By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2007 - An Army Reserve helicopter crew lowered National Park Service rangers to practice plucking an injured climber from an 8,600-foot ridge on Washington's Mount Rainier yesterday in a training mission much like real-life rescues the soldiers are routinely called upon to perform. It was a glorious afternoon as aviators from Company A, 5th Battalion, 59th Aviation Regiment, dispatched a CH-47D Chinook helicopter to the mountain, which towers over their airfield, to exercise skills they and their Park Service partners could be called on to use at a moment's notice.
The unit, nicknamed the "Hookers" in reference to the three cargo hooks beneath their helicopters, has worked with the National Park Service since 1990 to conduct high-altitude search-and-rescue missions on Mount Rainier, said Army Maj. William Wynn, the unit's commander.
As many as 10,000 climbers tackle the 14,410-foot active volcano every year, the vast majority between May and September, National Park Service officials said. About half of those climbers successfully reach the summit.
But even the most spectacular mountain conditions can deteriorate quickly. Fierce storms and white-out conditions that seemingly appear out of nowhere claim an average of three climbers a year. "It can be a pretty hostile and unforgiving environment," Wynn said.
When a climber goes missing or the Park Service gets word of a climber who's stranded or injured at higher altitudes than standard helicopters can fly, the Hookers' crews step -- make that fly -- in.
Crews stand on alert throughout the climbing season, ready to respond to a Park Service call within an hour, Wynn said. All understand that every minute counts for a climber in trouble at high altitude.
When the Park Service calls, crews muster at their hangar, prepping the aircraft with the special gear they'll need: climbing ropes, baskets, hoists and oxygen. Once airborne, they race to a designated base camp on the mountain to rendezvous with climbing rangers from the Park Service.
Operating at high altitudes, particularly in ever-changing mountain conditions, poses challenges to rescuers as well as to climbers, explained Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bob Agee, a pilot trainer for the unit. Turbulent air can make aircraft buck to updrafts and downdrafts. Winds can pick up, and visibility can plummet in the blink of an eye. Low oxygen levels often require crews to wear oxygen masks.
Recognizing these difficulties, Wynn sends only his most experienced pilots on search-and-rescue missions. Among them is Agee, who first flew Chinooks during the Vietnam War and has 20 years of SAR experience under his belt.
Another is Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Scott Salkovics, who brings not only extensive flying experience, but also mountaineering experience to the mission. Salkovics has climbed nearby Mount St. Helens 43 times. The one time he attempted Mount Rainier, he got "blown off the mountain" at 10,000 feet, giving him a unique respect for the mountain.
That failed attempt also gave Salkovics an appreciation of the contribution he and his fellow Hookers are making. "I believe in the mission. There's definitely a need," he said. "It's nice to know if you get into trouble, there's someone trained to come get you."
During yesterday's training mission, the crews flew to Kautz Helibase to pick up the park rangers, just as they would during a real rescue mission. From there, they proceeded to the site of the injured climber, represented by a 160-pound dummy they lowered onto a glacier-covered area on the mountain's north side.
Hovering at about 50 feet, Army Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Rhoads, a flight engineer, helped lower the Park Service rescuers on a cable device known as a jungle penetrator. They wrapped the dummy in a sleeping bag to protect it from the freezing winds whipped up by the helicopter's prop wash, then secured it onto a litter.
Rhoads and another flight engineer worked together to raise the litter, then the rescuers, slowing their ascent as they neared the aircraft to prevent them from swinging into it.
Mike Gauthier, supervisory climbing ranger, called the support the reservists bring to the Mount Rainier National Park Service "immeasurable." The park could never dedicate an aircraft with the capabilities of the Chinook to the SAR mission, he said, and the Hookers bring vast experience to the mission. "And at the same time, you're seeing federal agencies working together to perform a valuable public service," he said.
Fellow climbing ranger Andy Anderson praised the close training arrangement between the Park Service and the Army Reserve. "This is something we all practice on a regular basis and always hope we never have to use," he said. "But thanks to training like this, we know that if we need it, we're prepared."
This year has been a good one on Mount Rainer. With just a month left of the prime climbing season, no climber has yet been killed. The Hookers have been called out to support just two search-and-rescue missions; one that was aborted after the climber was found safe, and the other in which they airlifted a climber with a dislocated shoulder from 11,000 feet.
Regardless of how much they use their search-and-rescue skills on the mountain, unit members say those skills paid off in a big way during a deployment to Iraq and when they supported hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief efforts in 2005.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Richard Bovey, a unit instructor pilot, compared the landscape on Mount Rainier to that in which he flew while supporting relief efforts after a 2005 earthquake in Pakistan and during a deployment to Afghanistan. "Getting experience flying in environments like that is just invaluable," he said.
"This is a win-win all around," agreed Rhoads. "It's one of those situations where everybody benefits."
Like his fellow reservists, Rhoads considers himself lucky to be part of the SAR mission. "You get to help somebody go home to their family when you pluck them off the mountain alive," he said. "That's the biggest gratification of what we do."
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Annual Ride Honors Family of Fallen
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2007 - Since 2004, a group of Minnesota motorcyclists has visited more than 40 families throughout the state who have lost a loved one while serving the country, and this year will be no different. The fourth annual "Tribute to the Troops" ride and concert will begin Sept. 7 and conclude two days later.
"This year, on Sept. 7 and 8, (more than) 90 motorcyclists will participate in three separate rides that will be visiting 18 families from Lake City to Moorhead, including seven families in the Twin Cities area," said Gregg Schmitt, the group's executive director and co-founder of the ride. "Our mission is to demonstrate to them that this group of fellow Minnesotans care and we will never forget their loss."
Riders will present each family with a specially framed photo of their loved one, a commemorative flag and a copy of recording artist Rockie Lynne's music video "Home."
"Not enough has been done to recognize the loss these families have suffered," Lynne said. "We all need to do more to let these families know that we, as ordinary Americans, recognize their loss and the sacrifice they have made for our country."
Lynne, co-founder of the ride, produced the DVD to honor all fallen servicemembers. It also served as the inspiration for the three-day tribute event.
The event concludes Sept. 9 with a memorial ride that will take the group to visit military personnel at Minnesota National Guard's Camp Ripley, in Little Falls. A concert featuring Lynne and the bands High Noon and the Killer Hayseeds will conclude the fourth annual Tribute to the Troops ride and concert.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Aug. 29, 2007 - Since 2004, a group of Minnesota motorcyclists has visited more than 40 families throughout the state who have lost a loved one while serving the country, and this year will be no different. The fourth annual "Tribute to the Troops" ride and concert will begin Sept. 7 and conclude two days later.
"This year, on Sept. 7 and 8, (more than) 90 motorcyclists will participate in three separate rides that will be visiting 18 families from Lake City to Moorhead, including seven families in the Twin Cities area," said Gregg Schmitt, the group's executive director and co-founder of the ride. "Our mission is to demonstrate to them that this group of fellow Minnesotans care and we will never forget their loss."
Riders will present each family with a specially framed photo of their loved one, a commemorative flag and a copy of recording artist Rockie Lynne's music video "Home."
"Not enough has been done to recognize the loss these families have suffered," Lynne said. "We all need to do more to let these families know that we, as ordinary Americans, recognize their loss and the sacrifice they have made for our country."
Lynne, co-founder of the ride, produced the DVD to honor all fallen servicemembers. It also served as the inspiration for the three-day tribute event.
The event concludes Sept. 9 with a memorial ride that will take the group to visit military personnel at Minnesota National Guard's Camp Ripley, in Little Falls. A concert featuring Lynne and the bands High Noon and the Killer Hayseeds will conclude the fourth annual Tribute to the Troops ride and concert.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Reservist Cites Healthcare Marketing Firm's Superb Support
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2007 - An Army reservist praised his civilian employer, Creative Healthcare Solutions, for providing exemplary support when he was deployed to Iraq last year, and the Defense Department is officially recognizing that support. "They really went above and beyond in terms of not only supporting me, but also my family," said Lt. Col. Thomas P. Weikert, 46, a marketing consultant who works out of his home office in Alpharetta, Ga., for the Scottsdale, Ariz.,-based company.
Creative Healthcare Solutions, a provider of marketing services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Weikert nominated his company for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for their employees in the Guard or reserve.
Weikert, a strategic-planning training officer in his military life, said he received differential pay and other benefits during his year-long Iraq deployment. He received care packages collected by his employer. Company representatives also took his two young sons to a National Hockey League game in nearby Atlanta during his absence, he added.
Creative Healthcare Solutions President Norman Stalsberg recalled that Weikert had about a week to prepare before he departed for Iraq. The 18-employee company quickly stepped up to help prepare Weikert and his loved ones for the deployment, the executive said.
"At that stage, pretty much all of our attention was put onto what we could do to help Tom and his family to make this deployment as least-disruptive as possible," Stalsberg said.
Stalsberg was "surprised and humbled" that his small company was selected to receive a Freedom Award.
"From my viewpoint, it's not about what we've done for Tom, but it's really about what Tom and his fellow soldiers are doing for us," Stalsberg pointed out.
Supporting employees in the Guard and reserve is important, because they're "putting life and limb on the line to fight for what this country stands for," Stalsberg said.
During his June 2006 to June 2007 tour of duty in Iraq, Weikert worked with senior U.S. and Iraqi military leaders in devising planning for the surge of forces in and around Baghdad. That important work was made easier, Weikert said, because he knew his family was being well taken care of back home.
"What they did for me really reflects how they feel about supporting the country," Weikert said of his civilian employer.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and Reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.
Stalsberg will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of his company during a formal ceremony here Sept. 12.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2007 - An Army reservist praised his civilian employer, Creative Healthcare Solutions, for providing exemplary support when he was deployed to Iraq last year, and the Defense Department is officially recognizing that support. "They really went above and beyond in terms of not only supporting me, but also my family," said Lt. Col. Thomas P. Weikert, 46, a marketing consultant who works out of his home office in Alpharetta, Ga., for the Scottsdale, Ariz.,-based company.
Creative Healthcare Solutions, a provider of marketing services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Weikert nominated his company for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for their employees in the Guard or reserve.
Weikert, a strategic-planning training officer in his military life, said he received differential pay and other benefits during his year-long Iraq deployment. He received care packages collected by his employer. Company representatives also took his two young sons to a National Hockey League game in nearby Atlanta during his absence, he added.
Creative Healthcare Solutions President Norman Stalsberg recalled that Weikert had about a week to prepare before he departed for Iraq. The 18-employee company quickly stepped up to help prepare Weikert and his loved ones for the deployment, the executive said.
"At that stage, pretty much all of our attention was put onto what we could do to help Tom and his family to make this deployment as least-disruptive as possible," Stalsberg said.
Stalsberg was "surprised and humbled" that his small company was selected to receive a Freedom Award.
"From my viewpoint, it's not about what we've done for Tom, but it's really about what Tom and his fellow soldiers are doing for us," Stalsberg pointed out.
Supporting employees in the Guard and reserve is important, because they're "putting life and limb on the line to fight for what this country stands for," Stalsberg said.
During his June 2006 to June 2007 tour of duty in Iraq, Weikert worked with senior U.S. and Iraqi military leaders in devising planning for the surge of forces in and around Baghdad. That important work was made easier, Weikert said, because he knew his family was being well taken care of back home.
"What they did for me really reflects how they feel about supporting the country," Weikert said of his civilian employer.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and Reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.
Stalsberg will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of his company during a formal ceremony here Sept. 12.
Threat-Reduction Program Marks 15-Year Anniversary
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2007 - When the Soviet Union lifted its Iron Curtain after the Cold War, Moscow left behind a lethal legacy in former Soviet bloc countries -- arsenals filled with chemical and biological weapons, nuclear warheads, intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and submarines. But 15 years ago today, in the midst of rising fears that rogue regimes or terrorists sought the remaining stockpiles, U.S. Sens. Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar initiated the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, also called the Nunn-Lugar Program. Since 1992, the program drastically cut the number of leftover weapons, dismantling more than 2,000 intercontinental missiles, eliminating 1,000 missile launchers and deactivating 7,000 nuclear warheads in former Soviet Union states.
"Cooperative threat-reduction programs are a critical tool used to address one of the gravest threats we face: the danger that terrorists and proliferators could gain access to weapons or materials of mass destruction," President Bush said in a statement today.
Dedicated to securing, eliminating and accounting for large-scale deadly weapons, Bush said, cooperative threat-reduction programs represent "the cornerstone for U.S. funding" outlined in multilateral nonproliferation partnership efforts.
At a roundtable discussion yesterday at the Carnegie Center in Moscow, Lugar, who co-sponsored the program, called it "a concept through which we attempt to take control of a global threat of our own making."
"(The Cooperative Threat Reduction Program) became the primary tool through which the United States works with Russia to safely destroy its massive nuclear, chemical and biological warfare capacity," he said. "Both sides recognized the importance of this endeavor to our mutual security."
Together, the United States and Russia convinced Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to eliminate all nuclear weapons from their territories, and in all, the program has disabled more nuclear weapons than exist in the combined arsenals of the United Kingdom, France and China.
"The significance of this is often underestimated," said Liz Sherwood, former deputy assistant defense secretary for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia from 1993-96. Sherwood, who helped build the Nunn-Lugar framework on the Defense Department's behalf, noted that Ukraine possessed the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal when it gained independence in 1991.
"We largely don't notice the dogs that didn't bark, but Ukraine with nuclear weapons would have been a very different challenge for us," she said. "Basically, that hasn't been something we had to worry about at all, because we managed to denuclearize them so easily."
Sherwood commended Nunn and Lugar for their efforts, calling their program "important and inspirational."
