By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - The Defense Department has begun its transition to the next generation of smallpox vaccine. The new ACAM2000 vaccine first hit the shelves at the Pentagon's DiLorenzo Clinic last week from the Centers for Disease Control Strategic National Stockpile.
Since the disease's eradication in December 1979, many manufacturers have quit producing smallpox vaccine, Army Col. Randall Anderson, director of DoD's Military Vaccine Agency, said. But the military needs smallpox vaccine to inoculate troops against biological weapons that may contain the virus. No cure exists for the disease.
Wyeth, a global provider of pharmaceuticals and current manufacturer of Dryvax, is withdrawing its product license for the vaccine the department now uses. The ACAM2000 vaccine, made by Acambis, is derived from the same smallpox strain as Dryvax, but it is produced using modern cell-culture technology. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed it in August.
Acambis will provide a long-term, stable supply of the vaccine manufactured within the United States, Anderson said. The Defense Department gets the vaccine from CDC stockpiles in an interagency agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Anderson pointed out that the change will be transparent to those receiving the vaccination. Current policies and the way the vaccine is administered remain the same.
"For the person who is being vaccinated, it really won't mean that much," Anderson said.
Anderson called Dryvax a good vaccine that is very effective, but said the ACAM2000 vaccine uses more current technology. Dryvax can be used through March. After that, remaining Dryvax vaccine will be destroyed.
The Defense Department has inoculated more than 1.4 million people since it started vaccinating against the smallpox virus in 2002.
"Because the disease is contagious and deadly, the agent makes a favorable choice for those who wish to disrupt our society," Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, wrote last week in his daily blog on the department's Health Affairs Web site.
Vaccinations are required for all military, emergency-essential and equivalent civilian employees assigned to U.S. Central Command or the Korean peninsula for 15 or more consecutive days. The vaccine is offered to 18- to 65-year-old family members of those military and civilian employees.
People inoculated with the Dryvax vaccine do not need to be revaccinated with the ACAM2000 version sooner than the 10-year interval Defense Department policy dictates, officials said.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Military Contracts
AIR FORCE
General Electric Co. Aircraft Engines of Cincinnati, Ohio is being awarded a firm-fixed price contract modification for $15,592,486. This contract modification will provide for mixing duct and two flame-holder segments. It is redesigned hardware meant to address the fact that the augmenter/exhaust nozzle section is a leading contributor to labor intensive unscheduled engine removals in direct relation to excessively repaired parts that are subject to thermal variances. The mixing duct incorporates redesigned support hangers and outer lugs at all flame-holder attachment locations. The design incorporates replaceable inserts made from L605 material coated with chromium carbide on both face surfaces. The flame-holders consist of a 10 piece design that has the mid and outer rings split at ten locations, which reduces thermally induced stresses that cause crack initiation in the rings. This acquisition is being accomplished under a sole source, four plus-year requirements type contract with a basic period (15 months) and three one year options. This program in combination with the F110 Services Life Extension Program is designed to extend the life of the F110-GE-100 and -129 engines to 2025. The F110 engines power the Air Force's F-16 fleet. The F-16 fleet is an aging fleet that is exceeding its "design life" of 8000 Total Accumulated Cycles by an average 485 TACs. A complete engine re-design was accomplished under the Component Improvement Program ordered by ASC/LPK. At this time no funds have been obligated. 748 CBSG/PKP, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (FA8104-05-D-0042-P00006).
Global Ground Support LLC of Olathe, Kan., is being awarded a contract for $14,679,715.56. This action provides for 44 Truck Mounted Deicers. At this time all funds have been obligated. 642nd CBSG/GBKAC, Robins Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (F41608-99-D-0029).
NAVY
InnovaSystems International LLC, San Diego, Calif.,is being awarded a $14,100,185 cost-plus-award-fee contract for system engineering, system design/development, integration, testing, installation, training, lifecycle maintenance, procurement support, help desk services, management support, and system documentation for the Defense Readiness Reporting System – Navy. This one-year contract includes four one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the potential, cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $75,767,799. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed Feb. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source justification and approval was signed in accordance with FAR Subpart 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), for Only One Responsible Source. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-08-D-0030).
Prexis, Inc. Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $5,824,313 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development engineering and technical support services. Tasks will include systems engineering (hardware and software) systems analysis (hardware and software) and data collection and analysis. This contract contains four 12-month options which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of this contract to $28,796,848. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and work is expected to be completed Feb. 2009 (Jan. 2013 with options). Contract funds in the amount of $209,000 will expire by the end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under a Request for Proposal Number (N000173-07-R-SC05), with one offer received. The Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N000173-08-C-2013).
Guard Eyes Pacific for Expanding State Partnership Program
By Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Following successes in Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, the National Guard's State Partnership Program is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region. "These partnerships are limited only by what the two partners want to accomplish," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, characterizing the program as two-way relationships built on trust that outlives individual political administrations.
"None are more important than the ones we have in the Pacific," he said.
Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, chief of U.S. Pacific Command, has endorsed Bangladesh's request to participate in the program and asked Blum to nominate a National Guard state for this new partnership. If approved, Bangladesh would bring the number of foreign countries matched with U.S. states to 59. Some states have more than one partner.
With five Pacific Rim or Southeast Asian countries involved, Blum predicted that much of the partnership program's expansion in the next two to three years will occur in the region.
"Our nation needs to do this," Blum said. "It is ... absolutely essential in our international relations in the future."
Keating said the time is right for expanding the program in PACOM's area of responsibility.
"The potential and the opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region are significant," he said. "Underpinning this potential is the requirement for security and stability, and that's where we all come in."
Life is better for hundreds of millions of people throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the admiral said, and he called the Guard's State Partnership Program "a big reason" for that.
"The United States in its national defense military strategy sees the need to do a much better job than we have done ... in increasing our partnership capacity," Blum said. "There's nobody better suited to do it than the National Guard. Any time you call out the Guard to do anything, you call out America, and this truly calls out Americans into an international program that otherwise wouldn't be involved."
Keating said his impression of the National Guard was profoundly affected by working with Blum on the response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "I developed an intense and abiding appreciation and respect for what the National Guard does for our country," he said.
A two-day Pacific State Partnership Program Regional Workshop here in late January, co-hosted by Blum and Army Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, Hawaii's adjutant general, brought together Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and their respective National Guard partner states of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Washington.
Foreign military chiefs, National Guard adjutants general and others discussed activities that promote mutual security cooperation, stability and progress throughout the 41-country PACOM area of operations. The State Partnership Program in the Pacific draws on the resources of PACOM, the National Guard Bureau, National Guard states, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassadors and country teams, and other agencies and individuals.
The program started in the Baltic region of Europe in 1993 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, focusing on matching U.S. states with former Soviet satellite nations.
"This partnership provided them a chance for the path to NATO and the European Union that they wanted to take to determine their future," Blum said.
The program later expanded to South and Central America. Central Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Africa came next. No State Partnership Program relationship has ended, and none has failed since the program's inception, officials said.
(Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill serves with the National Guard Bureau.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 5, 2008 - Following successes in Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, the National Guard's State Partnership Program is expanding in the Asia-Pacific region. "These partnerships are limited only by what the two partners want to accomplish," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, characterizing the program as two-way relationships built on trust that outlives individual political administrations.
"None are more important than the ones we have in the Pacific," he said.
Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, chief of U.S. Pacific Command, has endorsed Bangladesh's request to participate in the program and asked Blum to nominate a National Guard state for this new partnership. If approved, Bangladesh would bring the number of foreign countries matched with U.S. states to 59. Some states have more than one partner.
With five Pacific Rim or Southeast Asian countries involved, Blum predicted that much of the partnership program's expansion in the next two to three years will occur in the region.
"Our nation needs to do this," Blum said. "It is ... absolutely essential in our international relations in the future."
Keating said the time is right for expanding the program in PACOM's area of responsibility.
"The potential and the opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region are significant," he said. "Underpinning this potential is the requirement for security and stability, and that's where we all come in."
Life is better for hundreds of millions of people throughout the Asia-Pacific region, the admiral said, and he called the Guard's State Partnership Program "a big reason" for that.
"The United States in its national defense military strategy sees the need to do a much better job than we have done ... in increasing our partnership capacity," Blum said. "There's nobody better suited to do it than the National Guard. Any time you call out the Guard to do anything, you call out America, and this truly calls out Americans into an international program that otherwise wouldn't be involved."
Keating said his impression of the National Guard was profoundly affected by working with Blum on the response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "I developed an intense and abiding appreciation and respect for what the National Guard does for our country," he said.
A two-day Pacific State Partnership Program Regional Workshop here in late January, co-hosted by Blum and Army Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, Hawaii's adjutant general, brought together Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and their respective National Guard partner states of Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Washington.
Foreign military chiefs, National Guard adjutants general and others discussed activities that promote mutual security cooperation, stability and progress throughout the 41-country PACOM area of operations. The State Partnership Program in the Pacific draws on the resources of PACOM, the National Guard Bureau, National Guard states, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassadors and country teams, and other agencies and individuals.
The program started in the Baltic region of Europe in 1993 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, focusing on matching U.S. states with former Soviet satellite nations.
"This partnership provided them a chance for the path to NATO and the European Union that they wanted to take to determine their future," Blum said.
The program later expanded to South and Central America. Central Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific and Africa came next. No State Partnership Program relationship has ended, and none has failed since the program's inception, officials said.
(Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill serves with the National Guard Bureau.)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Bush Delivers $515.4 Billion Defense Budget Request to Congress
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - A 3.4 percent military pay raise, a 2.9 percent civilian raise, money to continue to grow the Army and Marines and a funding increase to maintain readiness are major aspects of the fiscal 2009 defense budget request President Bush sent to Congress today. The defense budget request is for $515.4 billion – a $35.9 billion increase over the 2008 level. The total federal budget request for fiscal 2009 is $3.1 trillion.
Defense officials said five priorities drive the budget request: winning the war on terror, increasing ground combat capabilities, improving readiness, developing future combat capabilities and improving servicemembers' quality of life.
"The budget request provides the resources needed to prevail in current conflicts, while preparing the department for a range of challenges the nation may face in the years ahead," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference this afternoon.
He pointed out that the defense request amounts to about 3.4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product. "To give you some basis for comparison, ... during the Korean War the percentage of GDP going to defense was about 14 percent, and during Vietnam it was about 9 percent," Gates said.
The budget funds the operations, training, recruiting and equipping of 2.2 million personnel in the Defense Department.
The service portions of the budget are $140.7 billion for the Army, $149.2 billion for the Navy and Marine Corps and $143.8 billion for the Air Force.
The request is broken into four major funding areas: military pay and health care; family housing and facilities; operations, readiness and support; and strategic modernization.
Military pay and health care would receive $149.4 billion, with pay and benefits receiving $107.8 billion and health care $41.6 billion.
Family housing and facilities account for $23.9 billion, with $3.2 billion going to privatizing 12,324 more homes for servicemembers. Base realignment and closure costs are set at $9.5 billion, fully funding 25 base closures and 24 major realignments. The 2009 request also asks Congress to approve $11.2 billion for training centers and base infrastructure needed as the Army and Marine Corps continue to grow.
The budget continues funds for increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps. Last year, the overall end-strength increase was set at 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines through fiscal 2012.
The budget request asks for $15.5 billion for the Army increase and $5 billion for the Marines in fiscal 2009. If approved, the increase will boost the Army to 532,400 during fiscal 2009 and the number of brigade combat teams from 40 to 42. The Army's goal is a force of 547,400 with 48 brigade combat teams in fiscal 2012.
In fiscal 2009, the Marine Corps will boost its end-strength by 5,000 to 194,000. The Marine goal is 202,000 in fiscal 2011.
