America Supports You: Group Builds Custom Home for Wounded Warrior

By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 20, 2007 - A former Army sergeant and his family this month are settling into a brand new house in New Burn, N.C., custom-built to insure his war injuries will not keep him from independent living. "Well, we need the house because Eric is in a wheelchair all the time, so we need it so he can get around the house by himself," said Stephanie Edmundson, wife of Eric Edmundson. The former soldier was wounded by a roadside bomb while riding in a Stryker armored vehicle, Oct. 2, 2005, in Iraq, according to Homes for Our Troops officials, which took on the project for the family. The explosion left Edmundson unable to talk, walk, eat or drink, though he does have the ability to move his legs.

The home features wide doorways, an open architecture without hallways, lower counters, sturdy hand rails and other hardware for accessibility.

"He can move his chair with his feet," she said. "So he can help himself. ... Quality of life is important in having Eric home, being able to be a husband and dad."

More than a dozen businesses in the New Burn area donated building materials, engineering services and labor for the project. In the end, the total cost for Homes for Our Troops was $5,000. Since the project came in so far under budget, another home will be built for another wounded warrior, said John Gonsalves, president of the group.

"This is one of nine homes that we're going to dedicate between now and the end of the year," said Gonsalves.

A key-handover ceremony was held Oct. 6, before the family moved in. A military honor guard and local government officials, residents and business owners gathered to watch the former sergeant's wife sit in his lap so he could carry her over the threshold of their new house.

"They are just an awesome family, the three of them together ... their gratitude," said Donna Russell, who with her husband Bill Russell, own the Kit Corp., which acted as lead contractor for the project. "He just brought things home ... for us, so that we understand the sacrifices that they make every day."

The only visual difference for the suburban home on the outside is a long, gradual ramp system at the entrance. Indoors, hardwood floors, crown molding, tile and marble ensure the house blends in well with nearby homes.

"One of the things I always say about our projects is that they end up being a reflection of the community," said Kirt Rebello, chief project officer at Homes for Our Troops. "And if you look at this house, the community really stepped up."

Donating their resources was not a difficult decision for the local business people, according to Donna Russell.

"It just makes us proud to be able to do something so small to touch their lives to make it a little better," she said.

Air Guard Breaks Ground for Expanded Readiness Center

By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

Nov. 20, 2007 - Officials broke ground here yesterday on a $52 million Air National Guard Readiness Center expansion. When completed, the four-story complex of shining glass and steel will unite the existing ANGRC here with its Air Guard offices in Arlington, Va.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air National Guard director, said the expansion on Andrews reflects new realities in force protection since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The reason we are here today is that, after 9/11, force protection became a major issue, especially in the city," he said. He explained that the Base Realignment and Closure commission moved government offices at risk of terrorist attack away from downtown areas.

An added benefit from the project is that the Air Guard will have all nine of its directorate offices under one roof. The directorates serve the Air Guard's day-to-day operations of 88 flying units and more than 200 geographically-separated units.

"It will give the commander of the ANGRC a chance to have a span of control over all the people that work for him, and it will streamline and make more orderly the process of command," McKinley said.

The centralized ANGRC campus will be occupied by more than 1,100 airmen and federal employees by September 2011. Clarke Construction of Bethesda, Md., has the contract for the expansion.

"It will be one the most sustainable and energy efficient (buildings) that the Air Guard has built to date," said Ben Lawless, chief of the engineering division in the Air Guard's Installation and Mission Support directorate.

Energy-saving features include interior lighting that will adjust automatically with the amount of natural daylight. Storm water will be recycled and filtered through a special drainage system before it's discharged. Air conditioning and heating controls will be located at work stations and fed underneath the floor which, officials said, provides better occupant comfort and energy efficiency.

Officials will have the project certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a nationally-accepted benchmark for green buildings.

"It's going to set the example for energy conservation, which is really important to everyone," said Lawless. "I think it's also going to set the tone for the future of the Air Guard in terms of facilities that can be reconfigured for new occupants and new missions and functions."

Lawless explained that moveable wall partitions will allow occupants to simply reconfigure their office space to meet future mission requirements. Officials also hope to lay out an open working environment that fosters teamwork.

The new building will be landscaped with a variety of native plants and trees, and it will be next to Conaway Hall, the existing ANGRC building.

Conaway Hall opened in 1985 and was renamed in 1991 after retired Lt. Gen. John Conaway. Conaway, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, is a former Air Guard director and chief of the National Guard Bureau. He helped advocate for the ANGRC's original construction. Prior to that, the initial activation of an Air Guard support center was in 1976.

(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith is assigned to the National Guard Bureau.)

Hope Award Recognizes Selfless Service to Servicemembers

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 19, 2007 - The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard each honored one of their own at a Pentagon ceremony today with an award named for actor-comedian Bob Hope. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. hosted the Spirit of Hope Awards ceremony.

The award honors Hope's values of duty, honor, courage, loyalty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication, said Michael Kagin, the award's originator. It recognizes individuals or organizations who have "selflessly contributed an extraordinary amount of time, talent or resources to significantly enhance the quality of life of servicemembers around the world," he said.

Bob Hope traveled the world under the United Service Organizations banner to entertain American servicemembers wherever they were stationed. His first USO show was at March Field, Calif., in 1941, and his last USO tour entertained forces in the Persian Gulf War in 1990. The U.S. Congress recognized Hope at an honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces. He died in 2003, two months after his 100th birthday.

The Army recognized retired Chaplain (Col.) Lyle Metzler for his lifelong contributions. Metzler served two tours in Vietnam as a Special Forces officer. He retired from the military and became a chaplain, where he became dedicated to working with soldiers and their families. In 2005, he volunteered to serve as chaplain for the 145th Medical Battalion and its five associated units as it deployed to Afghanistan. He served as a personal mentor and counselor to several soldiers and their families.

The Navy honored James W. Carrier for his efforts to improve the lives of veterans and for aid to wounded warriors. Carrier helped to raise $40 million for the Center for the Intrepid wounded warrior rehabilitation facility at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and for the Fisher House Foundation, which builds housing so the relatives of wounded servicemembers can visit them as they recover. He also raised money for the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund.

Air Force Master Sgt. Louis D. Pell received the award for a lifetime of outreach to airmen and veterans. Assigned to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Pell coordinated and participated in many volunteer efforts, including blood drives, muscular dystrophy fundraising and reading to elementary school students.

The Marine Corps recognized the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund for its efforts to provide financial assistance to Marines injured in combat or training. With the generosity and support of the American people, the group – founded by Marine spouses around a kitchen table in 2004 – has provided more than $9.4 million in assistance to more than 1,700 servicemembers. One of the group's co-founders – Wendy Lethin – received the award on behalf of the fund.

Coast Guardsman Marvin J. Perrett received his award posthumously. He piloted a Higgins boat in the invasions of Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa during World War II. After the war, he returned to his native New Orleans and became a leader in establishing the National World War II Museum there. Perrett traveled the country telling a new generation the Coast Guard's story.

