By army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
July 12, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met with Pakistan's military and civilian leaders here today to discuss issues concerning Pakistan's lack of pressure toward insurgents flowing from their border into Afghanistan. During Navy Adm. Mike Mullen's brief stop in Pakistan, which lasted less than a day, he met with President Pervez Musharraf; Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani; Mahmud Ali Durrani, national security advisor to the prime minister; and army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
The admiral discussed a wide array of security issues, along with his growing concern for the lack of pressure on Pakistan's side of the border, Navy Capt. John Kirby, a spokesman for Mullen, said.
U.S. military officials attribute the border issue as one of the main causes for the recent spike in violence throughout southern and eastern Afghanistan.
The chairman has kept the details of these discussions private, but stressed that Pakistan's leaders are aware of U.S. concerns and the challenges both countries face in the border region. Pakistani officials said they are working to address those challenges, Kirby said.
"The new Pakistan government has a very difficult challenge and continues to work its way through, but has to enforce making sure foreign fighters don't exist out there and make sure the insurgents don't have the freedom of movement across the border," Mullen said during an interview with reporters July 10 in Afghanistan.
Mullen said he was pleased with the outcome of his meetings today and looks forward to taking any opportunity to meet with Pakistani leaders, Kirby said.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
California Air Guard Unit Hosts Fire Retardant Reloading Station
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Jill Jamgochian
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - The 146th Airlift Wing at this station in Port Hueneme isn't equipped to drop fire retardant, but the California Air National Guard unit has found another mission that will keep them involved in the effort to battle wildfires. The wing has performed fire retardant reload operations for C-130H aircraft equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems, or MAFFS, for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since July 5.
"The additional reloading station allows the entire state of California to be more readily protected," said Air Force Maj. Bryan Allen, the wing's command post chief. "It allows at least twice as much retardant to be dropped in nearly half the time each day."
The 146th reload operation, which has two reloading pits, is an additional location to the primary operation at McClellan Air Park, about 400 miles north of Port Hueneme.
"The aircraft take off out of McClellan for their first launch, drop their first load, and fly here to reload retardant and refuel," said Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Ervin, the 146th Airlift Wing mission commander for reload operations. "The aircraft are dropping retardant down here on the Gap and Piute fires."
The 146th has eight new C-130 "J" models, which are currently unable to support the current MAFFS 1 system, Allen said. The "J" models are 15 feet longer than the older "H" models, so MAFFS 1 does not fit into the new aircraft.
"Even though we're not dropping retardant, the 146th is providing support by transporting portable reloading facilities, maintenance equipment and personnel," Allen said. "Any time the other MAFFS wings are unable to transport equipment, we'll support their efforts with our C-130Js."
The 146th also has logistical support personnel at McClellan Air Park and support staff at the Air Expeditionary Group in Boise, Idaho, assisting with ground operations, intelligence and command support, Allen said.
The wing's J-model C-130s are awaiting the MAFFS 2, an updated version of the 30-year-old MAFFS 1, which boasts a fully self-contained system that employs an on-board compressor system replacing the ground support equipment requirements of the original MAFFS. A self-contained compressor eliminates the necessity of ground support compressors.
"This wing has been at the forefront of the MAFFS mission since its inception, and to continue in this support role is vital to serving the state in this time of need," Air Force Lt. Col. Marilyn Rios, 146th Airlift Wing vice commander. "The final stages of certifying MAFFS 2 are imminent, and we hope to be able to utilize this state-of-the-art equipment in conjunction with the technology of the new C-130 J-model aircraft as soon as possible."
The current MAFFS mission for the California wildfires is near a historical 1 million gallons of retardant dropped since the four MAFFS units from the Air Guard and Air Force Reserve were activated in late June.
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Jill Jamgochian serves with the California National Guard.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - The 146th Airlift Wing at this station in Port Hueneme isn't equipped to drop fire retardant, but the California Air National Guard unit has found another mission that will keep them involved in the effort to battle wildfires. The wing has performed fire retardant reload operations for C-130H aircraft equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems, or MAFFS, for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection since July 5.
"The additional reloading station allows the entire state of California to be more readily protected," said Air Force Maj. Bryan Allen, the wing's command post chief. "It allows at least twice as much retardant to be dropped in nearly half the time each day."
The 146th reload operation, which has two reloading pits, is an additional location to the primary operation at McClellan Air Park, about 400 miles north of Port Hueneme.
"The aircraft take off out of McClellan for their first launch, drop their first load, and fly here to reload retardant and refuel," said Air Force Lt. Col. Greg Ervin, the 146th Airlift Wing mission commander for reload operations. "The aircraft are dropping retardant down here on the Gap and Piute fires."
The 146th has eight new C-130 "J" models, which are currently unable to support the current MAFFS 1 system, Allen said. The "J" models are 15 feet longer than the older "H" models, so MAFFS 1 does not fit into the new aircraft.
"Even though we're not dropping retardant, the 146th is providing support by transporting portable reloading facilities, maintenance equipment and personnel," Allen said. "Any time the other MAFFS wings are unable to transport equipment, we'll support their efforts with our C-130Js."
The 146th also has logistical support personnel at McClellan Air Park and support staff at the Air Expeditionary Group in Boise, Idaho, assisting with ground operations, intelligence and command support, Allen said.
The wing's J-model C-130s are awaiting the MAFFS 2, an updated version of the 30-year-old MAFFS 1, which boasts a fully self-contained system that employs an on-board compressor system replacing the ground support equipment requirements of the original MAFFS. A self-contained compressor eliminates the necessity of ground support compressors.
"This wing has been at the forefront of the MAFFS mission since its inception, and to continue in this support role is vital to serving the state in this time of need," Air Force Lt. Col. Marilyn Rios, 146th Airlift Wing vice commander. "The final stages of certifying MAFFS 2 are imminent, and we hope to be able to utilize this state-of-the-art equipment in conjunction with the technology of the new C-130 J-model aircraft as soon as possible."
The current MAFFS mission for the California wildfires is near a historical 1 million gallons of retardant dropped since the four MAFFS units from the Air Guard and Air Force Reserve were activated in late June.
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Jill Jamgochian serves with the California National Guard.)
America Supports You: Company Accelerates Deployment Guide Update
By Sharon Foster
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - A company that publishes an annual deployment guide has sped up its schedule to release the 2009 guide this fall. AmeriForce Publishing is changing its production schedule to get the 2009 guide out early because large-scale troop rotations are taking place later this year, Julie Miller, senior sales manager for AmeriForce Publishing, said.
"Our servicemembers and their families need all the help we can offer," she said. "We believe that by providing this publication this fall and updating the topics in the guide to remain current, we are providing the kind of support our servicemembers and families need and deserve."
The 2009 deployment guide will address such issues as how to prepare families for deployment, how children cope with deployment, how families can remain in contact during separation and how families can create and maintain family rituals.
"This year, we are offering an updated and improved design to our guide, as well," said Sara Graves, managing editor at AmeriForce Publishing. "In addition, as the times have changed, so have the issues servicemembers and their families face following a lengthy deployment. Therefore, to remain current, we are including updated information."
The deployment guide was first published at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 in response to a direct request by the military community, Miller said. AmeriForce Publishing already was well known for its relocation guides and other resource magazines. In the years since then, the company has had to reprint the deployment guide up to twice a year to meet unit demand, Miller said. The guide features and is supported by paid advertisements.
In 2005 and 2006, the guide won the prestigious Society of Government Travel Professional Award.
The spring 2008 deployment guide can be viewed at www.ameriforce.net/deployment/.