"In an era in which are very worried about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," she said, "it is important to take note of how much we can do to prevent proliferation."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2007 - When the Soviet Union lifted its Iron Curtain after the Cold War, Moscow left behind a lethal legacy in former Soviet bloc countries -- arsenals filled with chemical and biological weapons, nuclear warheads, intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and submarines. But 15 years ago today, in the midst of rising fears that rogue regimes or terrorists sought the remaining stockpiles, U.S. Sens. Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar initiated the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, also called the Nunn-Lugar Program. Since 1992, the program drastically cut the number of leftover weapons, dismantling more than 2,000 intercontinental missiles, eliminating 1,000 missile launchers and deactivating 7,000 nuclear warheads in former Soviet Union states.
"Cooperative threat-reduction programs are a critical tool used to address one of the gravest threats we face: the danger that terrorists and proliferators could gain access to weapons or materials of mass destruction," President Bush said in a statement today.
Dedicated to securing, eliminating and accounting for large-scale deadly weapons, Bush said, cooperative threat-reduction programs represent "the cornerstone for U.S. funding" outlined in multilateral nonproliferation partnership efforts.
At a roundtable discussion yesterday at the Carnegie Center in Moscow, Lugar, who co-sponsored the program, called it "a concept through which we attempt to take control of a global threat of our own making."
"(The Cooperative Threat Reduction Program) became the primary tool through which the United States works with Russia to safely destroy its massive nuclear, chemical and biological warfare capacity," he said. "Both sides recognized the importance of this endeavor to our mutual security."
Together, the United States and Russia convinced Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan to eliminate all nuclear weapons from their territories, and in all, the program has disabled more nuclear weapons than exist in the combined arsenals of the United Kingdom, France and China.
"The significance of this is often underestimated," said Liz Sherwood, former deputy assistant defense secretary for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia from 1993-96. Sherwood, who helped build the Nunn-Lugar framework on the Defense Department's behalf, noted that Ukraine possessed the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal when it gained independence in 1991.
"We largely don't notice the dogs that didn't bark, but Ukraine with nuclear weapons would have been a very different challenge for us," she said. "Basically, that hasn't been something we had to worry about at all, because we managed to denuclearize them so easily."
Sherwood commended Nunn and Lugar for their efforts, calling their program "important and inspirational."
"In an era in which are very worried about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," she said, "it is important to take note of how much we can do to prevent proliferation."
Indiana Guardsman Cites Freight Firm for Excellent Support
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - Indiana National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Michael S. McAllister is so impressed with the support provided by his employer, Con-way Inc., that he recommended that it receive a prestigious Defense Department award. Con-way Inc. is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. McAllister nominated the company for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for their employees in the Guard or reserves.
McAllister is a coordinator at Con-way Freight's trucking hub in Plainfield, Ind., located near Indianapolis. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based firm is a division of Con-way Inc., a freight transportation and global logistics company based in San Mateo, Calif.
McAllister, 41, cited the company's demonstrated concern and support for its employees in the Guard or reserves.
"It wasn't so much all of the benefits. I mean, those are nice, because they're above and beyond what the law requires," McAllister explained.
Rather, he cited his employer's practice of welcoming home employees returning from military duty.
"We're obviously elated that the company was recognized, but as I've made it a point to share with people, we didn't do it for any 'brownie points' if you will, or awards for us," said David L. Miller, Con-way Freight's chief operating officer.
"We're doing it because we have the means to support our citizen-soldiers, and it is the right thing to do at the end of the day," Miller said. "We only enjoy our freedoms because we have fine young men and women that are willing to put it on the line."
Con-way Inc. and its subsidiaries provide differential pay to their employees in the Guard or reserves who are called up for active duty. The company also provides health benefits for spouses and children who remain at home and collects and delivers care packages of books, snacks and other items to overseas troops.
"We do a wage differential, so that when the guys or gals are deployed on active duty, whatever they would have earned here working for us, we make up the differential between what they make in the military vs. what they would have made here," Miller explained.
Supporting employees in the Guard or reserves who've been activated for duty assists them to "have their heads in the mission," so they can come home safely, Miller pointed out.
"We don't want them having to look over their shoulders, wondering if their families are being taken care of when they are over there taking care of all of our families," he said.
McAllister recalled being activated to participate in Operation Noble Eagle to guard airports and other vital U.S. infrastructure for two years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He recently was activated again to help establish a new state training organization that will prepare Guard and reserve troops who've been mobilized for overseas duty.
Miller reiterated that his civilian employer excels at supporting its employees in the Guard or reserves. "I don't have to worry about the way the company's going to view me when I get back," the senior noncommissioned officer said, noting his company is proud of its employees in the Guard or reserves.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.
Miller will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of Con-way Inc. during a formal ceremony here Sept 12.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - Indiana National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Michael S. McAllister is so impressed with the support provided by his employer, Con-way Inc., that he recommended that it receive a prestigious Defense Department award. Con-way Inc. is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. McAllister nominated the company for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for their employees in the Guard or reserves.
McAllister is a coordinator at Con-way Freight's trucking hub in Plainfield, Ind., located near Indianapolis. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based firm is a division of Con-way Inc., a freight transportation and global logistics company based in San Mateo, Calif.
McAllister, 41, cited the company's demonstrated concern and support for its employees in the Guard or reserves.
"It wasn't so much all of the benefits. I mean, those are nice, because they're above and beyond what the law requires," McAllister explained.
Rather, he cited his employer's practice of welcoming home employees returning from military duty.
"We're obviously elated that the company was recognized, but as I've made it a point to share with people, we didn't do it for any 'brownie points' if you will, or awards for us," said David L. Miller, Con-way Freight's chief operating officer.
"We're doing it because we have the means to support our citizen-soldiers, and it is the right thing to do at the end of the day," Miller said. "We only enjoy our freedoms because we have fine young men and women that are willing to put it on the line."
Con-way Inc. and its subsidiaries provide differential pay to their employees in the Guard or reserves who are called up for active duty. The company also provides health benefits for spouses and children who remain at home and collects and delivers care packages of books, snacks and other items to overseas troops.
"We do a wage differential, so that when the guys or gals are deployed on active duty, whatever they would have earned here working for us, we make up the differential between what they make in the military vs. what they would have made here," Miller explained.
Supporting employees in the Guard or reserves who've been activated for duty assists them to "have their heads in the mission," so they can come home safely, Miller pointed out.
"We don't want them having to look over their shoulders, wondering if their families are being taken care of when they are over there taking care of all of our families," he said.
McAllister recalled being activated to participate in Operation Noble Eagle to guard airports and other vital U.S. infrastructure for two years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. He recently was activated again to help establish a new state training organization that will prepare Guard and reserve troops who've been mobilized for overseas duty.
Miller reiterated that his civilian employer excels at supporting its employees in the Guard or reserves. "I don't have to worry about the way the company's going to view me when I get back," the senior noncommissioned officer said, noting his company is proud of its employees in the Guard or reserves.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and reserve members and their employers understand employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.
Miller will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of Con-way Inc. during a formal ceremony here Sept 12.
Dinners Give Troops New Support Network
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - For injured servicemembers, the transition between hospital and hometown can be a rough one. Kathy Pearce is working to make that transition a little smoother in Arizona's Sun Valley with monthly "Hometown Heroes Dinners." The dinners give still-recovering servicemembers a chance to get together with others in the area who have shared similar experiences.
"What I was finding is that once they get back home ... there is such a loss of that camaraderie once they're not with their unit or they're not in a rehab center," said Kathy Pearce, a Military Severely Injured Center advocate for support in Arizona.
It wasn't Pearce's role as an advocate that opened her eyes to this issue. It was her role as a military mom.
Her son, Army Staff Sgt. Brent Bretz, suffered severe injuries in December 2004 while serving in Iraq. Pearce spent months with him as he recovered. During this time, she observed the bond Bretz formed with his fellow patients over shared experiences. "I thought we needed to do something to bring them all together (again)," she said. "That's when I started looking for somebody that would do dinners."
Patrons of a new restaurant in the area who knew of Pearce's plan suggested she talk to Ron Youngberg, a managing partner in one of three R.T. O'Sullivan's Sports Grill restaurants in the Sun Valley area.
He stepped up to the plate and hosted the inaugural dinner for about 11 servicemembers and their guests Aug. 6.
"(If) you get a chance to give back to somebody, then we want to do that. Ray O'Sullivan (the restaurant owner) ... was all for it," Youngberg said. "He's an ex-Irish cop, an ex-Irish soccer player, and he's had the benefits of living over here for many years now. It was a small token of appreciation he could extend to them, because they've done so much for us.
"It wasn't just the idea of giving the guys a free meal," Youngberg said. "It was just a matter of having them come out to have a spot to mainly network amongst themselves."
Both Youngberg and Pearce saw just that beginning to happen.
"You could kind of see that they were making new friends, new bonds," Pearce said of the veterans who attended the dinner. "It may take a few times to get it where they really feel comfortable, but you could see it happening."
In addition to the veterans, Veterans Affairs case workers and the Arizona director of VA services attended that first dinner. The VA representatives were on hand to introduce themselves and offer their assistance when the servicemembers are ready to enter that system, Pearce said.
R.T. O'Sullivan's Glendale, Ariz., location hosted the first of the monthly dinners, based on similar events in Washington and Texas.
The R.T. O'Sullivan's in Mesa Springs has agreed to host the next dinner Sept. 5, Youngberg said. The reason for the shift in stores is simply to reach as many veterans as possible, since travel can be difficult for the recovering servicemembers.
Youngberg has contacted friends who own restaurants and asked them to come on board, as well. Pearce confirmed that one of those restaurants has agreed to host a future dinner.
The restaurants donate the meals, meaning there's no cost to those attending the dinners, Pearce said. If it ever becomes more than the restaurants feel they can handle financially, she has two nonprofit groups lined up to help defray the cost. One of those is a Washington-based organization.
The other is Salute A Soldier Foundation, the nonprofit group her son and his siblings formed to raise awareness and promote the assistance of injured servicemembers and their families as they return to their communities. The organization already serves as a co-host of the "Hometown Heroes Dinners."
"It's just kind of their way to say, 'Thank you' back to others as they are now trying to return home," she said of Salute A Soldier.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - For injured servicemembers, the transition between hospital and hometown can be a rough one. Kathy Pearce is working to make that transition a little smoother in Arizona's Sun Valley with monthly "Hometown Heroes Dinners." The dinners give still-recovering servicemembers a chance to get together with others in the area who have shared similar experiences.
"What I was finding is that once they get back home ... there is such a loss of that camaraderie once they're not with their unit or they're not in a rehab center," said Kathy Pearce, a Military Severely Injured Center advocate for support in Arizona.
It wasn't Pearce's role as an advocate that opened her eyes to this issue. It was her role as a military mom.
Her son, Army Staff Sgt. Brent Bretz, suffered severe injuries in December 2004 while serving in Iraq. Pearce spent months with him as he recovered. During this time, she observed the bond Bretz formed with his fellow patients over shared experiences. "I thought we needed to do something to bring them all together (again)," she said. "That's when I started looking for somebody that would do dinners."
Patrons of a new restaurant in the area who knew of Pearce's plan suggested she talk to Ron Youngberg, a managing partner in one of three R.T. O'Sullivan's Sports Grill restaurants in the Sun Valley area.
He stepped up to the plate and hosted the inaugural dinner for about 11 servicemembers and their guests Aug. 6.
"(If) you get a chance to give back to somebody, then we want to do that. Ray O'Sullivan (the restaurant owner) ... was all for it," Youngberg said. "He's an ex-Irish cop, an ex-Irish soccer player, and he's had the benefits of living over here for many years now. It was a small token of appreciation he could extend to them, because they've done so much for us.
"It wasn't just the idea of giving the guys a free meal," Youngberg said. "It was just a matter of having them come out to have a spot to mainly network amongst themselves."
Both Youngberg and Pearce saw just that beginning to happen.
"You could kind of see that they were making new friends, new bonds," Pearce said of the veterans who attended the dinner. "It may take a few times to get it where they really feel comfortable, but you could see it happening."
In addition to the veterans, Veterans Affairs case workers and the Arizona director of VA services attended that first dinner. The VA representatives were on hand to introduce themselves and offer their assistance when the servicemembers are ready to enter that system, Pearce said.
R.T. O'Sullivan's Glendale, Ariz., location hosted the first of the monthly dinners, based on similar events in Washington and Texas.
The R.T. O'Sullivan's in Mesa Springs has agreed to host the next dinner Sept. 5, Youngberg said. The reason for the shift in stores is simply to reach as many veterans as possible, since travel can be difficult for the recovering servicemembers.
Youngberg has contacted friends who own restaurants and asked them to come on board, as well. Pearce confirmed that one of those restaurants has agreed to host a future dinner.
The restaurants donate the meals, meaning there's no cost to those attending the dinners, Pearce said. If it ever becomes more than the restaurants feel they can handle financially, she has two nonprofit groups lined up to help defray the cost. One of those is a Washington-based organization.
The other is Salute A Soldier Foundation, the nonprofit group her son and his siblings formed to raise awareness and promote the assistance of injured servicemembers and their families as they return to their communities. The organization already serves as a co-host of the "Hometown Heroes Dinners."
"It's just kind of their way to say, 'Thank you' back to others as they are now trying to return home," she said of Salute A Soldier.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Justice, Defense Agencies Examine Contracting Problems
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - The Justice Department and defense agencies are examining contracting problems in Southwest Asia in light of improprieties uncovered in internal reviews, a Defense Department spokesman said today. While not commenting on specific investigations, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the department is concerned about "ensuring the integrity of our accounting systems, as well as the integrity of our contracting procedures."
The Army Audit Agency, Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Contract Auditing Agency, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Justice Department are cooperating to address problems that have come to light due to internal investigations, Whitman told reporters.
