By Air Force Senior Airman Ross M. Tweten
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 8, 2008 - A flight engineer with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron surpassed 10,000 flight hours during a KC-10 Extender mission March 29. Senior Master Sgt. Robert Fisher, a St. Petersburg, Fla., native home-stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., ended his landmark flight with 10,003 hours.
"The most difficult part about achieving this milestone is just being around long enough to do it," he said with a chuckle. "It feels excellent to be among such a rarified group of people."
The 10,000-flight-hour community is small, and achieving this milestone is all about longevity, he said. Fisher has been flying the line since 1986. He has been in the air as a flight engineer on the C-141 Starlifter and the KC-10 Extender, and has served in operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
"When I first came into the Air Force, there were a lot of 10,000-hour crew members around, and I thought, 'Wow, I'd like to do that,'" Fisher said. "But as the years went by, I felt like I'd never get there because, well, our airplanes fly much faster. So I figured 5,000 would be nice. Then, after I reached that, I figured I could probably do about 7,500."
Fisher continued to exceed his goals and reset them. "So, when I passed 8,500, it finally hit me that I was really close to my goal of 10,000, and that maybe I could do this, so here I am."
Air Force Lt. Col. Tim White, 908th EARS commander, said most flyers accumulate 3,000 to 5,000 hours in the span of a career.
"For Sergeant Fisher to eclipse 10,000 hours is a reflection of great dedication to the mission and the art of flying," he said. "If one were to fly around the world for 10,000 hours, he or she would circle the planet over 300 times, or go back and forth to the moon nine times. Sergeant Fisher is one of the greatest assets in the KC-10 community, and his work ethic speaks for itself."
Fisher has had a long bird's-eye view of much of the globe, and he gives most of that credit to the Air Force.
"I've been really lucky in my life, in that the Air Force has given me the opportunities to see a lot of really excellent places and travel the world," he said. "When I enlisted in '81, the recruiter said, 'Hey join the Air Force, see the world,' and the Air Force has kept up its end of the bargain on that one."
"I'd like to say that I've given the Air Force all these wonderful things," he continued, "but to be honest, the Air Force has given Bob Fisher way more than Bob Fisher has given the Air Force."
(Air Force Senior Airman Ross M. Tweten serves with 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.)
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
MILITARY CONTRACTS April 8, 2008
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals LLC., Orange, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $32,000,000 firm fixed price, cost reimbursement contract for services and facilities to receive, store and ship turbine and aviation fuel. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally electronically solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Jun. 17, 2013. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-C-5808).
NAVY
British Aerospace Systems & Armaments, L.P., Armament Systems Division, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded a $31,610,052 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-5464) for procurement of FY08 MK 14 MOD 2 Canisters, including packaging, handling, storage, transportation equipment, and FY08 Reconfigurable Coding Plug Assemblies. MK 14 canisters for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, store, safely transport, and enable loading of Tomahawk missiles into MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems aboard DDG-51 Class and CG-47 Class ships. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, S.D., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
Angel Staffing, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas, is being awarded a contract for $13,274,805. This action will provide for Nurses (RNs, LVNs, and CNA's), estimated quantity 247, at Willford Hall Medical Center, Lackland, Air Force, Texas. At this time $13,274,805 has been obligated. Lackland AFB, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3047-08-D0012).
Terma North America Inc., of Warner Robins, Ga., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $8,369,746. This action provides for repair of USAF and FMS AN/ALG-213 components managed by Combat Sustainment Group at Robins AFB, Ga. At this time $0 has been obligated. Robins AFB, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-08-D-0003).
ARMY
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Co., Bedford, Mass., was awarded on Apr. 7, 2008, a $17,503,997 cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort contract for FY08 Patriot Engineering Services contract option award for 134,472 man-hours of effort. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, MA., (72.65 percent); Andover, MA., (12.73 percent); Huntsville, AL., (7.87percent); Burlington, MA., (4.49 percent); El Paso, TX., (2.06 percent); Norfolk, VA (0.20 percent). The estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL. (W31P4Q-04-C-0020).
Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals LLC., Orange, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $32,000,000 firm fixed price, cost reimbursement contract for services and facilities to receive, store and ship turbine and aviation fuel. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally electronically solicited with two responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Jun. 17, 2013. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-C-5808).
NAVY
British Aerospace Systems & Armaments, L.P., Armament Systems Division, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded a $31,610,052 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-5464) for procurement of FY08 MK 14 MOD 2 Canisters, including packaging, handling, storage, transportation equipment, and FY08 Reconfigurable Coding Plug Assemblies. MK 14 canisters for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, store, safely transport, and enable loading of Tomahawk missiles into MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems aboard DDG-51 Class and CG-47 Class ships. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, S.D., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
Angel Staffing, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas, is being awarded a contract for $13,274,805. This action will provide for Nurses (RNs, LVNs, and CNA's), estimated quantity 247, at Willford Hall Medical Center, Lackland, Air Force, Texas. At this time $13,274,805 has been obligated. Lackland AFB, Texas, is the contracting activity (FA3047-08-D0012).
Terma North America Inc., of Warner Robins, Ga., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract for $8,369,746. This action provides for repair of USAF and FMS AN/ALG-213 components managed by Combat Sustainment Group at Robins AFB, Ga. At this time $0 has been obligated. Robins AFB, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-08-D-0003).
ARMY
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Co., Bedford, Mass., was awarded on Apr. 7, 2008, a $17,503,997 cost-plus-fixed-fee, level-of-effort contract for FY08 Patriot Engineering Services contract option award for 134,472 man-hours of effort. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, MA., (72.65 percent); Andover, MA., (12.73 percent); Huntsville, AL., (7.87percent); Burlington, MA., (4.49 percent); El Paso, TX., (2.06 percent); Norfolk, VA (0.20 percent). The estimated completion date is Jan. 31, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. The contracting activity is the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL. (W31P4Q-04-C-0020).
Family Support Network Helps Families During Marine Deployments
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Dealing with a loved one's deployment can be difficult. But for Marine families based thousands of miles from home, the challenges might seem even more daunting if not for an active family support network in place to help them. Here at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, home to more than 11,000 Marines and sailors and their families, the Marine Corps Family Team Building program plays a critical role in helping families through multiple deployments.
Historically a volunteer-based effort, the program now benefits from a recent Headquarters Marine Corps decision to create permanent, paid positions at every Marine base to ensure consistent, continuous family support programs throughout the Corps, explained Xiomara Bowes, the program's director.
The Marine Corps dedicated other expanded resources to the program, as well, introducing broader family support efforts. "We have supplies; we have equipment; we have office spaces; we have facilities," as well as additional child care and extended-hour training programs, Bowes said.
Now, she said, the program can provide additional services and training, not only to spouses, but also to children of deployed Marines and sailors, as well as their parents and extended families. "It opens it up for more training opportunities, more learning opportunities to just get through the challenging lifestyle," she said.
But even with this seven-person paid staff, Bowes said the network couldn't serve the families of about 1,700 currently deployed Marines without a vast volunteer network. The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force's 2nd Battalion is deployed now, and the 1st Battalion is preparing to deploy later this year.
"We're busy when it comes to deployments, especially with the times we are in," Bowes said. "There's simply no way we could provide the support families need by ourselves, without the commitment of our volunteers."
Bowes described the far-reaching efforts she said are particularly important here, because there's no way to hop into the family car and drive home, and airline tickets home cost hundreds of dollars.
"There's a sense of isolation for many of them," said Bowes, a Navy wife herself who understands the challenges deployments bring. "When you're here in Hawaii and your family is Montana, it's not like you can get on a plane and go to Montana."
The isolation can be particularly difficult for younger spouses experiencing their first deployment, she said. The average Marine here is 19 to 20 years old, and about 25 percent of the base population is married.
Even spouses able to pick up and fly home during the deployment can run into a quandary, explained Cheryl Roy, the base's readiness and deployment support trainer and wife of a 30-year Marine who recently retired. If they leave their base housing for more than 90 days, they're required to give it up to the next person in line for housing and to get back on the waiting list when they return.
Their medical benefits can transfer with them, but change because the family is moving from a base outside the continental United States to one within CONUS. And if they have pets, they have to consider the quarantine requirements on their return to Hawaii, Roy said. "It's not an easy move; even if they decide to do that, it has challenges, as well," Bowes said.
These factors, she said, make a solid family support network especially important.
Spouses often seek out the Family Team Building staff to help them deal with a particular problems, but get something far more important, Roy said. "I think what they're looking for and what we're trying to give them are possibly two different things," she said, "because they come looking for services, and we want to teach them how to take care of themselves. And if you look at each one of our programs, you'll see that the commonality is in teaching them and educating them in different ways to do just that."
Training programs are offered on base and online, and they run the gamut from courses that promote personal development such as communication skills and financial awareness to those that develop career skills.
"Our focus is on empowering them. We're building resiliency," Bowes said.
"It's always going to be up and down. It's just the nature of being in a military family. ... There are constant changes to our lifestyle," she said. "And so because of that, what we want to build is resiliency so they can accept change, transition from one thing to the next, and never skip a beat. ... We want to help build resiliency so they can get through those challenges.
The LINKS program -- better known by its acronym than its full name: Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge and Skills program -- is a vital part of this effort, Bowes said. She described LINKS as "Marine Corps 101," a program that teaches families about the Marine Corps and its traditions. This, she said, helps build pride among family members and helps them better understand the culture they live in and how it operates.
LINKS also covers topics ranging from how to read a leave and earnings statement, to what services are provided on base and where to go for them, to an overview of Hawaiian culture and language.
The base's programs also help families understand the family dynamics that take place before, during and after a deployment. Roy pointed to a seven-stage emotional cycle that begins up to six weeks before the Marine's departure and continues up to 12 weeks after the homecoming -- each stage involving emotional ups and downs for the family.
"We want to teach them about the emotional cycles of deployment, so they understand and are prepared for the emotional roller coaster," she said. The Family Team Building program's offerings span the full deployment cycle, from pre-deployment briefings to prepare families for what's ahead to support groups during the deployment to a warrior transition briefing that helps redeploying Marines transition back to their roles at home.
To help families reach out to each other and give them a little fun during the deployment the base also sponsors an active Operation Homefront program, said Louise Yeager, Marine Corps community services area coordinator. Each month, the program offers a free event for families of deployed Marines and sailors: a bowling day, pool party, picnic, or visit to the local Tiki Island amusement park.
"The families really look forward to these events," Yeager said. "It's a chance for them to have fun, but also to get together with the other family members for sharing and support."
As the Marine Corps Family Team Building program helps families, it's also helping improve the Marines' readiness for their deployments, Bowes said.
If the family is not ready for a deployment and not stable enough to handle the deployment -- to be alone, to be without the second parent -- then the Marine can't go off and do his job," she said. "A Marine has to be able to go out and concentrate solely on what the mission is. ... We have found that, in order to have mission readiness, you also have to have family readiness. They actually correlate."
