By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Marine entry-level training will reinvigorate its values-based approach, a top Marine official said here yesterday. At both Marine Corps Recruitment Depots -- in Parris Island, S.C., and San Diego -- senior drill instructors will hold "footlocker classes" with enlistees to strengthen the mentor-scholar relationship, Marine Maj. Gen. George J. Flynn, the commanding general of the Corps' Training and Education Command, told reporters at the Pentagon.
"The senior drill instructors will have their troops literally sit on the footlockers and will have that father-son, mother-daughter talk that really instills those values," he said. "That's where a lot of the values get reinforced and introduced to the recruits."
Discussion topics will depend on when the sessions occur during boot camp, and Flynn said talks could range from what new recruits might experience when first arriving to a unit and what leadership they can expect, to financial advice and how young Marines should behave during leave. Senior drill instructors soon will receive a guide on how to approach these footlocker sessions, he added.
Flynn said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway spurred the re-examination of entry-level training. "This stemmed from his belief that the transformation from civilian to Marine is a national treasure and one that we must preserve and guard," he said.
In addition, the Corps is considering an additional week of infantry training for both infantry and noninfantry Marines, which would likely include crew-served weapons training, plus convoy and counter-improvised-explosive-device training.
In about a month, officials at Marine Manpower and Reserve Affairs should render their judgment on whether the additional week is feasible. "All these things would provide a better-trained Marine to the operating forces," Flynn said.
The general also announced a scheduling change to the 12-week Marine boot camp, involving the 54-hour endurance exercise Marines call "The Crucible." In May, recruits at Parris Island will undergo the crucible in week 11, instead of week 10, and in October the crucible exercise in San Diego will move from week eight to week 11.
"We want to make The Crucible the true culminating event that it was originally designed to be," he said. "At the end of this 54-hour event, you will be recognized as earning the right to be called a United States Marine."
The 12th and final week of training will be called "Marine Week," Flynn said.
"It's a transition from going to a very restrictive environment to learning about how you are going to function in the Marines when you reach the operating forces," he said. "You're going to get accustomed to the leadership that you're going to experience out in the fleet and also understand the role of (noncommissioned officers) and staff NCOs other than being drill instructors."
Borrowing a quote from former Marine Commandant Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune, Flynn said, "An individual should be better off for their service."
"And that's really what this is all about," he said. "It's a recommitment."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Gates: Department Will Shield Troops from Funding Shortfall
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – The Defense Department will take "every action necessary for as long as possible," to ensure that troops fighting in Iraq are not affected by the delay in approval of its supplemental war funding, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday. The longer the supplemental funding goes unapproved, the greater the financial disruptions on the Army, but most of those will be absorbed as monies are transferred from accounts for U.S. construction, training, hiring and travel and funneled to supporting the war, Gates told Pentagon reporters.
President Bush on May 1 vetoed an emergency war-funding bill that included timelines for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
The $124 billion bill, passed by Congress last week, would have funded the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also included domestic spending measures and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning by October, with the goal of getting all combat forces out of Iraq by March 2008.
Bush called the bill unacceptable because it mandates artificial timelines for troop withdrawal, which he said would embolden the enemy and discourage the Iraqi people.
Gates responded to questions by reporters on the impact of a delay in approving supplemental funding after a briefing announcing a newly created oversight committee for wounded warrior care in the military.
He said that preset timelines for troop withdrawal would be a mistake. Insurgents would simply wait for U.S. troops to withdraw while bolstering their forces in anticipation, Gates said.
"If you pick a certain date and say the troops are coming out on a certain date, everybody basically just gets to sit back and say, 'OK, we got 90 or 100 days that we've got to wait,'" Gates said.
"All that al Qaeda and Jaysh al-Mahdi and all the rest have to do is say, 'You know, We've got X days until these guys are gone. So husband your resources. All we have to do is make the run for the money in a specific period of time,'" Gates said. "As long as there's some uncertainty about that, it seems to me that they don't have that luxury."
Gates conceded, though, that the debate over a troop withdrawal is "useful in terms of letting the Iraqis fully understand the impatience here at home and the importance of their getting on with their domestic reconciliation and the importance of the political reconciliation to the success of the enterprise in Iraq."
The president requested a $93.4 billion emergency supplemental measure in February to cover the cost of operations in the war on terror for the remainder of fiscal 2007. This was in addition to the $70 billion Congress previously had provided. The supplemental budget provides $39.3 billion to sustain warfighting operations, including supplies, support and maintenance, according to documents released by the Defense Department.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – The Defense Department will take "every action necessary for as long as possible," to ensure that troops fighting in Iraq are not affected by the delay in approval of its supplemental war funding, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday. The longer the supplemental funding goes unapproved, the greater the financial disruptions on the Army, but most of those will be absorbed as monies are transferred from accounts for U.S. construction, training, hiring and travel and funneled to supporting the war, Gates told Pentagon reporters.
President Bush on May 1 vetoed an emergency war-funding bill that included timelines for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
The $124 billion bill, passed by Congress last week, would have funded the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also included domestic spending measures and called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning by October, with the goal of getting all combat forces out of Iraq by March 2008.
Bush called the bill unacceptable because it mandates artificial timelines for troop withdrawal, which he said would embolden the enemy and discourage the Iraqi people.
Gates responded to questions by reporters on the impact of a delay in approving supplemental funding after a briefing announcing a newly created oversight committee for wounded warrior care in the military.
He said that preset timelines for troop withdrawal would be a mistake. Insurgents would simply wait for U.S. troops to withdraw while bolstering their forces in anticipation, Gates said.
"If you pick a certain date and say the troops are coming out on a certain date, everybody basically just gets to sit back and say, 'OK, we got 90 or 100 days that we've got to wait,'" Gates said.
"All that al Qaeda and Jaysh al-Mahdi and all the rest have to do is say, 'You know, We've got X days until these guys are gone. So husband your resources. All we have to do is make the run for the money in a specific period of time,'" Gates said. "As long as there's some uncertainty about that, it seems to me that they don't have that luxury."
Gates conceded, though, that the debate over a troop withdrawal is "useful in terms of letting the Iraqis fully understand the impatience here at home and the importance of their getting on with their domestic reconciliation and the importance of the political reconciliation to the success of the enterprise in Iraq."
The president requested a $93.4 billion emergency supplemental measure in February to cover the cost of operations in the war on terror for the remainder of fiscal 2007. This was in addition to the $70 billion Congress previously had provided. The supplemental budget provides $39.3 billion to sustain warfighting operations, including supplies, support and maintenance, according to documents released by the Defense Department.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates Urges Vigilance in Terror War
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged Americans to learn from past mistakes and steel their resolve to see the war on terror through to victory. Gates warned during an address to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that giving up the fight too soon would be a devastating mistake with longstanding consequences. He urged the country to allocate the resources needed to win the war as it rebuilds its elements of national power, which withered after the end of the Cold War.
Re-donning the professor's hat he wore as president of Texas A&M University, Gates offered a history lesson and cautioned against repeating past mistakes. He recounted five times during the past 90 years -- all after long conflicts -- when the United States cut its defense spending, disarmed outright or otherwise withdrew from the world.
"Each time we paid a price," he said.
The most recent instance was in the 1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union led people to seek a "peace dividend" rather than recognize new threats that were emerging, he said.
"Key instruments of America's national power -- military, diplomatic and intelligence -- withered throughout the decade," he said.
Within the Defense Department alone, the active Army was cut from almost 800,000 troops to fewer than 500,000. The number of Navy ships decreased by more than half. The Air Force went from 37 tactical wings to 20.
The State Department and U.S. intelligence agencies experienced similar cuts, he said.
"Even as we throttled back, the world became more unstable, more turbulent and more unpredictable than the Cold War years we had left behind," Gates told the audience. "Our hopes for peace, once again, gave way to the realities of disorder and conflict."
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks abruptly ended America's "holiday from history," he said. Those attacks and the campaigns that followed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the globe revealed shortcomings he said the country has had to work hard to correct.
Gates said this wake-up call has dealt a painful but important lesson for the country as it faces the future.
"As a nation, I believe we have to do two things," he said. "First, we have to deal with the challenges we face now, to commit the necessary resources to be successful in the current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"And second," he said, "we must recoup some of the underinvestment of the past and commit ourselves to strengthening the instruments of national power across the board."
That's already happening in the Defense Department, with overstressed ground forces to increase by some 92,000 members over the next five years and outdated or worn-out equipment being modernized or replaced, he said.
Other government agencies are rethinking their strategies, too.
"The goal is an integrated effort, a reinvigoration of the key elements of national power so that the United States does not let down its guard again," Gates said.
This groundwork is crucial in the face of threats facing the United States and its allies, including those posed by violent extremist networks and ideologies, he said.
Gates acknowledged that many Americans have grown weary of the ongoing conflict, particularly in light of setbacks and tragedy. This "is understandable and even to be expected," he said.
But, Gates said, it would be a terrible mistake for the country to use that as an excuse to shirk from its duties or once again render itself unprepared.
Although it's impossible to predict the future, he said history offers a glimpse of what's likely to be ahead. When the United States takes the lead, meets its commitments, stands with its allies, prepares for current threats as well as those still beyond the horizon, "then great things are possible and probable for our country and the world," he said.
"As a nation, we have made our share of mistakes, but we have always corrected our course," he said. "That is why this country remains the most powerful cause for good ... (and) why we will continue to be a beacon for all that is good."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged Americans to learn from past mistakes and steel their resolve to see the war on terror through to victory. Gates warned during an address to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that giving up the fight too soon would be a devastating mistake with longstanding consequences. He urged the country to allocate the resources needed to win the war as it rebuilds its elements of national power, which withered after the end of the Cold War.
Re-donning the professor's hat he wore as president of Texas A&M University, Gates offered a history lesson and cautioned against repeating past mistakes. He recounted five times during the past 90 years -- all after long conflicts -- when the United States cut its defense spending, disarmed outright or otherwise withdrew from the world.
"Each time we paid a price," he said.
The most recent instance was in the 1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union led people to seek a "peace dividend" rather than recognize new threats that were emerging, he said.
"Key instruments of America's national power -- military, diplomatic and intelligence -- withered throughout the decade," he said.
Within the Defense Department alone, the active Army was cut from almost 800,000 troops to fewer than 500,000. The number of Navy ships decreased by more than half. The Air Force went from 37 tactical wings to 20.
The State Department and U.S. intelligence agencies experienced similar cuts, he said.
"Even as we throttled back, the world became more unstable, more turbulent and more unpredictable than the Cold War years we had left behind," Gates told the audience. "Our hopes for peace, once again, gave way to the realities of disorder and conflict."
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks abruptly ended America's "holiday from history," he said. Those attacks and the campaigns that followed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the globe revealed shortcomings he said the country has had to work hard to correct.
Gates said this wake-up call has dealt a painful but important lesson for the country as it faces the future.
"As a nation, I believe we have to do two things," he said. "First, we have to deal with the challenges we face now, to commit the necessary resources to be successful in the current campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"And second," he said, "we must recoup some of the underinvestment of the past and commit ourselves to strengthening the instruments of national power across the board."
That's already happening in the Defense Department, with overstressed ground forces to increase by some 92,000 members over the next five years and outdated or worn-out equipment being modernized or replaced, he said.
Other government agencies are rethinking their strategies, too.
"The goal is an integrated effort, a reinvigoration of the key elements of national power so that the United States does not let down its guard again," Gates said.
This groundwork is crucial in the face of threats facing the United States and its allies, including those posed by violent extremist networks and ideologies, he said.
Gates acknowledged that many Americans have grown weary of the ongoing conflict, particularly in light of setbacks and tragedy. This "is understandable and even to be expected," he said.
But, Gates said, it would be a terrible mistake for the country to use that as an excuse to shirk from its duties or once again render itself unprepared.
Although it's impossible to predict the future, he said history offers a glimpse of what's likely to be ahead. When the United States takes the lead, meets its commitments, stands with its allies, prepares for current threats as well as those still beyond the horizon, "then great things are possible and probable for our country and the world," he said.
"As a nation, we have made our share of mistakes, but we have always corrected our course," he said. "That is why this country remains the most powerful cause for good ... (and) why we will continue to be a beacon for all that is good."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Survivors Group Honors Benefactors
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors paused May 1 to recognize those who help make their program possible during the TAPS 10th Annual Honor Guard Appreciation Luncheon here. "The Honor Guard Luncheon is our opportunity once a year to thank those who support our program in all sorts of ways," Bonnie Carroll, TAPS founder, said.
TAPS includes among its supporters corporations, members of military honor guards, Defense Department personnel and even celebrities. TAPS also is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.
One of the group's staunchest celebrity supporters, Ben Stein, served as the keynote speaker for the luncheon. The former lawyer may be best known for his monotone drone of "Bueller, Bueller" as a high school teacher in the 1980s hit movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
Stein said he's involved with the TAPS program because he is humbly grateful to the military and those left behind when a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice.