The entities are "looking at aspects of our operations to ensure that people are doing the right thing as they go about their business of contracting for goods and services, accounting for property and things like that," he said.
Department officials are concerned with the number of contracting improprieties that have been uncovered, Whitman said.
The Army is the lead agency in the fraud investigations. The investigations are into contracts for goods and services issued in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. As of Aug. 23, 73 criminal investigations relating to contract fraud in the region had been started. A total of 20 civilians and military personnel have been charged, Army spokesman Col. Dan Baggio said. He said these individuals are accused of taking some $15 million in bribes.
A total of $5 billion in contracts are affected by the criminal investigations, he added.
Problems with the contracts run the gamut from bid-rigging, kickbacks, product substitution, and double billing, Baggio said. Those being investigated include government employees, contractors, military personnel and local nationals.
When defense officials identify people who have done things that are inappropriate or criminal, "we prosecute them and hold them accountable," Whitman said.
Defense Department Inspector General Claude M. Kicklighter is bringing a team to Iraq soon to take a look at overall contracting procedures. "(Inspectors general) have broad charters when they go in," Whitman said. The team will look across the broad landscape of the department and take what actions are warranted.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - The Justice Department and defense agencies are examining contracting problems in Southwest Asia in light of improprieties uncovered in internal reviews, a Defense Department spokesman said today. While not commenting on specific investigations, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the department is concerned about "ensuring the integrity of our accounting systems, as well as the integrity of our contracting procedures."
The Army Audit Agency, Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Contract Auditing Agency, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Justice Department are cooperating to address problems that have come to light due to internal investigations, Whitman told reporters.
The entities are "looking at aspects of our operations to ensure that people are doing the right thing as they go about their business of contracting for goods and services, accounting for property and things like that," he said.
Department officials are concerned with the number of contracting improprieties that have been uncovered, Whitman said.
The Army is the lead agency in the fraud investigations. The investigations are into contracts for goods and services issued in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. As of Aug. 23, 73 criminal investigations relating to contract fraud in the region had been started. A total of 20 civilians and military personnel have been charged, Army spokesman Col. Dan Baggio said. He said these individuals are accused of taking some $15 million in bribes.
A total of $5 billion in contracts are affected by the criminal investigations, he added.
Problems with the contracts run the gamut from bid-rigging, kickbacks, product substitution, and double billing, Baggio said. Those being investigated include government employees, contractors, military personnel and local nationals.
When defense officials identify people who have done things that are inappropriate or criminal, "we prosecute them and hold them accountable," Whitman said.
Defense Department Inspector General Claude M. Kicklighter is bringing a team to Iraq soon to take a look at overall contracting procedures. "(Inspectors general) have broad charters when they go in," Whitman said. The team will look across the broad landscape of the department and take what actions are warranted.
Army Extends Level of Support to Fallen Soldiers' Families
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - Families of deceased active-duty soldiers can receive an extended level of support from a long-term care program the Army launched 18 months ago, the program's chief said today. The Army Long Term Family Case Management program provides long-term support to families of fallen soldiers by helping them through the often painful and sometimes arduous steps toward receiving benefits and various other types of support, Army Lt. Col. Nora Linderman, program chief of Army Long Term Family Case Management, told online journalists and "bloggers" in a conference call today.
"My team and I are constantly listening to families, learning what they need (and) enhancing and expanding our program accordingly so that we can do whatever is required," she said.
Casualty assistance officers generally avail themselves to families at the early stages of the mourning process, at least through a fallen soldier's interment, Linderman said. But in the months and years following the loss of a loved one, unresolved issues and questions often surface regarding benefits and support services, she said.
To address such issues, a support coordinator with Army Long Term Family Case Management contacts the family about six months following the loss of a loved one. The coordinator maintains an "open dialogue" with family members for as long as they find it helpful, Linderman said.
The program also follows congressional legislation that pertains to benefits programs offered to families of deceased soldiers and posts the information on its Web site, http://www.altfcm.army.mil.
Launched in February 2006, Army Long Term Family Case Management already has helped more than 5,000 families identify benefits to which they're entitled, Linderman noted.
"Being able to be there with a support structure for the families through the months and the years after the loss is a wonderful step in the right direction," she said. "I encourage anyone who has suffered a loss to lean on us."
Information about Army Long Term Family Case Management is available on the program's Web site or by calling a support coordinator at 1-866-272-5841.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2007 - Families of deceased active-duty soldiers can receive an extended level of support from a long-term care program the Army launched 18 months ago, the program's chief said today. The Army Long Term Family Case Management program provides long-term support to families of fallen soldiers by helping them through the often painful and sometimes arduous steps toward receiving benefits and various other types of support, Army Lt. Col. Nora Linderman, program chief of Army Long Term Family Case Management, told online journalists and "bloggers" in a conference call today.
"My team and I are constantly listening to families, learning what they need (and) enhancing and expanding our program accordingly so that we can do whatever is required," she said.
Casualty assistance officers generally avail themselves to families at the early stages of the mourning process, at least through a fallen soldier's interment, Linderman said. But in the months and years following the loss of a loved one, unresolved issues and questions often surface regarding benefits and support services, she said.
To address such issues, a support coordinator with Army Long Term Family Case Management contacts the family about six months following the loss of a loved one. The coordinator maintains an "open dialogue" with family members for as long as they find it helpful, Linderman said.
The program also follows congressional legislation that pertains to benefits programs offered to families of deceased soldiers and posts the information on its Web site, http://www.altfcm.army.mil.
Launched in February 2006, Army Long Term Family Case Management already has helped more than 5,000 families identify benefits to which they're entitled, Linderman noted.
"Being able to be there with a support structure for the families through the months and the years after the loss is a wonderful step in the right direction," she said. "I encourage anyone who has suffered a loss to lean on us."
Information about Army Long Term Family Case Management is available on the program's Web site or by calling a support coordinator at 1-866-272-5841.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Police Books from Alaska to California
Editor's Note: Two of the authors are a former servicemembers.
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added one police officer from Alaska and two from California.
According to the Southern Oregon University Retirees Association Newsletter (Spring 2007 edition) Dr. Victor H. Sims “died on April 27, 2007. Victor Sims joined the University’s Department of Criminology in 1994 and retired in 2006. He had extensive experience in service and leadership positions, serving as a Company Commander in the U. S. Army Military Police Corps, a police officer in Berkeley, Phoenix, and Anchorage. In Nome, Alaska he served as chief of police of the Nome Police Department.
He received his PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1982 and taught
at Stephen F. Austin State University, at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Lamar State University before going to SOU as Associate Professor of Criminology. Vic’s scholarship included research on rural and small town policing. He helped the department connect with regional law enforcement agencies and brought a chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma (the Criminal Justice Honor Society) to SOU. He received an Elmo award for his leadership in motivating students to come to the University. During his life he was also a commercial pilot, a marathon runner and triathlete.” Victor Sims was also the author of Small Town and Rural Police.
Prior to his law enforcement career, James T. Born was a member of the United States Navy. In 1967, James Born was deployed to Vietnam as a Boatswain’s Mate Third Class. He received a Bronze Star “while serving as Assistant Boat Captain with Mobile Support Team II, on a Heavy SEAL Support Craft (HSSC), operating in the MeKong Delta.”
James T. Born graduated from the Los Angeles Police Department academy in 1969. During his ten year career in law enforcement he served as a Los Angeles Police Officer and a Deputy Sheriff. The highest rank he attained in law enforcement was as a Sheriff’s Captain, Chief of the Detective Bureau. In 1978, James Born was licensed as a private investigator in California. And, in 1989, he was licensed as a private investigator in Nevada.
James Born is a District Court Certified Forensic and Fingerprint Expert and has taught Crime Scene Technology and Investigation to law enforcement officers in eleven states. Jim born is a recipient of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution “Law Enforcement Commendation Medal” the highest civilian law enforcement medal in the United States. He is a graduate of Los Angeles Pierce College and has further attended fours years of University instruction in his field of Criminal Justice Administration. James Born has graduated from 82 law enforcement training schools. He is also the author of Coping with Marital Infidelity: How to Catch your Spouse Cheating.
According to the description of Coping with Marital Infidelity, “If you are a victim or know someone who is a victim of marital infidelity (cheating mates), this unique "How to" book will grab held of your life in a way you could never dream of and give you the tools needed that will help you to cope with this problem. The author has investigated thousands of such cases and has consulted with many thousands of other victims having the same problem, who couldn't afford to hire an investigator and needed advice.”
Dr. John P. Kenney began his career in criminal justice and law enforcement career as a patrol officer for the Berkeley Police Department. A recognized leader in the improvement of policing, Dr. John Kenney has been a director at the California Department of Justice; the president of the Los Angeles Police Commission; a management consultant (which included the Denver City Council retaining him in 1957 when a Denver Police Department scandal received national publicity for numerous police officers taking contracts to burglarize businesses); and, he worked extensively with the Agency for International Development identifying police consultants to work overseas, and personally conducted an international conference on democratic policing in Thailand.
Dr. John Kenney was a founder of the International Association of Police Professors which became the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and was a President of the American Society of Criminology. His work as a criminal justice educator included the graduate schools for police administration at the University of Southern California and California State University at Long Beach. He is the author of Police Operations: Policies and Procedures: Four Hundred Field Situations with Solutions; Principles of Investigation and Study Guide to Accompany Principles of Investigation (2 Books); The Police Executive Handbook; and, Police Work with Juveniles and the Administration of Juvenile Justice.
According to the book description of Principles of Investigation, “Covering topics from a conceptual viewpoint, this text brings the ethical and legal obligations of investigation into perspective. It uses tabulated lists and checklists along with Features (examples) to cover the techniques of investigation.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 724 police officers (representing 333 police departments) and their 1547 police 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 that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added one police officer from Alaska and two from California.
According to the Southern Oregon University Retirees Association Newsletter (Spring 2007 edition) Dr. Victor H. Sims “died on April 27, 2007. Victor Sims joined the University’s Department of Criminology in 1994 and retired in 2006. He had extensive experience in service and leadership positions, serving as a Company Commander in the U. S. Army Military Police Corps, a police officer in Berkeley, Phoenix, and Anchorage. In Nome, Alaska he served as chief of police of the Nome Police Department.
He received his PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1982 and taught
at Stephen F. Austin State University, at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Lamar State University before going to SOU as Associate Professor of Criminology. Vic’s scholarship included research on rural and small town policing. He helped the department connect with regional law enforcement agencies and brought a chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma (the Criminal Justice Honor Society) to SOU. He received an Elmo award for his leadership in motivating students to come to the University. During his life he was also a commercial pilot, a marathon runner and triathlete.” Victor Sims was also the author of Small Town and Rural Police.
Prior to his law enforcement career, James T. Born was a member of the United States Navy. In 1967, James Born was deployed to Vietnam as a Boatswain’s Mate Third Class. He received a Bronze Star “while serving as Assistant Boat Captain with Mobile Support Team II, on a Heavy SEAL Support Craft (HSSC), operating in the MeKong Delta.”
James T. Born graduated from the Los Angeles Police Department academy in 1969. During his ten year career in law enforcement he served as a Los Angeles Police Officer and a Deputy Sheriff. The highest rank he attained in law enforcement was as a Sheriff’s Captain, Chief of the Detective Bureau. In 1978, James Born was licensed as a private investigator in California. And, in 1989, he was licensed as a private investigator in Nevada.
James Born is a District Court Certified Forensic and Fingerprint Expert and has taught Crime Scene Technology and Investigation to law enforcement officers in eleven states. Jim born is a recipient of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution “Law Enforcement Commendation Medal” the highest civilian law enforcement medal in the United States. He is a graduate of Los Angeles Pierce College and has further attended fours years of University instruction in his field of Criminal Justice Administration. James Born has graduated from 82 law enforcement training schools. He is also the author of Coping with Marital Infidelity: How to Catch your Spouse Cheating.
According to the description of Coping with Marital Infidelity, “If you are a victim or know someone who is a victim of marital infidelity (cheating mates), this unique "How to" book will grab held of your life in a way you could never dream of and give you the tools needed that will help you to cope with this problem. The author has investigated thousands of such cases and has consulted with many thousands of other victims having the same problem, who couldn't afford to hire an investigator and needed advice.”
Dr. John P. Kenney began his career in criminal justice and law enforcement career as a patrol officer for the Berkeley Police Department. A recognized leader in the improvement of policing, Dr. John Kenney has been a director at the California Department of Justice; the president of the Los Angeles Police Commission; a management consultant (which included the Denver City Council retaining him in 1957 when a Denver Police Department scandal received national publicity for numerous police officers taking contracts to burglarize businesses); and, he worked extensively with the Agency for International Development identifying police consultants to work overseas, and personally conducted an international conference on democratic policing in Thailand.
Dr. John Kenney was a founder of the International Association of Police Professors which became the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and was a President of the American Society of Criminology. His work as a criminal justice educator included the graduate schools for police administration at the University of Southern California and California State University at Long Beach. He is the author of Police Operations: Policies and Procedures: Four Hundred Field Situations with Solutions; Principles of Investigation and Study Guide to Accompany Principles of Investigation (2 Books); The Police Executive Handbook; and, Police Work with Juveniles and the Administration of Juvenile Justice.
According to the book description of Principles of Investigation, “Covering topics from a conceptual viewpoint, this text brings the ethical and legal obligations of investigation into perspective. It uses tabulated lists and checklists along with Features (examples) to cover the techniques of investigation.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 724 police officers (representing 333 police departments) and their 1547 police 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.
