By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – As a senior in high school, Tania Foster could easily focus all her energy in preparing for her collegiate pursuits in biochemistry this autumn. However, the 18-year-old is instead putting her spare time into helping others -- primarily the men and women of the armed forces -- through her nonprofit organization "Dallas is Love."
During a family vacation to South Korea in 2004, she interacted for the first time with U.S. troops stationed there. "I had no idea of the strain that they were under, as the majority of them are in Korea without family members," Tania said.
When she returned to the states, she began spreading the word to friends and businesses in the Dallas area that there are troops on the Korean Peninsula who need to be shown the support of the American public.
"I just knew that something had to be done to let these men and women know how much we, the people of America, appreciate them for all their efforts and sacrifices they make every day," Tania said.
In an effort to heighten the visibility of her organization and therefore help more troops, she sought assistance from military officials at the Pentagon. In November 2006, Dallas is Love became a member of America Supports You, the Defense Department program designed to connect grassroots home front groups with members of the military at home and overseas.
"The help that we received from America Supports You and public affairs offices at the Pentagon and in Korea was wonderful," her mother, Linda, said. "These offices have done so much to guide her in the right direction and have helped us in so many ways."
Before joining the DoD team, Tania was primarily getting requests for assistance from troops in Korea; now requests are coming in from around the globe, Linda said.
Through her Web site, www.dallasislove.org, Tania has raised more than $8,000 for Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift cards for soldiers. Although her organization has primarily focused on Army troops in Korea, she began branching out in February to meet the needs of members of other services stationed in other parts of the world.
The increase in troop coverage has resulted in a revamping of her Web site.
Korean War veteran Keith Fannon serves as the organization's Web master. The 77-year-old said he and his fellow members of the Sam Johnson Chapter 270 of the Korean War Veterans Association first encouraged Tania to go forward with her idea of supporting troops on the peninsula. Fannon volunteered to create and monitor the site.
"Anything I can do for those guys over there, I'm willing to do it," Fannon said. "A lot of these guys don't hear from their families. It means so much to get something from home; it's uplifting."
Former Dallas Cowboys star Tony Hill also has been an active sponsor of Tania's efforts to support U.S. troops. He has autographed more than $1,600 worth of Cowboys merchandise to send to servicemembers stationed overseas. Hill also has appeared with Tania on local radio station 570 KLIS to promote Dallas is Love and encourage others in the community to get involved.
The Texas radio station sent a crew to Iraq in mid-February to do a live broadcast for their Dallas listeners. While there, the KLIS crew distributed more than $1,000 worth of gift cards to troops, in addition to personal hygiene items and compact discs gathered from local businesses by Tania's organization.
Tania's younger brother, Patrick Henry, 15, also is lending a helping hand. He is in charge of keeping track of the money given to the organization and personally writes each donor a thank you letter.
"It is very rewarding to reach out and give to people," Linda said. "(My husband and I) have always emphasized the importance of giving to others even though we aren't rich. We are just a regular, middle-class family."
Although their family has no personal connection with the military, Tania said that Dallas is Love has given her insight into the military lifestyle and has inspired her to continue her efforts to support U.S. troops.
"As American citizens, we must realize that we have troops all around the world to protect not only our country," Tania said, "but others as well."
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
New Yorkers Enjoy Taste of Home in Texas
By Elaine Wilson
Special to American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – A handful of wounded warriors recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center here are getting a taste of home -- minus the neck-wrenching skyscrapers and taxi-filled city streets. The servicemembers, all New York natives, are the lucky recipients of a week's worth of the Big Apple's best delicacies, thanks to the generosity of a handful of the city's top restaurants, delicatessens, fine food stores and bakeries.
The first shipment from Zabar's arrived Feb. 23, to the culinary delight of Marine Sgt. Rocky Ramirez, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.
"I'm going to get all the New Yorkers here together for a banquet," he said, as he pulled a bounty of bagels, cookies and fruit from the box.
The Taste of New York project was conceived in late January here at the grand opening of the Army's new rehabilitation center, the Center for the Intrepid. The veterans visited with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and mentioned how much they missed New York City food.
"Mrs. Quinn asked for a list of food we wanted," said Ramirez, adding that he personally requested rice and beans.
The speaker's office then enlisted the help of a group of New Yorkers, including Tim Zagat; Kathy Wylde, president and CEO of Partnership for New York City; Bill White, president of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund; and the five borough presidents.
"The Intrepid Center is providing these brave New Yorkers with the best possible care; however, the one thing the center can't provide is the feeling of home," Quinn said.
