American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - As Tropical Storm Gustav gains strength and approaches the Gulf Coast, about 3,000 Louisiana citizen-soldiers and -airmen have been activated in support of emergency operations and are prepared to support civil missions and assist with various needs and emergencies expected to arise across the state. "Our soldiers and airmen are staged and set to deploy to our coastal parishes without hesitation," Army Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, adjutant general for the Louisiana National Guard, said. "Engineer and communications teams are reporting to coastal parishes and are set to assist our citizens and local parish emergency responders. Our security forces are deploying to ensure safety and security of homes and personnel. We are confident in our plans and ability to execute those plans on a moment's notice."
Louisiana Guard search-and-rescue assets are preparing for deployment to potential impact areas. Soldiers and airmen also are pre-positioning to support shelter security missions across the state, and teams are ready to support "contraflow" highway lane-reversal missions in coordination with the Louisiana State Police.
Louisiana National Guard security forces are preparing for deployment to potential impact areas, including deployment to New Orleans in support of the city's evacuation plan. The Guard is requesting additional helicopter assets with Emergency Management Assistance Compact states in preparation for potential search-and-rescue missions.
Soldiers of the Lake Charles-based 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, began the initial alert preparations for the possible landfall of Hurricane Gustav. The battalion, which consists of soldiers from all over southwestern Louisiana, has prepared vehicles and equipment for the deployment to New Orleans or any other area that may be affected.
"We're ready to go wherever we need to," said Lake Charles native Army 1st Sgt. Gary Burchfield of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-156th Infantry Battalion.
The 256th IBCT's 199th Leadership Brigade Support Battalion located in Alexandria, La., sent 2,000 gallons of water to Colfax, La., in preparation for support missions. This potentially life-saving water will be distributed to citizens if the need arises.
Additionally, 160 soldiers from the 528th and the 527th Engineer Battalions in Ruston, La., have been directed to various security missions in the Jefferson Parish area and will be assigned to the Clearview evacuation site.
Two three-man engineer assessment teams from the 1023rd Engineer Company are on stand-by for possible missions in Ascension, St. James and St. Charles parishes. "The primary function of these teams will be damage assessment," Army Maj. Charles A. Hudson of West Monroe, administrative officer with the 528th, said.
About 30 soldiers from the Headquarters Support Company in Monroe will assist the Louisiana State Police Department's Troop A in Baton Rouge and Troop F in Monroe in traffic-control missions as the storm closes in on the coast. Six three-man boat teams from the 830th and 832nd Concrete and Asphalt Companies in Monroe have been placed on stand-by for possible damage assessment and search-and-rescue missions in potentially devastated areas.
The National Guard has also mobilized more than 100 members to act as bus drivers and provide transportation for evacuees and security to evacuation shelters throughout the state as needed.
Airmen have been activated to support operations and satellite communication in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Saint Bernard, and Orleans parishes to assist in first-responder ground communications. Additional teams are ready to deploy to all other areas along the coast the storm may affect.As Tropical Storm Gustav gains strength and approaches the Gulf Coast, about 3,000 Louisiana citizen-soldiers and -airmen have been activated in support of emergency operations and are prepared to support civil missions and assist with various needs and emergencies expected to arise across the state.
"Our soldiers and airmen are staged and set to deploy to our coastal parishes without hesitation," Army Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, adjutant general for the Louisiana National Guard, said. "Engineer and communications teams are reporting to coastal parishes and are set to assist our citizens and local parish emergency responders. Our security forces are deploying to ensure safety and security of homes and personnel. We are confident in our plans and ability to execute those plans on a moment's notice."
Louisiana Guard search-and-rescue assets are preparing for deployment to potential impact areas. Soldiers and airmen also are pre-positioning to support shelter security missions across the state, and teams are ready to support "contraflow" highway lane-reversal missions in coordination with the Louisiana State Police.
Louisiana National Guard security forces are preparing for deployment to potential impact areas, including deployment to New Orleans in support of the city's evacuation plan. The Guard is requesting additional helicopter assets with Emergency Management Assistance Compact states in preparation for potential search-and-rescue missions.
Soldiers of the Lake Charles-based 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, began the initial alert preparations for the possible landfall of Hurricane Gustav. The battalion, which consists of soldiers from all over southwestern Louisiana, has prepared vehicles and equipment for the deployment to New Orleans or any other area that may be affected.
"We're ready to go wherever we need to," said Lake Charles native Army 1st Sgt. Gary Burchfield of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-156th Infantry Battalion.
The 256th IBCT's 199th Leadership Brigade Support Battalion located in Alexandria, La., sent 2,000 gallons of water to Colfax, La., in preparation for support missions. This potentially life-saving water will be distributed to citizens if the need arises.
Additionally, 160 soldiers from the 528th and the 527th Engineer Battalions in Ruston, La., have been directed to various security missions in the Jefferson Parish area and will be assigned to the Clearview evacuation site.
Two three-man engineer assessment teams from the 1023rd Engineer Company are on stand-by for possible missions in Ascension, St. James and St. Charles parishes. "The primary function of these teams will be damage assessment," Army Maj. Charles A. Hudson of West Monroe, administrative officer with the 528th, said.
About 30 soldiers from the Headquarters Support Company in Monroe will assist the Louisiana State Police Department's Troop A in Baton Rouge and Troop F in Monroe in traffic-control missions as the storm closes in on the coast. Six three-man boat teams from the 830th and 832nd Concrete and Asphalt Companies in Monroe have been placed on stand-by for possible damage assessment and search-and-rescue missions in potentially devastated areas.
The National Guard has also mobilized more than 100 members to act as bus drivers and provide transportation for evacuees and security to evacuation shelters throughout the state as needed.
Airmen have been activated to support operations and satellite communication in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, Plaquemines, Saint Bernard, and Orleans parishes to assist in first-responder ground communications. Additional teams are ready to deploy to all other areas along the coast the storm may affect.
Separately, the Louisiana National Guard has requested 20 aircraft from eight states, in an apparent response to Louisiana's 20 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters being in Iraq. National Guards in the 54 states and territories have mutual-aid agreements in place to send troops and equipment to other states during disasters. Through such agreements, more than 50,000 Guard members converged on the region following
Hurricane Katrina.
The Louisiana Army National Guard's 1/244th Air Assault Helicopter Battalion deployed to Iraq this summer, taking the Black Hawk fleet and about 360 soldiers. The battalion was based at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport during Katrina and rescued as many as 16,000 people from the area. The battalion is now based in Hammond, La., from which the Louisiana Guard plans to manage its aviation response to storms.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also ordered the Louisiana National Guard to be ready to deploy more than 1,500 Guardsmen to New Orleans as early as tomorrow to assist in securing the city as citizens begin to evacuate their homes.
Gustav, currently a tropical storm, is expected to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane the morning of Sept. 2 along the Vermillion Bay area, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
(From a Louisiana National Guard news release.)
Friday, August 29, 2008
States Support States as National Guard Prepares for Gustav
By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - Through Emergency Management Assistance Compacts, National Guard members from around the country are signing up to support states in the path of Tropical Storm Gustav. "EMAC provides a responsive and straightforward system for the National Guard in unaffected states to send lifesaving capabilities, such as personnel and equipment, to help in affected states," Rick Breitenfeldt, a public affairs officer at the National Guard Bureau, explained.
Approved by Congress in 1996, EMAC is a mutual aid partnership agreement among the 54 states and territories that allows state-to-state assistance during governor-declared or federally declared emergencies.
"EMAC is about governors helping fellow governors in time of need," Breitenfeldt said.
In 2005, EMAC deployed more than 65,000 personnel to the affected states after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "That was the largest deployment of state-to-state aid in history and stands as a testament to EMAC's effectiveness and efficiency," Breitenfeldt said.
So far this year, the Louisiana National Guard has requested 20 aircraft from eight states, because their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and about 360 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, are currently deployed to Iraq, said Army Sgt. First Class Melaine Rowton with the Louisiana National Guard.
During Hurricane Katrina three years ago, the battalion rescued about 16,000 people in the area.
The 1st Battalion, 114th Security and Support, of the 77th Aviation Brigade based at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., will deploy more than 40 soldiers to Pineville, La. The group also will include five Air National Guard members from the 154th Weather Flight at Little Rock Air Force Base, according to a news release from the Arkansas National Guard.
The 114th will provide airspace management and command and control of all aviation assets supporting the relief effort if required. The 154th will support the 114th with weather briefings and forecasts as well as providing resource protection for the airfield.
In preparation for another potential mission, the Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center near Fort Smith, Ark., has identified temporary emergency sheltering for up to 4,000 evacuees, the Arkansas Guard announced.
With the support of federal, state and emergency responders, Fort Chaffee's role potentially would include evacuee reception and accountability, housing and shelter, subsistence, medical care, transportation, information management and public safety, along with command and control of all operations through the establishment of an emergency operations center.
According to the Arkansas Guard, the state has a detailed operations plan in place to support all operations, many of which were either developed or improved through the lessons learned with Hurricane Katrina, when more than 10,000 evacuees were processed through the post.
In Texas, the governor has requested aeromedical support. The 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from Oklahoma City, Okla., will provide five crew members, who will stage at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and transport special-needs personnel from communities threatened by the storm. About 30 aeromedical crewmembers from the 166th AES in New Castle, Del., also will depart today for Texas.
"This is the right thing to do. Our men and women are highly trained for these tasks, and our Delaware National Guard troops are ready to help if American lives are at risk and our assistance is called upon," Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, said.
The Indiana National Guard also has been alerted for possible duty in the Gulf Coast region. The 38th Sustainment Brigade from Kokomo, Ind., and Headquarters, 38th Infantry Division from Indianapolis may be activated for command and control and other rapid-response operations, Army Lt. Col. Deedra Thombleson, the state public affairs officer, said.
(Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - Through Emergency Management Assistance Compacts, National Guard members from around the country are signing up to support states in the path of Tropical Storm Gustav. "EMAC provides a responsive and straightforward system for the National Guard in unaffected states to send lifesaving capabilities, such as personnel and equipment, to help in affected states," Rick Breitenfeldt, a public affairs officer at the National Guard Bureau, explained.
Approved by Congress in 1996, EMAC is a mutual aid partnership agreement among the 54 states and territories that allows state-to-state assistance during governor-declared or federally declared emergencies.
"EMAC is about governors helping fellow governors in time of need," Breitenfeldt said.
In 2005, EMAC deployed more than 65,000 personnel to the affected states after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "That was the largest deployment of state-to-state aid in history and stands as a testament to EMAC's effectiveness and efficiency," Breitenfeldt said.
