By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
April 2, 2007 – Eight servicemembers with duty experience in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa, who have been selected to tell the military's story to the American public, met with Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England here March 30. “It's important and it's vital, particularly now," England told the group of their mission to relate their experiences to the American public. "This is the time to be out with the message of the importance of what you do every day, and all those who serve."
The eight enlisted and commissioned Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps members are participating in the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
The United States has always relied on the courage and selflessness of military members who have fought to preserve America's security, freedoms and way of life since the nation was established, England pointed out.
"What you're doing is hugely important," the deputy defense secretary told the servicemembers as he shook their hands and passed out his personal coins. "And, while you're out there, deliver a great message for America."
The "Why We Serve" program began last fall and was initially the idea of Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The program is conducted in quarterly segments and eight military members, two from each service, are selected to participate, said Air Force Maj. Ann N. Biggers, the program's director.
"We're sending the best of the best from each of the services," Biggers said.
Participants are attached to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs for periods of about 90 days. They travel to communities across the nation to tell their personal stories of military service. Speaking engagements range from veterans organizations to grade schools to business groups.
But first, the servicemembers undergo three days of training consisting of standards of conduct, public speaking, policy and ethics, interview skills, speech preparation and more, Biggers said.
"We know that the American public is hungry to hear about what these young men and women have been doing," Biggers said. "It's important for our speakers, as well, because they are out there serving their country, and they want to be able to tell their stories."
This is the third "Why We Serve" group since the program began, Biggers said. The group members are:
-- Air Force Capt. Michael J. Frasco, 35, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.;
-- Air Force Tech. Sgt. Robert P. Jubie, 35, Hill Air Force Base, Utah;
-- Army Capt. Jessica L. Murphy, 28, Fort Drum, N.Y.;
-- Army Staff Sgt. Matt Olson, 25, Fort Jackson, S.C.;
-- Marine 1st Lt. Matthew H. Hilton, 28, Camp Pendleton, Calif.;
-- Marine Sgt. Paula Payne, 23, Camp Pendleton;
-- Navy Lt. Junior Grade Katie Hagen, 24, Norfolk, Va.; and
-- Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Virginia Marie Mayo, 29, Camp Pendleton.
The servicemembers have unique experiences they'd like to share with the American public.
Jubie, a military carpenter who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, recalled helping Afghans to rebuild their homes during his stint with a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan. He also cited the death of two of his fellow soldiers in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Sept. 8, 2006.
"That really drove home to me to a great desire to continue the mission," Jubie, an Arlington, Wash., native said. "Unfortunately, their lives were ended short, but their legacy lives on through the PRTs."
Frasco, who hails from Albuquerque, N.M., volunteered to be a supply convoy commander during a tour in Afghanistan in 2006, a normally done by an Army officer. He also served as a trainer for the Afghan National Army.
Frasco remembers once working 30 consecutive 16-hour days during his tour in Afghanistan. However, he said, it was worth it to help the Afghans get back onto their feet after enduring years of brutal rule under the Taliban.
However, "despite all the long hours, despite all the hardships that we'd gone through and despite all the difficult things that we'd faced during our deployment, servicemembers are ready to go back" to assist the Afghans to make them stronger, Frasco said.
Servicemembers perform dangerous duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other far-flung places to preserve America's security and freedoms and to protect loved ones and other Americans back home, Frasco said.
In Iraq, Mayo organized medical triage and movement of casualties and also participated in more than 15 combat-related missions, including convoys and dismounted patrols. She said she wants the American public to know "there are so many opportunities and positions of leadership" available to women in the military.
"If you can do your job and can hold your own, then, there's nothing that can stop you," Mayo, a New Port Richey, Fla., native, noted.
Murphy, a Milwaukee native and military police officer, said she and her soldiers worked closely with local residents during tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We interacted with the community a lot in both countries. It was very rewarding. I've seen how we can affect what is happening on the ground and help people have a better life," Murphy said.
"I know the news kind of portrays the sensational side" of events in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Olson, who hails from Grantsville, Wis. "I'm kind of hoping to get the whole story out there, the good news stuff." Having served two tours in Iraq, Olson recalled participating in humanitarian missions to provide supplies for Iraqi school children.
"Seeing those children's faces was rewarding," the wheeled-vehicle mechanic and noncommissioned officer said.
