By Army Staff Sgt. Mike Pryor
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - By the time the Army was officially desegregated on July 26, 1948, Joe Murchison already was a proud member of the 82nd Airborne Division. A year earlier, his all-black paratrooper unit, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, had been absorbed into the 82nd at the personal request of the division's legendary commander, Army Maj. Gen. James Gavin. As a result, Murchison and his fellow "Triple Nickels" were some of the first black soldiers to work and train side by side with white soldiers.
At the time, the ugly racism of the Jim Crow-era South was inescapable, Murchison said. Off post, black soldiers found "white" and "colored" drinking fountains, they were forced to ride in the back of the bus, and restaurants wouldn't serve them. Even on Fort Bragg, white and black soldiers had separate living quarters, and blacks were barred from the officers' club.
But in the field, at the range, or jumping out of an airplane, Murchison said, he and the other black paratroopers felt they were the equal of anyone. Their special airborne status earned them respect from troops of every color.
"Paratroopers were paratroopers, whatever their color was," Murchison said.
In the 60 years since the armed forces were desegregated by President Harry S. Truman's executive order, opportunities for blacks and other minorities in the military have grown exponentially. In Murchison's day, blacks often were assigned to menial jobs supporting white soldiers, and there were few black officers.
Today, blacks account for 17 percent of all military personnel, and 11 percent of all Army officers. Black officers hold key positions at the most senior levels of command. Indeed, the man who now sits in General Gavin's chair as commander of 82nd Airborne Division is a black man, Brig. Gen. Rodney Anderson.
But military leaders acknowledge more work remains to be done. While opportunity has never been greater, black soldiers serving today still face some of the same prejudices Murchison did 60 years ago. But they also share the same pride.
The end of segregation in 1948 did not mean the end of racist views. Murchison said black soldiers during the period of integration knew all eyes were on them, with some hoping they would fail.
"We knew we had something to prove, and we had to be better than the best," he said.
Walter Morris, who was first sergeant of the Army's first all-black paratrooper company, recounted the skepticism he and his troops faced in a 1990 issue of Patriots Magazine.
"The entire post was making bets that we wouldn't jump, we'd be too afraid. The thing that inspired us was that this was the only black combat outfit then, and it was an opportunity for black troops to enter something they could be proud of," Morris recalled.
Sixty years later, some minorities still feel pressure to be better than their white peers, said Master Sgt. Major Bryant, the equal opportunity advisor for the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
"They feel like, 'I have to go out there and go above and beyond in order to get their attention and respect,'" Bryant said.
But not all black soldiers feel that pressure. Capt. Devin Henry, a staff officer with the 2nd BCT's 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, said he never felt he was held to a different set of expectations as a black officer.
"I'm just another guy in the 82nd," he said.
A common saying around the Army is that the only color that matters is green. It's another way of saying that the shared intensity of Army life tends to break down barriers between people of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds. It was something Murchison noticed back in 1948, and black soldiers serving today see the same thing.
"It's that common bond that pushes differences away," Henry said.
Growing up as a black kid in overwhelmingly white Newport, R.I., he noted, he learned a thing or two about overcoming differences, and he brought that attitude with him in his Army career. Henry said race isn't invisible in today's military; it is simply irrelevant.
"You have to look past it; you have no choice," Henry said. "You have to work as a team and put aside your differences in order to get things done."
That process begins at basic training, Henry said. At basic, whatever biases or prejudices new recruits have are shaved away, just as the hair on their heads that gets unceremoniously buzzed off on Day One.
"It's like a clean slate. From that moment on, you have to start proving yourself," he said.
As soldiers progress in their Army careers, they develop loyalty to their units. That kind of loyalty can be a more powerful source for bonding than racial or ethnic associations, Bryant said.
"If I've got an 82nd patch on and you've got an 82nd patch on, I'm more apt to go and talk to you whether you're black, green or yellow," Bryant said.
Perhaps the most important factor in overcoming racial stereotypes is the "foxhole phenomenon." Soldiers spend so much of their time in such proximity to each other that they can't help but get to know one another as human beings. Murchison saw it first-hand during the early days of integration.
"What happened was that the individual soldiers -- the 'dogfaces' and the grunts -- started interacting with each other and going home on pass together and meeting each others' families, and that led to acceptance," Murchison said. "The diversity you see now comes from that."
It is not only up to individual soldiers to confront stereotypes. With the advent of the all-volunteer military, the Army as an institution has also made a concerted effort to combat discrimination. Several ugly incidents in the 1970s and 1980s made it clear that discrimination was undermining unit cohesion and overall readiness. The response was to create an equal opportunity program to end discriminatory practices and ensure all soldiers were being treated fairly.
Today, every brigade has an equal opportunity advisor like Bryant, a former infantry platoon sergeant who now spends his days teaching soldiers about the value of diversity.
"We all don't look the same or think the same, and that gives you different perspectives when you are looking at a problem," he tells the paratroopers who attend his class.
Bryant, who is black, said he challenges soldiers to confront all stereotypes, not just racial ones. He used himself as an example, noting that as an infantryman, he used to hold a low opinion of support-specialty soldiers. That all changed, he said, during a deployment to Iraq, when his base was attacked and he saw two cooks and an administrative clerk spring into action to secure the scene.
"I never thought those type of guys would be able to perform like that," he said. Now, he tries to teach others with similar opinions the error of their ways.
Diversity is a philosophy that has backers in high places. In recent comments to the Associated Press, Lt. Gen Lloyd J. Austin, the No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq, said diversity is healthy for the military.
"We treasure diversity, because it brings in a lot of different viewpoints and blends in a lot of cultures," he said. "It makes us better."
After commanding an artillery battery of mixed black and white soldiers in 1958, Murchison retired from the Army and began a long and successful career as a businessman. Today, he lives in Tampa, Fla., where he is president of the Triple Nickel Alumni Association.
When a reporter reached him to comment on the 60th anniversary of Army desegregation, he was just sitting down to watch presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama give a speech on TV. Having grown up during a time when blacks and whites couldn't drink from the same water fountain, he said, he was excited about the possibility that a black man could soon be living in the White House.
"There's a lot of opportunity out there. Much more so today," he said.
Trail blazers like Murchison deserve at least some of the credit for that. Murchison said the experiences he had as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division profoundly changed the way he thought about race and color.
"I don't answer to African-American," he said. "I'm All-American."
(Army Staff Sgt. Mike Pryor serves in the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
MILITARY CONTRACTS July 28, 2008
Army
Purcell-Lawman, Watertown, N.Y., was awarded on Jul. 23, 2008, a $33,434,500 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of the Warrior in Transition facility. Work will be performed in Fort Drum, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 10, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Twenty-three bids were solicited on Feb. 29, 2008, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, N.Y., City, is the contracting activity (W912DS-08-C-0018).
BAE Systems Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Jul.2 4, 2008, a $19,697,117 firm-fixed price contract for the procurement of M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles. Work will be performed primarily in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Apr. 30, 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 2, 2007. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-N030).
Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $13,118,300 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a 41,832 square-foot clinical addition to the Robinson Health Clinic. Work will be performed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Eighty bids were solicited on Apr. 11, 2008, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0040).
Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded on Jul. 23, 2008, an $8,120,174 firm-fixed price contract for the deepening of an existing river channel and the disposal of dredged material. Work will be performed at the Mobile Harbor Channel, Ala., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Mar. 28, 2008, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-08-C-0031).
BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Inc., Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $5,740,192 cost-plus fixed fee contract for interactive electronics technical manual and 2-level maintenance for Paladin and Field Artillery Ammunitions Supply vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug.30, 2006. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0256).
Cape Environmental Management, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $5,373,916 firm-fixed price contract for construction of a special operations forces indoor range. Work will be performed at Fort Campbell, Ky., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on May 14, 2008, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0025).
FLIR Systems, Inc., Wilsonville, Ore., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $21,578,780 firm-fixed price contract for G-BOSS rapid aerostat initial deployment sensor components. Work will be performed in Wilsonville, Ore., 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 Jul. 11, 2008. U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9113M-07-D-0004).
SOFTEC Solutions Inc., Englewood, Colo., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $15,448,536 firm-fixed price contract for guidance counselor and staff recruiter services for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The contract will be managed from Radcliff, Ky., and performance locations will be at 76 locations throughout the country. Work is expected to be completed by Jul. 31, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on May 7, 2008, and ten bids were received. Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Enterprise and Installation Operations Regional Contracting Center, Fort Knox, Ky., is the contracting activity (W9124D-08-C0038).
ARES, Inc., Port Clinton, Ohio, was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $10,214,127 cost-plus fixed fee contract for the design, engineering, manufacturing, test and performance evaluation services in support of the rarefaction wave gun technology development and demonstration. Work will be performed in Port Clinton, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Bids were solicited on Sept. 29, 2005, and two bids were received. Joint Munitions & Lethality, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-08-C-0426).
FLIR Systems, Inc., Wilsonville, Ore., was awarded on Jul.2 5, 2008, an $8,425,586 firm-fixed price contract for RESET for rapid aerostat initial deployment sensor components. Work will be performed in Wilsonville, Ore., 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 Jul. 14, 2008. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9113M-07-D-0004).
W. Harley Miller Contractors, Inc., Martinsburg, W.V., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $6,787,710 firm-fixed price contract for the 167th Airlift Wing base conversion from C-130 to C-5 aircraft. Work will be performed in Martinsburg, W.V., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 12, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Apr. 10, 2008, and five bids were received. United States Property & Fiscal Office, Buckhannon, W.V., is the contracting activity (W912L8-08-C-0008).
DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $5,734,002 cost-plus fixed-fee contract for engineering and logistics level of effort, systems technical support in support of the M707 KNIGHT and armored KNIGHT vehicles. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on May 5, 2006. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-C-0538).
