, I was walking towards the dining hall and I saw myself sitting against a wall with my pistol in my hand, and a bullet hole in my chest,” Rodriquez said.

“It was at that point that I realized I was beyond self-recovery and the steps I was taking on my own failed,” he added.

Seeking Help

After confiding in a friend, Rodriguez sought the help he needed. He was diagnosed with major depression and suicidal ideation and was evacuated from combat operations. He later began therapy at the former Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

He said he was deeply in denial about his condition, but with the impending birth of his daughter, he slowly began to heal.

“Knowing she was coming into the world, I had to fight for me and my life in order to ensure I was there for her,” he said. “Over time, I learned my self-worth and realized life was worth living, but she was and will always be my ‘Why,’” Rodriguez said.

"It’s funny. … During our darkest times, God will always find a way to show you the light,” he added.

The counterintelligence agent is now sharing his story with others as a way of offering inspiration to anyone facing life challenges.

Recovery

“It was a horrible experience. And, knowing personally that even resilient people can break -- I wish that on no one,” Rodriguez said. “I share my story with a lot of my soldiers in my unit as a testament of what resiliency is all about.”

Soldiers with suicidal thoughts should “see a behavioral health specialist, right away,” Rodriguez said. “It gives them hope and a positive outlook during their situation,” he explained.

No one just decides to commit suicide, Rodriguez said. “Suicide is an easy way to end pain during very difficult times when they feel nothing else is working,” he said. “It’s the end of a progressive negative process.”

Healing

As Rodriguez continues his process of healing, he’s now focused on the 2018 Department of Defense Warrior Games slated June 1-9 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“I had to recreate myself and establish a new me. It wasn't easy,” Rodriguez said. “I struggled a lot, but I managed to create a better version of myself.”

Rodriguez said he developed new hobbies, goals, set priorities, and created a new leadership style based on his experience. “I am stronger and better than I used to be and I'm grateful for everything I have,” he said.

Navy Divers Showcase Skills at New York Aquarium

By Navy Chief Petty Officer RJ Stratchko, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

NEW YORK -- Navy divers interacted with fish and showcased their underwater skills for the public at the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn as part of this week’s Fleet Week New York activities.

The divers, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 2 and Underwater Construction Team 1, spent the day in the aquarium’s conservation hall, welcoming hundreds of visitors from various schools and youth groups around the city.

‘It’s Such a Great Opportunity’

“It’s such a great opportunity to be able to dive in an aquarium like this and to see the support we get from the public,” said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Johnston Davis, assigned to MDSU 2. “Being able to see kids faces light up when they saw us made this an unforgettable experience.”

The divers played tic-tac-toe, posed for photos with visitors and wrote messages to visitors using wax pens on the aquarium’s glass.

“Children at this age are sponges, so being able to bring them out of the classroom to learn through seeing instead of being stuck in a classroom really opens their eyes to what is out there,” said Tasha Allen, a family worker at Urban Strategies, Urban Learning Center 1.

Allen added, “Today has been a learning experience for the children because they have not only seen what kind of fish live in our oceans but also what the Navy does. The kids loved interacting with the divers so it’s been a great experience overall.”

Fleet Week: A Time-Honored Tradition

Fleet Week, now in its 30th year, is New York City’s time-honored celebration of the sea services. It’s an opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding area to meet sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, and to learn about the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.

The weeklong celebration has been held nearly every year since 1984.