By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 7, 2007 - Ann Brown gripped the handle of a .50-caliber machine gun that appeared to be larger than her slight frame. Peering down the sights, she squeezed off a five-round burst in less than a second.
Taken aback by the sudden burst, Brown, president of a graphic design company in Colorado, looked up as if shocked and then laughed, almost embarrassed. She said she didn't realize it would fire that many rounds so fast. Her companions in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference quickly, and jokingly, dubbed her "Machine Gun Annie."
"There's a jolt from it, but more than that, I was amazed at how quickly I could shoot out five shots. That really shocked me. Plus, when I realized that each shot can go 3,000 feet, ... that's really scary," Brown said.
Brown is one of nearly 40 civilians who traveled here as part of the JCOC on the first stop of a week-long expedition to U.S. Pacific Command. Today is their second day on the island, and it has been packed with hands-on, adrenaline-pumping activities that would make many civilians envious.
The day started with an overview of U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, which oversees the Navy's largest island base in the Western Pacific. The island is home to more than 160,000 residents and 12,000 servicemembers and families.
The brief was the only "static" part of the day. Afterward, participants were treated to machine-gun firing, a security demonstration complete with a mock would-be suicide bomber, an explosives demonstration using a high-tech robot, and a boat ride zipping across the bay.
The group climbed high onto the captain's deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen and descended into the depths of the nuclear attack submarine USS Buffalo. They also lunched with sailors.
Brown, president of New Vista Image in Golden, Colo., said she was in awe of the activities and the sailors. "I love all of the adventure and excitement. And then, every once in a while, I have to stop and think about the seriousness of why all of this exists," she said.
She said the dedication and loyalty of the servicemembers made the biggest impression on her. Brown also said she was surprised by the number of servicemembers with families.
"Every single person I've asked has small children. It just tells you that it's more than just the servicemen and women, it's their families as well, who are involved in this," she said.
Because she serves on the board of the U.S. Army War College Foundation, a nonprofit group that works to enrich programs and research activities of the War College, in Carlisle, Pa., Brown said, she is familiar with the Army. She came to the conference to become more familiar with the other branches of service and how they interact. She was nominated to come by a former conference attendee. Before she was nominated, Brown said, she'd never even heard of the conference.
"I had no idea what it is. Most people I talk to have no idea what it is. So I was just excited beyond belief when I heard about it," she said.
Now she is gaining a broader understanding of the Defense Department and its servicemembers. "I didn't know that we had so much ammunition here (in Guam). I didn't realize the strategic importance like I should have," Brown said. "Something that I didn't know I will take back will probably be our scope of operations and how many different ways we protect ourselves with how many different devices and branches and groups (there are)."
In her encounters with the Army, Brown is used to dealing with older officers, because students and faculty at the War College are all lieutenant colonels and above. Here, she was surprised by how young the majority of the servicemembers are. "There is so much responsibility and authority for people in their 20s. That surprised me," she said.
Because of her experiences so far in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, Brown said, she will go home with a renewed sense of military support and become more active in creating an awareness of the military, its role and those who serve.
"I think I'm going to be more active than I have been. I've been a little bit low-key about it. But now I have more to say, ... and I belong to some groups where I want to get some military speakers in," she said. "I will be more active when I go back, because I really believe in this."
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Communities Embrace Texas Family After Tragedy
By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - Troops in Iraq know too well how quickly life can take a wrong turn. An outpouring of goodwill and support from the public is helping one wounded soldier and his wife cope with a tragic loss. For Army Spc. John A. Johnson, the fifth improvised-explosive-device blast he experienced in Iraq, in August, was the one that caused traumatic brain injury that landed him at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for treatment.
Two months later, when he was being discharged, his wife and three children left El Paso and headed east to meet him. Then fate took a deadly turn.
Driving in the Dallas area Oct. 13, the Johnson family vehicle crashed and rolled. Two-year-old Logan and 5-year-old Ashley perished in the wreck. Tyler, age 9, was critically injured with brain injuries that left him comatose at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, where he later died. Johnson's wife, Monalisa, was in the intensive-care unit of an adjacent facility, Parkland Hospital, with back injuries.
With electric speed, the military and civilian communities pulled together to carry the soldier and his family through their losses.
The Warrior and Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, part of the military's wounded warrior transition network, worked to get Johnson to his family in Dallas quickly. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion was doing all it could to help Johnson. Calls were made to community groups, including groups that support the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
The Fisher House Foundation's Hero Miles program, an ASY supporter, provided an airline ticket for Johnson to fly to Dallas within hours of the accident. Army Staff Sgt. Eugene Schmidt, a platoon sergeant with Company C of the Warrior Transition Battalion, accompanied the Army cavalry scout. The two men stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, near the two hospitals.
"His wife was in the hospital for two days," Schmidt said. "So we went back and forth between the two hospitals."
The Army sent Wounded Transition Battalion Chaplain (Capt.) Bryan VanPelt to join the family.
Operation Homefront has chapters in many states and is a supporter of America Supports You. "The case manager at the hospital (in Dallas) contacted our Arkansas chapter," said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront Texas interim chief executive, and executive vice president of operations and development, referring to Operation Homefront Arkansas. The Johnson family is from Benton, Ark.
"First we set up a fund for the family and put a notice on the Texas chapter Web site," Palmer said. "We're one of the charities of the PGA Tour. They got the information and distributed it through their contacts. Within 24 hours they had raised $45,000."
Soldiers' Angels, also an ASY supporter, provided hotel stays as needed for the Johnson family, including the soldier's mother and grandmother, in Dallas, according to a Brooke Army Medical Center official. Soldiers' Angels officials went to the hotel to give the family funding for food and other necessities. Another group, Operation Comfort, paid for gas the family needed for a rental car.
The Dallas Veteran Service Organization and the Veterans of Foreign Wars prepared meals for the family.
Monalisa Johnson recovered and was discharged. The Johnsons buried their two youngest children in Benton, Ark., Oct. 23, then returned to their son, Tyler's, bedside.
As doctors reduced the boy's circulation to prevent brain swelling, his limbs were cut off from oxygen and it looked like he would require several amputations. Johnson was able to spend time with Tyler as he lay in the hospital bed.
"He was at the hospital with him, talking to him," Schmidt said. "Every day the doctors said, 'He won't make it through the night; he has only a 2 percent chance of making it.' After a while they accepted it."
On Nov. 3, three weeks after the crash, Tyler died.
The cavalry scout and his wife are determined to prevail over this tragedy, Operation Homefront's Palmer said. "They're amazing," she said. "To see them holding hands and comforting each other is amazing. I'm really impressed."
The outpouring of support has been extremely helpful, Schmidt said.
Nobody takes care of wounded American soldiers better than Fort Sam Houston, he said, adding that corporations and the troop-support organizations have spared no expense to ease the Johnsons' burden.
"PGA Tour has raised $95,000," Schmidt said. Some of the money raised was donated to Operation Homefront Texas, which in turn bought the Johnsons a car. Another car company donated a second vehicle, Schmidt said.
American Airlines gave them tickets; Hertz and National provided rental cars, Schmidt said. Another nonprofit group, Hope for the Warriors, paid for the hotel room in Dallas, he said.
Many in the extended military family are reaching out to the Johnsons, he said. "The first lady called, then the vice president's office," Schmidt said. "They have been checking on them. People at the Pentagon are checking on them."
Though Johnson has been discharged from Brooke Army Medical Center, it's not clear if he will rejoin his unit, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
"He'll be re-evaluated," Schmidt said, "because of everything that's happened."
America Supports You was launched three years ago this month with a handful of home front groups and corporations willing to reach out to the extended military family.
"If this tragedy had happened before we had the America Supports You program in place, we wouldn't have been able to energize the community to provide the support required," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison. Barber is also the architect of America Supports You. "Now, even though we can't make everything right for the family, at least we can help connect them to as much assistance as humanly possible."
A permanent memorial is planned at the school where the Johnson children were students, at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Palmer, of Operation Homefront Texas, said.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - Troops in Iraq know too well how quickly life can take a wrong turn. An outpouring of goodwill and support from the public is helping one wounded soldier and his wife cope with a tragic loss. For Army Spc. John A. Johnson, the fifth improvised-explosive-device blast he experienced in Iraq, in August, was the one that caused traumatic brain injury that landed him at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for treatment.
Two months later, when he was being discharged, his wife and three children left El Paso and headed east to meet him. Then fate took a deadly turn.
Driving in the Dallas area Oct. 13, the Johnson family vehicle crashed and rolled. Two-year-old Logan and 5-year-old Ashley perished in the wreck. Tyler, age 9, was critically injured with brain injuries that left him comatose at Children's Medical Center in Dallas, where he later died. Johnson's wife, Monalisa, was in the intensive-care unit of an adjacent facility, Parkland Hospital, with back injuries.
With electric speed, the military and civilian communities pulled together to carry the soldier and his family through their losses.
The Warrior and Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, part of the military's wounded warrior transition network, worked to get Johnson to his family in Dallas quickly. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the Brooke Army Medical Center Warrior Transition Battalion was doing all it could to help Johnson. Calls were made to community groups, including groups that support the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
The Fisher House Foundation's Hero Miles program, an ASY supporter, provided an airline ticket for Johnson to fly to Dallas within hours of the accident. Army Staff Sgt. Eugene Schmidt, a platoon sergeant with Company C of the Warrior Transition Battalion, accompanied the Army cavalry scout. The two men stayed at the Ronald McDonald House, near the two hospitals.
"His wife was in the hospital for two days," Schmidt said. "So we went back and forth between the two hospitals."
The Army sent Wounded Transition Battalion Chaplain (Capt.) Bryan VanPelt to join the family.
Operation Homefront has chapters in many states and is a supporter of America Supports You. "The case manager at the hospital (in Dallas) contacted our Arkansas chapter," said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront Texas interim chief executive, and executive vice president of operations and development, referring to Operation Homefront Arkansas. The Johnson family is from Benton, Ark.
"First we set up a fund for the family and put a notice on the Texas chapter Web site," Palmer said. "We're one of the charities of the PGA Tour. They got the information and distributed it through their contacts. Within 24 hours they had raised $45,000."
Soldiers' Angels, also an ASY supporter, provided hotel stays as needed for the Johnson family, including the soldier's mother and grandmother, in Dallas, according to a Brooke Army Medical Center official. Soldiers' Angels officials went to the hotel to give the family funding for food and other necessities. Another group, Operation Comfort, paid for gas the family needed for a rental car.
The Dallas Veteran Service Organization and the Veterans of Foreign Wars prepared meals for the family.
Monalisa Johnson recovered and was discharged. The Johnsons buried their two youngest children in Benton, Ark., Oct. 23, then returned to their son, Tyler's, bedside.
As doctors reduced the boy's circulation to prevent brain swelling, his limbs were cut off from oxygen and it looked like he would require several amputations. Johnson was able to spend time with Tyler as he lay in the hospital bed.
"He was at the hospital with him, talking to him," Schmidt said. "Every day the doctors said, 'He won't make it through the night; he has only a 2 percent chance of making it.' After a while they accepted it."
On Nov. 3, three weeks after the crash, Tyler died.
The cavalry scout and his wife are determined to prevail over this tragedy, Operation Homefront's Palmer said. "They're amazing," she said. "To see them holding hands and comforting each other is amazing. I'm really impressed."
The outpouring of support has been extremely helpful, Schmidt said.
Nobody takes care of wounded American soldiers better than Fort Sam Houston, he said, adding that corporations and the troop-support organizations have spared no expense to ease the Johnsons' burden.
"PGA Tour has raised $95,000," Schmidt said. Some of the money raised was donated to Operation Homefront Texas, which in turn bought the Johnsons a car. Another car company donated a second vehicle, Schmidt said.
American Airlines gave them tickets; Hertz and National provided rental cars, Schmidt said. Another nonprofit group, Hope for the Warriors, paid for the hotel room in Dallas, he said.
Many in the extended military family are reaching out to the Johnsons, he said. "The first lady called, then the vice president's office," Schmidt said. "They have been checking on them. People at the Pentagon are checking on them."
Though Johnson has been discharged from Brooke Army Medical Center, it's not clear if he will rejoin his unit, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
"He'll be re-evaluated," Schmidt said, "because of everything that's happened."
America Supports You was launched three years ago this month with a handful of home front groups and corporations willing to reach out to the extended military family.
"If this tragedy had happened before we had the America Supports You program in place, we wouldn't have been able to energize the community to provide the support required," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison. Barber is also the architect of America Supports You. "Now, even though we can't make everything right for the family, at least we can help connect them to as much assistance as humanly possible."
A permanent memorial is planned at the school where the Johnson children were students, at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Palmer, of Operation Homefront Texas, said.
Popularity and Expansion of Online Criminal Justice Programs and Degrees
Let’s not fool ourselves here. Earning an online college degree is quite an achievement in itself. It is an acknowledgement by the student, that at some point in their work career, they made a choice to rise to the sound of their inner voice and seek a greater purpose.