General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $5,662,000 cost-plus fixed fee contract for system technical support for the Abrams tank program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jun. 8, 2006. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0046).
Bristow Academy Incorporated, Titusville, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $5,280,000 firm-fixed price contract for initial entry rotary training. Work will be performed in Titusville, Fla., and is expected to be completed by May 28, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Feb. 28, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0214).
Air Force
C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc., of Hosford, Fla., is being awarded a firm fixed price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for $65 million. This contract will provide the government with a contract vehicle available to execute all concrete and asphalt projects at Eglin AFB, Duke Field, the Range and the Reservation. Projects include but are not limited to repair/rebuild roads, runways, parking lots, and site work for a variety of projects in support of mission requirements. At this time $5,000 has been obligated. 96th CONS/MSCA, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2823-08-D-0009).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with The Boeing Company of Anaheim, Calif., for $53,384,031. Item Procured: In order to continue providing survivable communications for U.S. Armed Forces, the Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) must update new platform requirements and advanced EHF (AEHF) system interface. At this time no funds have been obligated. Electronic Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, USAF, 653d ELSG/PK is the contracting activity (F19628-02-C-0048 P00143).
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp, Systems Engineering Solutions of Boulder, Colo., is being awarded a task order against a GSA schedule contract for $13,752,953. This contract action is for advisory and assistance services to include studies, analyses, evaluations, engineering and technical services for the Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. At this time $1 million has been obligated. 88 CONS/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8601-08-F-0105).
NAVY
KPFF Consulting Engineers, Seattle Wash., is being awarded a not to exceed $20,000,000 firm-fixed priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect and engineering contract to provide marine/waterfront architect-engineer services at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest area of responsibility. Work will be performed at various NAVY and Marine Corps installations at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest area of responsibility including but not limited to Washington, (94 percent); Oregon, (2 percent); Idaho, (2 percent); Montana, (1 percent); and Alabama, (1 percent)., and work is expected to be completed Jul. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity (N44255-08-D-3008).
L-3 Services, Inc, Advanced Products & Design, San Diego, Calif., andSerco, Inc., Reston, Va., are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for the production and delivery of Navigation Sensor System Interface (NAVSSI) system racks, kits, parts, and production engineering services support services. The contracts are for five one-year ordering periods. When combined, the aggregate value of all delivery orders awarded over the life of these two contracts will be approximately $16,000,000. Each contractor will be awarded a minimum $10,000 delivery order for the award. The NAVSSI system collects, processes, integrates and formats for distribution of Precise Navigation and Timing (PNT) data to weapon systems, combat support systems, C4ISR systems and other information systems aboard various ship classes. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. NAVY, (84.25 percent) and the governments of Australia, (9.50 percent) and Spain, (6.25 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and Chula Vista, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 2013 if all five ordering periods are used. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The multiple award contracts were competitively procured by full and open competition via the Commerce Business Daily's Federal Business Opportunities, and the Space and Naval Warfare e-Commerce Central website, with four offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-08-D-0008, N00039-08-D-0009). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command awarded the contract on behalf of its organizational partner, the NAVY's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence systems.
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Keyport, Wash., is being awarded a $12,254,777 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-6101) for the procurement of production material in support of the FY07/08 MK48/MK54 torpedo buy. This effort is a continuation of MK48 ADCAP, MK48 CBASS and MK54 torpedo programs under contracts N00024-98-C-6107, N00024-00-C-6100, N00024-00-C-6102 and N00024-03-C-6104. The primary purpose of this contract is to purchase the necessary quantities of torpedoes and support services necessary to support Fleet Operational Requirements for the various torpedo product lines. Work will be performed in Keyport, Wash., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2008. 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.
Old Veterans Construction,* Chicago, Ill., is being awarded an $8,045,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and repair of the D-Street Bridge at Naval Station, Great Lakes, Ill. The work to be performed provides for the repair of our D-Street Bridge, which includes replacing much of the existing bridge with a similar concrete beam and reinforced concrete structure, replacing the utilities that are inside and attached below the deck of the bridge. Work will be performed in Great Lakes, Ill., and work is expected to be completed Nov. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as an 8(a) Small business firm servicing Region 5 (Wis., Mich., Ohio, Ind., Minn., and Ill., is), via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website, with two qualified proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ill., is the contracting activity (N40083-08-C-3025).
Purcell-Lawman, Watertown, N.Y., was awarded on Jul. 23, 2008, a $33,434,500 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of the Warrior in Transition facility. Work will be performed in Fort Drum, N.Y., and is expected to be completed by Feb. 10, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Twenty-three bids were solicited on Feb. 29, 2008, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, N.Y., City, is the contracting activity (W912DS-08-C-0018).
BAE Systems Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Jul.2 4, 2008, a $19,697,117 firm-fixed price contract for the procurement of M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles. Work will be performed primarily in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Apr. 30, 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 2, 2007. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-N030).
Sauer Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $13,118,300 firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a 41,832 square-foot clinical addition to the Robinson Health Clinic. Work will be performed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Eighty bids were solicited on Apr. 11, 2008, and three bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0040).
Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded on Jul. 23, 2008, an $8,120,174 firm-fixed price contract for the deepening of an existing river channel and the disposal of dredged material. Work will be performed at the Mobile Harbor Channel, Ala., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Mar. 28, 2008, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., is the contracting activity (W91278-08-C-0031).
BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Inc., Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $5,740,192 cost-plus fixed fee contract for interactive electronics technical manual and 2-level maintenance for Paladin and Field Artillery Ammunitions Supply vehicles. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug.30, 2006. U.S. Army TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0256).
Cape Environmental Management, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $5,373,916 firm-fixed price contract for construction of a special operations forces indoor range. Work will be performed at Fort Campbell, Ky., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on May 14, 2008, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0025).
FLIR Systems, Inc., Wilsonville, Ore., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $21,578,780 firm-fixed price contract for G-BOSS rapid aerostat initial deployment sensor components. Work will be performed in Wilsonville, Ore., 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 Jul. 11, 2008. U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9113M-07-D-0004).
SOFTEC Solutions Inc., Englewood, Colo., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $15,448,536 firm-fixed price contract for guidance counselor and staff recruiter services for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The contract will be managed from Radcliff, Ky., and performance locations will be at 76 locations throughout the country. Work is expected to be completed by Jul. 31, 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on May 7, 2008, and ten bids were received. Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Enterprise and Installation Operations Regional Contracting Center, Fort Knox, Ky., is the contracting activity (W9124D-08-C0038).
ARES, Inc., Port Clinton, Ohio, was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $10,214,127 cost-plus fixed fee contract for the design, engineering, manufacturing, test and performance evaluation services in support of the rarefaction wave gun technology development and demonstration. Work will be performed in Port Clinton, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Bids were solicited on Sept. 29, 2005, and two bids were received. Joint Munitions & Lethality, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-08-C-0426).
FLIR Systems, Inc., Wilsonville, Ore., was awarded on Jul.2 5, 2008, an $8,425,586 firm-fixed price contract for RESET for rapid aerostat initial deployment sensor components. Work will be performed in Wilsonville, Ore., 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 Jul. 14, 2008. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9113M-07-D-0004).
W. Harley Miller Contractors, Inc., Martinsburg, W.V., was awarded on Jul. 24, 2008, a $6,787,710 firm-fixed price contract for the 167th Airlift Wing base conversion from C-130 to C-5 aircraft. Work will be performed in Martinsburg, W.V., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 12, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Apr. 10, 2008, and five bids were received. United States Property & Fiscal Office, Buckhannon, W.V., is the contracting activity (W912L8-08-C-0008).
DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $5,734,002 cost-plus fixed-fee contract for engineering and logistics level of effort, systems technical support in support of the M707 KNIGHT and armored KNIGHT vehicles. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on May 5, 2006. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-C-0538).
General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $5,662,000 cost-plus fixed fee contract for system technical support for the Abrams tank program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Jun. 8, 2006. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0046).
Bristow Academy Incorporated, Titusville, Fla., was awarded on Jul. 25, 2008, a $5,280,000 firm-fixed price contract for initial entry rotary training. Work will be performed in Titusville, Fla., and is expected to be completed by May 28, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Feb. 28, 2008. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0214).
Air Force
C.W. Roberts Contracting, Inc., of Hosford, Fla., is being awarded a firm fixed price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for $65 million. This contract will provide the government with a contract vehicle available to execute all concrete and asphalt projects at Eglin AFB, Duke Field, the Range and the Reservation. Projects include but are not limited to repair/rebuild roads, runways, parking lots, and site work for a variety of projects in support of mission requirements. At this time $5,000 has been obligated. 96th CONS/MSCA, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2823-08-D-0009).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with The Boeing Company of Anaheim, Calif., for $53,384,031. Item Procured: In order to continue providing survivable communications for U.S. Armed Forces, the Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) must update new platform requirements and advanced EHF (AEHF) system interface. At this time no funds have been obligated. Electronic Systems Center, Air Force Materiel Command, USAF, 653d ELSG/PK is the contracting activity (F19628-02-C-0048 P00143).
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp, Systems Engineering Solutions of Boulder, Colo., is being awarded a task order against a GSA schedule contract for $13,752,953. This contract action is for advisory and assistance services to include studies, analyses, evaluations, engineering and technical services for the Human Effectiveness Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory. At this time $1 million has been obligated. 88 CONS/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8601-08-F-0105).
NAVY
KPFF Consulting Engineers, Seattle Wash., is being awarded a not to exceed $20,000,000 firm-fixed priced, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect and engineering contract to provide marine/waterfront architect-engineer services at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest area of responsibility. Work will be performed at various NAVY and Marine Corps installations at various locations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest area of responsibility including but not limited to Washington, (94 percent); Oregon, (2 percent); Idaho, (2 percent); Montana, (1 percent); and Alabama, (1 percent)., and work is expected to be completed Jul. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity (N44255-08-D-3008).
