Making Your Own Reality: A Survival Story

James P. Meade, Ph.D., a Warrant Officer helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, incurred a massive brain injury during a helicopter crash.  When he awoke from a 10 week coma, he had no memory of the first 19 years of his life.  James P. Meade is the author of Making Your Own Reality: A Survival Story.

More about James P. Meade

Face of Defense: Air Force Tennis Coach Battles Back After Strokes

By Amber Baillie
Academy Spirit Staff Writer

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 9, 2013 – Each day Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous is reminded to keep fighting when he glances at the bright green wristband he sports on his right arm that reads: "Tough times don't last, tough people do."

Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous, an active-duty tennis coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., recovers in Memorial Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit March 24, 2013, with his children, Emma, left, and Andrew and Anna, right, following his second stroke. U.S. Air Force courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Oosterhous, the men's tennis coach here and the only active-duty head coach at the academy, wears the gift from his father everywhere he goes to keep a positive attitude amidst the constant discomfort and uncertainty he continues to experience after experiencing two strokes this past spring.

"It's not something you wake up from and are better," Oosterhous said. "It doesn't go away. I have to believe I'm going to get better or else I won't. Instead of worrying about why this happened, I have to push forward."

A 1993 academy graduate and coach here for the past four years, Oosterhous, 42, was active and healthy until the evening of Feb. 28. Feeling like a 20-year-old again after competing in a match against his Falcon tennis players, Oosterhous said he went to bed that night and woke up feeling dizzy, began vomiting, and felt an intense pain in his neck.

"It took me three tries just to get to the bathroom because I kept falling down," Oosterhous said. "I tried to sleep it off but that wasn't the right thing to do. I needed medical attention right then."

As his symptoms lingered, Oosterhous said his wife drove him to the emergency room where medics informed that he was having a stroke.
"I knew something was definitely wrong, but I had no idea it was a stroke," Oosterhous said. "That wasn't the first thing that came to mind. I'm young, healthy and I just didn't think stroke."

Tests revealed the stroke was triggered by a dissection of an artery. Oosterhous was put on a blood thinner, and for the next two weeks he doubled up on physical and occupational therapy to regain strength through the right side of his body. Little did he know he would relive the horrific ordeal a week later on March 21.

"I woke up with the same headache and same pain except it was on the left side this time," Oosterhous said. "I couldn't believe it was happening all over again."

Oosterhous went to the hospital, where his symptoms progressed during the next 20 hours. He was unable to move his fingers or feel the left side of his body.

"Every minute something was fading away and it was frustrating because I knew from my previous experience how long it was going to take to get things back," Oosterhous said.

"Medics gave me a clot-busting drug but there was nothing they could do to stop the stroke,” he said. “'It just had to evolve,' was how they put it."

Oosterhous had difficulty breathing, speaking and swallowing throughout the night.

"The upper part of the brain was working fine," Oosterhous said. "The signals that tell my muscles to move couldn't get through my brain stem because a tiny channel was blocking them. Since I'm unable to get the signal to my muscles, my brain has to learn through repetition and effort."

Oosterhous remained in the hospital for four weeks and was unable to drive for two months. Family members, co-workers and players from his team showed their support by visiting him and reading his online blog.

"Journaling has been therapeutic," Oosterhous said. "My journals have grown into longer, more thoughtful, deeper experiences of learning. I've learned how I operate, how I ‘tick,’ how I go about my daily life and what is important to me. I've been able to spend more time with my three kids this summer than the past four summers I've been here."

Throughout the recovery process, Oosterhous said he's consistently set goals to stay motivated. Two goals he accomplished included coaching his team here during the Mountain West Conference in April and commissioning two seniors from the team during graduation in May.

"In February I had promised them I would do their commissioning," Oosterhous said. "After my stroke I wasn't sure if that was still possible. I decided to keep that as one of my goals to be able to get out of the hospital, be able to walk onto the stage and do the oath of office with them. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be but I was so glad I could do it. I was in my uniform for the first time again and it was the neatest thing I've done in my 20-year Air Force career."

