By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 6, 2008 - The director of the Defense Intelligence Agency gave the Senate Intelligence Committee an assessment of military threats confronting the United States during testimony before the panel yesterday. Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples told the committee that several global military trends concern the U.S. armed forces. He then went on to delineate specific threats to the United States, its allies and its interests.
General threats include proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, more mobile and accurate ballistic missiles, improvised explosive devices and suicide weapons as weapons of choice for terrorists, and the continued development of counterspace and cyber-attack capabilities.
Maples told the senators that progress in Iraq has been encouraging. Coalition and Iraqi operations, tribal security initiatives, concerned local citizen groups and the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's order to his militia to refrain from attacking coalition and Iraqi forces have precipitously dropped the levels of violence in the country. But Maples said the positive trends don't mean the struggle is over.
"While encouraging, the trends are not yet irreversible," the general said. "Al Qaeda in Iraq has been damaged, but it still attempts to reignite sectarian violence and remains able to conduct high-profile attacks."
The numbers of foreign terrorists moving into Iraq have declined, he said. Still, he added, the Iranian Quds Force continues to provide training and support to Iraqi insurgents, and it is unclear if Iran has stopped delivering weapons -- such as the deadly, armor-piercing explosively formed projectiles -- to Iraqi Shiia extremists.
In Afghanistan, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force has inflicted losses on Taliban leadership and prevented the Taliban from conducting sustained conventional operations, Maples said.
"Despite their losses, the Taliban maintains access to local Pashtun and some foreign fighters and is using suicide bombings, improvised explosive devices and small arms to increase attack levels," he told the senators.
While insurgent activity remains concentrated in Afghanistan's southern and eastern provinces, there have been attacks in the western part of the country, the general noted. "We believe that al Qaeda has expanded its support to the Afghan insurgency and presents an increased threat to Pakistan, while it continues to plan, support and direct transnational attacks," he explained.
Al Qaeda is using Pakistan's federally administrated tribal areas as a safe haven, Maples said during his testimony. Pakistani military operations have had limited effect on al Qaeda, he said. "However, Pakistan recognizes the threat and realizes the need to develop more effective counterinsurgency capabilities to complement their conventional military," he added.
Noting that Pakistan is a nuclear power, the general said the U.S. military has confidence that Pakistan can safeguard its nuclear arsenal.
Iran remains a problem, as it's acquiring advanced weapons systems and is supporting terrorists in other parts of the world, Maples said. New military capabilities include missile patrol boats, anti-ship cruise missiles, surface-to-air missile systems and an extended-range ballistic missile, he said. Iran also is close to acquiring long-range surface-to-air missiles and a new medium-range ballistic missile, he told the committee. Iran continues to play a very disruptive role in Lebanon by training, arming and funding Hezbollah terrorists, he said.
North Korea maintains a 1.2 million-man army, with most of it stationed near the demilitarized zone at the South Korean border. While North Korean forces are lacking in training and equipment, the general said, they are still formidable.
North Korea maintains its military might on the backs of its people, and the military has artillery and mobile ballistic missiles that can reach South Korea's capital of Seoul and beyond. The country's work on the Taepodong-2 missile continues, "as does work on an intermediate-range ballistic missile, a variant of which has reportedly been sold to Iran," Maples said.
China is not a U.S. adversary, but it is a competitor, the general said.
"China is fielding sophisticated weapons systems and testing new doctrines that it believes will strengthen its ability to prevail in regional conflicts and counter traditional U.S. military advantages," he said.
The Chinese are spending billions on military modernization programs that include anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles, submarines, developing a cruise-missile-capable bomber, and modern surface-to-air missile systems.
China's missile development also includes a road-mobile ICBM and ballistic-missile-carrying submarines. "China successfully tested an anti-satellite missile in January 2007 and is developing counterspace jammers and directed energy weapons," Maples said.
Russia is trying to re-establish a degree of military power that it believes is commensurate with its renewed economic strength and political confidence, he said.
Recently, Russia has conducted widely publicized strategic missile launches, long-range aviation flights along the U.S. coasts, and carrier strike group deployments that are designed to demonstrate global reach and relevance, Maples said.
"Development, production and deployment of advanced strategic weapons continues, including the road-mobile SS-27 ICBM and the Bulava-30 submarine-launched ballistic missile," he said.
The Russian army also is making improvements in conventional forces.