L-3 Services, Inc, Advanced Products & Design, San Diego, Calif., andSerco, Inc., Reston, Va., are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for the production and delivery of Navigation Sensor System Interface (NAVSSI) system racks, kits, parts, and production engineering services support services. The contracts are for five one-year ordering periods. When combined, the aggregate value of all delivery orders awarded over the life of these two contracts will be approximately $16,000,000. Each contractor will be awarded a minimum $10,000 delivery order for the award. The NAVSSI system collects, processes, integrates and formats for distribution of Precise Navigation and Timing (PNT) data to weapon systems, combat support systems, C4ISR systems and other information systems aboard various ship classes. This contract combines purchases for the U.S. NAVY, (84.25 percent) and the governments of Australia, (9.50 percent) and Spain, (6.25 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and Chula Vista, Calif., and is expected to be completed by Jun. 2013 if all five ordering periods are used. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The multiple award contracts were competitively procured by full and open competition via the Commerce Business Daily's Federal Business Opportunities, and the Space and Naval Warfare e-Commerce Central website, with four offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-08-D-0008, N00039-08-D-0009). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command awarded the contract on behalf of its organizational partner, the NAVY's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence systems.
Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Keyport, Wash., is being awarded a $12,254,777 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-6101) for the procurement of production material in support of the FY07/08 MK48/MK54 torpedo buy. This effort is a continuation of MK48 ADCAP, MK48 CBASS and MK54 torpedo programs under contracts N00024-98-C-6107, N00024-00-C-6100, N00024-00-C-6102 and N00024-03-C-6104. The primary purpose of this contract is to purchase the necessary quantities of torpedoes and support services necessary to support Fleet Operational Requirements for the various torpedo product lines. Work will be performed in Keyport, Wash., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2008. 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.
Old Veterans Construction,* Chicago, Ill., is being awarded an $8,045,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design and repair of the D-Street Bridge at Naval Station, Great Lakes, Ill. The work to be performed provides for the repair of our D-Street Bridge, which includes replacing much of the existing bridge with a similar concrete beam and reinforced concrete structure, replacing the utilities that are inside and attached below the deck of the bridge. Work will be performed in Great Lakes, Ill., and work is expected to be completed Nov. 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured as an 8(a) Small business firm servicing Region 5 (Wis., Mich., Ohio, Ind., Minn., and Ill., is), via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website, with two qualified proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, Great Lakes, Ill., is the contracting activity (N40083-08-C-3025).
State Military Forces Help Texans Recover After Hurricane
By Army 1st Sgt. Lek Mateo
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - Residents of the Rio Grande Valley are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Dolly after the second Atlantic hurricane of the 2008 season tore through south Texas on July 23 with damaging wind and torrential rain. Remnants of the Category 2 hurricane could still be felt as severe flooding in some coastal cities displaced several hundred families whose homes were destroyed or made inaccessible.
Several thousand people were without electricity at the height of the storm due to downed power lines, but utility companies from all over the state worked tirelessly to restore service.
More than 800 members of the Texas Military Forces, which comprise the Texas Air National Guard, Army National Guard and Texas State Guard, joined forces with local, state and federal emergency responders in a massive relief operation to help the communities recover.
The military effort, under command of the Standing Joint Interagency Task Force, assisted the state's Texas Task Force 1 with search and rescue, food, water and ice distribution, and shelter management.
They established and manned 15 food, water and ice distribution sites and helped to man and administer seven shelter sites run by the Red Cross and other emergency agencies.
The Texas military Forces had mobile distribution teams working in conjunction with Red Cross, Salvation Army, Department of Public Safety and other agencies. The distribution sites will be manned around the clock until the local authorities determine they are no longer needed.
Air Force Col. John Nichols of the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio, task force commander, said he is proud to lead all three components of the Texas military Forces involved with this mission.
"This is truly Texans helping Texans, and we are ready for this kind of contingency operation," he said.
U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, who represents the district affected by the storm, visited one of the distribution sites to see the relief effort first-hand. He commended the countless volunteers, especially the servicemen and women, who came to assist the people of south Texas.
"I want to thank all the military members who were activated and removed from their jobs and their family to come and help," he said. "This shows their dedication and their loyalty to the state and the community, and we appreciate that."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Eliberto Cavazos of the Texas State Guard and a resident of Raymondville, Texas, rode the storm out at the local high school with several members of his unit. The retired city employee said it was great to be able to work together as a team with his counterparts in the Army and Air National Guard and together show the community in which he lives in that the Texas military Forces can do the job at hand.
"We've received a lot of thanks for coming here and helping from the people in my neighborhood, and that they are truly very grateful. That makes me very proud to be able to serve in uniform," Cavazos stated.
Sharon Stanton, who had been out of power for three days, waited patiently for hours in her car until she reached the front of the line, where several Guardsmen and civilian volunteers quickly loaded her car with precious water and ice. The La Feria, Texas, resident said she knew relief was on the way when she started seeing convoys of large, green National Guard Humvees and trucks arriving in her town hours after Dolly struck.
"The National Guard pretty much has got it together, and they know what they're doing, and that assures me that things are going to get better," she said.
Army Pfc. Michael Morales of the Texas Army National Guard's 449th Aviation Support Battalion based in San Antonio has been in the service for about a year, and this was his first hurricane-relief mission. The private and several civilian volunteers worked at a feverish pace in the oppressive heat and humidity, loading tons of water, food and ice into what seems like endless lines of cars at a distribution site in Harlingen, Texas.
He acknowledged that the work was arduous and back-breaking, but said it was nothing compared to the suffering that residents were going through, days after the hurricane had made landfall. Receiving a simple "thank you" and a smile from those seeking help made the task worthwhile and rewarding, he said.
"It feels good knowing that I can help distribute food and water to those that need it most and hopefully make their lives a little better," he said.
(Army 1st Sgt. Lek Mateo of the Texas National Guard serves in the Texas military Forces Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - Residents of the Rio Grande Valley are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Dolly after the second Atlantic hurricane of the 2008 season tore through south Texas on July 23 with damaging wind and torrential rain. Remnants of the Category 2 hurricane could still be felt as severe flooding in some coastal cities displaced several hundred families whose homes were destroyed or made inaccessible.
Several thousand people were without electricity at the height of the storm due to downed power lines, but utility companies from all over the state worked tirelessly to restore service.
More than 800 members of the Texas Military Forces, which comprise the Texas Air National Guard, Army National Guard and Texas State Guard, joined forces with local, state and federal emergency responders in a massive relief operation to help the communities recover.
The military effort, under command of the Standing Joint Interagency Task Force, assisted the state's Texas Task Force 1 with search and rescue, food, water and ice distribution, and shelter management.
They established and manned 15 food, water and ice distribution sites and helped to man and administer seven shelter sites run by the Red Cross and other emergency agencies.
The Texas military Forces had mobile distribution teams working in conjunction with Red Cross, Salvation Army, Department of Public Safety and other agencies. The distribution sites will be manned around the clock until the local authorities determine they are no longer needed.
Air Force Col. John Nichols of the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio, task force commander, said he is proud to lead all three components of the Texas military Forces involved with this mission.
"This is truly Texans helping Texans, and we are ready for this kind of contingency operation," he said.
U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, who represents the district affected by the storm, visited one of the distribution sites to see the relief effort first-hand. He commended the countless volunteers, especially the servicemen and women, who came to assist the people of south Texas.
"I want to thank all the military members who were activated and removed from their jobs and their family to come and help," he said. "This shows their dedication and their loyalty to the state and the community, and we appreciate that."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Eliberto Cavazos of the Texas State Guard and a resident of Raymondville, Texas, rode the storm out at the local high school with several members of his unit. The retired city employee said it was great to be able to work together as a team with his counterparts in the Army and Air National Guard and together show the community in which he lives in that the Texas military Forces can do the job at hand.
"We've received a lot of thanks for coming here and helping from the people in my neighborhood, and that they are truly very grateful. That makes me very proud to be able to serve in uniform," Cavazos stated.
Sharon Stanton, who had been out of power for three days, waited patiently for hours in her car until she reached the front of the line, where several Guardsmen and civilian volunteers quickly loaded her car with precious water and ice. The La Feria, Texas, resident said she knew relief was on the way when she started seeing convoys of large, green National Guard Humvees and trucks arriving in her town hours after Dolly struck.
"The National Guard pretty much has got it together, and they know what they're doing, and that assures me that things are going to get better," she said.
Army Pfc. Michael Morales of the Texas Army National Guard's 449th Aviation Support Battalion based in San Antonio has been in the service for about a year, and this was his first hurricane-relief mission. The private and several civilian volunteers worked at a feverish pace in the oppressive heat and humidity, loading tons of water, food and ice into what seems like endless lines of cars at a distribution site in Harlingen, Texas.
He acknowledged that the work was arduous and back-breaking, but said it was nothing compared to the suffering that residents were going through, days after the hurricane had made landfall. Receiving a simple "thank you" and a smile from those seeking help made the task worthwhile and rewarding, he said.
"It feels good knowing that I can help distribute food and water to those that need it most and hopefully make their lives a little better," he said.
(Army 1st Sgt. Lek Mateo of the Texas National Guard serves in the Texas military Forces Public Affairs Office.)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Hunter Adopted by Hopkins
Editor's Note: The author is former Marine.
July 29, 2008, (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. James H. Lilley, the Police-Writer.com Author of the Year (2008), has had his book, The Eyes of the Hunter, adopted by Johns Hopkins University.