For those who have chosen the path of public service, that inner voice could not be greater. Literally, that vocation can take shape in many forms. In recent years, the world of online education has seen a surge of interest in the field of Criminal Justice. There are many factors involved in this increase. On one end of the spectrum, the political state of the United States civil policies has helped to increase the hiring needs of this field. On the other end, television media and the public fascination with dramas set in and around the fields of Law, Criminal Justice, Forensics and crime in general can also be a significant catalyst.
Online criminal justice degrees are now available to online students in every state and these online degree programs are accredited by their regional accrediting boards. These online degrees are afforded the same respect by police and sheriff departments and correctional facilities. Many police departments encourage their employees in the field, to pursue advanced degrees in criminal justice, thus increasing their potential for advancement as well as their income.
Student at the beginning of their work career may see an online criminal justice degree as the beginning step to a secure career in law enforcement, at a correctional facility or as the first step in a journey to obtaining a masters in criminal justice. Some online programs are so highly regarded at providing such quality education in the field that these institutions have sought and gained the honor of granting a doctorate in criminal justice.
Yes, it is possible in this day and age to progress from bachelors, to masters, to a doctorate degree in criminal justice all in an online learning environment.The fields of study available to the online learner are increasing day by day as online colleges see new areas of growth and develop curriculum to meet these needs.
For those who have chosen the path of public service, that inner voice could not be greater. Literally, that vocation can take shape in many forms. In recent years, the world of online education has seen a surge of interest in the field of Criminal Justice. There are many factors involved in this increase. On one end of the spectrum, the political state of the United States civil policies has helped to increase the hiring needs of this field. On the other end, television media and the public fascination with dramas set in and around the fields of Law, Criminal Justice, Forensics and crime in general can also be a significant catalyst.
Online criminal justice degrees are now available to online students in every state and these online degree programs are accredited by their regional accrediting boards. These online degrees are afforded the same respect by police and sheriff departments and correctional facilities. Many police departments encourage their employees in the field, to pursue advanced degrees in criminal justice, thus increasing their potential for advancement as well as their income.
Student at the beginning of their work career may see an online criminal justice degree as the beginning step to a secure career in law enforcement, at a correctional facility or as the first step in a journey to obtaining a masters in criminal justice. Some online programs are so highly regarded at providing such quality education in the field that these institutions have sought and gained the honor of granting a doctorate in criminal justice.
Yes, it is possible in this day and age to progress from bachelors, to masters, to a doctorate degree in criminal justice all in an online learning environment.The fields of study available to the online learner are increasing day by day as online colleges see new areas of growth and develop curriculum to meet these needs.
Pilot Missing From the Vietnam War is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
He is Maj. John L. Carroll, U.S. Air Force, of Decatur, Ga. He will be buried on Nov. 13 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
On Nov. 7, 1972, Carroll was flying a Forward Air Controller mission over Xiangkhoang Province, Laos, when his O-1G Bird Dog aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire and forced to land. Once on the ground, he radioed the Search-and-Rescue (SAR) helicopters on his intent to stay in the aircraft. Two SAR helicopters attempted a recovery, but intense enemy fire forced them to depart the area. A second pickup attempt was made later, but the pilot of that helicopter saw that Carroll had been fatally wounded. The recovery attempt was unsuccessful due to nearby enemy forces that opened fire on the helicopter.
In 1993, a joint U.S./Lao People's Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident and surveyed the crash site. During the site survey, the team found small fragments of aircraft wreckage.
Between 1996 and 2007, joint U.S./L.P.D.R./Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, led by JPAC, conducted several interviews concerning the incident. One witness provided the team with identification media which belonged to Carroll. In another interview, a former People's Army of North Vietnam officer turned over some of Carroll's personal effects and told the team that local residents had buried Carroll. Another witness later led a team to the burial site.
In 2007, a joint team excavated the burial site and found his remains.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.
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.
He is Maj. John L. Carroll, U.S. Air Force, of Decatur, Ga. He will be buried on Nov. 13 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
On Nov. 7, 1972, Carroll was flying a Forward Air Controller mission over Xiangkhoang Province, Laos, when his O-1G Bird Dog aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire and forced to land. Once on the ground, he radioed the Search-and-Rescue (SAR) helicopters on his intent to stay in the aircraft. Two SAR helicopters attempted a recovery, but intense enemy fire forced them to depart the area. A second pickup attempt was made later, but the pilot of that helicopter saw that Carroll had been fatally wounded. The recovery attempt was unsuccessful due to nearby enemy forces that opened fire on the helicopter.
In 1993, a joint U.S./Lao People's Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident and surveyed the crash site. During the site survey, the team found small fragments of aircraft wreckage.
Between 1996 and 2007, joint U.S./L.P.D.R./Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, led by JPAC, conducted several interviews concerning the incident. One witness provided the team with identification media which belonged to Carroll. In another interview, a former People's Army of North Vietnam officer turned over some of Carroll's personal effects and told the team that local residents had buried Carroll. Another witness later led a team to the burial site.
In 2007, a joint team excavated the burial site and found his remains.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.
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.
Face of Defense: Army Recruiter Offers Formula for Success
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - Every time he meets someone -- be it the newsboy, the bagger at the local grocery or the spectator at the high school football game -- Army Sgt. Charles "Rob" Myers mentally puts them into one of two categories: those he can recruit into the Army and those who can help him recruit someone else. "When I go out and talk to people, if they're between the ages 17 and 41, I automatically assume that they're somebody who could join the Army," he said. "If they're outside that age group, I consider them somebody who can help me find somebody to join the Army."
That mindset, along with an affinity for straight talk, has proven to be Myers' key to success as an Army recruiter. Now 27 months into a 36-month assignment at the Martinsburg, W. Va., recruiting station, Myers is the Baltimore Recruiting Battalion's No. 1 recruiter.
Despite operating in one of the toughest recruiting environments in decades, he enlisted 36 soldiers during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 -- 50 percent above his personal mission of two recruits per month.
This fiscal year is looking positive, too, with all signs pointing to Myers doubling his personal mission. Two weeks into the year's first recruiting month, which runs mid-October to mid-November, he'd already signed up three soldiers. Another prospect had agreed to enlist and taken all the initial steps, but Myers isn't one to count his chickens before they hatch.
Every recruiter knows the heartbreak of something going awry before a potential recruit leaves the Military Entrance Processing Station with a signed contract in hand, he said. "I never count on it until they're in," he said, hesitantly adding, "but I should have four by the end of the month."
Despite his success, Myers had a lot of learn when he arrived in Martinsville for his first recruiting assignment. He credits Army Staff Sgt. Devin Duckworth, his station manager, and others with taking him under their wings and teaching him the ropes. "When I came here, I knew only the very basics, and I was trained along the way," he said.
With solid mentoring behind him, Myers attributes his recruiting successes to hard work, straight talk and an ability to show people that they stand to benefit from serving in the Army.
Admitting he doesn't like "to be second in anything," Myers said the only way to succeed as a recruiter "is never to stop." He pulls long hours, typically 8:30 in the morning until about 7 at night.
"There are a lot of myths about recruiting, that you never see your family and all you do is work," he said. "The flip side of that is that if you do your job well and you do what you're supposed to do on a daily basis, you don't have to work 13 hours a day, seven days a week. You can actually set time in for your family."
Myers spends most of his family time in the mornings, when he helps get his 10-month-old baby dressed, gets his other two kids off to school, and eats breakfast with his wife before heading to the office. Once a week, on his designated "family day," he leaves work at 5 p.m. sharp to have dinner with his family.
Myers has become something of a fixture in Berkley, Morgan and Jefferson counties, which make up his recruiting station's territory. He's frequently seen setting up a table at Martinsburg High School to distribute fliers and key chains and talk to the students. He and his fellow recruiters often go to Friday night football games to throw Army footballs into the stands. They get to know people at the area unemployment office and local employers who pass along referrals.
"I know many people in the community, and they have my business card. They know my number," he said. "And if they're willing to help me, they will hand (a potential recruit) my business card or call me and tell me they've got somebody."
When he talks to prospects, or the parents, teachers, coaches and other adults who may influence their decisions about the military, Myers knows he has to overcome two big hurdles: concerns about the war and Washington politics.
Myers concedes he's lucky to be stationed in an area that's open to recruiting. Community members tend to support the military and see it as an opportunity for advancement. "Overall, I say we are in a decent area where people are receptive to us. For the most part, they'll let us into their homes to talk to their sons or daughters," he said. "But we also have parents who say, 'There is no way in hell I will let my son or daughter join the Army with the climate in the world right now.'"
Anyone looking for assurances that they won't go to Iraq won't get it from Myers. "CNN is out there. You can't hide the fact that someone joining the Army has a chance of going to Iraq," he said.
On the other hand, he said, some potential recruits want nothing more than to deploy to Iraq right away so they can take part in exciting missions like those they see on TV. He tells them they've got a good shot at going to Iraq, but again, offers no promises.
The official philosophy at Myers' recruiting station matches his own. "You be up front. You tell the truth completely. You don't sugarcoat it," he said. "And if they join, they join. And if not, you haven't dented your credibility in the community."
Myers is quick to correct anyone who insinuates that he's "selling" the Army. He sees himself as an advisor who helps people focus on their future and explains how the Army can help them reach their long-term goals. "You're sort of a counselor more than a salesman," he said.
When he talks to potential recruits, Myers recognizes that patriotism or family tradition drives some to military service. But rarely does he try to spark their interest by telling them they're doing something great for their country.
The biggest motivator, he said, is showing them how the Army can benefit them personally. "We say, 'Here is what the Army is going to do for you: They're going to give you this much college money. They're going to let you pick your own job, and it's guaranteed. They're going to give you this much of a cash bonus.'"
Myers called the Army's generous options and benefits plans "everything for recruiting" that helps overcome reluctance to duty that could include a combat deployment.
Much of Myers' success boils down to his deep-seated belief that he's offering potential recruits a great opportunity. "For whatever someone's goal is, the Army has an option or benefit to help them reach their goal," he said.
He said he understands his recruiting base and remembers when he enlisted in the Army while living in West Virginia, a few hours away from Martinsburg. Like many of his typical recruits, Myers went to college for a year. He soon found himself working as an assistant warehouse manager at a home-improvement store in Charles Town, W.Va., until the local economy took a nosedive and he got laid off.
When Myers started looking around for options, the Army offered him an opportunity to build a career, work toward a retirement, go to college with all expenses paid, and see places many of his recruits have only dreamed of. "The Army opens the door to the world," he said.
After spending most of his career in finance and accounting, Myers said he believes he's found his calling as a recruiter. He submitted paperwork to become a permanent recruiter and hopes to extend his assignment at the Martinsburg recruiting station another 18 months to serve as its next station commander.
In that role, he'll help train other new recruiters as they take to the schools and streets and neighborhoods of West Virginia to recruit the next wave of military recruits.
Myers said he's confident that, with solid mentoring, the recruiters he leads will experience the same successes he's had. "For me, there wasn't any magic. I wasn't born a recruiter. It just took a lot of encouragement and mentoring," he said. "And for whatever reason, I've really taken to this recruiting thing."
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - Every time he meets someone -- be it the newsboy, the bagger at the local grocery or the spectator at the high school football game -- Army Sgt. Charles "Rob" Myers mentally puts them into one of two categories: those he can recruit into the Army and those who can help him recruit someone else. "When I go out and talk to people, if they're between the ages 17 and 41, I automatically assume that they're somebody who could join the Army," he said. "If they're outside that age group, I consider them somebody who can help me find somebody to join the Army."
That mindset, along with an affinity for straight talk, has proven to be Myers' key to success as an Army recruiter. Now 27 months into a 36-month assignment at the Martinsburg, W. Va., recruiting station, Myers is the Baltimore Recruiting Battalion's No. 1 recruiter.
Despite operating in one of the toughest recruiting environments in decades, he enlisted 36 soldiers during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 -- 50 percent above his personal mission of two recruits per month.
This fiscal year is looking positive, too, with all signs pointing to Myers doubling his personal mission. Two weeks into the year's first recruiting month, which runs mid-October to mid-November, he'd already signed up three soldiers. Another prospect had agreed to enlist and taken all the initial steps, but Myers isn't one to count his chickens before they hatch.
Every recruiter knows the heartbreak of something going awry before a potential recruit leaves the Military Entrance Processing Station with a signed contract in hand, he said. "I never count on it until they're in," he said, hesitantly adding, "but I should have four by the end of the month."
Despite his success, Myers had a lot of learn when he arrived in Martinsville for his first recruiting assignment. He credits Army Staff Sgt. Devin Duckworth, his station manager, and others with taking him under their wings and teaching him the ropes. "When I came here, I knew only the very basics, and I was trained along the way," he said.