Along with Zabar's, throughout the week the servicemembers will receive tasty treats from Moma's of Corona, Sahadi, Joe's Place, Murray Cheese and Jive Turkey.
"They're trying to get me fat," Ramirez joked, also expressing his gratitude for the tasty gesture. He will be happy to know that his beloved rice and beans are on the way.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
Special to American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – A handful of wounded warriors recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center here are getting a taste of home -- minus the neck-wrenching skyscrapers and taxi-filled city streets. The servicemembers, all New York natives, are the lucky recipients of a week's worth of the Big Apple's best delicacies, thanks to the generosity of a handful of the city's top restaurants, delicatessens, fine food stores and bakeries.
The first shipment from Zabar's arrived Feb. 23, to the culinary delight of Marine Sgt. Rocky Ramirez, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.
"I'm going to get all the New Yorkers here together for a banquet," he said, as he pulled a bounty of bagels, cookies and fruit from the box.
The Taste of New York project was conceived in late January here at the grand opening of the Army's new rehabilitation center, the Center for the Intrepid. The veterans visited with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and mentioned how much they missed New York City food.
"Mrs. Quinn asked for a list of food we wanted," said Ramirez, adding that he personally requested rice and beans.
The speaker's office then enlisted the help of a group of New Yorkers, including Tim Zagat; Kathy Wylde, president and CEO of Partnership for New York City; Bill White, president of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund; and the five borough presidents.
"The Intrepid Center is providing these brave New Yorkers with the best possible care; however, the one thing the center can't provide is the feeling of home," Quinn said.
Along with Zabar's, throughout the week the servicemembers will receive tasty treats from Moma's of Corona, Sahadi, Joe's Place, Murray Cheese and Jive Turkey.
"They're trying to get me fat," Ramirez joked, also expressing his gratitude for the tasty gesture. He will be happy to know that his beloved rice and beans are on the way.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
Craddock Discusses Africa, European Command Changes
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – Establishing U.S. Africa Command will mean big changes to U.S. European Command, the top U.S. military commander in Europe said at a news roundtable here today. Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe, said initial operating capability for U.S. Africa Command is tentatively set for Oct. 1, with full operational capability set for Oct. 1, 2008.
All the African nations currently under European Command will transfer to the new command. All the nations of the Horn of Africa will transfer from U.S. Central Command, and Madagascar and the Seychelles will transfer from U.S. Pacific Command.
The new command will be based in Stuttgart, Germany, for the time being. Officials ultimately hope the command will transfer its headquarters to Africa, Craddock said.
The teams working to set up AFRICOM are working in Washington and Stuttgart on the new command's manning, functions and missions. Craddock has taken the opportunity of the change to look at and refocus the mission of U.S. European Command.
"EUCOM has plenty of opportunities to look at," he said. "We've just got to be sure that we are arranged properly."
He said an enormous requirement will remain for the U.S. military to engage European and NATO nations. "NATO has 26 members and 23 partners," he said. "We have to look at the Trans-Caucusus area, (and) engagement with Russia. We've got to look at lines of communication. Sea lanes are important, (as is) energy security, which means different things to different nations."
Craddock said he sees the changes to both commands as a chance to reach out to other U.S. government agencies.
"I don't see Africa Command as a typical combatant command, as European Command or Southern Command of Pacific Command is today," he said. "I think given the roles and missions and challenges in Africa, it is going to have a little different scope."
Africa Command must be interagency from the start, he said, because of the challenges on the continent.
"We need to put together the organization to face the challenges of endemic disease, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, energy," he said. This will require people from the State Department, Health and Human Services, the Energy Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, to name a few.
If this approach is successful at Africa Command - and Craddock said he believes it will be - the general anticipates the changes would migrate to other geographic commands.
"The problem is there are so many different (agency) stovepipes," he said. "We've got to get these stovepipes connected horizontally.
"I think AFRICOM may be the spearhead - the pioneer here," he continued. "But I think there will be spin-offs and best practices we can use in re-crafting the combatant commands."
He said the model could be very much like that of the Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, Fla. That group is an interagency force that has people empowered to make decisions.
The members from different agencies do not have to reach back to Washington to make a decision or commit resources, Craddock said, adding that he could see something along those lines replacing the European Command's interagency coordinating group.
"We'd like to populate the interagency group with decisional authority rather than having them reach back to Washington for a decision," he said. "It would enable greater opportunities for fast decisions and be able to do things on a higher-tempo basis."