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - A company that publishes an annual deployment guide has sped up its schedule to release the 2009 guide this fall. AmeriForce Publishing is changing its production schedule to get the 2009 guide out early because large-scale troop rotations are taking place later this year, Julie Miller, senior sales manager for AmeriForce Publishing, said.
"Our servicemembers and their families need all the help we can offer," she said. "We believe that by providing this publication this fall and updating the topics in the guide to remain current, we are providing the kind of support our servicemembers and families need and deserve."
The 2009 deployment guide will address such issues as how to prepare families for deployment, how children cope with deployment, how families can remain in contact during separation and how families can create and maintain family rituals.
"This year, we are offering an updated and improved design to our guide, as well," said Sara Graves, managing editor at AmeriForce Publishing. "In addition, as the times have changed, so have the issues servicemembers and their families face following a lengthy deployment. Therefore, to remain current, we are including updated information."
The deployment guide was first published at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 in response to a direct request by the military community, Miller said. AmeriForce Publishing already was well known for its relocation guides and other resource magazines. In the years since then, the company has had to reprint the deployment guide up to twice a year to meet unit demand, Miller said. The guide features and is supported by paid advertisements.
In 2005 and 2006, the guide won the prestigious Society of Government Travel Professional Award.
The spring 2008 deployment guide can be viewed at www.ameriforce.net/deployment/.
Enlisted Delegation Visits Chinese Counterparts
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - The difference between the noncommissioned officers of the People's Liberation Army and those of the U.S. military is the difference between technicians and leaders, the senior enlisted leader of U.S. Pacific Command said after a visit to China. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy recently led the first NCO delegation to the People's Republic of China. The visit is part of broadened Sino-U.S. military-to-military contacts.
"We are interested in working with the Chinese to build a cordial relationship," Roy said during a recent interview. "That's what we hope to come out of this. We hope this encourages transparency."
U.S. military leaders such as Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of PaCom and Roy's boss, have such a military relationship at their level and want to expand it.
"We do this with our mid-grade officers and at the strategic level," Roy said. "What we want is to expand this at the tactical level, so to speak, so U.S. and Chinese troops can work together in exercises or peacekeeping operations."
The delegation consisted of 12 senior NCOs who arrived in China on June 16 for a five-day visit. "We included all services," Roy said. While it wasn't a conscious decision, the delegation also represented the diversity of the U.S. military, he added.
The delegation visited 179th Infantry Battalion of the People's Liberation Army in Nanjing. "We visited with their soldiers and saw the command brief," Roy said. "We observed the soldiers in physical training. We visited their dormitories and dining facility and ate with some of them."
Roy said he was struck by the difference in philosophy between U.S. and Chinese NCOs. "If I had to sum up their enlisted corps, I would say they are technicians," he said. The Chinese have six different grades, with Grades 1 and 2 being junior NCOs, Grades 3 and 4 as a mid-level tier, and Grades 5 and 6 being senior.
The delegation visited the NCO Academy at Wuhan, and the training was mostly technical. "They made it very plain that their NCOs are technicians," he said. "NCOs are leaders in any U.S. organization, and we stress that in all our NCO professional military education."
The opportunities to visit with Chinese NCOs were limited. "It was not as much as we wanted to or expected, and there were just as many or more officers than NCOs when we were able to visit with them," Roy said. "At the social events the delegation attended, the members of the officer corps always outnumbered the enlisted."
In China, officers do many of the leadership jobs that NCOs routinely do in the U.S. forces. Officers lead infantry squads -- a job done by corporals or sergeants in the U.S. military. Officers command every Chinese tank and are crew chiefs for the Chinese military's aircraft.
The relationship between officers and enlisted personnel also is different in the Chinese military. "Our officers and NCOs have a mutual respect between two professional corps, and the mission is paramount," Roy said. "I didn't get that sense in China. I got the sense that it was not about the mission, but serving the person above you. [The U.S. NCO-officer] relationship is built on what's best for the mission, and we support each other by supporting the mission."
To be fair, he said, this may be because the idea of NCOs is relatively new for the People's Liberation Army. It has only been since 1998 that any professional NCO corps has emerged. "We didn't meet with any Grade 5 or 6 NCOs, although we heard about them," Roy said.
U.S. Pacific Command will host a reciprocal visit later this year, the chief said. NCOs will be part of a Chinese delegation led by a major general and senior colonels.
"What we're trying to do is establish a relationship with them," he said. "It gives us a better understanding of them and them a better understanding of us. The hope of the command is, the more military-to-military engagements that we have, the more open they will become, the more transparent."
The delegation met many Chinese soldiers, a few Chinese airmen and one Chinese sailor.
"We would like to visit with the Navy and the Air Force, which we did not get the opportunity to do," Roy said. "We're going to open our doors so they can visit our Navy and Air Force, and we hope they would do the same in the future."
American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - The difference between the noncommissioned officers of the People's Liberation Army and those of the U.S. military is the difference between technicians and leaders, the senior enlisted leader of U.S. Pacific Command said after a visit to China. Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy recently led the first NCO delegation to the People's Republic of China. The visit is part of broadened Sino-U.S. military-to-military contacts.
"We are interested in working with the Chinese to build a cordial relationship," Roy said during a recent interview. "That's what we hope to come out of this. We hope this encourages transparency."
U.S. military leaders such as Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of PaCom and Roy's boss, have such a military relationship at their level and want to expand it.
"We do this with our mid-grade officers and at the strategic level," Roy said. "What we want is to expand this at the tactical level, so to speak, so U.S. and Chinese troops can work together in exercises or peacekeeping operations."
The delegation consisted of 12 senior NCOs who arrived in China on June 16 for a five-day visit. "We included all services," Roy said. While it wasn't a conscious decision, the delegation also represented the diversity of the U.S. military, he added.
The delegation visited 179th Infantry Battalion of the People's Liberation Army in Nanjing. "We visited with their soldiers and saw the command brief," Roy said. "We observed the soldiers in physical training. We visited their dormitories and dining facility and ate with some of them."
Roy said he was struck by the difference in philosophy between U.S. and Chinese NCOs. "If I had to sum up their enlisted corps, I would say they are technicians," he said. The Chinese have six different grades, with Grades 1 and 2 being junior NCOs, Grades 3 and 4 as a mid-level tier, and Grades 5 and 6 being senior.
The delegation visited the NCO Academy at Wuhan, and the training was mostly technical. "They made it very plain that their NCOs are technicians," he said. "NCOs are leaders in any U.S. organization, and we stress that in all our NCO professional military education."
The opportunities to visit with Chinese NCOs were limited. "It was not as much as we wanted to or expected, and there were just as many or more officers than NCOs when we were able to visit with them," Roy said. "At the social events the delegation attended, the members of the officer corps always outnumbered the enlisted."
In China, officers do many of the leadership jobs that NCOs routinely do in the U.S. forces. Officers lead infantry squads -- a job done by corporals or sergeants in the U.S. military. Officers command every Chinese tank and are crew chiefs for the Chinese military's aircraft.
The relationship between officers and enlisted personnel also is different in the Chinese military. "Our officers and NCOs have a mutual respect between two professional corps, and the mission is paramount," Roy said. "I didn't get that sense in China. I got the sense that it was not about the mission, but serving the person above you. [The U.S. NCO-officer] relationship is built on what's best for the mission, and we support each other by supporting the mission."
To be fair, he said, this may be because the idea of NCOs is relatively new for the People's Liberation Army. It has only been since 1998 that any professional NCO corps has emerged. "We didn't meet with any Grade 5 or 6 NCOs, although we heard about them," Roy said.
U.S. Pacific Command will host a reciprocal visit later this year, the chief said. NCOs will be part of a Chinese delegation led by a major general and senior colonels.