"I get to live this incredibly great life of being an American, get to be free, get to not have al Qaeda coming to my house and chopping my head off all because of people in the armed forces who protect me and keep me alive and well and happy," he said. "None of it -- the movies, the love, the gourmet meals, my favorite restaurant in the whole world -- Waffle House, the frat parties, the mansions, the (sport utility vehicles) -- none of it, none of it would be possible without them."
TAPS, he said, is there for military families when the unthinkable happens.
"What we need is something basic: human companionship," Stein told those gathered. "We want to be able to sit you down with somebody else who's been there, somebody else who's been in your situation ... for you to talk with someone who's been there, walked through the valley of the shadow of death and come through thanks to not walking through that valley alone."
Norma Melo knows benefits of talking with someone who's been there. She lost her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, in Mosul, Iraq, on Dec. 21, 2004. His task force suffered 22 casualties and 69 traumatic injuries that day.
"In those first few days, Bonnie (Carroll) did what was really needed for us," Melo said. "(She) did something that no one in our chain of command had thought to do, ... you gathered the spouses together, and immediately we had a bond.
"Now we share joyous memories and massive pain, but we (also) share a future," Melo said.
The TAPS program has been providing emotional, peer-based support to families affected by the death of a loved one serving in the armed forces for 15 years.
"At the time of my husband's death in the United States Army, there didn't exist a peer-based support program," Carroll said. "TAPS benchmarked off the best programs in America, talked to the Defense Department, (Department of Veterans Affairs), the other veterans service organizations and (asked), 'Where does the void exist, and how can we best fill it?'"
TAPS goes beyond connecting grieving family members and volunteers who have been there, the group also provides casework assistance and grief and trauma information and resources, as well as a hotline that's available 24 hours seven days a week.
"It's kind of a one-stop 800 number for all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one connected with military service," Carroll said.
TAPS also has, thanks to America Supports You, made another beneficial connection, she said.
"The TAPS Good Grief Camp is partnering with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey (Circus)," Carroll said. "Ringling is bringing in their performers, their clowns to work with the children on grief-related activities.
For instance, juggling will become a lesson in how to handle the emotions of grief. Building a human pyramid will symbolize to the children that they have support from each other, she said.
"It's giving the kids a learning opportunity, but also having a lot of fun," Carroll said. "Having that kind of connection would not have happened without America Supports You."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors paused May 1 to recognize those who help make their program possible during the TAPS 10th Annual Honor Guard Appreciation Luncheon here. "The Honor Guard Luncheon is our opportunity once a year to thank those who support our program in all sorts of ways," Bonnie Carroll, TAPS founder, said.
TAPS includes among its supporters corporations, members of military honor guards, Defense Department personnel and even celebrities. TAPS also is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.
One of the group's staunchest celebrity supporters, Ben Stein, served as the keynote speaker for the luncheon. The former lawyer may be best known for his monotone drone of "Bueller, Bueller" as a high school teacher in the 1980s hit movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
Stein said he's involved with the TAPS program because he is humbly grateful to the military and those left behind when a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice.
"I get to live this incredibly great life of being an American, get to be free, get to not have al Qaeda coming to my house and chopping my head off all because of people in the armed forces who protect me and keep me alive and well and happy," he said. "None of it -- the movies, the love, the gourmet meals, my favorite restaurant in the whole world -- Waffle House, the frat parties, the mansions, the (sport utility vehicles) -- none of it, none of it would be possible without them."
TAPS, he said, is there for military families when the unthinkable happens.
"What we need is something basic: human companionship," Stein told those gathered. "We want to be able to sit you down with somebody else who's been there, somebody else who's been in your situation ... for you to talk with someone who's been there, walked through the valley of the shadow of death and come through thanks to not walking through that valley alone."
Norma Melo knows benefits of talking with someone who's been there. She lost her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, in Mosul, Iraq, on Dec. 21, 2004. His task force suffered 22 casualties and 69 traumatic injuries that day.
"In those first few days, Bonnie (Carroll) did what was really needed for us," Melo said. "(She) did something that no one in our chain of command had thought to do, ... you gathered the spouses together, and immediately we had a bond.
"Now we share joyous memories and massive pain, but we (also) share a future," Melo said.
The TAPS program has been providing emotional, peer-based support to families affected by the death of a loved one serving in the armed forces for 15 years.
"At the time of my husband's death in the United States Army, there didn't exist a peer-based support program," Carroll said. "TAPS benchmarked off the best programs in America, talked to the Defense Department, (Department of Veterans Affairs), the other veterans service organizations and (asked), 'Where does the void exist, and how can we best fill it?'"
TAPS goes beyond connecting grieving family members and volunteers who have been there, the group also provides casework assistance and grief and trauma information and resources, as well as a hotline that's available 24 hours seven days a week.
"It's kind of a one-stop 800 number for all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one connected with military service," Carroll said.
TAPS also has, thanks to America Supports You, made another beneficial connection, she said.
"The TAPS Good Grief Camp is partnering with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey (Circus)," Carroll said. "Ringling is bringing in their performers, their clowns to work with the children on grief-related activities.
For instance, juggling will become a lesson in how to handle the emotions of grief. Building a human pyramid will symbolize to the children that they have support from each other, she said.
"It's giving the kids a learning opportunity, but also having a lot of fun," Carroll said. "Having that kind of connection would not have happened without America Supports You."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
America Supports You: Gates Extols Value of Troop-Support Efforts
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed thanks to Americans who support the troops and urged people to check out the Defense Department's America Supports You program. Gates told several hundred members of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that he's grateful for the support many are providing their employees serving in the National Guard and reserves. "You value these citizen soldiers and know they're more than worth retaining," he said. "Thank you for believing in them."
The secretary acknowledged it's "a tough time for them and for their families" and said it means a lot for these troops to know they have their employers' support. "I can assure you that your help and understanding do not go unnoticed," he said.
Gates recognized the long list of other activities the chamber sponsors to benefit the military, from adopt-a-soldier projects and providing free sports tickets to helping servicemembers travel to be with their loved ones or keep in touch while they're overseas.
He also heralded the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport's "Welcome Home a Hero" initiative, which organizes local groups, schools, congregations and businesses to greet troops returning home from deployments. Gates witnessed the program firsthand earlier today as a group welcomed more than 200 troops from several branches of the military as they arrived from Kuwait.
"These kinds of public receptions are really important," the secretary said. "Whatever disagreements exist over the war in Iraq, we are all united in our admiration of the men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times."
Gates contrasted these receptions with those Vietnam veterans received when they returned home. "It's good to see that we have learned from our past experiences and mistakes," he said.
The America Supports You program offers solid evidence of that wellspring of support, he said. The program, launched to recognize the myriad efforts under way around the country to show appreciation for military members and their families, is particularly helpful for people who want to express support, but who aren't sure how to get involved, he said.
"If people go to the America Supports You Web site, they will see countless projects they can join, from sending care packages to troops abroad to lending a helping hand to their families here at home," Gates said. "Everything you do makes a difference."
Gates called the opportunity to meet and work with "extraordinary people" dedicated to serving the country the highlight of his job at the Defense Department. At the top of that list, he said, are the troops serving on the front lines.
"I've come away from my four visits to Iraq and Afghanistan impressed by their resilience, their good humor, their courage and their determination in the face of danger and personal sacrifice," he said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed thanks to Americans who support the troops and urged people to check out the Defense Department's America Supports You program. Gates told several hundred members of the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce here that he's grateful for the support many are providing their employees serving in the National Guard and reserves. "You value these citizen soldiers and know they're more than worth retaining," he said. "Thank you for believing in them."
The secretary acknowledged it's "a tough time for them and for their families" and said it means a lot for these troops to know they have their employers' support. "I can assure you that your help and understanding do not go unnoticed," he said.
Gates recognized the long list of other activities the chamber sponsors to benefit the military, from adopt-a-soldier projects and providing free sports tickets to helping servicemembers travel to be with their loved ones or keep in touch while they're overseas.
He also heralded the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport's "Welcome Home a Hero" initiative, which organizes local groups, schools, congregations and businesses to greet troops returning home from deployments. Gates witnessed the program firsthand earlier today as a group welcomed more than 200 troops from several branches of the military as they arrived from Kuwait.
"These kinds of public receptions are really important," the secretary said. "Whatever disagreements exist over the war in Iraq, we are all united in our admiration of the men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times."
Gates contrasted these receptions with those Vietnam veterans received when they returned home. "It's good to see that we have learned from our past experiences and mistakes," he said.
The America Supports You program offers solid evidence of that wellspring of support, he said. The program, launched to recognize the myriad efforts under way around the country to show appreciation for military members and their families, is particularly helpful for people who want to express support, but who aren't sure how to get involved, he said.
"If people go to the America Supports You Web site, they will see countless projects they can join, from sending care packages to troops abroad to lending a helping hand to their families here at home," Gates said. "Everything you do makes a difference."
Gates called the opportunity to meet and work with "extraordinary people" dedicated to serving the country the highlight of his job at the Defense Department. At the top of that list, he said, are the troops serving on the front lines.
"I've come away from my four visits to Iraq and Afghanistan impressed by their resilience, their good humor, their courage and their determination in the face of danger and personal sacrifice," he said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Navy Announces Commissioning of Submarine Hawaii
The Navy's newest attack submarine Hawaii will be commissioned Saturday, May 5, during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony in Groton, Conn. The third submarine of the Virginia class, SSN 776 will bear the name Hawaii to recognize the tremendous support the Navy has enjoyed from the people of the Aloha State and in honor of the rich heritage of submarines in the Pacific theater.
Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is the sponsor of Hawaii, the state's namesake submarine. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when Lingle gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"
Hawaii has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements. Hawaii's capabilities include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, special operations forces delivery and support, and covert mine warfare. In addition to these mission areas, Hawaii will be able to strike targets ashore with precision Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other maritime forces. With enhanced communications connectivity, the submarine also will provide unique, fully-integrated strike group and joint task force support.
"The addition of USS Hawaii to the fleet provides needed capability to meet the challenges of the future," said Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter. "This ship's stealth, endurance, flexibility, and lethality, combined with a highly trained and ready crew, make for the most robust undersea warfare capability in the world."
Capt. David A. Solms, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the ship's commanding officer and will lead a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel.
The 7,800-ton Hawaii was built by the shipbuilder team of General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Conn., and Northrop Grumman Newport News. The submarine is 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. Hawaii is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship - reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. Hawaii will ensure the United States maintains undersea dominance, in both deep and shallow waters, well into this century.
Additional information about this class of submarine is available online at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4.
A live Web cast of the USS Hawaii's Commissioning ceremony can be viewed online at the commander, Submarine Group Two and the USS Hawaii Web sites at http://www.csg2.navy.mil/Hawaii.htm.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is the sponsor of Hawaii, the state's namesake submarine. The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when Lingle gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"
Hawaii has improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements that will enable it to meet the Navy's multi-mission requirements. Hawaii's capabilities include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, special operations forces delivery and support, and covert mine warfare. In addition to these mission areas, Hawaii will be able to strike targets ashore with precision Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other maritime forces. With enhanced communications connectivity, the submarine also will provide unique, fully-integrated strike group and joint task force support.
"The addition of USS Hawaii to the fleet provides needed capability to meet the challenges of the future," said Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter. "This ship's stealth, endurance, flexibility, and lethality, combined with a highly trained and ready crew, make for the most robust undersea warfare capability in the world."
Capt. David A. Solms, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the ship's commanding officer and will lead a crew of approximately 134 officers and enlisted personnel.
The 7,800-ton Hawaii was built by the shipbuilder team of General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Conn., and Northrop Grumman Newport News. The submarine is 377 feet in length, has a beam of 34 feet, and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. Hawaii is designed with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship - reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time. Hawaii will ensure the United States maintains undersea dominance, in both deep and shallow waters, well into this century.
Additional information about this class of submarine is available online at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=100&ct=4.
A live Web cast of the USS Hawaii's Commissioning ceremony can be viewed online at the commander, Submarine Group Two and the USS Hawaii Web sites at http://www.csg2.navy.mil/Hawaii.htm.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates Joins Revelers to Welcome Troops Home
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Almost 200 deployed troops got a Texas-sized homecoming today as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined hundreds of friends, family members and local residents to welcome them home from the Middle East for two weeks of rest and recuperation leave. Gates took his place alongside the flag-waving, banner-carrying, chanting revelers gathered at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's International Arrivals Terminal to meet the troops as their flight arrived from Kuwait. He shook hands with every arriving servicemember and thanked them for their service.
"These kinds of public receptions are really important," the secretary said later during a speech at the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce. "Whatever disagreements exist over the war in Iraq, we are all united in our admiration of the men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times."
Homecoming receptions are a daily occurrence here, part of a "Welcome Home a Hero" initiative designed to let troops know they've got the country's support.
"We want them to arrive home and know that somebody cares," said Gary Raines, a Vietnam veteran who's a regular at the homecomings. "Nobody welcomed us home, and we never want that to happen again."
"I can't think of anything more worthwhile than letting these people know that we support them," agreed Wayne Trevathan, an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Raines, Trevathan and other members of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 90, based in nearby Denton, had plenty of company here today.