Maples concluded his assessment by discussing Colombia and Venezuela. Colombia's counterinsurgency operations are achieving success against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- essentially a narcoterrorist group masquerading as a legitimate rebel group. U.S. military training and aid have helped the Colombians in this fight.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced his intention to buy submarines, transport aircraft and an air defense system. These are in addition to the advanced fighters, attack helicopters and assault rifles the country already has purchased. Venezuela's neighbors have expressed concern over the plans, Maples said.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
America Supports You: Patriot Party Fetes Vets with Valentines
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Hundreds of volunteers across the country will make sure troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan feel loved on Valentine's Day. Project Prayer Flag, a California based troop-support group, will host four packing parties Feb. 9 to put together "Patriot Packs." Two will take place in the group's home state, a third will be in Hawaii, and the fourth in Wisconsin.
Patriot Packs contain cloth American flags and now include hand-made valentines.
"We are excited to see volunteers from Hawaii, California and Wisconsin simultaneously working together for the first time to help our troops," said Tina Mueller, Project Prayer Flag's new Hawaii director. "We encourage everyone in Hawaii, the Southern California communities and Wisconsin to come out to serve our troops."
Project Prayer Flag is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Feb. 5, 2008 - Hundreds of volunteers across the country will make sure troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan feel loved on Valentine's Day. Project Prayer Flag, a California based troop-support group, will host four packing parties Feb. 9 to put together "Patriot Packs." Two will take place in the group's home state, a third will be in Hawaii, and the fourth in Wisconsin.
Patriot Packs contain cloth American flags and now include hand-made valentines.
"We are excited to see volunteers from Hawaii, California and Wisconsin simultaneously working together for the first time to help our troops," said Tina Mueller, Project Prayer Flag's new Hawaii director. "We encourage everyone in Hawaii, the Southern California communities and Wisconsin to come out to serve our troops."
Project Prayer Flag is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Gates to Discuss Need to Boost NATO Forces in Afghanistan
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss the need for more NATO forces in Afghanistan when he attends a defense ministers meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, later this week, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The 26 NATO-affiliated defense ministers are expected to discuss the alliance's mission in Kosovo, European missile defense, relations with Russia and the war in Afghanistan during informal meetings held Feb. 7-8, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters at a news conference.
In Vilnius, Gates "will take the opportunity to personally explain to his NATO colleagues why he is sending another 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan next month," Morrell said.
Gates is expected to urge NATO members "to do their part to make sure all of the commanders' outstanding military requirements" in Afghanistan are fulfilled, Morrell said. There's currently about a 4,000-troop shortfall for Afghanistan missions, the press secretary noted.
"Success in Afghanistan is essential, not just to our security here, but Europe's as well," Morrell emphasized.
Gates will reiterate that theme, Morrell added, when the defense secretary attends the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy held Feb. 8-10 in Munich, Germany.
In Lithuania and Munich, the defense secretary also is expected to tell defense ministers of the importance of not allowing NATO to become a "two-tiered" security organization where only a portion of members regularly deploy military personnel and material for overseas combat missions.
Also at the news conference, Morrell cited the success of unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance and other purposes in overseas theaters of operation. Use of UAVs in identifying improvised explosive devices has risen dramatically in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, since Gates became defense secretary in December 2006.
UAVs have "developed into a very valuable asset for commanders on the ground as they go about their offensive operations against our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan," Morrell pointed out.
Asked about news reports citing Iran's Feb. 4 launch of a research rocket into space, Morrell noted that missile defense is the topic of one of the NATO meetings in Vilnius.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a Feb. 4 news conference that Iran's rocket launch "is just another troubling development, in that the kinds of technologies and capabilities that are needed in order to launch a space vehicle for orbit are the same kinds of capabilities and technologies that one would employ for long-range ballistic missiles."
As Iran continues to develop its ballistic missile program, "Europe becomes more and more threatened by it," Morrell pointed out.
Rising concerns about Iran's ballistic-missile technology have prompted the proposal to install missile interceptors in Poland, and related radar sites in the Czech Republic. Both nations are NATO members.
"To us, it makes all the more clear the need for a missile defense program to protect our allies in Europe as well as ourselves," Morrell said. "So, hopefully this will impress upon on the Poles and the Czechs and all of Europe that we need to proceed with our negotiations as quickly as possible."
