By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
June 1, 2007 – The Army is helping out U.S. states and territories that are in the paths of potentially deadly hurricanes by providing equipment to help fill shortages identified by National Guard commanders there, a senior Army official said today. The Army is either issuing or loaning 2,600 pieces of equipment to a handful of coastal states, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, said Army Brig. Gen. David Halverson, director of operations, readiness and mobilization, for the deputy chief of staff for operations and plans.
This announcement comes on the first official day of an Atlantic hurricane season that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting will be "above normal" in its hurricane activity, according to the NOAA Web site. NOAA is predicting as many as five major hurricanes that could be Category 3 or above. Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane.
"Just like any war fight, we are trying to be postured mentally and physically so we can have success," Halverson said.
The equipment includes relief necessities, such as generators, trucks, Humvees and radios. Some of the equipment will be permanently assigned to fill shortages at the states, Halverson said. Equipment on loan is temporarily assigned and positioned within the state and will be returned at the end of hurricane season, in November.
The Army started issuing the equipment in May and expects that all will be in place by mid-June, Halverson said. Right now, a little more than half of the equipment is in place, he said. Some equipment is in transit to Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Halverson said that Army officials asked National Guard commanders in March for equipment assessments. With the supplemental equipping, Halverson said, commanders reported back to senior Army leaders that they can manage storms up to Category 3.
Above Category 3, Halverson said, states would use Emergency Management Assistance Compacts in place that would allow governors to borrow equipment and personnel from surrounding states. Above Category 5, states may need federal help with personnel and equipment, Halverson said.
Overall, lines of communication between state and federal agencies are now better equipped to manage disaster relief, and agencies are more focused on how to provide aid and less on establishing lines of control, Halverson said.
"It's just not about equipment. It's really about how you bring the whole interagency team together to be able to provide lifesaving capabilities and to be able to stop the suffering at the local area," he said.
In 2006, the states and territories asked the Army for 11,000 pieces of equipment, Halverson said. Last year it took until September to distribute all of the equipment.
"This year we're much better prepared than we were last year," he said.
The National Guard is the first military responder in the event of a hurricane, under the control of the state governors. At the request of the governor, the president can authorize use of federal forces to assist in disaster relief, Halverson said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Workshop Prosthetic Technology
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
June 1, 2007 – As the use of improvised explosive devices has continued steadily against U.S. troops in Iraq, the Defense Department has made treating those troops seriously injured in the blasts a top priority. That was the focus of a three-day workshop for Defense Department and Veterans Affairs medical professionals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, who gathered to discuss advancements in treating traumatic amputee patients.
"We in the Army have lived by a warrior ethos, and part of that ethos is that we do not leave a fallen comrade. You're seeing that here, exemplified in the work of these great caregivers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and throughout the Army medical department and the military health system every day," Army Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, commander of Walter Reed, said at the beginning of a media demonstration today.
Several of the workshop presenters and Walter Reed patients demonstrated the latest prosthetic technology and the rehabilitation process for amputees.
The warrior ethos also includes a commitment to never accept defeat or give up, Schoomaker noted, and that's what amputee care and rehabilitation is all about.
"What you're seeing here today is a personification of not accepting defeat and not quitting," he said. "The mission of the warrior who's wounded is to turn that mission focus to restoring their own health and well-being, and restoring their full function. That's what the Army and the joint force is about; it's about restoring the full function and retaining great warriors."
The technology demonstrated today included a "power knee," which is the first motor-powered prosthetic; a powered ankle-foot unit with microprocessor technology to detect changes in terrain; a microprocessor knee with artificial intelligence that recognizes and adjusts to changes in speed; and "cheetah feet," which are prostheses specially designed for sprinting and high-level competition.
Amputee patients also demonstrated different training techniques physical therapists use during rehabilitation. The troops start with running drills that use five steps to introduce the amputee to running with a prosthesis. They move into multi-directional drills, which teach them to move on different planes and work on speed, agility and power. The amputees also work on speed drills, which use resistance to increase stride length and frequency.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Angel Barcenas was one of the amputees demonstrating training techniques today. Barcenas was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Iraq in July 2006 and lost both legs below the knee. He has been using the "cheetah feet" for about three weeks and today demonstrated several running drills, one using a parachute for resistance, and agility drills with hurdles.