So far this year, the Louisiana National Guard has requested 20 aircraft from eight states, because their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and about 360 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, are currently deployed to Iraq, said Army Sgt. First Class Melaine Rowton with the Louisiana National Guard.
During Hurricane Katrina three years ago, the battalion rescued about 16,000 people in the area.
The 1st Battalion, 114th Security and Support, of the 77th Aviation Brigade based at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., will deploy more than 40 soldiers to Pineville, La. The group also will include five Air National Guard members from the 154th Weather Flight at Little Rock Air Force Base, according to a news release from the Arkansas National Guard.
The 114th will provide airspace management and command and control of all aviation assets supporting the relief effort if required. The 154th will support the 114th with weather briefings and forecasts as well as providing resource protection for the airfield.
In preparation for another potential mission, the Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center near Fort Smith, Ark., has identified temporary emergency sheltering for up to 4,000 evacuees, the Arkansas Guard announced.
With the support of federal, state and emergency responders, Fort Chaffee's role potentially would include evacuee reception and accountability, housing and shelter, subsistence, medical care, transportation, information management and public safety, along with command and control of all operations through the establishment of an emergency operations center.
According to the Arkansas Guard, the state has a detailed operations plan in place to support all operations, many of which were either developed or improved through the lessons learned with Hurricane Katrina, when more than 10,000 evacuees were processed through the post.
In Texas, the governor has requested aeromedical support. The 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from Oklahoma City, Okla., will provide five crew members, who will stage at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and transport special-needs personnel from communities threatened by the storm. About 30 aeromedical crewmembers from the 166th AES in New Castle, Del., also will depart today for Texas.
"This is the right thing to do. Our men and women are highly trained for these tasks, and our Delaware National Guard troops are ready to help if American lives are at risk and our assistance is called upon," Army Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general of the Delaware National Guard, said.
The Indiana National Guard also has been alerted for possible duty in the Gulf Coast region. The 38th Sustainment Brigade from Kokomo, Ind., and Headquarters, 38th Infantry Division from Indianapolis may be activated for command and control and other rapid-response operations, Army Lt. Col. Deedra Thombleson, the state public affairs officer, said.
(Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Armed Forces Voter Week Begins Aug. 31
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - With Armed Forces Voters Week set to start Aug. 31, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has launched a full-court press to get servicemembers, their families and Defense Department civilians the absentee ballots they need to participate in the upcoming election. The special week, which runs through Sept. 7, is aimed at all citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and DoD civilians who have not yet registered to vote or requested an absentee ballot should do so next week, officials said.
Hundreds of thousands of DoD personnel are deployed or stationed around the world. They cannot simply walk into their neighborhood polling places and cast their ballots on Nov. 4, as most American voters will do. Registering to vote or requesting an absentee ballot during Armed Forces Voters Week allows enough time for local election officials to process the request, send the materials to voters and get the completed ballots back by the various state or territory deadlines.
Those who think their votes are immaterial should consider Florida in the 2000 election. The election was among the closest in history. After all the "hanging chads," court cases and political maneuvering were complete, the official tally in Florida for the two main candidates was 2,912,720 for George W. Bush and 2,912,253 for Al Gore. The election was determined by a 467-vote difference.
All military units have voting assistance officers, and each American embassy or consulate can help U.S. citizens exercise their rights to vote. For those with Internet access, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has a user-friendly Web site at www.fvap.gov.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - With Armed Forces Voters Week set to start Aug. 31, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has launched a full-court press to get servicemembers, their families and Defense Department civilians the absentee ballots they need to participate in the upcoming election. The special week, which runs through Sept. 7, is aimed at all citizens voting under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and DoD civilians who have not yet registered to vote or requested an absentee ballot should do so next week, officials said.
Hundreds of thousands of DoD personnel are deployed or stationed around the world. They cannot simply walk into their neighborhood polling places and cast their ballots on Nov. 4, as most American voters will do. Registering to vote or requesting an absentee ballot during Armed Forces Voters Week allows enough time for local election officials to process the request, send the materials to voters and get the completed ballots back by the various state or territory deadlines.
Those who think their votes are immaterial should consider Florida in the 2000 election. The election was among the closest in history. After all the "hanging chads," court cases and political maneuvering were complete, the official tally in Florida for the two main candidates was 2,912,720 for George W. Bush and 2,912,253 for Al Gore. The election was determined by a 467-vote difference.
All military units have voting assistance officers, and each American embassy or consulate can help U.S. citizens exercise their rights to vote. For those with Internet access, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has a user-friendly Web site at www.fvap.gov.
Florida Guard Prepares for Potential Hurricane Relief Mission
By Jon Myatt
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - As central and northern Florida communities recover from Tropical Storm Fay's flood waters, Florida's Department of Military Affairs and the state's National Guard are refitting and shifting focus to the potential effects of other storms.
Florida National Guard leaders returned to the Joint Force Headquarters in St. Augustine on Aug. 25 from the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee expecting another weather threat.
While most of the 500 Guard members activated to help during Tropical Storm Fay had returned to their civilian jobs, the Florida National Guard core emergency support team continued to monitor weather conditions in "Hurricane Alley."
With forecasters eyeing two Atlantic storms -- Tropical Storm Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna -- as the Labor Day weekend approaches, the possibility of another activation of the Florida National Guard is becoming more probable, Guard leaders said. Gustav is expected to make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane early Sept. 2.
"We are just entering the historically active part of hurricane season," said Army Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett, adjutant general of Florida. "Although Tropical Storm Fay did not produce damaging high-speed winds that a Category 3 or 4 [hurricane] would have, the resulting flood waters required a significant state response that was a very good tune-up for our emergency response team.
"The public got to see the National Guard at work -- Guard-members and vehicles moving from armories to affected communities, providing assistance to people in distress," he said.
The Guard continuously reviews its mix of personnel to ensure the right skills are placed at the right location, along with the right number of troops to do the tasks, he explained. These "after-action" assessments ensure the troops not needed are released from state active duty so they can return to their families, jobs and educational institutions.
"We are able meet our mission requirements by preparing sufficient numbers of Guardsmen to meet any anticipated weather event," Burnett said. "We have a great deal of recent experience and know that when one weather event has passed, we could have another on the horizon. It is critical to our long term success to have enough capable people available who are also rested and motivated."
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has ensured that the Florida National Guard and its leaders are included in all executive-level planning for emergencies. For Tropical Storm Fay, he declared a state of emergency for Florida, signing an executive order three days before the storm made landfall.
"The reason we do that is to be able to cooperate with state agencies and local authorities," Crist said Aug. 17, during his initial news conference for Tropical Storm Fay.
Guard leaders say they're committed to one primary task: ensuring the Florida National Guard adequately supports agencies directly responsible for taking care of Florida citizens. To accomplish this mission, the Florida National Guard has more than 9,000 soldiers and airmen available who can respond to various emergencies in Florida, including efforts to deter terrorist-related activities.
"The Guard has continuous contact and coordination with the Florida Division of Emergency Management in Tallahassee, and our joint emergency operations center and planning cells ensure the capability to rapidly build-up personnel and equipment if needed," Army Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, the Guard's chief spokesman, said. "We have extensive experience in responding to emergencies."
Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen are trained and equipped for a wide range of life support, security and public safety missions, he said.
Additional personnel and equipment can be mobilized quickly from other states if needed. The Florida National Guard can also request additional personnel and resources from other states through the National Guard Bureau, as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Tittle explained.
(Jon Myatt works for the Florida Department of Military Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 29, 2008 - As central and northern Florida communities recover from Tropical Storm Fay's flood waters, Florida's Department of Military Affairs and the state's National Guard are refitting and shifting focus to the potential effects of other storms.
Florida National Guard leaders returned to the Joint Force Headquarters in St. Augustine on Aug. 25 from the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee expecting another weather threat.
While most of the 500 Guard members activated to help during Tropical Storm Fay had returned to their civilian jobs, the Florida National Guard core emergency support team continued to monitor weather conditions in "Hurricane Alley."
With forecasters eyeing two Atlantic storms -- Tropical Storm Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna -- as the Labor Day weekend approaches, the possibility of another activation of the Florida National Guard is becoming more probable, Guard leaders said. Gustav is expected to make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane early Sept. 2.
"We are just entering the historically active part of hurricane season," said Army Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett, adjutant general of Florida. "Although Tropical Storm Fay did not produce damaging high-speed winds that a Category 3 or 4 [hurricane] would have, the resulting flood waters required a significant state response that was a very good tune-up for our emergency response team.
"The public got to see the National Guard at work -- Guard-members and vehicles moving from armories to affected communities, providing assistance to people in distress," he said.
The Guard continuously reviews its mix of personnel to ensure the right skills are placed at the right location, along with the right number of troops to do the tasks, he explained. These "after-action" assessments ensure the troops not needed are released from state active duty so they can return to their families, jobs and educational institutions.
"We are able meet our mission requirements by preparing sufficient numbers of Guardsmen to meet any anticipated weather event," Burnett said. "We have a great deal of recent experience and know that when one weather event has passed, we could have another on the horizon. It is critical to our long term success to have enough capable people available who are also rested and motivated."
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has ensured that the Florida National Guard and its leaders are included in all executive-level planning for emergencies. For Tropical Storm Fay, he declared a state of emergency for Florida, signing an executive order three days before the storm made landfall.
"The reason we do that is to be able to cooperate with state agencies and local authorities," Crist said Aug. 17, during his initial news conference for Tropical Storm Fay.
Guard leaders say they're committed to one primary task: ensuring the Florida National Guard adequately supports agencies directly responsible for taking care of Florida citizens. To accomplish this mission, the Florida National Guard has more than 9,000 soldiers and airmen available who can respond to various emergencies in Florida, including efforts to deter terrorist-related activities.
"The Guard has continuous contact and coordination with the Florida Division of Emergency Management in Tallahassee, and our joint emergency operations center and planning cells ensure the capability to rapidly build-up personnel and equipment if needed," Army Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, the Guard's chief spokesman, said. "We have extensive experience in responding to emergencies."
Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen are trained and equipped for a wide range of life support, security and public safety missions, he said.
Additional personnel and equipment can be mobilized quickly from other states if needed. The Florida National Guard can also request additional personnel and resources from other states through the National Guard Bureau, as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Tittle explained.
(Jon Myatt works for the Florida Department of Military Affairs.)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Chairman Discusses Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed the security situation in Iraq, the need for more U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the Georgia challenge during a Pentagon news conference today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen – fresh from a mid-ocean meeting aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln with the Pakistani army's chief of staff and key U.S. military leaders – told reporters he expects to deliver his assessment on the situation in Iraq to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Bush soon.