"What we're trying to do is establish a relationship with them," he said. "It gives us a better understanding of them and them a better understanding of us. The hope of the command is, the more military-to-military engagements that we have, the more open they will become, the more transparent."
The delegation met many Chinese soldiers, a few Chinese airmen and one Chinese sailor.
"We would like to visit with the Navy and the Air Force, which we did not get the opportunity to do," Roy said. "We're going to open our doors so they can visit our Navy and Air Force, and we hope they would do the same in the future."
Become a Private Investigator
July, 12, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On July 18, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Jimmie Mesis on how to become a private investigator.
Program Date: July 18, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Become a Private Investigator
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/07/19/Become-a-Private-Investigator
About the Guest
Jimmie Mesis is probably one the most recognized and respected private investigators throughout the United States and abroad. For the last 28 years, he has created and sold numerous companies related to the field of investigations including several investigative agencies that have generated millions of dollars in revenue. He currently owns a marketing consulting firm, several Internet based companies including his latest venture, PI Gear, a discount surveillance equipment company.
However, he and his investigator wife, Rosemarie are best known as the owners of PI Magazine, the only international trade publication of private investigators. In less than 4 years the magazine has grown from less than 1,000 readers to over 30,000 readers with subscribers in 22 countries. Jimmie Mesis is the recipient of numerous awards including, Investigator of the Year Award, Speaker of the Year, and the recipient of the Hal Lipset Award for Investigative Excellence presented to him by the World Association of Detectives.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: July 18, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Become a Private Investigator
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/07/19/Become-a-Private-Investigator
About the Guest
Jimmie Mesis is probably one the most recognized and respected private investigators throughout the United States and abroad. For the last 28 years, he has created and sold numerous companies related to the field of investigations including several investigative agencies that have generated millions of dollars in revenue. He currently owns a marketing consulting firm, several Internet based companies including his latest venture, PI Gear, a discount surveillance equipment company.
However, he and his investigator wife, Rosemarie are best known as the owners of PI Magazine, the only international trade publication of private investigators. In less than 4 years the magazine has grown from less than 1,000 readers to over 30,000 readers with subscribers in 22 countries. Jimmie Mesis is the recipient of numerous awards including, Investigator of the Year Award, Speaker of the Year, and the recipient of the Hal Lipset Award for Investigative Excellence presented to him by the World Association of Detectives.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Soldier Missing In Action From the Korean War Is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
He is Sgt. John H. White, U.S. Army, of Long Island, Ala. He will be buried on Saturday in Bryant, Ala.
Representatives from the Army met with White's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
In November 1950, White was a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division then occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea, north of a bend in the Kuryong River known as the Camel's Head. On Nov. 1, elements of two Chinese Communist divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division's lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. White was reported missing on Nov. 2, 1950, and was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.
In April 2007, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.), acting through the intermediary of New Mexico Governor. Bill Richardson and former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, repatriated to the United States six boxes of human remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers. One box also included two military identification tags with White's name on them. The D.P.R.K. reported that the remains were excavated in November 2006 near Unsan in North Pyongan Province.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of White's remains.
He is Sgt. John H. White, U.S. Army, of Long Island, Ala. He will be buried on Saturday in Bryant, Ala.
Representatives from the Army met with White's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
In November 1950, White was a member of H Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division then occupying a defensive position near Unsan, North Korea, north of a bend in the Kuryong River known as the Camel's Head. On Nov. 1, elements of two Chinese Communist divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division's lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. White was reported missing on Nov. 2, 1950, and was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.
In April 2007, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.), acting through the intermediary of New Mexico Governor. Bill Richardson and former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, repatriated to the United States six boxes of human remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers. One box also included two military identification tags with White's name on them. The D.P.R.K. reported that the remains were excavated in November 2006 near Unsan in North Pyongan Province.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of White's remains.
America Supports You: Fisher House Dedicated at VA Medical Center
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - More than 400 guests attended a dedication ceremony for the 39th Fisher House recently built on the grounds of Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Richmond, Va., one of the VA's four Level 1 polytrauma centers. "It was an opportunity to be able to properly dedicate the home and have all these veterans organizations and families and friends ... come in the home and see exactly what kind of services we're going to be providing these families," said retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Wayne Walker, manager of the new Fisher House.
The 16,800-square-foot facility, which serves as living quarters for family members of active-duty servicemembers and veterans receiving care at the medical center, resembles a large, private home more closely than it does temporary lodging. Each of its 21 rooms -- nine upstairs and 12 on the first level -- has a private bathroom, a 32-inch flat-screen TV and DVD player. The family room has a 50-inch flat-screen TV so those using the Wii videogame system won't miss a single detail. Residents of the house also can cook their own meals in the full kitchen.
"These families are under an enormous amount of stress. To be able to have a place that they can come home and relax and it's not a hotel room, it means everything [to them]," Walker said.
That is precisely why this is the biggest model the Fisher House Foundation builds, said Jim Weiskopf, the Fisher House Foundation's executive vice president of communications. "That's about as large as we'd want to go, because we want them to look and feel like homes and not like hotels, and we're able to do that with our facilities," he said.
For Fisher House, the Richmond facility represents more than just an opportunity to help wounded warriors and their families. It's a promised kept.
"There are four Level 1 polytrauma centers in the VA," Weiskopf said. "Building at Richmond fulfills our pledge to the VA to get a Fisher House at all of the Level 1 polytrauma centers."
The VA's three other Level 1 polytrauma centers are in Palo Alto, Calif.; Minneapolis; and Tampa, Fla.
The first families will begin moving into the new Richmond facility July 21.
The Fisher House Foundation 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.
American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - More than 400 guests attended a dedication ceremony for the 39th Fisher House recently built on the grounds of Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in Richmond, Va., one of the VA's four Level 1 polytrauma centers. "It was an opportunity to be able to properly dedicate the home and have all these veterans organizations and families and friends ... come in the home and see exactly what kind of services we're going to be providing these families," said retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Wayne Walker, manager of the new Fisher House.
The 16,800-square-foot facility, which serves as living quarters for family members of active-duty servicemembers and veterans receiving care at the medical center, resembles a large, private home more closely than it does temporary lodging. Each of its 21 rooms -- nine upstairs and 12 on the first level -- has a private bathroom, a 32-inch flat-screen TV and DVD player. The family room has a 50-inch flat-screen TV so those using the Wii videogame system won't miss a single detail. Residents of the house also can cook their own meals in the full kitchen.
"These families are under an enormous amount of stress. To be able to have a place that they can come home and relax and it's not a hotel room, it means everything [to them]," Walker said.
That is precisely why this is the biggest model the Fisher House Foundation builds, said Jim Weiskopf, the Fisher House Foundation's executive vice president of communications. "That's about as large as we'd want to go, because we want them to look and feel like homes and not like hotels, and we're able to do that with our facilities," he said.
For Fisher House, the Richmond facility represents more than just an opportunity to help wounded warriors and their families. It's a promised kept.
"There are four Level 1 polytrauma centers in the VA," Weiskopf said. "Building at Richmond fulfills our pledge to the VA to get a Fisher House at all of the Level 1 polytrauma centers."
The VA's three other Level 1 polytrauma centers are in Palo Alto, Calif.; Minneapolis; and Tampa, Fla.
The first families will begin moving into the new Richmond facility July 21.
The Fisher House Foundation 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.