International Military Engineers Work Together in Afghanistan
By 1st Lt. Kenya Virginia Saenz, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2007 - Afghans and multinational forces are working hand in hand on a variety of construction projects here. Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy); 1st Construction Company, 100th Republic of Korea Engineering Group; and Polish 1st Engineer Brigade are working together to construct metal building systems, known as K-Spans; roads; ditches; culverts and sewage lagoons.
Task Force Pacemaker Headquarters Support Company soldiers led by Army Capt. Eric Parthemore support the battalion and manage multinational force missions.
Polish engineers provide additional capacity and leadership to multiple construction projects. Polish soldiers led by Polish army 1st Lt. Radoslaw Telezynski are working to improve roads by ensuring that proper drainage and sewage structures are constructed before the rainy season begins. The Polish army has been deployed in places such as Lebanon, Syria, and Africa to support many humanitarian missions since the war on terror began.
"I didn't know what to expect or what missions we would have, but working with American soldiers has been a great experience. They have been very helpful," Telezynski said. "I have been able to learn different training techniques from the American soldiers and compare them to our techniques. I changed our technique to what works best to accomplish the mission successfully."
Polish Pfc. Rafaz Sobon agreed. "This is my first time deployed," he said, "and it has been a new and interesting experience. We learned about different cultures in class, but it is better to learn from first-hand experience."
First Construction Company from the Republic of Korea focuses on K-Span construction. Korean engineers are especially meticulous and bring a "vertical construction" capability to the command that it did not have, Parthemore said. The company is commanded by Korean Capt. Bo Geol Choi.
Once completed, the K-Spans will enhance maintenance operations and provide more space for supply support activity here. Even though K-Spans are not common in Korea, the soldiers were previously trained by civil engineers in their country, Choi said.
"We are very proud to be part of this mission. Our main goal is to bring the proper engineering assets for future coalition forces," he said. "There have been a few challenges over the language gap as well as different working systems, but overall, the construction progress and the relationship with American forces are going well."
Korean soldiers Sgt. Chi-Keun Lee and Cpl. Min-Gi Kim agreed. They said it is fun learning about different cultures, even though sometimes they have to use hand signals to communicate.
"The addition of Polish and Korean engineers along with Afghan contractors gives our task force a tremendous capability that we do not normally have," Parthemore said. "Simply working on a single job site with engineers of four nationalities working together toward a common goal is very satisfactory. Also, our common understanding and respect for safe operations keeps us accident free despite the communication difficulties."
(Army 1st Lt. Kenya Virginia Saenz is assigned to the Task Force Pacemaker Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2007 - Afghans and multinational forces are working hand in hand on a variety of construction projects here. Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy); 1st Construction Company, 100th Republic of Korea Engineering Group; and Polish 1st Engineer Brigade are working together to construct metal building systems, known as K-Spans; roads; ditches; culverts and sewage lagoons.
Task Force Pacemaker Headquarters Support Company soldiers led by Army Capt. Eric Parthemore support the battalion and manage multinational force missions.
Polish engineers provide additional capacity and leadership to multiple construction projects. Polish soldiers led by Polish army 1st Lt. Radoslaw Telezynski are working to improve roads by ensuring that proper drainage and sewage structures are constructed before the rainy season begins. The Polish army has been deployed in places such as Lebanon, Syria, and Africa to support many humanitarian missions since the war on terror began.
"I didn't know what to expect or what missions we would have, but working with American soldiers has been a great experience. They have been very helpful," Telezynski said. "I have been able to learn different training techniques from the American soldiers and compare them to our techniques. I changed our technique to what works best to accomplish the mission successfully."
Polish Pfc. Rafaz Sobon agreed. "This is my first time deployed," he said, "and it has been a new and interesting experience. We learned about different cultures in class, but it is better to learn from first-hand experience."
First Construction Company from the Republic of Korea focuses on K-Span construction. Korean engineers are especially meticulous and bring a "vertical construction" capability to the command that it did not have, Parthemore said. The company is commanded by Korean Capt. Bo Geol Choi.
Once completed, the K-Spans will enhance maintenance operations and provide more space for supply support activity here. Even though K-Spans are not common in Korea, the soldiers were previously trained by civil engineers in their country, Choi said.
"We are very proud to be part of this mission. Our main goal is to bring the proper engineering assets for future coalition forces," he said. "There have been a few challenges over the language gap as well as different working systems, but overall, the construction progress and the relationship with American forces are going well."
Korean soldiers Sgt. Chi-Keun Lee and Cpl. Min-Gi Kim agreed. They said it is fun learning about different cultures, even though sometimes they have to use hand signals to communicate.
"The addition of Polish and Korean engineers along with Afghan contractors gives our task force a tremendous capability that we do not normally have," Parthemore said. "Simply working on a single job site with engineers of four nationalities working together toward a common goal is very satisfactory. Also, our common understanding and respect for safe operations keeps us accident free despite the communication difficulties."
(Army 1st Lt. Kenya Virginia Saenz is assigned to the Task Force Pacemaker Public Affairs Office.)
Group Helps Tennessee Troops
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2007 - Troops from Tennessee are finding a local group is there to offer them a helping hand when they need it. The group, "Tennessee's Helping Hearts," works in many ways to honor and support servicemembers serving at home and overseas, Teresa Miller, the group's president, said.
"We strive to be there for our military so they are never alone," she said.
The group's focus is supporting injured servicemembers, whether help needed is in a practical or material form or just for a day of stress-relieving fun.
Group members put in a new driveway for a Marine who lost both legs to a roadside bomb, Miller said. The new surface allowed him to get safely and more easily from his vehicle to his home.
Another young servicemember who lost both legs while serving in Iraq spends a fair amount of time at the Dollywood amusement park founded by country singer Dolly Parton and said he would love to meet Parton. The group arranged for such a meeting.
"We will be meeting Dolly Parton and spending some time with her," Miller said. "(He) has never met Dolly, ... so we arranged this for (him)."
Tennessee's Helping Hearts also tries to help with financial needs and any home improvements for injured servicemembers and their families, she said.
The group also supports families who have lost a servicemembers.
"We ... make sure that the fallen soldiers' families receive a heartfelt 'We are sorry and we are here for you,'" Miller said. "We also plant ... memorial trees to help them with some of the grief they have to go through."
Tennessee's Helping Hearts recently became a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2007 - Troops from Tennessee are finding a local group is there to offer them a helping hand when they need it. The group, "Tennessee's Helping Hearts," works in many ways to honor and support servicemembers serving at home and overseas, Teresa Miller, the group's president, said.
"We strive to be there for our military so they are never alone," she said.
The group's focus is supporting injured servicemembers, whether help needed is in a practical or material form or just for a day of stress-relieving fun.
Group members put in a new driveway for a Marine who lost both legs to a roadside bomb, Miller said. The new surface allowed him to get safely and more easily from his vehicle to his home.
Another young servicemember who lost both legs while serving in Iraq spends a fair amount of time at the Dollywood amusement park founded by country singer Dolly Parton and said he would love to meet Parton. The group arranged for such a meeting.
"We will be meeting Dolly Parton and spending some time with her," Miller said. "(He) has never met Dolly, ... so we arranged this for (him)."
Tennessee's Helping Hearts also tries to help with financial needs and any home improvements for injured servicemembers and their families, she said.
The group also supports families who have lost a servicemembers.
"We ... make sure that the fallen soldiers' families receive a heartfelt 'We are sorry and we are here for you,'" Miller said. "We also plant ... memorial trees to help them with some of the grief they have to go through."
Tennessee's Helping Hearts recently became a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Nevada Air Guard Chief Cites Employer for Superb Support
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2007 - Nevada Air National Guard commander Brig. Gen. Robert V. Fitch said he couldn't perform his military job -- sometimes requiring weeks of overseas travel -- without the superb support he receives from his civilian employer, Sierra Pacific Resources. The company is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Fitch nominated Sierra Pacific Resources for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for employees in the National Guard or reserves.
When not performing Air Guard duty Fitch lives and works in Reno as a policy manager for electricity and natural gas provider Sierra Pacific Power Company, a subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources that is based in Las Vegas.
Fitch doesn't lose any civilian pay or benefits when he's deployed on military missions. And his employer "has always been extremely gracious as far as the amount of time I take off" to attend to military duties, he added.
"I can be gone on military leave and be assured of full pay," Fitch said. "That's a huge benefit."
Sierra Pacific Resources' President and Chief Executive Officer Michael W. Yackira said his company is honored to receive the Freedom Award. Supporting employees in the Guard or reserves "is the right thing to do," he said. Yackira said his firm also employs another senior-level officer, Brig. Gen. Francis P. Gonzales, the commander of Nevada's Army National Guard.
"People who sacrifice their lives for our country, I think, deserve the kind of treatment that we're giving them," Yackira said. "I don't think this should be out of the ordinary, but should be the norm."
Having the ability "to take off at a drop of a hat and travel halfway around the world" to tend to military business is much-appreciated, Fitch said. He said he believes his company deserves the Freedom Award because it goes "above and beyond" to support him.
Fitch has traveled several times to far-away Turkmenistan as the primary military representative for Nevada's participation in the National Guard State Partnership Program. The program is managed by the National Guard Bureau in conjunction with the U.S. State Department. It seeks to establish ties with participating nations' defense ministries and other government agencies to improve bilateral relations. Nevada is now sharing its agricultural and firefighting expertise with Turkmenistan's government, Fitch said.
"Turkmenistan had said, 'We'd like to increase our cotton-crop production,'" Fitch recalled.
Fitch said his employer's assistance, which includes checking up on his family when he is away, makes his military job much easier to perform. "I know the power company is looking out for me and my family," he said.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and reserve members and their employers in understanding employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.
Yackira will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of his company during a formal ceremony here Sept. 12.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 27, 2007 - Nevada Air National Guard commander Brig. Gen. Robert V. Fitch said he couldn't perform his military job -- sometimes requiring weeks of overseas travel -- without the superb support he receives from his civilian employer, Sierra Pacific Resources. The company is among 15 businesses and organizations selected to receive this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Fitch nominated Sierra Pacific Resources for the annual award, which honors businesses and organizations that provide exemplary support for employees in the National Guard or reserves.
When not performing Air Guard duty Fitch lives and works in Reno as a policy manager for electricity and natural gas provider Sierra Pacific Power Company, a subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources that is based in Las Vegas.
Fitch doesn't lose any civilian pay or benefits when he's deployed on military missions. And his employer "has always been extremely gracious as far as the amount of time I take off" to attend to military duties, he added.
"I can be gone on military leave and be assured of full pay," Fitch said. "That's a huge benefit."
Sierra Pacific Resources' President and Chief Executive Officer Michael W. Yackira said his company is honored to receive the Freedom Award. Supporting employees in the Guard or reserves "is the right thing to do," he said. Yackira said his firm also employs another senior-level officer, Brig. Gen. Francis P. Gonzales, the commander of Nevada's Army National Guard.
"People who sacrifice their lives for our country, I think, deserve the kind of treatment that we're giving them," Yackira said. "I don't think this should be out of the ordinary, but should be the norm."
Having the ability "to take off at a drop of a hat and travel halfway around the world" to tend to military business is much-appreciated, Fitch said. He said he believes his company deserves the Freedom Award because it goes "above and beyond" to support him.
Fitch has traveled several times to far-away Turkmenistan as the primary military representative for Nevada's participation in the National Guard State Partnership Program. The program is managed by the National Guard Bureau in conjunction with the U.S. State Department. It seeks to establish ties with participating nations' defense ministries and other government agencies to improve bilateral relations. Nevada is now sharing its agricultural and firefighting expertise with Turkmenistan's government, Fitch said.
"Turkmenistan had said, 'We'd like to increase our cotton-crop production,'" Fitch recalled.
Fitch said his employer's assistance, which includes checking up on his family when he is away, makes his military job much easier to perform. "I know the power company is looking out for me and my family," he said.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recognizes U.S. employers that rise above the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency, manages the award process. ESGR assists Guard and reserve members and their employers in understanding employee eligibility and job entitlements, employer obligations, benefits and remedies under the act.
Yackira will accept the Freedom Award on behalf of his company during a formal ceremony here Sept. 12.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Walter Reed Society Has Special Meaning for Its President
By Rudi Williams
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 26, 2007 - Janet Southby has been a driving force behind the Walter Reed Society since the group's beginning in 1996. The Walter Reed Society works to enhance patient support and improve morale by funding special unmet needs of soldiers and their families during treatment and recovery. Southby served as first vice president of the group until being elected president in 2001 and has held that position ever since.
"I have been privileged to serve with a dedicated group of volunteers on the Board of Directors and in other volunteer positions for the past six years," said Southby, a retired colonel who was chief nurse at Walter Reed before retiring in December 1996.
"I think it is very important for any significant institution to have a strong support group," she said. "The society was organized to benefit Walter Reed and its educational, treatment and research activities in multiple ways. The intent was to support events and fund projects that enhance patient-care services, support the welfare and morale of soldiers and other staff, and preserve the legacy and reputation of Walter Reed, the man and the institution named in his honor."
The society has special meaning to Southby because she spent nearly half of her 30 years of military professional life as a nurse at Walter Reed. "It was a wonderful place to work, and the rewards were two-fold: providing health care for America's military families while serving the nation," Southby said. "An added benefit is keeping in touch with so many who value Walter Reed -- as patients, staff, family, friends, advocates -- and want to stay connected with the institution and each other."
Southby said the society's purpose has expanded during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom to offer more direct assistance to today's wounded warriors and their families. Since 2004, the society has spent more than $800,000 assisting dozens of wounded warriors and their families with unexpected financial crises. "This has been made possible by our generous private and corporate donors who want to help those who have been injured while serving in harm's way," she noted. "For this, we are truly grateful."