The Dallas Tap Dazzlers, a senior ladies dance group, arrived in tap shoes, fishnet stockings and sparkly red, white and blue jackets emblazoned with a Lone Star to perform for the group.
One member, Joyce Lawrence, had special reason to be excited at today's performance. Her grandson, Army Spc. Daniel Black, who's been serving in Baghdad since early November, was among the arriving troops.
"I am just so excited; I'm beside myself," Lawrence gushed. "This is a really, really wonderful day."
Nova and Tim Dea hoisted a giant "Welcome Home, Jordan!" sign as they awaited their first glimpse of their son, Army Pfc. Jordan Dea, a Fort Bliss, Texas-based soldier serving near Mosul, Iraq.
"The webcam has been awesome, but we can't wait to get our hands on him," Nova said. "We've been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Kimberly Smith came dressed to the nines with a strapless sundress and fresh manicure to see her boyfriend, Army Spc. Corie Barran, walk through the arrivals gate. "This is so exciting," Smith said, apologizing as the tears she'd promised herself not to cry began to well up in her eyes.
Smith and Barran, a member of the Texas National Guard's 89th Military Police Brigade, had big plans for the afternoon. A highlight, she said, would be a surprise visit to the school where Barran's mom works.
"She knows he's coming home, but she doesn't know it's today," Smith said. "She is going to be really, really surprised."
Smith said the crowd at the airport made the day even more special. "It's just overwhelming," she said. "This is going to give them a real sense of being home and let them know that lots of people love them, not just their families."
Eleven-year-old Nicholas Haskell waited impatiently with his mother, Christina, and 15-month-old brother, Andrew, as word rang out that the soldiers' flight had arrived and the crowd burst into applause.
Nicholas said he was looking forward to celebrating his birthday, albeit it one day late, with the best gift a kid could ever have - his dad home safe. "I'll do anything to get to see my dad," he said.
The activity picked up as the crowd anticipated the troops' arrival. Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American" rang through the terminal. Nineteen second graders from the Westlake Academy waved flags; an employee group from Atmos Energy held up a company banner and cheered; and a sign language choir from Dallas' Samuell High School performed.
As the first soldiers entered the terminal, the crowd erupted into hoots and hollers.
Hands extended to every soldier, along with expressions of welcome and thanks for their service. Troops beamed as they pushed their luggage carts through the gauntlet of well-wishers.
Family members flung arms around their loved ones, reveling in the long-anticipated reunions. Amid all the activity around them, sweethearts savored long, private embraces. Children buried their heads in their fathers' chests.
"This is great! It's absolutely awesome!" beamed Spc. Juan Munoz, a 1st Cavalry Division soldier who held his wife, Cynthia, closely by his side.
"I just love everybody being out here," he said. "It really shows their support. And it makes it feel so great to be home."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Almost 200 deployed troops got a Texas-sized homecoming today as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined hundreds of friends, family members and local residents to welcome them home from the Middle East for two weeks of rest and recuperation leave. Gates took his place alongside the flag-waving, banner-carrying, chanting revelers gathered at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's International Arrivals Terminal to meet the troops as their flight arrived from Kuwait. He shook hands with every arriving servicemember and thanked them for their service.
"These kinds of public receptions are really important," the secretary said later during a speech at the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce. "Whatever disagreements exist over the war in Iraq, we are all united in our admiration of the men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times."
Homecoming receptions are a daily occurrence here, part of a "Welcome Home a Hero" initiative designed to let troops know they've got the country's support.
"We want them to arrive home and know that somebody cares," said Gary Raines, a Vietnam veteran who's a regular at the homecomings. "Nobody welcomed us home, and we never want that to happen again."
"I can't think of anything more worthwhile than letting these people know that we support them," agreed Wayne Trevathan, an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.
Raines, Trevathan and other members of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 90, based in nearby Denton, had plenty of company here today.
The Dallas Tap Dazzlers, a senior ladies dance group, arrived in tap shoes, fishnet stockings and sparkly red, white and blue jackets emblazoned with a Lone Star to perform for the group.
One member, Joyce Lawrence, had special reason to be excited at today's performance. Her grandson, Army Spc. Daniel Black, who's been serving in Baghdad since early November, was among the arriving troops.
"I am just so excited; I'm beside myself," Lawrence gushed. "This is a really, really wonderful day."
Nova and Tim Dea hoisted a giant "Welcome Home, Jordan!" sign as they awaited their first glimpse of their son, Army Pfc. Jordan Dea, a Fort Bliss, Texas-based soldier serving near Mosul, Iraq.
"The webcam has been awesome, but we can't wait to get our hands on him," Nova said. "We've been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Kimberly Smith came dressed to the nines with a strapless sundress and fresh manicure to see her boyfriend, Army Spc. Corie Barran, walk through the arrivals gate. "This is so exciting," Smith said, apologizing as the tears she'd promised herself not to cry began to well up in her eyes.
Smith and Barran, a member of the Texas National Guard's 89th Military Police Brigade, had big plans for the afternoon. A highlight, she said, would be a surprise visit to the school where Barran's mom works.
"She knows he's coming home, but she doesn't know it's today," Smith said. "She is going to be really, really surprised."
Smith said the crowd at the airport made the day even more special. "It's just overwhelming," she said. "This is going to give them a real sense of being home and let them know that lots of people love them, not just their families."
Eleven-year-old Nicholas Haskell waited impatiently with his mother, Christina, and 15-month-old brother, Andrew, as word rang out that the soldiers' flight had arrived and the crowd burst into applause.
Nicholas said he was looking forward to celebrating his birthday, albeit it one day late, with the best gift a kid could ever have - his dad home safe. "I'll do anything to get to see my dad," he said.
The activity picked up as the crowd anticipated the troops' arrival. Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American" rang through the terminal. Nineteen second graders from the Westlake Academy waved flags; an employee group from Atmos Energy held up a company banner and cheered; and a sign language choir from Dallas' Samuell High School performed.
As the first soldiers entered the terminal, the crowd erupted into hoots and hollers.
Hands extended to every soldier, along with expressions of welcome and thanks for their service. Troops beamed as they pushed their luggage carts through the gauntlet of well-wishers.
Family members flung arms around their loved ones, reveling in the long-anticipated reunions. Amid all the activity around them, sweethearts savored long, private embraces. Children buried their heads in their fathers' chests.
"This is great! It's absolutely awesome!" beamed Spc. Juan Munoz, a 1st Cavalry Division soldier who held his wife, Cynthia, closely by his side.
"I just love everybody being out here," he said. "It really shows their support. And it makes it feel so great to be home."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Defense Secretary Visits 'Amazing' Army Rehabilitation Center
By Elaine Wilson and Norma Guerra
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited here today to meet wounded warriors and take a firsthand look at the Center for the Intrepid, the Army's state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center. "Amazing," Gates said, summing up his opinion of the center with one word.
The $50 million facility, built thanks to the generosity of 600,000 Americans, is dedicated to the nation's military heroes wounded in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. The facility, designed with the latest generation's interests in mind, includes an indoor running track, firing range, wave pool, climbing wall, prosthetic center, gait lab and a computer assisted rehabilitation environment known as CAREN.
As Gates toured the 60,000-square-foot center, he stopped to thank each wounded warrior he met along the way for their service and sacrifice, and he presented each with a secretary of defense coin.
During a tour of the therapy gym, amputee Army Spc. Robert Stevenson demonstrated the two-story rock wall, then had a challenge for Gates.
"Sir, it's your turn next," Stevenson said.
Gates laughed as he declined the offer, but did present Stevenson with a coin.
At the wave pool, called The Flowrider, Army Spc. Patrick Moore and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek McGinnis rode "boogie boards" to demonstrate how the pool strengthens core muscles and improves balance.
Gates followed up his visit to the center with a tour of one of two new Fisher Houses adjacent to the rehab facility. Fisher Houses serve as a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. The additional houses, which opened Jan. 29 in conjunction with the center, bring the on-post total to four.
The 21-room homes are built in the newer Fisher House style with a sprawling 16,800 square feet. Each home is equipped with a full-service kitchen, formal dining room, several sitting rooms and bedrooms equipped with DVD/VCR systems and flat-screen TVs.
Gates said he was impressed by the size and the capacity of the homes and called the Fisher Houses "a great service for the families."
He met with residents, including two Army wives, who asked for coins on behalf of their husbands recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center.
At the tour's conclusion, Gates thanked the Fisher House staff for all that they do for the service members and their families.
Shortly after visiting the Fisher House, Gates met with the Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors.
The president established the commission March 6 to conduct a comprehensive review of military medical care at both Department of Defense and Department of VA hospitals and outpatient facilities. Bush asked its members to recommend ways to improve the transition to other military service or civilian life, ensure high-quality services for wounded troops and increase their access to benefits and services.
To that end, the nine-member committee, co-chaired by former Kansas Sen. Robert Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, had earlier in the day privately met with service members, family members, health care providers and other interested parties at BAMC. The commission's fact-finding mission will continue tomorrow when members will host an all-day public meeting at the San Antonio Airport Hilton.
Gates will conclude his trip to Texas tomorrow after a visit with wounded warriors, their families and hospital staff at BAMC. This morning, Gates was in Dallas, where he spoke to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
(Elaine Wilson and Norma Guerra work for the Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 3, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited here today to meet wounded warriors and take a firsthand look at the Center for the Intrepid, the Army's state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center. "Amazing," Gates said, summing up his opinion of the center with one word.
The $50 million facility, built thanks to the generosity of 600,000 Americans, is dedicated to the nation's military heroes wounded in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. The facility, designed with the latest generation's interests in mind, includes an indoor running track, firing range, wave pool, climbing wall, prosthetic center, gait lab and a computer assisted rehabilitation environment known as CAREN.
As Gates toured the 60,000-square-foot center, he stopped to thank each wounded warrior he met along the way for their service and sacrifice, and he presented each with a secretary of defense coin.
During a tour of the therapy gym, amputee Army Spc. Robert Stevenson demonstrated the two-story rock wall, then had a challenge for Gates.
"Sir, it's your turn next," Stevenson said.
Gates laughed as he declined the offer, but did present Stevenson with a coin.
At the wave pool, called The Flowrider, Army Spc. Patrick Moore and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Derek McGinnis rode "boogie boards" to demonstrate how the pool strengthens core muscles and improves balance.
Gates followed up his visit to the center with a tour of one of two new Fisher Houses adjacent to the rehab facility. Fisher Houses serve as a home away from home for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. The additional houses, which opened Jan. 29 in conjunction with the center, bring the on-post total to four.
The 21-room homes are built in the newer Fisher House style with a sprawling 16,800 square feet. Each home is equipped with a full-service kitchen, formal dining room, several sitting rooms and bedrooms equipped with DVD/VCR systems and flat-screen TVs.
Gates said he was impressed by the size and the capacity of the homes and called the Fisher Houses "a great service for the families."
He met with residents, including two Army wives, who asked for coins on behalf of their husbands recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center.
At the tour's conclusion, Gates thanked the Fisher House staff for all that they do for the service members and their families.
Shortly after visiting the Fisher House, Gates met with the Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors.
The president established the commission March 6 to conduct a comprehensive review of military medical care at both Department of Defense and Department of VA hospitals and outpatient facilities. Bush asked its members to recommend ways to improve the transition to other military service or civilian life, ensure high-quality services for wounded troops and increase their access to benefits and services.
To that end, the nine-member committee, co-chaired by former Kansas Sen. Robert Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, had earlier in the day privately met with service members, family members, health care providers and other interested parties at BAMC. The commission's fact-finding mission will continue tomorrow when members will host an all-day public meeting at the San Antonio Airport Hilton.
Gates will conclude his trip to Texas tomorrow after a visit with wounded warriors, their families and hospital staff at BAMC. This morning, Gates was in Dallas, where he spoke to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
(Elaine Wilson and Norma Guerra work for the Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Edwards Team Stars in 'Ironman' Superhero Movie
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – This sprawling desert base recently became a Hollywood set, as about 150 airmen, about a dozen Marines and some of the Air Force's sexiest new aircraft shared the spotlight with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow in filming Hollywood's next superhero blockbuster. Director Jon Favreau and his cast traveled here for three days of filming for "Iron Man," an action-packed movie based on the 1960s comic book character, Tony Stark.
The story revolves around Stark, a weapons manufacturer and playboy billionaire loosely based on Howard Hughes and played in the movie by Downey, Favreau explained. Stark is kidnapped and forced by his captors to design and build a weapon, but secretly creates a high-tech armored suit and escapes. After returning to the United States, he discovers a dangerous plot and becomes "Iron Man" to stop it.
"He's a vigilante on a global scale," Favreau said. "He will fly across the world to take care of business."
Here at Edwards, Stark and his sidekick, Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Rhodes, brought their comic book characters to life against a bustling backdrop of high-tech aircraft, a dry lakebed that's a secondary landing strip for the space shuttle, and stretches of desert to be depicted in the movie as Afghanistan.