A distracted Marine puts his or her entire unit at risk, Roy said. "And we can't have that, because we want our Marines and sailors to come home. That's why we're so committed to this program. We believe in what we're doing. We believe in our mission to help them achieve their mission."
American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Dealing with a loved one's deployment can be difficult. But for Marine families based thousands of miles from home, the challenges might seem even more daunting if not for an active family support network in place to help them. Here at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, home to more than 11,000 Marines and sailors and their families, the Marine Corps Family Team Building program plays a critical role in helping families through multiple deployments.
Historically a volunteer-based effort, the program now benefits from a recent Headquarters Marine Corps decision to create permanent, paid positions at every Marine base to ensure consistent, continuous family support programs throughout the Corps, explained Xiomara Bowes, the program's director.
The Marine Corps dedicated other expanded resources to the program, as well, introducing broader family support efforts. "We have supplies; we have equipment; we have office spaces; we have facilities," as well as additional child care and extended-hour training programs, Bowes said.
Now, she said, the program can provide additional services and training, not only to spouses, but also to children of deployed Marines and sailors, as well as their parents and extended families. "It opens it up for more training opportunities, more learning opportunities to just get through the challenging lifestyle," she said.
But even with this seven-person paid staff, Bowes said the network couldn't serve the families of about 1,700 currently deployed Marines without a vast volunteer network. The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force's 2nd Battalion is deployed now, and the 1st Battalion is preparing to deploy later this year.
"We're busy when it comes to deployments, especially with the times we are in," Bowes said. "There's simply no way we could provide the support families need by ourselves, without the commitment of our volunteers."
Bowes described the far-reaching efforts she said are particularly important here, because there's no way to hop into the family car and drive home, and airline tickets home cost hundreds of dollars.
"There's a sense of isolation for many of them," said Bowes, a Navy wife herself who understands the challenges deployments bring. "When you're here in Hawaii and your family is Montana, it's not like you can get on a plane and go to Montana."
The isolation can be particularly difficult for younger spouses experiencing their first deployment, she said. The average Marine here is 19 to 20 years old, and about 25 percent of the base population is married.
Even spouses able to pick up and fly home during the deployment can run into a quandary, explained Cheryl Roy, the base's readiness and deployment support trainer and wife of a 30-year Marine who recently retired. If they leave their base housing for more than 90 days, they're required to give it up to the next person in line for housing and to get back on the waiting list when they return.
Their medical benefits can transfer with them, but change because the family is moving from a base outside the continental United States to one within CONUS. And if they have pets, they have to consider the quarantine requirements on their return to Hawaii, Roy said. "It's not an easy move; even if they decide to do that, it has challenges, as well," Bowes said.
These factors, she said, make a solid family support network especially important.
Spouses often seek out the Family Team Building staff to help them deal with a particular problems, but get something far more important, Roy said. "I think what they're looking for and what we're trying to give them are possibly two different things," she said, "because they come looking for services, and we want to teach them how to take care of themselves. And if you look at each one of our programs, you'll see that the commonality is in teaching them and educating them in different ways to do just that."
Training programs are offered on base and online, and they run the gamut from courses that promote personal development such as communication skills and financial awareness to those that develop career skills.
"Our focus is on empowering them. We're building resiliency," Bowes said.
"It's always going to be up and down. It's just the nature of being in a military family. ... There are constant changes to our lifestyle," she said. "And so because of that, what we want to build is resiliency so they can accept change, transition from one thing to the next, and never skip a beat. ... We want to help build resiliency so they can get through those challenges.
The LINKS program -- better known by its acronym than its full name: Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge and Skills program -- is a vital part of this effort, Bowes said. She described LINKS as "Marine Corps 101," a program that teaches families about the Marine Corps and its traditions. This, she said, helps build pride among family members and helps them better understand the culture they live in and how it operates.
LINKS also covers topics ranging from how to read a leave and earnings statement, to what services are provided on base and where to go for them, to an overview of Hawaiian culture and language.
The base's programs also help families understand the family dynamics that take place before, during and after a deployment. Roy pointed to a seven-stage emotional cycle that begins up to six weeks before the Marine's departure and continues up to 12 weeks after the homecoming -- each stage involving emotional ups and downs for the family.
"We want to teach them about the emotional cycles of deployment, so they understand and are prepared for the emotional roller coaster," she said. The Family Team Building program's offerings span the full deployment cycle, from pre-deployment briefings to prepare families for what's ahead to support groups during the deployment to a warrior transition briefing that helps redeploying Marines transition back to their roles at home.
To help families reach out to each other and give them a little fun during the deployment the base also sponsors an active Operation Homefront program, said Louise Yeager, Marine Corps community services area coordinator. Each month, the program offers a free event for families of deployed Marines and sailors: a bowling day, pool party, picnic, or visit to the local Tiki Island amusement park.
"The families really look forward to these events," Yeager said. "It's a chance for them to have fun, but also to get together with the other family members for sharing and support."
As the Marine Corps Family Team Building program helps families, it's also helping improve the Marines' readiness for their deployments, Bowes said.
If the family is not ready for a deployment and not stable enough to handle the deployment -- to be alone, to be without the second parent -- then the Marine can't go off and do his job," she said. "A Marine has to be able to go out and concentrate solely on what the mission is. ... We have found that, in order to have mission readiness, you also have to have family readiness. They actually correlate."
A distracted Marine puts his or her entire unit at risk, Roy said. "And we can't have that, because we want our Marines and sailors to come home. That's why we're so committed to this program. We believe in what we're doing. We believe in our mission to help them achieve their mission."
Monday, April 07, 2008
SWAT Operations
April 7, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) The April 9, 2008, program of Conversations with Cops at The Watering Hole focuses on SWAT operations with guest Kevin Barrett.
Program Date: April 9, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: SWAT Operations
Guests: Kevin Barrett
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
Kevin Barrett is the Chairman/CEO of the International Tactical Officers Training Association and SWAT Digest. Kevin is currently active duty [15 years] for a municipal police department where he is assigned to a special response team (SWAT) as a primary entry team member. Kevin’s past assignments include criminal investigations, drug task force and patrol. He has participated in hundreds of tactical operations and has specialized training and experiences in close quarter battle (CQB), counter terrorism, dignitary protection, SCBA and linear assault operations. He is a court certified expert in clandestine laboratory investigation and operations (DEA/ CLET certifications.) Kevin attended Indiana State University and is a certified instructor through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: April 9, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: SWAT Operations
Guests: Kevin Barrett
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
Kevin Barrett is the Chairman/CEO of the International Tactical Officers Training Association and SWAT Digest. Kevin is currently active duty [15 years] for a municipal police department where he is assigned to a special response team (SWAT) as a primary entry team member. Kevin’s past assignments include criminal investigations, drug task force and patrol. He has participated in hundreds of tactical operations and has specialized training and experiences in close quarter battle (CQB), counter terrorism, dignitary protection, SCBA and linear assault operations. He is a court certified expert in clandestine laboratory investigation and operations (DEA/ CLET certifications.) Kevin attended Indiana State University and is a certified instructor through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Group Helps Guard, Reserve Children With After-School Activities
By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Deployments are tough on military families, especially on the children. Children of deployed National Guardsmen and reservists often must deal not only with a parent's absence, but also with the financial burden their family must bear when the deployed parents' military pay is less than they earn in civilian life.
"Our Military Children" helps fund after-school activities for children of the National Guard and reserves when a parent is deployed, one of the organization's founders said in an interview on the "ASY Live" program on BlogTalkRadio.com. "ASY" stands for America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"It is so important to keep these kids in a routine, to keep them involved in activities and on track," said Gail Kruzel, executive director of Our Military Children. "Unfortunately, the challenges these families face are compounded by the fact that when a reservist is called up for active duty, many times his or her income can drop substantially. So, just when the children most need these extracurricular activities, the family can no longer afford them."
Our Military Kids funds activities ranging from Tai Kwan Do to scholarships for tutoring for children in kindergarten through high school. "A lot of times, kids that are good students start falling behind in school," Kruzel said. "Tutoring grants help the kids get back on track. We fund a wide range of programs depending on the child's interest, ... from modeling to drivers education."
Kruzel and her partner, Linda Davidson, founded the organization to do their part. Kruzel knows first-hand about the challenges of raising children in a single-parent home; her children were 12 and 14 when her husband, a diplomat, was killed on a peace mission to Bosnia.
For many military kids, Kruzel said, the ability to continue to pursue activities they love keeps them focused and helps them cope. One of the organization's first grants went to a "daddy's girl" who was greatly distressed with her father's deployment and falling behind in school, she recalled.
"[Her father's deployment] was really upsetting," Kruzel said, "but as soon as she got the extra help, ... she got almost straight As the next year in second grade."
Another child who had taken dance lessons for more than nine years was forced to drop out when the family's finances suffered during her father's deployment. "It was a part of who she was," Kruzel said, "and when we were able to get her dancing again, it helped her get through this difficult time."
Since its inception, Our Military Kids has given out nearly 3,000 grants, and it's now a nationwide program. To date, the organization has honored all eligible requests, Kruzel said, and is celebrating the distribution of its millionth dollar.
Eligible families can apply online at www.ourmilitarykids.org, attaching a copy of the deployment orders, the child's military ID, and information about the child's desired activity. Upon submitting the application, families will hear back in a matter of days.
"We feel that kids need to know if they can be on the baseball team or participate in dance or gymnastics, so we have a very quick turnaround," Kruzel said.
Our Military Kids is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"Military families make so many sacrifices, and we're helping to do our little part to minimize the sacrifices here at home," Kruzel said.
(Jamie Findlater works in the New Media branch at American Forces Information Service.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Deployments are tough on military families, especially on the children. Children of deployed National Guardsmen and reservists often must deal not only with a parent's absence, but also with the financial burden their family must bear when the deployed parents' military pay is less than they earn in civilian life.
"Our Military Children" helps fund after-school activities for children of the National Guard and reserves when a parent is deployed, one of the organization's founders said in an interview on the "ASY Live" program on BlogTalkRadio.com. "ASY" stands for America Supports You, a Defense Department program that connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"It is so important to keep these kids in a routine, to keep them involved in activities and on track," said Gail Kruzel, executive director of Our Military Children. "Unfortunately, the challenges these families face are compounded by the fact that when a reservist is called up for active duty, many times his or her income can drop substantially. So, just when the children most need these extracurricular activities, the family can no longer afford them."
Our Military Kids funds activities ranging from Tai Kwan Do to scholarships for tutoring for children in kindergarten through high school. "A lot of times, kids that are good students start falling behind in school," Kruzel said. "Tutoring grants help the kids get back on track. We fund a wide range of programs depending on the child's interest, ... from modeling to drivers education."
Kruzel and her partner, Linda Davidson, founded the organization to do their part. Kruzel knows first-hand about the challenges of raising children in a single-parent home; her children were 12 and 14 when her husband, a diplomat, was killed on a peace mission to Bosnia.
For many military kids, Kruzel said, the ability to continue to pursue activities they love keeps them focused and helps them cope. One of the organization's first grants went to a "daddy's girl" who was greatly distressed with her father's deployment and falling behind in school, she recalled.