That negotiation process is continuing, and progress has been made "on all fronts," Morrell reported.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss the need for more NATO forces in Afghanistan when he attends a defense ministers meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, later this week, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The 26 NATO-affiliated defense ministers are expected to discuss the alliance's mission in Kosovo, European missile defense, relations with Russia and the war in Afghanistan during informal meetings held Feb. 7-8, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters at a news conference.
In Vilnius, Gates "will take the opportunity to personally explain to his NATO colleagues why he is sending another 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan next month," Morrell said.
Gates is expected to urge NATO members "to do their part to make sure all of the commanders' outstanding military requirements" in Afghanistan are fulfilled, Morrell said. There's currently about a 4,000-troop shortfall for Afghanistan missions, the press secretary noted.
"Success in Afghanistan is essential, not just to our security here, but Europe's as well," Morrell emphasized.
Gates will reiterate that theme, Morrell added, when the defense secretary attends the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy held Feb. 8-10 in Munich, Germany.
In Lithuania and Munich, the defense secretary also is expected to tell defense ministers of the importance of not allowing NATO to become a "two-tiered" security organization where only a portion of members regularly deploy military personnel and material for overseas combat missions.
Also at the news conference, Morrell cited the success of unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance and other purposes in overseas theaters of operation. Use of UAVs in identifying improvised explosive devices has risen dramatically in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, since Gates became defense secretary in December 2006.
UAVs have "developed into a very valuable asset for commanders on the ground as they go about their offensive operations against our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan," Morrell pointed out.
Asked about news reports citing Iran's Feb. 4 launch of a research rocket into space, Morrell noted that missile defense is the topic of one of the NATO meetings in Vilnius.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a Feb. 4 news conference that Iran's rocket launch "is just another troubling development, in that the kinds of technologies and capabilities that are needed in order to launch a space vehicle for orbit are the same kinds of capabilities and technologies that one would employ for long-range ballistic missiles."
As Iran continues to develop its ballistic missile program, "Europe becomes more and more threatened by it," Morrell pointed out.
Rising concerns about Iran's ballistic-missile technology have prompted the proposal to install missile interceptors in Poland, and related radar sites in the Czech Republic. Both nations are NATO members.
"To us, it makes all the more clear the need for a missile defense program to protect our allies in Europe as well as ourselves," Morrell said. "So, hopefully this will impress upon on the Poles and the Czechs and all of Europe that we need to proceed with our negotiations as quickly as possible."
That negotiation process is continuing, and progress has been made "on all fronts," Morrell reported.
Gates to Discuss Need to Boost NATO Forces in Afghanistan
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss the need for more NATO forces in Afghanistan when he attends a defense ministers meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, later this week, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The 26 NATO-affiliated defense ministers are expected to discuss the alliance's mission in Kosovo, European missile defense, relations with Russia and the war in Afghanistan during informal meetings held Feb. 7-8, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters at a news conference.
In Vilnius, Gates "will take the opportunity to personally explain to his NATO colleagues why he is sending another 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan next month," Morrell said.
Gates is expected to urge NATO members "to do their part to make sure all of the commanders' outstanding military requirements" in Afghanistan are fulfilled, Morrell said. There's currently about a 4,000-troop shortfall for Afghanistan missions, the press secretary noted.
"Success in Afghanistan is essential, not just to our security here, but Europe's as well," Morrell emphasized.
Gates will reiterate that theme, Morrell added, when the defense secretary attends the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy held Feb. 8-10 in Munich, Germany.
In Lithuania and Munich, the defense secretary also is expected to tell defense ministers of the importance of not allowing NATO to become a "two-tiered" security organization where only a portion of members regularly deploy military personnel and material for overseas combat missions.
Also at the news conference, Morrell cited the success of unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance and other purposes in overseas theaters of operation. Use of UAVs in identifying improvised explosive devices has risen dramatically in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, since Gates became defense secretary in December 2006.
UAVs have "developed into a very valuable asset for commanders on the ground as they go about their offensive operations against our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan," Morrell pointed out.
Asked about news reports citing Iran's Feb. 4 launch of a research rocket into space, Morrell noted that missile defense is the topic of one of the NATO meetings in Vilnius.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a Feb. 4 news conference that Iran's rocket launch "is just another troubling development, in that the kinds of technologies and capabilities that are needed in order to launch a space vehicle for orbit are the same kinds of capabilities and technologies that one would employ for long-range ballistic missiles."