During the last day of shooting here, "Rhodie" led a group of about 20 Air Force "pilots" - all active-duty airmen and Marines who auditioned to be extras - through the base's Hangar 1820. The group paused between a sleek F-22A Raptor and a bulb-nosed RQ-4 Global Hawk, both dramatically lit by light balloons suspended above, as Stark approached Rhodie for a heated discussion.
The group rehearsed the scenario again and again as crews operating three separate cameras tested their shots and ensured the lighting was perfect. When the call went out, "Picture up!" and filming began, Favreau and his assistant producers watched intently from their director's chairs. Finally, after hours of set-up, practice and eight takes, Favreau called it a wrap.
Favreau raved about the cooperation received from base officials here and the 150-plus servicemembers hired as extras, or "background performers" in Hollywood parlance.
Home of the Air Force's Flight Test Center, Edwards offers a dazzling array of aircraft that Favreau said brought realism to his fantasy story. "This is the best back lot you could ever have," he said. "Every angle you shoot is authentic: desert, dry lake beds, hangars."
The Edwards sets, from the scene at the hangar to earlier shots along the flight line and with aircraft not commonly seen even at Air Force bases, brought "a certain prestige to the film," he said.
But one of the best benefits of filming here, he said, was the opportunity to work side by side with and learn from the men and women in uniform. Their input was critical, he said, because most Hollywood people don't have a military background and need to absorb as much as they can to make their movies as authentic as possible.
"They're tremendous professionals," he said of the servicemembers hired for filming here. "Every background performer is a bit of a technical advisor. So there's a plethora of information available to you."
The extras all responded to a basewide casting call with hopes they'd be selected for parts. The lucky ones who got the hoped-for offer, took leave from their jobs and earned the going-rate - just over $15 an hour, plus overtime - as extras.
Some, like Staff Sgt. Joe Gambles from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, remembered passing on the tryouts when the soon-to-be-released Transformers movie was filmed here, and vowed never to do it again. "I didn't think it would be that big of a deal, but my friends who got involved with it had a great time, so I didn't want to miss out on this one," he said.
As luck would have it, Gambles wasn't to miss out this go-around. He played a pilot for one day, then an airman moving vehicles around the flight line another day. On the last day of filming here, he again played a pilot, part of the group Rhodie led through the hangar.
"No other Air Force base has this opportunity," Gambles said. "We're near Hollywood and we work with Hollywood all the time. I figure that it would be a waste of my time here at Edwards if I didn't take advantage of this opportunity."
Tech Sgt. Thoshiya Jones not only made it into the Transformers movie, but also got a coveted speaking part. Jones performed his real-life job in the air traffic control tower and even wrote his own lines for a scene as Raptors scrambled below.
Now playing a pilot in Iron Man, Jones said he was delighted to get cast in not just one, but two Hollywood movies. "It's a real honor, and it's pretty exciting to see all the behind-the-scenes effort going on," he said. "You realize that it's not all glamorous. It's a lot of hard work."
A select few, like Capt. Byron Rose, got extra pay for use of their high-end cars on the set. Rose said he was happy to get his flashy red Porsche in the movie. "That way, even if I don't make it into the movie, at least I know my car will," he said.
If just one person sees him in the Iron Man movie, Staff Sgt. Danny Vaughn, a Joint Strike Fighter maintainer with the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, said, his efforts here will all be worthwhile.
"This is a movie about superheroes, and my son might watch it," Vaughn said. He's hoping 7-year-old Danny III will get to see his dad acting as 2nd Lt. Eric Huppert, one of Rhodie's pilots in the hangar, or as an Army special operations soldier walking across the camera during the previous day's shoot.
Second Lt. Carsten Stahr, who shared the same scenes with Vaughn, called getting to play "that tiny dot walking across the screen" in the Iron Man film the opportunity of a lifetime.
"Growing up as a kid from Nebraska, all I ever wanted to do was serve my country and get to be in a movie," said Stahr, section commander and executive officer of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron. "This is a childhood dream come true."
As he waited beside the Raptor aircraft to rehearse his scene, Stahr said he's been impressed with all he's seen here. "This is all pretty cool to be a part of," he said, watching the action around him. "It's definitely something to write home to Mom about."
Master Sgt. Larry Belen, superintendent of technical support for the Air Force Test Pilot School, said he auditioned as an extra to help show off the Air Force to moviemakers and the people who will go to see Iron Man.
"I want people to walk away from this movie with a really good impression of the Air Force, like they got about the Navy seeing Top Gun," he said. "This is a chance to show people what we're made of and what we're able to do. It makes me feel proud to be a part of it."
Air Force Capt. Christian Hodge, the Defense Department's project officer for Iron Man, said one of the biggest gratifications of his job is getting to see real servicemembers bring their expertise to a movie that does their service proud. "This movie is going to be fantastic," he said. "The Air Force is going to come off looking like rock stars."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – This sprawling desert base recently became a Hollywood set, as about 150 airmen, about a dozen Marines and some of the Air Force's sexiest new aircraft shared the spotlight with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow in filming Hollywood's next superhero blockbuster. Director Jon Favreau and his cast traveled here for three days of filming for "Iron Man," an action-packed movie based on the 1960s comic book character, Tony Stark.
The story revolves around Stark, a weapons manufacturer and playboy billionaire loosely based on Howard Hughes and played in the movie by Downey, Favreau explained. Stark is kidnapped and forced by his captors to design and build a weapon, but secretly creates a high-tech armored suit and escapes. After returning to the United States, he discovers a dangerous plot and becomes "Iron Man" to stop it.
"He's a vigilante on a global scale," Favreau said. "He will fly across the world to take care of business."
Here at Edwards, Stark and his sidekick, Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Rhodes, brought their comic book characters to life against a bustling backdrop of high-tech aircraft, a dry lakebed that's a secondary landing strip for the space shuttle, and stretches of desert to be depicted in the movie as Afghanistan.
During the last day of shooting here, "Rhodie" led a group of about 20 Air Force "pilots" - all active-duty airmen and Marines who auditioned to be extras - through the base's Hangar 1820. The group paused between a sleek F-22A Raptor and a bulb-nosed RQ-4 Global Hawk, both dramatically lit by light balloons suspended above, as Stark approached Rhodie for a heated discussion.
The group rehearsed the scenario again and again as crews operating three separate cameras tested their shots and ensured the lighting was perfect. When the call went out, "Picture up!" and filming began, Favreau and his assistant producers watched intently from their director's chairs. Finally, after hours of set-up, practice and eight takes, Favreau called it a wrap.
Favreau raved about the cooperation received from base officials here and the 150-plus servicemembers hired as extras, or "background performers" in Hollywood parlance.
Home of the Air Force's Flight Test Center, Edwards offers a dazzling array of aircraft that Favreau said brought realism to his fantasy story. "This is the best back lot you could ever have," he said. "Every angle you shoot is authentic: desert, dry lake beds, hangars."
The Edwards sets, from the scene at the hangar to earlier shots along the flight line and with aircraft not commonly seen even at Air Force bases, brought "a certain prestige to the film," he said.
But one of the best benefits of filming here, he said, was the opportunity to work side by side with and learn from the men and women in uniform. Their input was critical, he said, because most Hollywood people don't have a military background and need to absorb as much as they can to make their movies as authentic as possible.
"They're tremendous professionals," he said of the servicemembers hired for filming here. "Every background performer is a bit of a technical advisor. So there's a plethora of information available to you."
The extras all responded to a basewide casting call with hopes they'd be selected for parts. The lucky ones who got the hoped-for offer, took leave from their jobs and earned the going-rate - just over $15 an hour, plus overtime - as extras.
Some, like Staff Sgt. Joe Gambles from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, remembered passing on the tryouts when the soon-to-be-released Transformers movie was filmed here, and vowed never to do it again. "I didn't think it would be that big of a deal, but my friends who got involved with it had a great time, so I didn't want to miss out on this one," he said.
As luck would have it, Gambles wasn't to miss out this go-around. He played a pilot for one day, then an airman moving vehicles around the flight line another day. On the last day of filming here, he again played a pilot, part of the group Rhodie led through the hangar.
"No other Air Force base has this opportunity," Gambles said. "We're near Hollywood and we work with Hollywood all the time. I figure that it would be a waste of my time here at Edwards if I didn't take advantage of this opportunity."
Tech Sgt. Thoshiya Jones not only made it into the Transformers movie, but also got a coveted speaking part. Jones performed his real-life job in the air traffic control tower and even wrote his own lines for a scene as Raptors scrambled below.
Now playing a pilot in Iron Man, Jones said he was delighted to get cast in not just one, but two Hollywood movies. "It's a real honor, and it's pretty exciting to see all the behind-the-scenes effort going on," he said. "You realize that it's not all glamorous. It's a lot of hard work."
A select few, like Capt. Byron Rose, got extra pay for use of their high-end cars on the set. Rose said he was happy to get his flashy red Porsche in the movie. "That way, even if I don't make it into the movie, at least I know my car will," he said.
If just one person sees him in the Iron Man movie, Staff Sgt. Danny Vaughn, a Joint Strike Fighter maintainer with the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, said, his efforts here will all be worthwhile.
"This is a movie about superheroes, and my son might watch it," Vaughn said. He's hoping 7-year-old Danny III will get to see his dad acting as 2nd Lt. Eric Huppert, one of Rhodie's pilots in the hangar, or as an Army special operations soldier walking across the camera during the previous day's shoot.
Second Lt. Carsten Stahr, who shared the same scenes with Vaughn, called getting to play "that tiny dot walking across the screen" in the Iron Man film the opportunity of a lifetime.
"Growing up as a kid from Nebraska, all I ever wanted to do was serve my country and get to be in a movie," said Stahr, section commander and executive officer of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron. "This is a childhood dream come true."
As he waited beside the Raptor aircraft to rehearse his scene, Stahr said he's been impressed with all he's seen here. "This is all pretty cool to be a part of," he said, watching the action around him. "It's definitely something to write home to Mom about."
Master Sgt. Larry Belen, superintendent of technical support for the Air Force Test Pilot School, said he auditioned as an extra to help show off the Air Force to moviemakers and the people who will go to see Iron Man.
"I want people to walk away from this movie with a really good impression of the Air Force, like they got about the Navy seeing Top Gun," he said. "This is a chance to show people what we're made of and what we're able to do. It makes me feel proud to be a part of it."
Air Force Capt. Christian Hodge, the Defense Department's project officer for Iron Man, said one of the biggest gratifications of his job is getting to see real servicemembers bring their expertise to a movie that does their service proud. "This movie is going to be fantastic," he said. "The Air Force is going to come off looking like rock stars."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
New Pentagon Channel News Program Focuses on Combatant Commands
By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – America's nine unified combatant commands will be in the spotlight as the Pentagon Channel launches a completely redesigned biweekly half-hour news and information program. "Focus on the Force" was originally produced by American Forces Network and featured stories about a wide range of military related topics.
"Through a turn of events we ended up taking over the product, and we wanted to give it a new and different look," said Pentagon Channel news director Gene Brink. "The combatant commands are strategically located around the world to support or conduct U.S. military missions. We want to highlight the great work of the men and women serving in these areas and provide them the well deserved special recognition."
"Focus on the Force" will be hosted by Army Staff Sgt. Jake Newman, who recently traveled to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., to gather material for the show's debut, which will feature stories on U.S. Special Operations Command. SOCOM, which has its headquarters at MacDill, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
"Special Operations Command is one of the most difficult commands to cover due to their mission," said Brink. "This event provided us the opportunity to talk with all ranks about their job and mission."
Newman had the opportunity to speak with many special operations members, including SOCOM Commander Army Gen. Bryan "Doug" Brown, who will soon be retiring. The general, who entered the military as a private in 1967 and who has served in his current four-star position nearly four years, had high praise for the servicemembers under his command.
"I just want to pass along my thanks to you and your families for the great work being done around the world today," Brown said.
Viewers will notice dramatic changes in the way "Focus on the Force" is presented. "The show will have a different look that you will have to see," Brink said. "It will be different from every program currently on the Pentagon Channel."
"Focus on the Force" also will feature interactive elements.
"One thing I can share is that we will be asking servicemembers in the combatant command to send photographs that share their everyday experiences, and we will air photos in the show," said Brink. "We hope we will have the viewer engaged from the beginning to end. You will not find a story that explains the mission of the combatant command. Instead, you will learn about their mission through the stories, real human-interest stories. Plus, we will test your knowledge with a little trivia. The new look will be engaging and tell the experiences of the men and women who make these commands a success."
"Focus on the Force" is by far the most graphically complex show the Pentagon Channel has ever attempted. Viewers will experience multiple split screens filled with video, animation and text.
"The main challenge was designing the new look for the show," said Brink. "It had to be something we have never done before when it comes to the look of the show, the graphic elements, music and content layout. We conquered that task, and we will unveil the efforts of our talented team."
"Focus on the Force" debuts May 9 at noon Eastern Time on the Pentagon Channel. It will also be available via podcast and video-on-demand.