"[Her father's deployment] was really upsetting," Kruzel said, "but as soon as she got the extra help, ... she got almost straight As the next year in second grade."
Another child who had taken dance lessons for more than nine years was forced to drop out when the family's finances suffered during her father's deployment. "It was a part of who she was," Kruzel said, "and when we were able to get her dancing again, it helped her get through this difficult time."
Since its inception, Our Military Kids has given out nearly 3,000 grants, and it's now a nationwide program. To date, the organization has honored all eligible requests, Kruzel said, and is celebrating the distribution of its millionth dollar.
Eligible families can apply online at www.ourmilitarykids.org, attaching a copy of the deployment orders, the child's military ID, and information about the child's desired activity. Upon submitting the application, families will hear back in a matter of days.
"We feel that kids need to know if they can be on the baseball team or participate in dance or gymnastics, so we have a very quick turnaround," Kruzel said.
Our Military Kids is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"Military families make so many sacrifices, and we're helping to do our little part to minimize the sacrifices here at home," Kruzel said.
(Jamie Findlater works in the New Media branch at American Forces Information Service.)
Well-Drilling Project Builds African Partnerships
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Airmen and sailors joined Kenyans in an effort to increase access to clean drinking water within the country's arid Garissa district March 30 and 31. An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport jet brought more than 100,000 pounds of well-drilling equipment and nearly a dozen Navy Seabees to Nairobi's airport during the two-day delivery mission. The Seabees, who are construction specialists, will use the equipment to drill wells that will be used by Somali nomads who inhabit the area between Nairobi and Kenya's eastern border with Somalia.
The well-drilling project is part of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa's mission to develop and nurture partnerships and promote regional cooperation within the Horn of Africa.
One of the dozen Seabees who will help the Kenyans drill the well has an uncommon perspective on the project. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Ndaiga of Naval Construction Battalion 74, deployed from Gulfport, Miss., was raised in Kenya and lived there until he moved to the United States at age 21. This is Ndaiga's first time back in Kenya since he joined the Navy three years ago.
"I'm excited to come back and help out," he said. "Some people have to walk 20 miles for water, so to have it closer would be a good thing."
Project leader Navy Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hangren said access to clean drinking water is a major problem in Kenya. This project is part of an overall plan that looks to establish more wells, helping Africans to help themselves, he said.
Planning the multiple well projects is a long process that aims to improve stability in the region without having any negative environmental consequences, he added.
A Kenyan official said the well projects are helping the task force's effort to create and sustain relationships within Africa. Kenyan Col. Tai Gituai, chief of operations for the well-drilling project, said the water will help many Kenyans.
"We look forward to cooperation and continuous engagement between Kenya and the United States," he said.
The C-17 crew, who picked up the equipment and sailors from the Djibouti airport near Camp Lemonier, was in Kenya only long enough to offload their cargo and passengers, but the significance of their contribution to the welfare of Africa's people was not lost on one of the crew's airmen.
"It always pays off to deliver necessary items to a country in need," said Airman 1st Class Joshua Weston, a loadmaster from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. "In this case, we were able to supply machinery so that people under drought conditions could receive water – a basic need of life."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones serves with U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Airmen and sailors joined Kenyans in an effort to increase access to clean drinking water within the country's arid Garissa district March 30 and 31. An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport jet brought more than 100,000 pounds of well-drilling equipment and nearly a dozen Navy Seabees to Nairobi's airport during the two-day delivery mission. The Seabees, who are construction specialists, will use the equipment to drill wells that will be used by Somali nomads who inhabit the area between Nairobi and Kenya's eastern border with Somalia.
The well-drilling project is part of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa's mission to develop and nurture partnerships and promote regional cooperation within the Horn of Africa.
One of the dozen Seabees who will help the Kenyans drill the well has an uncommon perspective on the project. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jack Ndaiga of Naval Construction Battalion 74, deployed from Gulfport, Miss., was raised in Kenya and lived there until he moved to the United States at age 21. This is Ndaiga's first time back in Kenya since he joined the Navy three years ago.
"I'm excited to come back and help out," he said. "Some people have to walk 20 miles for water, so to have it closer would be a good thing."
Project leader Navy Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hangren said access to clean drinking water is a major problem in Kenya. This project is part of an overall plan that looks to establish more wells, helping Africans to help themselves, he said.
Planning the multiple well projects is a long process that aims to improve stability in the region without having any negative environmental consequences, he added.
A Kenyan official said the well projects are helping the task force's effort to create and sustain relationships within Africa. Kenyan Col. Tai Gituai, chief of operations for the well-drilling project, said the water will help many Kenyans.
"We look forward to cooperation and continuous engagement between Kenya and the United States," he said.
The C-17 crew, who picked up the equipment and sailors from the Djibouti airport near Camp Lemonier, was in Kenya only long enough to offload their cargo and passengers, but the significance of their contribution to the welfare of Africa's people was not lost on one of the crew's airmen.
"It always pays off to deliver necessary items to a country in need," said Airman 1st Class Joshua Weston, a loadmaster from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. "In this case, we were able to supply machinery so that people under drought conditions could receive water – a basic need of life."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones serves with U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs.)
MILITARY CONTRACTS April 7, 2008
ARMY
Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc., Metairie, La., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $695,489,766 cost-reimbursable-plus-award-fee contract for the design and construction for improvement of hurricane protection of the inner harbor navigation canal. Work will be performed in New Orleans, La., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 1, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four bids were solicited on Jul. 2, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-C-0038).
J.E. Dunn Construction, Kansas City, Mo., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $84,410,547 firm-fixed price contract for construction service for the regional correctional facility. Work will be performed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 10, 2006. Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DQ-06-C-0049).
Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, Ill., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $20,000,000 firm-fixed price contract for a service life extension program for selected Caterpillar construction equipment. Work will be performed at Caterpillar dealers stateside and overseas, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 8, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Dec. 8, 2008. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-D-T030).
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Inc., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $12,569,100 firm-fixed price contract for three vehicle emergency egress items. Work will be performed primarily in Butler, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Mar. 6, 2008. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0353).
Kinsley Construction, Inc., York, Pa., was awarded on Apr. 4, 2008, a $7,719,000 firm-fixed price contract for construction of an addition to the consolidated maintenance facility, defense distribution supply center. Work will be performed in New Cumberland, Penn., and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 3, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-08-C-0008).
Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems Limited Partnership, Sealy, Texas, was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $6,096,214 firm-fixed price contract for 38 medium tactical vehicle 5-ton cargo trucks. Work will be performed in Sealy, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were solicited on Aug. 15, 2002, and two bids were received. U.S. Army TACOM-Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-03-C-S023).
TREMCO, Inc., Beechwood, Ohio, was awarded on Apr. 4, 2008, a $5,987,103 firm-fixed price contract for repair by replacement of the roof of building 299. Work will be performed at Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island Ill., and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Feb. 5, 2008. U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (GS-07F-8798D).
NAVY
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $245,482,302 firm-fixed-price modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5431) to procure 307 Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM), 163 shipping containers, and spares for the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium and the United Arab Emirates. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., (45 percent), Australia, (11 percent), Andover, Mass., (10 percent), Germany, (8 percent), Canada, (7 percent), The Netherlands, (6 percent), Norway, (5 percent), Spain, (3 percent), Camden, Ark., (2 percent), Denmark, (1 percent), Greece, (1 percent), and Turkey, (1 percent), and work is expected to be complete by Dec. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Boeing Co., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $14,940,700 indefinite-delivery requirements contract with both firm-fixed-price and time and material components. The contract will provide life cycle support services for the F/A-18 series aircraft in support of the Commander, Naval Reserve Forces Command (CNRFC) in New Orleans, La. The services include all levels of aircraft maintenance including depot level maintenance; emergency repair; aircraft modification; engineering; logistics; program management support; technical advisor services and associated materials and services as may be required to support the continued safe, reliable, and available operation of the aircraft cited. This contract contains two one-year options. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla., and work is expected to be completed Mar. 2009 (Mar. 2011 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Fleet Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk, Philadelphia Office, is the contracting activity (N00189-08-D-Z028).
Sound & Sea Technology, Inc.*, Lynnwood, Wash., is being awarded $5,849,090 under a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N62473-06-D-3005) to exercise option year four for engineering and technical services in support of the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC), Ocean Facilities Department, Port Hueneme, Calif. The work to be performed provides for ocean engineering services that include project planning and execution of sub-sea cable projects including shore landings, seafloor engineering, ocean work platform support, underwater construction tool development, offshore structure and buoy projects, marine power systems, heavy load handling engineering, and harbor and waterside security projects. The current total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $28,571,647. Work will be performed at various installations under NFESC's area of responsibility worldwide, and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, Specialty Center Contracts Core, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Husky Marketing and Supply Co., Lima, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $64,361,472 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for aviation fuel. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Defense Energy Support Center. There were originally 48 proposals solicited with 23 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Apr. 30, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPO600-08-D-0469).
AIR FORCE
Composite Engineering, Incorporated of Sacramento, Calif., is being awarded a modified firm fixed price contract for $5,692,990. This action will result in a firm fixed price modification to an existing contract awarded to Composite Engineering Incorp., Sacramento, Calif., Air Force Budget Appropriation 3010 funds will be used to procure ten additional Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT) under the Lot five option. At this time $5,692,990 has been obligated. Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-07-C-0280, P00013).
Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc., Metairie, La., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $695,489,766 cost-reimbursable-plus-award-fee contract for the design and construction for improvement of hurricane protection of the inner harbor navigation canal. Work will be performed in New Orleans, La., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 1, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four bids were solicited on Jul. 2, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-C-0038).
J.E. Dunn Construction, Kansas City, Mo., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $84,410,547 firm-fixed price contract for construction service for the regional correctional facility. Work will be performed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 10, 2006. Corps of Engineers, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DQ-06-C-0049).
Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, Ill., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $20,000,000 firm-fixed price contract for a service life extension program for selected Caterpillar construction equipment. Work will be performed at Caterpillar dealers stateside and overseas, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 8, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Dec. 8, 2008. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-D-T030).
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Inc., was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $12,569,100 firm-fixed price contract for three vehicle emergency egress items. Work will be performed primarily in Butler, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Mar. 6, 2008. TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0353).
Kinsley Construction, Inc., York, Pa., was awarded on Apr. 4, 2008, a $7,719,000 firm-fixed price contract for construction of an addition to the consolidated maintenance facility, defense distribution supply center. Work will be performed in New Cumberland, Penn., and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 3, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DR-08-C-0008).
Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems Limited Partnership, Sealy, Texas, was awarded on Apr. 3, 2008, a $6,096,214 firm-fixed price contract for 38 medium tactical vehicle 5-ton cargo trucks. Work will be performed in Sealy, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two bids were solicited on Aug. 15, 2002, and two bids were received. U.S. Army TACOM-Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-03-C-S023).