Oosterhous said he's been able to apply lessons he learned here as a cadet to surviving two strokes.
"I've learned why we do certain things at the academy, such as play sports," Oosterhous said. "It's because they teach bigger life lessons. When you get sick and your life is completely changed -- How do you deal with that? Being able to have the positive attitude and work ethic to get through this has been nice because I know that if I can handle this, I can handle anything."

Oosterhous is on narcotics and a strong blood thinner to alleviate the pain and prevent him from stroking again -- although another one could occur at any point.

"Doctors don't want to operate because it would be very risky," Oosterhous said. "Pilot training was the hardest year of my life, my four years at the academy were very difficult, but this is something that is going to be with me for my entire life."

He told his players that they can choose their attitudes throughout life.

"You can't choose what happens to you," Oosterhous said. "Hard work doesn't guarantee that you'll win a match or that you're going to be the best on the team but if you have a good attitude, good things will happen."

Oosterhous is walking short distances without a cane. He is swimming. He even took on wheelchair tennis during a clinic in May.

"I still have a long way to go in my recovery and it will take years to get back anywhere close to my pre-stroke levels but I only know how to keep fighting," he said.

Oosterhous participated in adaptive sports camps this week through the Air Force Wounded Warrior program where he was able to interact with other active-duty members who also became ill or were wounded in combat.

"The goal is for participants to realize they can be active again," Oosterhous said. "The subset of that goal is to pick people for the Warrior Games."

Oosterhous plans to begin coaching the men's tennis team again later this month.

"The cadets motivate me and I think this is the best place in the world to work," Oosterhous said. "I'm around athletics which is a huge part of recovery. The four-year process of bringing kids out of high school and graduating them as officers is really neat to me. My tennis coach here was my biggest role model and that's what I hope I can do for these cadets."

Oosterhous said he will be ready for his players.

"I want to work and this is the work I love," he said.

131st BW makes history as first ANG bomb wing certified for nuclear operations

by Capt. Rachel Savage
131st Bomb Wing Public Affairs

8/8/2013 - WHITEMAN Air Force Base, Mo -- The Air National Guard celebrated a historic milestone this week as the 131st Bomb Wing, the nation's only Guard unit to fly and maintain the B-2 Spirit, was certified to conduct the nuclear mission upon completion of their Initial Nuclear Surety Inspection.

With this certification, the 131st BW reached full operational capability with the B-2, bringing to conclusion a six-year journey that began with the unit's transition from the F-15 Eagle mission in 2007, said Maj. Gen. Steve Danner, Adjutant General of Missouri.

"The Airmen of the 131st Bomb Wing have proven they are up to the task in carrying out this critical national security mission," Danner said. "This confirmation is the result of years of hard work and the commencement of a new chapter in Air National Guard history. The 131st Bomb Wing is officially open for business - Col. Michael Francis and his team should be proud."

This momentous event marks the first time in the history of the Guard that a bomb wing has been certified in the delivery of nuclear weapons.

"The 131st Citizen-Airmen have proven they can exceed every stringent challenge posed in the nuclear realm," said Francis, the 131st Bomb Wing commander. "Their countless hours have deservingly evolved in to this success and I couldn't be more proud."

The four-day inspection consisted of assessments in key areas, and graded the wing's ability to be caretakers of an unrivaled combat power.

"The result of the inspection validates the wing's ability to carry out the nuclear mission, which requires adherence to the strictest standards" said Henry Jenkins, Air Force Global Strike Command Inspector General Team chief.

As part of the Air Force's Total Force Integration initiative to combine active duty with Guard Airmen, the two wings were integrated in 2007 when the 131st received its new operational mission. The unit became a classic associate with the active duty's 509th Bomb Wing, enabling the 131st to become the first-ever Guard unit to fly the B-2.

The integration efforts began seven years ago on Feb. 27, 2006, when the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force approved Total Force Initiative Phase II, which directed the creation of a Classic Association with the 509th and the 131st.