James H. Lilley is a former Marine and Police Sergeant with the Howard County Police Department (Maryland). He worked in the Uniformed Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Forensic Services (CSI) and Drug Enforcement Division. His Street Drug Unit was featured in the book "Undercover" by Hans Halberstadt and published by Simon and Schuster. Some of his awards include The Medal of Valor, Four Bronze Stars, Four Unit Citations and the Governor's Citation. He is also an 8th Degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate. James Lilley is the author of seven books: A Question of Honor; The Eyes of the Hunter; The Far Side of the Bridge; Just Retribution; A Miracle for Tony Clements; Death Knocks Twice, and, A Tony Clements Christmas Miracle.
According to Sheldon Greenberg, Ph.D. (Associate Dean, School of Education, Johns Hopkins University), “The Eyes of the Hunter will be used as a text for the Communications course in the Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis degree program at Johns Hopkins University.” Dr. Sheldon continued that Lilley’s book will help the students “focus on creativity and critical thinking, research, understanding the audience, and formulating meaningful written documents.”
The course The Eyes of the Hunter will be used in is “Communications: Fact, Opinion, Significance, and Consequence.” According to the course description, “Within the intelligence community, findings are of little value unless they are communicated well. Dissemination of findings is essential to the success of any analysis or research. Students learn to deliver written, oral, and visual presentations for maximum effect by considering factors such as intended outcome, timing, structure, and method. Working individually and in small groups, students address issues such as lack of time to plan and prepare, unfamiliarity with the customer (end user of analytical documents), disruption and change, and coping with the unexpected. Students receive ongoing feedback on their communication style and effectiveness.
The ability to justify and present an analytical conclusion in clear, succinct prose is essential to supplying policy makers with information they need to formulate decisions. Students consider traditional and innovative methods of intelligence writing and briefing, focusing on the difference between fact and opinion. Students prepare written reports and presentations on a variety of topics and, in doing so, construct narratives, establish project credibility, convey recommendations, and reinforce key messages.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 1029 police officers (representing 431 police departments) and their 2189 criminal justice 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.
July 29, 2008, (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. James H. Lilley, the Police-Writer.com Author of the Year (2008), has had his book, The Eyes of the Hunter, adopted by Johns Hopkins University.
James H. Lilley is a former Marine and Police Sergeant with the Howard County Police Department (Maryland). He worked in the Uniformed Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Forensic Services (CSI) and Drug Enforcement Division. His Street Drug Unit was featured in the book "Undercover" by Hans Halberstadt and published by Simon and Schuster. Some of his awards include The Medal of Valor, Four Bronze Stars, Four Unit Citations and the Governor's Citation. He is also an 8th Degree Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Karate. James Lilley is the author of seven books: A Question of Honor; The Eyes of the Hunter; The Far Side of the Bridge; Just Retribution; A Miracle for Tony Clements; Death Knocks Twice, and, A Tony Clements Christmas Miracle.
According to Sheldon Greenberg, Ph.D. (Associate Dean, School of Education, Johns Hopkins University), “The Eyes of the Hunter will be used as a text for the Communications course in the Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis degree program at Johns Hopkins University.” Dr. Sheldon continued that Lilley’s book will help the students “focus on creativity and critical thinking, research, understanding the audience, and formulating meaningful written documents.”
The course The Eyes of the Hunter will be used in is “Communications: Fact, Opinion, Significance, and Consequence.” According to the course description, “Within the intelligence community, findings are of little value unless they are communicated well. Dissemination of findings is essential to the success of any analysis or research. Students learn to deliver written, oral, and visual presentations for maximum effect by considering factors such as intended outcome, timing, structure, and method. Working individually and in small groups, students address issues such as lack of time to plan and prepare, unfamiliarity with the customer (end user of analytical documents), disruption and change, and coping with the unexpected. Students receive ongoing feedback on their communication style and effectiveness.
The ability to justify and present an analytical conclusion in clear, succinct prose is essential to supplying policy makers with information they need to formulate decisions. Students consider traditional and innovative methods of intelligence writing and briefing, focusing on the difference between fact and opinion. Students prepare written reports and presentations on a variety of topics and, in doing so, construct narratives, establish project credibility, convey recommendations, and reinforce key messages.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 1029 police officers (representing 431 police departments) and their 2189 criminal justice 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.
New GI Bill Provides Increased Educational Benefits
By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - The latest GI Bill considerably improves the opportunity for today's servicemembers to obtain their education, a senior Defense Department official said. President Bush signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 on June 30. The new law mirrors the tenets of the original GI Bill, which gave returning World War Two veterans the opportunity to go to any school they wanted while receiving a living stipend, Bob Clark, the Pentagon's assistant director of accessions policy, said.
"The original GI Bill was said to be one of the most significant social impacts of the 20th century," Clark said. "We believe the new bill is going to have a similar impact."
The ew GI Bill is applies to individuals who served on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and offers education benefits worth an average of $80,000 – double the value of those in the previous program. It covers the full costs of tuition and books, which are paid directly to the school, and it provides a variable stipend for living expenses. It's also transferable to family members of career servicemembers.
Its only restriction is that payment amounts are limited to the most expensive in-state cost to attend a college or university in the state where veterans attend school, he said.
The variable stipend is based on the Defense Department's basic allowance for housing for an E-5, which averages about $1,200 a month, and $1,000 a year will be paid directly to the servicemember for books and supplies, he added.
Enrollment into the Post-9/11 GI Bill is free. Eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill is based on service commitment and requires active-duty servicemembers to pay a $1,200 fee over the initial year of their enlistment.
The new bill requires that an individual serve at least 90 days on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, and if discharged, be separated on honorable terms. Servicemembers discharged due to a service-connected disability are eligible if they served 30 continuous days on active duty. Servicemembers must serve 36 aggregated months to qualify for the full amount of benefits.
Servicemembers are entitled to benefits of the new bill for up to 36 months and have up to 15 years from their last 30 days of continuous service to use their entitlements. But as successful as Defense Department officials anticipate the new bill to be, Clark suggested that new recruits still enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill.
The Montgomery GI Bill gives benefits for higher education as well as vocational training, apprenticeship programs and on-the-job training, he explained. The Post-9/11 GI Bill focuses solely on higher education and can only be used at institutions that offer at least an associate's degree, he said.
"We recommend that all new recruits think hard before turning down the Montgomery GI Bill, because they will limit their opportunities for additional education without it," he added.
Servicemembers also are "highly encouraged" to use the Defense Department's tuition assistance program while on active duty, because the Post-9/11 GI Bill's full entitlements, such as the living stipend and book allowance, will not be available, Clark said.
"If you use the Post-9/11 GI Bill while on active duty, it will merely cover tuition or the difference of what tuition assistance will pay," he explained. "Another downside to that is each month you use [the new bill], you lose a month of your 36 months of eligibility."
So, if servicemembers serve on active duty on or after Aug. 1, 2009, and meet the minimum time-in-service requirement, they will be eligible for the new GI Bill while also maintaining benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill, he said.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also brings good news for officers and for servicemembers who enlisted under the loan repayment program. Since eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill is based on time already served, more servicemembers will be able to take advantage of its benefits, Clark added. Officers commissioned through one of the service academies or through ROTC and enlisted servicemembers participating in the loan repayment program don't qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, he said.
Those servicemembers will be able to qualify if they finish their initial obligatory service. Commissioned officers must complete their initial five-year commitment if they attended a service academy or their four-year agreement if they were commissioned through college ROTC. Servicemembers whose college loans were paid off by the Defense Department as a re-enlistment incentive must finish their initial commitment – whether it is three, four or five years – before they can apply, Clark said.
"Any amount of time an individual served after their obligated service counts for qualifying service under the new GI Bill," he said.
Another facet unique to the Post-9/11 GI Bill is that it's transferable to family members. The feature gives the defense and service secretaries the authority to offer career servicemembers the opportunity to transfer unused benefits to their family. Though Defense Department officials still are working with the services to hash out eligibility requirements, there are four prerequisites that are subject to adjustment or change, Clark said.
Currently transferability requirements are:
-- Qualifying service to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill;
-- Active duty service in the armed forces on or after Aug. 1, 2009;
-- At least six years of service in the armed forces;
-- Agreement to serve four more years in the armed forces.
"We're really excited about transferability," Clark said. "That was one of the things about education and the GI Bill that's come up the most often from the field and fleet."
Individuals who may not qualify to transfer unused benefits because they leave the service before the new bill's effective date most likely still will qualify for the bill. As long as the separated servicemembers meet the minimum qualifying time served, they can contact their local Veterans Affairs office and apply for the program. While payments are not retroactive, eligibility is, Clark said.
"This new bill will allow our veterans to chase their dreams," Clark said. "It will allow them to go back and experience college like they deserve, much like their grandfathers did in World War Two."
More information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill is available at local Veterans Affairs Office and at www.gibill.va.gov.
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - The latest GI Bill considerably improves the opportunity for today's servicemembers to obtain their education, a senior Defense Department official said. President Bush signed the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 on June 30. The new law mirrors the tenets of the original GI Bill, which gave returning World War Two veterans the opportunity to go to any school they wanted while receiving a living stipend, Bob Clark, the Pentagon's assistant director of accessions policy, said.
"The original GI Bill was said to be one of the most significant social impacts of the 20th century," Clark said. "We believe the new bill is going to have a similar impact."
The ew GI Bill is applies to individuals who served on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and offers education benefits worth an average of $80,000 – double the value of those in the previous program. It covers the full costs of tuition and books, which are paid directly to the school, and it provides a variable stipend for living expenses. It's also transferable to family members of career servicemembers.
Its only restriction is that payment amounts are limited to the most expensive in-state cost to attend a college or university in the state where veterans attend school, he said.
The variable stipend is based on the Defense Department's basic allowance for housing for an E-5, which averages about $1,200 a month, and $1,000 a year will be paid directly to the servicemember for books and supplies, he added.