As Iran continues to develop its ballistic missile program, "Europe becomes more and more threatened by it," Morrell pointed out.
Rising concerns about Iran's ballistic-missile technology have prompted the proposal to install missile interceptors in Poland, and related radar sites in the Czech Republic. Both nations are NATO members.
"To us, it makes all the more clear the need for a missile defense program to protect our allies in Europe as well as ourselves," Morrell said. "So, hopefully this will impress upon on the Poles and the Czechs and all of Europe that we need to proceed with our negotiations as quickly as possible."
That negotiation process is continuing, and progress has been made "on all fronts," Morrell reported.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will discuss the need for more NATO forces in Afghanistan when he attends a defense ministers meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, later this week, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The 26 NATO-affiliated defense ministers are expected to discuss the alliance's mission in Kosovo, European missile defense, relations with Russia and the war in Afghanistan during informal meetings held Feb. 7-8, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters at a news conference.
In Vilnius, Gates "will take the opportunity to personally explain to his NATO colleagues why he is sending another 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan next month," Morrell said.
Gates is expected to urge NATO members "to do their part to make sure all of the commanders' outstanding military requirements" in Afghanistan are fulfilled, Morrell said. There's currently about a 4,000-troop shortfall for Afghanistan missions, the press secretary noted.
"Success in Afghanistan is essential, not just to our security here, but Europe's as well," Morrell emphasized.
Gates will reiterate that theme, Morrell added, when the defense secretary attends the 44th Munich Conference on Security Policy held Feb. 8-10 in Munich, Germany.
In Lithuania and Munich, the defense secretary also is expected to tell defense ministers of the importance of not allowing NATO to become a "two-tiered" security organization where only a portion of members regularly deploy military personnel and material for overseas combat missions.
Also at the news conference, Morrell cited the success of unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance and other purposes in overseas theaters of operation. Use of UAVs in identifying improvised explosive devices has risen dramatically in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, since Gates became defense secretary in December 2006.
UAVs have "developed into a very valuable asset for commanders on the ground as they go about their offensive operations against our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan," Morrell pointed out.
Asked about news reports citing Iran's Feb. 4 launch of a research rocket into space, Morrell noted that missile defense is the topic of one of the NATO meetings in Vilnius.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a Feb. 4 news conference that Iran's rocket launch "is just another troubling development, in that the kinds of technologies and capabilities that are needed in order to launch a space vehicle for orbit are the same kinds of capabilities and technologies that one would employ for long-range ballistic missiles."
As Iran continues to develop its ballistic missile program, "Europe becomes more and more threatened by it," Morrell pointed out.
Rising concerns about Iran's ballistic-missile technology have prompted the proposal to install missile interceptors in Poland, and related radar sites in the Czech Republic. Both nations are NATO members.
"To us, it makes all the more clear the need for a missile defense program to protect our allies in Europe as well as ourselves," Morrell said. "So, hopefully this will impress upon on the Poles and the Czechs and all of Europe that we need to proceed with our negotiations as quickly as possible."
That negotiation process is continuing, and progress has been made "on all fronts," Morrell reported.
Navy to Christen USNS Robert E. Peary
The Navy will christen the USNS Robert E. Peary at an 11 a.m. PST ceremony on Feb. 9, 2008. The christening ceremony for the newest ship in the Lewis and Clark class of underway replenishment ships will be held at General Dynamics NASSCO, San Diego.
Designated as T-AKE 5, the new ship honors Navy Rear Adm. Robert Edwin Peary, (1856–1920), an American explorer born in Cresson, Pa., who is credited as the first person to reach the geographic North Pole. Peary was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Oct. 26, 1881, and achieved the rank of rear admiral. He was recognized by Congress with a special act on March 30, 1911.
Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Peary S. Fowler, county circuit court judge for Monroe County, Fl., will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her great-grandfather. The launching ceremony will be highlighted in the time-honored Navy tradition when the sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "Robert E. Peary."
Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, the USNS Robert E. Peary will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. The ship can provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships. The ship will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items and expendable supplies and material) to ships and other naval forces at sea. To conduct vertical replenishment, the ship can carry and support two helicopters.
As part of the Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, the USNS Robert E. Peary is designated as a United States Naval Ship (USNS) and will be manned by 124 civil service mariners. The ship will also have a military detachment of 11 U.S. Navy sailors to provide operational support and supply coordination, and when needed, the ship will carry a helicopter detachment of 39 military personnel.