Casey recalled that Bob Hope received the Sylvanus Thayer Award in 1968 at West Point. In his speech, the comedian said that "living in America is a great privilege. The only thing greater is that wonderful feeling in your heart when you know that you deserve that privilege, that you have paid for your little slice of freedom."

Casey said that much has changed since 1968, when the West Point class was ready to deploy to Vietnam. "We're fighting a different war, we're fighting a different enemy, but what America stands for – life liberty and the pursuit of happiness – has remained constant," Casey said. "And our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families are bearing a heavy burden now after six years of war. (The honorees') efforts are especially worthy of note and recognition. They epitomize the values of Bob Hope."

America Supports You: Americans Send Troops Thanks by the Thousands

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 19, 2007 - Since 6 a.m. Nov. 17, thousands of Americans across the country paused to text a message of gratitude to the nation's servicemembers for their sacrifices through the "Giving Thanks" text messaging program. "It already feels like a terrific, successful campaign, because from the thousands and thousands of messages that have come in already, we're seeing that the American people really just want a chance to say 'Thanks,'" said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, of the America Supports You initiative.

America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

The "Giving Thanks" text messaging initiative, which officially began at 6 a.m. Nov. 17, and ends at midnight PST, Nov. 22, already has received more than 40,000 messages of thanks, according to the tally board on the America Supports You Web site.

"I think we got off to a great start," Barber said, adding that she thinks the desire to thank the troops will spread throughout the public in the coming days. "What you'll see over the next several days is that more and more people will be looking at how to let Americans know how to text message and thank our troops."

That phenomenon began over the weekend with talk of the "Giving Thanks" program at sporting events, on nationwide radio programs and even a Sunday news show. Tim Russert, host of "Meet the Press" encouraged his viewers to text their support to the troops during yesterday's program.

"During this week of Thanksgiving, let our troops know we're thinking about them through the Pentagon's America Supports You program," Russert said. "You can send your message of thanks by texting to 89279."

All of the messages received express the sender's gratitude for the military and the sacrifices the servicemembers are making. Some messages are longer, others are much shorter but just as powerful, like the one from a supporter in Pennsylvania who wrote, "You are heroes of the heart."

Each message like the one from Pennsylvania will receive a response thanking the sender for thinking of the troops this holiday season.

In response to the public outpouring of support, servicemembers have sent in statements of gratitude as well. Most, like the one from Rick, a Marine master sergeant stationed in Iraq, carry the same sentiment; the troops are glad to know they still have support back home.

Rick wrote, "I'd like to thank everyone back home for their continued show of support for those of us deployed around the world. It means a lot knowing that we're not alone over here in Iraq."

Barber said her goal is to give everyone in the country who has the ability to send text messages the opportunity to send in a message like the supporter from Pennsylvania.

"That's a pretty big goal," she said. "If we can find and maximize every opportunity to invite people to text our troops, and to have them invite their friends (to do the same), that'll be success for us."

Major mobile wireless providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, will provide access to the Giving Thanks program.

Bush Counts Troops Among America's Blessings This Thanksgiving

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 19, 2007 - President Bush issued his Thanksgiving greeting today, counting members of the U.S. military among the many blessings Americans have to be thankful for. "Today, the men and women of the United States armed forces are taking risks for our freedom," the president said at historic Berkeley Plantation in Charles City, Va. "They're fighting on the front lines of the war on terror, the war against extremists and radicals who would do us more harm."

Bush noted that many U.S. troops will spend Thanksgiving far away from the comforts of home and expressed thanks for their service and sacrifice, as well as that of their families. "We keep their families and loved ones in our prayers," he said. "We pray for the families who lost a loved one in this fight against the extremists and radicals, and we vow that their sacrifice will not be in vain."

Americans are grateful to live in a time when freedom is taking hold in places where liberty was once considered unimaginable, the president said. He noted that the number of democracies in the world has more than doubled since the early 1980s.

"From our own history, we know these young democracies will face challenges and setbacks in the journey ahead," he said. "Yet as they travel the road to freedom, they must know that they will have a constant and reliable friend in the United States of America."

Bush expressed gratitude for U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines and all other Americans "who serve a cause larger than themselves," from police officers to firefighters to religious leaders to ordinary citizens who become good Samaritans in times of distress.

The president noted America's long tradition of giving thanks during Thanksgiving celebrations. He recalled the first Thanksgiving celebration in the New World, at Berkley in 1619, and the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving after their first harvest in New England.

He also noted times in the nation's history when fighting forces have paused to reflect on all they have to be grateful for. "We remember that George Washington led his men in thanksgiving during the American Revolution," he said. "And we remember that Abraham Lincoln revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a bloody civil war."

The sound of a bugle call first adopted by Union forces at Berkeley during the Civil War serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the freedoms Americans enjoy today, Bush said. "The bugle call has become known as 'Taps.' And when we hear it play, we remember that the freedoms we enjoyed have come at a heavy price."

Gates Earns Prestigious Boy Scouts of America Honor

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 16, 2007 - A local Boy Scouts of America organization recognized Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for his lifelong devotion to scouting during an award ceremony here yesterday. Gates received the "Citizen of the Year" award, bestowed annually by the National Capital Area Council. Since 1968, the council has recognized individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and dedication to community while serving as a role model to the nation's young people.

Gates earned the top rank of Eagle Scout as a youth in his native Kansas. He also received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award before he graduated from high school.

Participation in scouting prepares young people for positions of leadership, instills character, and teaches responsible behavior, Gates observed after receiving his award from former Army and Veterans Affairs secretary Togo D. West Jr., who also is a distinguished Eagle Scout.

"I know that I, personally, learned these lessons first in Boy Scouts, and have used them every step of the journey that led to where I am today," Gates pointed out.

Becoming and excelling as a Boy Scout, Gates said, helped to form his personality and character. Persistence, successful goal-setting and self-discipline -- character traits necessary in earning an Eagle Scout badge -- would well serve the future CIA director and defense secretary in later years.

"That early achievement gave me the confidence to tackle the increasingly complex challenges that I would face later in life," Gates said.

Leadership skills and an understanding of the importance of character and personal responsibility "are three of the most important gifts I've ever received, and I received them from the Boy Scouts of America," he added.

These traits of strong character are demonstrated daily by U.S. servicemembers engaged in the global war on terrorism, Gates said. "I see these attributes displayed by the brave men and women of our armed forces who serve and sacrifice every day in battle against an unrelenting enemy determined to do our country harm," he said.

The United States is presented with unprecedented threats, Gates said, but he added that he's hopeful and optimistic that Americans also "face a world full of unprecedented hope and opportunity."

"Scouting provides the kind of optimistic, confident and skilled young leaders of integrity who will ensure that we fulfill the hope and seize the opportunity," Gates said.