(David Mays works at the Pentagon Channel.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – America's nine unified combatant commands will be in the spotlight as the Pentagon Channel launches a completely redesigned biweekly half-hour news and information program. "Focus on the Force" was originally produced by American Forces Network and featured stories about a wide range of military related topics.
"Through a turn of events we ended up taking over the product, and we wanted to give it a new and different look," said Pentagon Channel news director Gene Brink. "The combatant commands are strategically located around the world to support or conduct U.S. military missions. We want to highlight the great work of the men and women serving in these areas and provide them the well deserved special recognition."
"Focus on the Force" will be hosted by Army Staff Sgt. Jake Newman, who recently traveled to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., to gather material for the show's debut, which will feature stories on U.S. Special Operations Command. SOCOM, which has its headquarters at MacDill, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.
"Special Operations Command is one of the most difficult commands to cover due to their mission," said Brink. "This event provided us the opportunity to talk with all ranks about their job and mission."
Newman had the opportunity to speak with many special operations members, including SOCOM Commander Army Gen. Bryan "Doug" Brown, who will soon be retiring. The general, who entered the military as a private in 1967 and who has served in his current four-star position nearly four years, had high praise for the servicemembers under his command.
"I just want to pass along my thanks to you and your families for the great work being done around the world today," Brown said.
Viewers will notice dramatic changes in the way "Focus on the Force" is presented. "The show will have a different look that you will have to see," Brink said. "It will be different from every program currently on the Pentagon Channel."
"Focus on the Force" also will feature interactive elements.
"One thing I can share is that we will be asking servicemembers in the combatant command to send photographs that share their everyday experiences, and we will air photos in the show," said Brink. "We hope we will have the viewer engaged from the beginning to end. You will not find a story that explains the mission of the combatant command. Instead, you will learn about their mission through the stories, real human-interest stories. Plus, we will test your knowledge with a little trivia. The new look will be engaging and tell the experiences of the men and women who make these commands a success."
"Focus on the Force" is by far the most graphically complex show the Pentagon Channel has ever attempted. Viewers will experience multiple split screens filled with video, animation and text.
"The main challenge was designing the new look for the show," said Brink. "It had to be something we have never done before when it comes to the look of the show, the graphic elements, music and content layout. We conquered that task, and we will unveil the efforts of our talented team."
"Focus on the Force" debuts May 9 at noon Eastern Time on the Pentagon Channel. It will also be available via podcast and video-on-demand.
(David Mays works at the Pentagon Channel.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Parents in Iraq, Afghanistan to View Graduations Via Webcasts
By Dennis K. Bohannon
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – Servicemembers deployed to war zones will be able to view their high school seniors crossing the stage and moving their tassels from right to left via live webcasts on graduation day. The Department of Defense Dependents Schools Europe; U.S. Army, Europe; 5th Signal Command; U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Combined Joint Task Force 82 in Afghanistan; Multinational Corps Iraq; and World Television Services have combined assets, talents and technology to enable the live broadcasts via the Internet. The effort will allow nearly 100 deployed parents in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and other locations around the world to view 18 graduation ceremonies.
The first graduation ceremony is expected to be webcast on June 7. Eight graduation ceremonies will take place simultaneously on June 8, dubbed "Super Friday" by those involved. The last ceremony will be webcast on the evening of June 15.
Schools identified as participants in the graduation webcasts thus far, are AFNorth, in the Netherlands; Ansbach, Bamberg, Bitburg, Hanau, Heidelberg, Hohenfels, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Patch, Ramstein, Vilseck, Wiesbaden and Wuerzburg, in Germany; Aviano and Vicenza, in Italy; Lajes, in the Azores, and Lakenheath, in England. However, additional schools can be added through May 18 if a senior's parent is unexpectedly deployed.
Using emerging Web technology, deployed parents will be able to see their graduating senior cross the stage and view student messages recorded for the occasion.
The collective effort is intended to give graduating students and deployed parents the opportunity to share in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
This is the fourth year the effort has been undertaken. Diana Ohman, director DoDDS-Europe, who has been involved with each of the yearly webcasts, said that although it is a monumental technical challenge, these webcasts are emotionally significant to the students and the deployed parents.
"There is no room for error," she said. "It is too important. It is important to the graduating senior that he or she be able to share the event with their parents, as well as for the deployed parent to be able to view their son or daughter crossing the stage."
Collecting data for this year's webcast began in January. Seniors who had or anticipated having parents deployed at graduation were identified through the high schools. A list of schools with deployed parents and other specifics was forwarded to U.S. Army, Europe, where contracts were written and the immense coordination process began. Last week, German contractor World Television Services was awarded the contract to provide technical support for the webcasts.
"With the contract awarded, we can now (be conducting) site surveys and establishing and testing connectivity, and telling the parent downrange what to expect," said Kenneth Bilbo, chief information officer for U.S. Army, Europe, Headquarters and one of the initial planners.
"The next few weeks are going to be busy, and we expect changes and alterations right up to the last minute of the last graduation ceremony," said Angela Fobbs, from 5th Signal Command, who has led the project for four years. "But when you see the faces of the graduating seniors, listen to their recorded and live messages, and read the responses from the parents, it becomes real obvious that this is a good and worthwhile effort."
Each high school also is being paired with the signal battalion in its geographic area as a means of backup and additional support. The local signal battalions will help where possible and provide technical assistance where needed.
In the days to come, World Television Services will begin testing audio and video feeds between each graduation site and the dozens of receiving locations down range.
Initially, contact information for deployed or deploying parents of graduates was collected through each of the high schools. This information will now be used to notify deployed or deploying parents of graduating seniors when webcast Internet sites are online. They will also be provided logon and password information.
(Dennis K. Bohannon is assigned to the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools Europe.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – Servicemembers deployed to war zones will be able to view their high school seniors crossing the stage and moving their tassels from right to left via live webcasts on graduation day. The Department of Defense Dependents Schools Europe; U.S. Army, Europe; 5th Signal Command; U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Combined Joint Task Force 82 in Afghanistan; Multinational Corps Iraq; and World Television Services have combined assets, talents and technology to enable the live broadcasts via the Internet. The effort will allow nearly 100 deployed parents in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and other locations around the world to view 18 graduation ceremonies.
The first graduation ceremony is expected to be webcast on June 7. Eight graduation ceremonies will take place simultaneously on June 8, dubbed "Super Friday" by those involved. The last ceremony will be webcast on the evening of June 15.
Schools identified as participants in the graduation webcasts thus far, are AFNorth, in the Netherlands; Ansbach, Bamberg, Bitburg, Hanau, Heidelberg, Hohenfels, Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Patch, Ramstein, Vilseck, Wiesbaden and Wuerzburg, in Germany; Aviano and Vicenza, in Italy; Lajes, in the Azores, and Lakenheath, in England. However, additional schools can be added through May 18 if a senior's parent is unexpectedly deployed.
Using emerging Web technology, deployed parents will be able to see their graduating senior cross the stage and view student messages recorded for the occasion.
The collective effort is intended to give graduating students and deployed parents the opportunity to share in this once-in-a-lifetime event.
This is the fourth year the effort has been undertaken. Diana Ohman, director DoDDS-Europe, who has been involved with each of the yearly webcasts, said that although it is a monumental technical challenge, these webcasts are emotionally significant to the students and the deployed parents.
"There is no room for error," she said. "It is too important. It is important to the graduating senior that he or she be able to share the event with their parents, as well as for the deployed parent to be able to view their son or daughter crossing the stage."
Collecting data for this year's webcast began in January. Seniors who had or anticipated having parents deployed at graduation were identified through the high schools. A list of schools with deployed parents and other specifics was forwarded to U.S. Army, Europe, where contracts were written and the immense coordination process began. Last week, German contractor World Television Services was awarded the contract to provide technical support for the webcasts.
"With the contract awarded, we can now (be conducting) site surveys and establishing and testing connectivity, and telling the parent downrange what to expect," said Kenneth Bilbo, chief information officer for U.S. Army, Europe, Headquarters and one of the initial planners.
"The next few weeks are going to be busy, and we expect changes and alterations right up to the last minute of the last graduation ceremony," said Angela Fobbs, from 5th Signal Command, who has led the project for four years. "But when you see the faces of the graduating seniors, listen to their recorded and live messages, and read the responses from the parents, it becomes real obvious that this is a good and worthwhile effort."
Each high school also is being paired with the signal battalion in its geographic area as a means of backup and additional support. The local signal battalions will help where possible and provide technical assistance where needed.
In the days to come, World Television Services will begin testing audio and video feeds between each graduation site and the dozens of receiving locations down range.
Initially, contact information for deployed or deploying parents of graduates was collected through each of the high schools. This information will now be used to notify deployed or deploying parents of graduating seniors when webcast Internet sites are online. They will also be provided logon and password information.
(Dennis K. Bohannon is assigned to the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools Europe.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
General Impressed with Agencies' Collaboration in Homeland Defense
By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – The United States should be confident that the Defense Department is working toward better solutions to challenges like natural disasters and threats on the nation's security, the top general for planning, organizing and executing homeland defense and civil support missions said today. As U.S. Northern Command launches a 19-day preparedness exercise dubbed "Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge" with the Department of Homeland Defense, Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. said he's "pleasantly impressed" that all involved agencies are working toward a successful collaboration.
"The defense of the homeland is everyone's top priority," Renuart said. "We're part of a team made up of local, state and federal agencies, as well as the individual (National) Guards in each state and the Department of Defense."
The exercise, which started April 30 and runs to May 18, is the largest and most complex exercise undertaken by the Northern Command. Field training exercises will be integrated with command and control entities to simulate disasters such as hurricanes and terrorists using nuclear weapons within the continental United States, the general said.
The primary exercise events will take place in Indiana and New England, as well as Alaska and its adjacent waters. North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct simulated and live-flying events over multiple locations in the United States and Canada.
Although each state has an internal capability to use first responders and National Guard troops, active-duty troops also are participating in the exercise to offer expanded capability.
Renuart, who took command of Northern Command on March 23, said active-duty servicemembers can offer "niche capabilities" in areas such as communications and mobility. "Our job is to ensure that state and federal agencies succeed almost without having to ask for help," he said.
Since the U.S. military is heavily involved with forces deployed overseas, Renuart said, the availability of air resources to move things around could become an issue, depending on the size of the event.
"The active-duty resources allows us the capabilities like helicopters for search-and-rescue operations or moving around small federal response teams and fixed-wing aircraft of a more local nature, like C-130s to move larger pieces of equipment," he said.
He said the exercise will help NORTHCOM not only understand individual states' capabilities but also see how each state views its availability to respond and position the niche capabilities that the active-duty military may be able to provide on short notice.
"We can look at a number of recent events and find great rationale for having these kinds of exercises," Renuart said. "And certainly Hurricane Katrina was the most significant of those; that really opened our eyes."
The general said that the United States learned from the significance and number of complications following Hurricane Katrina.
"We had not done as good of a job at planning ahead of time for an event that was not only significant for a local area, like New Orleans, but across a broad area of multiple states," he said.
Within the past two years, NORTHCOM has worked to create more opportunities to share information with the Department of Homeland Security and other state and federal agencies to improve the ability to collaborate, interact and prepare for emergencies, he said.
"(The exercise) gives us the chance to see if the plans we have in place are well thought out, if (organizations) are properly equipped, and if the troops -- whether they be first response or follow-on medical teams -- have the appropriate training," Renuart said. "And it allows us to look at a spectrum of planning, integration and collaboration with state and federal agencies to ensure that (Defense Department) resources have the proper training and equipment to be value added to this kind of scenario."
Renuart said he knows the exercise will reveal shortfalls within the system, but added that he is eager to budget, fund and train to close the seams and gaps that may exist today to improve training and real-life scenarios tomorrow.
"We have to impress upon all the participants that, in order for the nation to succeed at providing a secure homeland, all the elements of the government have to work together and do it in a way that takes advantage of the synergy of the collaborative work as opposed to individuals having to work alone," he said. "It's a mission we can't afford to fall short on."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – The United States should be confident that the Defense Department is working toward better solutions to challenges like natural disasters and threats on the nation's security, the top general for planning, organizing and executing homeland defense and civil support missions said today. As U.S. Northern Command launches a 19-day preparedness exercise dubbed "Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge" with the Department of Homeland Defense, Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. said he's "pleasantly impressed" that all involved agencies are working toward a successful collaboration.
"The defense of the homeland is everyone's top priority," Renuart said. "We're part of a team made up of local, state and federal agencies, as well as the individual (National) Guards in each state and the Department of Defense."
The exercise, which started April 30 and runs to May 18, is the largest and most complex exercise undertaken by the Northern Command. Field training exercises will be integrated with command and control entities to simulate disasters such as hurricanes and terrorists using nuclear weapons within the continental United States, the general said.
The primary exercise events will take place in Indiana and New England, as well as Alaska and its adjacent waters. North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct simulated and live-flying events over multiple locations in the United States and Canada.
Although each state has an internal capability to use first responders and National Guard troops, active-duty troops also are participating in the exercise to offer expanded capability.
