By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
May 13, 2007 – The Washington Nationals baseball team saluted the U.S. military during an evening pre-game program May 11 that featured fireworks, a group enlistment and servicemembers tossing ceremonial pitches. Military Appreciation Night activities held at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium here also included Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England, who met with Army, Marine, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard members in attendance. Afterward, England and his military and civilian staff took in the game between the Nationals and the Florida Marlins.
"This is wonderful. I was just talking to all the new recruits, asking them what they're going to do in the military," England said during the pre-game ceremonies. "I told them this is a great, great time to be joining the military.
"First, it's a great career and it's a great opportunity to serve their country at the same time," England said.
Twelve recruits -- three Air Force, five Navy and four Army -- took oaths of enlistment in a ceremony presided over by Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. James G. Roudebush.
"They've made a commitment to serve our nation, something much bigger than themselves or any of us," Roudebush said of the new servicemembers. "I think it's a tribute to these young men and women that the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball would make this opportunity possible."
Additionally, Major League Baseball teams often send players to visit with deployed servicemembers overseas, the general pointed out.
Roudebush was accompanied to the ballpark by Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert L. Smolen, the commander of the Air Force District of Washington. Smolen echoed Roudebush's sentiments.
"America's national pastime is baseball, and so to have these recruits out here during a national sporting event like this gives Americans a chance to see some of their finest young people, their sons and daughters, going out to defend freedom," Smolen said.
New Air Force member Stefon Brown, 20, said he wasn't worried that America is at war with global terrorism.
"I believe that fighting for my country is right," said Brown, who hails from Washington, D.C.
Jessica Lee, 18, an Army recruit from Waldorf, Md., said she joined the military because she wants to help to safeguard America's way of life.
"I joined because I strongly believe in freedom and I don't believe that you should leave (defending) it up to everyone else," Lee said.
After the enlistment ceremony, military "old-hands" Army Sgt. 1st Class David Nimmers, Marine Sgt. Landon Fielder, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Pino, Air Force Airman 1st Class Randy Lopez, and Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Edwards each threw one ceremonial pitch.
"It's pretty amazing. I'd never dreamed I'd get a chance to do this," Fielder, a 23-year-old Marine stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., said as he waited his turn at the pitcher's mound.
One of the National's founding partners, Alphonso Maldon Jr., a retired Army officer and a former assistant secretary of defense for force management policy, also was on hand to greet the servicemembers.
The Nationals' salute to the military "is absolutely one of the best things that we do," Maldon said, noting America's servicemembers are deployed to places like Afghanistan and Iraq to defend freedom.
"This is the least we can do to for our men and women, to show our appreciation for the service that they're rendering for this great country of ours," Maldon said. The pre-game ceremony may have inspired the Nationals, who beat the Marlins 6-0 later that evening. Washington had endured an eight-game losing streak before the win.
The Nationals are among the more than 250 businesses and organizations nationwide that participate in the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which recognizes citizens' support for military men and women and communicates that support to members of the U.S. armed forces here and abroad.
During the pre-game activities, the Nationals displayed an American Supports You advertisement on one of the stadium's massive public viewing screens.
England has participated in a number of America Supports You-hosted events.
"This is a wonderful program across the country for our military, but also for our citizens," the deputy defense secretary said. "It gives them an opportunity to support our military every day and to be able to come forward and say 'Thank You' for their great service to our country."
Article sponsored by police officers who have written books on law enforcement jobs; as well as those involved in writing on leadership.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
SemperComm Cites Troops for Morale-Boosting Efforts Overseas
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 13, 2007 – Four servicemembers who recently returned from deployments to remote sites in Iraq and Afghanistan were recognized May 10 for their efforts in boosting their fellow troops' morale. SemperComm, a nonprofit group founded to boost the morale of troops deployed to remote duty posts, presented its SemperComm Award to four servicemembers who promoted morale, welfare and recreation projects at their posts.
This year's winners were:
-- Marine 1st Sgt. Kevin Conboy, who returned home in March after serving for six months with C Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Iraq's Anbar province;
-- Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher Wright, a reservist who just returned from a 10-month deployment to Iraq with Marine Corps 4th Civil Affairs Group, Detachment 4;
-- Navy Lt. Marc Soss, a reservist who recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Camp Clark, Afghanistan, where he served as morale, welfare and recreation program manager; and
-- Army Capt. Wayne Keeler, who served with the National Police Transition Team at Forward Operating Base Union 3 in Baghdad.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Jay Foley, former commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and a member of the awards selection committee, praised the troops for helping improve the quality of life at their bases. Many, he noted, lacked basic communications, entertainment and recreation support that larger military facilities enjoy.