MILITARY CONTRACTS July 11, 2008
NAVY
W. M. Jordan, Newport News, Va., is being awarded $95,886,010 for design-build P899 Special Operations Forces (SOF) Operations Facility and P789 SOF Operational Training Facility, Naval Air Station Oceana, Dam Neck Annex, Virginia Beach, Va. The contract provides for the design and construction of a two-story SOF operations facility, a single-story addition to the second floor of Building 368, a one-story SOF operational training facility and a single-story addition to Building 310. This project provides consolidated and efficiently configured command operations facilities required to perform unified command and control. This contract contains options, which if exercised, will bring the total value of the contract amount to $101,629,010. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Va., and is expected to be completed by July 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with six offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-08-C-9684).
General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded a $23,592,207 firm-fixed-price contract for 41 Digital Modular Radios (DMR) and other ancillary hardware. DMR is a software definable radio that operates UHF SATCOM, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Line of Sight (LOS) and HF waveforms on Navy surface and subsurface platforms. The contract includes CLINs (contract line item numbers) for potential DMR procurements in FY09 and FY10. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by November 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured but was synopsized on the Commerce Business Daily's website, Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-08-C-0082).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $16,709,000 unpriced modification #PH0015 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-07-C-0100) to provide support to the Prompt Global Strike Medium Lift Reentry Body development effort. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif., and various other locations yet to be determined, and work is expected to be completed in June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.
R.A. Burch Construction Company Inc.,* Ramona, Calif., is being awarded $10,498,088 for firm-fixed-price task order #0003 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract (N62473-08-D-8607) for design-build of the operational storage facilities at Naval Base Coronado, San Diego. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by February 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $9,356,751 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-06-G-0001) for non-recurring engineering (NRE) services to improve run dry capabilities of the UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters, main rotor gearbox for increased survivability. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $5,640,361 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
CACI-CMS Information Systems, Inc., Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $7,922,421 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Professional Business Information Technology Support Services to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The contract includes support and training for MSC's Financial Management System, Human Resource Management System, Standard Procurement System, Budget Preparation System and global help desk tier II support. A $500,000 minimum for the entire contract period is obligated at the time of contract award. Additional funding will be added to the contract upon the issuance of task orders. The contract includes four one-year options that, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $41,840,831. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (50 percent); Arlington, Va. (25 percent); other MSC locations - Norfolk, Va.; San Diego, Calif.; Yokohama, Japan, Naples, Italy; Guam; Pusan, Korea; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Singapore; Bahrain (23 percent); Defense Finance and Accounting Systems sites (1 percent) and United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB Ill. (1 percent), and the work is expected to be completed in July 2009 (July 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Military Sealift Command, the Navy Electronic Commerce Online, and Federal Business Opportunities web pages, with more than 100 proposals solicited with two offers received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-08-D-6507).
Tower Solutions**, Pine City, Minn.; Floatograph Technologies**, Marion, Ind.; and US Tower Corp**., Woodlake, Calif., are being awarded modifications to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract (N00164-08-D-6613) for various commercial and modified commercial mast systems including but not limited to pneumatic, manual and electrically driven systems of a locking and non-locking type in support of multiple expeditionary systems engineering programs including, but not limited to, sponsors such as Special Operations Command, US Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force. Specific requirements will be identified with each delivery order. These three contractors are being awarded Multiple Award Fair Opportunity Contracts IAW FAR 16.5, and are added to the original contract awarded to Will-Burt Company in Orrville, Ohio, in December 2007 using a "Rolling Admissions" clause. The maximum estimated total value of all four contracts will be $15,000,000. Work will be performed Pine City, Minn.; Marion, Ind.; and Woodlake, Calif., and work will be complete in December 2012. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
GearyEnergy, LLC., Tulsa, Okla.* is being awarded a maximum $51,075,425 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for delivery of direct supply natural gas. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Air Force and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 166 proposals solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7520).
Air Force
Trident Systems Incorporated, Trident Technology Solutions, of Fairfax, Va., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for a maximum of $49.9 million. This action will provide for the multi level security environment proposed seeks to design and develop a multifaceted collaboration capability that encompasses all aspects of information sharing including file sharing text chat, audio and video teleconferencing, blogs, and wikis. The function is to meet the Air Force, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) requirement for an Information Sharing Environment (ISE). At this time $868,281 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKF, Rome, NY, is the contracting activity (FA8750-08-D-0206).
Zel Technologies, L.L.C., of Hampton, Va., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for a maximum of $49.9 million. This action will provide a focused but flexible contracting vehicle under Public Law 106-544 SBIR Phase III Authorization to enable the United State Air Force and other government customers to receive the benefits of Predictive Battlespace Awareness (PBA)/Intelligence Preparation of the (IPB) developed by the contractor uner the auspices for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The multi level security (MLS) Information Sharing Environment (ISE) proposed seeks to design and develop a multifaceted collaboration capability that encompasses all aspects of information sharing including Predictive Battlespace Awareness (PBA)/Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB), Automated Course of Action Modeling (ACAM), Knowledge Management, and Ontology Generation. At this time $99,536.00 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKF, Rome, NY, is the contracting activity (FA8750-08-D-0210).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for an estimated $9,455,370. The action will provide U.S. Pacific Command with operations and transformation analysis. At this time all funds have been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO 0257).
Universal Understanding, LLC, of Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $7,641,203. This action will is for 2008 SMART II network optimization and software support for United States Air Force Central. This provides technical support (software appliance warranty) of all of Cisco equipment installed within the United States Air Forces Central network. This includes all software upgrades and parts replacement to maintain security compliance. SMARTnet II provides: 1) Access to technical assistance personnel for diagnosis and resolution of problems 24 hours/7 days a week/365 days a year. This is accomplished online, e-mail or telephone: 2) Unlimited operating system upgrades, patches. 3) Updates where available; 4) Advance part replacement of defective network equipment. Next Business Day for all equipment except Meeting Place equipment that is covered under SMARTnet II On-Site Next Business Day, 5) Access to online resources, tools, knowledge based, troubleshooting tools, and Technology. At this time all funds have been obligated. 20th Contracting Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C., is the contracting activity (FA4803-08-C-0016).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Lockheed Martin-Integrated Systems and Solutions for $6,716,614 . This modification definitizes the previously issued undefinitized contract action to complete the NORAD/USNORTHCOM Command Center (N2C2) Upgrade Program tasks required to provide upgrade program tasks required to provide the NORAD/USNORTHCOM (N/NC) Commander with a single integrated Command Center and to provide a collaborative environment to support existing and newly assigned missions. This project includes renovation and improvement of USNORTHCOM HQ facilities located on Peterson AFB and the deployment of modernized information systems (audio/video). This project shall provide Combatant Commanders' Integrated Command and Control System (CCIC2S) interactive connectively for N/NC duty positions and senior battle staff personnel. At this time $3,095,149 has been obligated. 850 ELSG/PK, Peterson AFB, Colo., is the contracting activity (F19628-00-C-0019, Modification No. P00135).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems of San Jose, Calif., for $6,265,665. The purpose of this action was to settle ASIP U-2 Flight Test REA. At this time $5,768,665 has been obligated. USAF/AFMC, Reconnaissance Systems Wing (ASC) is the contracting activity (F33657-03-C-4318, Modification No. P00059).
Army
Jaynes Corporation of California, San Diego, Calif., was awarded on July 9, 2008, an $18,277,623 firm-fixed price contract for construction of an Army Reserve Center. Work will be performed in Garden Grove, Calif., and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on April 29, 2008, and eight bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0023).