The ship was launched on Oct. 27, 2007; however, the planned christening ceremony was delayed as the result of the wild fires threatening the Southern California region.
Additional information about this class of ship is available on line at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4.
Designated as T-AKE 5, the new ship honors Navy Rear Adm. Robert Edwin Peary, (1856–1920), an American explorer born in Cresson, Pa., who is credited as the first person to reach the geographic North Pole. Peary was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Oct. 26, 1881, and achieved the rank of rear admiral. He was recognized by Congress with a special act on March 30, 1911.
Vice Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Peary S. Fowler, county circuit court judge for Monroe County, Fl., will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her great-grandfather. The launching ceremony will be highlighted in the time-honored Navy tradition when the sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "Robert E. Peary."
Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, the USNS Robert E. Peary will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. The ship can provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships. The ship will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items and expendable supplies and material) to ships and other naval forces at sea. To conduct vertical replenishment, the ship can carry and support two helicopters.
As part of the Military Sealift Command's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, the USNS Robert E. Peary is designated as a United States Naval Ship (USNS) and will be manned by 124 civil service mariners. The ship will also have a military detachment of 11 U.S. Navy sailors to provide operational support and supply coordination, and when needed, the ship will carry a helicopter detachment of 39 military personnel.
The ship was launched on Oct. 27, 2007; however, the planned christening ceremony was delayed as the result of the wild fires threatening the Southern California region.
Additional information about this class of ship is available on line at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4.
Defense Department Stocks Shelves with Newest Smallpox Vaccine
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - The Defense Department has begun its transition to the next generation of smallpox vaccine. The new ACAM2000 vaccine first hit the shelves at the Pentagon's DiLorenzo Clinic last week from the Centers for Disease Control Strategic National Stockpile.
Since the disease's eradication in December 1979, many manufacturers have quit producing smallpox vaccine, Army Col. Randall Anderson, director of DoD's Military Vaccine Agency, said. But the military needs smallpox vaccine to inoculate troops against biological weapons that may contain the virus. No cure exists for the disease.
Wyeth, a global provider of pharmaceuticals and current manufacturer of Dryvax, is withdrawing its product license for the vaccine the department now uses. The ACAM2000 vaccine, made by Acambis, is derived from the same smallpox strain as Dryvax, but it is produced using modern cell-culture technology. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed it in August.
Acambis will provide a long-term, stable supply of the vaccine manufactured within the United States, Anderson said. The Defense Department gets the vaccine from CDC stockpiles in an interagency agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Anderson pointed out that the change will be transparent to those receiving the vaccination. Current policies and the way the vaccine is administered remain the same.
"For the person who is being vaccinated, it really won't mean that much," Anderson said.
Anderson called Dryvax a good vaccine that is very effective, but said the ACAM2000 vaccine uses more current technology. Dryvax can be used through March. After that, remaining Dryvax vaccine will be destroyed.
The Defense Department has inoculated more than 1.4 million people since it started vaccinating against the smallpox virus in 2002.
"Because the disease is contagious and deadly, the agent makes a favorable choice for those who wish to disrupt our society," Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, wrote last week in his daily blog on the department's Health Affairs Web site.
Vaccinations are required for all military, emergency-essential and equivalent civilian employees assigned to U.S. Central Command or the Korean peninsula for 15 or more consecutive days. The vaccine is offered to 18- to 65-year-old family members of those military and civilian employees.
People inoculated with the Dryvax vaccine do not need to be revaccinated with the ACAM2000 version sooner than the 10-year interval Defense Department policy dictates, officials said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - The Defense Department has begun its transition to the next generation of smallpox vaccine. The new ACAM2000 vaccine first hit the shelves at the Pentagon's DiLorenzo Clinic last week from the Centers for Disease Control Strategic National Stockpile.
Since the disease's eradication in December 1979, many manufacturers have quit producing smallpox vaccine, Army Col. Randall Anderson, director of DoD's Military Vaccine Agency, said. But the military needs smallpox vaccine to inoculate troops against biological weapons that may contain the virus. No cure exists for the disease.
Wyeth, a global provider of pharmaceuticals and current manufacturer of Dryvax, is withdrawing its product license for the vaccine the department now uses. The ACAM2000 vaccine, made by Acambis, is derived from the same smallpox strain as Dryvax, but it is produced using modern cell-culture technology. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed it in August.