Many groups work together to assist wounded warriors and their families, Southby said. She cited the example of a soldier's wife and children who were on the West Coast when their soldier was wounded in Iraq. The wife was flown to Germany to see her husband at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, leaving her children with childcare providers. Upon the couple's arrival at Walter Reed, the Yellow Ribbon Fund paid the wife's roundtrip airfare to Tacoma, Wash., to get their children and bring them to Walter Reed. The family is now living in the Fisher House on the hospital campus.
The Walter Reed Society assisted with grants to cover rent, car payments, childcare costs, insurance and cell phone costs.
Requests for assistance come through the Soldier Family Assistance Center, a central point for servicemembers and families needing assistance. Assistance is usually provided within 24 to 48 hours of a request.
In addition, the society has collaborated with another organization by providing $7,000 to buy video-gaming equipment at the Mologne House Hotel, where many wounded warriors and their families have temporary lodging. The society also supports the "healing garden" maintained by the Department of Nursing in the hospital's fifth floor courtyard.
"For the staff, we have supported activities like the incoming interns picnic, staff appreciation breakfast, cakes for corps' anniversaries, gifts for soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year, Audie Murphy Association, etc.," Southby noted.
She said the society's long-term goals include developing a plan for future use of the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Support Fund, which includes creating a scholarship fund. Society members also are considering expanding the society to support the new 120-bed DeWitt Army Community Hospital that's on the drawing board at Fort Belvoir, Va.
"The society already has appointed a patient liaison at the National Naval Medical Center (in Bethesda, Md.) to prepare for the transition to the new 345-bed tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (there) in 2011," Southby noted "I would hope that the society and its purposes will transition as part of the integration process."
(Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Rudi Williams is with the Walter Reed Society.)
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 26, 2007 - Janet Southby has been a driving force behind the Walter Reed Society since the group's beginning in 1996. The Walter Reed Society works to enhance patient support and improve morale by funding special unmet needs of soldiers and their families during treatment and recovery. Southby served as first vice president of the group until being elected president in 2001 and has held that position ever since.
"I have been privileged to serve with a dedicated group of volunteers on the Board of Directors and in other volunteer positions for the past six years," said Southby, a retired colonel who was chief nurse at Walter Reed before retiring in December 1996.
"I think it is very important for any significant institution to have a strong support group," she said. "The society was organized to benefit Walter Reed and its educational, treatment and research activities in multiple ways. The intent was to support events and fund projects that enhance patient-care services, support the welfare and morale of soldiers and other staff, and preserve the legacy and reputation of Walter Reed, the man and the institution named in his honor."
The society has special meaning to Southby because she spent nearly half of her 30 years of military professional life as a nurse at Walter Reed. "It was a wonderful place to work, and the rewards were two-fold: providing health care for America's military families while serving the nation," Southby said. "An added benefit is keeping in touch with so many who value Walter Reed -- as patients, staff, family, friends, advocates -- and want to stay connected with the institution and each other."
Southby said the society's purpose has expanded during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom to offer more direct assistance to today's wounded warriors and their families. Since 2004, the society has spent more than $800,000 assisting dozens of wounded warriors and their families with unexpected financial crises. "This has been made possible by our generous private and corporate donors who want to help those who have been injured while serving in harm's way," she noted. "For this, we are truly grateful."
Many groups work together to assist wounded warriors and their families, Southby said. She cited the example of a soldier's wife and children who were on the West Coast when their soldier was wounded in Iraq. The wife was flown to Germany to see her husband at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, leaving her children with childcare providers. Upon the couple's arrival at Walter Reed, the Yellow Ribbon Fund paid the wife's roundtrip airfare to Tacoma, Wash., to get their children and bring them to Walter Reed. The family is now living in the Fisher House on the hospital campus.
The Walter Reed Society assisted with grants to cover rent, car payments, childcare costs, insurance and cell phone costs.
Requests for assistance come through the Soldier Family Assistance Center, a central point for servicemembers and families needing assistance. Assistance is usually provided within 24 to 48 hours of a request.
In addition, the society has collaborated with another organization by providing $7,000 to buy video-gaming equipment at the Mologne House Hotel, where many wounded warriors and their families have temporary lodging. The society also supports the "healing garden" maintained by the Department of Nursing in the hospital's fifth floor courtyard.
"For the staff, we have supported activities like the incoming interns picnic, staff appreciation breakfast, cakes for corps' anniversaries, gifts for soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year, Audie Murphy Association, etc.," Southby noted.
She said the society's long-term goals include developing a plan for future use of the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Support Fund, which includes creating a scholarship fund. Society members also are considering expanding the society to support the new 120-bed DeWitt Army Community Hospital that's on the drawing board at Fort Belvoir, Va.
"The society already has appointed a patient liaison at the National Naval Medical Center (in Bethesda, Md.) to prepare for the transition to the new 345-bed tri-service Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (there) in 2011," Southby noted "I would hope that the society and its purposes will transition as part of the integration process."
(Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Rudi Williams is with the Walter Reed Society.)
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Chairman's Enlisted Advisor Addresses NCO Academy Grads
By Elaine Wilson
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - The Army Medical Department Noncommissioned Officers Academy's newest graduates heard a few words of wisdom earlier this week from someone with more than his share of experience leading troops. "Do not let anyone ever tell you that you can't reach your goals," Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the graduates Aug. 21 at the academy graduation ceremony.
Gainey, the senior NCO in the Defense Department, said his intent is to "live life to the fullest."
"No one is ever going to tell me again, like 30 some years ago when that NCO poked me on the chest and told me, 'You're going to amount to nothing, Gainey.' No one is ever going to do that again," he said. "Do not permit that to happen to you or to anyone else."
Gainey urged the NCOs to pursue their dreams, but first to ask themselves five questions: Is my dream or goal going to hurt someone else? Is it going to hurt me? Is it illegal? Is it immoral as you were raised? Will it bring disgrace to my family name and the name of the service that I serve?
If the answers to all five of the questions are no, "then go for it," he said. But first, "Reassess yourself. Why do I need to climb that mountain? Then go get trained; get the proper equipment; get certified if required. Never let another person tell you that you can't reach your goals."
On leading troops, Gainey advised the soldiers to pass on the tools junior enlisted need to succeed.
"Give young men and women responsibility, and I promise you, they will not let you down," he said. "Give them the authority to be responsible."
Along with authority, Gainey mentioned another important "A" term -- accountability. "Hold (your troops) accountable," he said. "They hold us accountable 24/7."
Gainey recalled a sergeant major who was arrested for driving under the influence. "His commander said, 'He's the best sergeant major I've worked with.' I looked at him and said, 'I'm sorry to say you've never worked with a good sergeant major.' He's the same person that, on Fridays, gives a safety briefing on don't drink and drive. There are no part-time NCOs."
The top NCO urged the graduates to pass on lessons learned to junior enlisted and assist them when they "stumble."
"All of you right now you are standing on the top of a mountain. Why? Because of who you are; you're noncommissioned officers," Gainey said. "Not because you're better than junior enlisted, but because you're more experienced."
The junior enlisted are in the valley, he said, so "throw down a rope to them; I call it the rope of knowledge. But I'm not going to pull you up the hill. Hang on to the rope, and I'm going to coach, teach, mentor and train our young men and women."
When they stumble, as everyone does, Gainey told the NCOs to fall on one knee and give the rope of knowledge a tug. "There's no one in this room who hasn't stumbled before in their career," Gainey said. "I call them honest human mistakes. Because you don't learn from successes, you learn from mistakes."
Then NCOs should "coach, teach, mentor and train them to get to the top of the hill."
And when the junior enlisted troops reach the top of the mountain, "touch them on the shoulder and you're going to say, 'good job,'" Gainey said. "Then go down the other side. We're in good hands."
(Elaine Wilson works for the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - The Army Medical Department Noncommissioned Officers Academy's newest graduates heard a few words of wisdom earlier this week from someone with more than his share of experience leading troops. "Do not let anyone ever tell you that you can't reach your goals," Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the graduates Aug. 21 at the academy graduation ceremony.
Gainey, the senior NCO in the Defense Department, said his intent is to "live life to the fullest."
"No one is ever going to tell me again, like 30 some years ago when that NCO poked me on the chest and told me, 'You're going to amount to nothing, Gainey.' No one is ever going to do that again," he said. "Do not permit that to happen to you or to anyone else."
Gainey urged the NCOs to pursue their dreams, but first to ask themselves five questions: Is my dream or goal going to hurt someone else? Is it going to hurt me? Is it illegal? Is it immoral as you were raised? Will it bring disgrace to my family name and the name of the service that I serve?
If the answers to all five of the questions are no, "then go for it," he said. But first, "Reassess yourself. Why do I need to climb that mountain? Then go get trained; get the proper equipment; get certified if required. Never let another person tell you that you can't reach your goals."
On leading troops, Gainey advised the soldiers to pass on the tools junior enlisted need to succeed.
"Give young men and women responsibility, and I promise you, they will not let you down," he said. "Give them the authority to be responsible."
Along with authority, Gainey mentioned another important "A" term -- accountability. "Hold (your troops) accountable," he said. "They hold us accountable 24/7."
Gainey recalled a sergeant major who was arrested for driving under the influence. "His commander said, 'He's the best sergeant major I've worked with.' I looked at him and said, 'I'm sorry to say you've never worked with a good sergeant major.' He's the same person that, on Fridays, gives a safety briefing on don't drink and drive. There are no part-time NCOs."
The top NCO urged the graduates to pass on lessons learned to junior enlisted and assist them when they "stumble."
"All of you right now you are standing on the top of a mountain. Why? Because of who you are; you're noncommissioned officers," Gainey said. "Not because you're better than junior enlisted, but because you're more experienced."
The junior enlisted are in the valley, he said, so "throw down a rope to them; I call it the rope of knowledge. But I'm not going to pull you up the hill. Hang on to the rope, and I'm going to coach, teach, mentor and train our young men and women."
When they stumble, as everyone does, Gainey told the NCOs to fall on one knee and give the rope of knowledge a tug. "There's no one in this room who hasn't stumbled before in their career," Gainey said. "I call them honest human mistakes. Because you don't learn from successes, you learn from mistakes."
Then NCOs should "coach, teach, mentor and train them to get to the top of the hill."
And when the junior enlisted troops reach the top of the mountain, "touch them on the shoulder and you're going to say, 'good job,'" Gainey said. "Then go down the other side. We're in good hands."
(Elaine Wilson works for the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)
American Spirit Makes Difference for Troops
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - With traditional "American Spirit" at the heart of its mission, one California group is working to make a difference in the lives of wounded servicemembers and their families. Operation American Spirit, established through the nonprofit Fitness Challenge Foundation, provides for military members and their families who have suffered injuries as a result of combat.
"Our mission is to help make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families by providing support and funding in ways that teach them self-sufficiency including scholarships, job (placement) assistance, home modification and improved morale," John Wordin, the group's executive director, said.
Operation American Spirit has set its eyes on the goal of raising $100 million over the next few years to successfully fulfill this mission. Help from actor Jack Scalia is making it a little easier to reach this goal.
Scalia, who has played roles in many TV shows, including "Dallas" and "All My Children," is expected to begin a 16-day, 1,500-mile bike ride from Seattle to San Diego on Sept. 22. The purpose of the ride is to raise awareness and funding for servicemembers injured in the global war on terrorism.
"Our nation has asked our soldiers and their families to make sacrifices and the have," Scalia said in an Operation American Spirit news release. "Now it is our turn, as Americans, to step up and help them when they need it."
Other celebrities are expected to participate, as well.
Operation American Spirit is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"While we are new to the group, we are hoping to get the word out about our organization and our efforts," Wordin said.
He added that the group also hopes to find assistance in identifying families that need help.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - With traditional "American Spirit" at the heart of its mission, one California group is working to make a difference in the lives of wounded servicemembers and their families. Operation American Spirit, established through the nonprofit Fitness Challenge Foundation, provides for military members and their families who have suffered injuries as a result of combat.
"Our mission is to help make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families by providing support and funding in ways that teach them self-sufficiency including scholarships, job (placement) assistance, home modification and improved morale," John Wordin, the group's executive director, said.
Operation American Spirit has set its eyes on the goal of raising $100 million over the next few years to successfully fulfill this mission. Help from actor Jack Scalia is making it a little easier to reach this goal.
Scalia, who has played roles in many TV shows, including "Dallas" and "All My Children," is expected to begin a 16-day, 1,500-mile bike ride from Seattle to San Diego on Sept. 22. The purpose of the ride is to raise awareness and funding for servicemembers injured in the global war on terrorism.
"Our nation has asked our soldiers and their families to make sacrifices and the have," Scalia said in an Operation American Spirit news release. "Now it is our turn, as Americans, to step up and help them when they need it."
Other celebrities are expected to participate, as well.
Operation American Spirit is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"While we are new to the group, we are hoping to get the word out about our organization and our efforts," Wordin said.
He added that the group also hopes to find assistance in identifying families that need help.
Hospital Steps Up Care for 'Warriors in Transition,' Families
By Elaine Wilson
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - Since June, Brooke Army Medical Center here has implemented a series of sweeping changes designed to improve the quality of care for "warriors in transition" and their families. The changes are driven by the Army Medical Action Plan, an Army initiative designed to eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks for warriors in transition so they can focus on recovery and have a smooth transition back to military duty or civilian life.
The first and perhaps most dramatic change is the formation of a Warrior in Transition Battalion. The battalion, which stood up June 15, replaces the former active-duty Medical Hold and reserve Medical Holdover companies. Reserve and active-duty warriors in transition now are combined in three companies under the battalion.
All battalion soldiers are in a transitional status, meaning they are wounded or ill and undergoing treatment at Brooke.