When he became secretary of defense in December 2006, Gates resigned his membership on the Boy Scouts national board and stepped down as president of the National Eagle Scouts Association, a position he'd held since 1996. In 2000, Gates received scouting's prestigious "Silver Buffalo" award for his service to youth on a national level.

Previous "Citizen of the Year" award recipients include a roster of past and present chief executives, including Presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald R. Ford, as well as other distinguished leaders in government and industry.

Bush Thanks Japanese Prime Minister for Support

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 16, 2007 - President Bush thanked Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda today for his nation's support in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. The two men met in the Oval Office and then spoke to the press at the White House. It was the president's first meeting with Fukuda since he became prime minister last month.

Bush said the United States appreciates the contribution that Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force oilers made to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

"Over six years, Japanese vessels refueled ships from 11 coalition nations nearly 800 times," Bush said.

The authorization for the mission ran out Nov. 1, and Fukuda's new government has not been able to get a new authorization. Bush told the prime minister that he appreciates his efforts to extend the refueling mission.

Fukuda told the president he will do his "level best" to get the refueling measure reauthorized.

In addition to refueling efforts, Bush said the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force continues to support coalition efforts in Iraq.

"Japanese planes have flown more than 600 sorties, carrying more than half a million tons of cargo from many nations," the president said. "I appreciate the contribution that the Japanese people are making to help this young democracy."

The two leaders discussed the on-going realignment and transformation of military and self-defense forces.

"Our two nations continue to implement changes in our force posture that will help our alliance meet the challenges of the 21st century," Bush said.

The president said the two leaders would continue to discuss the military realignment with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who himself has just returned from a visit to Japan.

"We'll continue to work together to advance freedom, security and prosperity in our respective regions and beyond," Bush said.

Face of Defense: Fathers, Sons Serve Together in Iraq

By Spc. Christopher Smith, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

Nov. 16, 2007 - Few U.S. servicemembers have the opportunity to deploy with their loved ones, but soldiers of 325th Combat Support Hospital, a unit from Independence, Mo., currently based at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, have two such family relationships within their unit. Maj. David Clark and his son, Sgt. Michael Clark, both natives of Manchester, Conn., deployed to Iraq together with the 325th CSH. The Clark family has a long tradition of military service stretching over three generations. This deployment will mark their second tour together, the first being a 10-month deployment to Kuwait with the 405th Field Hospital, a unit from Connecticut.

Sergeant Clark expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside his father during both deployments and recommended that others take advantage of the chance to deploy with family.

"It was nice having your father with you when you had a day off. He is one of the main reasons why I went on this deployment. We are always there for each other," the younger Clark said. "If soldiers have the chance, they should go for it. There's nothing else like it."

Sergeant Clark was introduced to the military lifestyle as a child and decided to enlist in April 2000, directly following graduation from high school. He said his father's influence sparked his desire to join the military service as an operating room specialist.

"I'm glad he has chosen to take his career path at a younger age, and am very proud of what he does and where he wants to go in his life," the elder Clark said.

Major Clark did not serve during the Vietnam War, which partially fueled his decision to join the Army in May 1987. "A lot of my peers were selected to go. Later, I felt the need to give something back," he said.

During Vietnam, Major Clark felt an obligation to his family that precluded him from joining the military, so he postponed his desire to serve until nearly 10 years later, he said.

While the Clarks' influence to join the military came from father to son, the roles were reversed in the father-son team of Army 1st Lt. Robert Hafner and his father, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jamie Turnham, of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 15. Hafner and Turnham are from Independence, Mo.

Hafner enlisted in the Army in February 1995 as a junior in high school. He later convinced his father to join the Navy in November 1997 by telling him of the unique opportunities and experiences in the military.

Hafner and his father also have strong family ties to military service, with multiple other family members serving in the armed forces. Hafner's brother and uncle served in the Army, and both of Turnham's older brothers served in the Navy.

On this, their first deployment together, they serve side by side by mere coincidence. Both father and son are deployed to Al Asad for the same duration. "This deployment has provided the opportunity for him and me to spend a little more time together," Turnham said.

Hafner said he looks forward to passing on the tradition of military service to a new family member. Hafner and his wife expect their first child in January.

(Army Spc. Christopher Smith is assigned to Task Force 325.)

Artists Create CD to Thanks Troops

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 16, 2007 - Just in time for the holidays, 13 major recording artists have created a musical "Thank You" for the troops. "CD for the Troops" will be available for anyone with a valid military identification card to download at no cost from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Web site, www.aafes.com, beginning tomorrow.

"We're thankful to all the artists who have agreed to lend their name and talent to this special CD," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and community liaison. "To have 'CD for the Troops' produced and dedicated in special honor to our active-duty military members and veterans is just another demonstration of the support so many people in our nation have for our troops."

Mitch Bainwol, chief executive officer of the Recording Industry Association of America, agreed. "This is an historic project. It shows that a music community that has many voices speaks with just one when it comes to support for men and women in uniform," he said in a news release from the Defense Department's America Supports You program. "We are proud to come together to help offer a compilation with some of today's best-selling artists and songs. We hope his album will be music to the ears of our troops."

America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel serving at home and abroad.

Getting this project, which combined the music of Billy Joel, Brooks & Dunn, the Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Josh Groban, Los Lonely Boys, Melissa Ethridge, the Neville Brothers, Sarah McLachlan, the Lt. Dan Band, Montgomery Gentry, The Fray, and Five For Fighting, to troops' ears took true teamwork. John Ondrasik, the singer-songwriter who performs under the stage name "Five For Fighting," was intimately involved with making sure that happened.

"Beyond the artists and managers, all the record companies and publishers had to approve free downloads to over 1.5 million potential users," he said. "(It) also could not have been achieved without the financial, logistical, and emotional support of (the Recording Industry Association of America), AAFES, TriWest Health Care Alliance, America Supports You, Media Base and Sony Manufacturing."

Ondrasik spearheaded the CD after being asked to write a forward and contribute a song to a compilation of local bands sending music to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I thought it was a wonderful gesture," he said, explaining his belief that music is a unique medium that can affect morale and mental health. "I started making a few calls to friends of mine, and six months later we have the CD for the troops."

A staunch supporter of the nation's troops, Ondrasik said he is grateful for the sacrifices of American servicemembers. He said he knows men and women who made and are making those sacrifices have ensured his family's liberty and enabled him to pursue music as a profession.

"Let's be honest, there would be no songs of consequence without the soldiers who allow us a voice," he said. "I can't speak for anyone but myself, (but) I think it's important to recognize that artists from across the political spectrum came together to make this gesture of appreciation and thanks to our troops."

While Ondrasik hopes the downloadable version of "CD for the Troops" will be available on the AAFES Web site through April, tangible versions also will find their way to the troops. Troops in theater, military hospitals and Fisher Houses will get a share of 200,000 hard CDs, he said.

Of those CDS, 50,000 will go to two care package groups that are supporters of America Supports You. Utah-based Operation Give will get 40,000 for its Operation Christmas Stocking program, and Operation Shoebox will get 10,000 for its holiday packages.