Hagen, who calls Slidell, La., home, recalled performing anti-pirate missions off the coast of Somalia while deployed on a Navy destroyer in the Arabian Gulf in 2005-2006.
"It's something that I'd never expected. I didn't even know until I got there that there actually were still pirates out there," Hagen said. "It was a pretty unique experience."
Hilton, an intelligence officer who's slated to be the ceremonial ringmaster for an April 4 evening performance of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus at the Patriot Center at George Mason University in his native Fairfax, Va., said he'd share his positive experiences with the Iraqi people during his two tours in Iraq.
"The Iraqi people are great people," said Hilton, who'd served as an advisor to the 7th Iraqi Army Division. "They're very hospitable people, and I think the American people don't get a chance to see the warm, inviting culture that they have, that I was able to experience."
"I think the American people don't get enough (news) about the good things that are happening in Iraq," Payne, a communications noncommissioned officer, said, because of the preponderance of stories that publicize the negative. For example, the Grandville, Mich., native said, it was a routine occurrence to see Iraqi children joyfully accepting educational books and candy from U.S. soldiers and Marines.
"There are wonderful things that are happening over there, and those are the things that need to be covered more," said Payne, served two tours in Iraq, in 2005 and 2006.
For general questions about the "Why We Serve" program, call Maj. Ann Biggers at (703) 695-3845.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military writers.
Monday, April 02, 2007
VA Secretary Opens Disabled Winter Sports Clinic, Thanks Veterans
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
April 2, 2007 – Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson opened the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here last night, offering special thanks to wounded warriors of Iraq and Afghanistan and encouraging them to seize the opportunities that await them here. "There is controversy about this war, but there is no controversy about you," Nicholson told about 100 veterans of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, who joined more than 300 other disabled veterans for this year's clinic.
Nicholson thanked the troops who have served to defend the country against terrorism.
"For those on the line tonight over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for so many of you that are here who have been on that line, I say again, on behalf of this nation of people that is so free: It is free because of you, and we owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude," he said.
The secretary urged the veterans to take advantage of the opportunities that await them here. During the six-day winter sports clinic, they will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing and get the opportunity to try their hand at rock climbing, scuba diving, trapshooting, snowmobiling, sled hockey, wheelchair fencing and other activities.
The goal is to push disabled veterans' limits and help them discover things they never imagined they could still do, explained Sandy Trombetta, VA's national director for the clinic. He calls the experience a "ride of discovery" that proves life-changing for many participants.
Nicholson said he recalled overhearing Trombetta convincing disabled veterans at last year's clinic that it's OK to fall on the slopes. "He told them he likes it when they fall," Nicholson said. "And do you know why? He said to them, 'Because I love it when you guys get up and start all over again!'
"That's what this clinic is all about," Nicholson said. "It is about starting over, starting something new and eventually winning--winning by putting the emphasis into ability over disability."
That winning attitude has a geometric effect, because it motivates other disabled veterans. They, too, "take the plunge and they learn what other things they can still do," Nicholson said.
Bradley Barton, national commander of the Disabled American Veterans, which cosponsors the clinic with the Department of Veterans Affairs, joined Nicholson in encouraging the country's newest disabled veterans to look beyond their limitations.
Barton, who was paralyzed from the waist down during combat in Vietnam, told the group he's had almost 40 years to face his disability and find a way to succeed in life.
"And to be very honest with you, after having gone through the process of adjusting to life with a disability, it is difficult to see your young men and women returning from another war with scars and wounds and the challenges that injuries bring," he said.
Barton said the winter sports clinic, made possible by generous corporate sponsors and an army of volunteers, gives him hope that the country is moving in the right direction in how it treats its disabled veterans.
"Of course, when you're up on top of that mountain and you look down, there is going to be a chance that you're going to wonder if you are moving in the right direction," Barton quipped. "But never mind that. When you get to the bottom and you look up, my money says you will have a whole new perspective on everything."
Darrell Lawrence, a former 3rd Infantry Division soldier who served in Iraq and was rendered a paraplegic last June, hopes to recapture that perspective this week during his first winter sports clinic.
An accomplished snowboarder before his injury, Lawrence looks forward to getting the rush he once enjoyed on the slopes when he tries out the adaptive sit-ski. "I hear that you can jump with them," he said. "I love flying through the air."