The increase will help both services handle the operations tempo required to fight the global war on terrorism, and could potentially mean more time at home for servicemembers. Currently, soldiers deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan for 15-month tours and are at home stations for a year; the Marines are deployed for seven months and home for seven months. Once the growth is finished, soldiers will spend a year deployed and two years at home station, and the Marines will deploy for seven months and be home for 14 months.
Air Force end-strength will be set at 316,600, and Navy end-strength will be 325,300.
Force readiness will experience a 10.4 percent jump in funding over 2008 if the budget is approved. The budget request is $158.3 billion, an increase of $14.9 billion. Operational readiness – tank miles, ship steaming days and flying hours – will remain constant, officials said.
The request also includes $33.1 billion for logistical, intelligence and servicewide support activities. Equipment maintenance is set at $11.8 billion, while base operations and facilities maintenance are pegged at $32.6 billion for more than 5,300 sites worldwide. Training is set for $7.4 billion, and recruiting is at $3.3 billion for fiscal 2009.
Strategic modernization is set at $183.8 billion in fiscal 2009, up $10.5 billion from fiscal 2008. The category includes procurement and research and development. Joint air capabilities account for about half of the procurement, and includes 16 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, 20 F-22A Raptors, 36 V-22 Ospreys, 23 F/A-18 Hornets, 16 CH-47 Chinook helicopters and $1.4 billion for the Air Force's KC-X tanker aircraft program.
On the Navy side, the budget includes money for building the CVN-21 aircraft carrier, a Virginia-class submarine, two littoral combat ships and a DDG-1000 destroyer.
Army buys include 119 Stryker vehicles, 5,249 Humvees, 29 M-1A1 tank upgrades, 1,061 heavy tactical vehicles and 3,187 medium tactical vehicles.
Spec-based capabilities include more launch vehicles, two space-based infrared systems and advanced, extremely high-frequency satellite and ballistic missile defense.
Officials said the department will work with Congress to ensure four specific initiatives mentioned in the president's State of the Union address become realities. The first is to put legislation in place so servicemembers can transfer unused education benefits to spouses or children. The second is to expand and strengthen career opportunities for military spouses. Third is to develop a public-private partnership to increase child-care centers in communities surrounding military bases. The last is to implement the Dole-Shalala Report recommendations for treatment of wounded warriors and their families.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - A 3.4 percent military pay raise, a 2.9 percent civilian raise, money to continue to grow the Army and Marines and a funding increase to maintain readiness are major aspects of the fiscal 2009 defense budget request President Bush sent to Congress today. The defense budget request is for $515.4 billion – a $35.9 billion increase over the 2008 level. The total federal budget request for fiscal 2009 is $3.1 trillion.
Defense officials said five priorities drive the budget request: winning the war on terror, increasing ground combat capabilities, improving readiness, developing future combat capabilities and improving servicemembers' quality of life.
"The budget request provides the resources needed to prevail in current conflicts, while preparing the department for a range of challenges the nation may face in the years ahead," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference this afternoon.
He pointed out that the defense request amounts to about 3.4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product. "To give you some basis for comparison, ... during the Korean War the percentage of GDP going to defense was about 14 percent, and during Vietnam it was about 9 percent," Gates said.
The budget funds the operations, training, recruiting and equipping of 2.2 million personnel in the Defense Department.
The service portions of the budget are $140.7 billion for the Army, $149.2 billion for the Navy and Marine Corps and $143.8 billion for the Air Force.
The request is broken into four major funding areas: military pay and health care; family housing and facilities; operations, readiness and support; and strategic modernization.
Military pay and health care would receive $149.4 billion, with pay and benefits receiving $107.8 billion and health care $41.6 billion.
Family housing and facilities account for $23.9 billion, with $3.2 billion going to privatizing 12,324 more homes for servicemembers. Base realignment and closure costs are set at $9.5 billion, fully funding 25 base closures and 24 major realignments. The 2009 request also asks Congress to approve $11.2 billion for training centers and base infrastructure needed as the Army and Marine Corps continue to grow.
The budget continues funds for increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps. Last year, the overall end-strength increase was set at 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines through fiscal 2012.
The budget request asks for $15.5 billion for the Army increase and $5 billion for the Marines in fiscal 2009. If approved, the increase will boost the Army to 532,400 during fiscal 2009 and the number of brigade combat teams from 40 to 42. The Army's goal is a force of 547,400 with 48 brigade combat teams in fiscal 2012.
In fiscal 2009, the Marine Corps will boost its end-strength by 5,000 to 194,000. The Marine goal is 202,000 in fiscal 2011.
The increase will help both services handle the operations tempo required to fight the global war on terrorism, and could potentially mean more time at home for servicemembers. Currently, soldiers deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan for 15-month tours and are at home stations for a year; the Marines are deployed for seven months and home for seven months. Once the growth is finished, soldiers will spend a year deployed and two years at home station, and the Marines will deploy for seven months and be home for 14 months.
Air Force end-strength will be set at 316,600, and Navy end-strength will be 325,300.
Force readiness will experience a 10.4 percent jump in funding over 2008 if the budget is approved. The budget request is $158.3 billion, an increase of $14.9 billion. Operational readiness – tank miles, ship steaming days and flying hours – will remain constant, officials said.
The request also includes $33.1 billion for logistical, intelligence and servicewide support activities. Equipment maintenance is set at $11.8 billion, while base operations and facilities maintenance are pegged at $32.6 billion for more than 5,300 sites worldwide. Training is set for $7.4 billion, and recruiting is at $3.3 billion for fiscal 2009.
Strategic modernization is set at $183.8 billion in fiscal 2009, up $10.5 billion from fiscal 2008. The category includes procurement and research and development. Joint air capabilities account for about half of the procurement, and includes 16 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, 20 F-22A Raptors, 36 V-22 Ospreys, 23 F/A-18 Hornets, 16 CH-47 Chinook helicopters and $1.4 billion for the Air Force's KC-X tanker aircraft program.
On the Navy side, the budget includes money for building the CVN-21 aircraft carrier, a Virginia-class submarine, two littoral combat ships and a DDG-1000 destroyer.
Army buys include 119 Stryker vehicles, 5,249 Humvees, 29 M-1A1 tank upgrades, 1,061 heavy tactical vehicles and 3,187 medium tactical vehicles.
Spec-based capabilities include more launch vehicles, two space-based infrared systems and advanced, extremely high-frequency satellite and ballistic missile defense.
Officials said the department will work with Congress to ensure four specific initiatives mentioned in the president's State of the Union address become realities. The first is to put legislation in place so servicemembers can transfer unused education benefits to spouses or children. The second is to expand and strengthen career opportunities for military spouses. Third is to develop a public-private partnership to increase child-care centers in communities surrounding military bases. The last is to implement the Dole-Shalala Report recommendations for treatment of wounded warriors and their families.
Book and Author of the Year Announced
Editor's Note: The Author of the Year is a former Marine.
February 4, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. Police-Writers.com announced the 2008 Book of the Year and 2008 Author of the Year.
What Every Chief Executive Should Know: Using Data to Measure Police Performance, (Looseleaf Law Publications, 2007) by Captain Jon M. Shane (ret.), was selected as the 2008 Police-Writers.com Book of the Year. In December 1985, Jon Shane Joined the Newark Police Department (New Jersey) and was assigned to the South Police District. During his 20 year law enforcement career, he worked a variety of assignments and worked his way through the ranks of detective, sergeant and lieutenant, eventually reaching the rank of Captain.
Jon Shane’s book stood out among the entrants because it significantly advances management decision making in the field of law enforcement. The book provides models and mathematical approaches to management questions like: “How many officers do we need? Are we efficiently using the ones we have? Is there a relationship between the number of officers we have and our crime rate? What is the status of our patrol car fleet? Are citizens satisfied with our work? What is the cost of our special programs and what are the actual benefits?”
One Police-Writers.com judge noted that Jon Shane’s book “took a daunting subject and broke it down into pieces that anyone could understand and put to use. Not only did he give simple and easy to understand explanations, he also provides examples of types of data and how to work with that data to make intelligent decisions. Plus, he provides a CD with ready-to-use Excel spreadsheets for an executive to use right away.” A second judge noted, “Shane’s book goes beyond the use of math to solve management questions in policing. The hidden value in the work may be that it demonstrates new ways of thinking about crime. Potentially, it could help put the word “analysis” back into “crime analysis.”
James H. Lilley was selected as the 2008 Police-Writers.com Author of the Year. The author of the year selection was based in part on writing ability and in part on career and community service.
James H. Lilley began his lifetime as a United States Marine in 1961. Shortly after his discharge, he joined the Howard County Police Department (Maryland), graduating first in his class. During his career his received numerous honors such as Medal of Valor, four Bronze Stars, four Unit Citations and the Governor’s Citation. James H. Lilley has published six novels, articles in Police Chief Magazine and authored an International Association of Chiefs of Police training key. Moreover, he began studying Martial Arts in the early 1960s and is a 8th Degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate; the first American to achieve this recognition and honor from Sensei Takeshi Miyagi.
James Lilley submitted as an example of his work The Eyes of the Hunter (PublishAmerica 1997). One of the Police-Writers.com judges said of James’ writing, “He is a mature writer with strong plot, character and story development.” Another judge said, “easy to read, and it was very good escapism. The writer has some absolutely beautiful passages wherein he describes a sound or a vista. The sex scenes are pretty hot, too.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 839 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1772 law enforcement books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Contact Information:
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
February 4, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. Police-Writers.com announced the 2008 Book of the Year and 2008 Author of the Year.
What Every Chief Executive Should Know: Using Data to Measure Police Performance, (Looseleaf Law Publications, 2007) by Captain Jon M. Shane (ret.), was selected as the 2008 Police-Writers.com Book of the Year. In December 1985, Jon Shane Joined the Newark Police Department (New Jersey) and was assigned to the South Police District. During his 20 year law enforcement career, he worked a variety of assignments and worked his way through the ranks of detective, sergeant and lieutenant, eventually reaching the rank of Captain.
Jon Shane’s book stood out among the entrants because it significantly advances management decision making in the field of law enforcement. The book provides models and mathematical approaches to management questions like: “How many officers do we need? Are we efficiently using the ones we have? Is there a relationship between the number of officers we have and our crime rate? What is the status of our patrol car fleet? Are citizens satisfied with our work? What is the cost of our special programs and what are the actual benefits?”
One Police-Writers.com judge noted that Jon Shane’s book “took a daunting subject and broke it down into pieces that anyone could understand and put to use. Not only did he give simple and easy to understand explanations, he also provides examples of types of data and how to work with that data to make intelligent decisions. Plus, he provides a CD with ready-to-use Excel spreadsheets for an executive to use right away.” A second judge noted, “Shane’s book goes beyond the use of math to solve management questions in policing. The hidden value in the work may be that it demonstrates new ways of thinking about crime. Potentially, it could help put the word “analysis” back into “crime analysis.”
James H. Lilley was selected as the 2008 Police-Writers.com Author of the Year. The author of the year selection was based in part on writing ability and in part on career and community service.
James H. Lilley began his lifetime as a United States Marine in 1961. Shortly after his discharge, he joined the Howard County Police Department (Maryland), graduating first in his class. During his career his received numerous honors such as Medal of Valor, four Bronze Stars, four Unit Citations and the Governor’s Citation. James H. Lilley has published six novels, articles in Police Chief Magazine and authored an International Association of Chiefs of Police training key. Moreover, he began studying Martial Arts in the early 1960s and is a 8th Degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate; the first American to achieve this recognition and honor from Sensei Takeshi Miyagi.