Barcenas' healing process went quickly after being transported back to the U.S.; he started walking in September 2006, just three months after being injured. He credits the professionals at Walter Reed for his quick recovery.
"I don't know how they do it," he said. "They have a lot of work to do and they dedicated a lot of time just to me to make sure I was okay."
Barcenas said that the "cheetah feet" make a huge difference in his running ability, giving him more ability to push off with his ankles and toes. He participated in the entire workshop, which he said showcases a different side of Walter Reed than is usually portrayed.
"They have a tremendous amount of people here with the biggest hearts. They become really good friends; they become really personal, and it helps the patients," he said.
Another important message from this program and others like it is that even traumatic injuries can be overcome, Barcenas said. "It's possible to get back up on your feet and do exactly the things you were doing before without struggling," he said.
Amputee rehabilitation programs have returned 20 percent of amputees to active service, Schoomaker said. "We have soldiers fighting today in Afghanistan and elsewhere who are wearing prostheses that were fitted and that they were trained to use here," he said.
The Defense Department is committed to investing in cutting-edge technology and partnering with other government agencies and the civilian medical community to provide the best care possible for amputees, Schoomaker said. Ultimately, the Defense Department medical community hopes to move beyond injured servicemembers and benefit the U.S. population at large and even the global community, he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
June 1, 2007 – As the use of improvised explosive devices has continued steadily against U.S. troops in Iraq, the Defense Department has made treating those troops seriously injured in the blasts a top priority. That was the focus of a three-day workshop for Defense Department and Veterans Affairs medical professionals at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, who gathered to discuss advancements in treating traumatic amputee patients.
"We in the Army have lived by a warrior ethos, and part of that ethos is that we do not leave a fallen comrade. You're seeing that here, exemplified in the work of these great caregivers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and throughout the Army medical department and the military health system every day," Army Maj. Gen. Eric B. Schoomaker, commander of Walter Reed, said at the beginning of a media demonstration today.
Several of the workshop presenters and Walter Reed patients demonstrated the latest prosthetic technology and the rehabilitation process for amputees.
The warrior ethos also includes a commitment to never accept defeat or give up, Schoomaker noted, and that's what amputee care and rehabilitation is all about.
"What you're seeing here today is a personification of not accepting defeat and not quitting," he said. "The mission of the warrior who's wounded is to turn that mission focus to restoring their own health and well-being, and restoring their full function. That's what the Army and the joint force is about; it's about restoring the full function and retaining great warriors."
The technology demonstrated today included a "power knee," which is the first motor-powered prosthetic; a powered ankle-foot unit with microprocessor technology to detect changes in terrain; a microprocessor knee with artificial intelligence that recognizes and adjusts to changes in speed; and "cheetah feet," which are prostheses specially designed for sprinting and high-level competition.
Amputee patients also demonstrated different training techniques physical therapists use during rehabilitation. The troops start with running drills that use five steps to introduce the amputee to running with a prosthesis. They move into multi-directional drills, which teach them to move on different planes and work on speed, agility and power. The amputees also work on speed drills, which use resistance to increase stride length and frequency.
Marine Gunnery Sgt. Angel Barcenas was one of the amputees demonstrating training techniques today. Barcenas was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Iraq in July 2006 and lost both legs below the knee. He has been using the "cheetah feet" for about three weeks and today demonstrated several running drills, one using a parachute for resistance, and agility drills with hurdles.
Barcenas' healing process went quickly after being transported back to the U.S.; he started walking in September 2006, just three months after being injured. He credits the professionals at Walter Reed for his quick recovery.
"I don't know how they do it," he said. "They have a lot of work to do and they dedicated a lot of time just to me to make sure I was okay."
Barcenas said that the "cheetah feet" make a huge difference in his running ability, giving him more ability to push off with his ankles and toes. He participated in the entire workshop, which he said showcases a different side of Walter Reed than is usually portrayed.
"They have a tremendous amount of people here with the biggest hearts. They become really good friends; they become really personal, and it helps the patients," he said.
Another important message from this program and others like it is that even traumatic injuries can be overcome, Barcenas said. "It's possible to get back up on your feet and do exactly the things you were doing before without struggling," he said.