Acambis will provide a long-term, stable supply of the vaccine manufactured within the United States, Anderson said. The Defense Department gets the vaccine from CDC stockpiles in an interagency agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Anderson pointed out that the change will be transparent to those receiving the vaccination. Current policies and the way the vaccine is administered remain the same.
"For the person who is being vaccinated, it really won't mean that much," Anderson said.
Anderson called Dryvax a good vaccine that is very effective, but said the ACAM2000 vaccine uses more current technology. Dryvax can be used through March. After that, remaining Dryvax vaccine will be destroyed.
The Defense Department has inoculated more than 1.4 million people since it started vaccinating against the smallpox virus in 2002.
"Because the disease is contagious and deadly, the agent makes a favorable choice for those who wish to disrupt our society," Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, wrote last week in his daily blog on the department's Health Affairs Web site.
Vaccinations are required for all military, emergency-essential and equivalent civilian employees assigned to U.S. Central Command or the Korean peninsula for 15 or more consecutive days. The vaccine is offered to 18- to 65-year-old family members of those military and civilian employees.
People inoculated with the Dryvax vaccine do not need to be revaccinated with the ACAM2000 version sooner than the 10-year interval Defense Department policy dictates, officials said.
Military Contracts
AIR FORCE
General Electric Co. Aircraft Engines of Cincinnati, Ohio is being awarded a firm-fixed price contract modification for $15,592,486. This contract modification will provide for mixing duct and two flame-holder segments. It is redesigned hardware meant to address the fact that the augmenter/exhaust nozzle section is a leading contributor to labor intensive unscheduled engine removals in direct relation to excessively repaired parts that are subject to thermal variances. The mixing duct incorporates redesigned support hangers and outer lugs at all flame-holder attachment locations. The design incorporates replaceable inserts made from L605 material coated with chromium carbide on both face surfaces. The flame-holders consist of a 10 piece design that has the mid and outer rings split at ten locations, which reduces thermally induced stresses that cause crack initiation in the rings. This acquisition is being accomplished under a sole source, four plus-year requirements type contract with a basic period (15 months) and three one year options. This program in combination with the F110 Services Life Extension Program is designed to extend the life of the F110-GE-100 and -129 engines to 2025. The F110 engines power the Air Force's F-16 fleet. The F-16 fleet is an aging fleet that is exceeding its "design life" of 8000 Total Accumulated Cycles by an average 485 TACs. A complete engine re-design was accomplished under the Component Improvement Program ordered by ASC/LPK. At this time no funds have been obligated. 748 CBSG/PKP, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8104-05-D-0042-P00006).
Global Ground Support LLC of Olathe, Kan., is being awarded a contract for $14,679,715.56. This action provides for 44 Truck Mounted Deicers. At this time all funds have been obligated. 642nd CBSG/GBKAC, Robins Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (F41608-99-D-0029).
NAVY
InnovaSystems International LLC, San Diego, Calif.,is being awarded a $14,100,185 cost-plus-award-fee contract for system engineering, system design/development, integration, testing, installation, training, lifecycle maintenance, procurement support, help desk services, management support, and system documentation for the Defense Readiness Reporting System – Navy. This one-year contract includes four one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the potential, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $75,767,799. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed Feb. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source justification and approval was signed in accordance with FAR Subpart 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), for Only One Responsible Source. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0030).
Prexis, Inc. Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $5,824,313 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development engineering and technical support services. Tasks will include systems engineering (hardware and software) systems analysis (hardware and software) and data collection and analysis. This contract contains four 12-month options which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $28,796,848. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and work is expected to be completed Feb. 2009 (Jan. 2013 with options). Contract funds in the amount of $209,000 will expire by the end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under a Request for Proposal Number (N000173-07-R-SC05), with one offer received. The Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N000173-08-C-2013).
Guard Eyes Pacific for Expanding State Partnership Program
By Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Following successes in Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, the National Guard's State Partnership Program is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region. "These partnerships are limited only by what the two partners want to accomplish," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, characterizing the program as two-way relationships built on trust that outlives individual political administrations.
"None are more important than the ones we have in the Pacific," he said.
Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, chief of U.S. Pacific Command, has endorsed Bangladesh's request to participate in the program and asked Blum to nominate a National Guard state for this new partnership. If approved, Bangladesh would bring the number of foreign countries matched with U.S. states to 59. Some states have more than one partner.