James Lilley submitted as an example of his work The Eyes of the Hunter (PublishAmerica 1997). One of the Police-Writers.com judges said of James’ writing, “He is a mature writer with strong plot, character and story development.” Another judge said, “easy to read, and it was very good escapism. The writer has some absolutely beautiful passages wherein he describes a sound or a vista. The sex scenes are pretty hot, too.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 839 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1772 law enforcement books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Contact Information:
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Gates Calls on Congress to Pass Fiscal 2008 Emergency Request
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on Congress today during a news conference announcing the fiscal 2009 defense budget request to finish work on the 2008 emergency budget supplemental bill. President Bush requested $189.4 billion for the war on terror for fiscal 2008. In December, Congress approved $86.8 billion of that request and deferred work on the remaining $102.5 billion.
"As I've said before, delay degrades our ability to operate and sustain our force at home and in theater and makes it difficult to manage this department in a way that is fiscally sound," Gates said. "I urge approval of this budget request as quickly as possible."
Defense Department Comptroller Tina W. Jonas said the Army will run out of money to pay troops in June and will be unable to fund operations in July.
"Congress provided very little of the additional pay we requested, so the Army's military pay account will run out of funds in June," she said at the news conference. She said the June deadline already includes all budget-stretching procedures the department can perform.
Army operations are in a little better shape, but funding for them will last only through July, said Navy Vice Adm. P. Stephen Stanley, the Joint Staff's resources director.
Jonas also is concerned about the equipment and force protection pieces of the 2008 emergency supplemental request. DoD asked for $43.6 billion to reset the force. "The Congress provided less than a third of the funding that we need," she said. "This includes $2.2 billion for about 300,000 sets of body armor."
The emergency request also includes $1 billion for coalition support funding. This money goes to coalition countries to sustain their support for the global war on terrorism. "We will run out of those funds in March, so this is very important to us," Jonas said.
The request also funds equipment to outfit two new Army brigade combat teams.
"That doesn't mean that the people we are deploying into the theater over the next several months won't be fully equipped and ready," Stanley said. "They will be. What it means is there will be holes in the gear that is left behind and (that) we use to certify and train those next-to-deploy forces." The department will take risk in its U.S.-based forces, but will keep deploying forces at the right readiness level, he added.
Also awaiting congressional approval is $2.9 billion to train and equip Iraqi and Afghan security forces.
The administration also has asked Congress for a $70 billion emergency request for fiscal 2009, which starts Oct. 1, 2008. Gates said this "bridge fund" will cover operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the calendar year. Defense officials said the request is a placeholder for a more detailed request they will submit in the spring.
Officials need more information from U.S. Central Command before they can be more specific about the funding, Jonas explained.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called on Congress today during a news conference announcing the fiscal 2009 defense budget request to finish work on the 2008 emergency budget supplemental bill. President Bush requested $189.4 billion for the war on terror for fiscal 2008. In December, Congress approved $86.8 billion of that request and deferred work on the remaining $102.5 billion.
"As I've said before, delay degrades our ability to operate and sustain our force at home and in theater and makes it difficult to manage this department in a way that is fiscally sound," Gates said. "I urge approval of this budget request as quickly as possible."
Defense Department Comptroller Tina W. Jonas said the Army will run out of money to pay troops in June and will be unable to fund operations in July.
"Congress provided very little of the additional pay we requested, so the Army's military pay account will run out of funds in June," she said at the news conference. She said the June deadline already includes all budget-stretching procedures the department can perform.
Army operations are in a little better shape, but funding for them will last only through July, said Navy Vice Adm. P. Stephen Stanley, the Joint Staff's resources director.
Jonas also is concerned about the equipment and force protection pieces of the 2008 emergency supplemental request. DoD asked for $43.6 billion to reset the force. "The Congress provided less than a third of the funding that we need," she said. "This includes $2.2 billion for about 300,000 sets of body armor."
The emergency request also includes $1 billion for coalition support funding. This money goes to coalition countries to sustain their support for the global war on terrorism. "We will run out of those funds in March, so this is very important to us," Jonas said.
The request also funds equipment to outfit two new Army brigade combat teams.
"That doesn't mean that the people we are deploying into the theater over the next several months won't be fully equipped and ready," Stanley said. "They will be. What it means is there will be holes in the gear that is left behind and (that) we use to certify and train those next-to-deploy forces." The department will take risk in its U.S.-based forces, but will keep deploying forces at the right readiness level, he added.
Also awaiting congressional approval is $2.9 billion to train and equip Iraqi and Afghan security forces.
The administration also has asked Congress for a $70 billion emergency request for fiscal 2009, which starts Oct. 1, 2008. Gates said this "bridge fund" will cover operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the calendar year. Defense officials said the request is a placeholder for a more detailed request they will submit in the spring.
Officials need more information from U.S. Central Command before they can be more specific about the funding, Jonas explained.
America Supports You: Boxes of Support Boost 'Adopted' Units
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - Support by the boxful from a New York home-front group is keeping servicemembers' spirits high as they serve overseas. "Being so far away from home, we want our daughter, son-in-law, and the 450 soldiers in their unit and other units to know that we love them, and think about them every day," said Sylvester Henry, president of Adopt A Unit US. "Our objective is to provide the (servicemembers) with an abundance of support and comfort in order to encourage strength and optimism (while) bringing them as close to home as possible."
Helping servicemembers feel close to home can be tricky, but Henry and his wife, Cassandra, work to make each of the care packages they send special. The boxes are filled with each unit's requests with items that mostly are donated by the community.
A recent effort saw 100 boxes head overseas to boost servicemembers' morale.
"We were informed that they were so thankful and grateful to the community for sending so many things that they missed from home and hadn't seen in such a long time," Henry said.
In addition to care packages, Adopt A Unit US conducts a letter-writing campaign. Called the "Happy Day" campaign, the group asks that people write a "warm and uplifting" letter to a servicemember, so he or she can have something positive in their day, Henry said.
Adopt A Unit US is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
The group hopes to expand by having a community in every city across the country adopt a unit, Henry said, adding he hopes the affiliation with America Supports You will help.
"We believe the networking and support of each other will benefit us all by allowing us to expand out beyond our immediate circle of influence," he said. "Our organization feels that aligning ourselves with a respected group such as America Supports You will definitely increase our exposure throughout this nation, helping to (gain) a great deal of support for our troops."
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - Support by the boxful from a New York home-front group is keeping servicemembers' spirits high as they serve overseas. "Being so far away from home, we want our daughter, son-in-law, and the 450 soldiers in their unit and other units to know that we love them, and think about them every day," said Sylvester Henry, president of Adopt A Unit US. "Our objective is to provide the (servicemembers) with an abundance of support and comfort in order to encourage strength and optimism (while) bringing them as close to home as possible."
Helping servicemembers feel close to home can be tricky, but Henry and his wife, Cassandra, work to make each of the care packages they send special. The boxes are filled with each unit's requests with items that mostly are donated by the community.
A recent effort saw 100 boxes head overseas to boost servicemembers' morale.
"We were informed that they were so thankful and grateful to the community for sending so many things that they missed from home and hadn't seen in such a long time," Henry said.
In addition to care packages, Adopt A Unit US conducts a letter-writing campaign. Called the "Happy Day" campaign, the group asks that people write a "warm and uplifting" letter to a servicemember, so he or she can have something positive in their day, Henry said.
Adopt A Unit US is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
The group hopes to expand by having a community in every city across the country adopt a unit, Henry said, adding he hopes the affiliation with America Supports You will help.
"We believe the networking and support of each other will benefit us all by allowing us to expand out beyond our immediate circle of influence," he said. "Our organization feels that aligning ourselves with a respected group such as America Supports You will definitely increase our exposure throughout this nation, helping to (gain) a great deal of support for our troops."
Monday, February 04, 2008
Face of Defense: Former Giant Cheers Team from Afghanistan
By Sgt. Jim Wilt, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - As millions of Americans gathered around their televisions to watch Super Bowl XLII last night, servicemembers here rolled out of beds, cots or sleeping bags to watch the big game in the early morning hours. The New York Giants and New England Patriots each had plenty of rooters here, but one soldier assigned to Combined Joint Task Force 82 took special pride in the Giants' stunning 17-14 upset of the previously unbeaten Patriots.
Before he joined the Army, Lt. Col. Nate Rivers, CJTF 82's logistics maintenance chief, played in the National Football League in a career that included two years with the Giants.
Rivers, a resident of Anchorage, Ala., was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979 after a successful college career as a quarterback at South Carolina State University. Shortly thereafter, he was traded to the Giants. Rivers said he was with the Giants for two years before being traded again to the Baltimore Colts, where he ended his career in 1981 as a wide receiver.
After a stint on injured reserve, Rivers said, he knew his career was over. "I knew I needed to move on," he said. He'd seen players trying hold on to the sport after their time was over. "I just decided I wasn't going to do that," he said.
Less than a week later, he was standing with his right hand raised at an Army recruiter's office.
"I told the recruiter I wanted the hardest thing out there," Rivers recalled. He found himself at Fort Benning, Ga., training to be an infantryman.
"The Army provided me the opportunity to be on the 'first team,'" he said. "Twenty-six years later, that is why I am still on the 'first team.' The Army offered me a better deal."
Rivers still has good memories about his days as a professional football player, including flattening a future hall-of-famer in practice.
"I was there for Lawrence Taylor's rookie year," he said. "I don't think too many people can say they knocked him on his back and stood over him and said 'Get up, Rook.'"
Nate Rivers never became a household name, but he's still proud of his gridiron accomplishments. "Reporting to (training) camp is a feat in itself," he said.
Playing pro football and becoming an officer in the Army are two accomplishments many people would be proud of. But they are not the icing on Rivers' cake, as far as he's concerned.
"The most important (accomplishment) in my mind is when I got my college degree," he said.
Even as Rivers watched his old team win the world championship, he still remembered why he is here.
"This is a Super Bowl here, too," he said. "There is a winner and loser, and God forbid we come out on the losing end in the war on terror."
(Army Sgt. Jim Wilt serves in public affairs with Combined Joint Task Force 82.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 4, 2008 - As millions of Americans gathered around their televisions to watch Super Bowl XLII last night, servicemembers here rolled out of beds, cots or sleeping bags to watch the big game in the early morning hours. The New York Giants and New England Patriots each had plenty of rooters here, but one soldier assigned to Combined Joint Task Force 82 took special pride in the Giants' stunning 17-14 upset of the previously unbeaten Patriots.
Before he joined the Army, Lt. Col. Nate Rivers, CJTF 82's logistics maintenance chief, played in the National Football League in a career that included two years with the Giants.
Rivers, a resident of Anchorage, Ala., was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979 after a successful college career as a quarterback at South Carolina State University. Shortly thereafter, he was traded to the Giants. Rivers said he was with the Giants for two years before being traded again to the Baltimore Colts, where he ended his career in 1981 as a wide receiver.
After a stint on injured reserve, Rivers said, he knew his career was over. "I knew I needed to move on," he said. He'd seen players trying hold on to the sport after their time was over. "I just decided I wasn't going to do that," he said.
Less than a week later, he was standing with his right hand raised at an Army recruiter's office.
"I told the recruiter I wanted the hardest thing out there," Rivers recalled. He found himself at Fort Benning, Ga., training to be an infantryman.
"The Army provided me the opportunity to be on the 'first team,'" he said. "Twenty-six years later, that is why I am still on the 'first team.' The Army offered me a better deal."
Rivers still has good memories about his days as a professional football player, including flattening a future hall-of-famer in practice.
"I was there for Lawrence Taylor's rookie year," he said. "I don't think too many people can say they knocked him on his back and stood over him and said 'Get up, Rook.'"
Nate Rivers never became a household name, but he's still proud of his gridiron accomplishments. "Reporting to (training) camp is a feat in itself," he said.
Playing pro football and becoming an officer in the Army are two accomplishments many people would be proud of. But they are not the icing on Rivers' cake, as far as he's concerned.
"The most important (accomplishment) in my mind is when I got my college degree," he said.
Even as Rivers watched his old team win the world championship, he still remembered why he is here.