"We're all one team, so it makes sense to keep everyone under the same umbrella," said Army Master Sgt. Scott Waters, senior operations noncommissioned officer for the Warrior in Transition Battalion.
Reserve and active-duty soldiers were separated in the past to ensure familiarity with administrative processes, which differ for each component. However, the Army Medical Action Plan "gives us the resources we need to accommodate all soldiers without differentiation," Waters said. "We now have the extra help we need to successfully manage and track our warriors in transition without separation."
Since the plan was introduced, the ratio of soldier to platoon sergeant has reduced dramatically. Whereas before there were 50 soldiers to each platoon sergeant and no squad leaders at Brooke, there are now 12 soldiers per squad leader and about 30 soldiers per platoon sergeant.
But with myriad issues, ranging from severe injuries to family problems, there's "a lot to be done even with that ratio," Waters said. To ensure warriors in transition have top-notch care, the Army created the "Triad of Care" concept, which is an integral part of the battalion.
Each triad comprises a case manager, primary care manager and squad leader or platoon sergeant. Each warrior in transition is assigned to a triad, which ensures consistency and continuity of care for soldiers and their families.
"It eases the process for both the soldiers and the health care providers," said Army Lt. Col. Donna Rojas, chief of case management. "There's no confusion about who to call when there's a question or concern. The providers know exactly which squad leader to call and vice versa. And, the soldier knows exactly who to contact, as well."
Rojas provides oversight for case managers, who serve as a pivot point for the triad. Responsible for just about every aspect of a patient's health care plan, case managers ensure warriors in transition attend appointments, understand their treatment plan and are on hand to aid with everything from housing issues to family dilemmas.
Case managers meet with warriors in transition weekly and then touch base with soldiers' platoon sergeant or squad leader and primary care manager to ensure the soldiers' recovery is progressing smoothly.
"Successful treatment takes a lot of collaboration," said Army Lt. Col. Mary Burns, chief of medical management. "Case managers, PCMs and squad leaders are all looking out for the best interests of the soldiers; the key is to meet regularly and catch issues early."
Prior to the new plan, each case manager had about 35 warriors in transition assigned. But thanks to an influx of resources, 10 case managers now are assigned to each company, and the ratio has reduced to about 18 soldiers per case manager.
Primary care managers also have reorganized to provide better continuity of care. Before the Army Medical Action Plan, several PCMs unofficially were designated for warriors in transition but didn't have a space dedicated for care, and their time was divided with regular patients. Brooke Army Medical Center now officially has assigned three health care providers and a designated area of the Family Medicine Clinic to better serve wounded and ill servicemembers. In addition, the ratio of patients to PCM has changed from 1,200-to-1 down to 200-to-1. The reduction in patient load allows PCMs to spend more time with each servicemember, increasing from 20 minutes to more than an hour.
"A PCM meets with every warrior in transition within 24 hours of arrival and conducts a head-to-toe evaluation," said Dr. Sara Pastoor, chief of primary care. "We assess every aspect of the patient's health care needs, including any specialty care that may be needed, as well as preventive health care, such as tobacco cessation.
"I'm overwhelmingly impressed with and proud of everyone providing warrior in transition services at BAMC," Pastoor added. "It can be emotionally draining to provide the amount and type of health care needs involved, but it is a privilege to be exposed to the sacrifices and heroism. It's a challenging job for the PCMs, because it takes not just a thorough knowledge of medicine, but also a thorough administrative knowledge of the system."
Squad leaders and platoon sergeants, the last branch of the triad, serve as "enlisted NCO boots on the ground," Waters said. "We are there 100 percent for the soldiers and their families from the time we're notified a soldier is coming."
Squad leaders take care of everything from picking up soldiers or family members at the airport or emergency room to transporting them to medical appointments, "everything that doesn't involve medical care," Waters said.
The process starts as soon as the battalion is informed a servicemember is incoming or checking out of the hospital. "We help the soldiers get situated, and then the next morning we pick them up, introduce them to the case manager and start in-processing," said Waters, adding that U.S. Army Garrison Fort Sam Houston also provides ongoing support with transportation as well as barracks maintenance and upgrades to accommodate varying physical needs.
The NCOs work closely with case managers to ensure an open flow of communication. "We overlap in a lot of areas," Waters said. "Sometimes the soldier feels more comfortable talking with a case manager or vice versa. We keep each other in the loop to ensure all needs are being met."
Help is ongoing as squad leaders stay abreast of developments that may hinder care, such as family problems back home or a pattern of missed medical appointments. "Most warriors in transition are on some type of medication and may forget an appointment," Waters said. "They may just need a simple reminder, and we're here to do that."
As the war continues, each branch of the triad will continually seek ways to improve processes and programs to ensure warriors in transition receive the best care possible, said Army Col. Barry Sheridan, chief of warrior in transition services. "BAMC has always cared about its warriors in transition," he said. "But now, AMAP is giving us the resources we need to do what we do even better."
(Elaine Wilson works for the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - Since June, Brooke Army Medical Center here has implemented a series of sweeping changes designed to improve the quality of care for "warriors in transition" and their families. The changes are driven by the Army Medical Action Plan, an Army initiative designed to eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks for warriors in transition so they can focus on recovery and have a smooth transition back to military duty or civilian life.
The first and perhaps most dramatic change is the formation of a Warrior in Transition Battalion. The battalion, which stood up June 15, replaces the former active-duty Medical Hold and reserve Medical Holdover companies. Reserve and active-duty warriors in transition now are combined in three companies under the battalion.
All battalion soldiers are in a transitional status, meaning they are wounded or ill and undergoing treatment at Brooke.
"We're all one team, so it makes sense to keep everyone under the same umbrella," said Army Master Sgt. Scott Waters, senior operations noncommissioned officer for the Warrior in Transition Battalion.
Reserve and active-duty soldiers were separated in the past to ensure familiarity with administrative processes, which differ for each component. However, the Army Medical Action Plan "gives us the resources we need to accommodate all soldiers without differentiation," Waters said. "We now have the extra help we need to successfully manage and track our warriors in transition without separation."
Since the plan was introduced, the ratio of soldier to platoon sergeant has reduced dramatically. Whereas before there were 50 soldiers to each platoon sergeant and no squad leaders at Brooke, there are now 12 soldiers per squad leader and about 30 soldiers per platoon sergeant.
But with myriad issues, ranging from severe injuries to family problems, there's "a lot to be done even with that ratio," Waters said. To ensure warriors in transition have top-notch care, the Army created the "Triad of Care" concept, which is an integral part of the battalion.
Each triad comprises a case manager, primary care manager and squad leader or platoon sergeant. Each warrior in transition is assigned to a triad, which ensures consistency and continuity of care for soldiers and their families.
"It eases the process for both the soldiers and the health care providers," said Army Lt. Col. Donna Rojas, chief of case management. "There's no confusion about who to call when there's a question or concern. The providers know exactly which squad leader to call and vice versa. And, the soldier knows exactly who to contact, as well."
Rojas provides oversight for case managers, who serve as a pivot point for the triad. Responsible for just about every aspect of a patient's health care plan, case managers ensure warriors in transition attend appointments, understand their treatment plan and are on hand to aid with everything from housing issues to family dilemmas.
Case managers meet with warriors in transition weekly and then touch base with soldiers' platoon sergeant or squad leader and primary care manager to ensure the soldiers' recovery is progressing smoothly.
"Successful treatment takes a lot of collaboration," said Army Lt. Col. Mary Burns, chief of medical management. "Case managers, PCMs and squad leaders are all looking out for the best interests of the soldiers; the key is to meet regularly and catch issues early."
Prior to the new plan, each case manager had about 35 warriors in transition assigned. But thanks to an influx of resources, 10 case managers now are assigned to each company, and the ratio has reduced to about 18 soldiers per case manager.
Primary care managers also have reorganized to provide better continuity of care. Before the Army Medical Action Plan, several PCMs unofficially were designated for warriors in transition but didn't have a space dedicated for care, and their time was divided with regular patients. Brooke Army Medical Center now officially has assigned three health care providers and a designated area of the Family Medicine Clinic to better serve wounded and ill servicemembers. In addition, the ratio of patients to PCM has changed from 1,200-to-1 down to 200-to-1. The reduction in patient load allows PCMs to spend more time with each servicemember, increasing from 20 minutes to more than an hour.
"A PCM meets with every warrior in transition within 24 hours of arrival and conducts a head-to-toe evaluation," said Dr. Sara Pastoor, chief of primary care. "We assess every aspect of the patient's health care needs, including any specialty care that may be needed, as well as preventive health care, such as tobacco cessation.
"I'm overwhelmingly impressed with and proud of everyone providing warrior in transition services at BAMC," Pastoor added. "It can be emotionally draining to provide the amount and type of health care needs involved, but it is a privilege to be exposed to the sacrifices and heroism. It's a challenging job for the PCMs, because it takes not just a thorough knowledge of medicine, but also a thorough administrative knowledge of the system."
Squad leaders and platoon sergeants, the last branch of the triad, serve as "enlisted NCO boots on the ground," Waters said. "We are there 100 percent for the soldiers and their families from the time we're notified a soldier is coming."
Squad leaders take care of everything from picking up soldiers or family members at the airport or emergency room to transporting them to medical appointments, "everything that doesn't involve medical care," Waters said.
The process starts as soon as the battalion is informed a servicemember is incoming or checking out of the hospital. "We help the soldiers get situated, and then the next morning we pick them up, introduce them to the case manager and start in-processing," said Waters, adding that U.S. Army Garrison Fort Sam Houston also provides ongoing support with transportation as well as barracks maintenance and upgrades to accommodate varying physical needs.
The NCOs work closely with case managers to ensure an open flow of communication. "We overlap in a lot of areas," Waters said. "Sometimes the soldier feels more comfortable talking with a case manager or vice versa. We keep each other in the loop to ensure all needs are being met."
Help is ongoing as squad leaders stay abreast of developments that may hinder care, such as family problems back home or a pattern of missed medical appointments. "Most warriors in transition are on some type of medication and may forget an appointment," Waters said. "They may just need a simple reminder, and we're here to do that."
As the war continues, each branch of the triad will continually seek ways to improve processes and programs to ensure warriors in transition receive the best care possible, said Army Col. Barry Sheridan, chief of warrior in transition services. "BAMC has always cared about its warriors in transition," he said. "But now, AMAP is giving us the resources we need to do what we do even better."
(Elaine Wilson works for the Fort Sam Houston Public Information Office.)
Alaska Guardsmen Serve on Front Line of U.S. Missile Defense
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - While most Americans were celebrating Independence Day in 2006, Army Maj. Joe Miley was at his post in the remote interior of Alaska, staring at blips on a computer screen reminiscent of a 1980s video game. But this was no game. Miley was in the "tank turret" of U.S. missile defense, scrutinizing 21st-century space-surveillance technology and monitoring a North Korean long-range ballistic missile test.
"It was quite a sense of awe. We had spent thousands of hours on the system, doing simulations, training for such an event and (then) actually watching the system and waiting for the sensors to pick up and see if we'd be directed to engage the missile," Miley said. "It felt like this was what we had prepared for, and we were ready."
The missile failed to become even a remote threat as it toppled within in a minute of launch into the Sea of Japan. Had it assumed a threatening course and reached an altitude capable of propelling it to U.S. soil, Miley and a handful of Alaska Army National Guardsmen stood ready, upon direction, to smash it into pieces mid-course.
"There was absolute confidence among the crew members. We had complete confidence that there would have been heroes that day," Miley said.
Miley is the executive officer of 49th Missile Defense Battalion, a ground-based midcourse defense unit. Stationed in this remote post, about 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, he and about 200 other Alaska Army National Guardsmen serve as the front line of U.S. missile defense.
Just outside of Delta Junction -- home to about 1,000 local citizens, five restaurants in the summer, and only one in the winter -- Fort Greely is host to an 800-acre, ground-based missile interceptor site. About 250 military members call the post home, along with a small contingent of contractors and family members.
The former cold-weather combat training post had all but shut down until President George H.W. Bush directed in 1992 that the Defense Department begin fielding limited missile defense capabilities, with the intent to continue to expand on initial capabilities.
The department's Missile Defense Agency deemed Fort Greely appropriate because of its strategic location within intercepting distance of missiles launched either from North Korea or Iran. A low water table meant no concrete-like frozen ground, so the base was well suited for sinking interceptors into vaults drilled 70 feet deep. The garrison's buildings were still intact and kept warm, even though they were no longer occupied.
With its remote location, though, it posed difficulties when constructing missile fields. All equipment and materials had to be shipped on barges or trucked hundreds of miles. Winter weather sometimes makes travel risky.
Also, the post had to accommodate the families of those accepting the remote assignment.
"It's a tough place to live and logistically support, but it's the right place (to be)," said Army Col. Thom M. Besch, director of the Missile Defense Agency for the Alaska region. He is an active-duty soldier who oversees the joint program office that fielded the system, makes sure it is operational, and continues its development and testing.
In the last 20 years, the number of countries interested in having or actually having intercontinental ballistic missile capability has increased from six nations to more than 20, Besch said. The number of test launches has increased every year.
"The world's a dangerous place, and the future is uncertain, and technology allows us to have this capability," Besch said. "We know from 9/11 that if an event were to occur in a major city ... that the impact to human life and the cost in dollars would be astronomical."
The intent of the system, Besch said, was to create an integrated system to defend the United States and its friends and allies against all ranges of missiles in all phases of flight.
The 49th Missile Defense Battalion focuses primarily on intercepting missiles during their midcourse phase of flight, or while they are arching in the "exoatmosphere" -- the region of space just outside the Earth's atmosphere.