Enrollment into the Post-9/11 GI Bill is free. Eligibility for the Montgomery GI Bill is based on service commitment and requires active-duty servicemembers to pay a $1,200 fee over the initial year of their enlistment.
The new bill requires that an individual serve at least 90 days on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, and if discharged, be separated on honorable terms. Servicemembers discharged due to a service-connected disability are eligible if they served 30 continuous days on active duty. Servicemembers must serve 36 aggregated months to qualify for the full amount of benefits.
Servicemembers are entitled to benefits of the new bill for up to 36 months and have up to 15 years from their last 30 days of continuous service to use their entitlements. But as successful as Defense Department officials anticipate the new bill to be, Clark suggested that new recruits still enroll in the Montgomery GI Bill.
The Montgomery GI Bill gives benefits for higher education as well as vocational training, apprenticeship programs and on-the-job training, he explained. The Post-9/11 GI Bill focuses solely on higher education and can only be used at institutions that offer at least an associate's degree, he said.
"We recommend that all new recruits think hard before turning down the Montgomery GI Bill, because they will limit their opportunities for additional education without it," he added.
Servicemembers also are "highly encouraged" to use the Defense Department's tuition assistance program while on active duty, because the Post-9/11 GI Bill's full entitlements, such as the living stipend and book allowance, will not be available, Clark said.
"If you use the Post-9/11 GI Bill while on active duty, it will merely cover tuition or the difference of what tuition assistance will pay," he explained. "Another downside to that is each month you use [the new bill], you lose a month of your 36 months of eligibility."
So, if servicemembers serve on active duty on or after Aug. 1, 2009, and meet the minimum time-in-service requirement, they will be eligible for the new GI Bill while also maintaining benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill, he said.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill also brings good news for officers and for servicemembers who enlisted under the loan repayment program. Since eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill is based on time already served, more servicemembers will be able to take advantage of its benefits, Clark added. Officers commissioned through one of the service academies or through ROTC and enlisted servicemembers participating in the loan repayment program don't qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill, he said.
Those servicemembers will be able to qualify if they finish their initial obligatory service. Commissioned officers must complete their initial five-year commitment if they attended a service academy or their four-year agreement if they were commissioned through college ROTC. Servicemembers whose college loans were paid off by the Defense Department as a re-enlistment incentive must finish their initial commitment – whether it is three, four or five years – before they can apply, Clark said.
"Any amount of time an individual served after their obligated service counts for qualifying service under the new GI Bill," he said.
Another facet unique to the Post-9/11 GI Bill is that it's transferable to family members. The feature gives the defense and service secretaries the authority to offer career servicemembers the opportunity to transfer unused benefits to their family. Though Defense Department officials still are working with the services to hash out eligibility requirements, there are four prerequisites that are subject to adjustment or change, Clark said.
Currently transferability requirements are:
-- Qualifying service to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill;
-- Active duty service in the armed forces on or after Aug. 1, 2009;
-- At least six years of service in the armed forces;
-- Agreement to serve four more years in the armed forces.
"We're really excited about transferability," Clark said. "That was one of the things about education and the GI Bill that's come up the most often from the field and fleet."
Individuals who may not qualify to transfer unused benefits because they leave the service before the new bill's effective date most likely still will qualify for the bill. As long as the separated servicemembers meet the minimum qualifying time served, they can contact their local Veterans Affairs office and apply for the program. While payments are not retroactive, eligibility is, Clark said.
"This new bill will allow our veterans to chase their dreams," Clark said. "It will allow them to go back and experience college like they deserve, much like their grandfathers did in World War Two."
More information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill is available at local Veterans Affairs Office and at www.gibill.va.gov.
Face of Defense: Soldier Works to Inspire Others
By Army Pfc. Lyndsey R. Dransfield
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - The rank insignia of a noncommissioned officer gives the wearer a title as well as the power to accomplish certain tasks and objectives, but the rank alone doesn't always make a leader. Leadership involves inspiring others to achieve higher goals, and the Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, say Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lowers, a Sunrise, Fla., native -- their platoon chief and a member of the Sgt. Audi Murphy Club -- is someone they define as a true leader.
The soldiers call him "Sergeant Smoke," a title commonly given to artillery chiefs. He supervises the fire base here, and is responsible for all artillery fires.
"There is nothing more exciting than putting a 100-pound projectile downrange knowing that you've done everything you can to make sure it hits its target," Lowers said. "I think the battalion commander says it best: 'It's not a sexy job.' However, we are in a support role, and it's good to know that we do our part to support the infantry soldiers with their mission. I'd like to think our part is as important as the next guy's."
Lowers came to the United States from Jamaica when he was 19, and he enlisted in the Army five months later.
"I wanted to go to college, but my parents didn't have the funds to support me, and I knew that the Army had a lot of opportunities," he said.
After serving four years as a finance specialist, he said, he wanted to pursue a long-term career in the Army, so he spoke with his leaders about a job switch.
"I enjoyed finance, but I was young and wanted to do something more exciting. Going from finance to artillery is like night and day," he said.
Lowers is not just a soldier in the Army; he is a soldier who fully believes in the Army.
"I can attribute everything I have and everything I've become to the Army. It has provided for me and my family and given us everything we need," he said. "I've met so many people from all walks of life that are perusing the same dreams as me. I've had the opportunity to learn from them, as well as about life itself."
Dedication is only one of the values Lowers displays. His soldiers have developed great admiration for his ability to react under pressure and to take care of their needs.
Army Spc. Justin Ren, native of Lincoln, Neb., and a cannon crew member with Headquarters Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, broke his leg in April while out at the fire base.
"Sergeant Smoke didn't hesitate," he said. "He immediately got the first aid kit, splinted my leg, and made sure I stayed calm and collected. He got me to the hospital and stayed with me for moral support while they performed X-rays. He always seems to know what to do and when to do it. If it's for the soldiers' needs, he never hesitates."
Army Spc. Timothy Blair, a Nicholasville, Ky., native, agreed.
"He shows us the right way to handle any situation and always comes out on top," said Blair, an assistant gunner with 1st Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery.
Blair has been in the Army for two years, is awaiting promotion to become a sergeant and in May, and was nominated for Soldier of the Month.
"He has developed me in everything I have done. He is one of the main reasons why I am where I am in my career," Blair said. "He puts the opportunity up front and allows us to take initiative to achieve it."
Lowers said he believes it is his responsibility to be the best leader possible.
"This is my job. Once I pinned on the sergeant stripes, it became my responsibility to teach, mentor, and develop my soldiers," he said. "I have soldiers that come to me straight out of basic training and are not sure what the Army's about. My job is to instill that knowledge in them and break it down to a level they can understand. I've seen soldiers transition from a private all the way to sergeant first class. Watching soldiers go through that transition is my inspiration."
(Army Pfc. Lyndsey R. Dransfield serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2008 - The rank insignia of a noncommissioned officer gives the wearer a title as well as the power to accomplish certain tasks and objectives, but the rank alone doesn't always make a leader. Leadership involves inspiring others to achieve higher goals, and the Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, say Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lowers, a Sunrise, Fla., native -- their platoon chief and a member of the Sgt. Audi Murphy Club -- is someone they define as a true leader.
The soldiers call him "Sergeant Smoke," a title commonly given to artillery chiefs. He supervises the fire base here, and is responsible for all artillery fires.
"There is nothing more exciting than putting a 100-pound projectile downrange knowing that you've done everything you can to make sure it hits its target," Lowers said. "I think the battalion commander says it best: 'It's not a sexy job.' However, we are in a support role, and it's good to know that we do our part to support the infantry soldiers with their mission. I'd like to think our part is as important as the next guy's."
Lowers came to the United States from Jamaica when he was 19, and he enlisted in the Army five months later.
"I wanted to go to college, but my parents didn't have the funds to support me, and I knew that the Army had a lot of opportunities," he said.
After serving four years as a finance specialist, he said, he wanted to pursue a long-term career in the Army, so he spoke with his leaders about a job switch.
"I enjoyed finance, but I was young and wanted to do something more exciting. Going from finance to artillery is like night and day," he said.
Lowers is not just a soldier in the Army; he is a soldier who fully believes in the Army.
"I can attribute everything I have and everything I've become to the Army. It has provided for me and my family and given us everything we need," he said. "I've met so many people from all walks of life that are perusing the same dreams as me. I've had the opportunity to learn from them, as well as about life itself."
Dedication is only one of the values Lowers displays. His soldiers have developed great admiration for his ability to react under pressure and to take care of their needs.
Army Spc. Justin Ren, native of Lincoln, Neb., and a cannon crew member with Headquarters Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, broke his leg in April while out at the fire base.
"Sergeant Smoke didn't hesitate," he said. "He immediately got the first aid kit, splinted my leg, and made sure I stayed calm and collected. He got me to the hospital and stayed with me for moral support while they performed X-rays. He always seems to know what to do and when to do it. If it's for the soldiers' needs, he never hesitates."
Army Spc. Timothy Blair, a Nicholasville, Ky., native, agreed.
"He shows us the right way to handle any situation and always comes out on top," said Blair, an assistant gunner with 1st Platoon, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery.
Blair has been in the Army for two years, is awaiting promotion to become a sergeant and in May, and was nominated for Soldier of the Month.
"He has developed me in everything I have done. He is one of the main reasons why I am where I am in my career," Blair said. "He puts the opportunity up front and allows us to take initiative to achieve it."
Lowers said he believes it is his responsibility to be the best leader possible.
"This is my job. Once I pinned on the sergeant stripes, it became my responsibility to teach, mentor, and develop my soldiers," he said. "I have soldiers that come to me straight out of basic training and are not sure what the Army's about. My job is to instill that knowledge in them and break it down to a level they can understand. I've seen soldiers transition from a private all the way to sergeant first class. Watching soldiers go through that transition is my inspiration."