Amputee rehabilitation programs have returned 20 percent of amputees to active service, Schoomaker said. "We have soldiers fighting today in Afghanistan and elsewhere who are wearing prostheses that were fitted and that they were trained to use here," he said.
The Defense Department is committed to investing in cutting-edge technology and partnering with other government agencies and the civilian medical community to provide the best care possible for amputees, Schoomaker said. Ultimately, the Defense Department medical community hopes to move beyond injured servicemembers and benefit the U.S. population at large and even the global community, he said.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Post Traumatic Stress in Law Enforcement
Editor's Note: The PTSD issues seem relevent to the military.
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to researching and listing state and local police officers who have written books. The website now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories. The website also researches and lists separately, federal law enforcement writers, civilian police personnel and international law enforcement officers. The website added a new international police writer from Australia, Esther Mckay.
Esther McKay served in the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force (Australia) for seventeen years, attaining the rank of Detective (technical) Senior Constable. She worked in Forensic Services for fifteen years, specializing in crime-scene examination and vehicle identification. She has a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation (NSW Police) and was awarded the National Medal of service in 2001. Esther Mckay retired in 2001 after becoming medically unfit with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Esther Mckay is the president of the Police Post Trauma Support group; and, a strong advocate for improving the mental health conditions for both active and retired law enforcement officials. She is the author of the Australian bestseller Crime Scene.
Esther Mckay said of Crime Scene, “it is an autobiographical account of my work as a Crime Scene Examiner and the gradual onset of PTSD due to the constant exposure to trauma. Day after day my life was consumed by killings, distress and gruesome sites, each one adding another piece to an ever-growing mosaic that seemed to be made up of bloodied disposable gloves, plastic bags and human waste.”
According to the book description, “When Esther McKay, an idealistic young constable with the NSW police, entered the tough, male-dominated world of forensic investigation; she was determined to hold her own. She soon found herself at deeply confronting crime scenes, often working alone and without supervision. After years of long, lonely, exhausting days and nights, and following a particularly harrowing high-profile case involving the disappearance of two young boys, Esther had a break-down and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is Esther's story. Powerful, moving and unforgettable, Crime Scene takes us inside the life of a forensic investigator, and reveals as never before the extraordinary demands and dangers of forensic work.”
The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force was established by the Police Regulation Act 1862, which was replaced by the Police Regulation Act 1899. In June 1987, the NSW Police Force (operations) and the NSW Police Department (policy and administrative support) were combined.
The NSW Police Force is Australia's oldest and largest police organization and one of the biggest in the English speaking world. It has 17,000 employees, including more than 13,300 police officers. The police officers serve a population of seven million in the state of New South Wales, an 801,600 square kilometer area comparable in size to Texas, and double the combined geographic areas of England, Scotland and Wales. The New South Wales Police Force operates on land, sea and from the air; and, provides community based policing from more than 500 police stations to a wide range of ethnic communities speaking more than 30 languages.
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to researching and listing state and local police officers who have written books. The website now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories. The website also researches and lists separately, federal law enforcement writers, civilian police personnel and international law enforcement officers. The website added a new international police writer from Australia, Esther Mckay.
Esther McKay served in the New South Wales (NSW) Police Force (Australia) for seventeen years, attaining the rank of Detective (technical) Senior Constable. She worked in Forensic Services for fifteen years, specializing in crime-scene examination and vehicle identification. She has a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation (NSW Police) and was awarded the National Medal of service in 2001. Esther Mckay retired in 2001 after becoming medically unfit with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Esther Mckay is the president of the Police Post Trauma Support group; and, a strong advocate for improving the mental health conditions for both active and retired law enforcement officials. She is the author of the Australian bestseller Crime Scene.
Esther Mckay said of Crime Scene, “it is an autobiographical account of my work as a Crime Scene Examiner and the gradual onset of PTSD due to the constant exposure to trauma. Day after day my life was consumed by killings, distress and gruesome sites, each one adding another piece to an ever-growing mosaic that seemed to be made up of bloodied disposable gloves, plastic bags and human waste.”