The situation in Iraq has been complicated by the loss of 2,000 Georgian troops who were called home, and changes in the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security program, the chairman said, adding that he, acting U.S Central Command chief army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, are continually assessing the situation in Iraq with an eye to what follows.
The last of the U.S. surge brigades left Iraq in July, and American military leaders are examining the trends in the nation with an eye toward further troop reductions. Mullen said there is no specific date for any announcement.
"The situation does continue to evolve," Mullen said. "Security trends continue to head in the right direction. Violence is down more than it's been at any time in four-plus years. The political process continues." Those factors will figure into the recommendation that he provides to Gates and the president, the admiral said.
Still, if Iraq continues to make security gains, "I would hope to be able to make recommendations for further troop reductions ... when those conditions are met," he said.
The chairman said there is a "very real, urgent requirement" for more troops in Afghanistan. The United States has committed to deploying three more brigades to the country when it becomes possible to do so. "As far as the specifics of when we would get that done or how we would get that done, we just haven't arrived at that particular point," Mullen said.
The United States sent Marines to NATO's Regional Command South in Afghanistan in March. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment is training Afghan soldiers and police. The unit has "had an extraordinary impact there," Mullen said. The 24th [Marine Expeditionary Unit has had "an extraordinary impact" in Afghanistan as well, he added.
The fight in Regional Command East is tough, and local commanders have asked for more troops. "We've got that request, and we're looking for ways to answer that," Mullen said.
In Georgia, U.S. policy is providing humanitarian assistance, Mullen said. "That's where the need is right now, specifically on the military side. And so we're working hard to provide as much of that as we can."
Mullen said the potential exists for confrontation between the United States and Russia in the Black Sea. Both nations have ships operating in the waters off Georgia.
"Part of what I did in my engagement when this crisis started was in speaking with my counterpart, and I was very straightforward about the fact that we were going to bring the Georgian troops back from Iraq," he said. "I did that to make sure he knew what we were doing and that that same kind of communication is going on.
"Again, these ships are there supporting humanitarian assistance missions," he continued. "That's what they've done and they will continue to do over time, based on what the need is. So the intent is to communicate."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed the security situation in Iraq, the need for more U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the Georgia challenge during a Pentagon news conference today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen – fresh from a mid-ocean meeting aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln with the Pakistani army's chief of staff and key U.S. military leaders – told reporters he expects to deliver his assessment on the situation in Iraq to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Bush soon.
The situation in Iraq has been complicated by the loss of 2,000 Georgian troops who were called home, and changes in the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security program, the chairman said, adding that he, acting U.S Central Command chief army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander, are continually assessing the situation in Iraq with an eye to what follows.
The last of the U.S. surge brigades left Iraq in July, and American military leaders are examining the trends in the nation with an eye toward further troop reductions. Mullen said there is no specific date for any announcement.
"The situation does continue to evolve," Mullen said. "Security trends continue to head in the right direction. Violence is down more than it's been at any time in four-plus years. The political process continues." Those factors will figure into the recommendation that he provides to Gates and the president, the admiral said.
Still, if Iraq continues to make security gains, "I would hope to be able to make recommendations for further troop reductions ... when those conditions are met," he said.
The chairman said there is a "very real, urgent requirement" for more troops in Afghanistan. The United States has committed to deploying three more brigades to the country when it becomes possible to do so. "As far as the specifics of when we would get that done or how we would get that done, we just haven't arrived at that particular point," Mullen said.
The United States sent Marines to NATO's Regional Command South in Afghanistan in March. The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment is training Afghan soldiers and police. The unit has "had an extraordinary impact there," Mullen said. The 24th [Marine Expeditionary Unit has had "an extraordinary impact" in Afghanistan as well, he added.
The fight in Regional Command East is tough, and local commanders have asked for more troops. "We've got that request, and we're looking for ways to answer that," Mullen said.
In Georgia, U.S. policy is providing humanitarian assistance, Mullen said. "That's where the need is right now, specifically on the military side. And so we're working hard to provide as much of that as we can."
Mullen said the potential exists for confrontation between the United States and Russia in the Black Sea. Both nations have ships operating in the waters off Georgia.
"Part of what I did in my engagement when this crisis started was in speaking with my counterpart, and I was very straightforward about the fact that we were going to bring the Georgian troops back from Iraq," he said. "I did that to make sure he knew what we were doing and that that same kind of communication is going on.
"Again, these ships are there supporting humanitarian assistance missions," he continued. "That's what they've done and they will continue to do over time, based on what the need is. So the intent is to communicate."
MILITARY CONTRACTS August 28, 2008
Air Force
Science Applications International Corp., of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a contract for $9,500,000. The purpose of this contract is to advance the and/or increase knowledge and understanding of chemical, biological and radiological threats to personnel, equipment, operations based on various environmental factors and develop capabilities to effectively communicate CBR impacts and issues including response and consequence management topics to a wide range of planning and decision-making levels. The location of performance is Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, Calif. At this time $999,844 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-D-6918).
The Air Force is modifying a contract with SRI International of Menlo Park, Calif. This action will provide Desert Owl Phase Two. The contractor will complete turn-key effort to deploy the PenRad 7 radar systems and modified King Air 200T aircraft for a 90-day deployment. The location of performance is Iraq. The contract modification is not to exceed $6,999,875. At this time, $3,429,939 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-C-3008).
Utah State University Research Foundation, Space Dynamics Laboratory, of Logan, Utah, is being awarded a contract for $9,998,094. The contract provides for the development and demonstration of new and innovative technologies that provide tactical assets for the battlefield using affordable plug-and-play components. The assets will be designed to provide key actionable intelligence and battlefield situational awareness using information collected from ground, air and space systems. The location of performance is Utah State University, Logan, Utah. At this time $1,391,027 has been obligated. Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA9453-08-C-0244).
Goodrich Corp., of Chelmsford, Mass., is being awarded a contract for $87,940,000. The purpose of this contract is for the delivery of four reconnaissance pods, one Mobile ground station, one fixed ground station, two mission planners, in-country technical representatives, technical manuals, and test and integration support. This effort supports foreign Military sales to Morocco. The location of performance is Goodrich Corp. Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems, Chelmsford, Mass. At this time $37,814,200 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-C-3013).
The Air Force is modifying a contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems, of Sunnyvale Calif., for $96,991,206. This is a contract modification to the existing Space Base Infrared System high component engineering, manufacturing, and development contract. This contract will exercise two options that provide for Fiscal Year 2009 continued sustainment of the contractor logistics support and legacy sustainment effort. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company will provide personnel and infrastructure including supplies and services, to specifically perform space and ground software maintenance, depot maintenance, training, communications maintenance, increment "2" tactical intelligence off-line processing and integrated training suite operations. The location of performance is Lockheed Integrated Systems and Solutions, Boulder, Colo. Money has not been obligated at this time. Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04701-95-C-0017).
Wyle Information Systems LLC (formerly RS Information Systems, Inc.) of McLean, Va., is being awarded a contract for $18,491,900. The purpose of this contract provides services to operate, maintain, and support the Space Innovation and Development Center located at Schriever AFB CO. The SIDC is also the Air Staff executive agent for the Air Force's Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities program. The contract is directed toward examining, assessing, and developing the means to integrate national system and DoD space systems support to enhance combat, and research and development capabilities within the Air Force. This includes and /or involves integrating existing and advanced technology weapons, platforms, and special test facilities; as well as the technical expertise (e.g., knowledge of emerging space-based technologies and systems such as space -based radar, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, microsats, space control, lasers, high power microwaves, communications, etc.) to assist SIDC related activities. Option VII will start Oct. 1, 2008. The location of performance is Space innovation and Development Center, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. Money has not been obligated at this time. Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (FA2550-01-D-0003).
Sonalysts, Inc., of Waterford, Conn., is being awarded a contract for $10,141,173. The purpose of this contract is to provide Small Business Innovative Research Phase III effort procures commercial off-the-shelf hardware and operating systems, and one common training system architecture which will launch system specific simulations developed to execute space operations training for a number of different satellite systems. The first mission specific application is Defense Satellite Communications System trainer with a follow-on option for a Military Strategic and Tactical Relay trainer. The location of performance is Sonalysts, Inc., Waterford, Conn., and Lockheed Martin (subcontractor) of Orlando, Fla. At this time $445,000 has been obligated. Space and Missile Systems Center, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8806-08-C-0001).
Wyle Laboratories, Inc., of Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a contract for $9,661,835. The purpose of this contract is for the Reliability Information Analysis Center will perform NAWCAD test aviation research and development. The location of performance Wyle Aerospace Group, Camarillo, Calif., a division of Wyle Laboratories, Inc., in Hunstville, Ala. At this time $266,667 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005).
Air Force is modifying a contract with DTS Aviation Services, Incorporated, Fort Worth, Texas, for $40,723,558. This action will exercise option year for maintenance of T-38C, T-6, and T1A aircraft at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The location of performance is Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Money has not been obligated at this time. Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., is the contracting activity (FA3002-05-C-0016).
Air Force is modifying a contract with Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, Air Combat Systems, San Diego, Calif., for $7,139,331. This effort is for the operation of the Global Hawk System in forward theaters of operation, for a classified length of time. The contractor shall also provide mission support plans, identify support equipment necessary to support operations at contingency locations and procure deployment spares critical for sustained flight operations for the period of time specified on any deployment order. The location of performance is Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, Air Combat Systems, San Diego, Calif. At this time $7,139,331has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-G-3005).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., is being awarded a contract for $5,918,448. This action will provide the U.S. Army Energetics, Warhead and Environmental technology Directorate with studies and analysis. The location of performance is Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va. At this time $120,773 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380).
Army
Textron Marine & Land System, Division of Textron Inc., New Orleans, La., was awarded Aug. 26, 2008, a $6,560,000 firm-fixed- price contract. U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command life cycle management is exercising the option to purchase 10 armored security vehicles from Textron Marine & Land Systems. Work will be performed in New Orleans, La., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 30, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Mich., is the contract activity (W56HZV-05-C-0470).
Defense Technologies Corp., of America, Casper, Wyo., was awarded
Aug. 27, 2008, a $5,004,237 firm- fixed- price contract. The purpose of this contract is to obtain M1029 non- lethal 40mm cartridges. Work will be performed in Casper, Wyo., with estimated completion date of Apr. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Command Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-06-C-0169).