"This is a Super Bowl here, too," he said. "There is a winner and loser, and God forbid we come out on the losing end in the war on terror."
(Army Sgt. Jim Wilt serves in public affairs with Combined Joint Task Force 82.)
Sunday, February 03, 2008
End-of-Tour Ceremony Honors Casualties
By Sgt. Laura M. Bigenho, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 3, 2008 - Civilians and servicemembers gathered at Al Faw Palace here Feb. 1 to reflect on the cost of war and pay their last respects to fallen warriors during a Multinational Corps Iraq end-of-tour memorial ceremony. The ceremony honored those killed and wounded while the U.S. Army's 3rd Corps was the maneuver command element from December 2006 to February 2008.
Multinational Corps Iraq Commander Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said the ceremony was a time to reflect on the bravery and selfless service of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. "These individuals are no ordinary people," Odierno said. "They had strong convictions, strength of character and compassion."
The general said those who died were unified by the willingness to sacrifice their life for their comrades and mission. "Their sacrifice and volunteerism allowed us to achieve progress in Iraq that many thought impossible just a few months ago," he said. "We are here to honor their memory and never forget their sacrifices."
The ceremony opened with a video excerpt from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's 1962 farewell speech to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. "Duty, honor, country," MacArthur said. "Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be and what you will be."
Multinational Corps Iraq's senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, spoke about the commitment of troops currently serving in Iraq and the commitment of those who fell doing their duty. "The men and women we honor here this night have done their job," he said. "They have committed themselves on countless occasions simply because it was their job."
Ciotola said what set that what set those troops apart was the price they paid in doing so. "They have sacrificed the best years of their lives and ultimately the rest of their lives," he said. "They gave their word, they kept their word, and ultimately they gave their lives."
Col. Michael Tarvin, the Multinational Corps Iraq chaplain, said each servicemember left behind a legacy that others should emulate. "Part of their legacy is the embracing of life and their willingness and commitment in serving others," he said. "The legacy of courage, selflessness, loyalty, sacrifice and honor demonstrated by them were traits that run through the stories of all these men and women."
During the ceremony, a video calendar displayed the number of troops wounded and killed each month. The video paused briefly to show the faces of each fatality and the date they were killed. Images and video clips taken from Operation Iraqi Freedom depicting both the gentle and harsh sides of the war filled the space between each month. As the video homage came to an end, a collage of fallen heroes' faces gradually disappeared to reveal the rotation's total cost to date: 1,027 killed and 7,152 wounded.
The video ended with the image of a silhouette saluting a memorial display, accompanied by spoken words from Odierno.
"We will never forget those that gave their lives fighting for the ideals of freedom, nor the loved ones they left behind," he said. "Their sacrifices are not in vain, and it's because of them that we enjoy justice and liberty."
(Army Sgt. Laura M. Bigenho is assigned to the Public Affairs Office of Multinational Corps Iraq.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 3, 2008 - Civilians and servicemembers gathered at Al Faw Palace here Feb. 1 to reflect on the cost of war and pay their last respects to fallen warriors during a Multinational Corps Iraq end-of-tour memorial ceremony. The ceremony honored those killed and wounded while the U.S. Army's 3rd Corps was the maneuver command element from December 2006 to February 2008.
Multinational Corps Iraq Commander Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said the ceremony was a time to reflect on the bravery and selfless service of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. "These individuals are no ordinary people," Odierno said. "They had strong convictions, strength of character and compassion."
The general said those who died were unified by the willingness to sacrifice their life for their comrades and mission. "Their sacrifice and volunteerism allowed us to achieve progress in Iraq that many thought impossible just a few months ago," he said. "We are here to honor their memory and never forget their sacrifices."
The ceremony opened with a video excerpt from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's 1962 farewell speech to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. "Duty, honor, country," MacArthur said. "Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be and what you will be."
Multinational Corps Iraq's senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Neil Ciotola, spoke about the commitment of troops currently serving in Iraq and the commitment of those who fell doing their duty. "The men and women we honor here this night have done their job," he said. "They have committed themselves on countless occasions simply because it was their job."
Ciotola said what set that what set those troops apart was the price they paid in doing so. "They have sacrificed the best years of their lives and ultimately the rest of their lives," he said. "They gave their word, they kept their word, and ultimately they gave their lives."
Col. Michael Tarvin, the Multinational Corps Iraq chaplain, said each servicemember left behind a legacy that others should emulate. "Part of their legacy is the embracing of life and their willingness and commitment in serving others," he said. "The legacy of courage, selflessness, loyalty, sacrifice and honor demonstrated by them were traits that run through the stories of all these men and women."
During the ceremony, a video calendar displayed the number of troops wounded and killed each month. The video paused briefly to show the faces of each fatality and the date they were killed. Images and video clips taken from Operation Iraqi Freedom depicting both the gentle and harsh sides of the war filled the space between each month. As the video homage came to an end, a collage of fallen heroes' faces gradually disappeared to reveal the rotation's total cost to date: 1,027 killed and 7,152 wounded.
The video ended with the image of a silhouette saluting a memorial display, accompanied by spoken words from Odierno.
"We will never forget those that gave their lives fighting for the ideals of freedom, nor the loved ones they left behind," he said. "Their sacrifices are not in vain, and it's because of them that we enjoy justice and liberty."
(Army Sgt. Laura M. Bigenho is assigned to the Public Affairs Office of Multinational Corps Iraq.)
Cubbler, Sovino and Acklin
Editor's Note: Two of the authors are former servicemembers.
February 3, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three authors: Mathew Cubbler; John Savino; and, Bobby Acklin.
Matthew Cubbler joined the Collegeville Police Department (Pennsylvania) in June 2006. His law enforcement career began in 1994 when he joined the Royersford Borough Police Department. In 1996, he moved to the West Pottsgrove Township Police Department, and then in 2002, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 he became a Federal Air Marshal. As a member of the Collegeville Police Department, Matthew Cubbler was one of the original members of the regional Chester-Montgomery Emergency Response Team. He has served as the Team's training and firearms instructor as well as an assistant team leader. Additionally, he is a United States Army Gulf War Veteran; having served as an intelligence analyst from 1989 to 1993. Matthew Cubbler is the author of A Brother's Love: A Memoir.
According to the description of A Brother's Love: A Memoir, “One’s role models in life are often found in the unexpected. The person who is our confidant and hero, or role model, may well be a teacher, parent, sibling, or friend who is appreciated too late. For me, my role model was my brother, Andy, who died too soon, at the age of twenty-one. Andy’s story and my own as it unfolds will tell the tale of two brothers who were each others’ best friend. We had a childhood filled with love, joy, laughter, and sadness. Unfortunately for me, I was so busy being my “brother’s keeper” that I never realized the phenomenal human being my brother, had become.
John Savino has been a member of the New York City Police Department since 1982. His career has spanned all aspects of law enforcement, beginning with a short assignment as a uniformed police officer and quick advancement to the Narcotics Division. His investigative skills began developing while assigned to the Manhattan North Narcotics Division. This assignment also helped develop his ability to talk with people from all walks of life, as he worked in an “undercover” capacity buying narcotics in Manhattan.
For the last 15 years he has been assigned to the Manhattan Special Victims Squad, where he investigates reports of Child Abuse and any Sexual Assault occurring in the Borough of Manhattan. While assigned to the Special Victims Squad, he has risen to the prestigious rank of 1st Grade Detective. Detective John Savino has been involved in thousands of investigations of rape and sexual assault, and has been the lead investigator in many successful serial rape and pattern investigations. John O. Savino is the co-author of the Rape Investigations Handbook.
According to the description of the Rape Investigation Handbook, This work addresses specific investigative and forensic processes related to sex crimes for those who work in law enforcement, the defense community, or in the private sector. It is an unprecedented collaborative work -- the first working manual for sex crime investigators, written by sex crime investigators and forensic scientists. The key feature of this work is a thorough overview of the investigative and forensic processes related to sex crime investigation. It takes the reader through investigative and forensic processes in a logical sequence, showing how investigations of rape and sexual assault can and should be conducted from start to finish.”
A nine year veteran of the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, Former Police Officer Bobby Acklin II authored Ass Backwards: A Black Police Officers Hatred for Inner City Criminals and Their Enablers under the pseudonym “Kodiack.” According to Kodiak’s bio, he earned “multiple honors of valor for saving the lives of others in need. Kodiack was very outspoken against African Americans who perpetuate inner-city racial stereo types, and turned his 9 years with the police force into a critical analysis of police ethics and inner city crime. Prior service in the military, and graduation from college shaped Kodiack's world into a logical, serious, but humorous event, thus publishing an auto-biography titled Ass Backwards.”
According to the book description of Ass Backwards: A Black Police Officers Hatred for Inner City Criminals and Their Enablers, “Much like a hibernating bear, author "Kodiack" awakens after thirty-five years to accept his role as the underdog and heed his calling to condemn irresponsible black leaders who encourage the slave mentality in black communities.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 839 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1772 law enforcement books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
February 3, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three authors: Mathew Cubbler; John Savino; and, Bobby Acklin.
Matthew Cubbler joined the Collegeville Police Department (Pennsylvania) in June 2006. His law enforcement career began in 1994 when he joined the Royersford Borough Police Department. In 1996, he moved to the West Pottsgrove Township Police Department, and then in 2002, after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 he became a Federal Air Marshal. As a member of the Collegeville Police Department, Matthew Cubbler was one of the original members of the regional Chester-Montgomery Emergency Response Team. He has served as the Team's training and firearms instructor as well as an assistant team leader. Additionally, he is a United States Army Gulf War Veteran; having served as an intelligence analyst from 1989 to 1993. Matthew Cubbler is the author of A Brother's Love: A Memoir.
According to the description of A Brother's Love: A Memoir, “One’s role models in life are often found in the unexpected. The person who is our confidant and hero, or role model, may well be a teacher, parent, sibling, or friend who is appreciated too late. For me, my role model was my brother, Andy, who died too soon, at the age of twenty-one. Andy’s story and my own as it unfolds will tell the tale of two brothers who were each others’ best friend. We had a childhood filled with love, joy, laughter, and sadness. Unfortunately for me, I was so busy being my “brother’s keeper” that I never realized the phenomenal human being my brother, had become.
John Savino has been a member of the New York City Police Department since 1982. His career has spanned all aspects of law enforcement, beginning with a short assignment as a uniformed police officer and quick advancement to the Narcotics Division. His investigative skills began developing while assigned to the Manhattan North Narcotics Division. This assignment also helped develop his ability to talk with people from all walks of life, as he worked in an “undercover” capacity buying narcotics in Manhattan.
For the last 15 years he has been assigned to the Manhattan Special Victims Squad, where he investigates reports of Child Abuse and any Sexual Assault occurring in the Borough of Manhattan. While assigned to the Special Victims Squad, he has risen to the prestigious rank of 1st Grade Detective. Detective John Savino has been involved in thousands of investigations of rape and sexual assault, and has been the lead investigator in many successful serial rape and pattern investigations. John O. Savino is the co-author of the Rape Investigations Handbook.
According to the description of the Rape Investigation Handbook, This work addresses specific investigative and forensic processes related to sex crimes for those who work in law enforcement, the defense community, or in the private sector. It is an unprecedented collaborative work -- the first working manual for sex crime investigators, written by sex crime investigators and forensic scientists. The key feature of this work is a thorough overview of the investigative and forensic processes related to sex crime investigation. It takes the reader through investigative and forensic processes in a logical sequence, showing how investigations of rape and sexual assault can and should be conducted from start to finish.”