With solid mentoring behind him, Myers attributes his recruiting successes to hard work, straight talk and an ability to show people that they stand to benefit from serving in the Army.
Admitting he doesn't like "to be second in anything," Myers said the only way to succeed as a recruiter "is never to stop." He pulls long hours, typically 8:30 in the morning until about 7 at night.
"There are a lot of myths about recruiting, that you never see your family and all you do is work," he said. "The flip side of that is that if you do your job well and you do what you're supposed to do on a daily basis, you don't have to work 13 hours a day, seven days a week. You can actually set time in for your family."
Myers spends most of his family time in the mornings, when he helps get his 10-month-old baby dressed, gets his other two kids off to school, and eats breakfast with his wife before heading to the office. Once a week, on his designated "family day," he leaves work at 5 p.m. sharp to have dinner with his family.
Myers has become something of a fixture in Berkley, Morgan and Jefferson counties, which make up his recruiting station's territory. He's frequently seen setting up a table at Martinsburg High School to distribute fliers and key chains and talk to the students. He and his fellow recruiters often go to Friday night football games to throw Army footballs into the stands. They get to know people at the area unemployment office and local employers who pass along referrals.
"I know many people in the community, and they have my business card. They know my number," he said. "And if they're willing to help me, they will hand (a potential recruit) my business card or call me and tell me they've got somebody."
When he talks to prospects, or the parents, teachers, coaches and other adults who may influence their decisions about the military, Myers knows he has to overcome two big hurdles: concerns about the war and Washington politics.
Myers concedes he's lucky to be stationed in an area that's open to recruiting. Community members tend to support the military and see it as an opportunity for advancement. "Overall, I say we are in a decent area where people are receptive to us. For the most part, they'll let us into their homes to talk to their sons or daughters," he said. "But we also have parents who say, 'There is no way in hell I will let my son or daughter join the Army with the climate in the world right now.'"
Anyone looking for assurances that they won't go to Iraq won't get it from Myers. "CNN is out there. You can't hide the fact that someone joining the Army has a chance of going to Iraq," he said.
On the other hand, he said, some potential recruits want nothing more than to deploy to Iraq right away so they can take part in exciting missions like those they see on TV. He tells them they've got a good shot at going to Iraq, but again, offers no promises.
The official philosophy at Myers' recruiting station matches his own. "You be up front. You tell the truth completely. You don't sugarcoat it," he said. "And if they join, they join. And if not, you haven't dented your credibility in the community."
Myers is quick to correct anyone who insinuates that he's "selling" the Army. He sees himself as an advisor who helps people focus on their future and explains how the Army can help them reach their long-term goals. "You're sort of a counselor more than a salesman," he said.
When he talks to potential recruits, Myers recognizes that patriotism or family tradition drives some to military service. But rarely does he try to spark their interest by telling them they're doing something great for their country.
The biggest motivator, he said, is showing them how the Army can benefit them personally. "We say, 'Here is what the Army is going to do for you: They're going to give you this much college money. They're going to let you pick your own job, and it's guaranteed. They're going to give you this much of a cash bonus.'"
Myers called the Army's generous options and benefits plans "everything for recruiting" that helps overcome reluctance to duty that could include a combat deployment.
Much of Myers' success boils down to his deep-seated belief that he's offering potential recruits a great opportunity. "For whatever someone's goal is, the Army has an option or benefit to help them reach their goal," he said.
He said he understands his recruiting base and remembers when he enlisted in the Army while living in West Virginia, a few hours away from Martinsburg. Like many of his typical recruits, Myers went to college for a year. He soon found himself working as an assistant warehouse manager at a home-improvement store in Charles Town, W.Va., until the local economy took a nosedive and he got laid off.
When Myers started looking around for options, the Army offered him an opportunity to build a career, work toward a retirement, go to college with all expenses paid, and see places many of his recruits have only dreamed of. "The Army opens the door to the world," he said.
After spending most of his career in finance and accounting, Myers said he believes he's found his calling as a recruiter. He submitted paperwork to become a permanent recruiter and hopes to extend his assignment at the Martinsburg recruiting station another 18 months to serve as its next station commander.
In that role, he'll help train other new recruiters as they take to the schools and streets and neighborhoods of West Virginia to recruit the next wave of military recruits.
Myers said he's confident that, with solid mentoring, the recruiters he leads will experience the same successes he's had. "For me, there wasn't any magic. I wasn't born a recruiter. It just took a lot of encouragement and mentoring," he said. "And for whatever reason, I've really taken to this recruiting thing."
Gates Discusses Steps to Deepen Military Exchanges With China
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Cao Gangchuan discussed ways to broaden and deepen U.S.-Chinese defense relations during meetings here today. During a joint news conference, Gates called the U.S. relationship with China "candid, constructive and cooperative." The two leaders discussed ways to build on the momentum.
China's economic growth has made the country a leader not only regionally but around the world, Gates said.
"China's increasing political and economic stature calls for this country to take on a greater share of responsibility for the health and success of the international system," the secretary said.
The two men announced an agreement to implement a direct telephone link between the Pentagon and the Ba Yi building where the meetings today were held.
"We discussed the need to move forward and deepen our military-to-military dialogue including on nuclear policy, strategy and doctrine," Gates said. "We agreed to enhance military exchanges at all levels."
U.S. defense officials have been calling for more transparency in Chinese military policy. "I raised with Minister Cao the uncertainty over China military modernization, and the need for greater transparency to allay international concerns," Gates said.
Gates and Cao discussed the Chinese role in international issues such as Iran. "We discussed the importance of Iran not having nuclear weapons and there not being a proliferation problem," Gates said.
"We agreed that it is important to pursue efforts to persuade the Iranian government to change their behavior and policies peacefully, through diplomatic means," Gates said. "And I would say I added the importance of continuing the increased economic pressures as a way of persuading the Iranian government to make different choices."
Gates said progress in defense exchanges will largely depend on the choices the two countries make.
"I look forward to working with the minister of defense and other Chinese leaders to continue building mutual trust and confidence between our two countries," he said.
The Chinese believe it is important that the two nations expand the military exchange program "to all fields and to all levels," Cao said. "It is important that we exchange ideas and notes on issues that we are both interested in so as to enhance our consensus on those issues."
The Chinese also agreed that the two navies conduct a joint exercise with a relatively more complex scenario "at the proper time," Cao said.
"We also agreed to have better cooperation in military archives so we could render help in the accounting for U.S. prisoner of war/missing in action before, during and after the Korean War," Cao said.
"Dr. Gates' visit is an important program of the military-to-military exchanges between the armed forces of China and the United States," Cao said through a translator. "The Chinese government and the Chinese armed forces have placed great importance in Dr. Gates visit."
"I think our dialogue has been pragmatic, candid and productive, and it is my belief that Mr. Gates' visit will, over time, enhance mutual understanding and deepen our friendship and cooperation," Cao said.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Cao Gangchuan discussed ways to broaden and deepen U.S.-Chinese defense relations during meetings here today. During a joint news conference, Gates called the U.S. relationship with China "candid, constructive and cooperative." The two leaders discussed ways to build on the momentum.
China's economic growth has made the country a leader not only regionally but around the world, Gates said.
"China's increasing political and economic stature calls for this country to take on a greater share of responsibility for the health and success of the international system," the secretary said.
The two men announced an agreement to implement a direct telephone link between the Pentagon and the Ba Yi building where the meetings today were held.
"We discussed the need to move forward and deepen our military-to-military dialogue including on nuclear policy, strategy and doctrine," Gates said. "We agreed to enhance military exchanges at all levels."
U.S. defense officials have been calling for more transparency in Chinese military policy. "I raised with Minister Cao the uncertainty over China military modernization, and the need for greater transparency to allay international concerns," Gates said.
Gates and Cao discussed the Chinese role in international issues such as Iran. "We discussed the importance of Iran not having nuclear weapons and there not being a proliferation problem," Gates said.
"We agreed that it is important to pursue efforts to persuade the Iranian government to change their behavior and policies peacefully, through diplomatic means," Gates said. "And I would say I added the importance of continuing the increased economic pressures as a way of persuading the Iranian government to make different choices."
Gates said progress in defense exchanges will largely depend on the choices the two countries make.
"I look forward to working with the minister of defense and other Chinese leaders to continue building mutual trust and confidence between our two countries," he said.
The Chinese believe it is important that the two nations expand the military exchange program "to all fields and to all levels," Cao said. "It is important that we exchange ideas and notes on issues that we are both interested in so as to enhance our consensus on those issues."
The Chinese also agreed that the two navies conduct a joint exercise with a relatively more complex scenario "at the proper time," Cao said.
"We also agreed to have better cooperation in military archives so we could render help in the accounting for U.S. prisoner of war/missing in action before, during and after the Korean War," Cao said.
"Dr. Gates' visit is an important program of the military-to-military exchanges between the armed forces of China and the United States," Cao said through a translator. "The Chinese government and the Chinese armed forces have placed great importance in Dr. Gates visit."
"I think our dialogue has been pragmatic, candid and productive, and it is my belief that Mr. Gates' visit will, over time, enhance mutual understanding and deepen our friendship and cooperation," Cao said.
U.S. Postpones Defense Meetings With Pakistan
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - The United States is watching the developing situation in Pakistan closely and will review all assistance programs to the country, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. "Pakistan is a country of great strategic importance to the United States and a key partner in the war on terror," the secretary said during a news conference at the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. Gates spoke after meeting with Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Cao Gangchuan.
Gates said the United States urges Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to return his country to "law-based, constitutional and democratic rule as soon as possible."
The review of defense assistance will be "mindful to not undermine on-going counterterrorism efforts."
The United States will postpone bilateral defense consultative meeting with Pakistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here today.
"In light of President Musharraf's declaration it was thought wise to postpone this meeting until such time that all parties can focus on the very important issues at hand that they have to discuss," Morrell said.
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman was set to head the U.S. delegation to the meetings in Islamabad, which were scheduled for Nov. 6-7. Morrell emphasized that the consultative talks were postponed and not canceled.
Morrell said that no military operations in Afghanistan have been affected by Musharraf's declaration in Pakistan. NATO and Afghan soldiers routinely cooperate with Pakistan's army to stop al Qaeda and Taliban fighters from infiltrating into eastern Afghanistan.
The talks between Pakistan and the United States are annual talks and cover the range of U.S.-Pakistani shared interests.
"These are important bilateral meetings that require an atmosphere where the issues can be addressed with the full attention of all participants," Morrell said to reporters traveling with Gates. "We hope to reschedule these meetings as soon as conditions are more conducive to the important objectives at hand."
The message to President Musharraf is uniform throughout the U.S. government, Morrell said. "There is a degree of disappointment that General Musharraf has taken the steps that he has taken, and we would urge him to return to a law-based, constitutional democratic government as early as possible," Morrell said.
Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan Nov. 2. U.S. response was quick in coming. "The United States is deeply disturbed by reports that Pakistani President Musharraf has taken extra-constitutional actions and has imposed a state of emergency," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a release.
McCormack said the state of emergency would be a sharp setback for Pakistani democracy.
"President Musharraf has stated repeatedly that he will step down as Chief of Army Staff before re-taking the presidential oath of office and has promised to hold elections by January 15th," McCormack said. "We expect him to uphold these commitments and urge him to do so immediately."
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - The United States is watching the developing situation in Pakistan closely and will review all assistance programs to the country, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. "Pakistan is a country of great strategic importance to the United States and a key partner in the war on terror," the secretary said during a news conference at the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. Gates spoke after meeting with Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Cao Gangchuan.
Gates said the United States urges Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to return his country to "law-based, constitutional and democratic rule as soon as possible."
The review of defense assistance will be "mindful to not undermine on-going counterterrorism efforts."
The United States will postpone bilateral defense consultative meeting with Pakistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here today.
"In light of President Musharraf's declaration it was thought wise to postpone this meeting until such time that all parties can focus on the very important issues at hand that they have to discuss," Morrell said.
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman was set to head the U.S. delegation to the meetings in Islamabad, which were scheduled for Nov. 6-7. Morrell emphasized that the consultative talks were postponed and not canceled.
Morrell said that no military operations in Afghanistan have been affected by Musharraf's declaration in Pakistan. NATO and Afghan soldiers routinely cooperate with Pakistan's army to stop al Qaeda and Taliban fighters from infiltrating into eastern Afghanistan.
The talks between Pakistan and the United States are annual talks and cover the range of U.S.-Pakistani shared interests.
"These are important bilateral meetings that require an atmosphere where the issues can be addressed with the full attention of all participants," Morrell said to reporters traveling with Gates. "We hope to reschedule these meetings as soon as conditions are more conducive to the important objectives at hand."
The message to President Musharraf is uniform throughout the U.S. government, Morrell said. "There is a degree of disappointment that General Musharraf has taken the steps that he has taken, and we would urge him to return to a law-based, constitutional democratic government as early as possible," Morrell said.
Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan Nov. 2. U.S. response was quick in coming. "The United States is deeply disturbed by reports that Pakistani President Musharraf has taken extra-constitutional actions and has imposed a state of emergency," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a release.
McCormack said the state of emergency would be a sharp setback for Pakistani democracy.
"President Musharraf has stated repeatedly that he will step down as Chief of Army Staff before re-taking the presidential oath of office and has promised to hold elections by January 15th," McCormack said. "We expect him to uphold these commitments and urge him to do so immediately."
Bases, Roads Contribute to Security in Afghanistan
By Capt. Ashley Dellavalle, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - U.S. Army engineers are building forward operating bases and roads in support of forces providing security to the people of Afghanistan. Despite harsh conditions due to "moon-dust" -- very fine silt that permeates every crevice at Forward Operating Base Kushamond -- the soldiers of Company A, 864th Engineer Battalion, from Fort Lewis, Wash., are building 24 B-Huts and a C-Hut to allow units from the Polish Battle Group, a battalion-size infantry element, to move into a comfortable "winterized" base before the cold season.
B-huts are semi-permanent wooden structures designed to last three to four years; each houses eight to 10 soldiers. C-Huts are similar, but larger.
These engineer soldiers are used to living and working in tents, temporary facilities and the worst of conditions to provide support to other coalition forces protecting the Afghan people. The engineers stay at one base only long enough to construct adequate facilities and quality roads for incoming forces.
After completing a road that connected hundreds of Afghans in the villages of Mest and Kher Khot Castle, the A Company soldiers relocated from Kher Khot Castle to continue work on a base at Kushamond, as well as the road they are constructing from the village of Jhani Khel to Kushamond. Roads are a significant part of reconstructing Afghanistan. They link key district centers and the Afghan people, allowing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to expand its influence, secure its people and promote economic development, U.S. officials said.
Since March, the 864th Engineer Battalion has completed nearly 160 miles of road, connecting hundreds of Afghans to district centers, Army Maj. James DeLapp, the unit's executive officer, said.
"With a combination of security provided by the Polish Battle Group soldiers and a quality road network provided by these engineer soldiers, the Afghan people will be able to safely travel to many district centers," Army Capt. Jorge Mendozacasillas, Company A commander, said.
(Army Capt. Ashley Dellavalle is assigned to Task Force Rugged Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - U.S. Army engineers are building forward operating bases and roads in support of forces providing security to the people of Afghanistan. Despite harsh conditions due to "moon-dust" -- very fine silt that permeates every crevice at Forward Operating Base Kushamond -- the soldiers of Company A, 864th Engineer Battalion, from Fort Lewis, Wash., are building 24 B-Huts and a C-Hut to allow units from the Polish Battle Group, a battalion-size infantry element, to move into a comfortable "winterized" base before the cold season.
B-huts are semi-permanent wooden structures designed to last three to four years; each houses eight to 10 soldiers. C-Huts are similar, but larger.
These engineer soldiers are used to living and working in tents, temporary facilities and the worst of conditions to provide support to other coalition forces protecting the Afghan people. The engineers stay at one base only long enough to construct adequate facilities and quality roads for incoming forces.
After completing a road that connected hundreds of Afghans in the villages of Mest and Kher Khot Castle, the A Company soldiers relocated from Kher Khot Castle to continue work on a base at Kushamond, as well as the road they are constructing from the village of Jhani Khel to Kushamond. Roads are a significant part of reconstructing Afghanistan. They link key district centers and the Afghan people, allowing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to expand its influence, secure its people and promote economic development, U.S. officials said.
Since March, the 864th Engineer Battalion has completed nearly 160 miles of road, connecting hundreds of Afghans to district centers, Army Maj. James DeLapp, the unit's executive officer, said.
"With a combination of security provided by the Polish Battle Group soldiers and a quality road network provided by these engineer soldiers, the Afghan people will be able to safely travel to many district centers," Army Capt. Jorge Mendozacasillas, Company A commander, said.
(Army Capt. Ashley Dellavalle is assigned to Task Force Rugged Public Affairs.)
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Air Force Grounds F-15 Fleet Following Crash
By Carmen L. Gleason
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - The Air Force has grounded its F-15 Eagle fleet following the crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C on Nov. 2. However, F-15s assigned to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Central Command Air Forces will be on alert and fly required missions, officials said today. Although the incident is still under investigation, preliminary findings indicate a possible structural failure led to last week's crash during a training exercise near Salem, Mo.
"The Air Force is looking at its operational requirements, where they have the newer aircraft and making some of those available for missions while they take a look at the F-15 fleet to see if they have a more systemic problem throughout the fleet," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
Air Force officials said they will ensure mission requirements are met for worldwide operations normally accomplished by the F-15. Flying locations include bases in the continental United States, Alaska, England, Hawaii, Japan and the Middle East.
"It is important to remember, in the F-15E, that not all F-15s are created equal," Whitman said. "It is a family of aircraft built over a long period of time; some earlier models have been in service a lot longer than F-15Es."
About 700 aging F-15s are in today's Air Force inventory. The fleet first reached operational capability in September 1975. The aircraft involved in last week's crash was built in 1980, officials said. While the F-15 continues to prove highly effective in ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force is on a course to eventually replace the aging F-15 A, B, C and D fleet with the stealthy F-22 Raptor.
The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air supremacy over the battlefield, according to Air Force officials.
The F-15C, D and E models were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm. F-15C fighters accounted for 34 of the 37 Air Force air-to-air victories in that conflict.
They have since been deployed for Air Expeditionary Force deployments and operations Southern Watch, the no-fly zone in southern Iraq; Provide Comfort, in Turkey; Allied Force, in Bosnia; Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan; and Iraqi Freedom, officials said.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - The Air Force has grounded its F-15 Eagle fleet following the crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C on Nov. 2. However, F-15s assigned to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Central Command Air Forces will be on alert and fly required missions, officials said today. Although the incident is still under investigation, preliminary findings indicate a possible structural failure led to last week's crash during a training exercise near Salem, Mo.
"The Air Force is looking at its operational requirements, where they have the newer aircraft and making some of those available for missions while they take a look at the F-15 fleet to see if they have a more systemic problem throughout the fleet," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
Air Force officials said they will ensure mission requirements are met for worldwide operations normally accomplished by the F-15. Flying locations include bases in the continental United States, Alaska, England, Hawaii, Japan and the Middle East.
"It is important to remember, in the F-15E, that not all F-15s are created equal," Whitman said. "It is a family of aircraft built over a long period of time; some earlier models have been in service a lot longer than F-15Es."
About 700 aging F-15s are in today's Air Force inventory. The fleet first reached operational capability in September 1975. The aircraft involved in last week's crash was built in 1980, officials said. While the F-15 continues to prove highly effective in ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Air Force is on a course to eventually replace the aging F-15 A, B, C and D fleet with the stealthy F-22 Raptor.
The F-15 Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air supremacy over the battlefield, according to Air Force officials.
The F-15C, D and E models were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm. F-15C fighters accounted for 34 of the 37 Air Force air-to-air victories in that conflict.
They have since been deployed for Air Expeditionary Force deployments and operations Southern Watch, the no-fly zone in southern Iraq; Provide Comfort, in Turkey; Allied Force, in Bosnia; Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan; and Iraqi Freedom, officials said.
Gates: U.S., China to Move Ahead with Strategic Dialogue
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - The United States and China will move ahead with a strategic dialogue, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said following talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao here. Gates spoke to reporters traveling with him at Beijing's Forbidden City. He said his meeting with Hu at the Great Hall of the People was cordial and constructive.
"We talked a good deal about the military-to-military relationship," Gates said. "He indicated his support for moving forward with a dialogue of strategic military matters of concern to both sides."
The meeting with the president culminated two days of intensive talks with Chinese civilian and military leaders.
He said the talks were "candid and realistic and, I think, in a friendly spirit."
The secretary said areas of "agreement and disagreement" clearly exist between the United States and China. "Talking about both is good for the relationship," he said.
Hu said the parties discussed issues of common interest. The two sides "exchanged ideas very extensively on topics like bilateral relations and on issues of common interests," Hu said through a translator.
He said Gates' visit will be "conducive to deeper trust between us and further the development of state-to-state relations."
"You will have a better understanding of China and vice versa," the president said.
The two sides agreed on a number of specific ways to improve military-to-military contacts between the two nations, Gates said.
The two sides agreed to install a direct telephone link between their respective defense establishments. This is the first time China has agreed to such a contact with any nation, a senior U.S. defense official said on background.
The two militaries are cooperating in a number of other areas, Gates said. They will exchange mid-level and senior officers, and there will be an exchange between military education institutions.
The Chinese have agreed to open their archives to help locate Americans listed as prisoners of war or missing in action before, during and after the Korean War. "So I think we took advantage of the opportunity to expand on those contacts," Gates said.
The secretary also addressed issues of concern to the United States. "In all of the meetings, I expressed our concern with the pace and scope of their strategic modernization programs and the anti-satellite test," he said.
Gates said he has high hopes for continued contacts between the United States and China. "I hope what will come out of these is an ongoing dialogue," he said.
"It's not a matter of just raising it and each side sort of having a set piece response, but rather to enter into a longer-term dialogue about perceptions of threats, about a world that faces the threat of nuclear proliferations and perhaps ways of finding some confidence building measures along the way," Gates said. "But I see this as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event."
Also during the visit, Gates raised U.S. concerns about Iran with Chinese leaders. He said an Iran that is a de-stabilizing force in the Middle East is not in anyone's interest, including China's.
"If one is interested in long-term energy security, then a stable Persian Gulf/Middle East area is very high priority," he said. "So, we had some interesting conversations about Iran."
President Hu raised the issue of Taiwan during talks, Gates said.
"I restated our positions that we're opposed to any effort by anyone unilaterally to change the status quo," the secretary said. "This is actually a diplomatic issue, but I basically reiterated that the U.S. government has been quite clear in its messages to the leaders of Taiwan not to change the status quo."
Gates was scheduled to next travel to Seoul for annual military meetings with his Korean counterpart.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 6, 2007 - The United States and China will move ahead with a strategic dialogue, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said following talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao here. Gates spoke to reporters traveling with him at Beijing's Forbidden City. He said his meeting with Hu at the Great Hall of the People was cordial and constructive.
"We talked a good deal about the military-to-military relationship," Gates said. "He indicated his support for moving forward with a dialogue of strategic military matters of concern to both sides."
The meeting with the president culminated two days of intensive talks with Chinese civilian and military leaders.
He said the talks were "candid and realistic and, I think, in a friendly spirit."
The secretary said areas of "agreement and disagreement" clearly exist between the United States and China. "Talking about both is good for the relationship," he said.
Hu said the parties discussed issues of common interest. The two sides "exchanged ideas very extensively on topics like bilateral relations and on issues of common interests," Hu said through a translator.
He said Gates' visit will be "conducive to deeper trust between us and further the development of state-to-state relations."
"You will have a better understanding of China and vice versa," the president said.
The two sides agreed on a number of specific ways to improve military-to-military contacts between the two nations, Gates said.
The two sides agreed to install a direct telephone link between their respective defense establishments. This is the first time China has agreed to such a contact with any nation, a senior U.S. defense official said on background.
The two militaries are cooperating in a number of other areas, Gates said. They will exchange mid-level and senior officers, and there will be an exchange between military education institutions.
The Chinese have agreed to open their archives to help locate Americans listed as prisoners of war or missing in action before, during and after the Korean War. "So I think we took advantage of the opportunity to expand on those contacts," Gates said.
The secretary also addressed issues of concern to the United States. "In all of the meetings, I expressed our concern with the pace and scope of their strategic modernization programs and the anti-satellite test," he said.
Gates said he has high hopes for continued contacts between the United States and China. "I hope what will come out of these is an ongoing dialogue," he said.
"It's not a matter of just raising it and each side sort of having a set piece response, but rather to enter into a longer-term dialogue about perceptions of threats, about a world that faces the threat of nuclear proliferations and perhaps ways of finding some confidence building measures along the way," Gates said. "But I see this as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event."
Also during the visit, Gates raised U.S. concerns about Iran with Chinese leaders. He said an Iran that is a de-stabilizing force in the Middle East is not in anyone's interest, including China's.
"If one is interested in long-term energy security, then a stable Persian Gulf/Middle East area is very high priority," he said. "So, we had some interesting conversations about Iran."
President Hu raised the issue of Taiwan during talks, Gates said.
"I restated our positions that we're opposed to any effort by anyone unilaterally to change the status quo," the secretary said. "This is actually a diplomatic issue, but I basically reiterated that the U.S. government has been quite clear in its messages to the leaders of Taiwan not to change the status quo."
Gates was scheduled to next travel to Seoul for annual military meetings with his Korean counterpart.
