By Pfc. April Campbell, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - In the late-morning sunlight, the crowd paid close attention to the speaker. He was one of them -- a home-grown leader. They heard this meeting would offer them benefits, and Fikrat Kareem, the neighborhood advisory council leader for Tunnis, was introducing the day's topic: their neighborhood economies.
An estimated 200 Iraqi residents from the Qahira, Suleikh and Tunnis neighborhoods in Baghdad's Adhamiya district began planning for the economic future of their areas by attending a Feb. 9 market fair in Suleikh.
Along with seminars providing business-management coaching, the event, coordinated through the combined efforts of Iraqi and coalition forces leaders in the area, also introduced these Iraqis to the concept of a market action committee. Such committees have proven successful in nearby neighborhoods within Adhamiya.
Army Col. Jeffery Bonner, a Fayetteville, Tenn., native who serves as an agricultural and commercial business-development officer with the local embedded provincial reconstruction team, is helping to implement the market action committee idea in neighborhoods throughout Adhamiya.
The idea behind the market action committee is "to get leaders (within) these specific areas to come together to form a council under the government of Iraq as a not-for-profit organization," Bonner explained.
As a nonprofit organization, the groups will be able to work with representatives from organizations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, the colonel added.
Robert C. Dose, an agricultural market specialist with the USAID-sponsored Agribusiness Program, was present at the event.
"This area is on the edge of an agricultural production area and an urban area," Dose said. "We're here to provide new technology in areas such as food processing and packaging."
The ability of civilian representatives from such organizations to come to the area to work with Iraqi citizens is largely due to the improved level of security provided by the Iraqi security forces, citizen volunteers and Multinational Division Baghdad forces, he noted.
"This whole area has become permissive for us to work with the local leaders," Dose said. "Six months ago, we wouldn't have come here."
The market fair not only was a result, in large part, of better security, but also is a way to help ensure the area stays safe.
"In order to maintain the positive security momentum," Bonner said, "we have to have some vehicles to start bringing life back into the community and allow people the means of creating some personal revenue."
In addition to enabling USAID and representatives of other groups to work with the neighborhood business leaders, the market action committees also act as advocates from the business community to local governments.
Having an organization that can communicate with the local government about the forecast of different capitalization projects in the area is important when attempting to rebuild a neighborhood fixture such as the local marketplace, Bonner said.
It is important not to rebuild an entire market, he said, "only to find out that four months later, the local government is going to come and tear up the street and sidewalks to go put in water lines or gas lines."
Iraqis who attended the fair walked away with a sense of hope.
Muthier Salah Abidilkhalik, of Suleihk, said he attended the fair because he heard there would be projects to help his neighborhood people. The idea of the people working together to better the neighborhood economies will benefit the area now and also in the future, he said.
(Army Pfc. April Campbell serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
African-Americans Have Legacy of Military Service, Sacrifice
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - Since the birth of America, African Americans have been fighting and dying alongside their countrymen as the United States has struggled for freedom and peace at home and abroad. African American soldiers have fought in every war the United States has participated in, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the current war on terror.
African Americans, both free and slaves, participated in all the conflicts in the early days of America. About 5,000 African-American soldiers fought for the U.S. in the American Revolutionary War. African Americans distinguished themselves in the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, and throughout the Revolution.
In the Civil War, 180,000 African Americans made up 163 units of the Union Army, and many more served in the Union Navy. African-Americans were used mostly for labor by the Confederate forces, although in 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a bill authorizing the enlistment of slaves.
African American soldiers proved themselves early in the war, such as in 1863, when the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers, commanded by Gen. James G. Blunt, ran into a strong Confederate force in what is now Oklahoma. After a two-hour bloody engagement, the Confederate soldiers retreated. The 1st Kansas, which had held the center of the Union line, advanced to within fifty paces of the Confederate line and exchanged fire for some 20 minutes until the Confederates broke and ran.
After the battle, Blunt wrote, "I never saw such fighting as was done by the negro regiment. ... The question that negroes will fight is settled; besides they make better solders in every respect than any troops I have ever had under my command."
Fifteen African American soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in the Civil War, and another seven African American sailors were honored for their heroism.
In 1866, federal legislation was passed that allowed African Americans to enlist in the regular Army, and by 1869, the Army had four all-African-American units: the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry regiments. The two infantry regiments were established by consolidating four infantry regiments that had been formed earlier.
It was these African American units that fought in the Indian Wars of 1867-1891, the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines Insurrection from 1899 to 1901, and Gen. John Pershing's punitive expedition into Mexico in 1916. These units were dubbed "Buffalo Soldiers" by the Indians they fought against. It is thought that this nickname was given out of respect for the African-Americans' fierce fighting ability and naturally curly hair. The term "Buffalo Soldiers" became a generic term for all African American soldiers for many years.
The first African American general officer in the U.S. Army was Benjamin O. Davis, of Washington, D.C. Davis entered the military on July 13, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, as a temporary first lieutenant of the 8th United States Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out on March 6, 1899, and on June 18, 1899, he enlisted as a private in Troop 1, 9th Cavalry, of the regular Army. He then served as corporal and squadron sergeant major, and on Feb. 2, 1901, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry in the regular Army.
Davis reached the rank of brigadier general on Oct. 25, 1940. He retired on July 31, 1941, and was recalled to active duty with the rank of brigadier general the following day. During his career, Davis served with the 9th and 10th Cavalry; was a professor of military science and tactics at Wilberforce University, Ohio, and Tuskegee, Ala.; served as a brigade commander in 2nd Cavalry Division; and served as an assistant to the inspector general in Washington, D.C.
Davis' son, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., was the fourth African-American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the nation's second African-American general officer.
Although the U.S. armed forces remained segregated throughout World War I, many African Americans volunteered and fought with U.S. forces. By the end of the war, more than 350,000 African-Americans had served in the conflict, 1,400 of whom were commissioned officers.
Many African American units were relegated to support roles during World War I, but several units did distinguish themselves in combat. One of the most famous units was the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters," which was on the front lines for six months. One hundred seventy-one members of the 396th were awarded the Legion of Merit medal. Cpl. Freddie Stowers, of 371st Infantry Regiment, was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor in 1991, making him the only African-American to be so honored for actions in World War I. Stowers led an assault on German trenches in France and continued to lead his men even after being wounded twice.
In World War II, more than 2.5 million African-Americans registered for service, but only 1 million actually served. African American servicemembers served in Casablanca, Italy, the Aleutians, Northern Ireland, Liberia, New Guinea, the China-Burma-India theater, Guam, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Saipan, Okinawa, Peleliu, Australia, France, and England.
It was during World War II that the famed Tuskegee Airmen served. Actually the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military pilots. The 332nd's most notable mission was escorting bombing raids into Austria, Hungary, Poland and Germany. The pilots flew more than 15,000 sorties and were awarded several Silver Stars, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, and 744 Air Medals.
In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, integrating the armed forces and eliminating racial discrimination in federal employment. Segregation in the military officially ended in 1954, when the last all-African-American unit was abolished.
The Korean War and Vietnam War both saw many great accomplishments by African-American servicemembers. In the Korean War, Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American U.S. Navy aviator, was killed when his plane was shot down during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The Navy honored Brown by naming an escort ship after him -- the USS Jesse L. Brown.
During the Vietnam War, African Americans continued to join the military in large numbers. Overall, 20 African-Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in that conflict, including the first living African American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Mexican-American War, the first African-American Marine to receive the medal, and the first African-American commissioned officer to receive the medal.
African American enlistment into the U.S. military jumped with the advent of the all-volunteer force in 1973. African-Americans made up about 17 percent of the military's enlisted force when the draft ended in 1973. By the early 1980s, African-Americans made up nearly 24 percent of the enlisted force. When the United States and its allies pushed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991, the most senior officer in the U.S. military was an African-American, Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell later served as secretary of state in President George W. Bush's administration.
Today, African Americans continue to serve the nation as members of the military during the war on terror. February is African-American History Month, which celebrates the contributions African Americans have made in the U.S. over the years.
(Information for this article was taken from several military, government and civilian sources.)
Feb. 12, 2008 - Since the birth of America, African Americans have been fighting and dying alongside their countrymen as the United States has struggled for freedom and peace at home and abroad. African American soldiers have fought in every war the United States has participated in, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the current war on terror.
African Americans, both free and slaves, participated in all the conflicts in the early days of America. About 5,000 African-American soldiers fought for the U.S. in the American Revolutionary War. African Americans distinguished themselves in the Boston Massacre in 1770, the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, and throughout the Revolution.
In the Civil War, 180,000 African Americans made up 163 units of the Union Army, and many more served in the Union Navy. African-Americans were used mostly for labor by the Confederate forces, although in 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a bill authorizing the enlistment of slaves.