A nine year veteran of the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, Former Police Officer Bobby Acklin II authored Ass Backwards: A Black Police Officers Hatred for Inner City Criminals and Their Enablers under the pseudonym “Kodiack.” According to Kodiak’s bio, he earned “multiple honors of valor for saving the lives of others in need. Kodiack was very outspoken against African Americans who perpetuate inner-city racial stereo types, and turned his 9 years with the police force into a critical analysis of police ethics and inner city crime. Prior service in the military, and graduation from college shaped Kodiack's world into a logical, serious, but humorous event, thus publishing an auto-biography titled Ass Backwards.”
According to the book description of Ass Backwards: A Black Police Officers Hatred for Inner City Criminals and Their Enablers, “Much like a hibernating bear, author "Kodiack" awakens after thirty-five years to accept his role as the underdog and heed his calling to condemn irresponsible black leaders who encourage the slave mentality in black communities.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 839 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1772 law enforcement books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Gates Listens to Fort Campbell Soldiers', Spouses' Concerns
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 2, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with a number of soldiers who are getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, and he visited with a group of Army spouses during his first official visit here Feb. 1. The secretary held closed-door meetings with both groups, where he listened to concerns such as the current length of overseas deployments, medical and child day care, housing allowances and other issues.
Gates told reporters after the meetings that he was prepared to do some "bureaucracy busting" to resolve some of the issues raised by the soldiers and spouses.
The length of overseas deployments, he noted, was a key issue cited by the spouses.
"There is no question that 15-month deployments are a real strain; not only on the soldiers, but (also) on the families they leave behind," Gates said.
"Our hope is that we can move back to 12-month deployments as soon as possible," the secretary continued. "A lot depends upon how quickly we can grow the Army and also in terms of the drawdowns that we'll have in Iraq over the next months."
Emily Bhatta, one of the 11 Army spouses that met with Gates, was pleased with the secretary's visit. She said one of the key issues the spouses they discussed was the length of military deployments.
"He really listened to our issues and he took notes and it seemed like he really wanted to help make change," said Bhatta, whose husband, 1st Lt. David Bhatta, is currently deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, an element of Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Tasha Buchanen's husband, Army Pfc. Theodore Buchanen, is a helicopter mechanic with the 101st Division who deployed to Afghanistan on Dec. 20.
"Health care was a really big issue" during the spouses' meeting with Gates, Buchanen said.
"He really came here wanting to know how we are doing," Buchanen said.
Army Sgt. Tyler R. Fernlund, a 4th Brigade, Special Troops Battalion noncommissioned officer who is getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, said he was impressed after meeting with the secretary.
Gates "was really sincere and took our questions seriously," Fernlund recalled, noting the availability of child daycare was among the topics discussed.
"He said he appreciates what we do and he was real concerned about the welfare of our families," Fernlund said.
Army Staff Sgt. Nathan S. Hammarsten, another Special Troops Battalion NCO, said he was thankful that Gates "took the time" to visit with the soldiers and to listen to their concerns.
"The 101st is really good at taking care of spouses," Hammarsten, who is married, pointed out. The division's family support networks, he added, ensure that information and other forms of support are provided to the spouses of deployed soldiers.
Gates routinely seeks input and ideas from servicemembers and spouses during his visits to military installations, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, who accompanied the secretary to Fort Campbell, told reporters.
"Whatever base we go to, he insists that we carve out time to speak with troops, and if possible, spouses, to hear what is on their minds," Morrell said. "It is a totally-open conversation. He has no agenda. He just wants to make himself available to answer any questions they may have and to receive any advice they care to share with him."
Such feedback is reflected in education and jobs program proposals for military spouses that President Bush cited in his Jan. 28 State of the Union speech, Morrell said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 2, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with a number of soldiers who are getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, and he visited with a group of Army spouses during his first official visit here Feb. 1. The secretary held closed-door meetings with both groups, where he listened to concerns such as the current length of overseas deployments, medical and child day care, housing allowances and other issues.
Gates told reporters after the meetings that he was prepared to do some "bureaucracy busting" to resolve some of the issues raised by the soldiers and spouses.
The length of overseas deployments, he noted, was a key issue cited by the spouses.
"There is no question that 15-month deployments are a real strain; not only on the soldiers, but (also) on the families they leave behind," Gates said.
"Our hope is that we can move back to 12-month deployments as soon as possible," the secretary continued. "A lot depends upon how quickly we can grow the Army and also in terms of the drawdowns that we'll have in Iraq over the next months."
Emily Bhatta, one of the 11 Army spouses that met with Gates, was pleased with the secretary's visit. She said one of the key issues the spouses they discussed was the length of military deployments.
"He really listened to our issues and he took notes and it seemed like he really wanted to help make change," said Bhatta, whose husband, 1st Lt. David Bhatta, is currently deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, an element of Fort Campbell's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Tasha Buchanen's husband, Army Pfc. Theodore Buchanen, is a helicopter mechanic with the 101st Division who deployed to Afghanistan on Dec. 20.
"Health care was a really big issue" during the spouses' meeting with Gates, Buchanen said.
"He really came here wanting to know how we are doing," Buchanen said.
Army Sgt. Tyler R. Fernlund, a 4th Brigade, Special Troops Battalion noncommissioned officer who is getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, said he was impressed after meeting with the secretary.
Gates "was really sincere and took our questions seriously," Fernlund recalled, noting the availability of child daycare was among the topics discussed.
"He said he appreciates what we do and he was real concerned about the welfare of our families," Fernlund said.
Army Staff Sgt. Nathan S. Hammarsten, another Special Troops Battalion NCO, said he was thankful that Gates "took the time" to visit with the soldiers and to listen to their concerns.
"The 101st is really good at taking care of spouses," Hammarsten, who is married, pointed out. The division's family support networks, he added, ensure that information and other forms of support are provided to the spouses of deployed soldiers.
Gates routinely seeks input and ideas from servicemembers and spouses during his visits to military installations, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell, who accompanied the secretary to Fort Campbell, told reporters.
"Whatever base we go to, he insists that we carve out time to speak with troops, and if possible, spouses, to hear what is on their minds," Morrell said. "It is a totally-open conversation. He has no agenda. He just wants to make himself available to answer any questions they may have and to receive any advice they care to share with him."
Such feedback is reflected in education and jobs program proposals for military spouses that President Bush cited in his Jan. 28 State of the Union speech, Morrell said.
Award Recognizes Troops' Morale Efforts
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - People in uniform who go out of their way to boost the morale of fellow troops could be rewarded for their positive attitude and hard work, thanks to a group dedicated to keeping members of the armed forces connected and entertained. "The SemperComm Award is designed to recognize and honor those servicemembers who are making personal contributions to boost the morale of their fellow men and women," organization officials said in a recent news release.
Up to three awardees will be chosen from all nominations received by Feb. 29. Any servicemember, including those serving in the Coast Guard, combatant commands and field commands, can nominate someone.
The judges, four retired military officers, will base their decisions on actions the nominees took to boost the morale of fellow servicemembers, the remoteness and size of the base where the nominee is stationed, and their desire to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Winners will be honored at the SemperComm Foundation's annual gala May 22 in Arlington, Va.
SemperComm is dedicated to supplying morale-boosting communications and entertainment equipment, software and services to small, remote U.S. military bases overseas.
It's also a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
For more information on the SemperComm Award, contact Alix Anne Hornig at 703-923-7610 or at ahornig@sempercomm.org.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - People in uniform who go out of their way to boost the morale of fellow troops could be rewarded for their positive attitude and hard work, thanks to a group dedicated to keeping members of the armed forces connected and entertained. "The SemperComm Award is designed to recognize and honor those servicemembers who are making personal contributions to boost the morale of their fellow men and women," organization officials said in a recent news release.
Up to three awardees will be chosen from all nominations received by Feb. 29. Any servicemember, including those serving in the Coast Guard, combatant commands and field commands, can nominate someone.
The judges, four retired military officers, will base their decisions on actions the nominees took to boost the morale of fellow servicemembers, the remoteness and size of the base where the nominee is stationed, and their desire to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Winners will be honored at the SemperComm Foundation's annual gala May 22 in Arlington, Va.
SemperComm is dedicated to supplying morale-boosting communications and entertainment equipment, software and services to small, remote U.S. military bases overseas.
It's also a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
For more information on the SemperComm Award, contact Alix Anne Hornig at 703-923-7610 or at ahornig@sempercomm.org.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Service Leaders Report on Recruiting Success
By Sgt. Sara Moore, USA
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - Despite a challenging recruiting environment, all four branches of the military have met with significant recruiting success in the past year and are on target to continue that success, the services' recruiting chiefs told a Congressional committee yesterday. In fiscal 2007, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all exceeded their active-duty enlisted recruiting goals, and only the Air Force fell slightly short of its goal on the reserve-component side, the officers in charge of recruitment for the four services said at a hearing of the personnel subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The Army's success came after two years of reinforcing the recruiting command with additional manpower, resources and incentives to bring up numbers that lagged in 2005, Army Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, said in prepared remarks to the committee. He noted that this success came at a time of persistent combat.
In fiscal 2007, the active-duty Army met Defense Department goals for the percentage of recruits scoring high on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, but fell short of the goal of 90 percent of recruits holding a high school diploma, Bostick said. Only 79 percent of active-duty recruits for 2007 had high school diplomas.
Acknowledging this shortage and an increase in the number of waivers granted for recruits with convictions, Bostick said commanders in the field are pleased with the quality of the soldiers serving in their units. He emphasized that all applications for waivers are reviewed thoroughly, and those for individuals with felony convictions are reviewed by 10 different people and must be approved at the general officer level.
"The Army is reviewing the long-term impact of the less number of high school diploma graduates (and) the increased waivers on the effectiveness of an Army at war," Bostick said in his testimony. "But in talking to soldiers and drill sergeants and our Army leaders, there's a common theme that the quality and the skills of our initial entry training graduates remains high."
Fiscal 2007 marked the ninth consecutive year the Navy achieved its overall active-component mission, while exceeding Defense Department recruit quality standards, Navy Rear Adm. Joseph F. Kilkenny, commander of Navy Recruiting Command, said at the hearing. The Navy's top recruiting priority in 2007 was naval special warfare and special operations, programs that require exceptionally bright and physically fit recruits, he said.
To boost recruitment for these elite communities, the Navy hired former naval special warfare and special operations personnel to assist in selecting, testing and mentoring new recruits, Kilkenny said. This effort, coupled with $40,000 enlistment bonuses, improved recruiting in these communities and increased physical screening test pass rates for recruits at boot camp from 28 percent to 78 percent.
The Navy met with mixed success in officer recruiting in 2007, Kilkenny said. Nineteen of the 23 officer communities met their goals, but the chaplain corps, chaplain student program, naval reactor engineers and programs for students in the medical profession all missed goal. As a result, the Navy has increased its efforts in officer recruiting and is making medical officer recruiting its number one goal for fiscal 2008, he said.
The Air Force's success in 2007 marked its eighth consecutive year and 77th consecutive month of meeting enlisted recruiting goals, Air Force Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, commander of Air Force Recruiting Service, said in prepared remarks to the committee. The quality of Air Force recruits remains above DoD standards, with 79 percent scoring above the 50th percentile on the ASVAB test and 91 percent entering without needing a waiver for moral, drug or criminal issues, she said in her testimony.
Vautrinot noted that the Air Force's critical warfighting career fields, such as pararescue and linguist, have consistently been filled, thanks largely to enlistment bonuses provided by Congress. Officer recruitment programs, with the exception of the medical corps, have met with continued success, as well, she said.
Last year, the Air Force recruited just fewer than half of its target for fully qualified health care personnel. To address this shortfall, the Air Force is increasing its health professions scholarships and realigning recruiters to major medical education centers, Vautrinot said.
The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard both face significant recruiting challenges because of the impact of the Base Realignment and Closure initiatives, which will bring about personnel reductions and mission changes, Vautrinot said. However, in both the reserve and active-duty components, the Air Force relies on the examples of its current members and high-quality recruiters to send a positive message and boost recruitment, she said.