TREMCO, Inc., Beechwood, Ohio, was awarded on Apr. 4, 2008, a $5,987,103 firm-fixed price contract for repair by replacement of the roof of building 299. Work will be performed at Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island Ill., and is expected to be completed by Sep. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Feb. 5, 2008. U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (GS-07F-8798D).
NAVY
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $245,482,302 firm-fixed-price modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5431) to procure 307 Evolved SEASPARROW Missiles (ESSM), 163 shipping containers, and spares for the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium and the United Arab Emirates. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., (45 percent), Australia, (11 percent), Andover, Mass., (10 percent), Germany, (8 percent), Canada, (7 percent), The Netherlands, (6 percent), Norway, (5 percent), Spain, (3 percent), Camden, Ark., (2 percent), Denmark, (1 percent), Greece, (1 percent), and Turkey, (1 percent), and work is expected to be complete by Dec. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Boeing Co., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $14,940,700 indefinite-delivery requirements contract with both firm-fixed-price and time and material components. The contract will provide life cycle support services for the F/A-18 series aircraft in support of the Commander, Naval Reserve Forces Command (CNRFC) in New Orleans, La. The services include all levels of aircraft maintenance including depot level maintenance; emergency repair; aircraft modification; engineering; logistics; program management support; technical advisor services and associated materials and services as may be required to support the continued safe, reliable, and available operation of the aircraft cited. This contract contains two one-year options. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla., and work is expected to be completed Mar. 2009 (Mar. 2011 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Fleet Industrial Supply Center, Norfolk, Philadelphia Office, is the contracting activity (N00189-08-D-Z028).
Sound & Sea Technology, Inc.*, Lynnwood, Wash., is being awarded $5,849,090 under a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N62473-06-D-3005) to exercise option year four for engineering and technical services in support of the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC), Ocean Facilities Department, Port Hueneme, Calif. The work to be performed provides for ocean engineering services that include project planning and execution of sub-sea cable projects including shore landings, seafloor engineering, ocean work platform support, underwater construction tool development, offshore structure and buoy projects, marine power systems, heavy load handling engineering, and harbor and waterside security projects. The current total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $28,571,647. Work will be performed at various installations under NFESC's area of responsibility worldwide, and work is expected to be completed Apr. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, Specialty Center Contracts Core, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Husky Marketing and Supply Co., Lima, Ohio, is being awarded a maximum $64,361,472 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for aviation fuel. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Defense Energy Support Center. There were originally 48 proposals solicited with 23 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is Apr. 30, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPO600-08-D-0469).
AIR FORCE
Composite Engineering, Incorporated of Sacramento, Calif., is being awarded a modified firm fixed price contract for $5,692,990. This action will result in a firm fixed price modification to an existing contract awarded to Composite Engineering Incorp., Sacramento, Calif., Air Force Budget Appropriation 3010 funds will be used to procure ten additional Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT) under the Lot five option. At this time $5,692,990 has been obligated. Eglin AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8675-07-C-0280, P00013).
America Supports You: Fort Myer Kids Get to Clown Around
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Children normally are told to quit clowning around, but today it was actually encouraged, as clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus entertained more than 100 youngsters at the child development center here. “This is a great for our families," said Army Col. Laura Richardson, garrison commander for the Fort Myer military community. "To be able to bring an activity like this ... is awesome."
Deployed troops, the ranks of whom include her husband, love to hear about events like this one, the colonel said.
"This is great stuff for out troops that are deployed, knowing that their families are getting to see things and have opportunities like this," Richardson said. "It's a win-win all the way around."
For an hour, the children participated in antics dreamed up by the clowns, acrobats and dancers. They stood bravely between two of the tricksters while bowling pins flew over their heads during a juggling demonstration.
The giggles got even louder when the ones who had to be brave were some of their favorite adults who, at one point, had an acrobat flying over them.
Not everyone was as enamored with the red noses and floppy shoes as their classmates. Gavin Baltes, 2, found the whole thing a bit overwhelming and spent most of the show watching his classmates' reactions over a caregiver's shoulder.
By the end, however, everyone was smiling and dancing. During the "Bellobration," a dance named for one of Ringling's favorite sons, Bello the clown, the children and adults alike followed along as the entertainers led them through the moves.
Then it was back to their classrooms with big smiles on their faces.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, which is currently performing at George Mason University's Patriot Center, is a corporate supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting servicemembers and their families.
"We're grateful to Ringling Brothers for the great experience they are bringing to the children at Fort Myer," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary for internal communication and public liaison. (Also) for their continued commitment to America Supports You, as they bring laughter and smiles to the faces of our military children during April's 'Month of the Military Child' celebration."
Featuring a few veterans, the circus salutes the military and America Supports You during every performance, Barber said.
"This is a first for us to bring (the circus) to the day care here at Fort Myer," she said, adding. "They've said, 'Whatever we can do for the military community is what we want to do.'"
It's important to recognize the service and commitment of the military member, the military spouse and the children whose parents are serving, Barber said.
"We try to put a lot of energy and lift into saying to the boys and girls, 'You know, you're serving, too. It's different, (but) every time your mom or dad misses your soccer game or your ballet recital, that's a sacrifice, too,'" she added.
American Forces Press Service
April 7, 2008 - Children normally are told to quit clowning around, but today it was actually encouraged, as clowns from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus entertained more than 100 youngsters at the child development center here. “This is a great for our families," said Army Col. Laura Richardson, garrison commander for the Fort Myer military community. "To be able to bring an activity like this ... is awesome."
Deployed troops, the ranks of whom include her husband, love to hear about events like this one, the colonel said.
"This is great stuff for out troops that are deployed, knowing that their families are getting to see things and have opportunities like this," Richardson said. "It's a win-win all the way around."
For an hour, the children participated in antics dreamed up by the clowns, acrobats and dancers. They stood bravely between two of the tricksters while bowling pins flew over their heads during a juggling demonstration.
The giggles got even louder when the ones who had to be brave were some of their favorite adults who, at one point, had an acrobat flying over them.
Not everyone was as enamored with the red noses and floppy shoes as their classmates. Gavin Baltes, 2, found the whole thing a bit overwhelming and spent most of the show watching his classmates' reactions over a caregiver's shoulder.
By the end, however, everyone was smiling and dancing. During the "Bellobration," a dance named for one of Ringling's favorite sons, Bello the clown, the children and adults alike followed along as the entertainers led them through the moves.
Then it was back to their classrooms with big smiles on their faces.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, which is currently performing at George Mason University's Patriot Center, is a corporate supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting servicemembers and their families.
"We're grateful to Ringling Brothers for the great experience they are bringing to the children at Fort Myer," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary for internal communication and public liaison. (Also) for their continued commitment to America Supports You, as they bring laughter and smiles to the faces of our military children during April's 'Month of the Military Child' celebration."
Featuring a few veterans, the circus salutes the military and America Supports You during every performance, Barber said.
"This is a first for us to bring (the circus) to the day care here at Fort Myer," she said, adding. "They've said, 'Whatever we can do for the military community is what we want to do.'"
It's important to recognize the service and commitment of the military member, the military spouse and the children whose parents are serving, Barber said.
"We try to put a lot of energy and lift into saying to the boys and girls, 'You know, you're serving, too. It's different, (but) every time your mom or dad misses your soccer game or your ballet recital, that's a sacrifice, too,'" she added.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Face of Defense: Brothers Reunite in Iraq
By Sgt. Brandon Little, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - Throughout their military careers, Army Staff Sgt. Shane Hansen and his brother, Army Sgt. 1st Class Zane Hansen, have always been on opposite sides of the world. Over the years, as they got married, had children and were stationed in different places, they haven't had many chances to see each other. But an unexpected mission change, combined with a little good fortune, brought them together in Iraq.
Shane, who is stationed in Katterbach, Germany, deployed to Logistics Support Area Anaconda in July; Zane, who is stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, learned in November his unit also would deploy to Iraq.
When Task Force 12 received the mission of becoming the aviation task force for Multinational Division Baghdad, the Hansen brothers found their first opportunity to be stationed together.
"I was excited when I found out we would be here together, because the last time I saw (Zane), before this deployment, was at our parents' house in August of 2004," said Shane, a section sergeant in Company D, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. "We usually get to see each other about once every five years."
Even though the brothers, natives of Wichita, Kan., live and work less than a half mile away from each other here, they still remain worlds apart.
"Right now, I'm working night shift, and (Shane) works day shift; it seems like every time my shift changes, so does his," said Zane, a platoon sergeant in Troop T, 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. "Since we've been stationed here together, we've only seen each other about three or four times."
"Our different shifts and different 'reset' days makes it difficult to see each other unless we really put forth an effort to going over to where the other one works," said Shane, who has been in the Army for 12 years.
Their families have mixed feelings about the brothers being stationed together in Iraq.
"Our wives are happy that we are stationed here together, because they feel we have someone to talk to," said Shane, a UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer. "Our parents don't like the idea of us being here together, because if something happens, it might happen to both of us; but our older sister isn't too worried about us being here."
Both brothers are on their second deployment; Zane previously deployed to Bosnia and Shane to Afghanistan. Zane joined the Army a little more than a year before Shane.
"When I joined the Army in 1994, I got stationed in Korea," said Zane, an AH-64D Apache Longbow maintainer. "When he joined the Army and got stationed in Hawaii, I was stationed in the states."
Communicating with each other was difficult for the first couple of years because there was no Internet access; but now, it's definitely gotten a lot better, Shane said.
Zane has been in aviation for his entire career, but Shane started out as a signal soldier.
"I really didn't like that job, and Zane would always tell me about his job and all of the cool things he did," said Shane. "He wasn't the only reason I chose this job, but he definitely helped me make my decision."
The brothers are living up to a long legacy of military service in their family. Their grandfathers served in the military during World War II. Their father also served in the Army; he joined shortly after the Vietnam War.
Growing up, they had plenty of good times mixed with a little bit of mischief, they said. Although they try to stay professional, and call each other "Sergeant Hansen" when around other soldiers, childhood memories sometimes resurface.
"All of (Zane's) soldiers want to know about him," Shane said. "Every once in a while, one of them will come up to me and ask me questions about him, and I'll give them a tidbit of information about some of the things he did growing up."
Shane has been selected for promotion to sergeant first class and said he would like to be stationed back in the United States in the future. Zane said he and his wife are discussing the idea of asking to go to Europe.
(Army Sgt. Brandon Little serves in the Task Force 12 Public Affairs Office in Multinational Division Baghdad.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - Throughout their military careers, Army Staff Sgt. Shane Hansen and his brother, Army Sgt. 1st Class Zane Hansen, have always been on opposite sides of the world. Over the years, as they got married, had children and were stationed in different places, they haven't had many chances to see each other. But an unexpected mission change, combined with a little good fortune, brought them together in Iraq.
Shane, who is stationed in Katterbach, Germany, deployed to Logistics Support Area Anaconda in July; Zane, who is stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, learned in November his unit also would deploy to Iraq.
When Task Force 12 received the mission of becoming the aviation task force for Multinational Division Baghdad, the Hansen brothers found their first opportunity to be stationed together.