Navy Nurse's Voice Heard at Women's Memorial's 10th Anniversary
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - Navy Capt. Maggie L. Richard, a 22-year veteran in the Navy Nurse Corps, embodies the dutiful commitment enshrined at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary Nov. 3. Richard was one of seven female servicemembers selected to address the audience at during the "Voices of the Women" speaker's portion of the ceremony. The Women's Memorial is at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.
"I was so honored to represent all military and Public Health Service nurses," Richard said.
The veteran nurse was notified by the office of Navy Rear Adm. Christine Bruzek-Kohler, Navy Nurse Corps director, that she had been tapped to speak on behalf of some 20,000 nurses in the corps at the ceremony.
"I feel that (Woman in Military Service for America) gives a great venue to give voice to the accomplishments of women, specifically," Richard said. "Many of the things I do when I mentor people is remind them of what other people had to do for you to get where you are. ... That's why I think WIMSA is so important."
While attending Texas Woman's University, Richard encountered recruiters who helped steer her toward a career in the Navy Nurse Corps. "It was an opportunity for me to do something different with my life," she said. "I just felt at that moment I didn't know what lay ahead, but I knew that I could do it."
Richard's parents were surprised when she announced her decision to enlist in the program. "Do you want to run that by me one more time?" she recalled her father saying with incredulity.
"I'm the youngest in my family and was the first to really leave Dallas, Texas, where I'm from," she said. "So my dad, who's quite the character, made sure I ran it by him one more time."
As a nurse in the corps, Richards said, she had hoped to enjoy life while "giving the best that (she) could give."
"Contributing in this world is something that I've always known that I wanted to do because it was taught to me as a child," she said. "The Navy gave me the opportunity to do that."
In fact, by paying for Richard to earn her master's and Ph.D. degrees in nursing, the Navy far exceeded her expectations, she said.
One of Richard's career highlights happened in 1992 while stationed in Korea. One night, while Richard served as the lone Navy nurse on a base with roughly 5,000 servicemembers under her watch, an emergency medical situation occurred. "There was an emergency, and I had to transport a patient via helicopter; the Air Force and the Army transported me there," she recalled. "And I was just able to do things that impressed me in terms of in the pressure of the moment; we would all be surprised by what we can accomplish."
Other women servicemembers joining Richard onstage were Lorraine S. Dieterle, a former member of the Coast Guard who photographed the Victory in Japan Day celebration in New York City's Times Square and who helped establish the women's memorial, and Marsha L. Four, who served in the 18th Surgical Hospital in Vietnam as an intensive care nurse with the Army Nurse Corps.
Other "Voices of Women" speakers included Dawn Halfaker, a retired Army captain injured in Iraq; Brig. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, Air Force director of public affairs; and Marine Lance Cpl. Sona P. Babani, a native Iraqi turned U.S. citizen.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - Navy Capt. Maggie L. Richard, a 22-year veteran in the Navy Nurse Corps, embodies the dutiful commitment enshrined at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary Nov. 3. Richard was one of seven female servicemembers selected to address the audience at during the "Voices of the Women" speaker's portion of the ceremony. The Women's Memorial is at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.
"I was so honored to represent all military and Public Health Service nurses," Richard said.
The veteran nurse was notified by the office of Navy Rear Adm. Christine Bruzek-Kohler, Navy Nurse Corps director, that she had been tapped to speak on behalf of some 20,000 nurses in the corps at the ceremony.
"I feel that (Woman in Military Service for America) gives a great venue to give voice to the accomplishments of women, specifically," Richard said. "Many of the things I do when I mentor people is remind them of what other people had to do for you to get where you are. ... That's why I think WIMSA is so important."
While attending Texas Woman's University, Richard encountered recruiters who helped steer her toward a career in the Navy Nurse Corps. "It was an opportunity for me to do something different with my life," she said. "I just felt at that moment I didn't know what lay ahead, but I knew that I could do it."
Richard's parents were surprised when she announced her decision to enlist in the program. "Do you want to run that by me one more time?" she recalled her father saying with incredulity.
"I'm the youngest in my family and was the first to really leave Dallas, Texas, where I'm from," she said. "So my dad, who's quite the character, made sure I ran it by him one more time."
As a nurse in the corps, Richards said, she had hoped to enjoy life while "giving the best that (she) could give."
"Contributing in this world is something that I've always known that I wanted to do because it was taught to me as a child," she said. "The Navy gave me the opportunity to do that."
In fact, by paying for Richard to earn her master's and Ph.D. degrees in nursing, the Navy far exceeded her expectations, she said.
One of Richard's career highlights happened in 1992 while stationed in Korea. One night, while Richard served as the lone Navy nurse on a base with roughly 5,000 servicemembers under her watch, an emergency medical situation occurred. "There was an emergency, and I had to transport a patient via helicopter; the Air Force and the Army transported me there," she recalled. "And I was just able to do things that impressed me in terms of in the pressure of the moment; we would all be surprised by what we can accomplish."
Other women servicemembers joining Richard onstage were Lorraine S. Dieterle, a former member of the Coast Guard who photographed the Victory in Japan Day celebration in New York City's Times Square and who helped establish the women's memorial, and Marsha L. Four, who served in the 18th Surgical Hospital in Vietnam as an intensive care nurse with the Army Nurse Corps.
Other "Voices of Women" speakers included Dawn Halfaker, a retired Army captain injured in Iraq; Brig. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, Air Force director of public affairs; and Marine Lance Cpl. Sona P. Babani, a native Iraqi turned U.S. citizen.
Pacific Command Hosts Joint Civilian Orientation Conference
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - About 40 civilians with little or no previous military experience gathered in this tropical paradise today to get their marching orders for a week-long expedition that will take them across the Defense Department's largest combatant command. There was little time for umbrella-donned drinks though. Participants of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference had to prepare for a 2 a.m. wake-up to start what promises to be a very busy itinerary. Over the next week participants will fly to a handful of countries where they will see first-hand the efforts of servicemembers in each of the five services working in the U.S. Pacific Command.
The JCOC is a defense secretary sponsored program for U.S. leaders who want to broaden their knowledge of the military and national defense. JCOC is the oldest existing Pentagon outreach program. This is the 74th JCOC since it started in 1948.
"My hope for the participants is that we have a phenomenal experience in exploring the different cultures, but also that they get an understanding of both the strategic importance of the region and its increasing importance to international security," said Anne MacDonald, JCOC director.
MacDonald said the itinerary is built around providing the group the most basic understanding of what the U.S. military is doing "day-in and day-out in the field."
Because of security concerns in some of the regions in which the group will travel, itinerary details were not disclosed to participants until today. Specific sites visited can only be reported after each visit, conference officials said.
Geographically, PACOM is the largest combatant command, covering from the U.S. West Coast as far as Mongolia and China, and from Alaska south to Antarctica. Its area of responsibility covers more than half of the earth's surface – about 105 million square miles – and includes nearly 60 percent of the world's population. About 300,000 military members from all branches comprise the command.
During the week, participants will receive briefs on each of the services' roles within the command and view related training. Then they will roll up their sleeves and participate. The group will dine with servicemembers in the field, fire military weapons, jump in the cockpit of a fighter jet simulator, rappel down walls, drive a Coast Guard boat and become part of a simulated mass-casualty exercise. Officials want the trip to be as "hands-on" as possible, they said.
Trip planning starts about five months before the conference and includes hundreds of man-hours in preparation. Servicemembers from each of the services volunteer to serve as team leaders for the groups. A handful of other volunteers help round out the efforts.
David Evans, acting director of the Defense Department's Community Relations and Public Liaison office, said this type of conference is critical to giving community leaders an accurate picture of military life.
"The reason it's so important now is we have an entire generation that was not obligated to serve time in the military. They don't have a good idea of what the military is really about except what they see on T.V. So it is critical that we take these leaders out there to see what our military is doing day to day in forward deployed locations," Evans said.
Participants are nominated for the conference by senior military officials or alumni of the program and selected because of their influence. A conference fee paid by the participants covers their costs. This year's group includes doctors, government officials, businessmen and women and educators.
"What we're looking for is a good mix of business leaders, educators, centers of influence in metro areas -- places where there may not be a military installation and we think this might be something that will be worthwhile for them to experience," Evans said.
This is Coast Guard Lt. Sara Wallace's third JCOC to serve as a team leader. She has witnessed the enlightenment that happens as members of the group meet and talk with servicemembers and are able to see what they do in the field, Wallace said.
"By the end of the week the biggest change you see in the participants is just the awe, the wonderment. They can't say enough about the amount that each of the branches of service does. The amount of education they walk away with almost dumbfounds them," she said. And it's not the high-tech equipment that makes the biggest impression either, Wallace said.
"Usually it's just the (servicemembers) themselves. Every time someone goes on this trip they usually walk away impressed with the amount of responsibility that these young men and women are charged with and how much they have to handle," Wallace said.
The trip finishes back here Nov. 11 with a Veterans Day ceremony at the historic National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl. More than 44,000 U.S. war veterans and family members are buried in the 112-acre cemetery.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - About 40 civilians with little or no previous military experience gathered in this tropical paradise today to get their marching orders for a week-long expedition that will take them across the Defense Department's largest combatant command. There was little time for umbrella-donned drinks though. Participants of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference had to prepare for a 2 a.m. wake-up to start what promises to be a very busy itinerary. Over the next week participants will fly to a handful of countries where they will see first-hand the efforts of servicemembers in each of the five services working in the U.S. Pacific Command.
The JCOC is a defense secretary sponsored program for U.S. leaders who want to broaden their knowledge of the military and national defense. JCOC is the oldest existing Pentagon outreach program. This is the 74th JCOC since it started in 1948.
"My hope for the participants is that we have a phenomenal experience in exploring the different cultures, but also that they get an understanding of both the strategic importance of the region and its increasing importance to international security," said Anne MacDonald, JCOC director.
MacDonald said the itinerary is built around providing the group the most basic understanding of what the U.S. military is doing "day-in and day-out in the field."
Because of security concerns in some of the regions in which the group will travel, itinerary details were not disclosed to participants until today. Specific sites visited can only be reported after each visit, conference officials said.
Geographically, PACOM is the largest combatant command, covering from the U.S. West Coast as far as Mongolia and China, and from Alaska south to Antarctica. Its area of responsibility covers more than half of the earth's surface – about 105 million square miles – and includes nearly 60 percent of the world's population. About 300,000 military members from all branches comprise the command.
During the week, participants will receive briefs on each of the services' roles within the command and view related training. Then they will roll up their sleeves and participate. The group will dine with servicemembers in the field, fire military weapons, jump in the cockpit of a fighter jet simulator, rappel down walls, drive a Coast Guard boat and become part of a simulated mass-casualty exercise. Officials want the trip to be as "hands-on" as possible, they said.
Trip planning starts about five months before the conference and includes hundreds of man-hours in preparation. Servicemembers from each of the services volunteer to serve as team leaders for the groups. A handful of other volunteers help round out the efforts.
David Evans, acting director of the Defense Department's Community Relations and Public Liaison office, said this type of conference is critical to giving community leaders an accurate picture of military life.
"The reason it's so important now is we have an entire generation that was not obligated to serve time in the military. They don't have a good idea of what the military is really about except what they see on T.V. So it is critical that we take these leaders out there to see what our military is doing day to day in forward deployed locations," Evans said.
Participants are nominated for the conference by senior military officials or alumni of the program and selected because of their influence. A conference fee paid by the participants covers their costs. This year's group includes doctors, government officials, businessmen and women and educators.
"What we're looking for is a good mix of business leaders, educators, centers of influence in metro areas -- places where there may not be a military installation and we think this might be something that will be worthwhile for them to experience," Evans said.
This is Coast Guard Lt. Sara Wallace's third JCOC to serve as a team leader. She has witnessed the enlightenment that happens as members of the group meet and talk with servicemembers and are able to see what they do in the field, Wallace said.
"By the end of the week the biggest change you see in the participants is just the awe, the wonderment. They can't say enough about the amount that each of the branches of service does. The amount of education they walk away with almost dumbfounds them," she said. And it's not the high-tech equipment that makes the biggest impression either, Wallace said.
"Usually it's just the (servicemembers) themselves. Every time someone goes on this trip they usually walk away impressed with the amount of responsibility that these young men and women are charged with and how much they have to handle," Wallace said.
The trip finishes back here Nov. 11 with a Veterans Day ceremony at the historic National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as the Punchbowl. More than 44,000 U.S. war veterans and family members are buried in the 112-acre cemetery.
CENTCOM Commander Attends Khost Leadership Conference
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - Khost Provincial Governor Arsala Jamal and all 12 of his district sub-governors hosted the first Khost Provincial Leadership Conference here Nov. 3. Also in attendance were Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S Central Command, key leaders of the Afghan national security forces, and leaders from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Khost province is recognized by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and coalition commanders as the "provincial model of success." Khost has accomplished more in the past 10 months than in the previous five years, and that is due to the trust and collaborative efforts of all people living in Khost -- Afghans and coalition forces alike, officials said.