Conboy, for example, managed his company's morale and welfare program, making sure all 500-plus members were well-stocked with "things we all take for granted" such as socks, gloves, soap, shampoo, snacks and newspapers, Foley said.
He worked some of his "supply magic" during Christmastime, ensuring more than 500 care packages from home arrived on time. "All I did was ask, and the American people did all the rest," Conboy said, shrugging.
He also installed a new computer system to enable Marines to send e-mails and call home.
Wright, a reservist from Loveland, Colo., earned the nickname "combat plumber" by putting his engineering skills and muscles to work after every duty day to repair and upgrade plumbing at the Al Anbar Government Center, Foley said.
The facility, used as a routine stopping point for transiting Marines needing a hot meal, shower and a few hours of downtime, had poor shower and sanitary facilities before Wright turned things around, Foley said.
"Using a pick ax and a shovel and any other tools he could muster, Staff Sergeant Wright worked for an additional five to six hours nearly every evening, repairing broken plumbing, replacing fixtures and adding new facilities so his fellow Marines could actually rest and recharge while at Al Anbar," he said.
Soss, a reservist from Bradenton, Fla., "worked double-time" to ensure troops at his post had access to recreational opportunities, Foley said. He organized marathons and pool parties, set up a 20-person gymnasium, arranged safe transport, food and lodging to take troops to road races at other bases, set up weekly power tournament nights and developed a base communications system so troops could contact home.
Soss also coordinated a fundraiser for the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center's Wounded Warrior Program that enables wounded troops to leave the hospital periodically for recreation and entertainment, Foley said.
Keeler, the only awardee not present at last night's gala and awards ceremony, applied his skills as a cabinet maker, along with his "innate ability to negotiate deals for supplies and needed equipment," to become an invaluable member of his team, Foley said.
After his normal duties training Iraqi police recruits, Keeler built furniture and extensively renovated the local facilities with leftover lumber and power tools he purchased himself, Foley noted.
He built a loft for his roommate, a set of desks and other furniture for the command's operations center and a large outdoor patio, complete with barbecue. In addition, Keeler put a roof over a small outdoor plaza to create a mess and entertainment room, complete with tiered seating so troops could watch movies and sporting events stadium-style.
Conboy said serving at a remote post makes troops realize how much they miss the comforts of home.
"We live in a real sugar-cookie society that's nice and clean and has sprinkles on it," he said. "When you go to the Third World, you feel like you're on the dark side of the moon. You really miss the things you took for granted."
Foley said this year's SemperComm Award winners worked "tirelessly above and beyond the scope of the regular assignment" to help improve conditions at their posts.
"These are the selfless ones, nominated by their units and peers," he said. "Their contributions have inspired and encouraged those with whom they served in Iraq and Afghanistan."
SemperComm Foundation Executive Director Lara Coffee praised the winners' efforts to boost morale for deployed troops in remote sites.
"The SemperComm Award winners find ways to keep their comrades' spirits up while they're stationed so far away from home," she said.
"They exemplify service - the kind of service SemperComm itself provides," she said. "Our award winners work hard to keep unit morale up, which is essential for our uniformed men and women, especially as duty tours continue to get longer."
Lara called good morale a key to ensuring troops stay safe and the mission gets accomplished. "Keeping spirits high helps military personnel stay focused on the job at hand and get home safely," she said.
SemperComm is a partner in the Defense Department's America Supports You program. The program showcases the myriad efforts of private citizens, schools, churches, corporations and other groups to show support for the men and women in uniform.
Article sponsored by police officers who have written books on law enforcement jobs; as well as those involved in writing on leadership.
American Forces Press Service
May 13, 2007 – Four servicemembers who recently returned from deployments to remote sites in Iraq and Afghanistan were recognized May 10 for their efforts in boosting their fellow troops' morale. SemperComm, a nonprofit group founded to boost the morale of troops deployed to remote duty posts, presented its SemperComm Award to four servicemembers who promoted morale, welfare and recreation projects at their posts.