Renuart, who took command of Northern Command on March 23, said active-duty servicemembers can offer "niche capabilities" in areas such as communications and mobility. "Our job is to ensure that state and federal agencies succeed almost without having to ask for help," he said.
Since the U.S. military is heavily involved with forces deployed overseas, Renuart said, the availability of air resources to move things around could become an issue, depending on the size of the event.
"The active-duty resources allows us the capabilities like helicopters for search-and-rescue operations or moving around small federal response teams and fixed-wing aircraft of a more local nature, like C-130s to move larger pieces of equipment," he said.
He said the exercise will help NORTHCOM not only understand individual states' capabilities but also see how each state views its availability to respond and position the niche capabilities that the active-duty military may be able to provide on short notice.
"We can look at a number of recent events and find great rationale for having these kinds of exercises," Renuart said. "And certainly Hurricane Katrina was the most significant of those; that really opened our eyes."
The general said that the United States learned from the significance and number of complications following Hurricane Katrina.
"We had not done as good of a job at planning ahead of time for an event that was not only significant for a local area, like New Orleans, but across a broad area of multiple states," he said.
Within the past two years, NORTHCOM has worked to create more opportunities to share information with the Department of Homeland Security and other state and federal agencies to improve the ability to collaborate, interact and prepare for emergencies, he said.
"(The exercise) gives us the chance to see if the plans we have in place are well thought out, if (organizations) are properly equipped, and if the troops -- whether they be first response or follow-on medical teams -- have the appropriate training," Renuart said. "And it allows us to look at a spectrum of planning, integration and collaboration with state and federal agencies to ensure that (Defense Department) resources have the proper training and equipment to be value added to this kind of scenario."
Renuart said he knows the exercise will reveal shortfalls within the system, but added that he is eager to budget, fund and train to close the seams and gaps that may exist today to improve training and real-life scenarios tomorrow.
"We have to impress upon all the participants that, in order for the nation to succeed at providing a secure homeland, all the elements of the government have to work together and do it in a way that takes advantage of the synergy of the collaborative work as opposed to individuals having to work alone," he said. "It's a mission we can't afford to fall short on."
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Arizona Team Expressing Appreciation for Troops
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – The Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team is using its May 6 game against the New York Mets to say thank you to the nation's troops. The team has declared May 6 "Military Appreciation Day," and is providing free game tickets to all holders of a valid military identification card.
The Diamondbacks also are providing a way for fans to e-mail messages of support to servicemembers. People can voice their appreciation by going to amerciasupportsyou@dbacks.com.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad. A link to the Diamondbacks e-mail page also is available through www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Troops also can send messages home using the same e-mail address, said Tara Trzinski, the Diamondbacks' senior coordinator for community affairs.
"It's a unique shout-out program," she said. "This incorporates our fans that aren't at the game, including the fans that may be serving overseas."
The messages will be read on the air during the game, which will air live at 4:40 p.m. EDT on network carriers in the United States as well as Armed Forces Network. If live coverage of the game is bumped for continuing coverage of the NBA playoffs, Trzinski said, it will air on a delayed basis.
The Diamondbacks also will host a drive for Packages From Home, Phoenix-based America Supports You home-front group, throughout the teams' six-game homestand beginning tomorrow.
Fans can bring canned food goods, personal and hygiene supplies and recreational items to any Diamondbacks game leading up to Military Appreciation Day and drop it off at the designated locations on the plaza. All items will be sent to troops overseas.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – The Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team is using its May 6 game against the New York Mets to say thank you to the nation's troops. The team has declared May 6 "Military Appreciation Day," and is providing free game tickets to all holders of a valid military identification card.
The Diamondbacks also are providing a way for fans to e-mail messages of support to servicemembers. People can voice their appreciation by going to amerciasupportsyou@dbacks.com.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad. A link to the Diamondbacks e-mail page also is available through www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Troops also can send messages home using the same e-mail address, said Tara Trzinski, the Diamondbacks' senior coordinator for community affairs.
"It's a unique shout-out program," she said. "This incorporates our fans that aren't at the game, including the fans that may be serving overseas."
The messages will be read on the air during the game, which will air live at 4:40 p.m. EDT on network carriers in the United States as well as Armed Forces Network. If live coverage of the game is bumped for continuing coverage of the NBA playoffs, Trzinski said, it will air on a delayed basis.
The Diamondbacks also will host a drive for Packages From Home, Phoenix-based America Supports You home-front group, throughout the teams' six-game homestand beginning tomorrow.
Fans can bring canned food goods, personal and hygiene supplies and recreational items to any Diamondbacks game leading up to Military Appreciation Day and drop it off at the designated locations on the plaza. All items will be sent to troops overseas.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Five Missing WWII Airmen are Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of five U.S. servicemen, missing from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are 1st Lt. Cecil W. Biggs, of Teague, Texas; 1st Lt. William L. Pearce, of San Antonio, Texas; 2nd Lt. Thomas R. Yenner, of Kingston, Pa.; Tech. Sgt. Russell W. Abendschoen of York, Pa.; and Staff Sgt. George G. Herbst of Brooklyn, N.Y.; all U.S. Army Air Forces. Pearce was buried April 27 in Louisville, Ky.; Herbst will be buried June 8 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.; Biggs will be buried June 9 in Teague, Texas; Abendschoen's funeral is June 13 at Arlington; and Yenner will be buried July 30 at Arlington.
Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
On Sept. 21, 1944, a C-47A Skytrain crewed by these airmen was delivering Polish paratroopers to a drop zone south of Arnhem, Holland, in support of "Operation Market Garden." Soon after departing the drop zone, the plane crashed and there were no survivors. The Germans opened the dikes in the region where the plane crashed and flooded the area before any remains could be recovered.
When Dutch citizens returned to their homes in Arnhem the next year, they recovered remains from the Skytrain's wreckage and buried them in a nearby cemetery. A U.S. Army graves registration team later disinterred the remains which were reburied as group remains in 1950 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Kentucky.
In 1994, a Dutch citizen located more human remains and other crew-related materials at a site associated with this C-47 crash. They were eventually turned over to U.S. officials.
Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains of these five men. The remains that could not be attributed to a specific individual have been buried with the first set of group remains at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of five U.S. servicemen, missing from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are 1st Lt. Cecil W. Biggs, of Teague, Texas; 1st Lt. William L. Pearce, of San Antonio, Texas; 2nd Lt. Thomas R. Yenner, of Kingston, Pa.; Tech. Sgt. Russell W. Abendschoen of York, Pa.; and Staff Sgt. George G. Herbst of Brooklyn, N.Y.; all U.S. Army Air Forces. Pearce was buried April 27 in Louisville, Ky.; Herbst will be buried June 8 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.; Biggs will be buried June 9 in Teague, Texas; Abendschoen's funeral is June 13 at Arlington; and Yenner will be buried July 30 at Arlington.
Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.
On Sept. 21, 1944, a C-47A Skytrain crewed by these airmen was delivering Polish paratroopers to a drop zone south of Arnhem, Holland, in support of "Operation Market Garden." Soon after departing the drop zone, the plane crashed and there were no survivors. The Germans opened the dikes in the region where the plane crashed and flooded the area before any remains could be recovered.
When Dutch citizens returned to their homes in Arnhem the next year, they recovered remains from the Skytrain's wreckage and buried them in a nearby cemetery. A U.S. Army graves registration team later disinterred the remains which were reburied as group remains in 1950 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery in Kentucky.
In 1994, a Dutch citizen located more human remains and other crew-related materials at a site associated with this C-47 crash. They were eventually turned over to U.S. officials.
Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains of these five men. The remains that could not be attributed to a specific individual have been buried with the first set of group remains at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Gates Puts Punch Behind Fixing Wounded Warrior Care
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today put some punch behind implementing changes in wounded warrior care by announcing an oversight committee chaired by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England that will ensure recommendations by his Independent Review Group are implemented. The group's findings and recommendations were presented in a 129-page report to the Defense Department April 19, and Gates met with the group today.
Flanked by the group's co-chairs, former Army secretaries Togo D. West Jr. and John O. Marsh Jr., Gates said the oversight group will ensure the recommendations of the IRG, the president's Commission on Care for Returning Wounded Warriors, and the Interagency Task Force are promptly and properly integrated, implemented, coordinated and resourced. Other members of the group attended the briefing, along with a handful of senior Defense Department civilian officials.
"Apart from the war, this department and I have no higher priority" than to ensure wounded servicemembers have the best care and facilities and ample assistance navigating the next step in their lives, Gates said.
"That is what we intend to give them," he said.
Senior military and civilian officials will make up the oversight committee, including all of the service chiefs or vice chiefs, the chairman or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and senior civilian leadership from the department's personnel and readiness and health affairs functions, Gates said.
The committee will meet weekly.
Defense Department Health Affairs and the Army have already begun implementing changes recommended by the nine-member panel charged with assessing care for servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. The group held public meetings, established a hotline to receive comments and visited 10 military medical centers across the country.
"Though we perceive ourselves as a nation that is grateful, (that) is honored by the service of its wounded veterans and servicemembers ... our review suggests that our servicemembers and their families have not always seen it that way," said West.
West said the group found that inpatient care was "excellent" but that problems began when the servicemember was transferred to outpatient care.
Among the recommendations were more caseworkers and better training, more physicians to coordinate patient care, and an improvement of attitude in general, said West.
Also, West said, the Base Realignment and Closure and A76 cost-comparison processes at Walter Reed caused uncertainty among the personnel at the center. He called for a review to examine how the processes affect medical centers.
The group, however, did not recommend that the aging D.C. hospital campus be taken off of the BRAC list, but instead recommended that the process be expedited and preparations be made faster at the National Naval Medical Center and at Fort Belvoir, Va., to receive those functions.
The report also calls for establishing a center of excellence that focuses on traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder.
The medical evaluation process is "lengthy and segmented" and needs to be consolidated into one process involving all related departments, the report recommends.
"For those in the departments who understand how it works, it all seems logical," West said. "For vulnerable servicemembers and their families, it seems a contradictory mass of sequential reviews, of several sequential decisions, compounded by confusing regulations at a time when they are most vulnerable and least able to follow them."
Marsh said a breakdown in the system of reporting complaints caused reports of substandard care not to be heard quickly enough. The group recommended establishing an oversight system to field complaints and elevate them to senior leadership.
Army officials said the service has resolved, or is resolving, 24 of the 26 findings of the review group. The remaining two findings require efforts by the Defense or Veterans Affairs departments, they said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 2, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today put some punch behind implementing changes in wounded warrior care by announcing an oversight committee chaired by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England that will ensure recommendations by his Independent Review Group are implemented. The group's findings and recommendations were presented in a 129-page report to the Defense Department April 19, and Gates met with the group today.
Flanked by the group's co-chairs, former Army secretaries Togo D. West Jr. and John O. Marsh Jr., Gates said the oversight group will ensure the recommendations of the IRG, the president's Commission on Care for Returning Wounded Warriors, and the Interagency Task Force are promptly and properly integrated, implemented, coordinated and resourced. Other members of the group attended the briefing, along with a handful of senior Defense Department civilian officials.
"Apart from the war, this department and I have no higher priority" than to ensure wounded servicemembers have the best care and facilities and ample assistance navigating the next step in their lives, Gates said.
"That is what we intend to give them," he said.
Senior military and civilian officials will make up the oversight committee, including all of the service chiefs or vice chiefs, the chairman or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and senior civilian leadership from the department's personnel and readiness and health affairs functions, Gates said.
The committee will meet weekly.
Defense Department Health Affairs and the Army have already begun implementing changes recommended by the nine-member panel charged with assessing care for servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. The group held public meetings, established a hotline to receive comments and visited 10 military medical centers across the country.
"Though we perceive ourselves as a nation that is grateful, (that) is honored by the service of its wounded veterans and servicemembers ... our review suggests that our servicemembers and their families have not always seen it that way," said West.
West said the group found that inpatient care was "excellent" but that problems began when the servicemember was transferred to outpatient care.
Among the recommendations were more caseworkers and better training, more physicians to coordinate patient care, and an improvement of attitude in general, said West.
Also, West said, the Base Realignment and Closure and A76 cost-comparison processes at Walter Reed caused uncertainty among the personnel at the center. He called for a review to examine how the processes affect medical centers.
The group, however, did not recommend that the aging D.C. hospital campus be taken off of the BRAC list, but instead recommended that the process be expedited and preparations be made faster at the National Naval Medical Center and at Fort Belvoir, Va., to receive those functions.
The report also calls for establishing a center of excellence that focuses on traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder.
The medical evaluation process is "lengthy and segmented" and needs to be consolidated into one process involving all related departments, the report recommends.
"For those in the departments who understand how it works, it all seems logical," West said. "For vulnerable servicemembers and their families, it seems a contradictory mass of sequential reviews, of several sequential decisions, compounded by confusing regulations at a time when they are most vulnerable and least able to follow them."
Marsh said a breakdown in the system of reporting complaints caused reports of substandard care not to be heard quickly enough. The group recommended establishing an oversight system to field complaints and elevate them to senior leadership.