In 2008, the wing had fewer than 60 members stationed at Whiteman when they conducted the first all guard B-2 sortie, which included both the launch and operation of the aircraft. Today, nearly all 800 members are based at Whiteman, with completely integrated maintenance crews and almost three times the number of qualified pilots.

"The Airmen of the 509th Bomb Wing and the 131st Bomb Wing are physically and functionally integrated at every level," said Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 509th Bomb Wing commander. "When you walk on the flight line at Whiteman, you can't tell the difference between an active-duty or Guard pilot, maintainer, or load crew team. This certification was the last remaining event to align our mission capabilities and we are honored to be defending this great nation with the warriors of the Missouri Air National Guard!"

The first combat total force integration mission the wings conducted came in March 2011 when three B-2s flew over Libya, dropping 45 Joint Direct Attack Munitions to destroy hardened aircraft shelters, crippling Muammar Gaddafi's air forces and helping enforce the United Nations' no-fly zone.

The six aircrew members who flew that mission included both active duty and Guard pilots, demonstrating success in the first real-world combat mission the B-2 conducted since Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

"Our certification is a culmination of years of long hours and concentrated effort coupled with each Airman's determination to go above and beyond every day," said Chief Master Sgt. Paul Carney, 131st Bomb Wing command chief. "It was no easy feat logistically to move the wing and take on a new mission, especially one as demanding as the no-fail nuclear mission...but we did it."

F-22 accident report released

8/9/2013 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- A chafed electrical wire, which arced and led to an internal fire, caused an F-22A Raptor to crash at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 15, 2012, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released today.

The aircraft belonged to 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, and the pilot was the flight lead of a two-ship training mission. The pilot ejected safely, was recovered by Tyndall AFB emergency response members and sustained no significant injuries.

According to the results of the investigation, the cause of the mishap was a chaffed, positive generator-feeder wire that arced, burned through an adjacent hydraulic line, and caused the generator to go offline. When the pilot attempted to restart the generator, the ensuing arc ignited the misting hydraulic fluid and started a fire in the F-22's left accessory-drive bay. The fire compromised critical electrical and hydraulic systems that control the F-22 flight control surfaces, and led to an unrecoverable situation.

Additionally, based on the evidence, the board president found that the weather substantially contributed to the mishap. Specifically, a solid, undercast cloud layer did not allow for a visual-flight pattern, which affected the pilot's and radar controllers' recovery options.

The F-22 was destroyed, with total damage estimated at $149.6 million, including related equipment and impact site restoration.

Maintenance personnel have incorporated the investigation's findings into multiple recurring inspections of the entire F-22 fleet that ensure aircraft are operating at acceptable risk levels. Officials also are planning a permanent modification to the parts separating hydraulic and electrical lines to further minimize the chance of a recurrence of a similar event.

Missouri Guard Helps Flood-impacted Communities

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Nathan Dampf
131st Bomb Wing
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo., Aug. 9, 2013 – Missouri National Guard members are busy supporting traffic control points and other missions to help local authorities in central Missouri after Gov. Jay Nixon mobilized them Aug. 7 to assist residents with flood response brought on by recent heavy rains.

Gov. Jay Nixon and Air Force Brig. Gen. David W. Newman, joint chief of staff for the Missouri National Guard respond to flooding that affected several south-central counties Aug. 7-8, 2013. Missouri National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan Dampf   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

About 50 military police are on duty. Counting additional Guard members assigned as county liaison officers and manning the Missouri National Guard's tactical operations center established in the area, there are about 80 citizen-soldiers helping out in the region.

Guard members from the 35th Engineer Brigade and the 1138th Military Police Company assisted emergency personnel during evacuations and redirected motorists at flooded roads and bridges at traffic control points.

"Missouri's Guardsmen have been influential in helping their Missouri neighbors," said Air Force Brig. Gen. David W. Newman, joint chief of staff of the Missouri National Guard. "I am proud of our team of citizen-soldiers who have worked hand-in-hand with local leaders and emergency personnel to accomplish the mission set out by Gov. Nixon."