No matter how the troops hear the music, Ondrasik said he hopes it "inspires, motivates, provides an avenue for reflection, or simply distracts you from a mission few can imagine, much less undertake," he said.

"If anything, let each tune be a small piece of home to carry you forward," he said to the troops. "Thank you for all you do, and feel free to shoot me an e-mail with requests for 'CD for the Troops II.'"

Americans Can Text 'Thanks' to Troops

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 16, 2007 - For those seeking a quick way to show appreciation to troops serving far from home this holiday season, look no further than "Giving Thanks," a new initiative from the Defense Department's America Supports You program. America Supports You connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

"This is a simple way to connect our citizens to our soldiers using modern technology," Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, said of the text messaging program.

The program, which already has received nearly 4,000 messages, officially kicks off at 6 a.m. EST Nov. 17 and concludes at midnight PST Nov. 22. Between those times, people wishing to express gratitude to the troops for their service can text a brief message to 89279. Each text message sent will receive a response from an active-duty servicemember in return.

Major mobile wireless providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile, will provide access to the Giving Thanks text messaging program.

"We know that thousands of families will be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner and thinking about loved ones who are far away from home serving their country," Barber said. "We are counting on other American families to take a moment during their holiday celebration to think of those families and their family members who are serving and say, 'Thanks.'

"The reassurance that others are thinking about them will mean a lot to our troops," Barber added.

Those who send a message during the six days of the Giving Thanks program also will be directed to the America Supports You Web site. There, they'll find a sampling of messages from the public and a running tally of how many messages have been received. They'll also be able to read messages from the troops.

Some servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan already have sent messages thanking the public for the support. Angie, an airman serving in Iraq, wrote: "Your support means so much, especially during the holidays. God Bless."

Troops of Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan also wrote to express their appreciation for the continued support they receive: "To all the great Americans who go out of their way to support all the Soldiers of the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan -- Thank You."

In an effort to reach the Hispanic community, which is represented in large numbers in the armed services, America Supports You is working with Interlex, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm with multicultural capabilities.

"What we are doing is complementing the general market efforts to mobilize the Hispanic community to become involved in America Supports You," said Rolando Rodriguez, Interlex's managing director for public relations and community-based outreach. "Obviously that's important because many Hispanics do consume different press than the general market would."

The firm's goal is to inform Hispanic communities that many Hispanic youth are serving in the military. "There (also) are a number of Hispanic families that (will be) impacted during the holidays because (the servicemembers) are not sitting at the table with them, so it's important to show their appreciation," Rodriguez said.

MTV Tr3s, an American Spanish-language network launched in September 2006, is one way the firm hopes to reach America's Hispanic community. The network reaches 30 million homes and 6.5 million Hispanic households across the country, Rodriguez said.

"MTV Tr3s has Mi TRL, (and) what they're going to do is ... live reads on their video countdown, which is their signature program," he said. "They're going to talk about, 'Hey, support this initiative.'"

Mi TRL also will run a banner at the bottom of the screen promoting the text messaging program. In addition, the program will air a full screen of information on how to thank troops.

Interlex USA also is working to involve Hispanic celebrities to let the Hispanic community know that thanking a servicemember for their sacrifices this holiday season is as easy as sending a text message.

"When we talk about text messaging, Hispanics ... out-pace all groups," Rodriguez said, adding the text messaging group tends to be younger, much like MTV Tr3s viewers, who range from 12-34.

He added that his team is working to get the message out to Hispanic communities in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Dallas through Spanish-language media outlets, as well as entertainment and sporting venues. These are the same types of venues that will carry information about the America Supports You Giving Thanks program to the general market, officials said.

Pakistani Nuclear Safeguards in Place, Mullen Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - U.S. officials are satisfied that Pakistani nuclear weapons are under sufficient security, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today. During a Pentagon news conference, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen said that while there has been a lot of discussion about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, "I'd like to be very clear, I don't see any indication right now that security of those weapons is in jeopardy."

U.S. officials are watchful, as they should be, he said.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf placed the country under "emergency measures" – essentially martial law – Nov. 3. Under the measures, Musharraf also suspended Pakistan's constitution, deposed the nation's supreme court chief and deployed troops to fight what he called rising Islamic extremism.

Military-to-military contacts between the United States and Pakistan continue, Mullen said. "I see no disruption to that because the emergency measures are in place," he said.

The chairman also said he sees no indication of, nor does he anticipate, an interruption in the supply line through Pakistan to U.S. forces fighting in Afghanistan.

In fact, he said, there are no major changes to our military relations with Pakistan.

ESGR Seeks Freedom Award Nominees

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is seeking employers with records of stellar support for military employees. The group is accepting nominations for the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards through Jan. 21.

"Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the National Guard and Reserve," said Beth Sherman, an ESGR spokeswoman. "The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to (these) employees."

Past recipients of the award have provided full salary, a continuation of benefits, care packages and other forms of help such as home and lawn care for families of employees fulfilling military obligations.

"While all employer support is exemplary, small employers that go above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to assist their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve, really set the bar high (last year)," Sherman said.

USERRA prohibits discrimination against people because of military service.

Augustine and Sons, a family-owned farm in Iowa, is one example of a small business that goes out of its way for its employees, Sherman said.

When one of its employees, 1st Sgt. Matthew Strasser, an Iowa Army National Guardsman, was deployed, the farm lost half its staff. Yet the Augustine family offered its continuing support to the family Strasser left behind.

"They allowed Strasser's wife and ... two sons to live on the farm rent-free," Sherman said. "The Augustines took the boys fishing, attended their sports games and fixed their dirt bikes."

Large businesses previously recognized for their exemplary support include Sears and Starbucks. The commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Tennessee both are past recipients of the public-sector award.

ESGR is encouraging National Guardsmen, reservists and their family members to nominate employers who offer their employees similar support. Nomination forms are available on the committee's Web site, www.esgr.org.

Last year, 1,119 nominations were received. To date, ESGR has received 268 already this year.

"Given that employer support is so strong, we hope reserve-component members will see fit to nominate their deserving employers," Sherman said. "This kind of recognition establishes a benchmark for all employers, and we hope this recognition is a small thank you from the Department of Defense."

Winners selected in three categories will be announced in early spring and will receive their awards during a Sept. 18 award ceremony.

Founded in 1972, the National Committee for Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve is a Defense Department agency established to promote cooperation and understanding between reserve-component members and their civilian employers. The organization also is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Then-Defense Secretary William Perry instituted the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in 1996.

Unit Honors Vietnam Veterans With Run in Afghanistan

By 2nd Lt. Monika Comeaux, USA
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - "On the 8th of November, the angels were crying as they carried his brothers away. ... There were few men left standing that day," sings the country duo Big & Rich in their ballad commemorating the fall of 48 American soldiers from 173rd Airborne Brigade in 1965 in Operation Hump in Vietnam. Forty-two years later, members of 173rd Airborne Brigade, other servicemembers and civilians deployed here honored the fallen soldiers of Operation Hump by participating in a 24-hour relay.