According to the book description, “When Esther McKay, an idealistic young constable with the NSW police, entered the tough, male-dominated world of forensic investigation; she was determined to hold her own. She soon found herself at deeply confronting crime scenes, often working alone and without supervision. After years of long, lonely, exhausting days and nights, and following a particularly harrowing high-profile case involving the disappearance of two young boys, Esther had a break-down and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. This is Esther's story. Powerful, moving and unforgettable, Crime Scene takes us inside the life of a forensic investigator, and reveals as never before the extraordinary demands and dangers of forensic work.”
The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force was established by the Police Regulation Act 1862, which was replaced by the Police Regulation Act 1899. In June 1987, the NSW Police Force (operations) and the NSW Police Department (policy and administrative support) were combined.
The NSW Police Force is Australia's oldest and largest police organization and one of the biggest in the English speaking world. It has 17,000 employees, including more than 13,300 police officers. The police officers serve a population of seven million in the state of New South Wales, an 801,600 square kilometer area comparable in size to Texas, and double the combined geographic areas of England, Scotland and Wales. The New South Wales Police Force operates on land, sea and from the air; and, provides community based policing from more than 500 police stations to a wide range of ethnic communities speaking more than 30 languages.
Military author selected for prestigious academic fellowship
Military-Writers.com is a website dedicated to researching and listing current, former and active United States Military personnel who have authored books. Wally Adamchik, the author of No YELLING: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership you MUST know to WIN in business, has been selected as a Non-Resident Fellow for Marine Corps University for the 2007-2008 academic year.
The Non-Resident Fellows is a distinguished group of leadership experts and practitioners from active duty as well as the civilian sector; but the common thread with all Fellows is the desire to increase the study and application of leadership in the Marine Corps. Fellows will work with the Lejeune Leadership Institute by providing non-resident perspective and expertise. This may include: contributing to leadership curricula at various schools; writing papers for publication; assisting with the development of case studies or tools for use in the operating forces; and, assisting in local Lejeune Leadership Institute support visits to USMC bases and stations.
The mission of Lejeune Leadership Institute is to advance the study and practice of leadership excellence throughout the Marine Corps, focusing on leader development founded on core values. Institute Director, Dr. Joseph Thomas points out, “there are many, many needs. The Fellows perspective from outside of Marine Corps University is most welcome and we look forward to their input.”
When asked how he felt about this selection Adamchik commented, “It is kind of amazing that I can continue to make a contribution to the Marines in a very significant way a decade after I served. In fact, it is what I learned since the Marines that gives me a perspective they want to hear. We will learn from each other and make our Corps better. It is a bonus that my clients will benefit from this also.”
Major Wally Adamchik, a former tank commander and helicopter pilot with the United States Marine Corps, is the founder and president of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, a national leadership development and consulting firm. His book, No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business, draws upon the real-life experiences of those currently serving in the Marines and those now in the civilian sector to explain how anyone can incorporate the nine essential behaviors of Marine Corps leadership into their daily business life.
The book includes more than 100 interviews with current and former Marines, and offers side-by-side comparisons of their application in military and civilian settings. “The leadership techniques displayed by the United States Marine Corps have proven themselves time and again in battle,” says Adamchik. “These same principles can be applied from the break room to the board room to help anyone excel in business.”
For more information contact Wally Adamchik at wally@beafirestarter.com or 919-673-9499; or, for more information on his book, go to www.military-writers.com/wally_adamchik.html.
The Non-Resident Fellows is a distinguished group of leadership experts and practitioners from active duty as well as the civilian sector; but the common thread with all Fellows is the desire to increase the study and application of leadership in the Marine Corps. Fellows will work with the Lejeune Leadership Institute by providing non-resident perspective and expertise. This may include: contributing to leadership curricula at various schools; writing papers for publication; assisting with the development of case studies or tools for use in the operating forces; and, assisting in local Lejeune Leadership Institute support visits to USMC bases and stations.
The mission of Lejeune Leadership Institute is to advance the study and practice of leadership excellence throughout the Marine Corps, focusing on leader development founded on core values. Institute Director, Dr. Joseph Thomas points out, “there are many, many needs. The Fellows perspective from outside of Marine Corps University is most welcome and we look forward to their input.”