Guard members working out of Fort Leonard Wood and military police spearheaded the operation.
According to Army Lt. Col. William McKinney, the task force commander, more than 60 homes have been destroyed and 120 damaged or affected by the flooding. Local safety personnel have responded to more than 295 calls for service and assisted in more than 60 live rescues, said McKinney. At least two people, a woman and her young son, were killed.

"Our military police are highly trained and working well with local authorities, including Waynesville Police Chief Robert Carter and Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long," McKinney said. "In our first operational day, we established great communication with the emergency management departments and emergency operations centers. Our Guardsmen have been very successful."

To discuss the operation, Nixon held a roundtable meeting with city and county leaders at the Waynesville City Hall. He was joined by Newman, Andrea Spillars, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety; Army Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, base commander of Fort Leonard Wood; and members of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

After the meeting, Waynesville Mayor Luge Hardman escorted Nixon to view some of the damage around the city hall building. Hardman said homes, including a mobile-home park and rental properties were damaged by the rise of Mitchell Creek and the Roubidoux River that runs behind the city hall building.

Hardman thanked Nixon for the quick response of state resources, including the Missouri National Guard.

"They responded very quickly," Hardman said. "They have been a wonderful addition. We are thrilled with the partnership. We appreciate them greatly."

Face of Defense: Soldier Gains New Perspective From Service

By Army Sgt. Kandi Huggins
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE APACHE, Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2013 – Army Spc. Nancy Vega knows why she joined the Army, but her perspective has changed.

Army Spc. Nancy Vega conducts a radio check prior to a mission brief at Forward Operating Base Apache, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2013. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kandi Huggins   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

“I didn’t join for patriotic reasons or because I needed a job,” said the truck driver with Echo Company, Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, Combined Task Force Duke. “I initially joined to get a skill set to help after the Army.”

Within 13 months of joining, Vega said, her entire outlook and motivation evolved.

Vega serves with a unit responsible for recovery. She is responsible for counter-improvised explosive device tools, ensuring everything is ready and the equipment is working. Before the Army, Vega worked as a skills trainer. Private organizations hired her and other skilled professionals to help special needs children.

“I simply tell people I was a school teacher,” she said. “If they had a very challenging child, they would hire us, and we would help facilitate and assist helping them develop the skills they needed, depending on what goals they had.”

“The Mililani, Hawaii, native said her decision to enlist was impulsive, but she’s glad she made it. “After getting in and seeing so much pride and honor, which I thank my [noncommissioned officers] for, my mind is open to different perspectives.”

Vega said there is a history everywhere she goes that she was not aware of before she joined the Army. Now, she added, her motivation is to uphold that honor and pride and to become the best soldier she can become.

“She is a team player and a hard worker,” said Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Canty, maintenance platoon sergeant. “Vega has a great grasp of knowledge and is always willing to learn and teach others.”
Because she was older than the cutoff age to go to Officer Candidate School after basic combat training, Vega said, she received guidance to serve in the enlisted ranks for a year and then apply for OCS.

“I’m very happy I went through enlisted, because I see different sides of the ranks,” she said. “At first, I didn’t understand the difference between the two. … Officers deal more with administration, and the enlisted [soldier] deals more with hands-on involvement."

The hands-on training she has gained from working closely with an infantry unit is the type of training and experience she hoped to receive to increase her skill set for when she receives her commission, Vega said.

“I don’t see it as a segregation thing,” she added. “We are side by side, all together. I’m excited to learn a lot of boots-on ground-things.”

Vega said she enjoys law enforcement and weapons, and she hopes to be a military police officer when she’s commissioned. After the Army, she added, she wants to use her experience to work in criminal investigation.

Until then, she is excited to continue learning everything she can to be the best soldier she can be.
“I don’t like to be complacent. I like to move forward,” she said. “I want to stay in the Army as long as I can physically handle it and remain cognitive of the standards and apply them.”