While the 54-foot-6-inch interceptors look like missiles, there are no explosive warheads attached. The main body acts as a booster vehicle. The booster vehicle serves to propel into space the embedded kill vehicle, a 152-pound "smart bullet" that basically steers itself into the path of the oncoming warhead, causing an explosion on impact.
The first interceptor was emplaced in July 2004. Now, 18 such interceptors are emplaced in the site's two missile fields. When finished, the complex will house 40 interceptors in three fields.
The fire direction center is housed behind a heavily guarded fence that encloses the property. It serves as the brains for the operation and gathers feedback from a variety of sensors and radars, collecting data on weapons, threats and communications status, and repairs and maintenance. It also tracks the threat and the interceptor and provides commanders with an instant snapshot of the system's capabilities.
Five-soldier crews run the center in eight-hour shifts. During their shifts, the crews run through required training and work through scenarios written to challenge their procedures and stress levels.
About 25 soldiers serve in the center. Twelve other soldiers make up the battalion's staff. The majority of the rest of the unit is made up of military police officers, who are charged with securing and defending the facility. The MPs do not conduct garrison business, such as writing speeding tickets. They are here solely to secure the miles of camera-lined, reinforced wire fence surrounding the site and the site's sole entry point.
Soldiers here live a typical Army life, with physical training daily at 6:30 a.m. and battalion runs on Fridays. The Guard was selected to run the site to allow for continuity in service. Guardsmen are not subject to rotations in and out of assignments like active-duty soldiers. With nearly 36 weeks of training just to become certified operators, the state is able to retain its qualified soldiers there longer. Many of the Guardsmen who signed on for initial tours in 2002 have continued their tours there. Also, because the Army considers them a forward-deployed unit, they are not subject to activations or deployments like other U.S.-based units.
The unit also gets several soldiers who are returning from deployments and want to continue serving full time, Miley said.
To say that the soldiers are all Alaska Guardsmen is somewhat deceiving. While they all are in the Alaska Army National Guard, most have transferred there from all parts of the nation. Alaska is the largest contributor, with about 30 troops, but the next highest contributor is Illinois, with 23. Soldiers also have transferred there from Guam and Puerto Rico.
Soldiers cite the appeal of the countryside and uniqueness of the mission for their desire to accept full-time tours to the site. There are no traditional, or part-time, National Guard slots on the post.
Army Sgt. Jack Carlson III was a Florida-born resident of the Virgin Islands. He had never seen snow before signing up for a tour here, where winter temperatures can drop to 75 degrees below zero. He had to buy long pants before arriving.
Now, he said, he loves the extreme weather.
"Whenever you get to 10 below, you have to survive. It's interesting that at 50 below, although I'm cold, I can walk outside and look at the Northern Lights," Carlson said.
Carlson was one of the first military policemen on the ground here, and has since married a fellow soldier stationed here and signed on for another tour. The two bought a log home that backs up to the Alaskan range along the Delta River. Carlson's favorite pastime is splitting wood, which is good, because the couple heats their home with wood.
The two have had one baby here, and another is expected soon. And they are not alone. Babies abound in this land of long, cold winters. The 200-member unit has seen 26 births in the past year, Family Readiness Group leader Patti Carson said.
Family members describe the post as "Americana," offering a small town, tightly-knit sense of community. Children run and play freely on the small post and in the surrounding woods. Football, baseball and hockey are favorites, and most of the mothers are stay-at-home-moms.
The post offers few amenities because of its size and location. Soldiers here joke that they do have a McDonalds and a Wal-Mart – they just have to drive out the front gate, turn right and go about 100 miles, Besch said. The post and local community share schools. A small post exchange and commissary are open, and movies are sometimes shown in the community center.
Children here don't seem to mind the short summers. In fact, Besch's son pined one day for it to turn cold again so he could play hockey. Carson's kids were late to school one day because a moose made an unexpected visit to the bus stop.
But for all of the appeal of Alaska's sweeping beauty and the down-home country lifestyle well-suited for raising families, the mission is what gives Carlson and the others the most satisfaction.
"There is no other mission like it, in the Guard especially. It's just an outstanding opportunity," Carlson said. "Our mission is of the utmost importance, and what we do makes a difference."
Miley agreed. "There's a sense of purpose and importance to what we're doing," he said.
Miley, a National Guardsman from South Carolina, was one of the first to volunteer for the assignment. He served on one of the first crews and watched the first interceptor emplaced.
He noted that operational tempo is high here because soldiers must meet traditional Army training requirements, such as weapons qualification and professional development, while also conducting their missile defense mission and continuously training to keep their skills sharp.
Traditional units perform maintenance and training during a "red cycle" following deployments or exercises.
"There's no red cycle here. It's 'green' 365-24-7. We have to maintain our operational mission. There is no standing down from it," Miley said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - While most Americans were celebrating Independence Day in 2006, Army Maj. Joe Miley was at his post in the remote interior of Alaska, staring at blips on a computer screen reminiscent of a 1980s video game. But this was no game. Miley was in the "tank turret" of U.S. missile defense, scrutinizing 21st-century space-surveillance technology and monitoring a North Korean long-range ballistic missile test.
"It was quite a sense of awe. We had spent thousands of hours on the system, doing simulations, training for such an event and (then) actually watching the system and waiting for the sensors to pick up and see if we'd be directed to engage the missile," Miley said. "It felt like this was what we had prepared for, and we were ready."
The missile failed to become even a remote threat as it toppled within in a minute of launch into the Sea of Japan. Had it assumed a threatening course and reached an altitude capable of propelling it to U.S. soil, Miley and a handful of Alaska Army National Guardsmen stood ready, upon direction, to smash it into pieces mid-course.
"There was absolute confidence among the crew members. We had complete confidence that there would have been heroes that day," Miley said.
Miley is the executive officer of 49th Missile Defense Battalion, a ground-based midcourse defense unit. Stationed in this remote post, about 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, he and about 200 other Alaska Army National Guardsmen serve as the front line of U.S. missile defense.
Just outside of Delta Junction -- home to about 1,000 local citizens, five restaurants in the summer, and only one in the winter -- Fort Greely is host to an 800-acre, ground-based missile interceptor site. About 250 military members call the post home, along with a small contingent of contractors and family members.
The former cold-weather combat training post had all but shut down until President George H.W. Bush directed in 1992 that the Defense Department begin fielding limited missile defense capabilities, with the intent to continue to expand on initial capabilities.
The department's Missile Defense Agency deemed Fort Greely appropriate because of its strategic location within intercepting distance of missiles launched either from North Korea or Iran. A low water table meant no concrete-like frozen ground, so the base was well suited for sinking interceptors into vaults drilled 70 feet deep. The garrison's buildings were still intact and kept warm, even though they were no longer occupied.
With its remote location, though, it posed difficulties when constructing missile fields. All equipment and materials had to be shipped on barges or trucked hundreds of miles. Winter weather sometimes makes travel risky.
Also, the post had to accommodate the families of those accepting the remote assignment.
"It's a tough place to live and logistically support, but it's the right place (to be)," said Army Col. Thom M. Besch, director of the Missile Defense Agency for the Alaska region. He is an active-duty soldier who oversees the joint program office that fielded the system, makes sure it is operational, and continues its development and testing.
In the last 20 years, the number of countries interested in having or actually having intercontinental ballistic missile capability has increased from six nations to more than 20, Besch said. The number of test launches has increased every year.
"The world's a dangerous place, and the future is uncertain, and technology allows us to have this capability," Besch said. "We know from 9/11 that if an event were to occur in a major city ... that the impact to human life and the cost in dollars would be astronomical."
The intent of the system, Besch said, was to create an integrated system to defend the United States and its friends and allies against all ranges of missiles in all phases of flight.
The 49th Missile Defense Battalion focuses primarily on intercepting missiles during their midcourse phase of flight, or while they are arching in the "exoatmosphere" -- the region of space just outside the Earth's atmosphere.
While the 54-foot-6-inch interceptors look like missiles, there are no explosive warheads attached. The main body acts as a booster vehicle. The booster vehicle serves to propel into space the embedded kill vehicle, a 152-pound "smart bullet" that basically steers itself into the path of the oncoming warhead, causing an explosion on impact.
The first interceptor was emplaced in July 2004. Now, 18 such interceptors are emplaced in the site's two missile fields. When finished, the complex will house 40 interceptors in three fields.
The fire direction center is housed behind a heavily guarded fence that encloses the property. It serves as the brains for the operation and gathers feedback from a variety of sensors and radars, collecting data on weapons, threats and communications status, and repairs and maintenance. It also tracks the threat and the interceptor and provides commanders with an instant snapshot of the system's capabilities.
Five-soldier crews run the center in eight-hour shifts. During their shifts, the crews run through required training and work through scenarios written to challenge their procedures and stress levels.
About 25 soldiers serve in the center. Twelve other soldiers make up the battalion's staff. The majority of the rest of the unit is made up of military police officers, who are charged with securing and defending the facility. The MPs do not conduct garrison business, such as writing speeding tickets. They are here solely to secure the miles of camera-lined, reinforced wire fence surrounding the site and the site's sole entry point.
Soldiers here live a typical Army life, with physical training daily at 6:30 a.m. and battalion runs on Fridays. The Guard was selected to run the site to allow for continuity in service. Guardsmen are not subject to rotations in and out of assignments like active-duty soldiers. With nearly 36 weeks of training just to become certified operators, the state is able to retain its qualified soldiers there longer. Many of the Guardsmen who signed on for initial tours in 2002 have continued their tours there. Also, because the Army considers them a forward-deployed unit, they are not subject to activations or deployments like other U.S.-based units.
The unit also gets several soldiers who are returning from deployments and want to continue serving full time, Miley said.
To say that the soldiers are all Alaska Guardsmen is somewhat deceiving. While they all are in the Alaska Army National Guard, most have transferred there from all parts of the nation. Alaska is the largest contributor, with about 30 troops, but the next highest contributor is Illinois, with 23. Soldiers also have transferred there from Guam and Puerto Rico.
Soldiers cite the appeal of the countryside and uniqueness of the mission for their desire to accept full-time tours to the site. There are no traditional, or part-time, National Guard slots on the post.
Army Sgt. Jack Carlson III was a Florida-born resident of the Virgin Islands. He had never seen snow before signing up for a tour here, where winter temperatures can drop to 75 degrees below zero. He had to buy long pants before arriving.
Now, he said, he loves the extreme weather.
"Whenever you get to 10 below, you have to survive. It's interesting that at 50 below, although I'm cold, I can walk outside and look at the Northern Lights," Carlson said.
Carlson was one of the first military policemen on the ground here, and has since married a fellow soldier stationed here and signed on for another tour. The two bought a log home that backs up to the Alaskan range along the Delta River. Carlson's favorite pastime is splitting wood, which is good, because the couple heats their home with wood.
The two have had one baby here, and another is expected soon. And they are not alone. Babies abound in this land of long, cold winters. The 200-member unit has seen 26 births in the past year, Family Readiness Group leader Patti Carson said.
Family members describe the post as "Americana," offering a small town, tightly-knit sense of community. Children run and play freely on the small post and in the surrounding woods. Football, baseball and hockey are favorites, and most of the mothers are stay-at-home-moms.
The post offers few amenities because of its size and location. Soldiers here joke that they do have a McDonalds and a Wal-Mart – they just have to drive out the front gate, turn right and go about 100 miles, Besch said. The post and local community share schools. A small post exchange and commissary are open, and movies are sometimes shown in the community center.
Children here don't seem to mind the short summers. In fact, Besch's son pined one day for it to turn cold again so he could play hockey. Carson's kids were late to school one day because a moose made an unexpected visit to the bus stop.
But for all of the appeal of Alaska's sweeping beauty and the down-home country lifestyle well-suited for raising families, the mission is what gives Carlson and the others the most satisfaction.
"There is no other mission like it, in the Guard especially. It's just an outstanding opportunity," Carlson said. "Our mission is of the utmost importance, and what we do makes a difference."
Miley agreed. "There's a sense of purpose and importance to what we're doing," he said.
Miley, a National Guardsman from South Carolina, was one of the first to volunteer for the assignment. He served on one of the first crews and watched the first interceptor emplaced.
He noted that operational tempo is high here because soldiers must meet traditional Army training requirements, such as weapons qualification and professional development, while also conducting their missile defense mission and continuously training to keep their skills sharp.
Traditional units perform maintenance and training during a "red cycle" following deployments or exercises.
"There's no red cycle here. It's 'green' 365-24-7. We have to maintain our operational mission. There is no standing down from it," Miley said.
MRAPs Displayed on Aberdeen Proving Ground
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - A team of test operators and mechanics here gave members of the media and other visitors a firsthand look today at the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP, which is currently being tested on its automotive quality and ability to protect servicemembers' lives. The Marine Corps has awarded contracts for 6,415 MRAPs to date. The vehicles have raised, V-shaped underbellies, that deflect the force of improvised explosive devices and other blasts from below better than other vehicles in use. But before each armored vehicle transports troops in the field, it undergoes two phases of testing conducted here or at Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz., to gauge how well each MRAP model drives, steers and handles, and whether it can withstand explosions.
"From a performance standpoint, in protecting troops it's done a tremendous job so far. From an operational reliability standpoint, it has exceeded our requirements," said Marine Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, speaking about MRAPs that passed testing phases and are being used currently in the field.
"One of the big things that MRAPs provide to the troops is that sense of confidence when they go out to do their mission that they're going to come home safe," Brogan said. "I think all the troops in theater are pleased to see these platforms arrive, and it will make them better and more proficient at accomplishing our mission."
Seven vendors currently are producing the armored vehicle – which looks and feels like a Humvee on steroids – in three categories of varying shape, size and capability, to meet servicemembers' myriad mission requirements. Category I vehicles are designed to transport up to four servicemembers, and Category II vehicles hold a maximum 10 troops. The Category III MRAP, also known as the Buffalo, is a mine-clearing vehicle that seats five.