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – Establishing U.S. Africa Command will mean big changes to U.S. European Command, the top U.S. military commander in Europe said at a news roundtable here today. Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe, said initial operating capability for U.S. Africa Command is tentatively set for Oct. 1, with full operational capability set for Oct. 1, 2008.
All the African nations currently under European Command will transfer to the new command. All the nations of the Horn of Africa will transfer from U.S. Central Command, and Madagascar and the Seychelles will transfer from U.S. Pacific Command.
The new command will be based in Stuttgart, Germany, for the time being. Officials ultimately hope the command will transfer its headquarters to Africa, Craddock said.
The teams working to set up AFRICOM are working in Washington and Stuttgart on the new command's manning, functions and missions. Craddock has taken the opportunity of the change to look at and refocus the mission of U.S. European Command.
"EUCOM has plenty of opportunities to look at," he said. "We've just got to be sure that we are arranged properly."
He said an enormous requirement will remain for the U.S. military to engage European and NATO nations. "NATO has 26 members and 23 partners," he said. "We have to look at the Trans-Caucusus area, (and) engagement with Russia. We've got to look at lines of communication. Sea lanes are important, (as is) energy security, which means different things to different nations."
Craddock said he sees the changes to both commands as a chance to reach out to other U.S. government agencies.
"I don't see Africa Command as a typical combatant command, as European Command or Southern Command of Pacific Command is today," he said. "I think given the roles and missions and challenges in Africa, it is going to have a little different scope."
Africa Command must be interagency from the start, he said, because of the challenges on the continent.
"We need to put together the organization to face the challenges of endemic disease, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, energy," he said. This will require people from the State Department, Health and Human Services, the Energy Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, to name a few.
If this approach is successful at Africa Command - and Craddock said he believes it will be - the general anticipates the changes would migrate to other geographic commands.
"The problem is there are so many different (agency) stovepipes," he said. "We've got to get these stovepipes connected horizontally.
"I think AFRICOM may be the spearhead - the pioneer here," he continued. "But I think there will be spin-offs and best practices we can use in re-crafting the combatant commands."
He said the model could be very much like that of the Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, Fla. That group is an interagency force that has people empowered to make decisions.
The members from different agencies do not have to reach back to Washington to make a decision or commit resources, Craddock said, adding that he could see something along those lines replacing the European Command's interagency coordinating group.
"We'd like to populate the interagency group with decisional authority rather than having them reach back to Washington for a decision," he said. "It would enable greater opportunities for fast decisions and be able to do things on a higher-tempo basis."
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
Bush Forms Commission to Review Troops' Health Care
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – In response to problems recently reported at the Army's top medical center, President Bush today said his office is creating a bipartisan commission to review the overall quality of health care wounded servicemembers receive. In his weekly radio address, Bush called the reported problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center "unacceptable" and said the commission will review the care wounded servicemembers receive from the time they are injured on the battlefield to when they return to civilian life as veterans.
"This country has a moral obligation to provide our servicemen and women with the best possible care and treatment. They deserve it, and they will get it," he said.
On Feb. 23, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates toured the center's outpatient facility Building 18, where reported maintenance and administrative problems catapulted the center into the national spotlight in a series of Washington Post articles. He said injured servicemembers should not return home to battle the bureaucracies of a broken outpatient health care system.
The secretary of the Army yesterday fired the center's commander, Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, citing "lost trust and confidence" in his leadership abilities. The commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Command, Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, will fill the spot temporarily.
Bush acknowledged that most of the staff members at Walter Reed are "dedicated professionals."
"Walter Reed has a long tradition of outstanding medical service," Bush said, and he pledged that his administration will ensure that the soldiers recovering there are treated with the dignity and respect they have earned.
Commission members will be announced in the next few days, Bush said.
Gates also formed an independent review group to investigate the reports of substandard living conditions and bogged-down administrative processes.
If Bush's fiscal 2008 budget proposal is approved, Veterans Affairs health care funding has increased by 83 percent over the past six years, from about $20 billion to more than $36 billion, he said. Bush is asking Congress for more than $86 billion overall for veterans' services this year. If approved, it would be a 77 percent increase since Bush took office.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – In response to problems recently reported at the Army's top medical center, President Bush today said his office is creating a bipartisan commission to review the overall quality of health care wounded servicemembers receive. In his weekly radio address, Bush called the reported problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center "unacceptable" and said the commission will review the care wounded servicemembers receive from the time they are injured on the battlefield to when they return to civilian life as veterans.
"This country has a moral obligation to provide our servicemen and women with the best possible care and treatment. They deserve it, and they will get it," he said.