African American soldiers proved themselves early in the war, such as in 1863, when the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers, commanded by Gen. James G. Blunt, ran into a strong Confederate force in what is now Oklahoma. After a two-hour bloody engagement, the Confederate soldiers retreated. The 1st Kansas, which had held the center of the Union line, advanced to within fifty paces of the Confederate line and exchanged fire for some 20 minutes until the Confederates broke and ran.
After the battle, Blunt wrote, "I never saw such fighting as was done by the negro regiment. ... The question that negroes will fight is settled; besides they make better solders in every respect than any troops I have ever had under my command."
Fifteen African American soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in the Civil War, and another seven African American sailors were honored for their heroism.
In 1866, federal legislation was passed that allowed African Americans to enlist in the regular Army, and by 1869, the Army had four all-African-American units: the 9th and 10th Cavalry and 24th and 25th Infantry regiments. The two infantry regiments were established by consolidating four infantry regiments that had been formed earlier.
It was these African American units that fought in the Indian Wars of 1867-1891, the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines Insurrection from 1899 to 1901, and Gen. John Pershing's punitive expedition into Mexico in 1916. These units were dubbed "Buffalo Soldiers" by the Indians they fought against. It is thought that this nickname was given out of respect for the African-Americans' fierce fighting ability and naturally curly hair. The term "Buffalo Soldiers" became a generic term for all African American soldiers for many years.
The first African American general officer in the U.S. Army was Benjamin O. Davis, of Washington, D.C. Davis entered the military on July 13, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, as a temporary first lieutenant of the 8th United States Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out on March 6, 1899, and on June 18, 1899, he enlisted as a private in Troop 1, 9th Cavalry, of the regular Army. He then served as corporal and squadron sergeant major, and on Feb. 2, 1901, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of cavalry in the regular Army.
Davis reached the rank of brigadier general on Oct. 25, 1940. He retired on July 31, 1941, and was recalled to active duty with the rank of brigadier general the following day. During his career, Davis served with the 9th and 10th Cavalry; was a professor of military science and tactics at Wilberforce University, Ohio, and Tuskegee, Ala.; served as a brigade commander in 2nd Cavalry Division; and served as an assistant to the inspector general in Washington, D.C.
Davis' son, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., was the fourth African-American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the nation's second African-American general officer.
Although the U.S. armed forces remained segregated throughout World War I, many African Americans volunteered and fought with U.S. forces. By the end of the war, more than 350,000 African-Americans had served in the conflict, 1,400 of whom were commissioned officers.
Many African American units were relegated to support roles during World War I, but several units did distinguish themselves in combat. One of the most famous units was the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters," which was on the front lines for six months. One hundred seventy-one members of the 396th were awarded the Legion of Merit medal. Cpl. Freddie Stowers, of 371st Infantry Regiment, was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor in 1991, making him the only African-American to be so honored for actions in World War I. Stowers led an assault on German trenches in France and continued to lead his men even after being wounded twice.
In World War II, more than 2.5 million African-Americans registered for service, but only 1 million actually served. African American servicemembers served in Casablanca, Italy, the Aleutians, Northern Ireland, Liberia, New Guinea, the China-Burma-India theater, Guam, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Saipan, Okinawa, Peleliu, Australia, France, and England.
It was during World War II that the famed Tuskegee Airmen served. Actually the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military pilots. The 332nd's most notable mission was escorting bombing raids into Austria, Hungary, Poland and Germany. The pilots flew more than 15,000 sorties and were awarded several Silver Stars, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, and 744 Air Medals.
In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, integrating the armed forces and eliminating racial discrimination in federal employment. Segregation in the military officially ended in 1954, when the last all-African-American unit was abolished.
The Korean War and Vietnam War both saw many great accomplishments by African-American servicemembers. In the Korean War, Jesse L. Brown, the first African-American U.S. Navy aviator, was killed when his plane was shot down during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The Navy honored Brown by naming an escort ship after him -- the USS Jesse L. Brown.
During the Vietnam War, African Americans continued to join the military in large numbers. Overall, 20 African-Americans were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in that conflict, including the first living African American to receive the Medal of Honor since the Mexican-American War, the first African-American Marine to receive the medal, and the first African-American commissioned officer to receive the medal.
African American enlistment into the U.S. military jumped with the advent of the all-volunteer force in 1973. African-Americans made up about 17 percent of the military's enlisted force when the draft ended in 1973. By the early 1980s, African-Americans made up nearly 24 percent of the enlisted force. When the United States and its allies pushed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait in 1991, the most senior officer in the U.S. military was an African-American, Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell later served as secretary of state in President George W. Bush's administration.
Today, African Americans continue to serve the nation as members of the military during the war on terror. February is African-American History Month, which celebrates the contributions African Americans have made in the U.S. over the years.
(Information for this article was taken from several military, government and civilian sources.)
America Supports You: Group Announces Scholarship Opportunity
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - Homefront America, a troop-support organization based in California, recently announced it will, for the third year, award 25 scholarships in May to benefit military children. Homefront America 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.
The $1,000 scholarships will be awarded with the help of the W. Daniel Tate family and Sara's Hope, a charitable organization that offers annual scholarships to high school students who perform random acts of kindness. These awards will bring the total of the scholarships awarded through Homefront America's "The American Patriot Freedom Scholarship" program to $70,000 since it began in 2006.
"Of all the programs we have available, our scholarship program is the one that is the most requested," said Mamie Yong Maywhort, cofounder of Homefront America. "We are deeply grateful to the Tate family and Sara's Hope for making it possible for us to do this again."
The program is open to dependent students of active-duty servicemembers, retirees, disabled veterans or fallen servicemembers, including activated or deployed Guardsmen and reservists.
Candidates for the scholarships must submit an essay of 500 words or less on one of four approved topics:
-- Why I love my country;
-- Challenge(s) in my life and how I overcame it/them;
-- Of all that my Mom/Dad has done for me, I am most thankful for ...; or
-- My number one American Hero
The essays will be judged on originality, relationship to topic, length, and grammar and spelling. All applications must be postmarked by April 25. Complete eligibility requirements and rules are at the group's Web site, www.homefrontamerica.org.
(From a Homefront America news release.)
Feb. 12, 2008 - Homefront America, a troop-support organization based in California, recently announced it will, for the third year, award 25 scholarships in May to benefit military children. Homefront America 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.
The $1,000 scholarships will be awarded with the help of the W. Daniel Tate family and Sara's Hope, a charitable organization that offers annual scholarships to high school students who perform random acts of kindness. These awards will bring the total of the scholarships awarded through Homefront America's "The American Patriot Freedom Scholarship" program to $70,000 since it began in 2006.
"Of all the programs we have available, our scholarship program is the one that is the most requested," said Mamie Yong Maywhort, cofounder of Homefront America. "We are deeply grateful to the Tate family and Sara's Hope for making it possible for us to do this again."
The program is open to dependent students of active-duty servicemembers, retirees, disabled veterans or fallen servicemembers, including activated or deployed Guardsmen and reservists.
Candidates for the scholarships must submit an essay of 500 words or less on one of four approved topics:
-- Why I love my country;
-- Challenge(s) in my life and how I overcame it/them;
-- Of all that my Mom/Dad has done for me, I am most thankful for ...; or
-- My number one American Hero
The essays will be judged on originality, relationship to topic, length, and grammar and spelling. All applications must be postmarked by April 25. Complete eligibility requirements and rules are at the group's Web site, www.homefrontamerica.org.
(From a Homefront America news release.)
Proposed Treaty Threatens Operations with NATO Allies
By Kristen Noel
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - A proposed arms-control treaty banning use of cluster munitions and aiding countries that use them could affect U.S. operations with NATO allies, a Defense Department official said. A draft treaty to enforce the ban is now circulating among Oslo Convention nations, and it prohibits any form of assistance to countries that use cluster munitions, Joseph Benkert, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for global security affairs, told online journalists and "bloggers" in a conference call yesterday.
Cluster munitions -- small explosives dropped from airplanes and fired from artillery -- have ignited heated international debate, with detractors saying they are indiscriminate and cause civilian casualties. In February 2007, representatives of several foreign nations, including some U.S. allies, gathered at a convention in Oslo, Norway, to negotiate a ban on cluster munitions by the end of 2008.
A NATO ally that signs the Olso Treaty would not be able to operate with U.S. forces in a NATO operation using cluster munitions, Benkert said.
Benkert explained that the United States, which is using cluster munitions in Iraq and Afghanistan, shares the concern over the weapons and has taken steps to minimize harm to civilians. "We in DoD have, over the years, made considerable efforts to reduce the risk to civilians from cluster munitions or any other weapon," he said.
But the U.S. government does not believe a complete ban on cluster munitions, as proposed by the Oslo process, would be in the best interest of national security or of the international community, Benkert said.
"A complete ban would put at risk the lives of our soldiers and those of our coalition partners, and make it more difficult to fulfill our security guarantees to others," he explained. "And for certain types of targets, use of cluster munitions could, in fact, result in fewer civilian casualties and less damage of civilian infrastructure than would be the case if conventional unitary warheads were used against the same target."