Finding a new sense of independence and freedom is what the winter sports clinic is all about, said Joey Bozik, a former 18th Airborne Division military policeman, who lost his right leg and most of his right arm after being hit with an anti-tank mine in Iraq in October 2004.
Bozik attended last year's clinic and made such a remarkable breakthrough that he was presented the clinic's inspiration award during the closing ceremonies.
"This is a life-changing experience," he said. "You take what you get here with you, and you realize that you're limited only by your mind." Orlando Perez, who was retired from the Army after a tumor spread to his spinal cord and put him in a wheelchair, credits the winter sports clinic with giving him a whole new view of life.
After receiving the novice Alpine skier award at last year's clinic, Perez said he finally realized just how much he's still capable of doing. "You don't have to settle for being disabled, with no hope. There's hope," he said.
"And we have to examples for other people so they can see what's possible and know that great things are going to happen."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military writers.
American Forces Press Service
April 2, 2007 – Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson opened the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here last night, offering special thanks to wounded warriors of Iraq and Afghanistan and encouraging them to seize the opportunities that await them here. "There is controversy about this war, but there is no controversy about you," Nicholson told about 100 veterans of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, who joined more than 300 other disabled veterans for this year's clinic.
Nicholson thanked the troops who have served to defend the country against terrorism.
"For those on the line tonight over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for so many of you that are here who have been on that line, I say again, on behalf of this nation of people that is so free: It is free because of you, and we owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude," he said.
The secretary urged the veterans to take advantage of the opportunities that await them here. During the six-day winter sports clinic, they will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing and get the opportunity to try their hand at rock climbing, scuba diving, trapshooting, snowmobiling, sled hockey, wheelchair fencing and other activities.
The goal is to push disabled veterans' limits and help them discover things they never imagined they could still do, explained Sandy Trombetta, VA's national director for the clinic. He calls the experience a "ride of discovery" that proves life-changing for many participants.
Nicholson said he recalled overhearing Trombetta convincing disabled veterans at last year's clinic that it's OK to fall on the slopes. "He told them he likes it when they fall," Nicholson said. "And do you know why? He said to them, 'Because I love it when you guys get up and start all over again!'
"That's what this clinic is all about," Nicholson said. "It is about starting over, starting something new and eventually winning--winning by putting the emphasis into ability over disability."
That winning attitude has a geometric effect, because it motivates other disabled veterans. They, too, "take the plunge and they learn what other things they can still do," Nicholson said.
Bradley Barton, national commander of the Disabled American Veterans, which cosponsors the clinic with the Department of Veterans Affairs, joined Nicholson in encouraging the country's newest disabled veterans to look beyond their limitations.
Barton, who was paralyzed from the waist down during combat in Vietnam, told the group he's had almost 40 years to face his disability and find a way to succeed in life.
"And to be very honest with you, after having gone through the process of adjusting to life with a disability, it is difficult to see your young men and women returning from another war with scars and wounds and the challenges that injuries bring," he said.
Barton said the winter sports clinic, made possible by generous corporate sponsors and an army of volunteers, gives him hope that the country is moving in the right direction in how it treats its disabled veterans.
"Of course, when you're up on top of that mountain and you look down, there is going to be a chance that you're going to wonder if you are moving in the right direction," Barton quipped. "But never mind that. When you get to the bottom and you look up, my money says you will have a whole new perspective on everything."
Darrell Lawrence, a former 3rd Infantry Division soldier who served in Iraq and was rendered a paraplegic last June, hopes to recapture that perspective this week during his first winter sports clinic.
An accomplished snowboarder before his injury, Lawrence looks forward to getting the rush he once enjoyed on the slopes when he tries out the adaptive sit-ski. "I hear that you can jump with them," he said. "I love flying through the air."
Finding a new sense of independence and freedom is what the winter sports clinic is all about, said Joey Bozik, a former 18th Airborne Division military policeman, who lost his right leg and most of his right arm after being hit with an anti-tank mine in Iraq in October 2004.
Bozik attended last year's clinic and made such a remarkable breakthrough that he was presented the clinic's inspiration award during the closing ceremonies.
"This is a life-changing experience," he said. "You take what you get here with you, and you realize that you're limited only by your mind." Orlando Perez, who was retired from the Army after a tumor spread to his spinal cord and put him in a wheelchair, credits the winter sports clinic with giving him a whole new view of life.