The event celebrated unit cohesion, teamwork and esprit de corps, officials said. Participants ran along a nearly three-and-a-half mile route lined by miniature American flags and passed a bayonet, which is depicted on the unit patch of the 173rd ABCT, to one another in lieu of a baton. The event was made even more special by having a Vietnam veteran, Rick Petersen from the Facility Engineer Team, participate.

"I think it is a great idea. I think it is great that everybody is going to come out here and support one another. It is great for camaraderie," said 2nd Lt. Kate Fullenkamp, a quartermaster officer and platoon leader in Company A, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion (Airborne).

Her platoon of 40 entered with two seven-person teams. There would have been more volunteers, but mission requirements did not allow all of her soldiers to participate, she said.

"We had more than seven people who wanted to do this, but we picked the best seven," said Pfc. Ikechuku Odi, a combat engineer with Road Clearance Patrol 4, Company A, 70th Engineer Battalion, deployed from Fort Riley, Kan.

Ever since they found out about the race, the engineers ran two laps every day when they didn't go outside the wire, in preparation for the challenging race. When Odi heard about the race, he thought, "We are going to win this," he said.

"Our tactic is simple: run as fast as you can," he said, after completing his first lap in a little over 22 minutes.

"Some people are out here for the physical aspect, ... but there are people that are out here because it is fun and you enjoy it and you will always remember it, for sure," Fullenkamp said.

The rules of the run were pretty simple. "Basically it is a 24-hour relay with seven-man teams. One runner must be running at all times," said 1st. Sgt. Drake F. Sladky, Company C, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion. An avid sportsman, he was one of the masterminds behind the event.

Sladky said many in the 173rd Airborne liked the idea of organizing another run after running a 10-kilometer race shortly after the unit's arrival in Afghanistan. Originally they were aiming for New Year's Day, but then they received a disk containing the music video, "8th of November," from James Bradley, a member of the 173rd Association. "We knew that we had to do some sort of race in commemoration of that date," Sladky explained.

"Everybody in the company helped out, mostly by getting sponsors for the race day and organizing the registration," Sladky said. As a result, a total of 21 teams signed up.

"We were really lucky; we started early and got sponsors. ... The 173rd Association sent the race T-shirts. Niles Harris (the Vietnam veteran who was the inspiration for the country song and was himself injured on Nov. 8, 1965) sent about 200 autographed T-shirts," Sladky said.

Some of the shirts ended up as prizes, but the majority were sent out to subordinate units of the 173rd who are deployed to other forward operating bases and weren't able to participate in the run. Prizes included name-brand golf clubs, shirts, hats and a multitude of other things. No team went home empty-handed.

Odi was right when he said he thought his team was going to win. On the 9th of November, 2007, perhaps the angels were smiling a little as his team carried their prizes away.

The winning team completed a total of 51 laps, covering, fittingly, just over 173 miles in the 24-hour period, and consisted of: Staff Sgt. Luis D. Rivera, Pfc. Ikechuku Odi, Pfc. Vincent A. Fiorillo, Pfc. Joshua M. Contryman, Sgt. Eric E. Chappel, Sgt. Bradley J. Edmonds, and Spc. Tin T. Tran -- all combat engineers.

(Army 2nd Lt. Monika Comeaux is assigned to 173rd Brigade Support Battalion.)

Gift Cards Cheer Recovering Military Families

By Linda Hosek
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 14, 2007 - Kate Deyermond is going on a $15,000 holiday spending spree today -- but not for herself or with her own money. The manager of the three Fisher House facilities at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here will use donations from Wal-Mart to buy presents and necessities for military families who stay at Fisher House while their loved ones recover from combat injuries or illnesses.

"We'll make a list of the needs of the residents -- anything from diapers to linens," Deyermond said yesterday at the kick-off of Operation Deck the Walls, a new Wal-Mart program to bring holiday cheer to military families at 38 Fisher House facilities in the United States and Germany.

Wal-Mart will donate $350,000 through the holiday program, giving each house $5,000 for a spending spree. The total also includes $60,000 for decorations at all of the houses and $100,000 to build a new Fisher House at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Executives of the nation's largest retailer also hope Wal-Mart gift cards for holiday items and tree-trimming efforts will help with the healing. They'll be holding similar events at Fisher House quarters around the country for the next three weeks.

"It's more than the decorating," Kathy Cox, Wal-Mart Foundation manager, said as crews from Wal-Mart and Sam's Club hung red ornaments on a Christmas tree. "It's using our hands and our hearts. It's not just about the merchandise."

It's also about giving back to the nation's heroes, said Pat Curran, executive vice president of Wal-Mart Stores People Division. Decorating the homes is one way Wal-Mart can thank the troops.

"We're very proud to do that," said Curran, whose father was an Army intelligence officer for 22 years, giving her first-hand experience with sacrifice.

"I think it's awesome," Army Sgt. Marcus Kuboy, from the Minnesota National Guard, said. "Any kind of appreciation or support we get is great. I just eat it up."

He also reinforced the feeling that the spirit of the Wal-Mart program -- not just the purchases -- would make a difference. "The majority of recovery is mental attitude," he said. "This is helping."

"It's a great example of an organization based on people – like the military is," said Army Brig. Gen. Michael Tucker, deputy commander of North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and Walter Reed. "It's easy to write a check; they're out here doing."

But individuals also can have a powerful voice -- literally -- like country singer Tracy Byrd. He showed up to add to the holiday spirit with a few Christmas carols and hits of his own.

"I am a guy who goes around the country singing for a living," he said. "That's a great freedom to have, a great thing to be able to do what I love. For years and years, our military has defended that kind of freedom, and they go through these hardships, these injuries that we see today, this loss of limbs. It changes their whole life. And if we can be here to maybe just put a smile on their face for a little bit is great."

The Fisher House Foundation was established in 1990 by Zachary Fisher, a long-time military supporter. More than 110,000 families have stayed in a Fisher House over a period of 2.5 million days at no cost to the families.

Up to 70 military family members stay in the three D.C. Fisher houses, which have 27 rooms with up to 20 people on a waiting list, Deyermond said. Two of the houses are reserved for those with combat injuries, and the average stay is eight months to two years.

Both Wal-Mart and the Fisher House Foundation are supporters of America Supports You, a U.S. Department of Defense program that connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families at home and abroad.

"Wal-Mart is a true champion of our military," said Ken Fisher, Fisher House president and Zachary Fisher's grand-nephew.

Wal-Mart's efforts to bring holiday cheer to military families recovering from long-term injuries and illnesses actually aids their military mission, said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public liaison and internal communications and the creator of the America Supports You program.

"Their new mission right now is to get well," Barber said of wounded troops, adding that getting well takes both physical endurance and strong attitudes. "And those attitudes for our troops are really boosted through support that they see through outreach programs like this, which is constantly what we see though America Supports You."