"The Air Force attracts recruits with a simple but powerful message: We're a well-trained, highly technical force, a global team defending the nation in the war on terrorism while simultaneously executing humanitarian missions around the globe," she said.
The Marine Corps' recruiting success in 2007 cut across the active and reserve components, including officers, Marine Brig. Gen. Richard T. Tryon, commander of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, said in his prepared remarks. The recruiting mission was increased as part of an effort to grow the overall force, he said, and the recruiting command stayed on track to build an active component with an end strength of 202,000.
In his testimony, Tryon attributed the recruiting success to a quality recruiting force that is screened, well-trained, and properly resourced. He noted that every Marine assigned to recruiting duty is evaluated thoroughly before attending a seven-week training course, and they continue to receive training while on recruiter duty.
Marine recruiters find they must invest considerable time with parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and other "influencers" to attract men and women qualified to serve, Tryon said. Recruiters mostly rely on the Marine Corps values and its reputation as an elite force for enticing people to serve, Tryon said.
All four leaders agreed that they are facing an extremely challenging recruiting environment today. The propensity among young people to serve is the lowest it's ever been, and key influencers, like parents and teachers, are not always supportive of military service. Also, the military is competing with the private sector for talented young people, many of whom see a college degree and high-paying job as the path to success.
Despite these challenges, all the leaders expressed optimism about meeting recruiting goals for fiscal 2008. All the services are adding new initiatives this year to better take advantage of technology and education programs to boost recruiting efforts, the leaders said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - Despite a challenging recruiting environment, all four branches of the military have met with significant recruiting success in the past year and are on target to continue that success, the services' recruiting chiefs told a Congressional committee yesterday. In fiscal 2007, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all exceeded their active-duty enlisted recruiting goals, and only the Air Force fell slightly short of its goal on the reserve-component side, the officers in charge of recruitment for the four services said at a hearing of the personnel subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The Army's success came after two years of reinforcing the recruiting command with additional manpower, resources and incentives to bring up numbers that lagged in 2005, Army Maj. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, commander of U.S. Army Recruiting Command, said in prepared remarks to the committee. He noted that this success came at a time of persistent combat.
In fiscal 2007, the active-duty Army met Defense Department goals for the percentage of recruits scoring high on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, but fell short of the goal of 90 percent of recruits holding a high school diploma, Bostick said. Only 79 percent of active-duty recruits for 2007 had high school diplomas.
Acknowledging this shortage and an increase in the number of waivers granted for recruits with convictions, Bostick said commanders in the field are pleased with the quality of the soldiers serving in their units. He emphasized that all applications for waivers are reviewed thoroughly, and those for individuals with felony convictions are reviewed by 10 different people and must be approved at the general officer level.
"The Army is reviewing the long-term impact of the less number of high school diploma graduates (and) the increased waivers on the effectiveness of an Army at war," Bostick said in his testimony. "But in talking to soldiers and drill sergeants and our Army leaders, there's a common theme that the quality and the skills of our initial entry training graduates remains high."
Fiscal 2007 marked the ninth consecutive year the Navy achieved its overall active-component mission, while exceeding Defense Department recruit quality standards, Navy Rear Adm. Joseph F. Kilkenny, commander of Navy Recruiting Command, said at the hearing. The Navy's top recruiting priority in 2007 was naval special warfare and special operations, programs that require exceptionally bright and physically fit recruits, he said.
To boost recruitment for these elite communities, the Navy hired former naval special warfare and special operations personnel to assist in selecting, testing and mentoring new recruits, Kilkenny said. This effort, coupled with $40,000 enlistment bonuses, improved recruiting in these communities and increased physical screening test pass rates for recruits at boot camp from 28 percent to 78 percent.
The Navy met with mixed success in officer recruiting in 2007, Kilkenny said. Nineteen of the 23 officer communities met their goals, but the chaplain corps, chaplain student program, naval reactor engineers and programs for students in the medical profession all missed goal. As a result, the Navy has increased its efforts in officer recruiting and is making medical officer recruiting its number one goal for fiscal 2008, he said.
The Air Force's success in 2007 marked its eighth consecutive year and 77th consecutive month of meeting enlisted recruiting goals, Air Force Brig. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot, commander of Air Force Recruiting Service, said in prepared remarks to the committee. The quality of Air Force recruits remains above DoD standards, with 79 percent scoring above the 50th percentile on the ASVAB test and 91 percent entering without needing a waiver for moral, drug or criminal issues, she said in her testimony.
Vautrinot noted that the Air Force's critical warfighting career fields, such as pararescue and linguist, have consistently been filled, thanks largely to enlistment bonuses provided by Congress. Officer recruitment programs, with the exception of the medical corps, have met with continued success, as well, she said.
Last year, the Air Force recruited just fewer than half of its target for fully qualified health care personnel. To address this shortfall, the Air Force is increasing its health professions scholarships and realigning recruiters to major medical education centers, Vautrinot said.
The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard both face significant recruiting challenges because of the impact of the Base Realignment and Closure initiatives, which will bring about personnel reductions and mission changes, Vautrinot said. However, in both the reserve and active-duty components, the Air Force relies on the examples of its current members and high-quality recruiters to send a positive message and boost recruitment, she said.
"The Air Force attracts recruits with a simple but powerful message: We're a well-trained, highly technical force, a global team defending the nation in the war on terrorism while simultaneously executing humanitarian missions around the globe," she said.
The Marine Corps' recruiting success in 2007 cut across the active and reserve components, including officers, Marine Brig. Gen. Richard T. Tryon, commander of Marine Corps Recruiting Command, said in his prepared remarks. The recruiting mission was increased as part of an effort to grow the overall force, he said, and the recruiting command stayed on track to build an active component with an end strength of 202,000.
In his testimony, Tryon attributed the recruiting success to a quality recruiting force that is screened, well-trained, and properly resourced. He noted that every Marine assigned to recruiting duty is evaluated thoroughly before attending a seven-week training course, and they continue to receive training while on recruiter duty.
Marine recruiters find they must invest considerable time with parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and other "influencers" to attract men and women qualified to serve, Tryon said. Recruiters mostly rely on the Marine Corps values and its reputation as an elite force for enticing people to serve, Tryon said.
All four leaders agreed that they are facing an extremely challenging recruiting environment today. The propensity among young people to serve is the lowest it's ever been, and key influencers, like parents and teachers, are not always supportive of military service. Also, the military is competing with the private sector for talented young people, many of whom see a college degree and high-paying job as the path to success.
Despite these challenges, all the leaders expressed optimism about meeting recruiting goals for fiscal 2008. All the services are adding new initiatives this year to better take advantage of technology and education programs to boost recruiting efforts, the leaders said.
Military Law Library Expands
The Federal Research Division (FRD) of the Library of Congress is pleased to announce that the FRD Web site, sponsored and funded by the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center & School (TJAGLCS) Library, has been updated with Volumes 12 through 15 of the series: Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals, http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/NTs_war-criminals.html
In addition, the 1917, 1918, and 1921 Manuals for Courts-Martial are now available:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/CM-manuals.html
The Fall 2007 (Vol. 193) issue of Military Law Review http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Military_Law_Review/pdf-files/193-fall-2007.pdf and the October 2007 issue of The Army Lawyer http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/10-2007.pdf have also been added.
Our Home Page is: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/military-legal-resources-home.html
If you would like to receive additional information on these or other documents, or have suggestions to offer, please feel free to contact us.
Roberta W. Goldblatt, Project Manager rgol@loc.gov
Federal Research Division, LA-5245
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4845
Voice: (202) 707-1184
FAX: (202) 707-3920
In addition, the 1917, 1918, and 1921 Manuals for Courts-Martial are now available:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/CM-manuals.html
The Fall 2007 (Vol. 193) issue of Military Law Review http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Military_Law_Review/pdf-files/193-fall-2007.pdf and the October 2007 issue of The Army Lawyer http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/10-2007.pdf have also been added.
Our Home Page is: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/military-legal-resources-home.html
If you would like to receive additional information on these or other documents, or have suggestions to offer, please feel free to contact us.
Roberta W. Goldblatt, Project Manager rgol@loc.gov
Federal Research Division, LA-5245
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20540-4845
Voice: (202) 707-1184
FAX: (202) 707-3920
National Defense Authorization Act Empowers National Guard
By Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - The position of the chief of the National Guard Bureau has been elevated to a four-star billet 100 years after the bureau came into existence. The chief of the National Guard Bureau also became a principal advisor to the secretary of defense through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a result of a Jan. 28 stroke of the president's pen that triggered the most sweeping changes for the National Guard in 100 years.
The Division of Militia Affairs, the precursor of the modern National Guard Bureau, came into existence in February 1908, according to Michael Doubler, a retired colonel who is one of the Guard's preeminent historians.
The first chief was Col. Erasmus Weaver, who served from 1908-11. The stature of the chief's office has been progressively increased during the century since.
On Jan. 28, President Bush signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2008, which includes provisions that:
-- A bipartisan council of governors advises the secretary of defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and others on National Guard matters.
-- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff determines the feasibility of increasing the number of U.S. Northern Command reserve-component members.
-- Up to 15 reserve-component general officers serve at combatant commands, an increase from 10.
-- The National Guard Bureau becomes a joint activity of the Department of Defense. Previously, it was a joint bureau of the Army and the Air Force.
-- The bureau's chief becomes a principal advisor to the secretary of defense through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
-- The grade of the position of the chief of the National Guard Bureau increases to a four-star general.
A driving force behind many of the changes in the NDAA is the transformation of the National Guard from a Cold War strategic reserve to today's operational reserve.
The vast bulk of the major reforms of the National Guard included in the bill were derived from the National Guard Empowerment Act of 2007.
The provisions of the NDAA that affect the National Guard are among many others that affect the nation's armed forces.
The NDAA also:
-- Gives servicemembers a 3.5 percent pay raise;
-- Includes the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act to improve support for wounded troops and their families, including providing increased treatment closer to home rather than at the base from which the servicemember deployed; and
-- Lowers the eligibility age for retirement by three months for each 90 days a Guard member serves on certain types of active duty. The active duty must be served after the NDAA was enacted, and eligibility cannot be reduced below 50 years of age.
The act includes $650 million authorized for miscellaneous equipment for the Army National Guard and $150 million for Air National Guard. Previously, National Guard and reserve equipment appropriation money has been appropriated without authorization.
It also includes end strengths of 351,300 for the Army National Guard and 106,700 for the Air National Guard. The Army National Guard end strength increased from 350,000, while the Air Guard level is essentially unchanged. The secretary of defense can authorize the Guard to exceed end strength by up to 3 percent.
The NDAA does not authorize any additional weapons of mass destruction civil support teams but instead refers the issue to an advisory panel to study.
(Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill is assigned to the National Guard Bureau. The Day newspaper in New London, Conn., the National Guard Bureau's Office of Legislative Liaison, and other sources contributed to this report.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - The position of the chief of the National Guard Bureau has been elevated to a four-star billet 100 years after the bureau came into existence. The chief of the National Guard Bureau also became a principal advisor to the secretary of defense through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a result of a Jan. 28 stroke of the president's pen that triggered the most sweeping changes for the National Guard in 100 years.
The Division of Militia Affairs, the precursor of the modern National Guard Bureau, came into existence in February 1908, according to Michael Doubler, a retired colonel who is one of the Guard's preeminent historians.
The first chief was Col. Erasmus Weaver, who served from 1908-11. The stature of the chief's office has been progressively increased during the century since.
On Jan. 28, President Bush signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2008, which includes provisions that:
-- A bipartisan council of governors advises the secretary of defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and others on National Guard matters.
-- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff determines the feasibility of increasing the number of U.S. Northern Command reserve-component members.
-- Up to 15 reserve-component general officers serve at combatant commands, an increase from 10.