"I was excited when I found out we would be here together, because the last time I saw (Zane), before this deployment, was at our parents' house in August of 2004," said Shane, a section sergeant in Company D, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. "We usually get to see each other about once every five years."
Even though the brothers, natives of Wichita, Kan., live and work less than a half mile away from each other here, they still remain worlds apart.
"Right now, I'm working night shift, and (Shane) works day shift; it seems like every time my shift changes, so does his," said Zane, a platoon sergeant in Troop T, 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. "Since we've been stationed here together, we've only seen each other about three or four times."
"Our different shifts and different 'reset' days makes it difficult to see each other unless we really put forth an effort to going over to where the other one works," said Shane, who has been in the Army for 12 years.
Their families have mixed feelings about the brothers being stationed together in Iraq.
"Our wives are happy that we are stationed here together, because they feel we have someone to talk to," said Shane, a UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer. "Our parents don't like the idea of us being here together, because if something happens, it might happen to both of us; but our older sister isn't too worried about us being here."
Both brothers are on their second deployment; Zane previously deployed to Bosnia and Shane to Afghanistan. Zane joined the Army a little more than a year before Shane.
"When I joined the Army in 1994, I got stationed in Korea," said Zane, an AH-64D Apache Longbow maintainer. "When he joined the Army and got stationed in Hawaii, I was stationed in the states."
Communicating with each other was difficult for the first couple of years because there was no Internet access; but now, it's definitely gotten a lot better, Shane said.
Zane has been in aviation for his entire career, but Shane started out as a signal soldier.
"I really didn't like that job, and Zane would always tell me about his job and all of the cool things he did," said Shane. "He wasn't the only reason I chose this job, but he definitely helped me make my decision."
The brothers are living up to a long legacy of military service in their family. Their grandfathers served in the military during World War II. Their father also served in the Army; he joined shortly after the Vietnam War.
Growing up, they had plenty of good times mixed with a little bit of mischief, they said. Although they try to stay professional, and call each other "Sergeant Hansen" when around other soldiers, childhood memories sometimes resurface.
"All of (Zane's) soldiers want to know about him," Shane said. "Every once in a while, one of them will come up to me and ask me questions about him, and I'll give them a tidbit of information about some of the things he did growing up."
Shane has been selected for promotion to sergeant first class and said he would like to be stationed back in the United States in the future. Zane said he and his wife are discussing the idea of asking to go to Europe.
(Army Sgt. Brandon Little serves in the Task Force 12 Public Affairs Office in Multinational Division Baghdad.)
Soldiers Missing From the Korean War are Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Capt. Edward B. Scullion of Norfolk, Va; and Pfc. Elwood D. Reynolds of Schoolfield, Va.; both U.S. Army. Reynolds will be buried April 18 in Danville, Va., and Scullion will be buried this summer in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Army met with Scullion's and Reynolds' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
Both men were members of A Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, then attached to the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), 7th Infantry Division. The team was engaged against the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, from Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 1950. Both soldiers died in late November as result of intense enemy fire, but their bodies were not recovered at the time.
Between 2002 and 2005, joint U.S. and Democratic People's Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted excavations of three burial sites near the Chosin Reservoir. The sites correlate closely with defensive positions held by the 31st RCT at the time of the Chinese attacks. The teams recovered remains there believed to be those of several other U.S. servicemen. Analysis of the remains recovered from the sites led to the identification of 10 individuals, including Scullion and Reynolds.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory and JPAC also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in both Scullion's and Reynolds' identification.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
They are Capt. Edward B. Scullion of Norfolk, Va; and Pfc. Elwood D. Reynolds of Schoolfield, Va.; both U.S. Army. Reynolds will be buried April 18 in Danville, Va., and Scullion will be buried this summer in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Army met with Scullion's and Reynolds' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
Both men were members of A Company, 32nd Infantry Regiment, then attached to the 31st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), 7th Infantry Division. The team was engaged against the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, from Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 1950. Both soldiers died in late November as result of intense enemy fire, but their bodies were not recovered at the time.
Between 2002 and 2005, joint U.S. and Democratic People's Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted excavations of three burial sites near the Chosin Reservoir. The sites correlate closely with defensive positions held by the 31st RCT at the time of the Chinese attacks. The teams recovered remains there believed to be those of several other U.S. servicemen. Analysis of the remains recovered from the sites led to the identification of 10 individuals, including Scullion and Reynolds.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory and JPAC also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in both Scullion's and Reynolds' identification.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Gates Leaves NATO Summit Pleased With Outcomes
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today that he is pleased with the results of the three-day NATO summit that wrapped up today. "I think, all in all, it was a very successful summit from the standpoint of the alliance," Gates told reporters on the flight from Bucharest, Romania, to Muscat, Oman, the next stop on his overseas trip. "I think most of the leaders walked away from the summit feeling like it had been quite a successful summit."
Gates said the three biggest accomplishments were the alliance's recommitment to its International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, the declaration of support for a missile defense system in Europe, and voting to enlarge the alliance and accept up to five more countries.
"In 2006, when the alliance signed up for the ISAF mission, I think the reality is ... maybe none of us really understood what we were getting into as an alliance -- that the nature of the mission would change from what (we) anticipated it was likely to be to being much harder and taking much longer," Gates said.
Now, he said, the alliance has signed on to add forces and continue its work in Afghanistan with its eyes wide open.
"In full knowledge of the toughness of the challenge, the allies unanimously signed to and recommitted to the Afghan mission and -- in the words of (French) President (Nicolas) Sarkozy -- signed up to win," Gates said. "For my money, that's a huge deal, given a lot of the challenges the allies have faced, (and) given the difficulties some have at home politically in terms of this mission."
Gates also said agreement on the wording for an Afghanistan vision statement that details the alliance's direction there over the next few years was an important result of the summit conference.
Troop commitments also came from the allies. The French announced a battalion's worth -- about 700 troops -- would take on part of the mission. Gates said other nations also made commitments for troops and special teams. In addition, NATO committed to building an equipped Afghan army to 80,000 troops by 2010.
The United States went into the conference pushing hard for NATO to invite Croatia, Albania and Macedonia to join the alliance. Croatia and Albania were invited. Macedonia was not; Greece objects to Macedonia's name, believing it represents a claim to the Greek state of the same name. Gates called that a "disappointment," but said he hopes the country will work out its differences with Greece.
The United States also wanted the alliance's membership action plan -- a first step toward membership -- extended to the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine, a measure that did not pass.
"Everybody knew going into the summit that there was strong opposition to providing MAP for Georgia and Ukraine," Gates said. Some members questioned whether democratic reforms in the two countries have taken root and whether their political systems are stable. Georgia also has unresolved disputes with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he said. However, NATO did agree on a statement supporting the two countries' eventual participation in membership action plans and directed further work with the countries.
In December, NATO nations' foreign ministers will reevaluate their progress and have authority to allow Georgia and Ukraine to start the MAP process.
"I think that, given where some of the parties were when we came into the summit, getting the single declarative statement that Georgia and Ukraine will become members of the alliance was a significant achievement," Gates said, "because it took it out of the realm of 'whether' and put it into the realm of 'when,' with a clear implication that 'when' is sooner, rather than later."
In missile defense, getting the alliance to agree to the statement that ballistic missile proliferation is a developing threat to NATO territories and populations was a success, especially in light of many countries' wariness of what Russia's reaction would be, Gates said. In its declaration, NATO supported plans for developing a NATO missile defense system that would link with a proposed U.S. system to provide protection from all ranges of ballistic missiles.
Russia has vehemently opposed U.S. plans to develop such a system.
"I think we've made it pretty clear to our allies that we've really bent over backward to be open and really bring the Russians into this thing and to make them a partner," Gates said. "And if they didn't want to be a partner, then to have it completely transparent so they didn't need to worry about their own security."
Still, after gaining approval of the enlargement and missile defense measures, Gates said the test would be in whether the United States could still have amenable talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin today during the NATO-Russian Council.
"I think most of us felt that President Putin's comments today were businesslike," Gates said. "I wouldn't say they were particularly conciliatory, but by the same token, they also weren't aggressive, either."
Gates will land in Muscat tonight. The country provides a lot of support to the United States, Gates said. It has been 22 years since Gates has traveled here, and four years since a U.S. defense secretary has visited.
American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today that he is pleased with the results of the three-day NATO summit that wrapped up today. "I think, all in all, it was a very successful summit from the standpoint of the alliance," Gates told reporters on the flight from Bucharest, Romania, to Muscat, Oman, the next stop on his overseas trip. "I think most of the leaders walked away from the summit feeling like it had been quite a successful summit."
Gates said the three biggest accomplishments were the alliance's recommitment to its International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan, the declaration of support for a missile defense system in Europe, and voting to enlarge the alliance and accept up to five more countries.
"In 2006, when the alliance signed up for the ISAF mission, I think the reality is ... maybe none of us really understood what we were getting into as an alliance -- that the nature of the mission would change from what (we) anticipated it was likely to be to being much harder and taking much longer," Gates said.
Now, he said, the alliance has signed on to add forces and continue its work in Afghanistan with its eyes wide open.
"In full knowledge of the toughness of the challenge, the allies unanimously signed to and recommitted to the Afghan mission and -- in the words of (French) President (Nicolas) Sarkozy -- signed up to win," Gates said. "For my money, that's a huge deal, given a lot of the challenges the allies have faced, (and) given the difficulties some have at home politically in terms of this mission."
Gates also said agreement on the wording for an Afghanistan vision statement that details the alliance's direction there over the next few years was an important result of the summit conference.
Troop commitments also came from the allies. The French announced a battalion's worth -- about 700 troops -- would take on part of the mission. Gates said other nations also made commitments for troops and special teams. In addition, NATO committed to building an equipped Afghan army to 80,000 troops by 2010.
The United States went into the conference pushing hard for NATO to invite Croatia, Albania and Macedonia to join the alliance. Croatia and Albania were invited. Macedonia was not; Greece objects to Macedonia's name, believing it represents a claim to the Greek state of the same name. Gates called that a "disappointment," but said he hopes the country will work out its differences with Greece.
The United States also wanted the alliance's membership action plan -- a first step toward membership -- extended to the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine, a measure that did not pass.
"Everybody knew going into the summit that there was strong opposition to providing MAP for Georgia and Ukraine," Gates said. Some members questioned whether democratic reforms in the two countries have taken root and whether their political systems are stable. Georgia also has unresolved disputes with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he said. However, NATO did agree on a statement supporting the two countries' eventual participation in membership action plans and directed further work with the countries.
In December, NATO nations' foreign ministers will reevaluate their progress and have authority to allow Georgia and Ukraine to start the MAP process.
"I think that, given where some of the parties were when we came into the summit, getting the single declarative statement that Georgia and Ukraine will become members of the alliance was a significant achievement," Gates said, "because it took it out of the realm of 'whether' and put it into the realm of 'when,' with a clear implication that 'when' is sooner, rather than later."