Army Cpl. Adam Poppenhouse, who lost his leg Dec. 3, 2006, in Iraq from an improvised explosive device, has lived in a Fisher House for months. The soft-spoken soldier listened to the singing and shared his thoughts about the event. "It's a wonderful way to heal," he said. "It's very humbling. It means a lot to me and my family."

New Initiative Offers Education, Training Funds for Military Spouses

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 14, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates joined Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today in supporting a new initiative to help military spouses get the education and other credentials needed to pursue careers in high-demand, high-growth occupations. Gates praised the new Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative as a "landmark program that will open the doors to our military spouses for more fulfilling careers," even as they relocate regularly due to their loved ones' assignments.

The $35 million demonstration program, co-sponsored by the Defense and Labor departments, sets up accounts for eligible spouses in eight states to cover expenses directly related to post-secondary education and training, Gates said during today's signing ceremony at the Pentagon.

These include costs for tuition, fees, books, equipment, and credentialing and licensing fees required for careers in education, health care, information technology, construction trades, financial services, and other "high-growth, portable" fields, Chao said.

The program also covers the cost of renewing existing credentials and licenses due to a military move.

Beginning in January, the new program will launch at 18 military installations in eight states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, North Carolina and Washington.

Spouses of active-duty servicemembers grades E1 through E5 and O1 to O3 will be eligible to participate. They must have a high school or general education diploma.

Gates said the program will provide the much-needed help many spouses need to pursue rewarding careers despite frequent career disruptions. "Thousands are called on to pack up and relocate the family, often at the cost of their own careers," he said. "This makes it difficult to navigate the career licensure and certification requirements that go with most professions.

"In addition, education is often unaffordable for young families who must also bear the expense of child care," he said.

Gates called the new initiative another step in fulfilling the Defense Department's commitment to its servicemembers and their families. "We owe it to our brave men and women in uniform to assist their families as they do their job, often thousands of miles from their homes and families and under extremely hazardous conditions," he said. "When servicemembers find time to call home or e-mail home, they shouldn't have to worry. They have the right to hear their loved ones honestly say, 'We miss you, but we are doing fine.'"

Chao said the program will give the 77 percent of military spouses who report wanting or needing to work an opportunity to forge careers in fields that provide the most opportunity now and in the future.

Workers in these high-demand occupations will be able to pick up and move with their loved ones' assignments, but still continue building their own careers, she said. She noted that with the trend toward a knowledge-based economy, two-thirds of the new careers will require some post-secondary education or training.

Chao said military families serve as the backbone of the fighting force. "Our military could not do its job without your support," she told spouses at today's ceremony. "As they say in the military, you are mission-essential. And that's what this initiative is all about."

Twenty-five-year-old Gwen Bates, wife of Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Bates, said she hopes to be among the first military spouses to take advantage of the new program. Living in San Diego, where her husband is assigned, with the couple's three children, Bates said her family hasn't had extra cash to put toward her education. "This has been my stumbling block. I've been at a crossroads," she said.

Bates said the new initiative will offer exactly what she needs to build on the associate's degree she already has to get a bachelor's degree in pre-medicine, then go on to medical school. "This is the reinforcement I need to finally go ahead and get the show on the road," she said.

With the initiative beginning as a demonstration program, Bates said she's hopeful it will expand to include more spouses military-wide. "There are so many people like me," she said.

She called the new initiative an example of the Defense Department making good on its pledge of support to its military families. "It shows they actually care," she said.

Coast Guard Patrols Guantanamo Bay's Windward Pass to Protect U.S. Shores

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 14, 2007 - Three weeks out of every four, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Figueroa studies the North Atlantic waters from an HU-25 "Falcon" aircraft, looking for illegal fishing ships and vessels in trouble. But on a rotational basis, Figueroa and other members of from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, carry out a distinctly different mission here. The deployed Coast Guardsmen patrol the Windward Pass for boats carrying cargos of drugs or illegal migrants toward U.S. waters.

Twice every day, the five-person crew flies across the Caribbean Sea toward Haiti, then north toward the Bahamas before returning to the Guantanamo Bay airfield in southeastern Cuba. The patrols, which typically cover about 700 miles, run about three hours.

Capt. Steve Pittman manned the aircraft controls last week on the second mission of the day as the crew studied the Haitian coastline from about a quarter mile offshore. Fellow pilot Capt. Eric Popiel scanned from the forward right seat. In the crew compartment, Figueroa and Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Byrne, both aircraft mechanics and jumpmasters, peered through the left and right windows, calling out vessels as they spotted them. In the rear, Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Benners trained his eyes on a console that included a radar system, infrared camera that captured images from below the pilots' seats, and nautical map.

"We're an intelligence-gathering platform," Pittman explained.

When crew members spot something suspicious -- speedboats with several large engines that could be running drugs or overloaded sailboats that could be transporting illegal migrants -- they report their findings.

Coast Guard "fast boats" -- transportable port-security boats -- operating from Guantanamo Bay, Coast Guard cutters in the region, or HH-60J "Jayhawk" helicopters based on Great Iguana Island in the Bahamas, responds to investigate and possibly board the vessel.

The Windward Pass here is critical because it offers a straight shot from the western Caribbean to the United States. It's a favored route for drug runners seeking to shortcut the route west around Cuba and Haitians bound for U.S. soil in dangerously overloaded wooden sailboats. "We try to catch them loading before they move out," Pittman said. "Our objective is to find them here, before they move north."

Ship traffic is relatively sparse in the region, so it's easier for the crew to pick out suspicious vessels before they move into more heavily trafficked sea lanes in the Bahamas, Benners said.

As he studied the waters 1,000 feet below, Figueroa demonstrated skills that earned him the nickname "Eagle Eyes" early in his Coast Guard career. "My scanning techniques are pretty unique," he said. With 20/10 vision, he trains his eyes on individual whitecaps on the water for a full seven seconds. If it disappears, it's a whitecap. But if it remains, he knows he's spotted a vessel.

That was among the techniques that helped Figueroa spot three drug boats in just three weeks during his first deployment to Guantanamo Bay, in 1993. He likes to brag that he can spot most vessels 15 miles away and larger vessels as far as 20 miles away.

During a mission last week, a 40-foot sailboat with blue-and-white sails captured Figueroa's and his crewmates' interest. They'd identified it the previous day, and it had made more than 60 miles headway north since the initial spotting.

"It shouldn't be out here," Figueroa said. "It shouldn't be here at all."

In addition to protecting U.S. shores, the crew knows it's providing valuable humanitarian support. They conduct about 200 search-and-rescue missions every year in Northeastern U.S. waters and are prepared to assist vessels in trouble here, too.

Byrne spoke of an instance about five years back, when he was aboard a Coast Guard cutter as it pulled up to a capsized Haitian sailboat. It was 4 in the morning, pitch black, and the 90 people crammed aboard had gone a long stretch with no food or water. When their boat capsized, Byrne and his crewmates were able to rescue 72, but the others were lost.