Instead, the United States is participating in the Convention on Conventional Weapons, a standing forum attempting to address the cluster munitions issue by balancing military requirements with humanitarian needs, he said.
The Convention on Conventional Weapons involves all key producers and users of cluster munitions -- including Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and South Korea -- that are not supporting the Oslo Treaty.
"All of the major producers and users of cluster munitions are represented in the CCW, and so any resulting instrument from the CCW that these parties agree to is likely to have a much more practical impact than in Olso," Benkert explained.
The Oslo process risks producing a "feel-good" arms-control outcome, he said, where nations without imminent need for cluster munitions produce a ban that has very little effect on their national security, but does have an impact on the security needs of the United States and its NATO allies.
"In our view, (the convention) is the proper forum with the greatest number of states who are producers and users of cluster munitions and most likely to have the impact," he said.
Benkert said the United States is pushing to conclude a protocol for use of cluster munitions within the Convention on Conventional Weapons by November.
(Kristen Noel works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - A proposed arms-control treaty banning use of cluster munitions and aiding countries that use them could affect U.S. operations with NATO allies, a Defense Department official said. A draft treaty to enforce the ban is now circulating among Oslo Convention nations, and it prohibits any form of assistance to countries that use cluster munitions, Joseph Benkert, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for global security affairs, told online journalists and "bloggers" in a conference call yesterday.
Cluster munitions -- small explosives dropped from airplanes and fired from artillery -- have ignited heated international debate, with detractors saying they are indiscriminate and cause civilian casualties. In February 2007, representatives of several foreign nations, including some U.S. allies, gathered at a convention in Oslo, Norway, to negotiate a ban on cluster munitions by the end of 2008.
A NATO ally that signs the Olso Treaty would not be able to operate with U.S. forces in a NATO operation using cluster munitions, Benkert said.
Benkert explained that the United States, which is using cluster munitions in Iraq and Afghanistan, shares the concern over the weapons and has taken steps to minimize harm to civilians. "We in DoD have, over the years, made considerable efforts to reduce the risk to civilians from cluster munitions or any other weapon," he said.
But the U.S. government does not believe a complete ban on cluster munitions, as proposed by the Oslo process, would be in the best interest of national security or of the international community, Benkert said.
"A complete ban would put at risk the lives of our soldiers and those of our coalition partners, and make it more difficult to fulfill our security guarantees to others," he explained. "And for certain types of targets, use of cluster munitions could, in fact, result in fewer civilian casualties and less damage of civilian infrastructure than would be the case if conventional unitary warheads were used against the same target."
Instead, the United States is participating in the Convention on Conventional Weapons, a standing forum attempting to address the cluster munitions issue by balancing military requirements with humanitarian needs, he said.
The Convention on Conventional Weapons involves all key producers and users of cluster munitions -- including Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and South Korea -- that are not supporting the Oslo Treaty.
"All of the major producers and users of cluster munitions are represented in the CCW, and so any resulting instrument from the CCW that these parties agree to is likely to have a much more practical impact than in Olso," Benkert explained.
The Oslo process risks producing a "feel-good" arms-control outcome, he said, where nations without imminent need for cluster munitions produce a ban that has very little effect on their national security, but does have an impact on the security needs of the United States and its NATO allies.
"In our view, (the convention) is the proper forum with the greatest number of states who are producers and users of cluster munitions and most likely to have the impact," he said.
Benkert said the United States is pushing to conclude a protocol for use of cluster munitions within the Convention on Conventional Weapons by November.
(Kristen Noel works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service.)
Admiral Calls USS Nimitz Incident 'Benign'
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - The chief of naval operations today downplayed the low flight of a Russian Tu-95 over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the western Pacific Ocean. The Tu-95 flew over the Nimitz at about 2,000 feet while another bomber flew nearby Feb. 9, but both were escorted by U.S. aircraft and the event did not even warrant a call to "general quarters" or for crews to man battle stations, Navy Adm. Gary Roughead said.
"I did not consider it to be provocative," he told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. "We knew they were coming. We saw them coming. We detected them at the appropriate time. We launched our alert aircraft, who escorted the Russian aircraft. From my perspective, everything worked exactly as we are trained to do and as we expect our people and our commanders to perform."
Roughead, who trained to fight the Soviet navy as a young officer, said he sees the event as a signal that the Russian navy is trying to emerge as a global entity.
"My sense is that they are stretching their wings, so to speak," Roughead said.
When the Russian aircraft turned toward the Nimitz, four F/A-18 fighter jets intercepted and escorted them until they left the Nimitz's operating area.
Roughead said he has not asked for an explanation of the event from the Russian government, adding that no protective airspace is designated around craft operating in international waters.
"It was a very benign flight that came through, and we just latched on to them and followed them in," the admiral said. "I know I'm not playing this up very much, but that's the way I see it. They came out to look. We joined up (and) flew with them until they went home."
In total, four Russian Tu-95 bombers were involved, a Navy spokesman said. Two remained about 500 miles east of the U.S. ships, and another orbited about 50 miles away as the one Tu-95 did two low passes over the Nimitz carrier group, he said.
Asked about the incident at a Senate Budget Committee hearing this morning, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the incident raises questions about Russia's intentions in returning to "a Cold War mindset," and that the Russian aircrew did "nothing different and nothing unprofessional."
"It is free and international airspace," he said, "and we're just trying to now go back and look what message was intended by this overflight."
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - The chief of naval operations today downplayed the low flight of a Russian Tu-95 over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the western Pacific Ocean. The Tu-95 flew over the Nimitz at about 2,000 feet while another bomber flew nearby Feb. 9, but both were escorted by U.S. aircraft and the event did not even warrant a call to "general quarters" or for crews to man battle stations, Navy Adm. Gary Roughead said.
"I did not consider it to be provocative," he told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. "We knew they were coming. We saw them coming. We detected them at the appropriate time. We launched our alert aircraft, who escorted the Russian aircraft. From my perspective, everything worked exactly as we are trained to do and as we expect our people and our commanders to perform."
Roughead, who trained to fight the Soviet navy as a young officer, said he sees the event as a signal that the Russian navy is trying to emerge as a global entity.
"My sense is that they are stretching their wings, so to speak," Roughead said.
When the Russian aircraft turned toward the Nimitz, four F/A-18 fighter jets intercepted and escorted them until they left the Nimitz's operating area.
Roughead said he has not asked for an explanation of the event from the Russian government, adding that no protective airspace is designated around craft operating in international waters.
"It was a very benign flight that came through, and we just latched on to them and followed them in," the admiral said. "I know I'm not playing this up very much, but that's the way I see it. They came out to look. We joined up (and) flew with them until they went home."
In total, four Russian Tu-95 bombers were involved, a Navy spokesman said. Two remained about 500 miles east of the U.S. ships, and another orbited about 50 miles away as the one Tu-95 did two low passes over the Nimitz carrier group, he said.
Asked about the incident at a Senate Budget Committee hearing this morning, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the incident raises questions about Russia's intentions in returning to "a Cold War mindset," and that the Russian aircrew did "nothing different and nothing unprofessional."
"It is free and international airspace," he said, "and we're just trying to now go back and look what message was intended by this overflight."
Navy Efforts in Gulf Reflect New Maritime Strategy
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - The U.S. Navy's efforts in the Persian Gulf are symbolic of the Navy's future and reflect the essence of the forces' new maritime strategy, the chief of naval operations said today. "It's that naval force ... that is guaranteeing that free flow and the safety and security of those very precious commodities," said Navy Adm. Gary Roughead today at a Pentagon news briefing. "That's what navies do. And the fact that we are operating in concert with our friends in the region and other nations who contribute to the coalition speaks to the essence of our maritime strategy, which is one of cooperation and collaboration."
The admiral spoke to reporters just as he is finishing his four-month mark in the Navy's top military position. Roughead said he has spent the past months visiting servicemembers in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, where more sailors are serving on land than on ships, many doing jobs normally performed by ground forces.
"It was a good opportunity to see what our young men and women are doing over there and the contributions that they are making," he said. "The individual augmentees that we have there are doing great work. They bring a range of capabilities and capacities to the ground forces that are there, and when they come back ... they bring a perspective that I think is healthy for our Navy and actually enhance who we are."
Besides visiting sailors overseas, Roughead said, he has also been visiting major shipyards in the United States, talking with contractors and reviewing building processes.
This is critical as he begins to try to build the Navy to 313 ships, a baseline for what is needed for future operations, he said.
"We need at least that number to be able to engage, to be present, to develop the types of relationships, and from that relationship, the trust that goes with being able to conduct cooperative and collaborative operations around the world," the admiral said. "I do believe that being out there does require a Navy that has the capacity and the capability and -- equally important -- the balance across a range of mission areas that allow us operate a global Navy."