Vega said so far all she has done is learn, and she is thankful for her NCOs and chain of command for always pushing her and her peers to excel.

Accountability Citizenship

The August 17, 2013 episode of American Heroes Radio features a conversation with retired US Army officer Stephen P. Tryon, the author of Accountability Citizenship.

Program Date: August 17, 2013

Program Time: 1500 hours, PACIFIC

Topic: Accountability Citizenship

Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2013/08/17/accountability-citizenship

About the Guest

Stephen P. Tryon “holds a B.S. from West Point and an M.A. in philosophy from Stanford University.  Raised with seven siblings in a family where public service is a core value, he served as a soldier in the United States army for 21 years.  At the end of his army career, he served as a legislative fellow for Senator Max Cleland, as well as a legislative assistant to the senior general at army headquarters in the Pentagon.

More recently, Tryon has worked as a Senior Vice President of Human Resources and International Business at Overstock.com for nine years.  He has spent four years managing logistics and five years managing human resources and international business.  A current resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, Tryon has one son Jake, and a dog Peanut.  Fluent in English and able to converse in Spanish, Tryon also enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, outdoor recreation, exercising, reading, and writing.” Stephen P. Tryon is the author of Accountability Citizenship.

According to the book description of Accountability Citizenship, it “explains how we can restore accountability in government by accepting our personal accountability for some simple tasks we must do as individual citizens living in the age of information. The book is non-partisan. Readers are asked only to agree on the very basics—that the government of the United States is supposed to represent the people of the United States.

The author makes a compelling case that changes in our information distribution technologies and business models discourage effective political participation by citizens. In the early days of our republic, information distribution was based on newspapers—subscription-based and geographically aligned with the representative structure of Congress. Over the past forty years, deregulation of television and radio along with the information technology revolution have disrupted this alignment. But we can restore accountability through the three steps of accountability citizenship: being appropriately positive, appropriately informed and appropriately engaged.”

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 Criminal Justice Department chair, 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 from the Archive:

http://www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/accountability_citizenship.html

Program Contact Information

Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA

editor@police-writers.com

909.599.7530

Facebook Event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/401100896656055

Civil Air Patrol: Auxiliary to the Air Force

by Senior Airman Jared Duhon
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/7/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.  -- Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 2012 hurricane season, as it affected 24 states with damages totaling $68 billion.

Many organizations across the east coast helped with recovery efforts after the powerful storm passed, including the Delaware chapter of the Civil Air Patrol.

Supporting the recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy was one of the largest missions in CAP's history. Training for hurricane assistance and recovery missions was conducted August 3, 2013, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

"We are big on training," said CAP Capt. Robbie McCray, Delaware wing director of communications. "Our three missions are emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education."

The CAP is a volunteer based organization providing Federal Emergency Management Agency alongside federal, state and local authorities an accurate assessment of storm damage. The auxiliary to the Air Force also provided help where it was needed by means of images, equipment and personnel.

CAP Col. William Bernfeld, Delaware Wing commander, said CAP members processed more than 158,000 photos of the Hurricane Sandy's destruction. The photos were used by FEMA, giving them a more complete picture of the destruction.

"We used the lessons learned from last year's hurricane to drive this year's training," said Bernfeld. "This will prepare us for future natural disasters."

Hurricane recovery is not the only time the CAP provides emergency service to communities.

"We do at least 90 percent of the inland search and rescue in the country," said McCray. "That includes children, adults and aircraft."

CAP provides support for local, state and federal agencies including the Air Force. They also serve the community directly by providing aerospace education and youth cadet programs.

"I think Civil Air Patrol is a great way to meet people, strengthen your leadership skills and just become a better person in general," said Tanner Brennan, CAP cadet chief master sergeant "As you move up the CAP chain of command and earn positions, your leadership skills are tested."

Bernfeld believes the recently implemented CAP hurricane training will help to provide well trained volunteers when they are called on to serve the community again in a time of crisis.