-- The National Guard Bureau becomes a joint activity of the Department of Defense. Previously, it was a joint bureau of the Army and the Air Force.
-- The bureau's chief becomes a principal advisor to the secretary of defense through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
-- The grade of the position of the chief of the National Guard Bureau increases to a four-star general.
A driving force behind many of the changes in the NDAA is the transformation of the National Guard from a Cold War strategic reserve to today's operational reserve.
The vast bulk of the major reforms of the National Guard included in the bill were derived from the National Guard Empowerment Act of 2007.
The provisions of the NDAA that affect the National Guard are among many others that affect the nation's armed forces.
The NDAA also:
-- Gives servicemembers a 3.5 percent pay raise;
-- Includes the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act to improve support for wounded troops and their families, including providing increased treatment closer to home rather than at the base from which the servicemember deployed; and
-- Lowers the eligibility age for retirement by three months for each 90 days a Guard member serves on certain types of active duty. The active duty must be served after the NDAA was enacted, and eligibility cannot be reduced below 50 years of age.
The act includes $650 million authorized for miscellaneous equipment for the Army National Guard and $150 million for Air National Guard. Previously, National Guard and reserve equipment appropriation money has been appropriated without authorization.
It also includes end strengths of 351,300 for the Army National Guard and 106,700 for the Air National Guard. The Army National Guard end strength increased from 350,000, while the Air Guard level is essentially unchanged. The secretary of defense can authorize the Guard to exceed end strength by up to 3 percent.
The NDAA does not authorize any additional weapons of mass destruction civil support teams but instead refers the issue to an advisory panel to study.
(Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill is assigned to the National Guard Bureau. The Day newspaper in New London, Conn., the National Guard Bureau's Office of Legislative Liaison, and other sources contributed to this report.)
Conditions Change, But U.S.-South Korean Alliance Remains Strong
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - The U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance has changed as conditions have changed, but it remains as strong as it has ever been, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command said. In an interview, Army Gen. Burwell B. Bell said the alliance has weathered some tough times, but "We Fight Together" is still the motto that U.S. and South Korean troops live by.
The U.S.-ROK military alliance has strengthened significantly in the last decade, Bell said. "In the two years I've been there, I can measure the improvement in South Korea's military capability," he said. "I am very confident in the American military capability."
This is coupled with what he calls "an erosion" in North Korea's military capacity. The North Korean military cannot launch a serious offensive against South Korea to defeat the alliance, destroy the South Korean democracy or eliminate the United States from South Korea -- objectives the North Koreans once aimed for, the general said.
"I believe they understand they can't do that now," Bell said. "If indeed North Korea attacked South Korea, we are there to deter and defend. We have no offensive motives. If they were (to attack), we would end it decisively and quickly, and we would end it on our terms."
The South Korean military, which the general would command in the event of war, has grown in skill and capabilities, he said. With more than 500,000 soldiers, the South Korean military would shoulder the burden of ground combat. U.S. ground forces would stand with their South Korean allies, but the largest U.S. contributions would come via air and sea power, he added.
The U.S. Air Force and Navy are "extraordinarily capable" in East Asia. Air assets on the peninsula would respond immediately. Aircraft from other areas in the Pacific would be available within hours. Worldwide air assets could be in combat in days, Bell said. "We are able to bring together a very capable air armada to execute a master air attack plan should North Korea chose to attack the South," he said. "And I assure you, that response would be devastating and extremely debilitating for North Korea."
On the seas, the South Korean and U.S. navies would eliminate the North Korean navy and would stop them from using their ports.
"I'm not going to tell you I don't need American ground forces, but on balance, the outcome of a future Korean War, should one transpire, the ground war would be borne on the backs of Korean ground forces, and they would do very well," Bell said. "It's an interdependent fight, leveraging American air and sea power and Korean ground power all put together in a warfighting mechanism that has been honed over 55 years."
Economic improvements in South Korea have changed the alliance, Bell said. When the alliance first came into being, South Korea was a ruined country mourning millions of dead from the Korean War. Today, it is the 11th largest economy in the world.
"Korea is a magnificent first-world country of the highest order with an incredible infrastructure, a modern, superb quality of life, an advanced economy, medical institutions, universities -- everything that symbolizes a first-world country," Bell said.
He said South Korea has been able to grow behind its alliance with the U.S. "In an area fraught with wars and complexities for centuries, a peaceful environment for 55 years is something we all should claim as a success," Bell said. "We certainly should not take it for granted."
Bell said the NATO alliance is a perfect example of alliances changing to remain relevant. No one anticipated the North Atlantic alliance would survive the end of the Soviet Union.
"It is possible that, in the focus that we've had in other areas of the world for the last decade, that we in America might assume some things about Korea and Japan without understanding that an alliance takes management, leadership, consensus and agreement every day between the partners and that alliance has to evolve and change," Bell said.
The evolving situation in Korea -- notably the Six-Party Talks -- has also improved the U.S. ability to talk to North Korea. The talks deal with de-nuclearizing North Korea and involve North Korea, South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States.
"We have ways of bringing the parties together that we didn't have before," Bell said. "The Six-Party Talks are as much about the other five parties as it is about North Korea in terms of consensus and solidarity and common purpose and taking a common message to North Korea about the way they should behave in that part of the world," the general said. "As long as we have a solid consensus and agreement on how we should approach North Korea, then I think North Korea has fewer options."
While its military capability is eroding, North Korea remains a threat, Bell said. The country is a military dictatorship that has a 1.2 million-man army, 70 percent of which is within 90 miles of the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Artillery could reach the South Korean capital, and North Korean missiles could range the peninsula.
"As long as you have a million men under arms right there, with all this artillery capable of shooting at Seoul, and while I am certain that North Korea would not win a war against the alliance, they still could cause enormous destruction if they chose to do it," Bell said.
The U.S. and South Korea are aware of the threat from North Korea, and both countries are prepared. "It takes solid leadership; it takes consensus. It takes political framework, diplomatic engagement and, as is always the case, it takes a security environment, and that's the business I am in," the general said.
Bell said he will retire this summer. The next commander will continue to help manage the alliance, because Korea is a strategic area, he said. "It is right in the middle of an area of vital U.S. interests," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - The U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance has changed as conditions have changed, but it remains as strong as it has ever been, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command said. In an interview, Army Gen. Burwell B. Bell said the alliance has weathered some tough times, but "We Fight Together" is still the motto that U.S. and South Korean troops live by.
The U.S.-ROK military alliance has strengthened significantly in the last decade, Bell said. "In the two years I've been there, I can measure the improvement in South Korea's military capability," he said. "I am very confident in the American military capability."
This is coupled with what he calls "an erosion" in North Korea's military capacity. The North Korean military cannot launch a serious offensive against South Korea to defeat the alliance, destroy the South Korean democracy or eliminate the United States from South Korea -- objectives the North Koreans once aimed for, the general said.
"I believe they understand they can't do that now," Bell said. "If indeed North Korea attacked South Korea, we are there to deter and defend. We have no offensive motives. If they were (to attack), we would end it decisively and quickly, and we would end it on our terms."
The South Korean military, which the general would command in the event of war, has grown in skill and capabilities, he said. With more than 500,000 soldiers, the South Korean military would shoulder the burden of ground combat. U.S. ground forces would stand with their South Korean allies, but the largest U.S. contributions would come via air and sea power, he added.
The U.S. Air Force and Navy are "extraordinarily capable" in East Asia. Air assets on the peninsula would respond immediately. Aircraft from other areas in the Pacific would be available within hours. Worldwide air assets could be in combat in days, Bell said. "We are able to bring together a very capable air armada to execute a master air attack plan should North Korea chose to attack the South," he said. "And I assure you, that response would be devastating and extremely debilitating for North Korea."
On the seas, the South Korean and U.S. navies would eliminate the North Korean navy and would stop them from using their ports.
"I'm not going to tell you I don't need American ground forces, but on balance, the outcome of a future Korean War, should one transpire, the ground war would be borne on the backs of Korean ground forces, and they would do very well," Bell said. "It's an interdependent fight, leveraging American air and sea power and Korean ground power all put together in a warfighting mechanism that has been honed over 55 years."
Economic improvements in South Korea have changed the alliance, Bell said. When the alliance first came into being, South Korea was a ruined country mourning millions of dead from the Korean War. Today, it is the 11th largest economy in the world.
"Korea is a magnificent first-world country of the highest order with an incredible infrastructure, a modern, superb quality of life, an advanced economy, medical institutions, universities -- everything that symbolizes a first-world country," Bell said.
He said South Korea has been able to grow behind its alliance with the U.S. "In an area fraught with wars and complexities for centuries, a peaceful environment for 55 years is something we all should claim as a success," Bell said. "We certainly should not take it for granted."
Bell said the NATO alliance is a perfect example of alliances changing to remain relevant. No one anticipated the North Atlantic alliance would survive the end of the Soviet Union.
"It is possible that, in the focus that we've had in other areas of the world for the last decade, that we in America might assume some things about Korea and Japan without understanding that an alliance takes management, leadership, consensus and agreement every day between the partners and that alliance has to evolve and change," Bell said.
The evolving situation in Korea -- notably the Six-Party Talks -- has also improved the U.S. ability to talk to North Korea. The talks deal with de-nuclearizing North Korea and involve North Korea, South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States.
"We have ways of bringing the parties together that we didn't have before," Bell said. "The Six-Party Talks are as much about the other five parties as it is about North Korea in terms of consensus and solidarity and common purpose and taking a common message to North Korea about the way they should behave in that part of the world," the general said. "As long as we have a solid consensus and agreement on how we should approach North Korea, then I think North Korea has fewer options."
While its military capability is eroding, North Korea remains a threat, Bell said. The country is a military dictatorship that has a 1.2 million-man army, 70 percent of which is within 90 miles of the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. Artillery could reach the South Korean capital, and North Korean missiles could range the peninsula.
"As long as you have a million men under arms right there, with all this artillery capable of shooting at Seoul, and while I am certain that North Korea would not win a war against the alliance, they still could cause enormous destruction if they chose to do it," Bell said.
The U.S. and South Korea are aware of the threat from North Korea, and both countries are prepared. "It takes solid leadership; it takes consensus. It takes political framework, diplomatic engagement and, as is always the case, it takes a security environment, and that's the business I am in," the general said.
Bell said he will retire this summer. The next commander will continue to help manage the alliance, because Korea is a strategic area, he said. "It is right in the middle of an area of vital U.S. interests," he said.
Officials Call Guard-Reserve Report 'Fundamentally Flawed'
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - Core elements of a congressional commission's report aimed at overhauling the U.S. military's reserve forces are "fundamentally flawed," Defense Department officials said today. The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves yesterday delivered its final report to Congress and Pentagon officials. The report included 95 recommendations on transitioning the reserves into a feasible and sustainable operational reserve.
At the crux of the Defense officials' objection to the report is a recommendation that would in effect make the National Guard a domestic response force for civil emergencies, essentially eliminating its go-to-war mission.
"That is sharply at odds with the position that we have taken in our strategy for homeland defense and civil support," said Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas' security affairs, speaking to journalists at the Pentagon. "We believe that the National Guard has a primary role to play in domestic disaster response -- but that mission assignment should not be to the exclusion of National Guard's traditional war-fighting missions overseas."
The recommendation is that the Defense Department shift capabilities useful for state-controlled responses to domestic emergencies to the National Guard, and shift capabilities in the National Guard that are not required for state missions, but are required for its federal missions, to the military reserve components or active-duty military.
This would in effect place nearly all civil support capabilities within the National Guard and move wartime missions to the federal military.
"What the ... commission is recommending ... is that the National Guard become a domestic disaster response capability exclusively. We think that's wrong," McHale said.