One of the issues is the expense for building new ships. One of its new ships, critical to filling in gaps in its new strategy, is the small, fast Littoral Combat Ship. It is designed to patrol "green water" areas, or the regions along the coast. Already facing technical and financial problems, the ship's building costs have doubled to about $460 million. Two contracts for LCS ships have been cancelled because of cost overruns. Two designs are due this year for testing before the Navy chooses one design for development.
Still, Roughead said, the LCS development drives the shipbuilding plan, and the cutting of the two contracts was necessary to preserve the program as a whole.
"We have to inject in our process the discipline to control the requirements that we've placed into the ships," Roughead said. "We have to put in there what we need, not what we want. We also have to make sure that we're doing everything to control costs."
One plan for reducing costs of future shipbuilding is to explore using a common hull, he said. "We can no longer design a different ship for every different mission that we have," he acknowledged.
To reduce costs and build the force, the Navy and shipbuilders will have to work together, the admiral said, "because at the end of the day the Navy and the shipbuilding industry have the same desire ... to build capable ships for our Navy, and that is a high priority of mine," he said.
Roughead said he sees building tomorrow's Navy at the top of his priorities, along with maintaining readiness and bolstering the service's recruiting and retention efforts.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - The U.S. Navy's efforts in the Persian Gulf are symbolic of the Navy's future and reflect the essence of the forces' new maritime strategy, the chief of naval operations said today. "It's that naval force ... that is guaranteeing that free flow and the safety and security of those very precious commodities," said Navy Adm. Gary Roughead today at a Pentagon news briefing. "That's what navies do. And the fact that we are operating in concert with our friends in the region and other nations who contribute to the coalition speaks to the essence of our maritime strategy, which is one of cooperation and collaboration."
The admiral spoke to reporters just as he is finishing his four-month mark in the Navy's top military position. Roughead said he has spent the past months visiting servicemembers in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, where more sailors are serving on land than on ships, many doing jobs normally performed by ground forces.
"It was a good opportunity to see what our young men and women are doing over there and the contributions that they are making," he said. "The individual augmentees that we have there are doing great work. They bring a range of capabilities and capacities to the ground forces that are there, and when they come back ... they bring a perspective that I think is healthy for our Navy and actually enhance who we are."
Besides visiting sailors overseas, Roughead said, he has also been visiting major shipyards in the United States, talking with contractors and reviewing building processes.
This is critical as he begins to try to build the Navy to 313 ships, a baseline for what is needed for future operations, he said.
"We need at least that number to be able to engage, to be present, to develop the types of relationships, and from that relationship, the trust that goes with being able to conduct cooperative and collaborative operations around the world," the admiral said. "I do believe that being out there does require a Navy that has the capacity and the capability and -- equally important -- the balance across a range of mission areas that allow us operate a global Navy."
One of the issues is the expense for building new ships. One of its new ships, critical to filling in gaps in its new strategy, is the small, fast Littoral Combat Ship. It is designed to patrol "green water" areas, or the regions along the coast. Already facing technical and financial problems, the ship's building costs have doubled to about $460 million. Two contracts for LCS ships have been cancelled because of cost overruns. Two designs are due this year for testing before the Navy chooses one design for development.
Still, Roughead said, the LCS development drives the shipbuilding plan, and the cutting of the two contracts was necessary to preserve the program as a whole.
"We have to inject in our process the discipline to control the requirements that we've placed into the ships," Roughead said. "We have to put in there what we need, not what we want. We also have to make sure that we're doing everything to control costs."
One plan for reducing costs of future shipbuilding is to explore using a common hull, he said. "We can no longer design a different ship for every different mission that we have," he acknowledged.
To reduce costs and build the force, the Navy and shipbuilders will have to work together, the admiral said, "because at the end of the day the Navy and the shipbuilding industry have the same desire ... to build capable ships for our Navy, and that is a high priority of mine," he said.
Roughead said he sees building tomorrow's Navy at the top of his priorities, along with maintaining readiness and bolstering the service's recruiting and retention efforts.
MILITARY CONTRACTS
AIR FORCE
Boeing Launch Services of Huntington Beach, Calif., is being awarded a contract modification for $287,997,350. The purpose of this modification is to modify the scope of undefinitized contract action (UCA) P00011 of contract FA8816-06-C-0001, by adding an additional 4 months. This increase in scope will result in an increase of $287,997,013 to the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount. As a result of this change the NTE amount is increased from $294,300,000 to $582,297,350. This action is necessary to maintain uninterrupted support of the Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Capability contract. At this time $215,998,013 has been obligated. SMC/LRK, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0001, P00017).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company of Littleton, Colo., is being awarded a contract modification for $210,429,500. The purpose of this modification is to modify the scope of undefinitized contract action (UCA) P00055 of contract FA8816-06-C-0002, by adding an additional 4 months of performance. This increase in scope will result in an increase of $210,429,500 to the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount. As a result of this change the NTE amount is increased from $248,829,000 to $459,258,500. This action is necessary to maintain uninterrupted support of the Atlas-V Evolved Expendable Launch Capability contract. At this time $157,822,075 has been obligated. SMC/LRK, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0002, P00075).
Harris Corporation-RF Communication Division of Rochester, N.Y., is being awarded a contract for $11,999,322. This announcement is for s sole source, FAR Part 12, acquisition of commercial items, firm fixed price delivery order to provide for the delivery of ancillary communications equipment for Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles. The procurement of this equipment is in response to a Joint Urgent Operational Need. This purchased is for the acquisition of open market items not on the Federal Supply Schedule. At this time all funds have been obligated. 653ELSG/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8726-08-F-0001).
E.J. Mlynarczyk and Co., Incorporated, DBA: EJM Aerospace Services, of Crestview, Fla., is being awarded a firm-fixed price contract for $10,198,777. This is a for non-recurring engineering necessary for the development of the Improved Altitude Hold and Hover Stabilization (IAHHS) System hardware and integration of the hardware into the USAF HH-60G helicopter. This effort includes the development of a tech data package, trial install kits, kitproof kits, production kits, delivery and installation of kits, support the qualification test and evaluation for the IAHHS, interim contract support, and support for all installs. At this time all funds have been obligated. WR-ALC/850th ACSG GPKAB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8509-05-D-0004-0018).
NAVY
Assured Decisions, LLC,* Columbia, Md., is being awarded a $38,526,610 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $143,017,540. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0067).
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation,* Warminster, Pa., is being awarded a $37,464,541 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $136,866,805. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0065).
Gnostech, Inc., Warminster, Pa., is being awarded a $30,821,248 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $116,517,587. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be completed February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0064).
TKC Technology Solutions, LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a $35,661,112 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $136,746,160. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be completed February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0066).
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $20,533,548 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-05-C-0040) to exercise an option for the fiscal year 2008 procurement of 60 BQM-74E aerial targets and associated technical data for the Navy (58) and the governments of Japan (1) and Switzerland (1). The BQM-74E is a subsonic, subscale, jet-powered aerial target capable of being air launched or surface launched (land or shipboard). The BQM-74E supports fleet training requirements for gunnery, surface-to-air and air-to-air missile exercises from fixed sites and during open ocean and deployed remote site operations, both air and land. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($19,849,858; 96.7 percent) and the government of Japan $341,845 (1.65 percent); and Switzerland ($341,845; 1.65 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (36 percent); Walled Lake, Mich. (24 percent); Los Angeles, Calif. (14 percent); Elmira, N.Y. (11 percent); Palmdale, Calif. (10 percent); and Mandaree, N.D. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $2,734,756 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
IOWA Tribe of OK DBA BKJ Solutions, Inc., Perkins, Okla., was awarded on Jan. 30, 2008, a $9,255,808 firm-fixed-price contract for training requirements arbitration panels. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and is expected to be completed by July 10, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This web solicitation was posted on Dec. 19, 2007, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., is the contracting activity W912DQ-08-C-0018.
General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on February 8, 2008, a $5,977,752 firm-fixed-price contract for integrated logistics support for the FOX Block 1 upgrade plus program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There one bid solicited on Aug. 25, 2007, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md, is the contracting activity DAAM01-96-C-0028.
Boeing Launch Services of Huntington Beach, Calif., is being awarded a contract modification for $287,997,350. The purpose of this modification is to modify the scope of undefinitized contract action (UCA) P00011 of contract FA8816-06-C-0001, by adding an additional 4 months. This increase in scope will result in an increase of $287,997,013 to the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount. As a result of this change the NTE amount is increased from $294,300,000 to $582,297,350. This action is necessary to maintain uninterrupted support of the Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Capability contract. At this time $215,998,013 has been obligated. SMC/LRK, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0001, P00017).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company of Littleton, Colo., is being awarded a contract modification for $210,429,500. The purpose of this modification is to modify the scope of undefinitized contract action (UCA) P00055 of contract FA8816-06-C-0002, by adding an additional 4 months of performance. This increase in scope will result in an increase of $210,429,500 to the not-to-exceed (NTE) amount. As a result of this change the NTE amount is increased from $248,829,000 to $459,258,500. This action is necessary to maintain uninterrupted support of the Atlas-V Evolved Expendable Launch Capability contract. At this time $157,822,075 has been obligated. SMC/LRK, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0002, P00075).