Joint Base Charleston hosts runway ribbon cutting event

by Capt. Frank Hartnett
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

8/7/2013 - JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Military officials, construction contractors and local civic leaders gathered to mark the end of major construction efforts on the main runway, August 8, 2013, at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base, S.C.

The ribbon cutting ceremony featured speakers from DWG & Associates, the 628th Air Base Wing, Charleston County Aviation Authority and the 437th Airlift Wing.

The original main Charleston runway was more than 40 years old and required extensive safety inspections and spot repairs to ensure safe use. The new runway cost more than $40 million and required 355,000 man hours to complete.

"We replaced the runway before it became a danger," said Lt. Col. Matthew Leard, 437th Operations Support Squadron commander. "There were cracking issues and FOD concerns, but we took action before it went any further."

A project of this scale required close coordination with all users of the airfield.

The project was not without its share of challenges. During 13 months of construction, more than five feet of rain fell on the project site. Excessive rain fall resulted in nearly 60 days of construction weather delays. Additionally, construction crews had to replace 45,000 cubic yards of unsuitable soil, which is enough soil to cover a football field with a 25-foot layer. Despite these challenges, the construction crews completed this large-scale construction effort without any accidents or incidents.

The new runway is a major upgrade for Joint Base Charleston's mission capabilities and the growing Charleston community. An improved fighter aircraft arresting system is also part of the new runway, benefitting transient aircraft experiencing mechanical issues.

"The new system raises the cable from a recessed location by remote command," said Lt. Col. Pat Miller, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "This extends the life of the runway by preventing the steel cable from slapping the runway when not in use."

Joint Base Charleston hosts a dual-use airfield which is shared with the local community. Last year, Joint Base Charleston executed more than 2,700 C-17 missions and Charleston International Airport supported 1.29 million arrivals and departures.

The newly paved surface is 9,000-feet long and 150-feet wide and is composed of concrete that is 18-inches thick. Which is enough concrete to make a four-foot wide sidewalk spanning from Charleston, S.C. to Orlando, Fla.

Outdated lighting was replaced with high-efficiency, longer-lasting LED lighting which aids in safer flight operations. In total, 110 miles of wiring and ground cabling was installed to support the new infrastructure.

"This was a great team effort. The planning started in 2003 and the contract was signed in 2011," said Miller. "Construction began in 2012, and a year and 50 days later we now have a new runway."

Marine Missing from Korean War Identified

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2013 – The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of a U.S. service member missing from the Korean War have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors, according to a DOD news release issued today.

Marine Corps Pfc. Jonathan R. Posey Jr., 20, of Dallas, will be buried Aug. 12 in Arlington National Cemetery. In December 1950, Posey, assigned to L Battery, 4th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, was serving provisionally as an infantryman with the 7th Marine Regiment at Yudam-ni in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir. On Dec. 2, 1950, Posey was killed in action while the 5th and 7th Marine Regiments were withdrawing to Hagaru-ri.

In 1954, United Nations and Communist forces exchanged the remains of war dead in what came to be called “Operation Glory.” All remains recovered in Operation Glory were turned over to the Army Central Identification Unit for analysis. Those that were unable to be identified were interred as unknowns at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii.

In 2012, analysts from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command reevaluated Posey’s records and determined that portions of the remains recovered from Operation Glory should be exhumed for identification. To identify the remains, scientists from JPAC used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, such as dental and radiograph comparison, which matched Posey’s records.
Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously recovered from North and South Korea. More than 7,900 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

DISA Director Shares Joint Information Environment Vision

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2013 – During remarks at the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Forecast to Industry Day here today, the organization’s director discussed plans to keep pace with the rapidly changing joint information environment that connects war fighters around the globe.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins said he recognizes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey’s plan to implement next-generation capabilities accordingly.

“We see DISA as being that primary role for the integrator … of how we bring the JIE into its operational capability for the warfighter,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins also acknowledged the challenges ahead in changing the Defense Department’s tactics, techniques and procedures and integrating that culture on a cyberspace landscape with numerous networks.