When asked how he felt about this selection Adamchik commented, “It is kind of amazing that I can continue to make a contribution to the Marines in a very significant way a decade after I served. In fact, it is what I learned since the Marines that gives me a perspective they want to hear. We will learn from each other and make our Corps better. It is a bonus that my clients will benefit from this also.”
Major Wally Adamchik, a former tank commander and helicopter pilot with the United States Marine Corps, is the founder and president of FireStarter Speaking and Consulting, a national leadership development and consulting firm. His book, No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business, draws upon the real-life experiences of those currently serving in the Marines and those now in the civilian sector to explain how anyone can incorporate the nine essential behaviors of Marine Corps leadership into their daily business life.
The book includes more than 100 interviews with current and former Marines, and offers side-by-side comparisons of their application in military and civilian settings. “The leadership techniques displayed by the United States Marine Corps have proven themselves time and again in battle,” says Adamchik. “These same principles can be applied from the break room to the board room to help anyone excel in business.”
For more information contact Wally Adamchik at wally@beafirestarter.com or 919-673-9499; or, for more information on his book, go to www.military-writers.com/wally_adamchik.html.
New Scam Targets Military Spouses
American Forces Press Service
May 31, 2007 – The American Red Cross is warning military spouses about a new identity-theft scam that targets family members of deployed troops. The Red Cross was alerted of the scam earlier this month, said Devorah Goldburg of the Red Cross.
The scam involves a person with an American accent calling a military spouse, identifying herself as a representative of the Red Cross, and telling the spouse that her husband was hurt in Iraq and was medically evacuated to Germany. The caller then says that doctors can't start treatment until paperwork is completed, and that to start the paperwork they need the spouse to verify her husband's social security number and date of birth.
It is hard to determine how many spouses have been targeted by this scam, Goldburg said, as there are many ways for spouses to report problems like this. However, one confirmed report was enough for the Red Cross to act, she said.
"We know that it happened to one person; it was probably going to happen to others, and we wanted to be prudent and alert people," she said.
American Red Cross representatives typically do not contact military members or dependents directly and almost always go through a commander or first sergeant, according to a Red Cross news release. Military family members are urged not to give out any personal information over the phone if contacted by unknown individuals, including confirmation that their spouse is deployed.
In addition, Red Cross representatives contact military members or dependents directly only in response to an emergency message initiated by a family member, the news release said. The Red Cross does not report any type of casualty information to family members; the Defense Department will contact families directly about family members' injuries.
It is a federal crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, for a person to fraudulently pretend to be a member of, or an agent for, the American Red Cross for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material, according to the news release. Any military family member that receives such a call is urged to report it to their local family readiness group or military personnel flight.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
May 31, 2007 – The American Red Cross is warning military spouses about a new identity-theft scam that targets family members of deployed troops. The Red Cross was alerted of the scam earlier this month, said Devorah Goldburg of the Red Cross.
The scam involves a person with an American accent calling a military spouse, identifying herself as a representative of the Red Cross, and telling the spouse that her husband was hurt in Iraq and was medically evacuated to Germany. The caller then says that doctors can't start treatment until paperwork is completed, and that to start the paperwork they need the spouse to verify her husband's social security number and date of birth.
It is hard to determine how many spouses have been targeted by this scam, Goldburg said, as there are many ways for spouses to report problems like this. However, one confirmed report was enough for the Red Cross to act, she said.
"We know that it happened to one person; it was probably going to happen to others, and we wanted to be prudent and alert people," she said.
American Red Cross representatives typically do not contact military members or dependents directly and almost always go through a commander or first sergeant, according to a Red Cross news release. Military family members are urged not to give out any personal information over the phone if contacted by unknown individuals, including confirmation that their spouse is deployed.
In addition, Red Cross representatives contact military members or dependents directly only in response to an emergency message initiated by a family member, the news release said. The Red Cross does not report any type of casualty information to family members; the Defense Department will contact families directly about family members' injuries.
It is a federal crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, for a person to fraudulently pretend to be a member of, or an agent for, the American Red Cross for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material, according to the news release. Any military family member that receives such a call is urged to report it to their local family readiness group or military personnel flight.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Homefront Group Awarded $5.9 Million Grant
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
May 31, 2007 – Operation Homefront, a military support group dedicated to providing emergency assistance and morale to servicemembers and their families, recently received a $5.9 million grant to expand its services. The grant came from the California Community Foundation's Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund.