Harris Corporation-RF Communication Division of Rochester, N.Y., is being awarded a contract for $11,999,322. This announcement is for s sole source, FAR Part 12, acquisition of commercial items, firm fixed price delivery order to provide for the delivery of ancillary communications equipment for Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles. The procurement of this equipment is in response to a Joint Urgent Operational Need. This purchased is for the acquisition of open market items not on the Federal Supply Schedule. At this time all funds have been obligated. 653ELSG/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (FA8726-08-F-0001).
E.J. Mlynarczyk and Co., Incorporated, DBA: EJM Aerospace Services, of Crestview, Fla., is being awarded a firm-fixed price contract for $10,198,777. This is a for non-recurring engineering necessary for the development of the Improved Altitude Hold and Hover Stabilization (IAHHS) System hardware and integration of the hardware into the USAF HH-60G helicopter. This effort includes the development of a tech data package, trial install kits, kitproof kits, production kits, delivery and installation of kits, support the qualification test and evaluation for the IAHHS, interim contract support, and support for all installs. At this time all funds have been obligated. WR-ALC/850th ACSG GPKAB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8509-05-D-0004-0018).
NAVY
Assured Decisions, LLC,* Columbia, Md., is being awarded a $38,526,610 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $143,017,540. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0067).
Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation,* Warminster, Pa., is being awarded a $37,464,541 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $136,866,805. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0065).
Gnostech, Inc., Warminster, Pa., is being awarded a $30,821,248 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $116,517,587. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be completed February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0064).
TKC Technology Solutions, LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a $35,661,112 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide engineering capability support for requirements analysis, design and development for a range of programs and projects during the critical period from system conception through system operation. These programs include efforts in the areas of engineering and technical support services required to augment Command and Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) programs and projects through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC San Diego) C4ISR Programs Office, Philadelphia. This three-year contract contains two one-year options and one three-year option, which, if awarded, would bring the total cumulative value of this contract to $136,746,160. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, Pa., and work is expected to be completed February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as a 100% Small Business Set-Aside via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website, and posting to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems e-Commerce Central website, with nine offers received. This contract is one of four contracts awarded: all four awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. SSC San Diego is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0066).
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $20,533,548 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-05-C-0040) to exercise an option for the fiscal year 2008 procurement of 60 BQM-74E aerial targets and associated technical data for the Navy (58) and the governments of Japan (1) and Switzerland (1). The BQM-74E is a subsonic, subscale, jet-powered aerial target capable of being air launched or surface launched (land or shipboard). The BQM-74E supports fleet training requirements for gunnery, surface-to-air and air-to-air missile exercises from fixed sites and during open ocean and deployed remote site operations, both air and land. This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($19,849,858; 96.7 percent) and the government of Japan $341,845 (1.65 percent); and Switzerland ($341,845; 1.65 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (36 percent); Walled Lake, Mich. (24 percent); Los Angeles, Calif. (14 percent); Elmira, N.Y. (11 percent); Palmdale, Calif. (10 percent); and Mandaree, N.D. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $2,734,756 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
ARMY
IOWA Tribe of OK DBA BKJ Solutions, Inc., Perkins, Okla., was awarded on Jan. 30, 2008, a $9,255,808 firm-fixed-price contract for training requirements arbitration panels. Work will be performed in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and is expected to be completed by July 10, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This web solicitation was posted on Dec. 19, 2007, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., is the contracting activity W912DQ-08-C-0018.
General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on February 8, 2008, a $5,977,752 firm-fixed-price contract for integrated logistics support for the FOX Block 1 upgrade plus program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There one bid solicited on Aug. 25, 2007, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md, is the contracting activity DAAM01-96-C-0028.
Russian Jet Buzzes Nimitz, Incident Raises Concern
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - A weekend incident in which a Russian bomber "buzzed" the Nimitz battle group in the Pacific raises concerns about Russia's intent and the message it was meant to send, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress today. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright told the Senate Budget Committee the encounter -- in which U.S. F/A-18 jets scrambled to intercept a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber as it flew at 2,000 feet above the battle group -- ended without incident but raises big questions.
U.S. forces detected two Russian Tu-95s early Feb. 9 as they flew south of Japan, U.S. Pacific Fleet officials reported. The aircraft turned inbound toward USS Nimitz, and Carrier Air Wing 11 aircraft were launched to intercept them. Four F/A-18 fighter jets intercepted and escorted the Russian aircraft until they left the Nimitz's operating area, officials said.
In total, four Russian Tu-95 bombers were involved, a Navy spokesman said. Two remained about 500 miles east of the U.S. ships, and another orbited about 50 miles away as one Tu-95 did two low passes over the Nimitz carrier group, he said.
"Now what we are concerned about is, 'What are the indications of this return to a Cold War mindset?'" Cartwright told the committee in response to a senator's question. "What are the implications of that activity, and how do we best address that?"
Cartwright conceded that the incident occurred in international airspace and "within the normal air structure," but he said it's left defense officials questioning the rationale behind it. "What message was intended by this overflight?" he said.
U.S. jets scrambled after detecting the Russian bombers more than 500 miles out and escorted them as they turned and headed toward home, Cartwright said. He said the actions were normal response to such activities in international waters. "These are the standard practices from our standpoint of intercept, escort, follow them through, and then follow them until they are out of range of the battle group's normal operations," he said.
The escort provided "both for safety of flight in the area and for the potential protection that would be afforded by having an escort along," he said.
Twenty-two Japanese jets also scrambled in response to the incident, a Navy spokesman said. Japan has charged Russia with violating Japanese airspace.
Cartwright said encounters like the one that occurred over the weekend have happened before, but not recently. A Russian Bear overflew USS Kitty Hawk in July 2004 as it operated in the Sea of Japan, U.S. Pacific Fleet officials said.
"We treat that as something that is unusual from the standpoint that there has been a significant lapse in time since that last occurred," Cartwright said. "But not significant is that the practice was done safely, professionally and they were escorted out of the area."
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group entered the U.S. 7th Fleet's area of responsibility just one day before the incident to fill in while USS Kitty Hawk undergoes scheduled maintenance in Japan. The 7th Fleet, the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, includes about 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 sailors and Marines and is operating in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans.
USS Nimitz arrived in Sasebo, Japan, Feb. 11 for a scheduled port visit. Its crew is participating in friendship-building and goodwill-generating activities, as well as cultural exchanges, Navy officials said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - A weekend incident in which a Russian bomber "buzzed" the Nimitz battle group in the Pacific raises concerns about Russia's intent and the message it was meant to send, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress today. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright told the Senate Budget Committee the encounter -- in which U.S. F/A-18 jets scrambled to intercept a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber as it flew at 2,000 feet above the battle group -- ended without incident but raises big questions.
U.S. forces detected two Russian Tu-95s early Feb. 9 as they flew south of Japan, U.S. Pacific Fleet officials reported. The aircraft turned inbound toward USS Nimitz, and Carrier Air Wing 11 aircraft were launched to intercept them. Four F/A-18 fighter jets intercepted and escorted the Russian aircraft until they left the Nimitz's operating area, officials said.
In total, four Russian Tu-95 bombers were involved, a Navy spokesman said. Two remained about 500 miles east of the U.S. ships, and another orbited about 50 miles away as one Tu-95 did two low passes over the Nimitz carrier group, he said.
"Now what we are concerned about is, 'What are the indications of this return to a Cold War mindset?'" Cartwright told the committee in response to a senator's question. "What are the implications of that activity, and how do we best address that?"
Cartwright conceded that the incident occurred in international airspace and "within the normal air structure," but he said it's left defense officials questioning the rationale behind it. "What message was intended by this overflight?" he said.
U.S. jets scrambled after detecting the Russian bombers more than 500 miles out and escorted them as they turned and headed toward home, Cartwright said. He said the actions were normal response to such activities in international waters. "These are the standard practices from our standpoint of intercept, escort, follow them through, and then follow them until they are out of range of the battle group's normal operations," he said.
The escort provided "both for safety of flight in the area and for the potential protection that would be afforded by having an escort along," he said.
Twenty-two Japanese jets also scrambled in response to the incident, a Navy spokesman said. Japan has charged Russia with violating Japanese airspace.
Cartwright said encounters like the one that occurred over the weekend have happened before, but not recently. A Russian Bear overflew USS Kitty Hawk in July 2004 as it operated in the Sea of Japan, U.S. Pacific Fleet officials said.
"We treat that as something that is unusual from the standpoint that there has been a significant lapse in time since that last occurred," Cartwright said. "But not significant is that the practice was done safely, professionally and they were escorted out of the area."
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group entered the U.S. 7th Fleet's area of responsibility just one day before the incident to fill in while USS Kitty Hawk undergoes scheduled maintenance in Japan. The 7th Fleet, the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, includes about 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 sailors and Marines and is operating in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans.