Jamal is leading and training his sub-governors and military leaders at the provincial and district levels to work directly with the people of Khost and in concert with the coalition units who train and live with their Afghan counterparts in all district centers in Khost. This arrangement has made it possible to remove the shackles of the Taliban and criminals and allow development, education, and security to flourish once again in Khost, officials said.
Army Lt. Col. Scott Custer, who commands the International Security Assistance Force unit in Khost, said Jamal wanted to meet with all the key players to help shape and develop the future of Khost. "This is a monumental day for Khost. The purpose of today's meeting is to build upon the strong relations among the central government of Khost province," Custer said. "Providing a forum for the sub-governors to discuss security matters with Governor Jamal and to create the provincial development and security plan for Khost over the next 12 to 24 months ensures continued growth throughout the province.
"Additionally, it provides the sub-governors the opportunity to share their methods of success with their peers and request any additional resources they may need from the governor to reach their goals. The responsibility is on their shoulders to take Khost into the next two years; the leaders and the people of Khost have ownership of their future."
Fallon praised Khost provincial and Afghan security forces leaders for their collaborative efforts and commitment toward building a safer province. He encouraged all Afghans to follow this example. "I've come here to see Khost for the first time," said Fallon, who visits Afghanistan frequently. "I see the security situation as very good. I am very happy with the (development) progress that I see. I am very, very pleased to be in the company of the governor."
When asked why Khost was important to him, Fallon replied, "Khost ... is a great example of good leadership with the governor (and) the sub-governors working closely with the ISAF units to provide security and stability for the people of this area, this province."
The CENTCOM commander added that Khost is the model that all other provinces should aspire to. "I want to encourage the governor and other leaders in the region to continue with the good work because I believe that this is a wonderful example to the whole country of Afghanistan," Fallon said.
Several government and security force leaders said the admiral's visit shows the strategic importance of Khost to the overall security of Afghanistan.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
Nov. 5, 2007 - Khost Provincial Governor Arsala Jamal and all 12 of his district sub-governors hosted the first Khost Provincial Leadership Conference here Nov. 3. Also in attendance were Navy Adm. William J. Fallon, commander of U.S Central Command, key leaders of the Afghan national security forces, and leaders from 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Khost province is recognized by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and coalition commanders as the "provincial model of success." Khost has accomplished more in the past 10 months than in the previous five years, and that is due to the trust and collaborative efforts of all people living in Khost -- Afghans and coalition forces alike, officials said.
Jamal is leading and training his sub-governors and military leaders at the provincial and district levels to work directly with the people of Khost and in concert with the coalition units who train and live with their Afghan counterparts in all district centers in Khost. This arrangement has made it possible to remove the shackles of the Taliban and criminals and allow development, education, and security to flourish once again in Khost, officials said.
Army Lt. Col. Scott Custer, who commands the International Security Assistance Force unit in Khost, said Jamal wanted to meet with all the key players to help shape and develop the future of Khost. "This is a monumental day for Khost. The purpose of today's meeting is to build upon the strong relations among the central government of Khost province," Custer said. "Providing a forum for the sub-governors to discuss security matters with Governor Jamal and to create the provincial development and security plan for Khost over the next 12 to 24 months ensures continued growth throughout the province.
"Additionally, it provides the sub-governors the opportunity to share their methods of success with their peers and request any additional resources they may need from the governor to reach their goals. The responsibility is on their shoulders to take Khost into the next two years; the leaders and the people of Khost have ownership of their future."
Fallon praised Khost provincial and Afghan security forces leaders for their collaborative efforts and commitment toward building a safer province. He encouraged all Afghans to follow this example. "I've come here to see Khost for the first time," said Fallon, who visits Afghanistan frequently. "I see the security situation as very good. I am very happy with the (development) progress that I see. I am very, very pleased to be in the company of the governor."
When asked why Khost was important to him, Fallon replied, "Khost ... is a great example of good leadership with the governor (and) the sub-governors working closely with the ISAF units to provide security and stability for the people of this area, this province."
The CENTCOM commander added that Khost is the model that all other provinces should aspire to. "I want to encourage the governor and other leaders in the region to continue with the good work because I believe that this is a wonderful example to the whole country of Afghanistan," Fallon said.
Several government and security force leaders said the admiral's visit shows the strategic importance of Khost to the overall security of Afghanistan.
(From a Combined Joint Task Force 82 news release.)
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
NOMINATION SEASON OPEN FOR 2008 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD
National Guard and Reserve members and families encouraged to nominate supportive employers
The Department of Defense has opened the nomination season for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate employers who have gone above and beyond in their support of military employees. Nominations will be accepted at www.esgr.mil from November 1, 2007 to January 21, 2008. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the U.S. Government’s highest recognition given to outstanding employers.
The 2008 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 13th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 18, 2008. Recipients of the 2007 Freedom Award met with President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; Vice Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress and senior government and military officials.
Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have provided full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and even home and lawn care to families of employees fulfilling their military obligation.
The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.
ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through informal mediation.
Previous Freedom Award recipients have included such large businesses as General Motors, Starbucks, Home Depot, American Express, Sears, General Electric, DuPont, and United Parcel Service; state and local governments, including the State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and small businesses including the family owned Augustine & Sons farm in Rose Hill, IA and Turbocam International.
For questions regarding the nomination process, please contact Commander Craig Kujawa at 703.696.1386 x514.
The Department of Defense has opened the nomination season for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guard and Reserve members and their families are eligible and encouraged to nominate employers who have gone above and beyond in their support of military employees. Nominations will be accepted at www.esgr.mil from November 1, 2007 to January 21, 2008. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the U.S. Government’s highest recognition given to outstanding employers.
The 2008 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 13th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 18, 2008. Recipients of the 2007 Freedom Award met with President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; Vice Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress and senior government and military officials.
Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Past recipients of the Freedom Award have provided full salary, continuation of benefits, care packages and even home and lawn care to families of employees fulfilling their military obligation.
The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) to recognize exceptional support from the employer community.
ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through informal mediation.
Previous Freedom Award recipients have included such large businesses as General Motors, Starbucks, Home Depot, American Express, Sears, General Electric, DuPont, and United Parcel Service; state and local governments, including the State of Tennessee and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and small businesses including the family owned Augustine & Sons farm in Rose Hill, IA and Turbocam International.
For questions regarding the nomination process, please contact Commander Craig Kujawa at 703.696.1386 x514.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Gates Encouraged by Tenor of Meetings with Chinese
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - A delegation of U.S. defense officials led by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was impressed with and encouraged by their Chinese counterparts here today. The tenor of the talks was the most encouraging development, senior defense officials said on background. "What was most important was that we had good, substantive talks on broad strategic themes and also some real concrete accomplishments," a senior official said.
The defense secretary had a busy day. The Chinese extended an official welcome to Gates at the Ba Yi Building, the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense. Gates then met with the Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan. He left there to meet with Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo. Following that, he returned to the Ba Yi Building for a meeting with Gen. Xu Caihou, the new vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and then with Gen. Guo Boxiong, the senior vice chairman of the commission.
"The overall tone and business-like effectiveness of the meetings were most important to us," the senior defense official said. "I was surprised by how interactive it was, how forthcoming the Chinese interlocutors were. These tend to be pretty scripted and a little turgid, but not today."
The meetings were an exchange of ideas and ways of thinking, officials said, adding that they were not meetings to twist arms or gain some advantage. No positions on either side were changed, but the quality of the discussions pointed to a new, more mature manner of exchanging military ideas.
The exchanges on Iran were a good measure of that, officials said. Both the United States and China oppose a nuclear-armed Iran. "(Both countries') position on Iran is that they prefer negotiations to conflict; they prefer negotiations to sanctions; they prefer negotiations and discussions," a senior U.S. official said. "They talked about why, and they talked about some of their analysis of the internal situation in Iran, and we had an exchange of views on that."
The Defense Department team told the Chinese that the United States thinks China and the rest of the international community need to apply economic pressure to get Iran to move forward. While the Chinese delegation didn't rule out economic sanctions on Iran, they didn't rush to agree with them. Still, U.S. officials said the U.S. delegation could understand the Chinese line of thought and how they arrived at the position they did. It was a form of transparency that U.S. officials have wanted China to adopt.
China is trying to develop energy security for the country's large and growing energy needs by dealing with Iran. "We pointed out to them that if Iran develops nuclear weapons it will destabilize the region and therefore destabilize your energy source," a senior defense official said. "A nuclear-armed Iran is something that neither we nor the Chinese are prepared to accept."
The parties made significant progress regarding a telephone link between the two countries' defense establishments. The talks today built on recent technical discussions at lower levels, and when those talks finish, the link will be installed. The direct link is a very big deal in China, as the country has never had such a link with even their closest allies in the past. Officials on both sides said the link will go far in helping eliminating misunderstandings and miscalculations.
The talks also looked at nuclear issues. "We're interested in having a better look at and understanding of their doctrine, their strategy, their force structure, how they see the use of nuclear forces, and also doing the same thing with them from our perspective," an official said. "It would be a real dialogue.
"We're not looking for all the details and secrets; we're looking for things that will give greater strategic stability," the official continued.
The next step is to get these talks on the agenda of the defense consultative talks that U.S. officials will have with the Chinese in the next month.
There also was progress on expanding bilateral exercises – especially naval exercises. In the past year, U.S. and Chinese ships held two combat search-and-rescue exercises, one off the coast of the United States and one off the coast of China. "We've agreed to do a more complicated naval exercise," an official said. "We've agreed to step it up, but how complex it will be remains to be agreed."
Officials expect the exercise will have more ships, helicopters and aircraft participating, but the scenario has not been scripted yet.
The Chinese discussed relations with Taiwan and told the Americans that they are concerned about Taiwanese activism toward independence. "There was not a lot new there," the official said, "but we do understand their concern."
Gates' discussions continue tomorrow when he will travel to the Great Hall of the People and meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Officials said they hope more progress can be made on Iran. "We hope that on Iran we would get a stronger understand of the importance of using all tools of diplomacy -- not just discussions, but sanctions and pressure, because just talking hasn't gotten us very far with Iran," the official said.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 5, 2007 - A delegation of U.S. defense officials led by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was impressed with and encouraged by their Chinese counterparts here today. The tenor of the talks was the most encouraging development, senior defense officials said on background. "What was most important was that we had good, substantive talks on broad strategic themes and also some real concrete accomplishments," a senior official said.
The defense secretary had a busy day. The Chinese extended an official welcome to Gates at the Ba Yi Building, the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense. Gates then met with the Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan. He left there to meet with Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo. Following that, he returned to the Ba Yi Building for a meeting with Gen. Xu Caihou, the new vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and then with Gen. Guo Boxiong, the senior vice chairman of the commission.
"The overall tone and business-like effectiveness of the meetings were most important to us," the senior defense official said. "I was surprised by how interactive it was, how forthcoming the Chinese interlocutors were. These tend to be pretty scripted and a little turgid, but not today."
The meetings were an exchange of ideas and ways of thinking, officials said, adding that they were not meetings to twist arms or gain some advantage. No positions on either side were changed, but the quality of the discussions pointed to a new, more mature manner of exchanging military ideas.
The exchanges on Iran were a good measure of that, officials said. Both the United States and China oppose a nuclear-armed Iran. "(Both countries') position on Iran is that they prefer negotiations to conflict; they prefer negotiations to sanctions; they prefer negotiations and discussions," a senior U.S. official said. "They talked about why, and they talked about some of their analysis of the internal situation in Iran, and we had an exchange of views on that."
The Defense Department team told the Chinese that the United States thinks China and the rest of the international community need to apply economic pressure to get Iran to move forward. While the Chinese delegation didn't rule out economic sanctions on Iran, they didn't rush to agree with them. Still, U.S. officials said the U.S. delegation could understand the Chinese line of thought and how they arrived at the position they did. It was a form of transparency that U.S. officials have wanted China to adopt.
China is trying to develop energy security for the country's large and growing energy needs by dealing with Iran. "We pointed out to them that if Iran develops nuclear weapons it will destabilize the region and therefore destabilize your energy source," a senior defense official said. "A nuclear-armed Iran is something that neither we nor the Chinese are prepared to accept."
The parties made significant progress regarding a telephone link between the two countries' defense establishments. The talks today built on recent technical discussions at lower levels, and when those talks finish, the link will be installed. The direct link is a very big deal in China, as the country has never had such a link with even their closest allies in the past. Officials on both sides said the link will go far in helping eliminating misunderstandings and miscalculations.
The talks also looked at nuclear issues. "We're interested in having a better look at and understanding of their doctrine, their strategy, their force structure, how they see the use of nuclear forces, and also doing the same thing with them from our perspective," an official said. "It would be a real dialogue.
"We're not looking for all the details and secrets; we're looking for things that will give greater strategic stability," the official continued.