Xcavators, Inc., Ripley, Miss., was awarded on Aug. 27, 2008, a $6,847, 228
firm-fixed- price contract. The purpose of this contract is for flooding control of Mississippi River & tributaries, west bank Mississippi River levees, Reid Bedford King, La., levee enlargement and berms, item 424-R. Work will be performed in Madison Parrish, La., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2009. Bids proposal were solicited under FedBizOps. Thirteen bids proposal were received. U.S.A. Corp of Engineer, Vicksburg District, Vicksburg Contracting Office, Vicksburg, Miss, is the contracting activity (W912EE-08-C-0024).
Simmonds Precision Products Inc., Vergennes, Vt., was awarded Aug. 27, 2008, a
$31,706,454 five- year- firm- fixed- price indefinite -quantity contract. This requirement is for the procurement of the crashworthy external fuel system, the internal auxiliary fuel tank system, and related spares support for the UH-60 aircraft. Work will be performed in Vergennes, Vt., with an estimated completion date of Jul. 31, 2013. One bid were solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-D-0224).
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc, Hurst, Texas, was awarded on Aug. 27, 2008, a
$ 6,220,267, firm- fixed- price contract. This contract is to add three items to the
long term contract, including 30 cowl assemblies, each with Mod Fin assembly 126 blades, for the O58D Kiowa Program, establishing FY08 pricing for a potential award of $7,119,296. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Mar. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Redstone Arsenal, Al., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-04-D-0110).
Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., Mobile, Ala., was awarded Aug. 24, 2008, a $6,988,277 service contract, for berthage, drydocking and services for the dredge wheeler. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 13, 2008. Bids solicited FedBizOps and two bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-H-0001)
Ciber Incorporated, Colo., was awarded Aug. 27, 2008, a $6,772, 552 cost plus award fee contract. Perform labor and material to perform DOIM (Directorate of Information Management) services at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., as a result of an A76 solicitation. Work will be performed in Carlisle, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2009. Bids were solicited via Internet and three bids were received. Mission and Installation Contracting Command -DOC Carlisle Barracks, Pa., is the contracting activity (DABT-60-02-C-006).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Alfona Hauer Gambri & Co., KG.*, Weiden, Germany, is being awarded a maximum $6,672,615 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel oil, diesel fuel and gasoline. Using service is Army. This proposal was originally web-solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPO600-08-D-9404).
Science Applications International Corp., Fairfield, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $500,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery/quantity contract for maintenance, repair, and operations supplies contract. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and other federal civilian agencies. Contract is exercising option year three. The original proposal was Web-solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Aug. 30, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM500-04-D-BP24).
Navy
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $125,566,777 firm-fixed-price contract for the full rate production (Lot IV) of nine AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receivers (TJSR), a component of the EA-6B Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft. In addition, this contract provides for a display lab asset and spares in support of the EA-6B. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Md., (57 percent), Bethpage, N.Y., (30 percent); Nashua, N.H., (8 percent), and San Diego, Calif., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in Oct. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0067).
L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded an $111,426,635 indefinite-delivery, requirements type contract to provide all logistics services and materials for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance required to support 71 T-45A and 108 T-45C aircraft based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., NAS Kingsville, Texas; and NAS Pensacola, Fla. This requirement also includes the organizational level maintenance for the engine. Work will be performed in Kingsville, Texas (58 percent); Meridian, Miss., (36 percent); and Pensacola, Fla., (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via electronic request for proposal and two offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-08-D-0014).
Sensor and Antenna Systems, Lansdale, Inc., Lansdale, Pa., is being awarded a $36,743,000 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded undefinitized contract action (N00019-08-C-0046) to procure 27 low band transmitters; 25 V-Pol antennas; 27 H-Pol antennas; and 18 Band 2 adapter interface assemblies for the AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter Antenna Group in support of the EA-6B aircraft. In addition, this modification will include 3 RF Test Stations, 5 antenna test stations, 4 transmitter test stations, 3 lots of special tooling/test equipment, non-recurring engineering (NRE) for the IO#1 circuit card assembly re-design, and technical requirements documentation (TRD) to support test equipment at the depot level. Work will be performed in Lansdale, Pa., and is expected to be completed in Nov. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
Data Link Solutions LLC, Wayne, N.J., is being awarded a $32,109,772 firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursement contract to provide Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) On Ship (MOS) and associated Link-16 systems. MOS provides high power Link 16 shipboard systems by integrating the MIDS Low Volume Terminal into the Shipboard Tactical Data Link environment. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWARSYSCOM) awarded the contract on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Systems. This contract includes four one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $160,643,603. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J., (80 percent) and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (20 percent), and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2009 (Aug. 2013 with options). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-commerce website, with an unlimited number of proposals solicited and one offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00039-08-D-0007).
Hedgecock Electric, Inc., Pensacola, Fla., is being awarded an $11,681,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Airfield Lighting repairs and replacement of airfield lighting on the north and south airfield runways at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Work will be performed in Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Mar. 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-08-C-0770).
Atlantic Marine Mayport, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $9,772,647 firm-fixed-price contract for the Dry-Dock Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) of the USS Simpson (FFG 56) to include drydock and topside maintenance repair work. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $13,575,754. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 2008. Contract funds in the amount of $30,000 willexpire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 10 proposals solicited and two offers received. The Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N40027-08-C-0091).
British Aerospace (BAE) Systems & Armaments, L.P., Armament Systems Division, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded an $8,141,770 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-5464) to exercise an option for procurement of additional FY08 MK 14 MOD 2 Canisters, including packaging, handling, storage, transportation equipment, and for additional FY08 reconfigurable coding plug assemblies. MK 14 canisters for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, store, transport in safety, and enable loading of Tomahawk missiles into MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems aboard DDG-51 Class and CG-47 Class ships. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, S.D., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Lambda Research, Inc.*, Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $7,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program under topic N01-024 entitled "Innovative Gas Turbine Engine Propulsion." The contractor will provide services and materials for engineering tasks, including research and development, and testing of the low plasticity burnishing system. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed in Aug. 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This SBIR Phase III contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N01-024 and 29 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0019).
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY CONTRACT AWARD
Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, Anchorage Alaska, is being awarded a $48,968,854 (maximum) indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity, sole source contract to provide launch services and logistical support at the Kodiak Launch Complex for MDA flight tests. The place of performance is Kodiak, Alaska. The contract base period and one option are expected to be complete by Aug. 2011. The contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Missile Defense Agency, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (HQ0006-08-D-0004).
Science Applications International Corp., of San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a contract for $9,500,000. The purpose of this contract is to advance the and/or increase knowledge and understanding of chemical, biological and radiological threats to personnel, equipment, operations based on various environmental factors and develop capabilities to effectively communicate CBR impacts and issues including response and consequence management topics to a wide range of planning and decision-making levels. The location of performance is Science Applications International Corporation, San Diego, Calif. At this time $999,844 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-08-D-6918).
The Air Force is modifying a contract with SRI International of Menlo Park, Calif. This action will provide Desert Owl Phase Two. The contractor will complete turn-key effort to deploy the PenRad 7 radar systems and modified King Air 200T aircraft for a 90-day deployment. The location of performance is Iraq. The contract modification is not to exceed $6,999,875. At this time, $3,429,939 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-C-3008).
Utah State University Research Foundation, Space Dynamics Laboratory, of Logan, Utah, is being awarded a contract for $9,998,094. The contract provides for the development and demonstration of new and innovative technologies that provide tactical assets for the battlefield using affordable plug-and-play components. The assets will be designed to provide key actionable intelligence and battlefield situational awareness using information collected from ground, air and space systems. The location of performance is Utah State University, Logan, Utah. At this time $1,391,027 has been obligated. Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is the contracting activity (FA9453-08-C-0244).
Goodrich Corp., of Chelmsford, Mass., is being awarded a contract for $87,940,000. The purpose of this contract is for the delivery of four reconnaissance pods, one Mobile ground station, one fixed ground station, two mission planners, in-country technical representatives, technical manuals, and test and integration support. This effort supports foreign Military sales to Morocco. The location of performance is Goodrich Corp. Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems, Chelmsford, Mass. At this time $37,814,200 has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-C-3013).
The Air Force is modifying a contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems, of Sunnyvale Calif., for $96,991,206. This is a contract modification to the existing Space Base Infrared System high component engineering, manufacturing, and development contract. This contract will exercise two options that provide for Fiscal Year 2009 continued sustainment of the contractor logistics support and legacy sustainment effort. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company will provide personnel and infrastructure including supplies and services, to specifically perform space and ground software maintenance, depot maintenance, training, communications maintenance, increment "2" tactical intelligence off-line processing and integrated training suite operations. The location of performance is Lockheed Integrated Systems and Solutions, Boulder, Colo. Money has not been obligated at this time. Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04701-95-C-0017).
Wyle Information Systems LLC (formerly RS Information Systems, Inc.) of McLean, Va., is being awarded a contract for $18,491,900. The purpose of this contract provides services to operate, maintain, and support the Space Innovation and Development Center located at Schriever AFB CO. The SIDC is also the Air Staff executive agent for the Air Force's Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities program. The contract is directed toward examining, assessing, and developing the means to integrate national system and DoD space systems support to enhance combat, and research and development capabilities within the Air Force. This includes and /or involves integrating existing and advanced technology weapons, platforms, and special test facilities; as well as the technical expertise (e.g., knowledge of emerging space-based technologies and systems such as space -based radar, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, microsats, space control, lasers, high power microwaves, communications, etc.) to assist SIDC related activities. Option VII will start Oct. 1, 2008. The location of performance is Space innovation and Development Center, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. Money has not been obligated at this time. Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (FA2550-01-D-0003).
Sonalysts, Inc., of Waterford, Conn., is being awarded a contract for $10,141,173. The purpose of this contract is to provide Small Business Innovative Research Phase III effort procures commercial off-the-shelf hardware and operating systems, and one common training system architecture which will launch system specific simulations developed to execute space operations training for a number of different satellite systems. The first mission specific application is Defense Satellite Communications System trainer with a follow-on option for a Military Strategic and Tactical Relay trainer. The location of performance is Sonalysts, Inc., Waterford, Conn., and Lockheed Martin (subcontractor) of Orlando, Fla. At this time $445,000 has been obligated. Space and Missile Systems Center, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8806-08-C-0001).
Wyle Laboratories, Inc., of Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a contract for $9,661,835. The purpose of this contract is for the Reliability Information Analysis Center will perform NAWCAD test aviation research and development. The location of performance Wyle Aerospace Group, Camarillo, Calif., a division of Wyle Laboratories, Inc., in Hunstville, Ala. At this time $266,667 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005).
Air Force is modifying a contract with DTS Aviation Services, Incorporated, Fort Worth, Texas, for $40,723,558. This action will exercise option year for maintenance of T-38C, T-6, and T1A aircraft at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. The location of performance is Columbus Air Force Base, Miss. Money has not been obligated at this time. Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., is the contracting activity (FA3002-05-C-0016).