Alongside McHale at the briefing today was National Guard Bureau Chief, Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum. He said that the active-duty military could not feasibly fill the gaps left my removing the Guard from its wartime mission. Right now, the Guard makes up 40 percent of the combat power of the U.S. military. More than 355,000 serve troops in the Army National Guard and 106,000 in the Air Guard.
"We would unhinge the volunteer force, and we would break the total force," Blum said.
Department officials are also at odds with the recommendation to place active-duty military forces under the command and control of the governors of the states in which they are deployed.
"Fifty different governors will command our active duty military forces in a patchwork quilt of command and control that would guarantee an inability to achieve unity of command and unity of effort in a crisis," McHale said.
That recommendation, he said, is at odds with the federal system of government and Article II of the Constitution.
"There can be only one commander-in-chief, and that is the president of the United States," McHale said. "To decentralize that command and control to 50 separate state governors invites confusion."
Another recommendation by the commission would cut reservists' drill pay in half. The commission recommends reducing the 29 duty status codes the reserves now have to only two – either on active duty or not.
The problem is that reservists now get four days pay for a two day drill period. The commission recommends one day's pay, for one day's work. The drilling reservist would receive, for the same duty, half the pay he is currently receiving. Or they would have to put in twice as many duty days to receive the same pay.
"We believe that is a mistake," McHale said. "We believe it is precisely the wrong message to be sent to National Guardsmen and Reservists who at this point in our history are deserving of our appreciation and respect. Their compensation ought not be cut."
The pay cut could have also an impact on recruiting and retention, he said.
"We believe that this proposal moves in precisely the wrong direction in terms of encouraging reserve participation and expressing appreciation for the sacrifice that reservists and their families have made in support of our nation," McHale said.
Department officials disagreed with the harsh criticism leveled at the disaster preparedness of the nation yesterday by the commission chairman, retired Marine Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro.
McHale called some of Punaro's characterizations "unfortunate and inaccurate" and said that, while some plans are still being developed, the Department could respond to a disaster and has both trained personnel and up-to-date equipment in place.
McHale pointed to the National Guard's 53 certified civil support teams and 17 chemical emergency response force packages modeled after the Marine Corps chemical, biological incident response force.
"Our department's catastrophic response capabilities are the best funded, best equipped, best trained in the world," McHale said.
The secretary said that most of these plans and resources didn't exist before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Defense Department is in the final stages of identifying and resourcing task forces made up of 15,000 department personnel trained and equipped to respond to a domestic detonation of a weapon of mass destruction.
"That kind of capability has never existed in such a task organization during the history of the Department of Defense," McHale said.
The department is developing plans to respond to nuclear detonations and multiple dirty bomb, chemical and anthrax attacks, as well as hurricanes and earthquakes. They should be final in the next year, he said.
Blum addressed the equipment shortfalls identified in the report. Punaro said yesterday that nearly 90 percent of the National Guard is not combat ready, lacking adequate funding, training and equipment.
Blum said that the report was accurate, but did not account for what he called and "unprecedented" $45 billion in funding being channeled into the Guard to fix those problems. By next year 69 percent of the forces should be equipped and 77 percent by 2013.
"We didn't get into that problem overnight. And we're not going to dig out of it in one night," Blum said.
Also, Blum said, at the end of 2013 the Guard will represent an organization that is equipped as a fully modernized, mirror-image of the active force, for the first time in the nation's history.
McHale and Blum both acknowledged that some of the proposals by the commission had merit, and even validated some of the policies and changes made by the department in the past four years.
"There are many parts of this report that are of value," McHale said. "We are not rejecting this report out of hand."
Army Maj. Gen. Guy Swan III, director of operations for U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for homeland defense, told the American Forces Press Service in an interview that he also feels that the report was "necessary" and is "of some utility," but he said it doesn't apply correctly to the current situation.
"The report paints a picture that, in my view, is more dated than anything else," Swan said. He mentioned that many in his command are disappointed at how critical the report has been "because much of what is in that report has been addressed through a variety of means over the past couple of years."
Swan said that "if you looked at the report two years ago or three years ago, it was probably quite accurate," but many of the reports' criticisms have been acted upon in the past year or two.
Over the past couple of years he has spent serving within NORTHCOM, Swan said he has "seen remarkable cooperation and improvements with the National Guard, with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies."
He said the command relies heavily upon the National Guard in order to accomplish its mission.
"We cannot do our mission at NORTHCOM without coordination and cooperation with the National Guard. It just can't be done," Swan said. "We see the guard as part of the broader friendly forces that might be involved in an operation, along with first responders, state emergency management personnel, and other federal agencies."
But Swan reiterated that the National Guard has a "viable, needed wartime mission." He said he does not think reducing the Guard's role simply to homeland defense would be a good move.
"I don't think we want to have a National Guard that is one dimensional. Frankly, I think the Guard is better than that," Swan said. "It has been demonstrated during operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans. They are a multidimensional force, and they can do the homeland operations as well."
Swan said he doesn't think the Guard should be limited to either a wartime mission or a homeland defense mission. He said there are shortfalls in resourcing, which the report has been helpful in identifying, and those issues are being dealt with in the appropriate Defense Department forums.
"I don't think it's an issue of either or. It is to some degree an issue of resources, and that is being addressed," Swan said. "In my view, the Guard needs to be part of the national defense establishment writ large."
(John Valceanu of the American Forces Press Services contributed to this article.)
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2008 - Core elements of a congressional commission's report aimed at overhauling the U.S. military's reserve forces are "fundamentally flawed," Defense Department officials said today. The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves yesterday delivered its final report to Congress and Pentagon officials. The report included 95 recommendations on transitioning the reserves into a feasible and sustainable operational reserve.
At the crux of the Defense officials' objection to the report is a recommendation that would in effect make the National Guard a domestic response force for civil emergencies, essentially eliminating its go-to-war mission.
"That is sharply at odds with the position that we have taken in our strategy for homeland defense and civil support," said Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas' security affairs, speaking to journalists at the Pentagon. "We believe that the National Guard has a primary role to play in domestic disaster response -- but that mission assignment should not be to the exclusion of National Guard's traditional war-fighting missions overseas."
The recommendation is that the Defense Department shift capabilities useful for state-controlled responses to domestic emergencies to the National Guard, and shift capabilities in the National Guard that are not required for state missions, but are required for its federal missions, to the military reserve components or active-duty military.
This would in effect place nearly all civil support capabilities within the National Guard and move wartime missions to the federal military.
"What the ... commission is recommending ... is that the National Guard become a domestic disaster response capability exclusively. We think that's wrong," McHale said.
Alongside McHale at the briefing today was National Guard Bureau Chief, Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum. He said that the active-duty military could not feasibly fill the gaps left my removing the Guard from its wartime mission. Right now, the Guard makes up 40 percent of the combat power of the U.S. military. More than 355,000 serve troops in the Army National Guard and 106,000 in the Air Guard.
"We would unhinge the volunteer force, and we would break the total force," Blum said.
Department officials are also at odds with the recommendation to place active-duty military forces under the command and control of the governors of the states in which they are deployed.
"Fifty different governors will command our active duty military forces in a patchwork quilt of command and control that would guarantee an inability to achieve unity of command and unity of effort in a crisis," McHale said.
That recommendation, he said, is at odds with the federal system of government and Article II of the Constitution.
"There can be only one commander-in-chief, and that is the president of the United States," McHale said. "To decentralize that command and control to 50 separate state governors invites confusion."
Another recommendation by the commission would cut reservists' drill pay in half. The commission recommends reducing the 29 duty status codes the reserves now have to only two – either on active duty or not.
The problem is that reservists now get four days pay for a two day drill period. The commission recommends one day's pay, for one day's work. The drilling reservist would receive, for the same duty, half the pay he is currently receiving. Or they would have to put in twice as many duty days to receive the same pay.
"We believe that is a mistake," McHale said. "We believe it is precisely the wrong message to be sent to National Guardsmen and Reservists who at this point in our history are deserving of our appreciation and respect. Their compensation ought not be cut."
The pay cut could have also an impact on recruiting and retention, he said.
"We believe that this proposal moves in precisely the wrong direction in terms of encouraging reserve participation and expressing appreciation for the sacrifice that reservists and their families have made in support of our nation," McHale said.
Department officials disagreed with the harsh criticism leveled at the disaster preparedness of the nation yesterday by the commission chairman, retired Marine Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro.
McHale called some of Punaro's characterizations "unfortunate and inaccurate" and said that, while some plans are still being developed, the Department could respond to a disaster and has both trained personnel and up-to-date equipment in place.
McHale pointed to the National Guard's 53 certified civil support teams and 17 chemical emergency response force packages modeled after the Marine Corps chemical, biological incident response force.
"Our department's catastrophic response capabilities are the best funded, best equipped, best trained in the world," McHale said.
The secretary said that most of these plans and resources didn't exist before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Defense Department is in the final stages of identifying and resourcing task forces made up of 15,000 department personnel trained and equipped to respond to a domestic detonation of a weapon of mass destruction.
"That kind of capability has never existed in such a task organization during the history of the Department of Defense," McHale said.
The department is developing plans to respond to nuclear detonations and multiple dirty bomb, chemical and anthrax attacks, as well as hurricanes and earthquakes. They should be final in the next year, he said.
Blum addressed the equipment shortfalls identified in the report. Punaro said yesterday that nearly 90 percent of the National Guard is not combat ready, lacking adequate funding, training and equipment.
Blum said that the report was accurate, but did not account for what he called and "unprecedented" $45 billion in funding being channeled into the Guard to fix those problems. By next year 69 percent of the forces should be equipped and 77 percent by 2013.
"We didn't get into that problem overnight. And we're not going to dig out of it in one night," Blum said.
Also, Blum said, at the end of 2013 the Guard will represent an organization that is equipped as a fully modernized, mirror-image of the active force, for the first time in the nation's history.
McHale and Blum both acknowledged that some of the proposals by the commission had merit, and even validated some of the policies and changes made by the department in the past four years.
"There are many parts of this report that are of value," McHale said. "We are not rejecting this report out of hand."
Army Maj. Gen. Guy Swan III, director of operations for U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for homeland defense, told the American Forces Press Service in an interview that he also feels that the report was "necessary" and is "of some utility," but he said it doesn't apply correctly to the current situation.
"The report paints a picture that, in my view, is more dated than anything else," Swan said. He mentioned that many in his command are disappointed at how critical the report has been "because much of what is in that report has been addressed through a variety of means over the past couple of years."
Swan said that "if you looked at the report two years ago or three years ago, it was probably quite accurate," but many of the reports' criticisms have been acted upon in the past year or two.
Over the past couple of years he has spent serving within NORTHCOM, Swan said he has "seen remarkable cooperation and improvements with the National Guard, with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies."
He said the command relies heavily upon the National Guard in order to accomplish its mission.
"We cannot do our mission at NORTHCOM without coordination and cooperation with the National Guard. It just can't be done," Swan said. "We see the guard as part of the broader friendly forces that might be involved in an operation, along with first responders, state emergency management personnel, and other federal agencies."
But Swan reiterated that the National Guard has a "viable, needed wartime mission." He said he does not think reducing the Guard's role simply to homeland defense would be a good move.
"I don't think we want to have a National Guard that is one dimensional. Frankly, I think the Guard is better than that," Swan said. "It has been demonstrated during operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans. They are a multidimensional force, and they can do the homeland operations as well."
Swan said he doesn't think the Guard should be limited to either a wartime mission or a homeland defense mission. He said there are shortfalls in resourcing, which the report has been helpful in identifying, and those issues are being dealt with in the appropriate Defense Department forums.
"I don't think it's an issue of either or. It is to some degree an issue of resources, and that is being addressed," Swan said. "In my view, the Guard needs to be part of the national defense establishment writ large."
(John Valceanu of the American Forces Press Services contributed to this article.)
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