The next step is to get these talks on the agenda of the defense consultative talks that U.S. officials will have with the Chinese in the next month.
There also was progress on expanding bilateral exercises – especially naval exercises. In the past year, U.S. and Chinese ships held two combat search-and-rescue exercises, one off the coast of the United States and one off the coast of China. "We've agreed to do a more complicated naval exercise," an official said. "We've agreed to step it up, but how complex it will be remains to be agreed."
Officials expect the exercise will have more ships, helicopters and aircraft participating, but the scenario has not been scripted yet.
The Chinese discussed relations with Taiwan and told the Americans that they are concerned about Taiwanese activism toward independence. "There was not a lot new there," the official said, "but we do understand their concern."
Gates' discussions continue tomorrow when he will travel to the Great Hall of the People and meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Officials said they hope more progress can be made on Iran. "We hope that on Iran we would get a stronger understand of the importance of using all tools of diplomacy -- not just discussions, but sanctions and pressure, because just talking hasn't gotten us very far with Iran," the official said.
Guide to Understanding and Surviving Terrorism
On September 18, 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the United States Marine Corps published “The Individual’s Guide for Understanding and Surviving Terrorism.” This 138 page document outlines terrorism and terrorist incidents. It provides the reader with information on detecting terrorists, including practical tactics for detecting surveillance and general information on protection through awareness.
The guide also provides information on what to expect if taken hostage and offers advice on how a hostage should conduct themselves during hostage taking, imprisonment and rescue
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE
http://www.hitechcj.com/homelandsecurity/usmc_terrorism.html
The guide also provides information on what to expect if taken hostage and offers advice on how a hostage should conduct themselves during hostage taking, imprisonment and rescue
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE
http://www.hitechcj.com/homelandsecurity/usmc_terrorism.html
Gates Arrives in China for Meetings With Leaders
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 4, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today for meetings with Chinese civilian and military leaders. Gates and his delegation will discuss a full range of regional and global issues. Senior defense officials speaking on background said the secretary will stress moves the Chinese can make to reassure northeast Asian nations of their military intentions.
China has significantly increased its military budget, upping it $44 billion, and U.S. officials said they would like more details on Chinese military strategy.
"Building military capabilities is fine, but it would serve the interests of peace if they would say how they expect to use these capabilities," the official said. "We would like to encourage the Chinese to be more transparent."
The American delegations will seek more military exercises, more exchanges of military students and leaders and just more military-to-military contacts at all levels.
Gates is prepared to speak with the Chinese about Iranian nuclear ambitions, moves with North Korea and the war on terror. The U.S. delegation expects the Chinese to bring up Taiwan -- especially with the independence referendum on the ballot soon. President Bush has said the United States is against independence for the island nation.
Gates will spend two days in China then move to Korea for consultative talks. He ends his Asian trip with a stop in Japan for talks with civilian and military leaders.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 4, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today for meetings with Chinese civilian and military leaders. Gates and his delegation will discuss a full range of regional and global issues. Senior defense officials speaking on background said the secretary will stress moves the Chinese can make to reassure northeast Asian nations of their military intentions.
China has significantly increased its military budget, upping it $44 billion, and U.S. officials said they would like more details on Chinese military strategy.
"Building military capabilities is fine, but it would serve the interests of peace if they would say how they expect to use these capabilities," the official said. "We would like to encourage the Chinese to be more transparent."
The American delegations will seek more military exercises, more exchanges of military students and leaders and just more military-to-military contacts at all levels.
Gates is prepared to speak with the Chinese about Iranian nuclear ambitions, moves with North Korea and the war on terror. The U.S. delegation expects the Chinese to bring up Taiwan -- especially with the independence referendum on the ballot soon. President Bush has said the United States is against independence for the island nation.
Gates will spend two days in China then move to Korea for consultative talks. He ends his Asian trip with a stop in Japan for talks with civilian and military leaders.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Gates Seeks to Bolster Defense Relationships in Asia
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 3, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to China, Korea and Japan over the next six days in an effort to bolster U.S. defense relationships with those countries. Japan and the Republic of Korea are treaty allies of the United States, but China – an emerging world power – requires different handling, a senior defense official said yesterday, speaking on background.
"We've made a lot of progress (with China) over the past several years, and we want to do that," the official said. At the same time, Gates will communicate to Chinese leaders several areas of concern the United States has with the country.
Those areas are broadly listed as openness, transparency and understanding, the official said. The strategic intentions behind their defense policy, the military capabilities they are developing, the way they plan and think about military matters are "opaque," he said.
The Chinese defense budget jumped almost 18 percent in the most recent year to approximately $44 billion. This is what Chinese leaders have chosen to release to the public. The number may be much higher, said U.S. defense officials.
Critics in the United States see this as a sign of an aggressive China seeking hegemony first in Asia and then the world.
The lack of clarity has a potential to be destabilizing for East Asia and the rest of the world. China has not communicated the scope, the purpose or the scale of their military build up.
"It's not that we're looking at every tiny detail of every weapon system that they buy, but it's what is the role they plan to play in the world; how do they plan to play it; and especially what does their military build-up mean to us and the rest of the region," the official said.
There are certain areas in every country's military that are legitimately secret. "We're not asking for their secrets, but we're asking for information that will make us both more secure and the region more secure," the official said.
The Chinese anti-satellite test in January is a case in point. The test came out of the blue to U.S. and world leaders, he said.
"We're still looking for the kind of response from the Chinese that really helps us understand why they did it, what's the purpose to the capabilities they are developing and what their next steps are going to do," he said. "It's also unclear if the Chinese understand the kinds and levels of concern that we and other space-faring countries have (with the anti-satellite test)."
Gates will be the most senior U.S. official to meet with Chinese leaders since the 17th Communist Party Congress – "their version of an election" – was held in October, and the meetings will give him a change to gauge China's new leaders, the official said.
Gates would like to see a final agreement on the Defense Telephone Link between the Pentagon and counterparts in Beijing. This is a dedicated hot line that would allow U.S. and Chinese could use in the event of crises. The link is important both substantively and symbolically, the official said.
The American defense secretary is prepared to discuss a full range of important issues from Iran's nuclear program to steps in dismantling North Korea's reactors to concerns about cyber-security, the official said.
The Chinese will talk to Gates about Taiwan, the official said. Publicly, the Chinese are concerned about the up-coming referendum in Taiwan – which the United States also opposes. The U.S. position on Taiwan and reunification with China has not changed. U.S. actions in regard to Taiwan are governed by the One China Policy based on the Three Communiqués between the United States and China, the Taiwan Relations Act and a sincere desire to see reunification done in a peaceful manner.
In Korea, Gates will discuss progress on the peninsula, and continued Korean support for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The South Korean military has engineers and other troops in and around Irbil, Iraq. Coalition officials in Iraq said that the Koreans have added greatly to the security of the region.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban kidnapping of Korean Christians over the summer complicates the picture. The official said that the military alliance between Korea and the United States has gotten much stronger, and "the meeting should serve to acknowledge and strengthen the already excellent military relationships."
In Japan, Gates will discuss U.S.-Japan Defense Treaty realignment and host-nation support to U.S. troops based in the nation. He is also prepared to discuss Japanese support to the war on terror. The Japanese ended their most visible support by recalling oil tankers that refueled coalition vessels engaged in operations in the Indian Ocean.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 3, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will travel to China, Korea and Japan over the next six days in an effort to bolster U.S. defense relationships with those countries. Japan and the Republic of Korea are treaty allies of the United States, but China – an emerging world power – requires different handling, a senior defense official said yesterday, speaking on background.
"We've made a lot of progress (with China) over the past several years, and we want to do that," the official said. At the same time, Gates will communicate to Chinese leaders several areas of concern the United States has with the country.
Those areas are broadly listed as openness, transparency and understanding, the official said. The strategic intentions behind their defense policy, the military capabilities they are developing, the way they plan and think about military matters are "opaque," he said.
The Chinese defense budget jumped almost 18 percent in the most recent year to approximately $44 billion. This is what Chinese leaders have chosen to release to the public. The number may be much higher, said U.S. defense officials.
Critics in the United States see this as a sign of an aggressive China seeking hegemony first in Asia and then the world.
The lack of clarity has a potential to be destabilizing for East Asia and the rest of the world. China has not communicated the scope, the purpose or the scale of their military build up.
"It's not that we're looking at every tiny detail of every weapon system that they buy, but it's what is the role they plan to play in the world; how do they plan to play it; and especially what does their military build-up mean to us and the rest of the region," the official said.
There are certain areas in every country's military that are legitimately secret. "We're not asking for their secrets, but we're asking for information that will make us both more secure and the region more secure," the official said.
The Chinese anti-satellite test in January is a case in point. The test came out of the blue to U.S. and world leaders, he said.
"We're still looking for the kind of response from the Chinese that really helps us understand why they did it, what's the purpose to the capabilities they are developing and what their next steps are going to do," he said. "It's also unclear if the Chinese understand the kinds and levels of concern that we and other space-faring countries have (with the anti-satellite test)."
Gates will be the most senior U.S. official to meet with Chinese leaders since the 17th Communist Party Congress – "their version of an election" – was held in October, and the meetings will give him a change to gauge China's new leaders, the official said.
Gates would like to see a final agreement on the Defense Telephone Link between the Pentagon and counterparts in Beijing. This is a dedicated hot line that would allow U.S. and Chinese could use in the event of crises. The link is important both substantively and symbolically, the official said.
The American defense secretary is prepared to discuss a full range of important issues from Iran's nuclear program to steps in dismantling North Korea's reactors to concerns about cyber-security, the official said.
The Chinese will talk to Gates about Taiwan, the official said. Publicly, the Chinese are concerned about the up-coming referendum in Taiwan – which the United States also opposes. The U.S. position on Taiwan and reunification with China has not changed. U.S. actions in regard to Taiwan are governed by the One China Policy based on the Three Communiqués between the United States and China, the Taiwan Relations Act and a sincere desire to see reunification done in a peaceful manner.
In Korea, Gates will discuss progress on the peninsula, and continued Korean support for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The South Korean military has engineers and other troops in and around Irbil, Iraq. Coalition officials in Iraq said that the Koreans have added greatly to the security of the region.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban kidnapping of Korean Christians over the summer complicates the picture. The official said that the military alliance between Korea and the United States has gotten much stronger, and "the meeting should serve to acknowledge and strengthen the already excellent military relationships."
In Japan, Gates will discuss U.S.-Japan Defense Treaty realignment and host-nation support to U.S. troops based in the nation. He is also prepared to discuss Japanese support to the war on terror. The Japanese ended their most visible support by recalling oil tankers that refueled coalition vessels engaged in operations in the Indian Ocean.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Gates Honors Military Women During Memorial Celebration
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 3, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today paid tribute to women who have answered America's call to duty since the nation's founding during the Women in Military Service for America Memorial's 10th anniversary celebration here. Located here at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the memorial is the only major national monument dedicated to all women who have defended America from the Revolutionary War through current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The memorial was dedicated Oct. 18, 1997, and opened to the public on October 20, 1997.
Gates, who served as the celebration's keynote speaker, said that women's military role has expanded since the memorial's dedication a decade ago.
"Consider that in 1997, when the memorial was new, few women staffed the crews of aircraft carriers. It is routine now," he told several hundred audience members gathered near the memorial's 30-foot high curved entrance.
"In 1997, women were new at training to be fighter pilots. Within weeks of September 11, 2001, female pilots were in the skies above Afghanistan – a reality that must have been a grim and galling surprise for the Taliban, who would not let a woman drive, educate herself, or even walk down a public street unescorted," Gates said as the crowed cheered boisterously.
"In every war and in every generation, American women have served the cause of freedom, going all the way back to the Revolution," Gates said of the roughly 2.5 million women who have served in the U.S. military. "A good deal has happened since the memorial went up ... (but) what has not changed is our respect for women throughout history who have stepped forward in defense of their families, their communities, and their country."
The secretary said women have "shared in the burdens and the tragedies of war," noting that nearly 100 women have been killed, and more than 550 wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Dawn Halfaker, a retired Army captain injured in Iraq, was one of seven female servicemembers who addressed the audience during a portion of the ceremony called "Voices of the Women." A rocket-propelled grenade severely wounded Halfaker in 2004 while she was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division.
Speaking on behalf of female servicemembers wounded in current U.S. operations, Halfaker told the hundreds of former female military members in the audience that the women of her generation are inspired by their great example.
Other women servicemembers joining Halfaker onstage were Lorraine S. Dieterle, a former member of the Coast Guard who photographed the Victory in Japan Day celebration in New York City's Times Square, and who helped establish the women's memorial, and Marsha L. Four, who served in the 18th Surgical Hospital in Vietnam as an intensive care nurse with the Army Nurse Corps.