Army officials said the service has resolved, or is resolving, 24 of the 26 findings of the review group. The remaining two findings require efforts by the Defense or Veterans Affairs departments, they said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
NASCAR Honors 'Why We Serve' Troops at Talladega
By Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Kirk
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 30, 2007 – A soldier, a sailor, an airman and a Marine received expressions of thanks over and over again from members of the crowd at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 499 yesterday. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Olson, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Virginia Mayo, Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert Jubie and Marine Sgt. Noah Tretter attended the race as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" program. Under the auspices of the program, troops travel on a speaker's circuit across the country telling their personal experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan.
All four servicemembers were nominated by their respective commands to be a part of the "Why We Serve" program and share their own personal stories with the country.
For all the time they have given overseas and for sharing their stories, NASCAR decided to give a little back to this group, starting with a few laps around the Superspeedway in the pace car, then moving on to a special introduction to the drivers and the race's Grand Marshal, comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
"This was my first NASCAR event," Mayo said. "The people have been so great. NASCAR fans seem to be the heartbeat of America, and I think I am quickly going to become a part of the NASCAR nation."
NASCAR has been a member of the America Supports You program since the beginning of the program. America Supports You recognizes the support of American individuals, groups and organizations for military men and women, and it communicates that support to troops at home and abroad.
NASCAR has been working to help raise awareness about the organizations' efforts by including signs at tracks, airing public service announcements on Nextel Vision and placing decals on race cars.
Jubie said the thanks he received from NASCAR and the race fans meant a lot to him.
"It really makes me feel appreciated," Jubie said. "I wish more people would be this way."
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Olson was very humble about his experience with the NASCAR fans.
"It's a little awkward," he said. "I don't really consider myself a hero. There are way better people they could take photos with. I was just over there doing my job."
Olson added that the Why We Serve program allows the servicemembers to tell a part of the story that doesn't make it into news reports.
"I like being able to talk about the good stuff," said Olson. "In my unit, we were a tight knit group. Morale was good, and we supported each other. We got care packages from home and if we saw someone didn't, we shared. You don't see that side of it."
Trotter said that receiving support from Americans is very important to the troops.
"I know when I put the uniform on that people are going to stop me. I stop, shake hands, listen to their stories and smile," Trotter said. "We couldn't do what we do without the support of the people."
(Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Kirk is assigned to Navy Recruiting District Atlanta.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 30, 2007 – A soldier, a sailor, an airman and a Marine received expressions of thanks over and over again from members of the crowd at Talladega Superspeedway during the Aaron's 499 yesterday. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Olson, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Virginia Mayo, Air Force Tech Sgt. Robert Jubie and Marine Sgt. Noah Tretter attended the race as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" program. Under the auspices of the program, troops travel on a speaker's circuit across the country telling their personal experiences from Iraq and Afghanistan.
All four servicemembers were nominated by their respective commands to be a part of the "Why We Serve" program and share their own personal stories with the country.
For all the time they have given overseas and for sharing their stories, NASCAR decided to give a little back to this group, starting with a few laps around the Superspeedway in the pace car, then moving on to a special introduction to the drivers and the race's Grand Marshal, comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
"This was my first NASCAR event," Mayo said. "The people have been so great. NASCAR fans seem to be the heartbeat of America, and I think I am quickly going to become a part of the NASCAR nation."
NASCAR has been a member of the America Supports You program since the beginning of the program. America Supports You recognizes the support of American individuals, groups and organizations for military men and women, and it communicates that support to troops at home and abroad.
NASCAR has been working to help raise awareness about the organizations' efforts by including signs at tracks, airing public service announcements on Nextel Vision and placing decals on race cars.
Jubie said the thanks he received from NASCAR and the race fans meant a lot to him.
"It really makes me feel appreciated," Jubie said. "I wish more people would be this way."
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Olson was very humble about his experience with the NASCAR fans.
"It's a little awkward," he said. "I don't really consider myself a hero. There are way better people they could take photos with. I was just over there doing my job."
Olson added that the Why We Serve program allows the servicemembers to tell a part of the story that doesn't make it into news reports.
"I like being able to talk about the good stuff," said Olson. "In my unit, we were a tight knit group. Morale was good, and we supported each other. We got care packages from home and if we saw someone didn't, we shared. You don't see that side of it."
Trotter said that receiving support from Americans is very important to the troops.
"I know when I put the uniform on that people are going to stop me. I stop, shake hands, listen to their stories and smile," Trotter said. "We couldn't do what we do without the support of the people."
(Petty Officer 1st Class Amy Kirk is assigned to Navy Recruiting District Atlanta.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
'EchoTaps' Musicians to Honor Veterans
American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – Hundreds of musicians from across the country will pay tribute to the nation's fallen heroes on Armed Forces Day, May 19, in an event called "EchoTaps." The first EchoTaps was held in 2005, when nearly 700 brass players from 30 states gathered in upstate New York to perform the military bugle call "Taps." Buglers performed a continuous cascading version of "Taps" over a 42.2-mile path between the Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira and Bath, N.Y.
Later at the Bath location, the players performed "Taps" en masse. The project involved 2,200 volunteers and attracted national media coverage.
This year, a national program is being planned that will stage EchoTaps at each of the 123 national cemeteries across the United States. Organizers at each location will perform a tribute based on the number of buglers, from 10 to 1,000.
Volunteers playing horns of all types will render a cascade of "Taps" at 11 a.m. local time at each site on May 19, beginning at American Battle Monuments Commission sites in the Philippines, North Africa and then throughout Europe.
A variety of programs will follow at national cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, National Park Service cemeteries, and participating state veterans cemeteries across America, beginning on the East Coast and concluding in Honolulu.
EchoTaps is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Bugles Across America. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness of national cemeteries and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the VA Voluntary Service program, which uses volunteers to help provide services to veterans.
EchoTaps also is aimed at increasing the number of buglers available for military burial services, volunteerism, and exposure of the VA Voluntary Service program.
As an example of events planned, the Military Salute Project is coordinating the event at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. The Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad and the Minnesota State Band will take part.
Tribute to the Troops, a nonprofit group based in Center City, Minn., also is slated to participate. The group organizes an annual motorcycle ride and concert to raise funds for America's fallen heroes and their families and also donates proceeds to charities benefiting those who still serve, such as Fisher House and the Wounded Warriors Hospital Fund.
Tribute to the Troops is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that highlights what American individuals and corporations are doing to support military members, veterans and their families.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
May 1, 2007 – Hundreds of musicians from across the country will pay tribute to the nation's fallen heroes on Armed Forces Day, May 19, in an event called "EchoTaps." The first EchoTaps was held in 2005, when nearly 700 brass players from 30 states gathered in upstate New York to perform the military bugle call "Taps." Buglers performed a continuous cascading version of "Taps" over a 42.2-mile path between the Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira and Bath, N.Y.
Later at the Bath location, the players performed "Taps" en masse. The project involved 2,200 volunteers and attracted national media coverage.
This year, a national program is being planned that will stage EchoTaps at each of the 123 national cemeteries across the United States. Organizers at each location will perform a tribute based on the number of buglers, from 10 to 1,000.
Volunteers playing horns of all types will render a cascade of "Taps" at 11 a.m. local time at each site on May 19, beginning at American Battle Monuments Commission sites in the Philippines, North Africa and then throughout Europe.
A variety of programs will follow at national cemeteries, including Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, National Park Service cemeteries, and participating state veterans cemeteries across America, beginning on the East Coast and concluding in Honolulu.
EchoTaps is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Bugles Across America. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness of national cemeteries and celebrate the 60th anniversary of the VA Voluntary Service program, which uses volunteers to help provide services to veterans.
EchoTaps also is aimed at increasing the number of buglers available for military burial services, volunteerism, and exposure of the VA Voluntary Service program.
As an example of events planned, the Military Salute Project is coordinating the event at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. The Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad and the Minnesota State Band will take part.
Tribute to the Troops, a nonprofit group based in Center City, Minn., also is slated to participate. The group organizes an annual motorcycle ride and concert to raise funds for America's fallen heroes and their families and also donates proceeds to charities benefiting those who still serve, such as Fisher House and the Wounded Warriors Hospital Fund.
Tribute to the Troops is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that highlights what American individuals and corporations are doing to support military members, veterans and their families.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Golfers Tee Off for Fisher House
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – More than 240 golfers, including 10 injured servicemembers, hit the links at Lansdowne Golf Club in Lansdowne, Va., yesterday for the 4th Annual Fisher House Golf Classic fundraiser. The Fisher House Foundation supports America's servicemembers and their families by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, according to the organization's Web site.
The foundation also is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.
"The first year we had a goal of raising $100,000," Jim Weiskopf, the vice president for communications of the Fisher House Foundation, said. "Yesterday it was announced before the event concluded that we had raised $583,000."
The net proceeds of this year's event are designated for the construction of a 16,800-square-foot, 21-suite Fisher House at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The facility will be one of four Level 1 polytrauma centers operated by the VA. Each is staffed to provide long-term rehabilitation to servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries.
The annual event began four years ago and has raised more than $1 million in support of the Fisher House Foundation.
For the servicemembers, the highlight of the day was a golf clinic that Ken Peck, a double amputee and former professional golfer, held for them. Peck, a golf instructor with the National Amputee Golf Association, said he was pleased to participate in the event to benefit the Fisher House Foundation and the veterans.
"I'm out here to kind of help some of the vets learn how to swing a little bit more ... and just show them that golf is a great game that you can play despite (having an amputation)," he said. "Golf is the most accessible sport. We don't have the running; we don't have the jumping; but we can still play the game when we stabilize ourselves and swing and hit."
Army Staff Sgt. John Shannon, a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Here, was just as excited to get back to the sport he loved as Peck was to be mentoring him. The former sniper suffered a traumatic brain injury and the loss of his left eye while serving in Iraq.
"(This is) giving me an opportunity to do something I used to be pretty good at and see if I can get it back a little bit," Shannon said. "It's just a tremendous amount of fun. I don't know how to say thank you to the people that have us out here, but it's a wonderful opportunity to come out here."
Though he hasn't played golf in four years, he said it's just a matter of rediscovering his swing. Focusing on that keeps him from focusing on other -- not so pleasant -- things, he said.
"It certainly makes you forget everything else you're dealing with, which is what it's about," Shannon said.
(Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly Burgess of American Forces Press Service contributed to this report.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – More than 240 golfers, including 10 injured servicemembers, hit the links at Lansdowne Golf Club in Lansdowne, Va., yesterday for the 4th Annual Fisher House Golf Classic fundraiser. The Fisher House Foundation supports America's servicemembers and their families by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, according to the organization's Web site.
The foundation also is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and corporations with members of the military and their families at home and abroad.
"The first year we had a goal of raising $100,000," Jim Weiskopf, the vice president for communications of the Fisher House Foundation, said. "Yesterday it was announced before the event concluded that we had raised $583,000."
The net proceeds of this year's event are designated for the construction of a 16,800-square-foot, 21-suite Fisher House at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The facility will be one of four Level 1 polytrauma centers operated by the VA. Each is staffed to provide long-term rehabilitation to servicemembers with traumatic brain injuries.
The annual event began four years ago and has raised more than $1 million in support of the Fisher House Foundation.
For the servicemembers, the highlight of the day was a golf clinic that Ken Peck, a double amputee and former professional golfer, held for them. Peck, a golf instructor with the National Amputee Golf Association, said he was pleased to participate in the event to benefit the Fisher House Foundation and the veterans.
"I'm out here to kind of help some of the vets learn how to swing a little bit more ... and just show them that golf is a great game that you can play despite (having an amputation)," he said. "Golf is the most accessible sport. We don't have the running; we don't have the jumping; but we can still play the game when we stabilize ourselves and swing and hit."
Army Staff Sgt. John Shannon, a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Here, was just as excited to get back to the sport he loved as Peck was to be mentoring him. The former sniper suffered a traumatic brain injury and the loss of his left eye while serving in Iraq.
"(This is) giving me an opportunity to do something I used to be pretty good at and see if I can get it back a little bit," Shannon said. "It's just a tremendous amount of fun. I don't know how to say thank you to the people that have us out here, but it's a wonderful opportunity to come out here."
Though he hasn't played golf in four years, he said it's just a matter of rediscovering his swing. Focusing on that keeps him from focusing on other -- not so pleasant -- things, he said.
"It certainly makes you forget everything else you're dealing with, which is what it's about," Shannon said.
(Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly Burgess of American Forces Press Service contributed to this report.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Wereth 11 Remembered in Ceremony
By Steven Hoover
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – During the early stages of World War II's Battle of the Bulge, 11 black U.S. soldiers assigned to the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion were tortured and executed by German SS officers. Though they have been gone for many years, their spirits live on in this tiny village located in eastern Belgium. Local townspeople, along with U.S. soldiers and family members based in Belgium and Germany, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony April 28, commemorating men known as the Wereth 11. The ceremony was preceded with a procession led by a color guard from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Germany.