In missile defense, getting the alliance to agree to the statement that ballistic missile proliferation is a developing threat to NATO territories and populations was a success, especially in light of many countries' wariness of what Russia's reaction would be, Gates said. In its declaration, NATO supported plans for developing a NATO missile defense system that would link with a proposed U.S. system to provide protection from all ranges of ballistic missiles.
Russia has vehemently opposed U.S. plans to develop such a system.
"I think we've made it pretty clear to our allies that we've really bent over backward to be open and really bring the Russians into this thing and to make them a partner," Gates said. "And if they didn't want to be a partner, then to have it completely transparent so they didn't need to worry about their own security."
Still, after gaining approval of the enlargement and missile defense measures, Gates said the test would be in whether the United States could still have amenable talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin today during the NATO-Russian Council.
"I think most of us felt that President Putin's comments today were businesslike," Gates said. "I wouldn't say they were particularly conciliatory, but by the same token, they also weren't aggressive, either."
Gates will land in Muscat tonight. The country provides a lot of support to the United States, Gates said. It has been 22 years since Gates has traveled here, and four years since a U.S. defense secretary has visited.
MILITARY CONTRACTS April 4, 2008
ARMY
Harris Corp., Rochester, N.Y., was awarded on Jan. 10, 2008, a $118,898,154 firm-fixed price contract for high-frequency radio installation kits and installation and training services. Work will be performed in Rochester, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 9, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 20, 2007, and one bid was received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (GS-35F-0163N).
Unit Company, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on April 3, 2008, a $29,930,714, contract for construction of a new antenna addition, a new weather vestibule, relocating a previously removed fuel storage tank, and expanding the area within the security fence at an existing defense satellite communication system facility. Work will be performed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 17, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-08-C-0004).
Craft-Tech Manufacturing, Holbrook, N.Y. was awarded on April 2, 2008, a $6,743,125 firm-fixed price contract for 62,500 punch plates for Mine Resistant Armored Protected (MRAP) vehicles. Work will be performed in Holbrook, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 10 bids were solicited on Jan. 4, 2008, and four bids were received. U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Mich. Is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0347).
USSOCOM
Integrated Directives Incorporated of Oxford, Mich., is awarded a $47,266,462. indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract for special forces training in support of U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Forces Command and the Acquisitions and Contracting Office, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The work will be performed at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; and other locations throughout the United States and Germany. The contract is expected to be completed by April 30, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded through competitive procedures set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. The solicitation was posted on FedBizOpps and 11 proposals were received. The contract number is H92239-08-D-0003.
AIR FORCE
Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded a contract for $34,362,411. This action will provide for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear technical analysis related to training and readiness directorate functions for Commander Navy Installations Command. The National Agency Technical Homeland Defense and Homeland Security Geospatial Information Systems, technical collection and Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance/incident awareness and assessment, and intelligence analysis for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. At this time $647,632 has been obligated. Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-00-D-3180, Delivery Order: 0538).
Data Link Solutions Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a contract for $25,814,110. This action will provide repair of 26 National Stock Numbers (NSNs) for the multifunctional information distribution system. Platforms associated with the NSNs include, but are not limited to Joint Interface Control Officer Support System, F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1B and B-2. At this time no funds have been obligated. Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8539-08-D-0002).
Boeing Launch Services of Huntington Beach, Calif., is being awarded a modified contract for $20,000,000. This contract modification will authorize Boeing to perform demonstration testing on a rebuilt RS-68 engine, labeled 10009. The launch and range systems wing is currently tracking several "low-medium" risks on the RS-68 engine. The government has authorized work under the Assured Access to Space initiative to develop hardware that will reduce or element these risks and increase the reliability of the RS-68 engine. In order to certify this hardware as flight worthy, a certain number of tests must be performed. At this time $20,000,000 has been obligated. El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0001, Modification Number P00026).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. of Herndon, Va., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $17,514,399. The National Agency Technical Homeland Defense and Homeland Security Geospatial Information Systems, technical collection and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance/incident awareness and assessment, and intelligence analysis for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command (NORAD and USNORTHCOM). At this time $174,000 has been obligated Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, Delivery Order: 0249).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Carter Industries, Inc., Olive Hill, Ky.* is being awarded a maximum $16,125,000 firm fixed price contract for combat vehicle crewman's universal camouflage pattern coveralls. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were originally 3 proposals solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is December 30, 2008. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-C-0022).
JC Produce, West Sacramento, Calif.* is being awarded a maximum $10,724,670 fixed price with economic price adjustment, total set aside contract for fresh fruit and vegetables support. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and USDA Schools. This proposal was originally DIBBS solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is September 17, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM300-08-D-P028).
Carter Industries, Inc., Olive Hill, Ky.* is being awarded a maximum $5,995,840 firm fixed price contract for combat vehicle crewman's tan coveralls. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Marine Corps. There were 3 proposals originally solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is November 30, 2008. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-C-0021).
NAVY
Bell-Boeing Tiltrotor Team, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $15,516,616 for ceiling priced order #0260 against previously awarded contract (N00383-03-G-001B) for repairable and consumable spare components for the CV-22 aircraft. Examples of parts to be purchased are valve module-brake, air data unit, hand wing unit (manual), ramp door actuator, and torque link subassembly. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, and work is expected to be completed July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.
Bell-Boeing Tiltrotor Team, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $12,160,515 for ceiling priced order #0259 against previously awarded contract (N00383-03-G-001B) for repairable and consumable spare components for the CV-22 aircraft. Examples of types of parts to be bought include rod end assembly, slip ring assembly, fairing assembly, blade assembly, and link assembly. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, and work is to be completed July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.
Solid State Scientific Corp.*, Hollis, N.H., is being awarded $7,499,807 for a ceiling price delivery order against a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-07-D-0006) for the development of the Multi-Function Technology Demonstration (MFTD) module as a Hostile Fires Indication (HFI) sensor. The delivery order will also include integration of the module into the AN/AAR-47 missile warning sensor, in direct support of the FY08 Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD). Work will be performed in Hollis, N.H., and work is expected to be completed in April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Harris Corp., Rochester, N.Y., was awarded on Jan. 10, 2008, a $118,898,154 firm-fixed price contract for high-frequency radio installation kits and installation and training services. Work will be performed in Rochester, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 9, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 20, 2007, and one bid was received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (GS-35F-0163N).
Unit Company, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on April 3, 2008, a $29,930,714, contract for construction of a new antenna addition, a new weather vestibule, relocating a previously removed fuel storage tank, and expanding the area within the security fence at an existing defense satellite communication system facility. Work will be performed at Fort Greely, Alaska, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Dec. 17, 2007, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-08-C-0004).
Craft-Tech Manufacturing, Holbrook, N.Y. was awarded on April 2, 2008, a $6,743,125 firm-fixed price contract for 62,500 punch plates for Mine Resistant Armored Protected (MRAP) vehicles. Work will be performed in Holbrook, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 10 bids were solicited on Jan. 4, 2008, and four bids were received. U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Mich. Is the contracting activity (W56HZV-08-C-0347).
USSOCOM
Integrated Directives Incorporated of Oxford, Mich., is awarded a $47,266,462. indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract for special forces training in support of U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Forces Command and the Acquisitions and Contracting Office, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The work will be performed at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; and other locations throughout the United States and Germany. The contract is expected to be completed by April 30, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded through competitive procedures set aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. The solicitation was posted on FedBizOpps and 11 proposals were received. The contract number is H92239-08-D-0003.
AIR FORCE
Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded a contract for $34,362,411. This action will provide for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear technical analysis related to training and readiness directorate functions for Commander Navy Installations Command. The National Agency Technical Homeland Defense and Homeland Security Geospatial Information Systems, technical collection and Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance/incident awareness and assessment, and intelligence analysis for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command. At this time $647,632 has been obligated. Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-00-D-3180, Delivery Order: 0538).
Data Link Solutions Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a contract for $25,814,110. This action will provide repair of 26 National Stock Numbers (NSNs) for the multifunctional information distribution system. Platforms associated with the NSNs include, but are not limited to Joint Interface Control Officer Support System, F-15, F-16, F-22, B-1B and B-2. At this time no funds have been obligated. Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8539-08-D-0002).
Boeing Launch Services of Huntington Beach, Calif., is being awarded a modified contract for $20,000,000. This contract modification will authorize Boeing to perform demonstration testing on a rebuilt RS-68 engine, labeled 10009. The launch and range systems wing is currently tracking several "low-medium" risks on the RS-68 engine. The government has authorized work under the Assured Access to Space initiative to develop hardware that will reduce or element these risks and increase the reliability of the RS-68 engine. In order to certify this hardware as flight worthy, a certain number of tests must be performed. At this time $20,000,000 has been obligated. El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8816-06-C-0001, Modification Number P00026).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. of Herndon, Va., is being awarded a cost plus fixed fee contract for $17,514,399. The National Agency Technical Homeland Defense and Homeland Security Geospatial Information Systems, technical collection and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance/incident awareness and assessment, and intelligence analysis for North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command (NORAD and USNORTHCOM). At this time $174,000 has been obligated Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380, Delivery Order: 0249).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Carter Industries, Inc., Olive Hill, Ky.* is being awarded a maximum $16,125,000 firm fixed price contract for combat vehicle crewman's universal camouflage pattern coveralls. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were originally 3 proposals solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is December 30, 2008. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-C-0022).
JC Produce, West Sacramento, Calif.* is being awarded a maximum $10,724,670 fixed price with economic price adjustment, total set aside contract for fresh fruit and vegetables support. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and USDA Schools. This proposal was originally DIBBS solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is September 17, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM300-08-D-P028).
Carter Industries, Inc., Olive Hill, Ky.* is being awarded a maximum $5,995,840 firm fixed price contract for combat vehicle crewman's tan coveralls. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Marine Corps. There were 3 proposals originally solicited with 2 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Date of performance completion is November 30, 2008. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-C-0021).
NAVY
Bell-Boeing Tiltrotor Team, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $15,516,616 for ceiling priced order #0260 against previously awarded contract (N00383-03-G-001B) for repairable and consumable spare components for the CV-22 aircraft. Examples of parts to be purchased are valve module-brake, air data unit, hand wing unit (manual), ramp door actuator, and torque link subassembly. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, and work is expected to be completed July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.
Bell-Boeing Tiltrotor Team, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $12,160,515 for ceiling priced order #0259 against previously awarded contract (N00383-03-G-001B) for repairable and consumable spare components for the CV-22 aircraft. Examples of types of parts to be bought include rod end assembly, slip ring assembly, fairing assembly, blade assembly, and link assembly. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, and work is to be completed July 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not awarded competitively. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.