USS Nimitz arrived in Sasebo, Japan, Feb. 11 for a scheduled port visit. Its crew is participating in friendship-building and goodwill-generating activities, as well as cultural exchanges, Navy officials said.
Police Tactical Product
February 13, 2008 (Newport Beach, CA) Bust A Cap, Inc. announced a new, one-of-a-kind device that attaches to your existing flashlight or baton that gives police officers, military and security personnel a tactical advantage in breaking glass windows. Bust A Cap is a rapid entry tool that was designed by a 13-year veteran of one of the largest Sheriff’s Departments in the United States. This device is being utilized by law enforcement, fire departments, government agencies, private security and civilians around the world, giving them a tactical and safe entry or exit out of an automobile, house, boat or plane. By replace the existing cap on a flashlight or baton with a new Bust A Cap device, the user is able to easily make entry through glass windows. The device is manufactured in the United States and made from special steel; applies to an existing flashlight or baton in less than a minute; requires no special training; and, will break a glass window with one tap.
Contact Information
Todd Summers, CEO
BUST A CAP, INC.
20292 Birch Street
Newport Beach, CA. 92660
(949) 752 8100
www.bustacap.net
Contact Information
Todd Summers, CEO
BUST A CAP, INC.
20292 Birch Street
Newport Beach, CA. 92660
(949) 752 8100
www.bustacap.net
Deputy Secretary Urges Prompt Funding for Current, Future Challenges
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - The proposed fiscal 2009 defense budget will enable the department to continue resourcing troops on the front lines fighting terrorism while also ensuring the military's readiness to confront other challenges, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told a Senate committee today. England joined Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Comptroller Tina W. Jonas in discussing with the Senate Budget Committee details of the fiscal 2009 budget and war cost recommendations.
President Bush has asked Congress for $515.4 billion for the fiscal 2009 base budget, plus another $70 billion in emergency "bridge" funding to cover war costs into the next calendar year.
England conceded that the dollars are high, but critical investments in light of threats facing the country. It's "a lot of money, but it does reflect the reality of the world we live in," he said. "And when appropriated, it will provide the necessary resources to execute the national military strategy."
Noting the "complex security environment we are in today," England cited the "variety of very prominent challenges" facing the country. He pointed to the threats posed by terrorism, extremism, jihadism and ethnic, tribal and sectarian conflict. But other challenges and potential challenges loom, as well: proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, failed and failing states, and emerging powers with yet-unclear intentions.
"Each of these threats ... poses unique challenges and demands on the Department of Defense," England told the committee. "Even while we are committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, we do have to be concerned about the other security challenges to our nation, so we look at this in a much broader context."
As the United States applies a comprehensive approach and every aspect of national power to address these challenges, it will continue to rely heavily on the Defense Department and its capabilities, he said.
England urged the senators to approve the defense and wartime supplemental funding requests quickly to avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred this year. The fiscal 2008 defense budget did not pass into law until late January, though the fiscal year began Oct. 1.
Such a delay would be even more challenging in 2009, particularly in light of disruption expected during the change in U.S. administrations, he told the committee.
"It will be extraordinarily difficult to manage the department and to maintain our security both for our people in combat and for our citizens if we are also, at that time, in a budget turmoil like we were last year," he said. "It is vitally important that we have some consistency in terms of our funding and predictability in that funding. Otherwise, it will be hugely disruptive, I think, for everyone come this fall."
England said predicting long-term war costs is nearly impossible, especially before hearing Army Gen. David H. Petraeus' recommendations for force structure in Iraq beyond this summer. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, is expected to deliver his assessment to President Bush and Congress in late March or early April.
But in the meantime, England said, the country must ensure its troops in harm's way have what they need to succeed.
"We have these magnificent men and women who come forward to protect and defend our nation, and therefore it is incumbent on us, frankly, to provide them the funding they need," he said. "They are deployed today, and it is incumbent on our nation to support our men and women in uniform."
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - The proposed fiscal 2009 defense budget will enable the department to continue resourcing troops on the front lines fighting terrorism while also ensuring the military's readiness to confront other challenges, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told a Senate committee today. England joined Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Comptroller Tina W. Jonas in discussing with the Senate Budget Committee details of the fiscal 2009 budget and war cost recommendations.
President Bush has asked Congress for $515.4 billion for the fiscal 2009 base budget, plus another $70 billion in emergency "bridge" funding to cover war costs into the next calendar year.
England conceded that the dollars are high, but critical investments in light of threats facing the country. It's "a lot of money, but it does reflect the reality of the world we live in," he said. "And when appropriated, it will provide the necessary resources to execute the national military strategy."
Noting the "complex security environment we are in today," England cited the "variety of very prominent challenges" facing the country. He pointed to the threats posed by terrorism, extremism, jihadism and ethnic, tribal and sectarian conflict. But other challenges and potential challenges loom, as well: proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, failed and failing states, and emerging powers with yet-unclear intentions.
"Each of these threats ... poses unique challenges and demands on the Department of Defense," England told the committee. "Even while we are committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, we do have to be concerned about the other security challenges to our nation, so we look at this in a much broader context."
As the United States applies a comprehensive approach and every aspect of national power to address these challenges, it will continue to rely heavily on the Defense Department and its capabilities, he said.
England urged the senators to approve the defense and wartime supplemental funding requests quickly to avoid a repeat of the situation that occurred this year. The fiscal 2008 defense budget did not pass into law until late January, though the fiscal year began Oct. 1.
Such a delay would be even more challenging in 2009, particularly in light of disruption expected during the change in U.S. administrations, he told the committee.
"It will be extraordinarily difficult to manage the department and to maintain our security both for our people in combat and for our citizens if we are also, at that time, in a budget turmoil like we were last year," he said. "It is vitally important that we have some consistency in terms of our funding and predictability in that funding. Otherwise, it will be hugely disruptive, I think, for everyone come this fall."
England said predicting long-term war costs is nearly impossible, especially before hearing Army Gen. David H. Petraeus' recommendations for force structure in Iraq beyond this summer. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, is expected to deliver his assessment to President Bush and Congress in late March or early April.
But in the meantime, England said, the country must ensure its troops in harm's way have what they need to succeed.
"We have these magnificent men and women who come forward to protect and defend our nation, and therefore it is incumbent on us, frankly, to provide them the funding they need," he said. "They are deployed today, and it is incumbent on our nation to support our men and women in uniform."
Research Agency Celebrates 50th Anniversary Looking to Future
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - Fifty years after President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in response to the Russians' surprise Sputnik launch, the agency continues to advance technologies and systems that give revolutionary advantages to the U.S. military. Eisenhower's guidance to the new agency when it stood up in February 1958 was clear: keep the U.S. military ahead of its enemies technologically and prevent any future technology surprise from another nation. That meant forging ahead with innovative, sometimes even radical, concepts that might be too risky for the private sector to take on alone.
Fifty years later, DARPA continues following that charge, pushing the envelope toward what Anthony J. Tether, its director since 2001, describes as "the far side" of science and technology development.
Speaking at DARPA's 25th Systems and Technology Symposium in Anaheim, Calif., in August, Tether contrasted DARPA's work with that of the services, which tend to concentrate on "the near and mid-side" and improving "concepts and systems that we know about."
DARPA focuses on new and sometimes radical concepts and systems, many considered higher-risk because their feasibility isn't known, he told participants.
"We search for those ideas worldwide that may make a tremendous difference, and whose time has come to bring them to the near side as fast as possible," Tether said. "DARPA bridges the gap between fundamental discoveries and new military capabilities, and has been doing so since our beginning."
In its earliest days, DARPA -- which initially had no "Defense" in front of its name -- focused on accelerating the development of U.S. space launch and satellite capabilities. The agency developed the Saturn V rocket that enabled the United States to launch the Apollo missions to the moon.
DARPA also developed the first surveillance satellites that gave U.S. presidents intelligence about Russian missile-program activities. "DARPA was not only preventing surprise, but was now creating surprise for our adversaries," Tether said.
DARPA branched out to other fields, too. It began the information revolution by creating the ARPANET that led to today's Internet. The system began by interconnecting computer at four university research sites in the late 1960s. By 1972, it had grown to include 37 computers. Now, Tether pointed out, the Internet it led to is approaching 1 billion connections.
DARPA developed technologies that revolutionized warfare: stealth aircraft, advanced precision munitions and the Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan today.
But not all of DARPA's past accomplishments are as well known, Tether said. He cited the development of new materials such as gallium arsenide, used in high-speed circuits, and new metals such as beryllium that are stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum.
Other advances include solid-state photon detectors that led to today's night vision capabilities and microwave and millimeter-wave monolithic integrated circuits, or MIMICS, that enable cell phones and miniature global position system receivers to work. DARPA's work in lithography enabled a microchip smaller than a thumbnail to hold 100 billion transistors. The agency also developed the computer mouse, an effort to make computers more user-friendly.