Air Force is modifying a contract with Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, Air Combat Systems, San Diego, Calif., for $7,139,331. This effort is for the operation of the Global Hawk System in forward theaters of operation, for a classified length of time. The contractor shall also provide mission support plans, identify support equipment necessary to support operations at contingency locations and procure deployment spares critical for sustained flight operations for the period of time specified on any deployment order. The location of performance is Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, Air Combat Systems, San Diego, Calif. At this time $7,139,331has been obligated. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-08-G-3005).
Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., is being awarded a contract for $5,918,448. This action will provide the U.S. Army Energetics, Warhead and Environmental technology Directorate with studies and analysis. The location of performance is Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, Va. At this time $120,773 has been obligated. Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is the contracting activity (SP0700-03-D-1380).
Army
Textron Marine & Land System, Division of Textron Inc., New Orleans, La., was awarded Aug. 26, 2008, a $6,560,000 firm-fixed- price contract. U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command life cycle management is exercising the option to purchase 10 armored security vehicles from Textron Marine & Land Systems. Work will be performed in New Orleans, La., with an estimated completion date of Jun. 30, 2009. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command Life Cycle Management Command, Warren, Mich., is the contract activity (W56HZV-05-C-0470).
Defense Technologies Corp., of America, Casper, Wyo., was awarded
Aug. 27, 2008, a $5,004,237 firm- fixed- price contract. The purpose of this contract is to obtain M1029 non- lethal 40mm cartridges. Work will be performed in Casper, Wyo., with estimated completion date of Apr. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Joint Munitions and Lethality Life Cycle Command Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-06-C-0169).
Xcavators, Inc., Ripley, Miss., was awarded on Aug. 27, 2008, a $6,847, 228
firm-fixed- price contract. The purpose of this contract is for flooding control of Mississippi River & tributaries, west bank Mississippi River levees, Reid Bedford King, La., levee enlargement and berms, item 424-R. Work will be performed in Madison Parrish, La., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2009. Bids proposal were solicited under FedBizOps. Thirteen bids proposal were received. U.S.A. Corp of Engineer, Vicksburg District, Vicksburg Contracting Office, Vicksburg, Miss, is the contracting activity (W912EE-08-C-0024).
Simmonds Precision Products Inc., Vergennes, Vt., was awarded Aug. 27, 2008, a
$31,706,454 five- year- firm- fixed- price indefinite -quantity contract. This requirement is for the procurement of the crashworthy external fuel system, the internal auxiliary fuel tank system, and related spares support for the UH-60 aircraft. Work will be performed in Vergennes, Vt., with an estimated completion date of Jul. 31, 2013. One bid were solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-D-0224).
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc, Hurst, Texas, was awarded on Aug. 27, 2008, a
$ 6,220,267, firm- fixed- price contract. This contract is to add three items to the
long term contract, including 30 cowl assemblies, each with Mod Fin assembly 126 blades, for the O58D Kiowa Program, establishing FY08 pricing for a potential award of $7,119,296. Work will be performed in Hurst, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Mar. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Redstone Arsenal, Al., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-04-D-0110).
Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., Mobile, Ala., was awarded Aug. 24, 2008, a $6,988,277 service contract, for berthage, drydocking and services for the dredge wheeler. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 13, 2008. Bids solicited FedBizOps and two bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-H-0001)
Ciber Incorporated, Colo., was awarded Aug. 27, 2008, a $6,772, 552 cost plus award fee contract. Perform labor and material to perform DOIM (Directorate of Information Management) services at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., as a result of an A76 solicitation. Work will be performed in Carlisle, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2009. Bids were solicited via Internet and three bids were received. Mission and Installation Contracting Command -DOC Carlisle Barracks, Pa., is the contracting activity (DABT-60-02-C-006).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Alfona Hauer Gambri & Co., KG.*, Weiden, Germany, is being awarded a maximum $6,672,615 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel oil, diesel fuel and gasoline. Using service is Army. This proposal was originally web-solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SPO600-08-D-9404).
Science Applications International Corp., Fairfield, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $500,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery/quantity contract for maintenance, repair, and operations supplies contract. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and other federal civilian agencies. Contract is exercising option year three. The original proposal was Web-solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Aug. 30, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM500-04-D-BP24).
Navy
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $125,566,777 firm-fixed-price contract for the full rate production (Lot IV) of nine AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receivers (TJSR), a component of the EA-6B Airborne Electronic Attack Aircraft. In addition, this contract provides for a display lab asset and spares in support of the EA-6B. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Md., (57 percent), Bethpage, N.Y., (30 percent); Nashua, N.H., (8 percent), and San Diego, Calif., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in Oct. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity (N00019-08-C-0067).
L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., is being awarded an $111,426,635 indefinite-delivery, requirements type contract to provide all logistics services and materials for organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance required to support 71 T-45A and 108 T-45C aircraft based at Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., NAS Kingsville, Texas; and NAS Pensacola, Fla. This requirement also includes the organizational level maintenance for the engine. Work will be performed in Kingsville, Texas (58 percent); Meridian, Miss., (36 percent); and Pensacola, Fla., (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via electronic request for proposal and two offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-08-D-0014).
Sensor and Antenna Systems, Lansdale, Inc., Lansdale, Pa., is being awarded a $36,743,000 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded undefinitized contract action (N00019-08-C-0046) to procure 27 low band transmitters; 25 V-Pol antennas; 27 H-Pol antennas; and 18 Band 2 adapter interface assemblies for the AN/ALQ-99 Low Band Transmitter Antenna Group in support of the EA-6B aircraft. In addition, this modification will include 3 RF Test Stations, 5 antenna test stations, 4 transmitter test stations, 3 lots of special tooling/test equipment, non-recurring engineering (NRE) for the IO#1 circuit card assembly re-design, and technical requirements documentation (TRD) to support test equipment at the depot level. Work will be performed in Lansdale, Pa., and is expected to be completed in Nov. 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
Data Link Solutions LLC, Wayne, N.J., is being awarded a $32,109,772 firm-fixed-price, cost reimbursement contract to provide Multi-Functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) On Ship (MOS) and associated Link-16 systems. MOS provides high power Link 16 shipboard systems by integrating the MIDS Low Volume Terminal into the Shipboard Tactical Data Link environment. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWARSYSCOM) awarded the contract on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Systems. This contract includes four one-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated $160,643,603. Work will be performed in Wayne, N.J., (80 percent) and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, (20 percent), and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2009 (Aug. 2013 with options). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command E-commerce website, with an unlimited number of proposals solicited and one offer received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is the contracting activity (N00039-08-D-0007).
Hedgecock Electric, Inc., Pensacola, Fla., is being awarded an $11,681,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Airfield Lighting repairs and replacement of airfield lighting on the north and south airfield runways at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Work will be performed in Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Mar. 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-08-C-0770).
Atlantic Marine Mayport, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., is being awarded a $9,772,647 firm-fixed-price contract for the Dry-Dock Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) of the USS Simpson (FFG 56) to include drydock and topside maintenance repair work. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $13,575,754. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 2008. Contract funds in the amount of $30,000 willexpire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with 10 proposals solicited and two offers received. The Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N40027-08-C-0091).
British Aerospace (BAE) Systems & Armaments, L.P., Armament Systems Division, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded an $8,141,770 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-5464) to exercise an option for procurement of additional FY08 MK 14 MOD 2 Canisters, including packaging, handling, storage, transportation equipment, and for additional FY08 reconfigurable coding plug assemblies. MK 14 canisters for the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, store, transport in safety, and enable loading of Tomahawk missiles into MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems aboard DDG-51 Class and CG-47 Class ships. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, S.D., and is expected to be completed by Jul. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Lambda Research, Inc.*, Cincinnati, Ohio, is being awarded a not-to-exceed $7,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program under topic N01-024 entitled "Innovative Gas Turbine Engine Propulsion." The contractor will provide services and materials for engineering tasks, including research and development, and testing of the low plasticity burnishing system. Work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is expected to be completed in Aug. 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This SBIR Phase III contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N01-024 and 29 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0019).
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY CONTRACT AWARD
Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, Anchorage Alaska, is being awarded a $48,968,854 (maximum) indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity, sole source contract to provide launch services and logistical support at the Kodiak Launch Complex for MDA flight tests. The place of performance is Kodiak, Alaska. The contract base period and one option are expected to be complete by Aug. 2011. The contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Missile Defense Agency, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (HQ0006-08-D-0004).
Colonel Credits Predecessor, Iraqi Forces for Improvements
By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - Coalition forces in the Madain community south of Baghdad are shifting their efforts from predominantly offensive operations to improving central services and further developing the local government, a military official posted in Iraq said today. "Progress in Madain is absolutely phenomenal," Army Col. Pat White, commander of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, known as the Iron Brigade, told Pentagon reporters via teleconference.
The Iron Brigade's main mission in Madain may suggest heavy combat, as they're responsible for filtering the flow of insurgents and munitions entering Baghdad. But attack levels are down from an average of more than three per day in 2007 to less than one now – half of them directed toward Iraqi security forces, White said.
White credited the area's growth to the overwhelming success of Iraqi forces and his predecessors from the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, who were part of the original troop surge in 2007, he said.
"The area saw very little coalition presence prior to 2007," he said. "Now, the populace is absolutely assured of [coalition] commitment and the commitment of [Iraqi security forces].
Today, Iraqi forces have a much bigger role in the region's security efforts, he said.
The "ever-increasing professionalism" of Iraqi security forces and the contributions of the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group have led to security operations in the area being conducted "by, with and through Iraqi security forces," the colonel said.
"Coalition and Iraqi security efforts combine to deny insurgent sanctuary and provide a solid foundation of hope for the free citizens of Madain," he added.
The increased security conditions also have allowed for significant economic growth. Since their arrival to Madain in May, the Iron Brigade soldiers have continued their predecessors' efforts to support the local civil work infrastructure. They have also supplemented the Iraqi government's own funding initiatives, White said.
Recently, State Department entities and the local government have facilitated the competition of projects worth nearly $1 million. Plans are in the works for more projects worth more than $9 million dollars that the Iraqi government will fund, he said.
"The great news story of all of this is the [Iraqi government's] increasing capacity to fund civil works reconstruction," he said. "Their financial commitment in Madain exceeds coalition forces by about a 60-to-40 ratio. Their plans clearly show their commitment to take over reconstruction funding and move beyond its reliance on U.S. funds."