W. M. Jordan, Newport News, Va., is being awarded $95,886,010 for design-build P899 Special Operations Forces (SOF) Operations Facility and P789 SOF Operational Training Facility, Naval Air Station Oceana, Dam Neck Annex, Virginia Beach, Va. The contract provides for the design and construction of a two-story SOF operations facility, a single-story addition to the second floor of Building 368, a one-story SOF operational training facility and a single-story addition to Building 310. This project provides consolidated and efficiently configured command operations facilities required to perform unified command and control. This contract contains options, which if exercised, will bring the total value of the contract amount to $101,629,010. Work will be performed in Virginia Beach, Va., and is expected to be completed by July 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with six offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-08-C-9684).
General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded a $23,592,207 firm-fixed-price contract for 41 Digital Modular Radios (DMR) and other ancillary hardware. DMR is a software definable radio that operates UHF SATCOM, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Line of Sight (LOS) and HF waveforms on Navy surface and subsurface platforms. The contract includes CLINs (contract line item numbers) for potential DMR procurements in FY09 and FY10. Work will be performed in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by November 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured but was synopsized on the Commerce Business Daily's website, Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-08-C-0082).
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $16,709,000 unpriced modification #PH0015 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-07-C-0100) to provide support to the Prompt Global Strike Medium Lift Reentry Body development effort. The work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif., and various other locations yet to be determined, and work is expected to be completed in June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.
R.A. Burch Construction Company Inc.,* Ramona, Calif., is being awarded $10,498,088 for firm-fixed-price task order #0003 under an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract (N62473-08-D-8607) for design-build of the operational storage facilities at Naval Base Coronado, San Diego. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by February 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $9,356,751 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-06-G-0001) for non-recurring engineering (NRE) services to improve run dry capabilities of the UH-1Y and AH-1Z helicopters, main rotor gearbox for increased survivability. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $5,640,361 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
CACI-CMS Information Systems, Inc., Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $7,922,421 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Professional Business Information Technology Support Services to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). The contract includes support and training for MSC's Financial Management System, Human Resource Management System, Standard Procurement System, Budget Preparation System and global help desk tier II support. A $500,000 minimum for the entire contract period is obligated at the time of contract award. Additional funding will be added to the contract upon the issuance of task orders. The contract includes four one-year options that, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $41,840,831. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C. (50 percent); Arlington, Va. (25 percent); other MSC locations - Norfolk, Va.; San Diego, Calif.; Yokohama, Japan, Naples, Italy; Guam; Pusan, Korea; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Singapore; Bahrain (23 percent); Defense Finance and Accounting Systems sites (1 percent) and United States Transportation Command, Scott AFB Ill. (1 percent), and the work is expected to be completed in July 2009 (July 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Military Sealift Command, the Navy Electronic Commerce Online, and Federal Business Opportunities web pages, with more than 100 proposals solicited with two offers received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-08-D-6507).
Tower Solutions**, Pine City, Minn.; Floatograph Technologies**, Marion, Ind.; and US Tower Corp**., Woodlake, Calif., are being awarded modifications to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract (N00164-08-D-6613) for various commercial and modified commercial mast systems including but not limited to pneumatic, manual and electrically driven systems of a locking and non-locking type in support of multiple expeditionary systems engineering programs including, but not limited to, sponsors such as Special Operations Command, US Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and Air Force. Specific requirements will be identified with each delivery order. These three contractors are being awarded Multiple Award Fair Opportunity Contracts IAW FAR 16.5, and are added to the original contract awarded to Will-Burt Company in Orrville, Ohio, in December 2007 using a "Rolling Admissions" clause. The maximum estimated total value of all four contracts will be $15,000,000. Work will be performed Pine City, Minn.; Marion, Ind.; and Woodlake, Calif., and work will be complete in December 2012. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
GearyEnergy, LLC., Tulsa, Okla.* is being awarded a maximum $51,075,425 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for delivery of direct supply natural gas. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Air Force and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 166 proposals solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7520).
Air Force
Trident Systems Incorporated, Trident Technology Solutions, of Fairfax, Va., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for a maximum of $49.9 million. This action will provide for the multi level security environment proposed seeks to design and develop a multifaceted collaboration capability that encompasses all aspects of information sharing including file sharing text chat, audio and video teleconferencing, blogs, and wikis. The function is to meet the Air Force, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) requirement for an Information Sharing Environment (ISE). At this time $868,281 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKF, Rome, NY, is the contracting activity (FA8750-08-D-0206).
Zel Technologies, L.L.C., of Hampton, Va., is being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for a maximum of $49.9 million. This action will provide a focused but flexible contracting vehicle under Public Law 106-544 SBIR Phase III Authorization to enable the United State Air Force and other government customers to receive the benefits of Predictive Battlespace Awareness (PBA)/Intelligence Preparation of the (IPB) developed by the contractor uner the auspices for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The multi level security (MLS) Information Sharing Environment (ISE) proposed seeks to design and develop a multifaceted collaboration capability that encompasses all aspects of information sharing including Predictive Battlespace Awareness (PBA)/Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB), Automated Course of Action Modeling (ACAM), Knowledge Management, and Ontology Generation. At this time $99,536.00 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory/RIKF, Rome, NY, is the contracting activity (FA8750-08-D-0210).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., of Herndon, Va., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for an estimated $9,455,370. The action will provide U.S. Pacific Command with operations and transformation analysis. At this time all funds have been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, DO 0257).
Universal Understanding, LLC, of Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $7,641,203. This action will is for 2008 SMART II network optimization and software support for United States Air Force Central. This provides technical support (software appliance warranty) of all of Cisco equipment installed within the United States Air Forces Central network. This includes all software upgrades and parts replacement to maintain security compliance. SMARTnet II provides: 1) Access to technical assistance personnel for diagnosis and resolution of problems 24 hours/7 days a week/365 days a year. This is accomplished online, e-mail or telephone: 2) Unlimited operating system upgrades, patches. 3) Updates where available; 4) Advance part replacement of defective network equipment. Next Business Day for all equipment except Meeting Place equipment that is covered under SMARTnet II On-Site Next Business Day, 5) Access to online resources, tools, knowledge based, troubleshooting tools, and Technology. At this time all funds have been obligated. 20th Contracting Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C., is the contracting activity (FA4803-08-C-0016).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Lockheed Martin-Integrated Systems and Solutions for $6,716,614 . This modification definitizes the previously issued undefinitized contract action to complete the NORAD/USNORTHCOM Command Center (N2C2) Upgrade Program tasks required to provide upgrade program tasks required to provide the NORAD/USNORTHCOM (N/NC) Commander with a single integrated Command Center and to provide a collaborative environment to support existing and newly assigned missions. This project includes renovation and improvement of USNORTHCOM HQ facilities located on Peterson AFB and the deployment of modernized information systems (audio/video). This project shall provide Combatant Commanders' Integrated Command and Control System (CCIC2S) interactive connectively for N/NC duty positions and senior battle staff personnel. At this time $3,095,149 has been obligated. 850 ELSG/PK, Peterson AFB, Colo., is the contracting activity (F19628-00-C-0019, Modification No. P00135).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems of San Jose, Calif., for $6,265,665. The purpose of this action was to settle ASIP U-2 Flight Test REA. At this time $5,768,665 has been obligated. USAF/AFMC, Reconnaissance Systems Wing (ASC) is the contracting activity (F33657-03-C-4318, Modification No. P00059).
Army
Jaynes Corporation of California, San Diego, Calif., was awarded on July 9, 2008, an $18,277,623 firm-fixed price contract for construction of an Army Reserve Center. Work will be performed in Garden Grove, Calif., and is expected to be completed by May 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on April 29, 2008, and eight bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0023).