Meanwhile, Tether said recent DARPA accomplishments are giving U.S. forces fundamentally new capabilities. He's a firm believer that the key to success in future military operations rests in the network, and has the agency busy developing several network-centric capabilities.
One that's already deployed, the Command Post of the Future, enabled computers to serve as virtual command posts that enable commanders and platoon leaders to conduct operations from wherever they happen to be.
Another "game changer" is the Network Centric Radio System, a technology that enables previously incompatible radios to communicate with each other. "An Army soldier can now talk to a Marine, or to an Air Force aircraft or a Navy ship," Tether said.
Yet another DARPA technology Tether said is making a difference is the WASP micro air vehicle that weighs less than a pound and can be launched with a simple hand-throw. The device has a camera that sends high-quality video to the warfighter, providing real-time information on locations important to them.
"Marines use WASP today," Tether said. "They call it their guardian angel. It watches over and protects them."
Tether ran down a laundry list of other technologies under development at DARPA he said could prove to be "future game changers" if they're successful. One aims to extract high-quality military jet fuel from U.S. crops. Another could lead to a machine capable of translating foreign language speech and text as well as, if not better than, an experienced linguist.
Other technologies DARPA is seeking to develop include an aircraft able to refuel and remain airborne autonomously for five years or even longer, and an autonomous ground vehicle able to remove forces from harm's way and save lives on the battlefield. Another is to create a prosthesis to replace an arm lost in combat that's so capable "the soldier could learn to play Dixieland on the piano," Tether said.
One project seeks to develop a computer able to process more than a billion million instructions per second. Such a high-speed computer would be revolutionary, Tether said. "This new capability will dramatically reduce the time it takes to design, test and bring an idea to reality, giving us a great strategic and tactical advantage over the rest of the world," he said.
Fifty years after DARPA's inception, Tether said, he's proud to report that the agency has stayed true to its original charter. It's remained "an organization willing to take a bet on an idea long before it is proven," he said. It's "a place for people with ideas too crazy, too far out, too risky, even considered by some as bad, that have turned out to be major game changers for the U.S."
Tether pointed to the strategic and tactical dominance the United States has achieved in many areas during the past 50 years. "If the technology was a game-changer, chances are that DARPA had a role," he said.
The threats the United States faces today are far different from those of 50 years ago, Tether said. Gone is the Soviet threat, replaced by new adversaries and threats such as those that launched the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "The urgency of maintaining technological surprise is as acute as ever," Tether said in a statement released for DARPA's 50th anniversary observance.
"In this time of uncertainty, DARPA's mission remains constant: anticipate all challenges and discover the technical means to conquer those challenges," he told attendees at the 25th Systems and Technology Symposium. DARPA continues its work aimed at "helping our nation prepare for an uncertain future, using the power of ideas to bridge the gap," he said.
Tether, the agency's longest-serving director, said in an anniversary statement he's honored to lead it into its sixth decade. "Everyone at DARPA feels a personal commitment to continuing to deliver revolutionary technologies in support of our men and women in uniform," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - Fifty years after President Dwight D. Eisenhower created the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in response to the Russians' surprise Sputnik launch, the agency continues to advance technologies and systems that give revolutionary advantages to the U.S. military. Eisenhower's guidance to the new agency when it stood up in February 1958 was clear: keep the U.S. military ahead of its enemies technologically and prevent any future technology surprise from another nation. That meant forging ahead with innovative, sometimes even radical, concepts that might be too risky for the private sector to take on alone.
Fifty years later, DARPA continues following that charge, pushing the envelope toward what Anthony J. Tether, its director since 2001, describes as "the far side" of science and technology development.
Speaking at DARPA's 25th Systems and Technology Symposium in Anaheim, Calif., in August, Tether contrasted DARPA's work with that of the services, which tend to concentrate on "the near and mid-side" and improving "concepts and systems that we know about."
DARPA focuses on new and sometimes radical concepts and systems, many considered higher-risk because their feasibility isn't known, he told participants.
"We search for those ideas worldwide that may make a tremendous difference, and whose time has come to bring them to the near side as fast as possible," Tether said. "DARPA bridges the gap between fundamental discoveries and new military capabilities, and has been doing so since our beginning."
In its earliest days, DARPA -- which initially had no "Defense" in front of its name -- focused on accelerating the development of U.S. space launch and satellite capabilities. The agency developed the Saturn V rocket that enabled the United States to launch the Apollo missions to the moon.
DARPA also developed the first surveillance satellites that gave U.S. presidents intelligence about Russian missile-program activities. "DARPA was not only preventing surprise, but was now creating surprise for our adversaries," Tether said.
DARPA branched out to other fields, too. It began the information revolution by creating the ARPANET that led to today's Internet. The system began by interconnecting computer at four university research sites in the late 1960s. By 1972, it had grown to include 37 computers. Now, Tether pointed out, the Internet it led to is approaching 1 billion connections.
DARPA developed technologies that revolutionized warfare: stealth aircraft, advanced precision munitions and the Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan today.
But not all of DARPA's past accomplishments are as well known, Tether said. He cited the development of new materials such as gallium arsenide, used in high-speed circuits, and new metals such as beryllium that are stronger than steel but lighter than aluminum.
Other advances include solid-state photon detectors that led to today's night vision capabilities and microwave and millimeter-wave monolithic integrated circuits, or MIMICS, that enable cell phones and miniature global position system receivers to work. DARPA's work in lithography enabled a microchip smaller than a thumbnail to hold 100 billion transistors. The agency also developed the computer mouse, an effort to make computers more user-friendly.
Meanwhile, Tether said recent DARPA accomplishments are giving U.S. forces fundamentally new capabilities. He's a firm believer that the key to success in future military operations rests in the network, and has the agency busy developing several network-centric capabilities.
One that's already deployed, the Command Post of the Future, enabled computers to serve as virtual command posts that enable commanders and platoon leaders to conduct operations from wherever they happen to be.
Another "game changer" is the Network Centric Radio System, a technology that enables previously incompatible radios to communicate with each other. "An Army soldier can now talk to a Marine, or to an Air Force aircraft or a Navy ship," Tether said.
Yet another DARPA technology Tether said is making a difference is the WASP micro air vehicle that weighs less than a pound and can be launched with a simple hand-throw. The device has a camera that sends high-quality video to the warfighter, providing real-time information on locations important to them.
"Marines use WASP today," Tether said. "They call it their guardian angel. It watches over and protects them."
Tether ran down a laundry list of other technologies under development at DARPA he said could prove to be "future game changers" if they're successful. One aims to extract high-quality military jet fuel from U.S. crops. Another could lead to a machine capable of translating foreign language speech and text as well as, if not better than, an experienced linguist.
Other technologies DARPA is seeking to develop include an aircraft able to refuel and remain airborne autonomously for five years or even longer, and an autonomous ground vehicle able to remove forces from harm's way and save lives on the battlefield. Another is to create a prosthesis to replace an arm lost in combat that's so capable "the soldier could learn to play Dixieland on the piano," Tether said.
One project seeks to develop a computer able to process more than a billion million instructions per second. Such a high-speed computer would be revolutionary, Tether said. "This new capability will dramatically reduce the time it takes to design, test and bring an idea to reality, giving us a great strategic and tactical advantage over the rest of the world," he said.
Fifty years after DARPA's inception, Tether said, he's proud to report that the agency has stayed true to its original charter. It's remained "an organization willing to take a bet on an idea long before it is proven," he said. It's "a place for people with ideas too crazy, too far out, too risky, even considered by some as bad, that have turned out to be major game changers for the U.S."
Tether pointed to the strategic and tactical dominance the United States has achieved in many areas during the past 50 years. "If the technology was a game-changer, chances are that DARPA had a role," he said.
The threats the United States faces today are far different from those of 50 years ago, Tether said. Gone is the Soviet threat, replaced by new adversaries and threats such as those that launched the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "The urgency of maintaining technological surprise is as acute as ever," Tether said in a statement released for DARPA's 50th anniversary observance.
"In this time of uncertainty, DARPA's mission remains constant: anticipate all challenges and discover the technical means to conquer those challenges," he told attendees at the 25th Systems and Technology Symposium. DARPA continues its work aimed at "helping our nation prepare for an uncertain future, using the power of ideas to bridge the gap," he said.
Tether, the agency's longest-serving director, said in an anniversary statement he's honored to lead it into its sixth decade. "Everyone at DARPA feels a personal commitment to continuing to deliver revolutionary technologies in support of our men and women in uniform," he said.
DoD and GSA Partnership To Protect Sensitive Data Saves Government Millions Through Cost Avoidance
The Department of Defense and the General Services Administration (GSA) announced today that collaborative efforts to provide federal, state and local agencies with the latest Data-At-Rest (DAR) encryption technology at reduced prices have yielded approximately $58 million in savings through avoided costs to the government.
DAR encryption products protect sensitive unclassified data on mobile computing devices and removable storage media.