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - Coalition forces in the Madain community south of Baghdad are shifting their efforts from predominantly offensive operations to improving central services and further developing the local government, a military official posted in Iraq said today. "Progress in Madain is absolutely phenomenal," Army Col. Pat White, commander of the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, known as the Iron Brigade, told Pentagon reporters via teleconference.
The Iron Brigade's main mission in Madain may suggest heavy combat, as they're responsible for filtering the flow of insurgents and munitions entering Baghdad. But attack levels are down from an average of more than three per day in 2007 to less than one now – half of them directed toward Iraqi security forces, White said.
White credited the area's growth to the overwhelming success of Iraqi forces and his predecessors from the 3rd Infantry Division's 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, who were part of the original troop surge in 2007, he said.
"The area saw very little coalition presence prior to 2007," he said. "Now, the populace is absolutely assured of [coalition] commitment and the commitment of [Iraqi security forces].
Today, Iraqi forces have a much bigger role in the region's security efforts, he said.
The "ever-increasing professionalism" of Iraqi security forces and the contributions of the "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group have led to security operations in the area being conducted "by, with and through Iraqi security forces," the colonel said.
"Coalition and Iraqi security efforts combine to deny insurgent sanctuary and provide a solid foundation of hope for the free citizens of Madain," he added.
The increased security conditions also have allowed for significant economic growth. Since their arrival to Madain in May, the Iron Brigade soldiers have continued their predecessors' efforts to support the local civil work infrastructure. They have also supplemented the Iraqi government's own funding initiatives, White said.
Recently, State Department entities and the local government have facilitated the competition of projects worth nearly $1 million. Plans are in the works for more projects worth more than $9 million dollars that the Iraqi government will fund, he said.
"The great news story of all of this is the [Iraqi government's] increasing capacity to fund civil works reconstruction," he said. "Their financial commitment in Madain exceeds coalition forces by about a 60-to-40 ratio. Their plans clearly show their commitment to take over reconstruction funding and move beyond its reliance on U.S. funds."
Anderson School of Management Adopts Leadership Book
Editor's Note: One of the authors is a former servicemember.
August 28, 2008 (Alburquerque, NM) David Schmidly became the 20th president of the University of New Mexico in 2007. It is his third university presidency. When Schmidly came to the campus to meet with students he told them he planned to teach as part of his duties. He is an internationally respected researcher who has written 9 natural history and conservation books about mammals and more than 200 scientific articles. This fall Schimidly is teaching a seminar course on leadership at the Anderson School of Management.
There are 53 students enrolled in the course, which will use as a text Leadership: Texas Hold ‘Em Style by Dr. Andrew J. Harvey and Raymond E. Foster. In this lecture, Schmidly talks about how he became a leader.
About the leadership: Texas Hold em Style
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
About the Authors
Dr. Andrew J. Harvey served in law enforcement for 25 years, the last 12 as a captain with a Southern California police agency. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Cal State Los Angeles, and an educational doctorate in the field of organizational leadership from Pepperdine University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the California POST Command College, the West Point leadership Program, and is recognized in California as a master instructor.
Dr. Harvey is an experienced college educator, currently serving as a professor at the University of Phoenix, and as a faculty advisor at the Union Institute and University. He has been published numerous times in national and international publications. He is a recognized expert in leadership and career development, and has served as an instructor in command leadership at the Los Angeles Police Department Academy. He has appeared as a leadership authority on television and radio, including the internationally-broadcast Bloomberg Business Television Show, and the nationally syndicated Joey Reynolds Radio Show.
His first book, The Call to Lead: How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary Leaders, received national attention. The book shows the way for leaders toward ethical and competent leadership. Through his company, Andrew Harvey Seminars, he provides leadership training and consulting to individuals and organizations throughout the nation.
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 bachelors from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Masters Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral course work in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond is currently a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement. His first book, Police Technology (Prentice Hall, July 2004) is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide.
More Information about the Book:
www.pokerleadership.com
August 28, 2008 (Alburquerque, NM) David Schmidly became the 20th president of the University of New Mexico in 2007. It is his third university presidency. When Schmidly came to the campus to meet with students he told them he planned to teach as part of his duties. He is an internationally respected researcher who has written 9 natural history and conservation books about mammals and more than 200 scientific articles. This fall Schimidly is teaching a seminar course on leadership at the Anderson School of Management.
There are 53 students enrolled in the course, which will use as a text Leadership: Texas Hold ‘Em Style by Dr. Andrew J. Harvey and Raymond E. Foster. In this lecture, Schmidly talks about how he became a leader.
About the leadership: Texas Hold em Style
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
About the Authors
Dr. Andrew J. Harvey served in law enforcement for 25 years, the last 12 as a captain with a Southern California police agency. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Cal State Los Angeles, and an educational doctorate in the field of organizational leadership from Pepperdine University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the California POST Command College, the West Point leadership Program, and is recognized in California as a master instructor.
Dr. Harvey is an experienced college educator, currently serving as a professor at the University of Phoenix, and as a faculty advisor at the Union Institute and University. He has been published numerous times in national and international publications. He is a recognized expert in leadership and career development, and has served as an instructor in command leadership at the Los Angeles Police Department Academy. He has appeared as a leadership authority on television and radio, including the internationally-broadcast Bloomberg Business Television Show, and the nationally syndicated Joey Reynolds Radio Show.
His first book, The Call to Lead: How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary Leaders, received national attention. The book shows the way for leaders toward ethical and competent leadership. Through his company, Andrew Harvey Seminars, he provides leadership training and consulting to individuals and organizations throughout the nation.
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 bachelors from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Masters Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral course work in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond is currently a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement. His first book, Police Technology (Prentice Hall, July 2004) is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide.
More Information about the Book:
www.pokerleadership.com
U.S. European Command Delivers Aid to Georgia
By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - The Defense Department and U.S. European Command stand ready to assist as required to save lives and alleviate human suffering during the humanitarian crisis in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a senior EuCom official said yesterday. "Working side by side with the republic of Georgia and international organizations, U.S. European Command is providing immediate life-saving support and restoring essential life-support systems as part of a coordinated interagency effort," Michael Ritchie, EuCom's director of interagency engagement, said in a teleconference with bloggers and online journalists to discuss the relief effort dubbed Operation Assured Delivery.
Operation Assured Delivery is the DoD effort executed by EuCom in support of and in coordination with the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, Ritchie explained. EuCom's Interagency Engagement Group is the focal point for this interagency coordination, he said.
More than 100,000 people in the area of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi have been displaced during the conflict with Russia over two disputed Georgian provinces, Ritchie said, and USAID is working with an estimated 160 U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations in Georgia.
"The USAID-funded feeding programs are taking care of those people who are on the move and headed back to their homes," he said. "They are the ones that are doing the delivering, primarily in the Tbilisi area where many persons were displaced, but it's also going into other areas as well within the republic of Georgia."
Along with the humanitarian assistance, EuCom assessment teams are in Georgia examining the infrastructure to see what was damaged.
Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, EuCom commander, visited Georgia last week to get a first-hand perspective of the relief effort.
"We have to get it right so we can help people quickly," he said during his visit. "We want to optimize the humanitarian aid effort and bring in the right stuff, to the right place at the right time."
Since Aug. 13, Operation Assured Delivery has resulted in more than 2 million pounds of food, water, bedding and medical supplies -- nearly $21 million worth -- being delivered to the Georgian people in need, Ritchie said.
Ritchie added that in this week alone, EuCom flights have delivered 25,000 daily rations and 31,000 prepared meals to displaced persons and people in need. "Every item delivered was requested by USAID and validated by the government of Georgia," he said.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas arrived Aug. 27 to the Georgian port of Batumi, which currently provides an established distribution hub to quickly dispense the aid.
Dallas is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, and is part of the larger maritime force offering humanitarian assistance. "It is fortunate to us that the Dallas happened to be in the European theater," Ritchie said. "This is the kind of thing for which the Coast Guard has a great deal of experience, and we're proud to have them as part of the 6th fleet team that's providing this assistance."
While in Batumi, Dallas offloaded 80 pallets with more than 76,000 pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies. The goods include hygiene items, food, milk and juices.
The first ship to dispense humanitarian assistance was USS McFaul, which arrived in Batumi on Aug. 24, delivering 155,000 pounds of aid. USS Mount Whitney is scheduled to deploy for Georgia at the end of the month with more supplies.
(Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg works for the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - The Defense Department and U.S. European Command stand ready to assist as required to save lives and alleviate human suffering during the humanitarian crisis in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a senior EuCom official said yesterday. "Working side by side with the republic of Georgia and international organizations, U.S. European Command is providing immediate life-saving support and restoring essential life-support systems as part of a coordinated interagency effort," Michael Ritchie, EuCom's director of interagency engagement, said in a teleconference with bloggers and online journalists to discuss the relief effort dubbed Operation Assured Delivery.
Operation Assured Delivery is the DoD effort executed by EuCom in support of and in coordination with the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, Ritchie explained. EuCom's Interagency Engagement Group is the focal point for this interagency coordination, he said.
More than 100,000 people in the area of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi have been displaced during the conflict with Russia over two disputed Georgian provinces, Ritchie said, and USAID is working with an estimated 160 U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations in Georgia.
"The USAID-funded feeding programs are taking care of those people who are on the move and headed back to their homes," he said. "They are the ones that are doing the delivering, primarily in the Tbilisi area where many persons were displaced, but it's also going into other areas as well within the republic of Georgia."
Along with the humanitarian assistance, EuCom assessment teams are in Georgia examining the infrastructure to see what was damaged.
Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, EuCom commander, visited Georgia last week to get a first-hand perspective of the relief effort.
"We have to get it right so we can help people quickly," he said during his visit. "We want to optimize the humanitarian aid effort and bring in the right stuff, to the right place at the right time."
Since Aug. 13, Operation Assured Delivery has resulted in more than 2 million pounds of food, water, bedding and medical supplies -- nearly $21 million worth -- being delivered to the Georgian people in need, Ritchie said.
Ritchie added that in this week alone, EuCom flights have delivered 25,000 daily rations and 31,000 prepared meals to displaced persons and people in need. "Every item delivered was requested by USAID and validated by the government of Georgia," he said.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas arrived Aug. 27 to the Georgian port of Batumi, which currently provides an established distribution hub to quickly dispense the aid.
Dallas is deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, and is part of the larger maritime force offering humanitarian assistance. "It is fortunate to us that the Dallas happened to be in the European theater," Ritchie said. "This is the kind of thing for which the Coast Guard has a great deal of experience, and we're proud to have them as part of the 6th fleet team that's providing this assistance."