This year's winners were:
-- Marine 1st Sgt. Kevin Conboy, who returned home in March after serving for six months with C Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Iraq's Anbar province;
-- Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher Wright, a reservist who just returned from a 10-month deployment to Iraq with Marine Corps 4th Civil Affairs Group, Detachment 4;
-- Navy Lt. Marc Soss, a reservist who recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Camp Clark, Afghanistan, where he served as morale, welfare and recreation program manager; and
-- Army Capt. Wayne Keeler, who served with the National Police Transition Team at Forward Operating Base Union 3 in Baghdad.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Jay Foley, former commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and a member of the awards selection committee, praised the troops for helping improve the quality of life at their bases. Many, he noted, lacked basic communications, entertainment and recreation support that larger military facilities enjoy.
Conboy, for example, managed his company's morale and welfare program, making sure all 500-plus members were well-stocked with "things we all take for granted" such as socks, gloves, soap, shampoo, snacks and newspapers, Foley said.
He worked some of his "supply magic" during Christmastime, ensuring more than 500 care packages from home arrived on time. "All I did was ask, and the American people did all the rest," Conboy said, shrugging.
He also installed a new computer system to enable Marines to send e-mails and call home.
Wright, a reservist from Loveland, Colo., earned the nickname "combat plumber" by putting his engineering skills and muscles to work after every duty day to repair and upgrade plumbing at the Al Anbar Government Center, Foley said.
The facility, used as a routine stopping point for transiting Marines needing a hot meal, shower and a few hours of downtime, had poor shower and sanitary facilities before Wright turned things around, Foley said.
"Using a pick ax and a shovel and any other tools he could muster, Staff Sergeant Wright worked for an additional five to six hours nearly every evening, repairing broken plumbing, replacing fixtures and adding new facilities so his fellow Marines could actually rest and recharge while at Al Anbar," he said.
Soss, a reservist from Bradenton, Fla., "worked double-time" to ensure troops at his post had access to recreational opportunities, Foley said. He organized marathons and pool parties, set up a 20-person gymnasium, arranged safe transport, food and lodging to take troops to road races at other bases, set up weekly power tournament nights and developed a base communications system so troops could contact home.
Soss also coordinated a fundraiser for the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center's Wounded Warrior Program that enables wounded troops to leave the hospital periodically for recreation and entertainment, Foley said.
Keeler, the only awardee not present at last night's gala and awards ceremony, applied his skills as a cabinet maker, along with his "innate ability to negotiate deals for supplies and needed equipment," to become an invaluable member of his team, Foley said.
After his normal duties training Iraqi police recruits, Keeler built furniture and extensively renovated the local facilities with leftover lumber and power tools he purchased himself, Foley noted.
He built a loft for his roommate, a set of desks and other furniture for the command's operations center and a large outdoor patio, complete with barbecue. In addition, Keeler put a roof over a small outdoor plaza to create a mess and entertainment room, complete with tiered seating so troops could watch movies and sporting events stadium-style.
Conboy said serving at a remote post makes troops realize how much they miss the comforts of home.
"We live in a real sugar-cookie society that's nice and clean and has sprinkles on it," he said. "When you go to the Third World, you feel like you're on the dark side of the moon. You really miss the things you took for granted."
Foley said this year's SemperComm Award winners worked "tirelessly above and beyond the scope of the regular assignment" to help improve conditions at their posts.
"These are the selfless ones, nominated by their units and peers," he said. "Their contributions have inspired and encouraged those with whom they served in Iraq and Afghanistan."
SemperComm Foundation Executive Director Lara Coffee praised the winners' efforts to boost morale for deployed troops in remote sites.
"The SemperComm Award winners find ways to keep their comrades' spirits up while they're stationed so far away from home," she said.
"They exemplify service - the kind of service SemperComm itself provides," she said. "Our award winners work hard to keep unit morale up, which is essential for our uniformed men and women, especially as duty tours continue to get longer."
Lara called good morale a key to ensuring troops stay safe and the mission gets accomplished. "Keeping spirits high helps military personnel stay focused on the job at hand and get home safely," she said.
SemperComm is a partner in the Defense Department's America Supports You program. The program showcases the myriad efforts of private citizens, schools, churches, corporations and other groups to show support for the men and women in uniform.
Article sponsored by police officers who have written books on law enforcement jobs; as well as those involved in writing on leadership.
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