"We were deeply honored to receive this grant, and it will fund some big dreams that we, and our volunteers, have had," Meredith Leyva, chairman of Operation Homefront, said. "For example ... we've been able to launch our Wounded Warrior Wives project."
The new Wounded Warrior Wives project is a combined effort of Operation Homefront and its online community, CinCHouse.com. The program is designed to provide comprehensive support to caregivers of wounded warriors, according to the CinCHouse Web site.
Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com, are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"The grant allowed us to hire Dr. Julie Storey, a recently separated Air Force psychologist specializing in (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other issues related to wounded warriors," Leyva said. "She's overseeing our Wounded Warrior Wives effort."
Storey's role includes offering guidance to online and real-world support groups as well as providing articles and information through the CinCHouse.come site, she said.
Leyva said the most exciting thing about the grant is the ability to fund developments with Operation Homefront's state chapters. Many of those chapters began as small military support groups and have come under Operation Homefront's umbrella.
"It's hard to run a nonprofit. There's a lot of paperwork, administration, accounting, all the stuff that seems to pull you off the mission," she said. "Operation Homefront has worked really hard to develop easy-to-use-tools that take that burden off the volunteers and let them focus on the core mission."
The grant funds will be disbursed to the group over a two-year period.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 31, 2007 – Operation Homefront, a military support group dedicated to providing emergency assistance and morale to servicemembers and their families, recently received a $5.9 million grant to expand its services. The grant came from the California Community Foundation's Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund.
"We were deeply honored to receive this grant, and it will fund some big dreams that we, and our volunteers, have had," Meredith Leyva, chairman of Operation Homefront, said. "For example ... we've been able to launch our Wounded Warrior Wives project."
The new Wounded Warrior Wives project is a combined effort of Operation Homefront and its online community, CinCHouse.com. The program is designed to provide comprehensive support to caregivers of wounded warriors, according to the CinCHouse Web site.
Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com, are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
"The grant allowed us to hire Dr. Julie Storey, a recently separated Air Force psychologist specializing in (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other issues related to wounded warriors," Leyva said. "She's overseeing our Wounded Warrior Wives effort."
Storey's role includes offering guidance to online and real-world support groups as well as providing articles and information through the CinCHouse.come site, she said.
Leyva said the most exciting thing about the grant is the ability to fund developments with Operation Homefront's state chapters. Many of those chapters began as small military support groups and have come under Operation Homefront's umbrella.
"It's hard to run a nonprofit. There's a lot of paperwork, administration, accounting, all the stuff that seems to pull you off the mission," she said. "Operation Homefront has worked really hard to develop easy-to-use-tools that take that burden off the volunteers and let them focus on the core mission."
The grant funds will be disbursed to the group over a two-year period.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Navy Was Natural Choice for Lifelong Sailor
By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service
May 31, 2007 – A lifelong love for the sea led Lt. j.g. Katie Hagen to the Navy, and now her service is taking her around the country to share her pride in serving the nation. Hagen is participating in the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program as one of eight servicemembers who travel across the nation to speak to community groups, ranging from veterans organizations to grade schools, about their personal stories of military service.
Her success in the Navy seemed preordained. After sailing for nearly half her life, Hagen became a member of the Sea Scouts, part of the scouting movement that focuses on boat management and seamanship, when she was 14 years old.
Quickly rising to the rank of quartermaster, the equivalent of an Eagle Scout, she became a national boatswain and, at the age of 17, was hand-selected to serve as a U.S. representative in New Zealand to the 2000 America's Cup, considered to be the world's premier sailing event.
"I have to live on the water," the now 24-year-old Hagen said. "I can't imagine being landlocked."
The Slidell, La., native's love for water and sailing even played a role in choosing her college and, ultimately, her career.
"I was determined that I wanted to get through college on my own," Hagen said. This drive led her to make the "no-brainer" decision to join the ROTC. In addition to the fact it would pay for her education, she said, she knew life on the water was for her, either in the U.S. Coast Guard or the Navy.
After graduating from Tulane University in 2004, she was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. Hagen said she found a career where she could apply the knowledge of the sea she had been developing since age 8.