While in Batumi, Dallas offloaded 80 pallets with more than 76,000 pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies. The goods include hygiene items, food, milk and juices.
The first ship to dispense humanitarian assistance was USS McFaul, which arrived in Batumi on Aug. 24, delivering 155,000 pounds of aid. USS Mount Whitney is scheduled to deploy for Georgia at the end of the month with more supplies.
(Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg works for the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Face of Defense: Soldier Sings His Way Through Deployment
By Army Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - He began his singing career by singing gospel music at his local church in Indianapolis when he was only 4 years old. Now, at 21, he finds himself on center stage, showing off his vocal abilities. "It is just something I love to do," said Sgt. Victor Cole, who enlisted in the Army as a human resources specialist in 2005. "Singing and writing music calms me down, and is just something I do that gets my mind off of the everyday stresses of being deployed."
Since arriving in Iraq in December 2007 with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 716th Military Police Battalion, Cole takes care of his battalion's human resources needs and sings the national anthem at ceremonies his battalion conducts.
Cole's brigade command sergeant major noticed his talents quickly during a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony.
"When I was told Cole was going to sing the national anthem at the induction ceremony, I was concerned," admitted Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bernard McPherson, a native of Orangeburg, S.C. "I had never heard him sing a note, and the significance of the national anthem sung in a cappella was strategic."
McPherson, however, was reassured by Cole's battalion command sergeant major that he had nothing to worry about.
"I was still nervous," McPherson said, "until I heard him sing a few notes in rehearsal. All it took for me to hear were a few notes. After hearing Cole's melodic, clear and rich voice, my worries were belayed."
McPherson said Cole is a gifted and talented NCO, and that he expects an "American Idol" tryout is in his future.
"My lifelong goal is to become a professional singer," Cole said. "I plan to attend the 2009 American Idol competition when I return from my Iraq tour."
While deployed, Cole said, he finds himself singing all day long at work, and when he gets time off, he sings competitively at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation centers on the camp.
Cole has won karaoke competitions at some of the Victory Base Complex MWR sponsored events, but that doesn't compare to some of the events he has performed at in the past. Cole has sung at events such as the Olympic trials in 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana Pacers National Basketball Association games and Indianapolis Colts National Football League games, and he said one of his biggest accomplishments was winning a Show Time singing competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y.
"When I was younger, singing was just something I did because I loved doing it," he said. "Now it is completely different. I want to make a career out of it."
Cole said he has made a few changes in his Military career to improve his chances of becoming a professional singer.
"I love my job in the Army," said Cole, "but I've always wanted to be a singer. I had the chance to go overseas on assignment, but I changed that to stay in the states so I could audition for American Idol."
Even though Cole said he loves both singing and being a part of the Military, he still feels they are two very separate worlds for him, though he's been successful in both.
"My biggest accomplishment in the Army is getting promoted to the rank of sergeant," he said of his recent promotion.
He said he decided to join the Army because of the stability that comes with being in the Army for Military families. "I joined the Army in my junior year of high school in order to support my now-3-year-old daughter," said Cole, who re-enlisted recently to serve for another six years.
He feels that even though it is music that drives him to get through the long 15-month deployment, his daughter gives him the passion to continue with both careers.
"Music is what drives me to continue, as well as the passion that I have to provide a good life for my daughter," he said.
(Army Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - He began his singing career by singing gospel music at his local church in Indianapolis when he was only 4 years old. Now, at 21, he finds himself on center stage, showing off his vocal abilities. "It is just something I love to do," said Sgt. Victor Cole, who enlisted in the Army as a human resources specialist in 2005. "Singing and writing music calms me down, and is just something I do that gets my mind off of the everyday stresses of being deployed."
Since arriving in Iraq in December 2007 with Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 716th Military Police Battalion, Cole takes care of his battalion's human resources needs and sings the national anthem at ceremonies his battalion conducts.
Cole's brigade command sergeant major noticed his talents quickly during a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony.
"When I was told Cole was going to sing the national anthem at the induction ceremony, I was concerned," admitted Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bernard McPherson, a native of Orangeburg, S.C. "I had never heard him sing a note, and the significance of the national anthem sung in a cappella was strategic."
McPherson, however, was reassured by Cole's battalion command sergeant major that he had nothing to worry about.
"I was still nervous," McPherson said, "until I heard him sing a few notes in rehearsal. All it took for me to hear were a few notes. After hearing Cole's melodic, clear and rich voice, my worries were belayed."
McPherson said Cole is a gifted and talented NCO, and that he expects an "American Idol" tryout is in his future.
"My lifelong goal is to become a professional singer," Cole said. "I plan to attend the 2009 American Idol competition when I return from my Iraq tour."
While deployed, Cole said, he finds himself singing all day long at work, and when he gets time off, he sings competitively at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation centers on the camp.
Cole has won karaoke competitions at some of the Victory Base Complex MWR sponsored events, but that doesn't compare to some of the events he has performed at in the past. Cole has sung at events such as the Olympic trials in 2004 in Indianapolis, Indiana Pacers National Basketball Association games and Indianapolis Colts National Football League games, and he said one of his biggest accomplishments was winning a Show Time singing competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y.
"When I was younger, singing was just something I did because I loved doing it," he said. "Now it is completely different. I want to make a career out of it."
Cole said he has made a few changes in his Military career to improve his chances of becoming a professional singer.
"I love my job in the Army," said Cole, "but I've always wanted to be a singer. I had the chance to go overseas on assignment, but I changed that to stay in the states so I could audition for American Idol."
Even though Cole said he loves both singing and being a part of the Military, he still feels they are two very separate worlds for him, though he's been successful in both.
"My biggest accomplishment in the Army is getting promoted to the rank of sergeant," he said of his recent promotion.
He said he decided to join the Army because of the stability that comes with being in the Army for Military families. "I joined the Army in my junior year of high school in order to support my now-3-year-old daughter," said Cole, who re-enlisted recently to serve for another six years.
He feels that even though it is music that drives him to get through the long 15-month deployment, his daughter gives him the passion to continue with both careers.
"Music is what drives me to continue, as well as the passion that I have to provide a good life for my daughter," he said.
(Army Sgt. Daniel Blottenberger serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 18th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office.)
America Supports You: Group Awards Spouses Record Number of Scholarships
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - More military spouses than ever before are heading back to school this year, and they've earned some financial help to study for their chosen degree, National military Family Association officials said. The association, which prepares military spouses, children, and parents to better deal with the unique challenges of military life, recently announced the nearly 400 recipients of its 2008 Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program.
This number represents a dramatic increase over previous years, officials said, thanks to new partnerships with the Fisher House Foundation and Health Net Federal Services, who helped meet the increasing demand of military spouses for education benefits.
"I am very determined, and I will finish my degree. It will be one of the proudest moments of my life, and I truly believe this is something every person should have the opportunity to accomplish," said DeAnn Fine, a Marine Corps spouse and winner of an NMFA scholarship.
"There are so many opportunities for [servicemembers] to earn a higher education," she continued, "and there should be just as many opportunities for their spouses because we proudly serve our country, too."
In addition to the Joanne Holbrook Patton scholarships, the new Folds of Honor Foundation provided generous scholarship funding for 180 spouses of military servicemembers disabled or killed in the line of duty during the global war on terror.
Of the scholarship recipients, about 56 percent are Army spouses, 17 percent are Navy spouses, 15 percent are Air Force spouses, 10 percent are Marine spouses, and 2 percent are Coast Guard spouses. More than 75 percent of recipients are married to enlisted servicemembers, while 20 percent are officers' spouses. Warrant officers' spouses represent 2 percent of the scholarships awarded.
NMFA created its scholarship program to provide financial assistance to military spouses working toward their education goals. The military lifestyle presents several challenges. Education may cost more for military spouses because constant moves require they re-take credits that don't transfer or they are forced to change their degree or program because the new school does not offer the same program, officials explained. Also, spouses sometimes take a break from their education when lengthy deployments create additional child care expenses or limit their time for their classes and studies.
Through the inspiration of Joanne Holbrook Patton, who recognized that a scholarship serves both as a reward and an incentive, NMFA officials said they launched the program to enhance full military spouse career potential.
Scholarships are awarded to spouses of uniformed servicemembers -- including those of active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retirees and survivors -- to obtain professional certification or to attend post-secondary or graduate school. Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $10,000, and can be put toward tuition, fees, and school room and board.
A complete list of winners, along with more information on the scholarship requirements and application process, can be found on the National military Family Association Web site.
The National military Family Association is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Aug. 28, 2008 - More military spouses than ever before are heading back to school this year, and they've earned some financial help to study for their chosen degree, National military Family Association officials said. The association, which prepares military spouses, children, and parents to better deal with the unique challenges of military life, recently announced the nearly 400 recipients of its 2008 Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program.
This number represents a dramatic increase over previous years, officials said, thanks to new partnerships with the Fisher House Foundation and Health Net Federal Services, who helped meet the increasing demand of military spouses for education benefits.
"I am very determined, and I will finish my degree. It will be one of the proudest moments of my life, and I truly believe this is something every person should have the opportunity to accomplish," said DeAnn Fine, a Marine Corps spouse and winner of an NMFA scholarship.
"There are so many opportunities for [servicemembers] to earn a higher education," she continued, "and there should be just as many opportunities for their spouses because we proudly serve our country, too."
In addition to the Joanne Holbrook Patton scholarships, the new Folds of Honor Foundation provided generous scholarship funding for 180 spouses of military servicemembers disabled or killed in the line of duty during the global war on terror.
Of the scholarship recipients, about 56 percent are Army spouses, 17 percent are Navy spouses, 15 percent are Air Force spouses, 10 percent are Marine spouses, and 2 percent are Coast Guard spouses. More than 75 percent of recipients are married to enlisted servicemembers, while 20 percent are officers' spouses. Warrant officers' spouses represent 2 percent of the scholarships awarded.
NMFA created its scholarship program to provide financial assistance to military spouses working toward their education goals. The military lifestyle presents several challenges. Education may cost more for military spouses because constant moves require they re-take credits that don't transfer or they are forced to change their degree or program because the new school does not offer the same program, officials explained. Also, spouses sometimes take a break from their education when lengthy deployments create additional child care expenses or limit their time for their classes and studies.
Through the inspiration of Joanne Holbrook Patton, who recognized that a scholarship serves both as a reward and an incentive, NMFA officials said they launched the program to enhance full military spouse career potential.
Scholarships are awarded to spouses of uniformed servicemembers -- including those of active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retirees and survivors -- to obtain professional certification or to attend post-secondary or graduate school. Scholarship amounts range from $500 to $10,000, and can be put toward tuition, fees, and school room and board.