"What happened on Dec. 17, 1944, should never be forgotten," said Brig. Gen. Dennis L. Via, commander of 5th Signal Command, in Mannheim, Germany, who served as the event's keynote speaker. "However, we are not here today to focus on the crime and the pain; we are here today to focus on the heroic lives of these 11 Americans."
But to help focus on their lives, some historical background is necessary. The following is a combination of several accounts of what occurred here 62 years ago.
After being reactivated in the regular Army as a 155 mm howitzer battalion just a year before their deployment, the 333rd Field Artillery soldiers spent their first six months in combat supporting the 2nd Infantry Division and 7th Corps, while holding the front line against German troops. When the Battle of the Bulge began, the unit was located near St. Vith, Belgium.
During the second day of the fight -- the Germans last major counteroffensive of World War II -- 11 members of the Headquarters and Service Battery became separated from their unit while evading German armor and infantry units.
While searching for food and shelter, the men spotted a farm owned by Matthias Langer, who offered the soldiers part of his family's meager rations.
At dawn, after receiving a tip, a group of Nazi SS stopped in front of the Langer house. After surrendering, the soldiers were forced to sit in the cold and mud while their fate was decided. Marched to a cow pasture behind the house, they were tortured and later shot or bayoneted to death.
In the morning, villagers saw the bodies of the men in a ditch. Since they were afraid that the Germans might return, they didn't touch the dead Americans. The bodies remained covered by snowfall until mid-February 1945 when villagers directed a U.S. Army graves registration unit to the scene.
Unlike similar war crimes, the slaying of these men wasn't well documented or prosecuted. After an investigation proved fruitless and didn't turn up any positive identification of those whom committed the murders, the investigation was closed.
As a private gesture from the Langer family, a son, Herman, erected a small cross with the names of the slain soldiers in the corner of the pasture, and for more than 60 years has maintained a vigil.
But the memorial and the town of Wereth remained basically obscure. The site was not listed in any guides or maps to the Battle of the Bulge battlefield. Even people searching for it had trouble finding it in the small community.
However, in 2001, three Belgians, including Adda Rikken, president of the U.S. Wereth Memorial Committee, began raising funds to create a more fitting memorial to the Americans.
"We knew that we wanted to create a much nicer memorial for these soldiers, but at that time our organization was very small and didn't have much money," Rikken said. "It took some time, but we eventually raised enough money to purchase more of the land that surrounded the original monument. Now we have a nice dedication to those heroic men."
The dedication of the updated memorial was held May 23, 2004. Besides monuments placed by Wereth citizens, there is a plaque from the Delaware Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, honoring the 11 soldiers.
Road signs now mark the memorial, and the Belgium Tourist Bureau notes it in its Battle of the Bulge brochures.
The soldiers in attendance of this year's ceremony were primarily members of The ROCKS, Inc. European Officers Chapter, a non-profit organization of U.S. active-duty, reserve, retired and former commissioned officers. The organization formed in December 1974 to provide professional and social interaction to strengthen the officer corps.
In 2001, U.S. Army Garrison Benelux, Chièvres, Belgium, adopted the graves of seven men from the Wereth 11 who rest in Belgium's Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Adoption certificates for the graves of Staff Sgt. Thomas Forte; Spc. James Stewart; Pfcs. George Davis, George Moten,and Due Turner; and Pvts. Curtis Adam and Nathaniel Moss -- along with a history of the Wereth 11 -- are located in garrison headquarters on Caserne Daumerie.
The remains of the other four soldiers, Cpl. Mager Bradley, Spc. William Pritchett, Pfc. James Leatherwood and Pvt. Robert Green, were returned to family.
"These brave soldiers ... did not have an opportunity to see the world that they aimed to create," Via said. "Yet, because of their actions, we enjoy the world they envisioned, the world they fought for. These men were brothers, sons and fathers. They served because, like us, they believed in the values we hold dear -- freedom, justice, liberty. They believed in the greater good. For this, we are thankful for their service."
Via added his thanks to the people of Wereth, especially Rikken and Langer, for keeping the memory of the soldiers alive after all these years.
(Steven Hoover is assigned to the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Army Garrison Benelux.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Special to American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – During the early stages of World War II's Battle of the Bulge, 11 black U.S. soldiers assigned to the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion were tortured and executed by German SS officers. Though they have been gone for many years, their spirits live on in this tiny village located in eastern Belgium. Local townspeople, along with U.S. soldiers and family members based in Belgium and Germany, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony April 28, commemorating men known as the Wereth 11. The ceremony was preceded with a procession led by a color guard from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Germany.
"What happened on Dec. 17, 1944, should never be forgotten," said Brig. Gen. Dennis L. Via, commander of 5th Signal Command, in Mannheim, Germany, who served as the event's keynote speaker. "However, we are not here today to focus on the crime and the pain; we are here today to focus on the heroic lives of these 11 Americans."
But to help focus on their lives, some historical background is necessary. The following is a combination of several accounts of what occurred here 62 years ago.
After being reactivated in the regular Army as a 155 mm howitzer battalion just a year before their deployment, the 333rd Field Artillery soldiers spent their first six months in combat supporting the 2nd Infantry Division and 7th Corps, while holding the front line against German troops. When the Battle of the Bulge began, the unit was located near St. Vith, Belgium.
During the second day of the fight -- the Germans last major counteroffensive of World War II -- 11 members of the Headquarters and Service Battery became separated from their unit while evading German armor and infantry units.
While searching for food and shelter, the men spotted a farm owned by Matthias Langer, who offered the soldiers part of his family's meager rations.
At dawn, after receiving a tip, a group of Nazi SS stopped in front of the Langer house. After surrendering, the soldiers were forced to sit in the cold and mud while their fate was decided. Marched to a cow pasture behind the house, they were tortured and later shot or bayoneted to death.
In the morning, villagers saw the bodies of the men in a ditch. Since they were afraid that the Germans might return, they didn't touch the dead Americans. The bodies remained covered by snowfall until mid-February 1945 when villagers directed a U.S. Army graves registration unit to the scene.
Unlike similar war crimes, the slaying of these men wasn't well documented or prosecuted. After an investigation proved fruitless and didn't turn up any positive identification of those whom committed the murders, the investigation was closed.
As a private gesture from the Langer family, a son, Herman, erected a small cross with the names of the slain soldiers in the corner of the pasture, and for more than 60 years has maintained a vigil.
But the memorial and the town of Wereth remained basically obscure. The site was not listed in any guides or maps to the Battle of the Bulge battlefield. Even people searching for it had trouble finding it in the small community.
However, in 2001, three Belgians, including Adda Rikken, president of the U.S. Wereth Memorial Committee, began raising funds to create a more fitting memorial to the Americans.
"We knew that we wanted to create a much nicer memorial for these soldiers, but at that time our organization was very small and didn't have much money," Rikken said. "It took some time, but we eventually raised enough money to purchase more of the land that surrounded the original monument. Now we have a nice dedication to those heroic men."
The dedication of the updated memorial was held May 23, 2004. Besides monuments placed by Wereth citizens, there is a plaque from the Delaware Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, honoring the 11 soldiers.
Road signs now mark the memorial, and the Belgium Tourist Bureau notes it in its Battle of the Bulge brochures.
The soldiers in attendance of this year's ceremony were primarily members of The ROCKS, Inc. European Officers Chapter, a non-profit organization of U.S. active-duty, reserve, retired and former commissioned officers. The organization formed in December 1974 to provide professional and social interaction to strengthen the officer corps.
In 2001, U.S. Army Garrison Benelux, Chièvres, Belgium, adopted the graves of seven men from the Wereth 11 who rest in Belgium's Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Adoption certificates for the graves of Staff Sgt. Thomas Forte; Spc. James Stewart; Pfcs. George Davis, George Moten,and Due Turner; and Pvts. Curtis Adam and Nathaniel Moss -- along with a history of the Wereth 11 -- are located in garrison headquarters on Caserne Daumerie.
The remains of the other four soldiers, Cpl. Mager Bradley, Spc. William Pritchett, Pfc. James Leatherwood and Pvt. Robert Green, were returned to family.
"These brave soldiers ... did not have an opportunity to see the world that they aimed to create," Via said. "Yet, because of their actions, we enjoy the world they envisioned, the world they fought for. These men were brothers, sons and fathers. They served because, like us, they believed in the values we hold dear -- freedom, justice, liberty. They believed in the greater good. For this, we are thankful for their service."
Via added his thanks to the people of Wereth, especially Rikken and Langer, for keeping the memory of the soldiers alive after all these years.
(Steven Hoover is assigned to the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Army Garrison Benelux.)
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
U.S., Japanese Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Force Realignment
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – U.S. and Japanese defense and diplomatic leaders today reaffirmed their commitment to realigning U.S. forces in Japan. Speaking to reporters here after a meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said that the plan, which was finalized in the 2006 "two-plus-two" meeting, as it's called, is on track.
"Last year, we finalized a realignment roadmap to complete the most comprehensive set of adjustments to the American military posture in the region in more than a generation," Gates said. "Our Japanese partners assured us this week that they remain committed to the May 2006 realignment roadmap, as well as the broader alliance transformation agenda, as are we."
The realignment plan, signed last year by then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Fukushiro Nukaga, who was Japan's minister of state for defense, includes moving 8,000 U.S. Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa to Guam, moving two U.S. air bases in Japan from urban to rural areas, and realigning the Japan Self-Defense Forces to complement the U.S. realignments.
Through a translator, Kyuma said that during today's meeting, the four leaders agreed that the realignment "will be implemented steadfastly." The leaders also agreed to enhance both nations' missile defense capabilities and strengthen information sharing, he said.
"We reaffirmed the importance of both countries working together toward alliance transformation, for not only the security of Japan, but also for peace and stability of the region as a whole," Kyuma said. "Building on this momentum, we are determined to step up our efforts to advance forces realignment and other related issues."
North Korea's 2006 missile and nuclear tests were a reminder of the potential threats Japan and the U.S. face and underscored today's meeting, Gates said. "In this context, our cooperation validated the previous investments we have made and the approaches we have taken to modernize and strengthen our alliance, while reminding us of the work that remains to be done," he said.
The four leaders also discussed the importance of strengthening ties to other countries, such as Australia, and achieving broader cooperation between Japan and NATO, Gates said. Aso noted that today's meeting also provided an opportunity for the U.S. leaders to reaffirm their commitment to defending Japan and deterring possible threats.
Rice said that this is the fourth such meeting she has attended, noting that they are useful "because they reflect the deep significance that the United States attaches to this important alliance, one that plays a vital role in the security and prosperity of Northeast Asia and, increasingly, in global security."
The two countries have made significant progress in fielding ballistic missile defense, Rice said, and the U.S. is committed to continued cooperation in the area of deterrence. "As I said in Tokyo last October, the United States has the will and the capability to meet the full range of deterrence and security commitments to Japan," she said.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
American Forces Press Service
May 1, 2007 – U.S. and Japanese defense and diplomatic leaders today reaffirmed their commitment to realigning U.S. forces in Japan. Speaking to reporters here after a meeting of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said that the plan, which was finalized in the 2006 "two-plus-two" meeting, as it's called, is on track.
"Last year, we finalized a realignment roadmap to complete the most comprehensive set of adjustments to the American military posture in the region in more than a generation," Gates said. "Our Japanese partners assured us this week that they remain committed to the May 2006 realignment roadmap, as well as the broader alliance transformation agenda, as are we."
The realignment plan, signed last year by then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Fukushiro Nukaga, who was Japan's minister of state for defense, includes moving 8,000 U.S. Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa to Guam, moving two U.S. air bases in Japan from urban to rural areas, and realigning the Japan Self-Defense Forces to complement the U.S. realignments.
Through a translator, Kyuma said that during today's meeting, the four leaders agreed that the realignment "will be implemented steadfastly." The leaders also agreed to enhance both nations' missile defense capabilities and strengthen information sharing, he said.
"We reaffirmed the importance of both countries working together toward alliance transformation, for not only the security of Japan, but also for peace and stability of the region as a whole," Kyuma said. "Building on this momentum, we are determined to step up our efforts to advance forces realignment and other related issues."
North Korea's 2006 missile and nuclear tests were a reminder of the potential threats Japan and the U.S. face and underscored today's meeting, Gates said. "In this context, our cooperation validated the previous investments we have made and the approaches we have taken to modernize and strengthen our alliance, while reminding us of the work that remains to be done," he said.
The four leaders also discussed the importance of strengthening ties to other countries, such as Australia, and achieving broader cooperation between Japan and NATO, Gates said. Aso noted that today's meeting also provided an opportunity for the U.S. leaders to reaffirm their commitment to defending Japan and deterring possible threats.
Rice said that this is the fourth such meeting she has attended, noting that they are useful "because they reflect the deep significance that the United States attaches to this important alliance, one that plays a vital role in the security and prosperity of Northeast Asia and, increasingly, in global security."
The two countries have made significant progress in fielding ballistic missile defense, Rice said, and the U.S. is committed to continued cooperation in the area of deterrence. "As I said in Tokyo last October, the United States has the will and the capability to meet the full range of deterrence and security commitments to Japan," she said.
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