Hagen has an impressive list of accomplishments on her resume. In support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, she served onboard the USS Donald Cook, where she helped perform anti-pirating operations off the coast of Somalia and maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf.
Her most recent assignment has been as a training officer within the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group, where she was responsible for security cooperation initiatives with four of the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation, a regional partnership among the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. She also coordinated replenishment operations between U.S. warships and oil rigs.
One of the lessons Hagen said she has learned during her military service is that "life seems to be so cheap in some parts of the world."
"I no longer take little things for granted," she said. "I didn't realize how good we have it in America. I appreciate life back here so much more."
She recounted coming across a small fishing boat in the Persian Gulf that had been the victim of piracy. "They had no food or water, and the ship was riddled with bullet holes," she said. "They had no radio to call for help."
Hagen said that the stranded victims were drifting in the middle of the Gulf and would have been in true peril if her crew had not come to their aid. The victims were extremely grateful when her team provided them enough food, water and fuel to get to their destination, she said.
Many local shipping and fishing vessels take advantage of the protection provided by coalition ships in the area, Hagen said. "Boats try to congregate near our ships because they know they will be safe from terrorists out on the seas."
People will go to desperate measures to survive, she said. "I'm just thankful for the opportunity to see acts of such desperation. It just drives the point home even further that the freedom we have as Americans is something that others don't have."
The experience has been an eye-opener, Hagen said. "I am so proud to be part of the Navy's mission in the region and get a chance to make a difference," she added.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 31, 2007 – A lifelong love for the sea led Lt. j.g. Katie Hagen to the Navy, and now her service is taking her around the country to share her pride in serving the nation. Hagen is participating in the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program as one of eight servicemembers who travel across the nation to speak to community groups, ranging from veterans organizations to grade schools, about their personal stories of military service.
Her success in the Navy seemed preordained. After sailing for nearly half her life, Hagen became a member of the Sea Scouts, part of the scouting movement that focuses on boat management and seamanship, when she was 14 years old.
Quickly rising to the rank of quartermaster, the equivalent of an Eagle Scout, she became a national boatswain and, at the age of 17, was hand-selected to serve as a U.S. representative in New Zealand to the 2000 America's Cup, considered to be the world's premier sailing event.
"I have to live on the water," the now 24-year-old Hagen said. "I can't imagine being landlocked."
The Slidell, La., native's love for water and sailing even played a role in choosing her college and, ultimately, her career.
"I was determined that I wanted to get through college on my own," Hagen said. This drive led her to make the "no-brainer" decision to join the ROTC. In addition to the fact it would pay for her education, she said, she knew life on the water was for her, either in the U.S. Coast Guard or the Navy.
After graduating from Tulane University in 2004, she was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. Hagen said she found a career where she could apply the knowledge of the sea she had been developing since age 8.
Hagen has an impressive list of accomplishments on her resume. In support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, she served onboard the USS Donald Cook, where she helped perform anti-pirating operations off the coast of Somalia and maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf.
Her most recent assignment has been as a training officer within the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group, where she was responsible for security cooperation initiatives with four of the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation, a regional partnership among the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. She also coordinated replenishment operations between U.S. warships and oil rigs.
One of the lessons Hagen said she has learned during her military service is that "life seems to be so cheap in some parts of the world."
"I no longer take little things for granted," she said. "I didn't realize how good we have it in America. I appreciate life back here so much more."
She recounted coming across a small fishing boat in the Persian Gulf that had been the victim of piracy. "They had no food or water, and the ship was riddled with bullet holes," she said. "They had no radio to call for help."
Hagen said that the stranded victims were drifting in the middle of the Gulf and would have been in true peril if her crew had not come to their aid. The victims were extremely grateful when her team provided them enough food, water and fuel to get to their destination, she said.
Many local shipping and fishing vessels take advantage of the protection provided by coalition ships in the area, Hagen said. "Boats try to congregate near our ships because they know they will be safe from terrorists out on the seas."
People will go to desperate measures to survive, she said. "I'm just thankful for the opportunity to see acts of such desperation. It just drives the point home even further that the freedom we have as Americans is something that others don't have."
The experience has been an eye-opener, Hagen said. "I am so proud to be part of the Navy's mission in the region and get a chance to make a difference," she added.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
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