Motorcycle, Vehicle Accidents Dominate Off-Duty Summer Fatalities
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - Midway through the "101 Critical Days of Summer," 50 servicemembers have died in off-duty accidents, three-quarters of them in motor vehicles and half on motorcycles, defense officials reported. The 101 Critical Days of Summer refers to the period between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day that typically sees a spike in vehicle and recreational accidents. "It's the time when more people get outside and enjoy off-duty activities and more people are traveling," said John Seibert, the Defense Department's assistant for safety, health and fire. "But unfortunately, it's also a time when we see more accidents."
Motor vehicles remain the No. 1 cause of off-duty military deaths, and despite broad safety awareness efforts militarywide, that trend shows no sign of diminishing this summer. Thirty-seven servicemembers have died in motor vehicles since May 23.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates noted in a safety message to the field sent just before Memorial Day that 77 servicemen and –women were killed in private motor accidents during last year's 101 Critical Days of Summer.
Officials say they're particularly concerned about the incidence of motorcycle deaths – 25 militarywide since Memorial Day weekend. Citing high fuel prices and cash accumulated during deployments that are driving up motorcycles' popularity within the force, officials say they fear these numbers will only go up.
Eighteen of the Army's 23 off-duty fatalities since Memorial Day have involved privately owned vehicles. Of those, 12 soldiers were killed riding motorcycles and one, an all-terrain vehicle, reported J.T. Coleman from the Army's Combat Readiness and Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.
Similarly, 10 of the 12 sailors who died in off-duty accidents since May 23 were involved in vehicle accidents, according to April Phillips from the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Va. Eight of the Navy fatalities involved motorcycles.
The Marine Corps reported eight off-duty losses since the 101 critical days of summer campaign launched. Six of the eight Marines died in vehicle accidents, with three killed on motorcycles, said Marine Lt. Col. Mike Miller, who heads up the Corps' ground safety branch in Washington.
The Air Force, experiencing one of its safest summers in a decade, reported seven off-duty deaths since the Memorial Day weekend. Of those, one involved a four-wheeled vehicle and two involved motorcycles, said Jewell Hicks from the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
That's a significant improvement from last year, when 19 airmen died during the 101 critical days. Fifteen of those deaths resulted from vehicle accidents, and seven of the airmen were riding motorcycles.
Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Wendell Griffin blamed speeding, loss of control and improper techniques while rounding curves as the leading causes behind the motorcycle deaths. He noted in a videotaped message to the Air Force launching this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign that failure to wear a helmet and mixing alcohol with riding contributed to some of these crashes.
But Miller cited the growing popularity of sport bikes as another factor driving up motorcycle accidents. These high-performance motorcycles travel at extremely high speeds and can be difficult to control.
"It truly is like trading in your Dodge minivan for a Ferrari," Miller said. "You don't so much ride one of these as hang on for dear life."
It's little surprise that young servicemembers, attracted by the adrenaline rush sports bikes promise and their relatively low cost, are lining up to buy them. And while disturbing, officials say, it's also not surprising that they're contributing to more military deaths.
For example, 19 of the 21 motorcycle fatalities so far this fiscal year occurred on sport bikes, Phillips reported. Nine of the Army's 12 off-duty motorcycle deaths since the Memorial Day weekend involved sports bikes, Coleman said.
Miller said that while he doesn't yet have statistics to back up his hunch, he's sure they're driving up Marine Corps fatalities, too. He noted that the Marine Corps lost 19 Marines to motorcycle deaths during fiscal 2007. With almost a full quarter of fiscal 2008 ahead, that number hit 18 on July 10.
Intent on bucking this trend, the military is taking action. In addition to the basic motorcycle safety course all military riders must take, the services now promote specialized training for those who ride high-performance motorcycles.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Military Sport Bike Course is now mandatory for all sailors who ride sport bikes, Phillips said. The course also is being offered to soldiers at a growing number of Army bases.
Meanwhile, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Fort Lejeune, N.C., which is leading the Marine Corps' sport bike safety effort, is contracting with a professional motorcycle school and expanding the training to several Marine Corps sites, Miller said.
The Air Force's Air Mobility Command developed a sport bike safety class that's mandatory for all its airmen. It provides the training materials on request to all other Air Force installations, explained Frank Kelly at the Air Force Safety Center.
Meanwhile, as the 101 critical days of summer continue, military leaders are urging vigilance and a focus on safety.
Gates emphasized in his safety message to the field each servicemember's responsibility in promoting motor vehicle safety. "Know that the choices you make at sporting events, barbecues and other summer activities can impair your judgment and reaction times, all of which are necessary for safe driving," he said.
He reminded servicemembers that most vehicle accidents involve alcohol, fatigue or excessive speed, and most are preventable. "Don't put your life or the lives of others in danger by making poor decisions," he said. "Your safety and the safety of those around you is in your hands."
Army Brig. Gen. William Forrester, commander of the Army Combat Readiness and Safety Center, cited the 2008 July 4 holiday as the first in decades with no fatal off-duty accidents within the Army. "To put this into perspective, this is the first recorded fatality-free Fourth of July holiday period the Army has experienced since the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center began keeping records in 1974," he said.
Forrester noted, however, that three reserve-component soldiers who were not in a duty status were killed in motorcycle accidents during the holiday weekend.
The Air Force and Navy also reported fatality-free July 4 weekends in terms of off-duty accidents.
The Marine Corps suffered two off-duty fatalities during the holiday weekend. A corporal died July 5 after his motorcycle hit a curb and threw him onto the street, officials said. A staff sergeant was killed July 6 when his motorcycle veered off the road, struck a curb, then ran into a tree.
Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, commander of the Naval Safety Center, reminded the fleet this week it's not too late to begin a summer safety campaign. "Now that we're back from the Fourth of July holiday, it's time to take a hard look at the job we've done managing risk to far this summer," he said. That, he said, includes reinforcing behaviors and attitudes that can make the all-important difference between life and death.
Militarywide, officials emphasized the importance of leadership in promoting safety awareness and preventing off-duty accidents.
Forrester said engaged leadership lays the foundation for the cultural shift needed for troops to take personal responsibility for their own safety. This, he said, will help drive down accidental losses. Griffin said in his 101 Critical Days of Summer video that every day offers an opportunity for servicemembers to help identify unsafe practices that can save a comrade's or buddies' life.
Ultimately, safety boils down to a readiness issue, because the military needs every single member to carry out its mission, Griffin said. "As we continue to wage the global war on terror, we can't afford to lose a single one of our most precious resources," he said, the men and women in uniform "who make the mission happen every day."
American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - Midway through the "101 Critical Days of Summer," 50 servicemembers have died in off-duty accidents, three-quarters of them in motor vehicles and half on motorcycles, defense officials reported. The 101 Critical Days of Summer refers to the period between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day that typically sees a spike in vehicle and recreational accidents. "It's the time when more people get outside and enjoy off-duty activities and more people are traveling," said John Seibert, the Defense Department's assistant for safety, health and fire. "But unfortunately, it's also a time when we see more accidents."
Motor vehicles remain the No. 1 cause of off-duty military deaths, and despite broad safety awareness efforts militarywide, that trend shows no sign of diminishing this summer. Thirty-seven servicemembers have died in motor vehicles since May 23.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates noted in a safety message to the field sent just before Memorial Day that 77 servicemen and –women were killed in private motor accidents during last year's 101 Critical Days of Summer.
Officials say they're particularly concerned about the incidence of motorcycle deaths – 25 militarywide since Memorial Day weekend. Citing high fuel prices and cash accumulated during deployments that are driving up motorcycles' popularity within the force, officials say they fear these numbers will only go up.
Eighteen of the Army's 23 off-duty fatalities since Memorial Day have involved privately owned vehicles. Of those, 12 soldiers were killed riding motorcycles and one, an all-terrain vehicle, reported J.T. Coleman from the Army's Combat Readiness and Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.