(Army Pfc. Lyndsey R. Dransfield serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Schools as Terror Targets
On August 6, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature an interview of John Giduck on the Beslan School Seige. According to Esquire Magazine, “On the first day of school in 2004, a Chechen terrorist group struck the Russian town of Beslan. Targeting children, they took more than eleven hundred hostages. John Giduck is the author of Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools.
Program Date: August 6, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Schools as Terror Targets
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/08/07/Schools-as-Terror-Targets
About the Guest
John Giduck has a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State and a law degree from the University of Denver. He also earned a Master’s Degree in International Affairs, specializing in Russian studies, from the University of Colorado, which included completion of the Russian Culture and Language Program at St. Petersburg State University in Russia. He has traveled extensively throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union, training with Russia’s elite Special Forces units for more than 10 years; and, is a certified instructor in Russian Special Forces hand to hand combat.
John Giduck has trained state and federal law enforcement officers and agents, including DEA, FBI, US Marshal’s Service, and SWAT teams throughout the US. He has served as a consultant on various international and terrorism subjects, and as a Russian Organized Crime instructor, for numerous federal and state agencies. He currently devotes his professional time to the Archangel Group, providing anti-terrorism consulting and training to U.S. law enforcement, government and military, part of which includes John serving as a civilian contract U.S. Army Special Forces hand-to-hand combat and firearms instructor. As well, he holds several black belts, is a multiple inductee into international martial arts halls of fame, and is a former U.S. national weightlifting champion.
John Giduck is a lifetime member of the Special Operations Association, Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association, Russian Special Forces Brotherhood of the Red Beret Association, and is a lifetime executive member of the British Professional Bodyguard Association. He is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy and holds the highest level expert certification in Homeland Security through the American College of Forensic Examiners International, and is a former member of the Executive Advisory Board of the American College of Homeland Security and Police Marksman magazine. He is a current member of the Advisory Board of the College of Disaster Medicine and Management of Philadelphia University. In addition to other published materials and articles on terrorism, Russian organized crime and close quarters tactics, finished his book, Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy With Lessons for America’s Schools, in 2005. His second book, co-authored with Green Beret Sergeant Major John Anderson, entitled The Green Beret In You: Living With Total Commitment To Family, Career, Sports and Life, was published in late 2007.
As part of his work with Archangel, John Giduck is also a scuba, tactical diving and CQB instructor, and teaches terrorist-hostage negotiations, narco-terrorism, terrorism and global organized crime, and Russian organized crime courses. He is now working on his doctoral dissertation on the global expansion of radical Islam through King’s College of London.
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, law enforcement 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/2008/08/07/Schools-as-Terror-Targets
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: August 6, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Schools as Terror Targets
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/08/07/Schools-as-Terror-Targets
About the Guest
John Giduck has a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State and a law degree from the University of Denver. He also earned a Master’s Degree in International Affairs, specializing in Russian studies, from the University of Colorado, which included completion of the Russian Culture and Language Program at St. Petersburg State University in Russia. He has traveled extensively throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union, training with Russia’s elite Special Forces units for more than 10 years; and, is a certified instructor in Russian Special Forces hand to hand combat.
John Giduck has trained state and federal law enforcement officers and agents, including DEA, FBI, US Marshal’s Service, and SWAT teams throughout the US. He has served as a consultant on various international and terrorism subjects, and as a Russian Organized Crime instructor, for numerous federal and state agencies. He currently devotes his professional time to the Archangel Group, providing anti-terrorism consulting and training to U.S. law enforcement, government and military, part of which includes John serving as a civilian contract U.S. Army Special Forces hand-to-hand combat and firearms instructor. As well, he holds several black belts, is a multiple inductee into international martial arts halls of fame, and is a former U.S. national weightlifting champion.
John Giduck is a lifetime member of the Special Operations Association, Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association, Russian Special Forces Brotherhood of the Red Beret Association, and is a lifetime executive member of the British Professional Bodyguard Association. He is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy and holds the highest level expert certification in Homeland Security through the American College of Forensic Examiners International, and is a former member of the Executive Advisory Board of the American College of Homeland Security and Police Marksman magazine. He is a current member of the Advisory Board of the College of Disaster Medicine and Management of Philadelphia University. In addition to other published materials and articles on terrorism, Russian organized crime and close quarters tactics, finished his book, Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy With Lessons for America’s Schools, in 2005. His second book, co-authored with Green Beret Sergeant Major John Anderson, entitled The Green Beret In You: Living With Total Commitment To Family, Career, Sports and Life, was published in late 2007.
As part of his work with Archangel, John Giduck is also a scuba, tactical diving and CQB instructor, and teaches terrorist-hostage negotiations, narco-terrorism, terrorism and global organized crime, and Russian organized crime courses. He is now working on his doctoral dissertation on the global expansion of radical Islam through King’s College of London.
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, law enforcement 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/2008/08/07/Schools-as-Terror-Targets
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Gates: Caring for Military Children 'Sacred Responsibility'
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today called it a "sacred responsibility" to care for the generation of American military children affected by the deployment, and in some cases the death, of a servicemember parent. "The empty seat at the dinner table night after night is a constant reminder of a child's worry for his or her parent's safety," Gates said, according to his prepared remarks. "And there is also the grief and the heartbreak when a loved one is injured or killed -- a grim reality of war."
Roughly 43 percent of U.S. active-duty, reserve and National Guard members engaged in the war on terrorism are parents, Gates told members of the military Child Education Coalition in Grapevine, Texas.
"Our military children are awesome, just as their parents are," he said. "But they have extra hurdles to clear, burdens to bear -- repeated moves, the absence of a parent at war, an injured parent, or the loss of a parent."
Children of servicemembers also make unique sacrifices during peacetime, including frequent moves that can require them to attend up to nine different schools between kindergarten and high school graduation, Gates said. He added that most teenagers of military members attend at least two high schools.
"Because of the unique way the husbands and wives, the sons and daughters of our all-volunteer force serve this nation, we have a sacred responsibility to care for them," he said.
The secretary praised the Military Child Education Coalition, which in its 10-year history has assisted nearly 2 million children whose parents serve in the armed forces, helping ease school-related responsibilities like transferring student records, course grades and credit hours, among other duties.
Gates also highlighted several Defense Department-led initiatives designed to mitigate the demands placed on military families and applauded an agreement signed by the departments of Defense and Education to facilitate the strain placed on deployed families returning from overseas.
The nation demonstrated its gratitude to military families, Gates said, when Congress and President Bush last month enacted a new Montgomery GI Bill that, for the first time, will allow education benefits to be passed to family members if troops opt not to use it themselves.
"Transferring educational benefits to a servicemember's spouse or child underscores the monumental importance of 'the power behind the power' -- the husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of our men and women in uniform," Gates said.
In closing, Gates called the all-volunteer members of U.S. armed forces "the heart and soul" of America.
"They joined up to leave the world a better place for all children," he said. "Our men and women in uniform are giving something very special to future generations: a legacy of service before self.
"They are a force for good in the world," he added.
July 25, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today called it a "sacred responsibility" to care for the generation of American military children affected by the deployment, and in some cases the death, of a servicemember parent. "The empty seat at the dinner table night after night is a constant reminder of a child's worry for his or her parent's safety," Gates said, according to his prepared remarks. "And there is also the grief and the heartbreak when a loved one is injured or killed -- a grim reality of war."
Roughly 43 percent of U.S. active-duty, reserve and National Guard members engaged in the war on terrorism are parents, Gates told members of the military Child Education Coalition in Grapevine, Texas.
"Our military children are awesome, just as their parents are," he said. "But they have extra hurdles to clear, burdens to bear -- repeated moves, the absence of a parent at war, an injured parent, or the loss of a parent."
Children of servicemembers also make unique sacrifices during peacetime, including frequent moves that can require them to attend up to nine different schools between kindergarten and high school graduation, Gates said. He added that most teenagers of military members attend at least two high schools.
"Because of the unique way the husbands and wives, the sons and daughters of our all-volunteer force serve this nation, we have a sacred responsibility to care for them," he said.
The secretary praised the Military Child Education Coalition, which in its 10-year history has assisted nearly 2 million children whose parents serve in the armed forces, helping ease school-related responsibilities like transferring student records, course grades and credit hours, among other duties.
Gates also highlighted several Defense Department-led initiatives designed to mitigate the demands placed on military families and applauded an agreement signed by the departments of Defense and Education to facilitate the strain placed on deployed families returning from overseas.
The nation demonstrated its gratitude to military families, Gates said, when Congress and President Bush last month enacted a new Montgomery GI Bill that, for the first time, will allow education benefits to be passed to family members if troops opt not to use it themselves.
"Transferring educational benefits to a servicemember's spouse or child underscores the monumental importance of 'the power behind the power' -- the husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of our men and women in uniform," Gates said.
In closing, Gates called the all-volunteer members of U.S. armed forces "the heart and soul" of America.
"They joined up to leave the world a better place for all children," he said. "Our men and women in uniform are giving something very special to future generations: a legacy of service before self.
"They are a force for good in the world," he added.
America Supports You: Organization Addresses Vets' Housing Challenges
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2008 - Veterans transitioning from war to peace may need a place to call home, whether it's for the long or short term, the executive director of a North Carolina-based program that offers them that and a good bit more said. "The needs we are addressing all, in some way, revolve around temporary and long-term living arrangements that are appropriate for the various challenges that our active duty and military veterans face," Lance Orndorff said about "American Heroes Return."
"Camp Hero" is an integral part of American Heroes Return, which, in turn, is part of the Virginia-based "Place of Solace, Inc."
The camp offers a phased living environment at no cost to active-duty servicemembers or veterans, he said. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or permanent disability and in need of long-term care have access to the home-style camp that offers a mixed-use residential environment with shopping and social and recreational opportunities.