“We’ve got a tough challenge ahead of us to move into the deployed environment with … the next generation of capabilities,” he said.

Development of the Department of Defense Information Network will include no-notice inspector general reviews, personnel moves, integrated financial execution and planning and converged enterprise services and chief information officer functions, Hawkins explained.

“We are looking at that greater emphasis on the efficacy [of] working with enterprise,” he said.
As such, the general noted plans to pivot on delivering capability in short periods of time, taking a sprint versus a marathon approach in acquisition with a focus on better buying power.

To mature the joint information environment from visualization to implementation, Hawkins said, will be a painstaking process.

In the meantime, the general added, DISA officials will continue to assess ways to best develop the joint information environment through a coalition lens to better work with allied nations.

Hawkins recalled naysayers, some of whom even questioned the feasibility of launching the joint information environment.

“I’ve challenged our folks to look at it from a different vein,” Hawkins said. “Two-and-a-half years ago, people said we would not do enterprise e-mail.”

He also noted in recent years that some seemed leery of DISA’s ability to reach 1.5 million users on enterprise email, and just a year and a half ago, few predicted DISA’s implementation of mobile device management.

“I’m not bragging, but I’m here to tell you we’ve done that here in DISA,” the general said. “We have a lot of visionaries within this organization. We’re focused on delivering for the warfighter.”

Global Strike team nominated for Citation of Honor

by Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

8/9/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- Air Force Global Strike Command's Bomber Nuclear Guidance Transformation Team has been nominated to compete at the Air Force level for the Air Force Association Aerospace Award, Citation of Honor.

The Citation of Honor is presented for the most outstanding contribution to national defense significantly exceeding standard performance by an Air Force military member, Department of the Air Force civilian, unit or group of individuals.

"Being nominated for this award is a fantastic and fully appreciated message of gratitude for the immense time and effort expended by our team," Chief of Operations Plans Branch, Lt. Col. Jonathan Park said.

The Bomber Nuclear Guidance Transformation Team led the most significant nuclear regulations overhaul in 20 years, Park said. Their contributions include: building the Department of Defense's first searchable electronic library of 89 Strategic Air Command regulations, revamping nuclear guidance and fielding a complex computer simulation that offers insight into current policies, manning, resources and force structure of the B-52 Stratofortress.

The team's efforts have many benefits, Park said. The computer simulation alone saves 37,000 man-hours and $2.2 million per generation. Their restructuring of nuclear guidance and training regulations support the goal of reinvigorating and strengthening the nuclear enterprise.

While it is an honor to be nominated, Park said, it was not the team's goal.

"Ultimately, recognition at any level doesn't validate our efforts," Park said. "Validation of our efforts is achieved through gains in mission effectiveness and efficiency as well as feedback from the units and combatant commands we support."

AFA will present the awards to the final winners during their Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2013 this September in Washington, D.C.

Hagel Meets With Russian Minister of Defense

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2013 – Pentagon Press Secretary George Little provided a readout of today’s "two-plus-two" talks among Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu at the U.S. State Department.
The text of Little’s readout follows:

Prior to the formal "2+2" sessions, Secretary Hagel and Russian Minister of Defense Shoygu held their first meeting together as defense counterparts.

Secretary Hagel began by noting it is the responsibility of major powers to find a way forward on the key issues facing our nations and the world. Secretary Hagel and Minister Shoygu agreed that it is time to build a more robust agenda for military cooperation and directed their staffs to put together a plan for more regular and frequent engagement.

Secretary Hagel stated that the Department of Defense is determined to overcome impediments to deeper cooperation by concluding necessary enabling agreements that will allow for improved information sharing, exchanges, joint exercises, and training.

Secretary Hagel discussed the United States and NATO approach to supporting security and stability in Afghanistan post 2014. The leaders also exchanged views on Syria and the importance of supporting a political process to end the violence.