The Data At Rest Tiger Team (DARTT), a multi-agency task force in partnership with the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (DoD ESI) and GSA SmartBUY, analyzed sales reports from July through December 2007 to evaluate DAR encryption products purchased by state, local and federal government agencies from qualified vendors using DoD/GSA-sponsored blanket purchase agreements (BPAs). DARTT's analysis showed that, cumulatively, the BPAs enabled these government organizations to purchase $73 million in DAR encryption products for only $15 million.
As part of an initiative that began in June 2007, the DARTT employed a highly collaborative acquisition process using Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 8, "Required Sources of Supplies and Services", to competitively award multiple BPAs for use by federal, state, local and tribal governments and NATO. The team was able to achieve a consensus on stringent technical requirements and received support from the U.S. Air Force's 754th Electronic Systems Group at Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., the acquisition arm of DoD ESI. The DARTT enables the acquisition of information assurance and computer network defense technologies at deep discounts by leveraging the purchasing power of the federal government.
"This is an innovative and exciting process," said David Wennergren, DoD deputy chief information officer. "I am extremely pleased that this historic effort is already showing results that far exceed our initial expectations."
Robert Lentz, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information and identity assurance, underscored the significance and impact of this achievement. "The American public and government employees expect us to do all we can to protect personally identifiable information (PII) data on laptops and removable media," he said. "The success of the DARTT represents an important step toward achieving this critical requirement and ensuring that PII is protected at all levels of the government. This acquisition is also a key part of our information assurance transformation strategy to strive for enterprise solutions across government."
Government agencies that have taken advantage of government-wide BPAs to purchase DAR products include the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Commerce, Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Transportation Security Agency, U.S. Army, government contractors, and a multi-state consortium led by the State of New York CISO. Through the GSA Cooperative Purchasing Program, numerous state and local government agencies from Ohio, Washington, Georgia, South Carolina, Michigan, Florida, and Connecticut have purchased products from the BPAs—a first in government, according to GSA.
"Protecting data-at-rest has become increasingly critical in today's information technology (IT) environment of highly mobile data and decreasing device size," said John Johnson, assistant commissioner for integrated technology services in the Federal Acquisition Service of GSA. "Personal identity information or sensitive government information stored on devices such as laptops, thumb drives and PDAs is often unaccounted for and unprotected, and that can pose a problem if these devices are compromised."
"The DARTT process is a powerful tool to attain interagency consensus in achieving OMB-directed security goals," Johnson stated. "GSA SmartBUY is moving forward to establish competitively awarded BPAs for compliance with the federal desktop core configuration and security content automation protocol that will bring significant value to the government at large."
DAR encryption products protect sensitive unclassified data on mobile computing devices and removable storage media.
The Data At Rest Tiger Team (DARTT), a multi-agency task force in partnership with the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (DoD ESI) and GSA SmartBUY, analyzed sales reports from July through December 2007 to evaluate DAR encryption products purchased by state, local and federal government agencies from qualified vendors using DoD/GSA-sponsored blanket purchase agreements (BPAs). DARTT's analysis showed that, cumulatively, the BPAs enabled these government organizations to purchase $73 million in DAR encryption products for only $15 million.
As part of an initiative that began in June 2007, the DARTT employed a highly collaborative acquisition process using Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 8, "Required Sources of Supplies and Services", to competitively award multiple BPAs for use by federal, state, local and tribal governments and NATO. The team was able to achieve a consensus on stringent technical requirements and received support from the U.S. Air Force's 754th Electronic Systems Group at Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., the acquisition arm of DoD ESI. The DARTT enables the acquisition of information assurance and computer network defense technologies at deep discounts by leveraging the purchasing power of the federal government.
"This is an innovative and exciting process," said David Wennergren, DoD deputy chief information officer. "I am extremely pleased that this historic effort is already showing results that far exceed our initial expectations."
Robert Lentz, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information and identity assurance, underscored the significance and impact of this achievement. "The American public and government employees expect us to do all we can to protect personally identifiable information (PII) data on laptops and removable media," he said. "The success of the DARTT represents an important step toward achieving this critical requirement and ensuring that PII is protected at all levels of the government. This acquisition is also a key part of our information assurance transformation strategy to strive for enterprise solutions across government."
Government agencies that have taken advantage of government-wide BPAs to purchase DAR products include the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Commerce, Defense Logistics Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Transportation Security Agency, U.S. Army, government contractors, and a multi-state consortium led by the State of New York CISO. Through the GSA Cooperative Purchasing Program, numerous state and local government agencies from Ohio, Washington, Georgia, South Carolina, Michigan, Florida, and Connecticut have purchased products from the BPAs—a first in government, according to GSA.
"Protecting data-at-rest has become increasingly critical in today's information technology (IT) environment of highly mobile data and decreasing device size," said John Johnson, assistant commissioner for integrated technology services in the Federal Acquisition Service of GSA. "Personal identity information or sensitive government information stored on devices such as laptops, thumb drives and PDAs is often unaccounted for and unprotected, and that can pose a problem if these devices are compromised."
"The DARTT process is a powerful tool to attain interagency consensus in achieving OMB-directed security goals," Johnson stated. "GSA SmartBUY is moving forward to establish competitively awarded BPAs for compliance with the federal desktop core configuration and security content automation protocol that will bring significant value to the government at large."
Guard Soldiers Join Virginia Firefighting Mission
By Maj. Cotton Puryear, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - More than 120 Virginia National Guard soldiers went on state active duty yesterday to join in the battle against wildfires raging throughout the state. While a Virginia National Guard helicopter dumped 600-gallon buckets of water to help contain fires in the Tazewell area, more than 100 soldiers trained at Fort Pickett to be prepared for duty today in Roanoke and Bedford.
"The Virginia National Guard helicopters were amazingly effective today," Dave Slack, the Virginia Forestry Department's regional forester in Tazewell, said last night. "Our objective for the Guard was to protect structures in the area from the fires, and we accomplished that mission."
The target area was a housing development about a mile southeast of Center Cross, Slack explained. The terrain in that area would have made it very difficult for Forestry Department personnel to battle the blaze with their tracked vehicles.
It would have taken a crew of four to six firefighter and forestry personnel three to five days to accomplish what the Virginia Guard helicopter did in an hour, Slack said.
As the Guard aviators were helping to contain fires with their water dumps, about 100 Virginia Guard soldiers conducted firefighting training with the Forestry Department at Fort Pickett.
The soldiers were scheduled to leave Fort Pickett early this morning. About 60 soldiers are scheduled to travel to the Roanoke Armory to establish a command post and begin assisting Forestry Department officials with the firefighting effort in the Carvin's Cove area. About 40 soldiers are scheduled to travel to the Bedford area and assist with the fight in the Smith Mountain Lake area, National Guard officials said.
The soldiers will support the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Forestry Department by providing fire-line construction and clean-up efforts in the affected areas.
The soldiers are from elements of 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry, and come from Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville, South Boston and other cities throughout Virginia.
The 1st Battalion recently returned from a yearlong mission in Kosovo and celebrated its return at a Freedom Salute Ceremony on Feb. 10. This is the soldiers' first call to state active duty since their return in November.
(Army Maj. Cotton Puryear serves with the Virginia National Guard.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2008 - More than 120 Virginia National Guard soldiers went on state active duty yesterday to join in the battle against wildfires raging throughout the state. While a Virginia National Guard helicopter dumped 600-gallon buckets of water to help contain fires in the Tazewell area, more than 100 soldiers trained at Fort Pickett to be prepared for duty today in Roanoke and Bedford.
"The Virginia National Guard helicopters were amazingly effective today," Dave Slack, the Virginia Forestry Department's regional forester in Tazewell, said last night. "Our objective for the Guard was to protect structures in the area from the fires, and we accomplished that mission."
The target area was a housing development about a mile southeast of Center Cross, Slack explained. The terrain in that area would have made it very difficult for Forestry Department personnel to battle the blaze with their tracked vehicles.
It would have taken a crew of four to six firefighter and forestry personnel three to five days to accomplish what the Virginia Guard helicopter did in an hour, Slack said.
As the Guard aviators were helping to contain fires with their water dumps, about 100 Virginia Guard soldiers conducted firefighting training with the Forestry Department at Fort Pickett.
The soldiers were scheduled to leave Fort Pickett early this morning. About 60 soldiers are scheduled to travel to the Roanoke Armory to establish a command post and begin assisting Forestry Department officials with the firefighting effort in the Carvin's Cove area. About 40 soldiers are scheduled to travel to the Bedford area and assist with the fight in the Smith Mountain Lake area, National Guard officials said.
The soldiers will support the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Forestry Department by providing fire-line construction and clean-up efforts in the affected areas.
The soldiers are from elements of 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry, and come from Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville, South Boston and other cities throughout Virginia.
The 1st Battalion recently returned from a yearlong mission in Kosovo and celebrated its return at a Freedom Salute Ceremony on Feb. 10. This is the soldiers' first call to state active duty since their return in November.
(Army Maj. Cotton Puryear serves with the Virginia National Guard.)
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