Active-duty servicemembers simply looking for someplace to hang out while they're home for rest and recuperation can stay in simple cabins and take in all that Camp Hero has to offer.
"Active-duty military on terminal leave and veterans post-active duty have a difficult time finding a 'landing zone' when returning to the states or leaving the base," Orndorff said. "They usually need just one to three months of living accommodations, as well as job location and training assistance, to get them reestablished in the civilian sector.
"This is where they can choose from either the rural farm or in-town contemporary housing experience, where they work with others like themselves who are transitioning back into civilian life," he added.
American Heroes Return is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
The organization's America Supports You affiliation is helping bridge the gap between its efforts to support both active-duty servicemembers and veterans, Orndorff said.
"I'm finding that my own review of other [America Supports You-affiliated] organizations ... is leading me to begin thinking about ways to network and partner," he added. "There may be portions of programs that we had intended to establish on our own that we can better accomplish by partnering with a group already accomplishing that task."
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2008 - Veterans transitioning from war to peace may need a place to call home, whether it's for the long or short term, the executive director of a North Carolina-based program that offers them that and a good bit more said. "The needs we are addressing all, in some way, revolve around temporary and long-term living arrangements that are appropriate for the various challenges that our active duty and military veterans face," Lance Orndorff said about "American Heroes Return."
"Camp Hero" is an integral part of American Heroes Return, which, in turn, is part of the Virginia-based "Place of Solace, Inc."
The camp offers a phased living environment at no cost to active-duty servicemembers or veterans, he said. Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or permanent disability and in need of long-term care have access to the home-style camp that offers a mixed-use residential environment with shopping and social and recreational opportunities.
Active-duty servicemembers simply looking for someplace to hang out while they're home for rest and recuperation can stay in simple cabins and take in all that Camp Hero has to offer.
"Active-duty military on terminal leave and veterans post-active duty have a difficult time finding a 'landing zone' when returning to the states or leaving the base," Orndorff said. "They usually need just one to three months of living accommodations, as well as job location and training assistance, to get them reestablished in the civilian sector.
"This is where they can choose from either the rural farm or in-town contemporary housing experience, where they work with others like themselves who are transitioning back into civilian life," he added.
American Heroes Return is a new supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
The organization's America Supports You affiliation is helping bridge the gap between its efforts to support both active-duty servicemembers and veterans, Orndorff said.
"I'm finding that my own review of other [America Supports You-affiliated] organizations ... is leading me to begin thinking about ways to network and partner," he added. "There may be portions of programs that we had intended to establish on our own that we can better accomplish by partnering with a group already accomplishing that task."
Saturday, July 26, 2008
MILITARY CONTRACTS July 25, 2008
Air Force
Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) of McLean, Va.; MacAulay Brown, Inc. (MacB) of Dayton, Ohio; Client/Server Software Solutions, Inc. (CSSS.NET) of Bellevue, Neb.; ITT Corp., Advanced Engineering & Sciences Div (ITT AES) of Herndon, Va.; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, Calif.; and CACI Technologies, Inc. of Chantilly, Va., are being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for a maximum of $900 million. The six multiple award ID/IQ contracts are for Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) in support of USSTRATCOM to provide support for necessary information and advice, opinions, alternatives, analyses, evaluations, recommendations, training and engineering services. The six contracts will have shared capacity of $900 million (maximum) to include the base year and four option years for all contracts combined. At this time no funds have been obligated (obligations will be via task orders). 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (BAH – FA4600-08-D-9000; CSSS.NET – FA4600-08-D-9002; ITT AES – FA4600-08-D-9003; SAIC – FA4600-08-D-9004; CACI – FA4600-08-D-9005).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas, for $13,500,174. This contract action is for procurement of 21 additional depot partnering assessments and the activation activities associated with the following projects: Airframe Mounted Accessory Drive (AMAD); Auxiliary Power Generation Systems (APGS); On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS); and Heads-Down Display (HDD). At this time all funds have been obligated. 478 AESW/PK, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8611-08-C-2897 P00002).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with TYBRIN Corp., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for an estimated $11,249,014. This contract modification provides systems engineering and technical assistance support for a variety of research, test and evaluation, and training programs at the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The types of support include requirements definition, engineering management, risk reduction, developmental engineering, verification and validation, technical analysis, master planning, program management support, and acquisition management support. At this time $3,017,855 has been obligated. AFFTC/PKTJ, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04611-00-C-0001/P00168).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Graybar Electric Co., St. Louis, Mo. is being awarded a maximum $660,000,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations for supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. This proposal was originally Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising third one-year option. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 28, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-04-D-BP11).
$320,000,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment, prime vendor, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO). There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 6 responses. This contract is exercising third option year. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 28, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-04-D-BP10).
Universal Sodexho, Tacoma, Wash. is being awarded a maximum $180,000,000.00 firm fixed price, prime vendor, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations for the Korea Zone of the Pacific Region. Other locations of performance are in South Korea. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with four responses. This contract is exercising second option year. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-05-D-BP07).
Meridian medical Technologies Inc., Columbia, Md. is being awarded a maximum $49,134,996.00 firm fixed price contract for nerve agent antidotes, morphine and related medical services and supplies. Other locations of performance are in Missouri. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM200-05-D-0010).
Science Application International Corp., Fairfield, N.J. is being awarded a maximum $40,000,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations for supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. This proposal was originally Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising third one-year option. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 28, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-04-D-BP12).
CAM International USA, Inc., Flowery Branch, Ga. is being awarded a minimum $26,681,920.80 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1255).
Icaro Diecisiete, LTDA, Bogota, Colombia is being awarded a minimum $11,867,489.60 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expie at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1256).
Avalon Fuel Limatada, Bogota, Colombia is being awarded a minimum $10,800,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire in the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1254).
S&H Air Land Fuels Co., Inc., Bogota, Colombia is being awarded a minimum $8,752,241.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire in the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1257).
Navy
Straub Construction, Bonsall Calif., is being awarded $21,445,000 for firm-fixed-price design-build task order #0002 under previously awarded contract (N62473-08-D-8610) for site preparation and interim facilities, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The total task order amount is not to exceed $48,739,188 (base item and seven options). Work will be performed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This task order was competitively procured under the Commercial and Institutional Building Multiple Award Construction Contract (N62473-07-D-2002) and five proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $20,477,265 for firm-fixed price task order #0006 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-06-D-1056) to design and build Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. The Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Building comprises 150 rooms with semi-private bathrooms in the standard 2x0 configuration and telecommunications room. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the specifications. Work will be performed in Yuma, Ariz., and is expected to be completed January 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Cubic Applications, Inc., Lacey, Wash., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $16,324,665 cost-plus-fix-fee contract to provide investigative research and analysis to explore emerging technology and developing proof-of-concept/prototype solutions to the shortfalls in realistic Nuclear, Chemical and Biological training and to enable a single, more realistic operational and training environment for the Live Virtual Constructive. Work will be performed in Shalimar, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $2,020,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a Broad Agency Announcement with one offer received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61339-08-C-0024).
3S Group, Inc.,* Vienna, Va., is being awarded a $11,493,819 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed price contract to provide Type 2 Cryptographic Support Servers, Certification Authority Workstations peripherals and associated hardware and software for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., and all Department of Defense services and agencies. Work will be performed in Vienna, Va., 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 competitively awarded after announcement via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-Commerce Central website. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-6015).
Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) of McLean, Va.; MacAulay Brown, Inc. (MacB) of Dayton, Ohio; Client/Server Software Solutions, Inc. (CSSS.NET) of Bellevue, Neb.; ITT Corp., Advanced Engineering & Sciences Div (ITT AES) of Herndon, Va.; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, Calif.; and CACI Technologies, Inc. of Chantilly, Va., are being awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for a maximum of $900 million. The six multiple award ID/IQ contracts are for Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) in support of USSTRATCOM to provide support for necessary information and advice, opinions, alternatives, analyses, evaluations, recommendations, training and engineering services. The six contracts will have shared capacity of $900 million (maximum) to include the base year and four option years for all contracts combined. At this time no funds have been obligated (obligations will be via task orders). 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (BAH – FA4600-08-D-9000; CSSS.NET – FA4600-08-D-9002; ITT AES – FA4600-08-D-9003; SAIC – FA4600-08-D-9004; CACI – FA4600-08-D-9005).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with Lockheed Martin Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas, for $13,500,174. This contract action is for procurement of 21 additional depot partnering assessments and the activation activities associated with the following projects: Airframe Mounted Accessory Drive (AMAD); Auxiliary Power Generation Systems (APGS); On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS); and Heads-Down Display (HDD). At this time all funds have been obligated. 478 AESW/PK, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8611-08-C-2897 P00002).
The Air Force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract with TYBRIN Corp., of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for an estimated $11,249,014. This contract modification provides systems engineering and technical assistance support for a variety of research, test and evaluation, and training programs at the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The types of support include requirements definition, engineering management, risk reduction, developmental engineering, verification and validation, technical analysis, master planning, program management support, and acquisition management support. At this time $3,017,855 has been obligated. AFFTC/PKTJ, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04611-00-C-0001/P00168).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Graybar Electric Co., St. Louis, Mo. is being awarded a maximum $660,000,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations for supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. This proposal was originally Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising third one-year option. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 28, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-04-D-BP11).
$320,000,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment, prime vendor, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO). There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 6 responses. This contract is exercising third option year. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 28, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-04-D-BP10).
Universal Sodexho, Tacoma, Wash. is being awarded a maximum $180,000,000.00 firm fixed price, prime vendor, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations for the Korea Zone of the Pacific Region. Other locations of performance are in South Korea. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with four responses. This contract is exercising second option year. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-05-D-BP07).
Meridian medical Technologies Inc., Columbia, Md. is being awarded a maximum $49,134,996.00 firm fixed price contract for nerve agent antidotes, morphine and related medical services and supplies. Other locations of performance are in Missouri. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM200-05-D-0010).