Solid State Scientific Corp.*, Hollis, N.H., is being awarded $7,499,807 for a ceiling price delivery order against a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-07-D-0006) for the development of the Multi-Function Technology Demonstration (MFTD) module as a Hostile Fires Indication (HFI) sensor. The delivery order will also include integration of the module into the AN/AAR-47 missile warning sensor, in direct support of the FY08 Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD). Work will be performed in Hollis, N.H., and work is expected to be completed in April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Soldiers Remember Medal of Honor Recipient in Iraq
By Sgt. Jasmine Chopra, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - He was a husband, father, soldier and leader, but today Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, the 3rd Infantry Division's 51st Medal of Honor recipient was remembered here simply as a hero. U.S troops held a remembrance ceremony the courtyard where five years ago to the day, Smith gave his life in defense of others.
On April 4, 2003, Smith was setting up a short-term enemy prisoner of war holding area near the Baghdad International Airport when his unit was attacked by enemy soldiers.
Outnumbered, with wounded soldiers and damaged vehicles, Smith told his men to get back, as he manned a .50-caliber machine gun from the exposed turret of an armored personnel carrier damaged by rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. He fired at the enemy and unleashed some 300 rounds allowing his other soldiers to reorganize and mount an attack. Smith and his men defeated the enemy. During the attack Smith fell mortally wounded.
A disciplined, no-nonsense platoon sergeant with the division's Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Smith received the nation's highest award for bravery in 2005.
"He was a soldier who took care of soldiers ... he lost his life doing it," said Brig. Gen. William Grimsley, who commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team at the time of Smith's death.
Now the deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Grimsley recommended Smith for the Medal of Honor. He was one of several leaders who knew Smith and took time out from operations today in order to attend the ceremony.
In 2003, Capt. Christopher Doerr, of the 3rd Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, was a 23-year-old brand-new second lieutenant.
"I'll always treasure the fact I got to serve with and know Sgt. 1st Class Smith," Doerr said.
He admired Smith's expertise, precision and dedication to mission accomplishment.
"He was an expert engineer, the best in the battalion," Doerr said. "The way he motivated his soldiers, they didn't necessarily like him, he wasn't their friend, but he made them train to standard.
"It all makes sense now, why he pushed us, why we did the things we did. Now we are here because of that," Doerr said.
Smith had been in combat when he was a young private first class in Desert Storm. In Kuwait, just days before invading Iraq, Doerr asked Smith to tell him what war was going to be like.
"He said, 'war is hell,' and he showed me that first hand," Doerr said. "He laid it all on the line and that was not a fluke ... he was concerned for the safety of his men and others and he put that above his own personal safety, and I think you've got to say he's a hero for that."
More than 200 people attended the remembrance ceremony, including Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, who in 2003 was the deputy commander for maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division.
Large-scale pictures showed Sgt. 1st Class Smith in desert camouflage uniform days before the battle. Diagrams, mounted on an armored personnel carrier like the one Smith used, detailed his heroic action. Visible from the courtyard was the bullet-riddled tower that the enemy had fought for but failed to seize.
A bugler played Taps and, after the ceremony, soldiers walked the site and reflected on the sacrifice he had made for our country.
(U.S. Army Sgt. Sgt. Jasmine Chopra is assigned to the Multinational Division - Center Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - He was a husband, father, soldier and leader, but today Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, the 3rd Infantry Division's 51st Medal of Honor recipient was remembered here simply as a hero. U.S troops held a remembrance ceremony the courtyard where five years ago to the day, Smith gave his life in defense of others.
On April 4, 2003, Smith was setting up a short-term enemy prisoner of war holding area near the Baghdad International Airport when his unit was attacked by enemy soldiers.
Outnumbered, with wounded soldiers and damaged vehicles, Smith told his men to get back, as he manned a .50-caliber machine gun from the exposed turret of an armored personnel carrier damaged by rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. He fired at the enemy and unleashed some 300 rounds allowing his other soldiers to reorganize and mount an attack. Smith and his men defeated the enemy. During the attack Smith fell mortally wounded.
A disciplined, no-nonsense platoon sergeant with the division's Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Smith received the nation's highest award for bravery in 2005.
"He was a soldier who took care of soldiers ... he lost his life doing it," said Brig. Gen. William Grimsley, who commanded the 1st Brigade Combat Team at the time of Smith's death.
Now the deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Grimsley recommended Smith for the Medal of Honor. He was one of several leaders who knew Smith and took time out from operations today in order to attend the ceremony.
In 2003, Capt. Christopher Doerr, of the 3rd Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, was a 23-year-old brand-new second lieutenant.
"I'll always treasure the fact I got to serve with and know Sgt. 1st Class Smith," Doerr said.
He admired Smith's expertise, precision and dedication to mission accomplishment.
"He was an expert engineer, the best in the battalion," Doerr said. "The way he motivated his soldiers, they didn't necessarily like him, he wasn't their friend, but he made them train to standard.
"It all makes sense now, why he pushed us, why we did the things we did. Now we are here because of that," Doerr said.
Smith had been in combat when he was a young private first class in Desert Storm. In Kuwait, just days before invading Iraq, Doerr asked Smith to tell him what war was going to be like.
"He said, 'war is hell,' and he showed me that first hand," Doerr said. "He laid it all on the line and that was not a fluke ... he was concerned for the safety of his men and others and he put that above his own personal safety, and I think you've got to say he's a hero for that."
More than 200 people attended the remembrance ceremony, including Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, who in 2003 was the deputy commander for maneuver for the 3rd Infantry Division.
Large-scale pictures showed Sgt. 1st Class Smith in desert camouflage uniform days before the battle. Diagrams, mounted on an armored personnel carrier like the one Smith used, detailed his heroic action. Visible from the courtyard was the bullet-riddled tower that the enemy had fought for but failed to seize.
A bugler played Taps and, after the ceremony, soldiers walked the site and reflected on the sacrifice he had made for our country.
(U.S. Army Sgt. Sgt. Jasmine Chopra is assigned to the Multinational Division - Center Public Affairs Office.)
Fulcher, Mock and Prins
Editor's Note: One of the authors is a former servicemember.
April 4, 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 police officers from California law enforcement agencies.
Dean Fulcher grew up in the state of Michigan along the southern shores of Lake Superior. Upon completion of high school, he spent four years in the United States Marine Corps in the aviation and intelligence fields. After serving honorably for four years, he left the Marine Corps and was hired by the Santa Ana Police Department (California), where he currently holds the rank of homicide detective. Dean Fulcher is the author of The Grand Island Adventure.
According to the book description of The Grand Island Adventure, “An edge-of-your-seat adventure novel for young adults. The Grand Island Adventure follows three teenagers trapped on an uninhabited island pursued by a band of criminals who have freed their leader from prison. The three will need the latest in technology, their wit and commitment to one another to escape a certain death.”
James Mock spent 19 years with the Torrance Police Department (California). He current works as a teacher for law enforcement related occupations, on both a volunteer and professional basis. James Mock has worked street narcotics, major narcotics, and was certified as a Drug Recognition Expert in 1992. After his retirement he was certified as a DRE instructor. He currently teaches DRE, the DRE instructor course, DRE recertification classes for many States, for the California Narcotic Officers’ Association, and for various law enforcement and related agencies in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. James Mock is the author of Basic Latent Print Development.
According to one review, Basic Latent Print Development, “can be used as a training text for new employees or can be read by beginners. Many instructors use it as a primer for basic latent print development college classes. Sections cover: How latent prints are deposited, Investigating the Crime Scene, Which powders to use, How to lift and preserve the latent prints. There are simple to follow sketches on how to powder a surface and how to tear and lift with tape.”
Sergeant John Prins is a 27-year member of the Torrance Police Department. He has served the Torrance Police Department in many capacities, including as a patrol officer, crime scene investigator, detective, background investigator, SWAT officer, and K-9 handler. John Prins is the author of Torrance Police Department.
According to the book description, “The Torrance Police Department dates to May 23, 1921, when city trustees appointed Ben Olsen as city marshal and, shortly thereafter, hired Byron Anderson as night watchman. The efforts of these men were devoted to dealing with thieves, keeping the peace, and “declaring war on speedsters.” From such humble beginnings, the Torrance Police Department has grown into the fourth largest municipal law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County. Its position as the anchoring police force of the South Bay section of the county and its reputation as an innovator in crime fighting have been firmly established over time. Today, with a total of 242 sworn and 100 support personnel, the highly regarded Torrance Police Department serves more than 142,000 inhabitants in 21 square miles.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 930 police officers (representing 391 police departments) and their 1944 police books in 33 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.
April 4, 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 police officers from California law enforcement agencies.
Dean Fulcher grew up in the state of Michigan along the southern shores of Lake Superior. Upon completion of high school, he spent four years in the United States Marine Corps in the aviation and intelligence fields. After serving honorably for four years, he left the Marine Corps and was hired by the Santa Ana Police Department (California), where he currently holds the rank of homicide detective. Dean Fulcher is the author of The Grand Island Adventure.
According to the book description of The Grand Island Adventure, “An edge-of-your-seat adventure novel for young adults. The Grand Island Adventure follows three teenagers trapped on an uninhabited island pursued by a band of criminals who have freed their leader from prison. The three will need the latest in technology, their wit and commitment to one another to escape a certain death.”
James Mock spent 19 years with the Torrance Police Department (California). He current works as a teacher for law enforcement related occupations, on both a volunteer and professional basis. James Mock has worked street narcotics, major narcotics, and was certified as a Drug Recognition Expert in 1992. After his retirement he was certified as a DRE instructor. He currently teaches DRE, the DRE instructor course, DRE recertification classes for many States, for the California Narcotic Officers’ Association, and for various law enforcement and related agencies in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. James Mock is the author of Basic Latent Print Development.
According to one review, Basic Latent Print Development, “can be used as a training text for new employees or can be read by beginners. Many instructors use it as a primer for basic latent print development college classes. Sections cover: How latent prints are deposited, Investigating the Crime Scene, Which powders to use, How to lift and preserve the latent prints. There are simple to follow sketches on how to powder a surface and how to tear and lift with tape.”
Sergeant John Prins is a 27-year member of the Torrance Police Department. He has served the Torrance Police Department in many capacities, including as a patrol officer, crime scene investigator, detective, background investigator, SWAT officer, and K-9 handler. John Prins is the author of Torrance Police Department.
According to the book description, “The Torrance Police Department dates to May 23, 1921, when city trustees appointed Ben Olsen as city marshal and, shortly thereafter, hired Byron Anderson as night watchman. The efforts of these men were devoted to dealing with thieves, keeping the peace, and “declaring war on speedsters.” From such humble beginnings, the Torrance Police Department has grown into the fourth largest municipal law enforcement agency in Los Angeles County. Its position as the anchoring police force of the South Bay section of the county and its reputation as an innovator in crime fighting have been firmly established over time. Today, with a total of 242 sworn and 100 support personnel, the highly regarded Torrance Police Department serves more than 142,000 inhabitants in 21 square miles.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 930 police officers (representing 391 police departments) and their 1944 police books in 33 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.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Marlo, Bollinger and Winston
Editor's Note: One of the authors is prior military.
April 4, 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 police officers from California law enforcement agencies.
John Marlo was a San Jose Police Department (California) police officer from 1955 to 1961. In in1961, he became the City Attorney for the City of Capitola (California). In 1973, he became a Superior Court Judge and was the Presiding Judge of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court four times during his judicial career. John Marlo is the co-author of The Police Officer and Criminal Justice.