Similarly, 10 of the 12 sailors who died in off-duty accidents since May 23 were involved in vehicle accidents, according to April Phillips from the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Va. Eight of the Navy fatalities involved motorcycles.
The Marine Corps reported eight off-duty losses since the 101 critical days of summer campaign launched. Six of the eight Marines died in vehicle accidents, with three killed on motorcycles, said Marine Lt. Col. Mike Miller, who heads up the Corps' ground safety branch in Washington.
The Air Force, experiencing one of its safest summers in a decade, reported seven off-duty deaths since the Memorial Day weekend. Of those, one involved a four-wheeled vehicle and two involved motorcycles, said Jewell Hicks from the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
That's a significant improvement from last year, when 19 airmen died during the 101 critical days. Fifteen of those deaths resulted from vehicle accidents, and seven of the airmen were riding motorcycles.
Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Wendell Griffin blamed speeding, loss of control and improper techniques while rounding curves as the leading causes behind the motorcycle deaths. He noted in a videotaped message to the Air Force launching this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign that failure to wear a helmet and mixing alcohol with riding contributed to some of these crashes.
But Miller cited the growing popularity of sport bikes as another factor driving up motorcycle accidents. These high-performance motorcycles travel at extremely high speeds and can be difficult to control.
"It truly is like trading in your Dodge minivan for a Ferrari," Miller said. "You don't so much ride one of these as hang on for dear life."
It's little surprise that young servicemembers, attracted by the adrenaline rush sports bikes promise and their relatively low cost, are lining up to buy them. And while disturbing, officials say, it's also not surprising that they're contributing to more military deaths.
For example, 19 of the 21 motorcycle fatalities so far this fiscal year occurred on sport bikes, Phillips reported. Nine of the Army's 12 off-duty motorcycle deaths since the Memorial Day weekend involved sports bikes, Coleman said.
Miller said that while he doesn't yet have statistics to back up his hunch, he's sure they're driving up Marine Corps fatalities, too. He noted that the Marine Corps lost 19 Marines to motorcycle deaths during fiscal 2007. With almost a full quarter of fiscal 2008 ahead, that number hit 18 on July 10.
Intent on bucking this trend, the military is taking action. In addition to the basic motorcycle safety course all military riders must take, the services now promote specialized training for those who ride high-performance motorcycles.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Military Sport Bike Course is now mandatory for all sailors who ride sport bikes, Phillips said. The course also is being offered to soldiers at a growing number of Army bases.
Meanwhile, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Fort Lejeune, N.C., which is leading the Marine Corps' sport bike safety effort, is contracting with a professional motorcycle school and expanding the training to several Marine Corps sites, Miller said.
The Air Force's Air Mobility Command developed a sport bike safety class that's mandatory for all its airmen. It provides the training materials on request to all other Air Force installations, explained Frank Kelly at the Air Force Safety Center.
Meanwhile, as the 101 critical days of summer continue, military leaders are urging vigilance and a focus on safety.
Gates emphasized in his safety message to the field each servicemember's responsibility in promoting motor vehicle safety. "Know that the choices you make at sporting events, barbecues and other summer activities can impair your judgment and reaction times, all of which are necessary for safe driving," he said.
He reminded servicemembers that most vehicle accidents involve alcohol, fatigue or excessive speed, and most are preventable. "Don't put your life or the lives of others in danger by making poor decisions," he said. "Your safety and the safety of those around you is in your hands."
Army Brig. Gen. William Forrester, commander of the Army Combat Readiness and Safety Center, cited the 2008 July 4 holiday as the first in decades with no fatal off-duty accidents within the Army. "To put this into perspective, this is the first recorded fatality-free Fourth of July holiday period the Army has experienced since the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center began keeping records in 1974," he said.
Forrester noted, however, that three reserve-component soldiers who were not in a duty status were killed in motorcycle accidents during the holiday weekend.
The Air Force and Navy also reported fatality-free July 4 weekends in terms of off-duty accidents.
The Marine Corps suffered two off-duty fatalities during the holiday weekend. A corporal died July 5 after his motorcycle hit a curb and threw him onto the street, officials said. A staff sergeant was killed July 6 when his motorcycle veered off the road, struck a curb, then ran into a tree.
Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, commander of the Naval Safety Center, reminded the fleet this week it's not too late to begin a summer safety campaign. "Now that we're back from the Fourth of July holiday, it's time to take a hard look at the job we've done managing risk to far this summer," he said. That, he said, includes reinforcing behaviors and attitudes that can make the all-important difference between life and death.
Militarywide, officials emphasized the importance of leadership in promoting safety awareness and preventing off-duty accidents.
Forrester said engaged leadership lays the foundation for the cultural shift needed for troops to take personal responsibility for their own safety. This, he said, will help drive down accidental losses. Griffin said in his 101 Critical Days of Summer video that every day offers an opportunity for servicemembers to help identify unsafe practices that can save a comrade's or buddies' life.
Ultimately, safety boils down to a readiness issue, because the military needs every single member to carry out its mission, Griffin said. "As we continue to wage the global war on terror, we can't afford to lose a single one of our most precious resources," he said, the men and women in uniform "who make the mission happen every day."
Military Child Education Agreement Now in Effect
Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed into law Wednesday legislation to ease the transition for military children as their service member parents move from assignment to assignment during their careers.
Delaware, nicknamed "The First State" because it was the first state to ratify the Constitution, is the tenth and critical state to adopt the "Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children." With this signing, the compact is 'activated' in the 10 states that have adopted it, and for other states that subsequently join. Kansas adopted the compact exactly three months ago on April 9th. Since then Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma have adopted the compact.
The compact, developed by the Council of State Governments, education and military family experts, and the Department of Defense, addresses common problems that affect military students as a result of frequent moves and deployments. States that sign on to the compact agree to work collectively with other compact states to create uniform standards of practice regarding the transfer of records, course placement, graduation requirements, redundant or missed testing, entrance-age variations and other transition issues.
"This is wonderful news for our military families," said David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. "The education of our military children is a critical quality of life measure for our military families. It is so important that it directly impacts military recruitment, satisfaction with assignments, retention, and ultimately, readiness. We appreciate all the support and effort to implement the compact."
With the compact's activation, several administrative actions will take place in the next few months that will make it operational from a practical standpoint. This includes a series of meetings of the appointed commissioners from each of the 10 states to organize the Compact Commission, put a small staff in place, and to begin the rulemaking process.
"We are so pleased that the compact, once a vision, will now be a reality for our military families. We are grateful to the ten states that led the nation in seeking uniform standards for school transition for military children," said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy under secretary of defense for military community and family policy.
Approximately 1.5 million children of military families attend schools other than those sponsored by the Department of Defense. Military families move about three times as often as their civilian counterparts, Arsht said.
Delaware, nicknamed "The First State" because it was the first state to ratify the Constitution, is the tenth and critical state to adopt the "Interstate Compact on Education Opportunity for Military Children." With this signing, the compact is 'activated' in the 10 states that have adopted it, and for other states that subsequently join. Kansas adopted the compact exactly three months ago on April 9th. Since then Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma have adopted the compact.
The compact, developed by the Council of State Governments, education and military family experts, and the Department of Defense, addresses common problems that affect military students as a result of frequent moves and deployments. States that sign on to the compact agree to work collectively with other compact states to create uniform standards of practice regarding the transfer of records, course placement, graduation requirements, redundant or missed testing, entrance-age variations and other transition issues.