"They didn't make it," Bryne said, shaking his head. "That's why it's so important that we catch them now, before they're able to get too far away."

Casey: Army Must Adapt to Changing Threats

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - The next few decades will be a period of persistent conflict, and the U.S. Army will have to adapt to changing threats, that service's top general said today. "Global terrorism and extremist ideologies are a reality," Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. said before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "As I look to the future, I believe the next decades will be one of what I call persistent conflict. This a period of protracted confrontation among states, non-state and individual actors who are increasingly willing to use violence to accomplish their political and ideological ends."

Though it has positive aspects, globalization is a trend that exacerbates protracted confrontation. "It has also created 'have' and 'have-not' conditions that are ripe for exploitation," Casey said.

"Technology is another double-edged sword," he said. "The same innovations that improve quality of life and education and livelihood are also used by extremists to export terror around the globe and manipulate our media," he said.

Demographic change also could contribute to instability. "The populations of lesser-developed nations are expected to double over the next 20 years," the chief said. "That will create a 'youth bulge' that is ripe for exploitation by terrorist groups, especially as the governments of these lesser-developed countries are unable to deal with large population."

Casey pointed to the global rise in demand for energy, water and food as these populations grow as a likely cause of competition and conflict. Climate change and natural disasters may cause humanitarian crises, population shifts and epidemic diseases, he said. The danger of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will increase, he said, and there is the potential for catastrophic attack.

Finally, dangers arise from failed or failing states providing havens for extremist groups, the Army chief said.

None of these trends point to a specific threat, from a specific group, in a specific area, Casey said. "We know the Army will remain central to our national strategy to ensure our security in spite of these threatening trends," he said.

The service is developing forces agile enough, with leadership able enough, and sustainment robust enough to ensure victory against any foe, Casey said. The force must operate with allies and with interagency partners and be able to handle the full spectrum of operations from humanitarian assistance to full-scale war, he added.

The Army is growing to a total of 547,000 soldiers over the next three years. In questioning, Casey said the service may need to expand beyond that number.

Casey said the Army is "consuming" its readiness as "fast as we can build it." He also said the service must restore the balance between active and reserve components. It also must rebuild the force's depth and build needed capabilities for the future.

Soldiers are the ultimate asymmetric advantage the United States has, Casey said, adding that training soldiers, providing programs and facilities for families, and caring for those wounded or hurt in service are paramount concerns. Preparing soldiers means providing the best equipment and most realistic training to the force, he said.

The general also said that resetting the force is crucial to success on the battlefields of the future. Army equipment has been used hard in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said.

"Resetting our forces is critical to restoring readiness," Casey said. "This year we will reset more than 130,000 pieces of equipment and over 200,000 soldiers."

Finally, transforming the Army means more of a mindset change, as opposed to just changing wiring diagrams or equipment, Casey said. "Transformation is a journey, not a destination," he said.

Army Secretary Sees Opportunity from 'Calamities'

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - Out of calamity comes opportunity, Army Secretary Pete Geren told Congress today. Geren and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the state of the service.

The secretary said that when crisis comes it gives both Congress and the service the political opportunity to do some things that wouldn't get done without the crisis.

"It gives us the political energy, the bureaucratic energy, to take on some hard issues and make some changes that we would never get around to were it not for that," he said.

Two "calamities" have highlighted weaknesses in the Army, and the service is using those to make changes, Geren said. Shortcomings in soldier health care make up one of those calamities; contracting is the second.

In regard to health care, the Army made immediate changes to conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the service's flagship medical facility, after shortcomings were brought to light in media reports, the secretary said. The service has established wounded warrior units throughout the United States and is working to reform the disability system. The secretary put great store in a pilot program that begins Nov. 26 to experiment with a single physical for both the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Contracting is another calamity the service is acting upon. "We have learned -- unfortunately, the hard way -- that our contracting system was not up to the needs of our Army in this century," Geren said. "In 2007, the Army did 25 percent of all contracting for the government -- $111 billion."

When shortcomings were brought to light, the service put a task force in place "to immediately stop the bleeding," he said. As a result of studies, the service has learned that contracting is a problem throughout government.

"We need to do a better job of developing professional acquisition and contracting officers (and to) provide the resources, the training and valuing the invaluable role that these contracting officers provide to our government," Geren said.

The service needs more contracting personnel, they need to be better trained, and leaders need to listen to their conclusions, Geren said.

The secretary also told the Senate panel that the service must do more for military families. "We are in the seventh year of war in Afghanistan and over four and a half years of war in Iraq; this is the third-longest conflict in U.S. history," he said. "It's the longest conflict we've ever fought with an all-volunteer force by quite a long shot.

"We are in uncharted waters, both for the soldiers and for the families," he continued.

This all-volunteer Army is a different force from any the country has fielded before. "More than half of the soldiers are married; more than half of their spouses work outside the home," he said. "The support that we provided to those key members of the all-volunteer force over the first 35 years of the force doesn't work as we move into the seventh year of the conflict."

Army leaders at all levels have signed a covenant with the families "to recognize the importance of our families to the all-volunteer force." Geren said that families volunteer too, and the military must do a better job supporting them.

"We moved $100 million out of our budget last summer into family programs," he said. "In '08 in the supplemental, we moved $1.4 billion into family programs. We ask your help as we look to support families, that critical part of our all-volunteer force."

Golfers Say Game Good for Vets' Bodies, Minds

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 14, 2007 - A Maryland group is using its favorite game to positively affect combat-wounded veterans who served in Afghanistan or Iraq. Members of the Salute Military Golf Association believe the rehabilitative benefits of golf can improve the mental and physical condition of wounded servicemembers returning from combat, Jim Estes, the group's founder, said on the organization's Web site.

"The SMGA believes that every (servicemember) matters and should be given the opportunity to learn and improve his or her golf knowledge and skill," he said. "The SMGA will provide a venue and mentoring to this end."

Earlier this year, Estes and several other area pros, specifically trained to work with wounded veterans, started formalized golf clinics for wounded soldiers. Future similar events near military medical facilities in San Antonio and San Diego are in the works.

PGA of America and Disabled Sports USA sponsored the clinics. They are both supporters of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Salute Military Golf Association, which began as a therapeutic outlet for soldiers undergoing prolonged medical treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, is a new supporter of the Defense Department program.

Estes began accompanying Walter Reed patients on weekly dinner outings arranged by one of his clients in 2004. This interaction showed him that servicemembers were eager to get back to sports like golf.

"Jim learned that some of the soldiers found something in golf they really seemed to need," said Ellen Kay, the organization's secretary. "Since (2004), many wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan have been exposed to the rehabilitative properties of the game of golf through Jim's efforts."

In addition to providing veterans with instruction through clinics and personalized instruction, Salute Military Golf Association works to secure benefits like reduced or free green fees and access to public and private golf facilities throughout the country. The organization also tries to equip veterans who show a true interest and dedication to the game with properly fitted clubs.