On Feb. 23, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates toured the center's outpatient facility Building 18, where reported maintenance and administrative problems catapulted the center into the national spotlight in a series of Washington Post articles. He said injured servicemembers should not return home to battle the bureaucracies of a broken outpatient health care system.
The secretary of the Army yesterday fired the center's commander, Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, citing "lost trust and confidence" in his leadership abilities. The commanding general of U.S. Army Medical Command, Army Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, will fill the spot temporarily.
Bush acknowledged that most of the staff members at Walter Reed are "dedicated professionals."
"Walter Reed has a long tradition of outstanding medical service," Bush said, and he pledged that his administration will ensure that the soldiers recovering there are treated with the dignity and respect they have earned.
Commission members will be announced in the next few days, Bush said.
Gates also formed an independent review group to investigate the reports of substandard living conditions and bogged-down administrative processes.
If Bush's fiscal 2008 budget proposal is approved, Veterans Affairs health care funding has increased by 83 percent over the past six years, from about $20 billion to more than $36 billion, he said. Bush is asking Congress for more than $86 billion overall for veterans' services this year. If approved, it would be a 77 percent increase since Bush took office.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
Army Secretary Resigns in Wake of Walter Reed Outpatient-Care Shortfalls
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced this afternoon that he has accepted the resignation of Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey in light of allegations of shortfalls in care of outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. Published reports in February shed light on shortcomings in outpatient care for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army officials announced yesterday that the hospital commander, Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, had been relieved of duty.
In announcing that Harvey had resigned, Gates expressed disappointment that Army leaders were not taking the situation seriously enough.
"I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed," he said in a brief statement at the Pentagon. "Some have shown too much defensiveness and have not shown enough focus on digging into and addressing the problems."
He also said he is concerned that some Army leaders hadn't communicated well enough that caring for wounded troops is their top priority.
"Addressing (troops' and their families') concerns about the quality of their outpatient experience is critically important," Gates said. "Our wounded soldiers and their families have sacrificed much, and they deserve the best we can offer."
In contrast to his criticism of Army leaders, Gates praised the medical staff at Walter Reed for "their professionalism and dedication to providing caring treatment."
"From what I have learned, the problems at Walter Reed appear to be problems of leadership," he said "The Walter Reed doctors, nurses and other staff are among the best and the most caring in the world. They deserve our continued deepest thanks and strongest support."
Harvey had been secretary of the Army since Nov. 19, 2004. Gates announced that Undersecretary of the Army Pete Geren will serve as acting secretary until a new secretary is in place. Geren served as acting secretary of the Air Force from July to November 2005.
Army officials announced after Gates' news conference that Maj. Gen. Eric R. Schoomaker will be the new commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and North Atlantic Regional Medical Command. Schoomaker currently is the commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
American Forces Press Service
March 2, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced this afternoon that he has accepted the resignation of Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey in light of allegations of shortfalls in care of outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here. Published reports in February shed light on shortcomings in outpatient care for troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army officials announced yesterday that the hospital commander, Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, had been relieved of duty.
In announcing that Harvey had resigned, Gates expressed disappointment that Army leaders were not taking the situation seriously enough.
"I am disappointed that some in the Army have not adequately appreciated the seriousness of the situation pertaining to outpatient care at Walter Reed," he said in a brief statement at the Pentagon. "Some have shown too much defensiveness and have not shown enough focus on digging into and addressing the problems."
He also said he is concerned that some Army leaders hadn't communicated well enough that caring for wounded troops is their top priority.
"Addressing (troops' and their families') concerns about the quality of their outpatient experience is critically important," Gates said. "Our wounded soldiers and their families have sacrificed much, and they deserve the best we can offer."
In contrast to his criticism of Army leaders, Gates praised the medical staff at Walter Reed for "their professionalism and dedication to providing caring treatment."
"From what I have learned, the problems at Walter Reed appear to be problems of leadership," he said "The Walter Reed doctors, nurses and other staff are among the best and the most caring in the world. They deserve our continued deepest thanks and strongest support."
Harvey had been secretary of the Army since Nov. 19, 2004. Gates announced that Undersecretary of the Army Pete Geren will serve as acting secretary until a new secretary is in place. Geren served as acting secretary of the Air Force from July to November 2005.
Army officials announced after Gates' news conference that Maj. Gen. Eric R. Schoomaker will be the new commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and North Atlantic Regional Medical Command. Schoomaker currently is the commanding general of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, Md.
This article was sponsored by police and military personnel who have written books; and, by criminal justice online leadership.
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