Science Application International Corp., Fairfield, N.J. is being awarded a maximum $40,000,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for maintenance, repair and operations for supplies. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. This proposal was originally Web solicited with six responses. This contract is exercising third one-year option. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 28, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM500-04-D-BP12).
CAM International USA, Inc., Flowery Branch, Ga. is being awarded a minimum $26,681,920.80 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1255).
Icaro Diecisiete, LTDA, Bogota, Colombia is being awarded a minimum $11,867,489.60 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expie at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1256).
Avalon Fuel Limatada, Bogota, Colombia is being awarded a minimum $10,800,000.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire in the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1254).
S&H Air Land Fuels Co., Inc., Bogota, Colombia is being awarded a minimum $8,752,241.00 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are in South America. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally nine proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire in the current fiscal year. The date of performance is July 31, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1257).
Navy
Straub Construction, Bonsall Calif., is being awarded $21,445,000 for firm-fixed-price design-build task order #0002 under previously awarded contract (N62473-08-D-8610) for site preparation and interim facilities, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The total task order amount is not to exceed $48,739,188 (base item and seven options). Work will be performed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This task order was competitively procured under the Commercial and Institutional Building Multiple Award Construction Contract (N62473-07-D-2002) and five proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $20,477,265 for firm-fixed price task order #0006 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-06-D-1056) to design and build Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. The Bachelor Enlisted Quarters Building comprises 150 rooms with semi-private bathrooms in the standard 2x0 configuration and telecommunications room. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the specifications. Work will be performed in Yuma, Ariz., and is expected to be completed January 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Cubic Applications, Inc., Lacey, Wash., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $16,324,665 cost-plus-fix-fee contract to provide investigative research and analysis to explore emerging technology and developing proof-of-concept/prototype solutions to the shortfalls in realistic Nuclear, Chemical and Biological training and to enable a single, more realistic operational and training environment for the Live Virtual Constructive. Work will be performed in Shalimar, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $2,020,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via a Broad Agency Announcement with one offer received. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division, Orlando, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61339-08-C-0024).
3S Group, Inc.,* Vienna, Va., is being awarded a $11,493,819 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed price contract to provide Type 2 Cryptographic Support Servers, Certification Authority Workstations peripherals and associated hardware and software for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., and all Department of Defense services and agencies. Work will be performed in Vienna, Va., 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 competitively awarded after announcement via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center e-Commerce Central website. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-6015).
Army Personnel Official Calls Diversity a National Security Issue
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2008 - Ensuring the Army's force is diverse now goes far beyond the initial integration of blacks into the service 60 years ago, the Army's top personnel officer said today. While the presidential order in 1948 desegregating the military was monumental in its time, diversity in the force now takes on a national security context and serves as a combat multiplier on the battlefield, Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, the service's deputy chief of staff for personnel, said.
"We tend to think rather narrowly about diversity sometimes -- it's a black-white or it's a Hispanic-black-white issue. It's not," Rochelle said in an interview at the Pentagon.
"Diversity is a national security issue and one that every one of us should be concerned about, frankly, because it is a force multiplier for our soldiers," he said.
In 2002, as the Army was preparing for the possibility of war in Iraq, the Army's recruiting command was given the mission to recruit Arabic linguists that would be needed for troops on the ground to communicate with local citizens. But the service couldn't recruit and train them fast enough, said Rochelle, who headed the command from 2002 to 2005
"We were somewhat ill-prepared to do that, and it took quite a long time to spin the system up to the point of where we are today," he said.
The Army now has nearly 1,000 Arabic linguists in its ranks, Rochelle said. But this is nearly six years into the war, and the Army needs to be prepared for the next point of conflict, he said.
"Primarily, the question we should ask ourselves is, 'Where may we need those skills tomorrow?' And let's not wait until we are there and our soldiers are having to confront the populations of those locations. Let's reach out," Rochelle said.
"It's really a national security issue that is large; it's complex; ... it's all about ensuring our soldiers are successful wherever our nation sends them," he said.
When Rochelle entered the Army in 1972, there were four African-American generals, he said. Today there are 26. Diversity adds to the strength of the military as a force, and the U.S. Army now serves as a model for diversity for many foreign militaries, he said.
Iraqi forces "marvel" at a typical American infantry squad and how different races and ethnicities work together, the general said.
"America's Army is the best in the world at what we do. And we are significantly the best because of our diversity. Diversity strengthens us," Rochelle said. "It certainly makes us better in terms of bringing together the richness of backgrounds, the richness of language, the richness of culture, and inevitably the outcome of that diversity is a better product."
Before military operations began in Iraq, the Army had seen success in its goal of reflecting the demographics of America as a whole within its ranks. But since then, there has been a slowdown in minority recruits entering the service.
The change is not entirely due to the war, but partially because a boost in the economy led to more opportunities for minorities in employment and higher education, Rochelle said.
Also, part of the problem is that minorities are not equally represented demographically among today's high school and college graduates, Rochelle said.
"The challenge is a national one," he said.
Now, though, minority recruiting numbers are "tipping up," he said.
Even though the Army strives to maintain a diverse fighting and civilian employee force, Rochelle was quick to point out that no special recruiting plans or incentives target minorities.
"There are no quotas; there are no goals with respect to representation in an all-volunteer force. It's just that -- an all-volunteer force," he said.
Instead, the Army tries to encourage potential high school dropouts to stay in school. As an example, in cities around Army installations soldiers serve as mentors, role models and tutors within local school systems, he said.
Also, Army officials position recruiters geographically to ensure they are recruiting within large minority demographics.
"How do we position our recruiters so that, as they go about their normal day-to-day business, the outcome is as close as we can get it to that mirror image of the United States?" Rochelle said.
Another effort is to push messages out to what the Army calls "influencers," or those who have a say in a potential recruit's decision, such as parents, teachers, coaches and relatives.
"The challenge is communicating to the person or persons who influence that young man or woman," Rochelle said.
After six years of war, though, that barrier is becoming harder to break through.
"We live in the richest nation on earth, and if every American simply recognized just how fortunate we are, I think more would be inclined to serve," Rochelle said.
American Forces Press Service
July 25, 2008 - Ensuring the Army's force is diverse now goes far beyond the initial integration of blacks into the service 60 years ago, the Army's top personnel officer said today. While the presidential order in 1948 desegregating the military was monumental in its time, diversity in the force now takes on a national security context and serves as a combat multiplier on the battlefield, Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Rochelle, the service's deputy chief of staff for personnel, said.
"We tend to think rather narrowly about diversity sometimes -- it's a black-white or it's a Hispanic-black-white issue. It's not," Rochelle said in an interview at the Pentagon.
"Diversity is a national security issue and one that every one of us should be concerned about, frankly, because it is a force multiplier for our soldiers," he said.
In 2002, as the Army was preparing for the possibility of war in Iraq, the Army's recruiting command was given the mission to recruit Arabic linguists that would be needed for troops on the ground to communicate with local citizens. But the service couldn't recruit and train them fast enough, said Rochelle, who headed the command from 2002 to 2005
"We were somewhat ill-prepared to do that, and it took quite a long time to spin the system up to the point of where we are today," he said.
The Army now has nearly 1,000 Arabic linguists in its ranks, Rochelle said. But this is nearly six years into the war, and the Army needs to be prepared for the next point of conflict, he said.
"Primarily, the question we should ask ourselves is, 'Where may we need those skills tomorrow?' And let's not wait until we are there and our soldiers are having to confront the populations of those locations. Let's reach out," Rochelle said.
"It's really a national security issue that is large; it's complex; ... it's all about ensuring our soldiers are successful wherever our nation sends them," he said.
When Rochelle entered the Army in 1972, there were four African-American generals, he said. Today there are 26. Diversity adds to the strength of the military as a force, and the U.S. Army now serves as a model for diversity for many foreign militaries, he said.
Iraqi forces "marvel" at a typical American infantry squad and how different races and ethnicities work together, the general said.
"America's Army is the best in the world at what we do. And we are significantly the best because of our diversity. Diversity strengthens us," Rochelle said. "It certainly makes us better in terms of bringing together the richness of backgrounds, the richness of language, the richness of culture, and inevitably the outcome of that diversity is a better product."
Before military operations began in Iraq, the Army had seen success in its goal of reflecting the demographics of America as a whole within its ranks. But since then, there has been a slowdown in minority recruits entering the service.
The change is not entirely due to the war, but partially because a boost in the economy led to more opportunities for minorities in employment and higher education, Rochelle said.
Also, part of the problem is that minorities are not equally represented demographically among today's high school and college graduates, Rochelle said.
"The challenge is a national one," he said.
Now, though, minority recruiting numbers are "tipping up," he said.
Even though the Army strives to maintain a diverse fighting and civilian employee force, Rochelle was quick to point out that no special recruiting plans or incentives target minorities.
"There are no quotas; there are no goals with respect to representation in an all-volunteer force. It's just that -- an all-volunteer force," he said.
Instead, the Army tries to encourage potential high school dropouts to stay in school. As an example, in cities around Army installations soldiers serve as mentors, role models and tutors within local school systems, he said.
Also, Army officials position recruiters geographically to ensure they are recruiting within large minority demographics.
"How do we position our recruiters so that, as they go about their normal day-to-day business, the outcome is as close as we can get it to that mirror image of the United States?" Rochelle said.
Another effort is to push messages out to what the Army calls "influencers," or those who have a say in a potential recruit's decision, such as parents, teachers, coaches and relatives.
"The challenge is communicating to the person or persons who influence that young man or woman," Rochelle said.
After six years of war, though, that barrier is becoming harder to break through.
"We live in the richest nation on earth, and if every American simply recognized just how fortunate we are, I think more would be inclined to serve," Rochelle said.
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