With five Pacific Rim or Southeast Asian countries involved, Blum predicted that much of the partnership program's expansion in the next two to three years will occur in the region.
"Our nation needs to do this," Blum said. "It is ... absolutely essential in our international relations in the future."
Keating said the time is right for expanding the program in PACOM's area of responsibility.
"The potential and the opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region are significant," he said. "Underpinning this potential is the requirement for security and stability, and that's where we all come in."
Life is better for hundreds of millions of people throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the admiral said, and he called the Guard's State Partnership Program "a big reason" for that.
"The United States in its national defense military strategy sees the need to do a much better job than we have done ... in increasing our partnership capacity," Blum said. "There's nobody better suited to do it than the National Guard. Any time you call out the Guard to do anything, you call out America, and this truly calls out Americans into an international program that otherwise wouldn't be involved."
Keating said his impression of the National Guard was profoundly affected by working with Blum on the response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "I developed an intense and abiding appreciation and respect for what the National Guard does for our country," he said.
A two-day Pacific State Partnership Program Regional Workshop here in late January, co-hosted by Blum and Army Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, Hawaii's adjutant general, brought together Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and their respective National Guard partner states of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Washington.
Foreign military chiefs, National Guard adjutants general and others discussed activities that promote mutual security cooperation, stability and progress throughout the 41-country PACOM area of operations. The State Partnership Program in the Pacific draws on the resources of PACOM, the National Guard Bureau, National Guard states, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassadors and country teams, and other agencies and individuals.
The program started in the Baltic region of Europe in 1993 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, focusing on matching U.S. states with former Soviet satellite nations.
"This partnership provided them a chance for the path to NATO and the European Union that they wanted to take to determine their future," Blum said.
The program later expanded to South and Central America. Central Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Africa came next. No State Partnership Program relationship has ended, and none has failed since the program's inception, officials said.
(Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill serves with the National Guard Bureau.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Following successes in Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, the National Guard's State Partnership Program is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region. "These partnerships are limited only by what the two partners want to accomplish," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, characterizing the program as two-way relationships built on trust that outlives individual political administrations.
"None are more important than the ones we have in the Pacific," he said.
Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, chief of U.S. Pacific Command, has endorsed Bangladesh's request to participate in the program and asked Blum to nominate a National Guard state for this new partnership. If approved, Bangladesh would bring the number of foreign countries matched with U.S. states to 59. Some states have more than one partner.
With five Pacific Rim or Southeast Asian countries involved, Blum predicted that much of the partnership program's expansion in the next two to three years will occur in the region.
"Our nation needs to do this," Blum said. "It is ... absolutely essential in our international relations in the future."
Keating said the time is right for expanding the program in PACOM's area of responsibility.
"The potential and the opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region are significant," he said. "Underpinning this potential is the requirement for security and stability, and that's where we all come in."
Life is better for hundreds of millions of people throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the admiral said, and he called the Guard's State Partnership Program "a big reason" for that.
"The United States in its national defense military strategy sees the need to do a much better job than we have done ... in increasing our partnership capacity," Blum said. "There's nobody better suited to do it than the National Guard. Any time you call out the Guard to do anything, you call out America, and this truly calls out Americans into an international program that otherwise wouldn't be involved."
Keating said his impression of the National Guard was profoundly affected by working with Blum on the response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "I developed an intense and abiding appreciation and respect for what the National Guard does for our country," he said.
A two-day Pacific State Partnership Program Regional Workshop here in late January, co-hosted by Blum and Army Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, Hawaii's adjutant general, brought together Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and their respective National Guard partner states of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Washington.
Foreign military chiefs, National Guard adjutants general and others discussed activities that promote mutual security cooperation, stability and progress throughout the 41-country PACOM area of operations. The State Partnership Program in the Pacific draws on the resources of PACOM, the National Guard Bureau, National Guard states, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassadors and country teams, and other agencies and individuals.
The program started in the Baltic region of Europe in 1993 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, focusing on matching U.S. states with former Soviet satellite nations.
"This partnership provided them a chance for the path to NATO and the European Union that they wanted to take to determine their future," Blum said.
The program later expanded to South and Central America. Central Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Africa came next. No State Partnership Program relationship has ended, and none has failed since the program's inception, officials said.
(Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill serves with the National Guard Bureau.)
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