Pete Bollinger first became interested in law enforcement while serving in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. While in the military, he obtained AA Degrees in Industrial Security from the College of the Air Force and Criminal Justice from Devils Lake College in North Dakota. After honorable discharge, Mr. Bollinger continued his education, obtaining a BS Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and a Masters Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix.
Pete Bollinger has been a police officer with the Santa Ana Police Department since 1988 and has worked a variety of assignments throughout his career. First and foremost, he is proud that the majority of his work history has been on patrol. He has served in an undercover capacity, both purchasing and selling narcotics, in vice programs with prostitutes, transvestites and other dregs of society. Pete Bollinger was fortunate enough to earn an assignment in Personnel, specifically in the background unit. He attained the rank of Sergeant and now supervises a team of Officers. Pete Bollinger is the author of 45 Days of Perfection; And God Made Eve; First, Kill the Lawyers; Man Landers; and, Rx for Justice.
Steve Winston was hired in law enforcement in 1981 and has worked in several assignments. For the last nine years he has been a background investigator with the Santa Ana Police Department and involved in the hiring of over 1,000 employees, including both police and firefighters. Steve Winston and Pete Bollinger are the co-authors of How to Get Hired in Law Enforcement & Fire.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 927 police officers (representing 391 police departments) and their 1941 police books in 33 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.
April 4, 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 police officers from California law enforcement agencies.
John Marlo was a San Jose Police Department (California) police officer from 1955 to 1961. In in1961, he became the City Attorney for the City of Capitola (California). In 1973, he became a Superior Court Judge and was the Presiding Judge of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court four times during his judicial career. John Marlo is the co-author of The Police Officer and Criminal Justice.
Pete Bollinger first became interested in law enforcement while serving in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. While in the military, he obtained AA Degrees in Industrial Security from the College of the Air Force and Criminal Justice from Devils Lake College in North Dakota. After honorable discharge, Mr. Bollinger continued his education, obtaining a BS Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and a Masters Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix.
Pete Bollinger has been a police officer with the Santa Ana Police Department since 1988 and has worked a variety of assignments throughout his career. First and foremost, he is proud that the majority of his work history has been on patrol. He has served in an undercover capacity, both purchasing and selling narcotics, in vice programs with prostitutes, transvestites and other dregs of society. Pete Bollinger was fortunate enough to earn an assignment in Personnel, specifically in the background unit. He attained the rank of Sergeant and now supervises a team of Officers. Pete Bollinger is the author of 45 Days of Perfection; And God Made Eve; First, Kill the Lawyers; Man Landers; and, Rx for Justice.
Steve Winston was hired in law enforcement in 1981 and has worked in several assignments. For the last nine years he has been a background investigator with the Santa Ana Police Department and involved in the hiring of over 1,000 employees, including both police and firefighters. Steve Winston and Pete Bollinger are the co-authors of How to Get Hired in Law Enforcement & Fire.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 927 police officers (representing 391 police departments) and their 1941 police books in 33 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.
Last Colorado Air Guard MIA Laid to Rest in Arlington Cemetery
By Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - The remains of Colorado Air National Guard Maj. Perry H. Jefferson, who vanished during an observation flight 39 years ago over the jungles of South Vietnam, were at last laid to rest yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. Three days of events here were a high-profile attempt to put closure to a missing-in-action mystery, but what exactly happened to the intelligence officer and his Army Reserve pilot, then-1st Lt. Arthur Ecklund, during their fateful observation flight may never be known.
A closed-casket viewing was held at a funeral home here April 1. Families, fellow servicemembers, veterans and friends to both men attended full-honors funerals April 2 and 3, which started at the Old Post Chapel on Fort Myer, Va., followed by platoon, band and caisson escorts to their gravesites on the nation's most sacred property.
Ecklund was interred at Arlington on April 2; he was previously interred in Knoxville, Ill., by his family in 2004. The Reservist attended Arizona State University and was drafted in 1966. He attended helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft training prior to his combat deployment.
More than 150 people attended Jefferson's services here, including nearly 100 from Colorado who watched the state's reported last Guard Vietnam MIA put to rest.
Jefferson was an intelligence officer at Colorado's 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which flew the F-100C Super Saber. He received his bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist College and worked for Aramco in the Middle East before joining the Air Guard. His wife, Sylvia, died in 1992.
Jefferson and 375 other Colorado Air Guard members deployed to Phan Rang, Vietnam, in April 1968. They were the first Air Guard fighter squadron assigned to active duty in Vietnam.
For retired Col. Don Neary, an F-100 pilot who served with Jefferson, thinking of his friend still brought up a mix of tears and happy memories of home at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., and deployed to Vietnam.
Neary said Jefferson didn't need to fly on visual reconnaissance missions from Phan Rang.
"I think what his motivation was he probably wanted to be a pilot, ... but also the aircraft was our forward air control airplane," Neary said. "I think it gave him an appreciation for us, and he went out to get that experience for when he would come in and brief us in the morning."
On April 3, 1969, 37-year-old Jefferson was flying aboard an O-1 Bird Dog observation aircraft piloted by 24-year-old Ecklund. They never returned to their base.
Defense officials said a three-day search found no evidence of a crash, and hostile forces in the area prevented other searches. Both men were listed as MIA.
"We were within a month of coming home," said Maj. Gen. John L. France in "Colorado Pride," a Colorado Air Guard history book.
France was the unit's operations officer in Vietnam and later served as Colorado's adjutant general. In the book, he shares the moments leading up to Jefferson's disappearance.
"Clyde Seiler and Don Neary were on (an F-100) mission together; Clyde got shot down and went into the jungle, ... (and with) no parachute, he didn't get out. ... Then, we lost Perry Jefferson a few days after Clyde. It was a rough time," France said.
The unit returned home in April 1969, and the Air Guard members who served at Phan Rang were immortalized later in the National Guard Heritage Series painting "Scramble at Phan Rang."
Across the nation, 22,745 Army and Air Guardsmen mobilized during the Vietnam War. More than 9,000 deployed to Vietnam.
Jefferson's and Ecklund's case remained unsolved, and there were even rumors of them being seen after the fateful flight.
After defense officials received human remains in 1984 from a suspected military crash, eyewitnesses were interviewed. One witness said the aircraft crashed on a mountainside, and that the pilots died and were buried there. An excavation led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command uncovered the aircraft's wreckage, but no human remains were found at the crash site.
In 2000, the remains turned over in 1984 were identified as Ecklund's.
Defense officials said Jefferson's remains were not identified until 2007, after a Vietnamese national living in California turned them in.
The day before Jefferson's interment ceremony, visiting Colorado Guard members walked among blossoming cherry trees to the Vietnam War Memorial to lay a wreath. They also located Jefferson's name on the dark granite and took a rubbing for their military museum.
"Perry was everybody's friend. ... He took off on a normal observation run and never returned. He just vanished," France said.
The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office's Web site states "efforts continue to recover nearly 1,800 Americans who remain unaccounted for from Vietnam."
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
April 4, 2008 - The remains of Colorado Air National Guard Maj. Perry H. Jefferson, who vanished during an observation flight 39 years ago over the jungles of South Vietnam, were at last laid to rest yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. Three days of events here were a high-profile attempt to put closure to a missing-in-action mystery, but what exactly happened to the intelligence officer and his Army Reserve pilot, then-1st Lt. Arthur Ecklund, during their fateful observation flight may never be known.
A closed-casket viewing was held at a funeral home here April 1. Families, fellow servicemembers, veterans and friends to both men attended full-honors funerals April 2 and 3, which started at the Old Post Chapel on Fort Myer, Va., followed by platoon, band and caisson escorts to their gravesites on the nation's most sacred property.
Ecklund was interred at Arlington on April 2; he was previously interred in Knoxville, Ill., by his family in 2004. The Reservist attended Arizona State University and was drafted in 1966. He attended helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft training prior to his combat deployment.
More than 150 people attended Jefferson's services here, including nearly 100 from Colorado who watched the state's reported last Guard Vietnam MIA put to rest.
Jefferson was an intelligence officer at Colorado's 120th Tactical Fighter Squadron, which flew the F-100C Super Saber. He received his bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist College and worked for Aramco in the Middle East before joining the Air Guard. His wife, Sylvia, died in 1992.
Jefferson and 375 other Colorado Air Guard members deployed to Phan Rang, Vietnam, in April 1968. They were the first Air Guard fighter squadron assigned to active duty in Vietnam.
For retired Col. Don Neary, an F-100 pilot who served with Jefferson, thinking of his friend still brought up a mix of tears and happy memories of home at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., and deployed to Vietnam.
Neary said Jefferson didn't need to fly on visual reconnaissance missions from Phan Rang.
"I think what his motivation was he probably wanted to be a pilot, ... but also the aircraft was our forward air control airplane," Neary said. "I think it gave him an appreciation for us, and he went out to get that experience for when he would come in and brief us in the morning."
On April 3, 1969, 37-year-old Jefferson was flying aboard an O-1 Bird Dog observation aircraft piloted by 24-year-old Ecklund. They never returned to their base.
Defense officials said a three-day search found no evidence of a crash, and hostile forces in the area prevented other searches. Both men were listed as MIA.
"We were within a month of coming home," said Maj. Gen. John L. France in "Colorado Pride," a Colorado Air Guard history book.
France was the unit's operations officer in Vietnam and later served as Colorado's adjutant general. In the book, he shares the moments leading up to Jefferson's disappearance.
"Clyde Seiler and Don Neary were on (an F-100) mission together; Clyde got shot down and went into the jungle, ... (and with) no parachute, he didn't get out. ... Then, we lost Perry Jefferson a few days after Clyde. It was a rough time," France said.
The unit returned home in April 1969, and the Air Guard members who served at Phan Rang were immortalized later in the National Guard Heritage Series painting "Scramble at Phan Rang."
Across the nation, 22,745 Army and Air Guardsmen mobilized during the Vietnam War. More than 9,000 deployed to Vietnam.
Jefferson's and Ecklund's case remained unsolved, and there were even rumors of them being seen after the fateful flight.
After defense officials received human remains in 1984 from a suspected military crash, eyewitnesses were interviewed. One witness said the aircraft crashed on a mountainside, and that the pilots died and were buried there. An excavation led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command uncovered the aircraft's wreckage, but no human remains were found at the crash site.
In 2000, the remains turned over in 1984 were identified as Ecklund's.
Defense officials said Jefferson's remains were not identified until 2007, after a Vietnamese national living in California turned them in.
The day before Jefferson's interment ceremony, visiting Colorado Guard members walked among blossoming cherry trees to the Vietnam War Memorial to lay a wreath. They also located Jefferson's name on the dark granite and took a rubbing for their military museum.
"Perry was everybody's friend. ... He took off on a normal observation run and never returned. He just vanished," France said.
The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office's Web site states "efforts continue to recover nearly 1,800 Americans who remain unaccounted for from Vietnam."
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
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