After receiving the novice Alpine skier award at last year's clinic, Perez said he finally realized just how much he's still capable of doing. "You don't have to settle for being disabled, with no hope. There's hope," he said.
"And we have to examples for other people so they can see what's possible and know that great things are going to happen."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military writers.
Supplemental Funds Vital for Reserves, Deployed Troops
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
April 2, 2007 – Army reserve-component training and equipment reset will be immediately affected if an emergency supplemental funding request isn't signed into law by April 15, Defense Department officials said here today. Further, there will be serious repercussions for deployed servicemembers if the supplemental funding isn't approved by May 15, the officials said.
Both the Senate and House bills have passed bills that provide the funding but contain amendments that call for combat troops to be out of Iraq on a certain timetable. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill containing these provisions.
During his weekly radio address March 31, Bush said the bills undercut U.S. troops, and that they "would substitute the judgment of politicians in Washington for that of our generals on the ground."
He said the bills impose restrictive conditions on U.S. military commanders. "Each bill would also set an arbitrary deadline for surrender and withdrawal in Iraq, and I believe that would have disastrous consequences for our safety here at home," he said.
The veto pledge echoed remarks the president made in a March 28 speech. "If either version comes to my desk, I'm going to veto it," the president said to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Close votes on the bills in each chamber indicate that neither the House nor the Senate would be able to override a presidential veto, DoD legislative affairs officials said.
The Senate is on recess through April 9, and the House is out through April 13. House and Senate negotiators must meet to reconcile the different portions of their respective bills. If the bill contains the withdrawal provision, it is "dead on arrival" at the president's desk, said White House officials.
With no supplemental funds, the Army will be forced to consider curtailing and suspending home station training for Army Reserve and National Guard units, DoD officials said. The service would slow the training of units slated to deploy next to Iraq and Afghanistan and would cut funding for the upgrade or renovation of barracks and other facilities that support quality of life for troops and their families.
Leaders also would stop the repair of equipment necessary to support pre-deployment training, officials said.
If the supplemental funding is not passed by May 15, the Army would consider reducing depot repair work. The service would delay or curtail the deployment of brigade combat teams for training rotations. This may force the service to extend units in Iraq or Afghanistan, officials said.
No supplemental funding would also delay forming new brigade combat teams, force the service to implement a civilian hiring freeze and prohibit new contracts and service orders officials said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military writers.
American Forces Press Service
April 2, 2007 – Army reserve-component training and equipment reset will be immediately affected if an emergency supplemental funding request isn't signed into law by April 15, Defense Department officials said here today. Further, there will be serious repercussions for deployed servicemembers if the supplemental funding isn't approved by May 15, the officials said.
Both the Senate and House bills have passed bills that provide the funding but contain amendments that call for combat troops to be out of Iraq on a certain timetable. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill containing these provisions.
During his weekly radio address March 31, Bush said the bills undercut U.S. troops, and that they "would substitute the judgment of politicians in Washington for that of our generals on the ground."
He said the bills impose restrictive conditions on U.S. military commanders. "Each bill would also set an arbitrary deadline for surrender and withdrawal in Iraq, and I believe that would have disastrous consequences for our safety here at home," he said.
The veto pledge echoed remarks the president made in a March 28 speech. "If either version comes to my desk, I'm going to veto it," the president said to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Close votes on the bills in each chamber indicate that neither the House nor the Senate would be able to override a presidential veto, DoD legislative affairs officials said.
The Senate is on recess through April 9, and the House is out through April 13. House and Senate negotiators must meet to reconcile the different portions of their respective bills. If the bill contains the withdrawal provision, it is "dead on arrival" at the president's desk, said White House officials.
With no supplemental funds, the Army will be forced to consider curtailing and suspending home station training for Army Reserve and National Guard units, DoD officials said. The service would slow the training of units slated to deploy next to Iraq and Afghanistan and would cut funding for the upgrade or renovation of barracks and other facilities that support quality of life for troops and their families.
Leaders also would stop the repair of equipment necessary to support pre-deployment training, officials said.
If the supplemental funding is not passed by May 15, the Army would consider reducing depot repair work. The service would delay or curtail the deployment of brigade combat teams for training rotations. This may force the service to extend units in Iraq or Afghanistan, officials said.
No supplemental funding would also delay forming new brigade combat teams, force the service to implement a civilian hiring freeze and prohibit new contracts and service orders officials said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military writers.
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