Navy Capt. Maggie L. Richard, a 22-year veteran nurse, Air Force Brig. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, Air Force director of public affairs, and Lance Cpl. Sona P. Babani, a native Iraqi turned U.S. citizen, represented the other "Voices of Women" speakers. The niece of Esther P. Corcoran, a 101 year-old who was one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, and who fell ill before today's ceremony, addressed the crowed on her aunt's behalf.
Gordon H. Mansfield, acting secretary of Veterans Affairs, said the Women's Memorial reminds the country that equality in America was forged in large part by the courage and perseverance of military women.
"Today, in this time of war, Americans know and understand that women in uniform are and have been, a vital part of our national defense," he said. "Every day, American service women are putting their lives on the battle line.
"And because of that fact," he continued, "there is no question that they have earned and deserve our nation's honor, respect and gratitude."
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 3, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today paid tribute to women who have answered America's call to duty since the nation's founding during the Women in Military Service for America Memorial's 10th anniversary celebration here. Located here at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the memorial is the only major national monument dedicated to all women who have defended America from the Revolutionary War through current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The memorial was dedicated Oct. 18, 1997, and opened to the public on October 20, 1997.
Gates, who served as the celebration's keynote speaker, said that women's military role has expanded since the memorial's dedication a decade ago.
"Consider that in 1997, when the memorial was new, few women staffed the crews of aircraft carriers. It is routine now," he told several hundred audience members gathered near the memorial's 30-foot high curved entrance.
"In 1997, women were new at training to be fighter pilots. Within weeks of September 11, 2001, female pilots were in the skies above Afghanistan – a reality that must have been a grim and galling surprise for the Taliban, who would not let a woman drive, educate herself, or even walk down a public street unescorted," Gates said as the crowed cheered boisterously.
"In every war and in every generation, American women have served the cause of freedom, going all the way back to the Revolution," Gates said of the roughly 2.5 million women who have served in the U.S. military. "A good deal has happened since the memorial went up ... (but) what has not changed is our respect for women throughout history who have stepped forward in defense of their families, their communities, and their country."
The secretary said women have "shared in the burdens and the tragedies of war," noting that nearly 100 women have been killed, and more than 550 wounded in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Dawn Halfaker, a retired Army captain injured in Iraq, was one of seven female servicemembers who addressed the audience during a portion of the ceremony called "Voices of the Women." A rocket-propelled grenade severely wounded Halfaker in 2004 while she was deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division.
Speaking on behalf of female servicemembers wounded in current U.S. operations, Halfaker told the hundreds of former female military members in the audience that the women of her generation are inspired by their great example.
Other women servicemembers joining Halfaker onstage were Lorraine S. Dieterle, a former member of the Coast Guard who photographed the Victory in Japan Day celebration in New York City's Times Square, and who helped establish the women's memorial, and Marsha L. Four, who served in the 18th Surgical Hospital in Vietnam as an intensive care nurse with the Army Nurse Corps.
Navy Capt. Maggie L. Richard, a 22-year veteran nurse, Air Force Brig. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, Air Force director of public affairs, and Lance Cpl. Sona P. Babani, a native Iraqi turned U.S. citizen, represented the other "Voices of Women" speakers. The niece of Esther P. Corcoran, a 101 year-old who was one of the highest-ranking female officers in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps, and who fell ill before today's ceremony, addressed the crowed on her aunt's behalf.
Gordon H. Mansfield, acting secretary of Veterans Affairs, said the Women's Memorial reminds the country that equality in America was forged in large part by the courage and perseverance of military women.
"Today, in this time of war, Americans know and understand that women in uniform are and have been, a vital part of our national defense," he said. "Every day, American service women are putting their lives on the battle line.
"And because of that fact," he continued, "there is no question that they have earned and deserve our nation's honor, respect and gratitude."
Becoming A Cop - The Blue And You
A police officer's world is populated by unsavory characters, regulated by laws, regulations and policies, and powered by spikes of adrenalin. A police officer's life is a balance between work and home, like every working person, but an officer's work is more than just their job—it is also who they are.
The uniform, badge and gear may come off when an officer reaches home, but the authority, sense of duty and commitment to community can never be laid aside. The training and dedication every officer carries with them is, and must be, ready to be put into action at a moment's notice—whether the officer is on duty or at home sipping a cool drink and grilling steaks.
READ ON
www.police-writers.com/becoming_a_cop.html
The uniform, badge and gear may come off when an officer reaches home, but the authority, sense of duty and commitment to community can never be laid aside. The training and dedication every officer carries with them is, and must be, ready to be put into action at a moment's notice—whether the officer is on duty or at home sipping a cool drink and grilling steaks.
READ ON
www.police-writers.com/becoming_a_cop.html
Mullen Discusses Initiatives, Progress in First Podcast
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 3, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on progress in his three initiatives yesterday during an interview for his first "podcast" as chairman. Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen had done regular podcasts when he served as Chief of Naval Operations and said he plans on continuing the practice as chairman. He assumed the position Oct. 1.
Developing a military strategy for the Middle East is top priority, Mullen said, and the United States has clear vital national interests in stability in the region.
"That is clearly a part of the world that needs our continued focus," the chairman said.
"It's very important that we continue to focus on Iraq and Afghanistan, but it's larger than that," Mullen said. "Certainly there are significant challenges being continuously raised by Iran. There is this concerted effort on the part of our government to work the Israeli-Palestinian issue. We've had some challenges with Syria."
The chairman said any strategy for the region must encourage the moderate countries in the region and strengthen the important friends the country has in the Persian Gulf.
"The idea is to have a military strategy across the full capabilities that we have and to do so in a way to stabilize that part of the world," he said.
The chairman's second priority is to reset, revitalize and reconstitute U.S. armed forces – especially the Army and Marine Corps. The ground forces have been "very pressed" since September 11, 2001 and they will continue to be worked hard for the foreseeable future, he said.
The chairman said he will look for ways to relieve the stress the forces face. While people are paramount, there are other considerations, he said.
"It's not just about people," he said. "It's about training and equipping now, and in the future as well. So when I talk reset, revitalize and reconstitute I want to talk and focus on all three of those aspects: people, training and equipment."
The military cannot concentrate on the Middle East and Central Asia to the exclusion of the rest of the world, Mullen said. The military needs to "balance or re-balance" the risks worldwide. The U.S. military has challenges and responsibilities worldwide.
"I want to look to balance these risks given the commitments we have and the challenging world that we're living in," he said.
The first trip the chairman took was to Iraq and Afghanistan. He said it was important to him that those were his first destinations.
"I found our troops just performing magnificently with good morale," he said. "(They were) carrying out their missions with great pride, making a difference. Yet they are tired."
The chairman met troops in the 14th month of a 15-month deployment.
"I can't overstate how great they've been in carrying out the mission they've been asked to do," he said. He said the 15-month deployments are long. Most of the soldiers will have a dwell-time at home for a year and then will go back to a combat zone. "I believe, we've got to move from this 15-month deployment and 12 months back to 12-month deployments and 15 months back, as soon as possible," he said.
The chairman also traveled Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Riley, Kan., to meet with soldiers, especially mid-level NCOs and officers.
"They are looking for a break. They want to spend time with their families. They love what they're doing, yet they have long-term concerns as to whether this is the right career path for them," the chairman said. "I tell them this is the most combat-hardened force that we have ever had. They are so valuable. They are the seeds for getting our Army and Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force right for the future."
Mullen said he wants servicemembers to know that Defense Department leaders understand and acknowledge these problems and challenges exist, "and we're doing a lot to work on them to solve them, to get it right for their future so that we get it right for the future of our armed forces."
Families are a continued focus for Mullen and other military leaders.
"We have to take into consideration families' needs when we move people around or we don't move people around," he said. "We have to give them more stability."
The military needs to provide more stability and more predictability, "as best we can do that in what is a pretty unpredictable world," Mullen said. "We have to take families into account as we make career decisions about where we move soldiers. So many young officers I spoke to last week in Fort Riley and Sill had moved several times. That's tough for the families."
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 3, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on progress in his three initiatives yesterday during an interview for his first "podcast" as chairman. Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen had done regular podcasts when he served as Chief of Naval Operations and said he plans on continuing the practice as chairman. He assumed the position Oct. 1.
Developing a military strategy for the Middle East is top priority, Mullen said, and the United States has clear vital national interests in stability in the region.
"That is clearly a part of the world that needs our continued focus," the chairman said.
"It's very important that we continue to focus on Iraq and Afghanistan, but it's larger than that," Mullen said. "Certainly there are significant challenges being continuously raised by Iran. There is this concerted effort on the part of our government to work the Israeli-Palestinian issue. We've had some challenges with Syria."
The chairman said any strategy for the region must encourage the moderate countries in the region and strengthen the important friends the country has in the Persian Gulf.
"The idea is to have a military strategy across the full capabilities that we have and to do so in a way to stabilize that part of the world," he said.
The chairman's second priority is to reset, revitalize and reconstitute U.S. armed forces – especially the Army and Marine Corps. The ground forces have been "very pressed" since September 11, 2001 and they will continue to be worked hard for the foreseeable future, he said.
The chairman said he will look for ways to relieve the stress the forces face. While people are paramount, there are other considerations, he said.
"It's not just about people," he said. "It's about training and equipping now, and in the future as well. So when I talk reset, revitalize and reconstitute I want to talk and focus on all three of those aspects: people, training and equipment."
The military cannot concentrate on the Middle East and Central Asia to the exclusion of the rest of the world, Mullen said. The military needs to "balance or re-balance" the risks worldwide. The U.S. military has challenges and responsibilities worldwide.
"I want to look to balance these risks given the commitments we have and the challenging world that we're living in," he said.
The first trip the chairman took was to Iraq and Afghanistan. He said it was important to him that those were his first destinations.
"I found our troops just performing magnificently with good morale," he said. "(They were) carrying out their missions with great pride, making a difference. Yet they are tired."
The chairman met troops in the 14th month of a 15-month deployment.
"I can't overstate how great they've been in carrying out the mission they've been asked to do," he said. He said the 15-month deployments are long. Most of the soldiers will have a dwell-time at home for a year and then will go back to a combat zone. "I believe, we've got to move from this 15-month deployment and 12 months back to 12-month deployments and 15 months back, as soon as possible," he said.
The chairman also traveled Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Riley, Kan., to meet with soldiers, especially mid-level NCOs and officers.
"They are looking for a break. They want to spend time with their families. They love what they're doing, yet they have long-term concerns as to whether this is the right career path for them," the chairman said. "I tell them this is the most combat-hardened force that we have ever had. They are so valuable. They are the seeds for getting our Army and Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force right for the future."
Mullen said he wants servicemembers to know that Defense Department leaders understand and acknowledge these problems and challenges exist, "and we're doing a lot to work on them to solve them, to get it right for their future so that we get it right for the future of our armed forces."
Families are a continued focus for Mullen and other military leaders.
"We have to take into consideration families' needs when we move people around or we don't move people around," he said. "We have to give them more stability."
The military needs to provide more stability and more predictability, "as best we can do that in what is a pretty unpredictable world," Mullen said. "We have to take families into account as we make career decisions about where we move soldiers. So many young officers I spoke to last week in Fort Riley and Sill had moved several times. That's tough for the families."
When Your Child is Missing: A Family Survival Guide.
What do to if your Child is Missing provides parents with the most current information on, and helpful insights into, what families should do when a child is missing. The first edition of this Guide was written in 1998 by parents and family members who have experienced the disappearance of a child. It contains their combined advice concerning what to expect when a child is missing, what needs to be done, and where to go for help. It explains the role that various agencies and organizations play in the search for a missing child and discusses some of the important issues that need to be considered. The Guide is divided into seven chapters, each of which is structured to allow information to be found quickly and easily. Each chapter explains both the short- and long-term issues and contains a checklist and chapter summary for later reference. A list of recommended readings and a list of public and private resources appear at the back of the Guide. This third edition of the Guide was published in 2004.
DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL
http://www.hitechcj.com/missing_child.html
DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL
http://www.hitechcj.com/missing_child.html
Military Legal Resources
The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center & School Library in Charlottesville, VA, holds extensive collections of primary source materials and publications in the field of military law. Selections from these collections are now being made accessible in full text PDF versions via the Library of Congress Federal Research Division (FRD) Web site. As more materials are converted to digital formats, they will be added to this page. Samples of the currently available, downloadable, documents are: Operational Law Handbook, 2007; Geneva Conventions; The Army Lawyer (1971-2007); War Crimes Trials Materials; Army JAG Corps Historical Monographs; Military Law Review (1958-2007); Manuals for Courts-Martial; UCMJ Legislative History; U.S. Army TJAGLCS: Selected Theses; U.S. Army Field Manuals; Ethics Handbook for Army Leaders; Army Regulations; and, Military Law Historical Monographs, Studies, Texts and Treatises.
You can access this material at:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/military-legal-resources-home.html
You can access this material at:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/military-legal-resources-home.html
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