Test operators and officials today ushered some 40 visitors into one of seven MRAPs on display. Passengers who boarded the Cougar, a Category I MRAP made by Force Protection with a roughly $2.8 million price tag, were strapped into interior seating before tearing over bumpy dirt roads at speeds up to 40 miles-per-hour. From the rear of the MRAP looking forward, the vehicle seemed to respond obediently as the driver negotiated with a rather unforgiving landscape pocked with muddy potholes and hills that appeared with the regularity of a sine wave.
Army Col. John Rooney, commander at Aberdeen Testing Center, said during ballistics testing, operators outfit vehicles with "super crash-test dummies." These anthropomorphic models collect information that details how their synthetic body parts -- head, neck, spine, pelvis, legs -- respond to simulated insurgent attacks.
"We collect information in and around the vehicle that tells us how the vehicle performs and how the human bodies within the vehicle would withstand the 'events,'" Rooney said.
Officials would not divulge details about ballistics training or results, but Rooney said the survivability of vehicles currently undergoing testing is "significantly greater" than those tested the past two years.
"I'm confident (that) as a result of what happens here, all of these vehicles today will be better at some point in the future," he added.
When the Defense Department requested MRAP testing late last year, Rooney separated 250 hand-picked operators and mechanics into three groups. To meet the department's "urgent need," groups now work in rotating eight-hour shifts around the clock Monday though Saturday (and half of Sunday), conducting the second phase of automotive and ballistics survivability examinations on the 24 MRAPs here.
"We continue to do everything we can to enable the Department of Defense to get as many MRAPs in theater," Rooney said, "and (for the department to) understand and know very well the capabilities and limitations of these vehicles."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - A team of test operators and mechanics here gave members of the media and other visitors a firsthand look today at the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP, which is currently being tested on its automotive quality and ability to protect servicemembers' lives. The Marine Corps has awarded contracts for 6,415 MRAPs to date. The vehicles have raised, V-shaped underbellies, that deflect the force of improvised explosive devices and other blasts from below better than other vehicles in use. But before each armored vehicle transports troops in the field, it undergoes two phases of testing conducted here or at Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz., to gauge how well each MRAP model drives, steers and handles, and whether it can withstand explosions.
"From a performance standpoint, in protecting troops it's done a tremendous job so far. From an operational reliability standpoint, it has exceeded our requirements," said Marine Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, speaking about MRAPs that passed testing phases and are being used currently in the field.
"One of the big things that MRAPs provide to the troops is that sense of confidence when they go out to do their mission that they're going to come home safe," Brogan said. "I think all the troops in theater are pleased to see these platforms arrive, and it will make them better and more proficient at accomplishing our mission."
Seven vendors currently are producing the armored vehicle – which looks and feels like a Humvee on steroids – in three categories of varying shape, size and capability, to meet servicemembers' myriad mission requirements. Category I vehicles are designed to transport up to four servicemembers, and Category II vehicles hold a maximum 10 troops. The Category III MRAP, also known as the Buffalo, is a mine-clearing vehicle that seats five.
Test operators and officials today ushered some 40 visitors into one of seven MRAPs on display. Passengers who boarded the Cougar, a Category I MRAP made by Force Protection with a roughly $2.8 million price tag, were strapped into interior seating before tearing over bumpy dirt roads at speeds up to 40 miles-per-hour. From the rear of the MRAP looking forward, the vehicle seemed to respond obediently as the driver negotiated with a rather unforgiving landscape pocked with muddy potholes and hills that appeared with the regularity of a sine wave.
Army Col. John Rooney, commander at Aberdeen Testing Center, said during ballistics testing, operators outfit vehicles with "super crash-test dummies." These anthropomorphic models collect information that details how their synthetic body parts -- head, neck, spine, pelvis, legs -- respond to simulated insurgent attacks.
"We collect information in and around the vehicle that tells us how the vehicle performs and how the human bodies within the vehicle would withstand the 'events,'" Rooney said.
Officials would not divulge details about ballistics training or results, but Rooney said the survivability of vehicles currently undergoing testing is "significantly greater" than those tested the past two years.
"I'm confident (that) as a result of what happens here, all of these vehicles today will be better at some point in the future," he added.
When the Defense Department requested MRAP testing late last year, Rooney separated 250 hand-picked operators and mechanics into three groups. To meet the department's "urgent need," groups now work in rotating eight-hour shifts around the clock Monday though Saturday (and half of Sunday), conducting the second phase of automotive and ballistics survivability examinations on the 24 MRAPs here.
"We continue to do everything we can to enable the Department of Defense to get as many MRAPs in theater," Rooney said, "and (for the department to) understand and know very well the capabilities and limitations of these vehicles."
Why We Serve: Air Force NCO Serves 21 Years, Still Going Strong
By Meghan Vittrup
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duncan has served for 21 years and still says there's no end in sight. Duncan has had several opportunities to be commissioned as an Air Force officer. However, he said he prefers to be enlisted. "I chose to stay enlisted, because I like working with troops more," he said.
Duncan is one of eight servicemembers who have served overseas in the war on terrorism who have been chosen to speak to American communities and businesses across the nation in the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program. The program was initially the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and began in the fall of 2006. Eight servicemembers, two from each branch of the military are chosen to participate in the program each quarter.
"Anything to tell my story on why I'm proud to be in the military," Duncan said. "I've actually been here 20 years."
He said also wants to focus on telling Americans about his experiences during overseas deployments. He said he wants Americans to remember that he and the rest of the troops are regular people just like everyone else.
"It shows the personal side; we are not just machines and robots going along, we are people just like them," Duncan said. "I could be their neighbor."
He added that he is excited to meet new people, tell his story, and that he is anxious to see what kinds of questions audiences have for the Why We Serve speakers.
After already serving in the military for more than 20 years, Duncan said he is planning to continue his career as long as he can. He said he'd continue serving until he can't do anything more for the Air Force.
"My mom and dad told me when I hit the 20-year mark (that) they wanted me to quit and wanted me to come home," Duncan said. "But there are other mothers who don't want their kid there either, so I said I'm just one of them."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 24, 2007 - Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Duncan has served for 21 years and still says there's no end in sight. Duncan has had several opportunities to be commissioned as an Air Force officer. However, he said he prefers to be enlisted. "I chose to stay enlisted, because I like working with troops more," he said.
Duncan is one of eight servicemembers who have served overseas in the war on terrorism who have been chosen to speak to American communities and businesses across the nation in the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program. The program was initially the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and began in the fall of 2006. Eight servicemembers, two from each branch of the military are chosen to participate in the program each quarter.
"Anything to tell my story on why I'm proud to be in the military," Duncan said. "I've actually been here 20 years."
He said also wants to focus on telling Americans about his experiences during overseas deployments. He said he wants Americans to remember that he and the rest of the troops are regular people just like everyone else.
"It shows the personal side; we are not just machines and robots going along, we are people just like them," Duncan said. "I could be their neighbor."
He added that he is excited to meet new people, tell his story, and that he is anxious to see what kinds of questions audiences have for the Why We Serve speakers.
After already serving in the military for more than 20 years, Duncan said he is planning to continue his career as long as he can. He said he'd continue serving until he can't do anything more for the Air Force.
"My mom and dad told me when I hit the 20-year mark (that) they wanted me to quit and wanted me to come home," Duncan said. "But there are other mothers who don't want their kid there either, so I said I'm just one of them."
Military Servicemember Books
Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing military personnel who have authored books.
William Gately is a Vietnam veteran and former vice-cop from the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, DC). In 1970, after a three year enlistment in the Marines and tour in Vietnam he took the oath of police officer in the nation's capital. For the next eight years he served as a member of the Metropolitan Police Department. On June 17, 1972, William Gately was assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department tactical unit that surprised the Watergate Burglars. After leaving the joined the U.S. Customs Service, eventually rising to the rank of assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Customs in Los Angeles.
William Gately co-authored Dead Ringer: An Insider's Account of the Mob's Colombian Connection. According to publisher’s weekly, “Gatley, an employee of the U.S. Customs Service; Joe Caffaro, a Sicilian-born businessman with Mafia ties; and Leo Fraley, an American career criminal who became involved in Colombian drug-smuggling--these men are an unlikely trio to be the subjects of the same book. Yet all played major roles in court cases which tied the Medellin drug cartel to the mafia in Sicily and thence to the U.S. mafia.”
William Butler was a police officer for the Gilmer Police Department (Texas). In addition to his law enforcement career, William Butler is a former member of the United States Army. During his more than seven years as a soldier he attained the rank of sergeant (E5) and his duty stations included: Fort Sam Houston (Texas); White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico: and, two overseas tours. One of his military assignments overseas was as a patrol officer assigned to the Allied Checkpoints Bravo and Charlie in Berlin, Germany.
William Butler is the author of I Remember Tomorrow. According to the book description, “In an attempt to rebuild her life, Jeanette relocates to a quiet little town, after spending ten years in the military and suffering a failed marriage. But Jeanette is a precognitive; able to see the future.”
Douglas J. Vaughn graduated with honors from the New York Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He is a former United States Marine and Vietnam veteran, having served as a forward observer for artillery, naval gunfire and air strikes. He spent most of his thirteen-month tour in Vietnam just below the Demilitarized Zone near the Cua Viet River with the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion where he served with Ron Kovic, the author of “Born on the Fourth of July.
Douglas Vaughn is also a veteran of the New York Police Department. While assigned to the 48th Precinct in the South Bronx, he gave technical advice to Paul Newman during the filming of “Fort Apache The Bronx.” He also worked in the 20th Precinct on Manhattan’s upper West Side and in the Highway Patrol Unit. Douglas Vaughn He spent his final years with the Police Department planning escorts for dignitaries and was forced to retire in his twentieth year due to an injury incurred while escorting former President George H.W. Bush. He is also one of the 200, or so, officers who has been awarded the Police Combat Cross since its inception in 1934. This second highest Department award is given for “exemplification of extraordinary bravery in armed combat.”
Douglas Vaughn is the author of From the Heights. According to the book description of From the Heights, it “begins in the New York City of the 1930’s and takes the reader to the war in the Pacific and the secret workings of the OSS in Italy and Switzerland during World War II. It is a story of the privileged that summer in South Hampton and the poor who swim in the Harlem River. It is a story of social climbing and empire building. It follows the lives and loves of two generations and delves into the inner workings of the New York Police Department and battles fought by United States Marines in Vietnam.
Military-Writers.com currently lists 41 current or former military servicemembers and their 86 books.
William Gately is a Vietnam veteran and former vice-cop from the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, DC). In 1970, after a three year enlistment in the Marines and tour in Vietnam he took the oath of police officer in the nation's capital. For the next eight years he served as a member of the Metropolitan Police Department. On June 17, 1972, William Gately was assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department tactical unit that surprised the Watergate Burglars. After leaving the joined the U.S. Customs Service, eventually rising to the rank of assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Customs in Los Angeles.
William Gately co-authored Dead Ringer: An Insider's Account of the Mob's Colombian Connection. According to publisher’s weekly, “Gatley, an employee of the U.S. Customs Service; Joe Caffaro, a Sicilian-born businessman with Mafia ties; and Leo Fraley, an American career criminal who became involved in Colombian drug-smuggling--these men are an unlikely trio to be the subjects of the same book. Yet all played major roles in court cases which tied the Medellin drug cartel to the mafia in Sicily and thence to the U.S. mafia.”
William Butler was a police officer for the Gilmer Police Department (Texas). In addition to his law enforcement career, William Butler is a former member of the United States Army. During his more than seven years as a soldier he attained the rank of sergeant (E5) and his duty stations included: Fort Sam Houston (Texas); White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico: and, two overseas tours. One of his military assignments overseas was as a patrol officer assigned to the Allied Checkpoints Bravo and Charlie in Berlin, Germany.
William Butler is the author of I Remember Tomorrow. According to the book description, “In an attempt to rebuild her life, Jeanette relocates to a quiet little town, after spending ten years in the military and suffering a failed marriage. But Jeanette is a precognitive; able to see the future.”
Douglas J. Vaughn graduated with honors from the New York Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He is a former United States Marine and Vietnam veteran, having served as a forward observer for artillery, naval gunfire and air strikes. He spent most of his thirteen-month tour in Vietnam just below the Demilitarized Zone near the Cua Viet River with the 1st Amphibious Tractor Battalion where he served with Ron Kovic, the author of “Born on the Fourth of July.
Douglas Vaughn is also a veteran of the New York Police Department. While assigned to the 48th Precinct in the South Bronx, he gave technical advice to Paul Newman during the filming of “Fort Apache The Bronx.” He also worked in the 20th Precinct on Manhattan’s upper West Side and in the Highway Patrol Unit. Douglas Vaughn He spent his final years with the Police Department planning escorts for dignitaries and was forced to retire in his twentieth year due to an injury incurred while escorting former President George H.W. Bush. He is also one of the 200, or so, officers who has been awarded the Police Combat Cross since its inception in 1934. This second highest Department award is given for “exemplification of extraordinary bravery in armed combat.”
Douglas Vaughn is the author of From the Heights. According to the book description of From the Heights, it “begins in the New York City of the 1930’s and takes the reader to the war in the Pacific and the secret workings of the OSS in Italy and Switzerland during World War II. It is a story of the privileged that summer in South Hampton and the poor who swim in the Harlem River. It is a story of social climbing and empire building. It follows the lives and loves of two generations and delves into the inner workings of the New York Police Department and battles fought by United States Marines in Vietnam.
Military-Writers.com currently lists 41 current or former military servicemembers and their 86 books.
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