"This is wonderful news for our military families," said David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. "The education of our military children is a critical quality of life measure for our military families. It is so important that it directly impacts military recruitment, satisfaction with assignments, retention, and ultimately, readiness. We appreciate all the support and effort to implement the compact."
With the compact's activation, several administrative actions will take place in the next few months that will make it operational from a practical standpoint. This includes a series of meetings of the appointed commissioners from each of the 10 states to organize the Compact Commission, put a small staff in place, and to begin the rulemaking process.
"We are so pleased that the compact, once a vision, will now be a reality for our military families. We are grateful to the ten states that led the nation in seeking uniform standards for school transition for military children," said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy under secretary of defense for military community and family policy.
Approximately 1.5 million children of military families attend schools other than those sponsored by the Department of Defense. Military families move about three times as often as their civilian counterparts, Arsht said.
California Governor Calls Additional Guard Troops for Fire Duty
By Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Hughan
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to state active duty today to boost the state's ongoing firefighting efforts and prepare for the threat of additional fires over the next several months. "We already have 400 Guard members on the front lines, and once these new troops are trained and certified, they will be ready to pitch in at a moment's notice throughout the fire season," Schwarzenegger said in a news release issued by his staff.
The federal government committed yesterday to send out-of-state firefighters to train these additional California Guard personnel on critical firefighting techniques.
This is the first time since 1977 that soldiers have been used to fight fires on the ground in California.
"Having their assistance is going to be critical as we go forward into this summer of fire fighting," said Capt. Mark Whaling of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CAL FIRE. "They have the same basic fire training that every new firefighter has, so if any of these fires escape their containment lines, they will be able to control them so we can get the tired crews back to base camps for rest."
These additional troops will go through training at McClellan Air Park with the U.S. Forest Service and will be available for duty over the next few weeks.
"The soldiers will be doing duties that CAL FIRE regularly does. It's just that the volume of fire this year is so much, with so many fires, ... this is the challenge the Guard will help us meet," Whaling said.
CAL FIRE trained the Guard members on fire breaks, brush clearing, proper tool usage and safety. The troops also received basic conditioning that consisted of trail hikes in full gear, multiple times a day in the hot sun, to prepare for what promises to be very difficult work ahead.
"It's a great experience so far. There is a definite science and process to firefighting that you don't know about until you've been on a hand crew out here for a while," said Army Sgt. Mark Walch.
Walch is a high school teacher in Chico and a soldier with Company A, 297th Support Battalion, who dropped the summer classes he was taking and reported to the Oroville Armory within hours of the mobilization.
"The fires in Butte County are threatening my hometown of Paradise, so it's doubly important to me to be here. I'm a small cog in the wheel, but every little thing counts," Walch said.
The soldiers will be grouped into 20-person teams and distributed around the state to wherever the fire officials need them and where the soldiers can be used most effectively and safely.
"These types of fires are an endurance race, so they will help us stretch our resources so we can move forward and contain the existing and new fires as they pop up," Whaling said.
One CAL FIRE official said he believes the Guard is an excellent and recurring source of trained and experienced firefighters to help contain and control fires in the state.
"I see this as the future," said CAL FIRE assistant captain Dan Burns. "Once the training is complete, we have a record of every soldier and will be able to recall them and get them to the lines quickly. I see this as only the beginning."
The California National Guard, with support from neighboring states, has the following resources allocated to the state's firefighting efforts:
-- The California Guard has mobilized more than 1,000 personnel to provide support to the ongoing firefighting effort, including more than 400 personnel assigned to hand crews working alongside other firefighters.
-- Twenty-two helicopters are supporting the firefighting effort, including 14 California Guard helicopters and eight helicopters from Utah, Nebraska, Washington, Arizona and Oregon. To date, these rotary-wing aircraft have dropped nearly 3 million gallons of water.
-- The California Guard also is providing one C-130J support aircraft for personnel and equipment transport and one RC-26 providing aerial imagery support.
-- Eight C-130H cargo aircraft equipped with the modular airborne firefighting system are assisting from other states, including three from the North Carolina Air National Guard, two from the Wyoming Air National Guard and three from the Colorado Air Force Reserve. They are capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant per mission. To date, they have dropped nearly 1 million gallons of retardant.
(Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Hughan serves with the California National Guard. Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke of the National Guard Bureau contributed to this report.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 11, 2008 - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops to state active duty today to boost the state's ongoing firefighting efforts and prepare for the threat of additional fires over the next several months. "We already have 400 Guard members on the front lines, and once these new troops are trained and certified, they will be ready to pitch in at a moment's notice throughout the fire season," Schwarzenegger said in a news release issued by his staff.
The federal government committed yesterday to send out-of-state firefighters to train these additional California Guard personnel on critical firefighting techniques.
This is the first time since 1977 that soldiers have been used to fight fires on the ground in California.
"Having their assistance is going to be critical as we go forward into this summer of fire fighting," said Capt. Mark Whaling of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CAL FIRE. "They have the same basic fire training that every new firefighter has, so if any of these fires escape their containment lines, they will be able to control them so we can get the tired crews back to base camps for rest."
These additional troops will go through training at McClellan Air Park with the U.S. Forest Service and will be available for duty over the next few weeks.
"The soldiers will be doing duties that CAL FIRE regularly does. It's just that the volume of fire this year is so much, with so many fires, ... this is the challenge the Guard will help us meet," Whaling said.
CAL FIRE trained the Guard members on fire breaks, brush clearing, proper tool usage and safety. The troops also received basic conditioning that consisted of trail hikes in full gear, multiple times a day in the hot sun, to prepare for what promises to be very difficult work ahead.
"It's a great experience so far. There is a definite science and process to firefighting that you don't know about until you've been on a hand crew out here for a while," said Army Sgt. Mark Walch.
Walch is a high school teacher in Chico and a soldier with Company A, 297th Support Battalion, who dropped the summer classes he was taking and reported to the Oroville Armory within hours of the mobilization.
"The fires in Butte County are threatening my hometown of Paradise, so it's doubly important to me to be here. I'm a small cog in the wheel, but every little thing counts," Walch said.
The soldiers will be grouped into 20-person teams and distributed around the state to wherever the fire officials need them and where the soldiers can be used most effectively and safely.
"These types of fires are an endurance race, so they will help us stretch our resources so we can move forward and contain the existing and new fires as they pop up," Whaling said.
One CAL FIRE official said he believes the Guard is an excellent and recurring source of trained and experienced firefighters to help contain and control fires in the state.
"I see this as the future," said CAL FIRE assistant captain Dan Burns. "Once the training is complete, we have a record of every soldier and will be able to recall them and get them to the lines quickly. I see this as only the beginning."
The California National Guard, with support from neighboring states, has the following resources allocated to the state's firefighting efforts:
-- The California Guard has mobilized more than 1,000 personnel to provide support to the ongoing firefighting effort, including more than 400 personnel assigned to hand crews working alongside other firefighters.
-- Twenty-two helicopters are supporting the firefighting effort, including 14 California Guard helicopters and eight helicopters from Utah, Nebraska, Washington, Arizona and Oregon. To date, these rotary-wing aircraft have dropped nearly 3 million gallons of water.
-- The California Guard also is providing one C-130J support aircraft for personnel and equipment transport and one RC-26 providing aerial imagery support.
-- Eight C-130H cargo aircraft equipped with the modular airborne firefighting system are assisting from other states, including three from the North Carolina Air National Guard, two from the Wyoming Air National Guard and three from the Colorado Air Force Reserve. They are capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant per mission. To date, they have dropped nearly 1 million gallons of retardant.
(Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Hughan serves with the California National Guard. Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke of the National Guard Bureau contributed to this report.)
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