Salute Military Golf Association was introduced nationwide when Brian Williams featured Estes and the group on the NBC Nightly News. Locally, the Fox News affiliate in Washington has shined its spotlight toward the program and its volunteers. Even the PGA has taken notice of the Maryland golfers' work with the wounded, acknowledging it in a service announcement during its 89th Championships.

Kay said the group hopes its recent affiliation with America Supports You will attract attention from those who wish to help extend Salute Military Golf Association's work.

"We are very excited about our new affiliation with America Supports You," she said. "Already, this has resonated with a number of our potential and current supporters as the America Supports You program is well-respected and recognized for its tremendous positive impact."

AFRICOM Helps Partners Confront Stability Challenges

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - The U.S. military's unified command responsible for operations across Africa will help nations there confront poverty, disease, terrorism and other challenges that affect regional security and stability, U.S. officials said here yesterday. However, U.S. Africa Command-sponsored initiatives will "support, not supplant, African leadership," Christopher R. Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, told U.S. House Armed Services Committee members at a Capitol Hill hearing.

"The Department of Defense recognizes and applauds the leadership role that Africans, both on a regional and individual basis, and also the African Union, are taking to promote security and stability," Henry said. "We seek to complement these efforts in a supporting role, not to compete with them in a leadership role."

AFRICOM marked the startup of its initial operations Oct. 1. For now, the command is collocated with U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. Plans are for AFRICOM to be fully established as a separate unified command by Sept. 30. Plans are to eventually base the command's headquarters somewhere in Africa.

The new command was created "to consolidate and focus the work of the Department of Defense and to enable us to better support United States policy in Africa," said Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward, AFRICOM's commander.

AFRICOM "will add value to America's security cooperation projects and the delivery of American security assistance programs in Africa, thus making them more efficient as (well as) responsive," Ward said.

Twenty-three separate African ambassadors to the African Union have voiced overwhelming support for AFRICOM's objectives, he said.

AFRICOM officials wants relationships with the command's partners to be based on mutual trust, respect and confidence, Ward said. The command, he added, will continue to support medical- and disaster-preparedness exercises and communications interoperability efforts.

"It is in our national interests to build an enduring organization designed to enhance our government's capacity to help Africans care for their stability, development and prosperity," Ward said.

AFRICOM also will support the U.S. State Department in the training of African peacekeepers as part of the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance Program, Ward said.

Africa is a place of promise and opportunity that's linked to the United States through culture, history and commerce, said Stephen Mull, acting assistant secretary of state, bureau of political-military affairs, who also testified at the House hearing.

Yet, the African continent also is "a place of severe challenges, such as poverty, disease terrorism and instability, that all pose critical risks for U.S. interests," Mull pointed out.

The U.S. State Department will partner with AFRICOM in assisting Africans to realize improved regional security through employment of more efficient methods to provide emergency humanitarian assistance and in responding to other potential crises, Mull said.

AFRICOM will not, however, "take the place of the Department of State and of U.S. embassies in the field as the voice of American foreign policy in our relationships with African states and organizations," Mull emphasized.

Furloughs, Closings Possible Without Supplemental Funding, Gates Warns

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Nov. 15, 2007 - There is no "wiggle room" in the Defense Department budget, and Congress must pass the emergency supplemental spending bill as soon as possible to avoid halting operations and furloughing civilian employees, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. During a Pentagon news conference, Gates reinforced the message he delivered to Congress yesterday, when he and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Capitol Hill and briefed members of both houses.

Gates strongly urged Congress to pass a global war on terror funding bill that the president would sign, he said.

The secretary said the president's signing of the 2008 National Defense Appropriations Act into law earlier this week caused some misperceptions. One misperception is that the Defense Department can continue funding troops in the field for an indefinite period of time through accounting maneuvers -- "that we can shuffle money around the department."

"This is a serious misconception," the secretary said.

The Defense Department has significantly less funding flexibility than it had in the spring, he said. In the fall of 2006, Congress provided a bridge fund of $70 billion until passage of the full war supplemental bill, which did not pass until late May 2007.

This year, the Defense Department was operating under a continuing resolution. "Now that the regular appropriations bill has been enacted, we are left with no bridge fund and only our base budget to support normal war operations," Gates said. "Further, Congress has provided very limited flexibility to deal with this funding shortage."

Restrictions on the budget mean that the department can transfer only $3.7 billion, which amounts to just a little over one week's worth of war expenses, he said.

All this leaves the department with only undesirable options to continue operations with the absence of a bridge fund, the secretary said.

"The path we believe is least undesirable fiscally and militarily would involve the following: The military would cease operations at all Army bases by mid-February next year," he said. "This would result in the furloughing of about 100,000 government employees and a like number of contractor employees at Army bases.

"These layoffs would have a cascading effect on depots and procurement," he continued. "Similar actions would follow for the Marine Corps about a month later."

The department must notify certain union employees 60 days in advance of any layoff or furlough, so the department will need to send the notices to affected employees in mid-December.

"If the Congress does not provide bridge funding this week on a bill the president will sign, and given the uncertainty of future action in December, by the end of this week -- as a prudent manager -- I will be obliged to take a series of anticipatory steps," Gates said.

The secretary said he will submit an urgent reprogramming request for funds to Congress. He also will direct the Army and Marine Corps to develop a plan to furlough employees, terminate contracts and prepare bases for reduced operations. "These plans would begin to be implemented in mid-December," he said.

Even if Congress acts, the president signs a bill, and the department receives $50 billion in bridge funding now, this will fund war operations only through about the end of February, Gates said.

"So we would be back in this situation immediately after the Congress reconvenes in late January," the secretary said. "The high degree of uncertainty on funding for the war is immensely complicating this task and will have tremendous consequences for this department and the men and women in uniform."

Gates said the issue before Congress is not one of principle, but pacing. He said Congress asked the president to draw down the troops in Iraq, set a date for when the drawdowns would begin, set a timetable for the drawdowns and then to transfer the security mission to Iraqis.

"The president has moved in all four of these areas: He has announced there will be drawdowns; the drawdowns have already started," Gates said. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq, has announced a timetable at least for the first five brigade combat teams, and the mission of transition begins in December when the first brigade comes out, he said.

"What I told members of Congress yesterday, for those who allege that the views of the generals were not sufficiently taken into account at the front end of the war, now you have a recommendation from the commander in the field, the commander of Central Command, from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on what makes sense in terms of pacing so we don't put at risk the gains we've already made," Gates said.

"It seems to me that there ought to be some deference to those who are running the war -- the generals -- at the pace at which this drawdown should take place," the secretary said. "However one feels about how we've got to this point, the reality is we have had some significant success due to the efforts of our men and women in uniform and their sacrifices.

"We don't want to sacrifice their success," he continued. "So how do we get the next phase of this conflict right? Because the consequences of getting it wrong are potentially high."