A complete list of winners, along with more information on the scholarship requirements and application process, can be found on the National military Family Association Web site.
The National military Family Association is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Researchers Work Toward Regenerating Lost Extremities
By Elaine Wilson
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - A powder that regrows fingers and toes sounds like the stuff of fairy tales, but medical experts here are hoping they can use it to make magic happen for wounded warriors. Doctors from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research are trying a regenerative medicine powder that's already approved by the Food and Drug Administration in hopes of stimulating tissue growth in soldiers with missing extremities.
"The powder is FDA approved and is already being used for hernia repairs and other applications," said Dr. Steven Wolf, chief and task area manager of clinical trials at ISR. "But it has never been used for this reason in people."
ISR researchers are working with Steve Badylak at the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, whom they found while seeking medical innovations that could benefit wounded warriors. They were particularly interested in medical advances that could aid in combating the loss of extremities, which is a "common problem" on today's battlefield, Wolf said.
"This is a topic the Army and Department of Defense are interested in, because when injuries happen in war, most of them are extremity injuries," the doctor said. "With burns in particular, we commonly end up with loss of digits."
Based on studies, ISR doctors were intrigued by what they nicknamed "pixie dust," and the idea of a new application for an existing innovation.
"Since the powder was FDA approved and safe for use, we figured we would try it," Wolf said. "The idea was out there that it might work for this application, but it had never been tried on humans."
The "pixie dust" is far from magic. It is derived from pig bladder. To create what Wolf refers to as extracellular matrix, scientists take a mix of protein and connective tissue, "spin" it to remove the cells, and then mash the remaining material into a powder.
"When put onto open wound, it seems the body starts to regrow normal tissue," Wolf said.
The theory is that when the powder is applied, circulating stem cells see the matrix, stop and differentiate into whatever they are near, Wolf said. For instance, if by a bone, then the cells become bone; if by a blood vessel, then they become a blood vessel; or if by a nerve, they become a nerve.
In other words, the regenerative medicine powder acts as a stop sign for stem cells, which are undifferentiated cells everyone has circulating throughout their blood stream.
Wolf likens the concept to regrowth of a severed tail in a salamander.
"You pull a tail off a salamander, and it regrows," Wolf said. "The end of the tail forms what is called a blastema, and that blastema elongates. We think that's what happens when we put this powder on.
"This process of growing your fingers has happened to you before, in your mother's womb," Wolf said. "The code is there, the DNA is there. What we're trying to do is trick your body into doing that again."
Application of the powder involves surgery to open the wound and apply it, a procedure that can be done in conjunction with an already scheduled surgery. Other than the normal risks of surgery, Wolf said, trials of the powder are practically harmless.
"If it doesn't work, there is no downside," Wolf said. "That's why we're testing it on fingers vs. legs. If we apply it to a leg amputee, the downside is the soldier won't be able to walk for several months, and it may not work."
So far, doctors have applied the powder to two soldiers with missing fingers.
"The first time, we saw an increase in length of the finger, but the wound closed before further growth could occur," Wolf said. "The other case is too soon to tell."
Wolf emphasized the concept is referred to as an innovative surgical technique. "It's not a sure thing," he said. "It's a possibility."
However, "We're hoping for increased length with bone support," Wolf said. "But we're not sure how long it will take or if it will even work."
The odds may be high, but Wolf is hoping to take a complex scientific innovation and yield magical results for improvised explosive device victims and other wounded warriors.
"If we have a soldier who was blown up by an IED and missing fingers, and we have a chance to give him his fingers back, increase his function, how can we not try?" he said.
(Elaine Wilson works in the Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - A powder that regrows fingers and toes sounds like the stuff of fairy tales, but medical experts here are hoping they can use it to make magic happen for wounded warriors. Doctors from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research are trying a regenerative medicine powder that's already approved by the Food and Drug Administration in hopes of stimulating tissue growth in soldiers with missing extremities.
"The powder is FDA approved and is already being used for hernia repairs and other applications," said Dr. Steven Wolf, chief and task area manager of clinical trials at ISR. "But it has never been used for this reason in people."
ISR researchers are working with Steve Badylak at the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, whom they found while seeking medical innovations that could benefit wounded warriors. They were particularly interested in medical advances that could aid in combating the loss of extremities, which is a "common problem" on today's battlefield, Wolf said.
"This is a topic the Army and Department of Defense are interested in, because when injuries happen in war, most of them are extremity injuries," the doctor said. "With burns in particular, we commonly end up with loss of digits."
Based on studies, ISR doctors were intrigued by what they nicknamed "pixie dust," and the idea of a new application for an existing innovation.
"Since the powder was FDA approved and safe for use, we figured we would try it," Wolf said. "The idea was out there that it might work for this application, but it had never been tried on humans."
The "pixie dust" is far from magic. It is derived from pig bladder. To create what Wolf refers to as extracellular matrix, scientists take a mix of protein and connective tissue, "spin" it to remove the cells, and then mash the remaining material into a powder.
"When put onto open wound, it seems the body starts to regrow normal tissue," Wolf said.
The theory is that when the powder is applied, circulating stem cells see the matrix, stop and differentiate into whatever they are near, Wolf said. For instance, if by a bone, then the cells become bone; if by a blood vessel, then they become a blood vessel; or if by a nerve, they become a nerve.
In other words, the regenerative medicine powder acts as a stop sign for stem cells, which are undifferentiated cells everyone has circulating throughout their blood stream.
Wolf likens the concept to regrowth of a severed tail in a salamander.
"You pull a tail off a salamander, and it regrows," Wolf said. "The end of the tail forms what is called a blastema, and that blastema elongates. We think that's what happens when we put this powder on.
"This process of growing your fingers has happened to you before, in your mother's womb," Wolf said. "The code is there, the DNA is there. What we're trying to do is trick your body into doing that again."
Application of the powder involves surgery to open the wound and apply it, a procedure that can be done in conjunction with an already scheduled surgery. Other than the normal risks of surgery, Wolf said, trials of the powder are practically harmless.
"If it doesn't work, there is no downside," Wolf said. "That's why we're testing it on fingers vs. legs. If we apply it to a leg amputee, the downside is the soldier won't be able to walk for several months, and it may not work."
So far, doctors have applied the powder to two soldiers with missing fingers.
"The first time, we saw an increase in length of the finger, but the wound closed before further growth could occur," Wolf said. "The other case is too soon to tell."
Wolf emphasized the concept is referred to as an innovative surgical technique. "It's not a sure thing," he said. "It's a possibility."
However, "We're hoping for increased length with bone support," Wolf said. "But we're not sure how long it will take or if it will even work."
The odds may be high, but Wolf is hoping to take a complex scientific innovation and yield magical results for improvised explosive device victims and other wounded warriors.
"If we have a soldier who was blown up by an IED and missing fingers, and we have a chance to give him his fingers back, increase his function, how can we not try?" he said.
(Elaine Wilson works in the Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office.)
USS Abraham Lincoln Hosts Chairman, Key Commanders
By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Arianne A. Anderson
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - Several senior military officials visited the USS Abraham Lincoln here Aug. 26 and yesterday. The visitors included Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq; Army Gen. David McKiernan, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; Navy Adm. Eric Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command; and Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, acting commander of U.S. Central Command.
The senior officers toured the ship, attended briefings, visited with Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing 2 crewmembers and awarded a Helicopter Squadron 2 sailor the Navy Marine Corps Medal.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse P. Hubble, an aviation warfare systems operator, was recognized for his efforts in rescuing seven crewmembers in a crash of a Navy HH-60H helicopter off the coast of Southern California in November 2007.
"It was completely unexpected, but extremely appreciated," Hubble, a San Diego native, said. "It's a really big day for me."
Mullen congratulated Hubble and addressed the Helicopter Squadron 2 and Lincoln crews.
"Thank you," he said. "You represent the thousands of shipmates who couldn't be here. I want to express my/our gratitude for everything you do out here."
Mullen said he believes today's Navy is the best it's been.
"I've been around for a very long time," he said. "Hands down, you're the best I've ever seen. We couldn't do this without you and your families' support. It's truly been spectacular in the last seven years."
Mullen said the visit was a wonderful experience.
"Thank you for the hospitality," he said over the ship's announcing system. "It's a terrific ship, a terrific crew, and I can't say enough. From the captain down to the folks that prepare the meals and make the screws turn, you're doing an excellent job."
With less than two months left at sea, Mullen reminded Lincoln sailors not to become complacent within their jobs.
"You've done a great job so far," he said. "Keep your heads in the game and get Lincoln home safely."
Petraeus and Mullen walked throughout the crowds meeting sailors, and Mullen posed for pictures and passed out coins.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James E. Harrison, an aviation electronics technician with Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, said meeting Mullen was a unique experience.
"He gave me my first coin," Harrison said. "I doubt I'll be able to top it. I think it's really neat that he took time out of his busy schedule to hang out with us and see how we live out here on the ship."
The chairman had more words of praise for the deployed sailors.
"Thanks for what you are doing -- for serving your country, especially during this critical time," Mullen said. "Lincoln and [Carrier Strike Group 9] have an exceptional reputation."
Navy Rear Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, the strike group commander, congratulated the crews for a job well done in facilitating the visit.
"Thank you for all of the hard work and helping out to make this visit a success," he said. "The visit went very well, and I think they had a good time visiting with you guys. Good job."
Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as performing maritime security operations.
(Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Arianne A. Anderson serves in the USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - Several senior military officials visited the USS Abraham Lincoln here Aug. 26 and yesterday. The visitors included Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq; Army Gen. David McKiernan, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; Navy Adm. Eric Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command; and Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, acting commander of U.S. Central Command.
The senior officers toured the ship, attended briefings, visited with Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing 2 crewmembers and awarded a Helicopter Squadron 2 sailor the Navy Marine Corps Medal.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse P. Hubble, an aviation warfare systems operator, was recognized for his efforts in rescuing seven crewmembers in a crash of a Navy HH-60H helicopter off the coast of Southern California in November 2007.
"It was completely unexpected, but extremely appreciated," Hubble, a San Diego native, said. "It's a really big day for me."
Mullen congratulated Hubble and addressed the Helicopter Squadron 2 and Lincoln crews.
"Thank you," he said. "You represent the thousands of shipmates who couldn't be here. I want to express my/our gratitude for everything you do out here."
Mullen said he believes today's Navy is the best it's been.
"I've been around for a very long time," he said. "Hands down, you're the best I've ever seen. We couldn't do this without you and your families' support. It's truly been spectacular in the last seven years."
Mullen said the visit was a wonderful experience.
"Thank you for the hospitality," he said over the ship's announcing system. "It's a terrific ship, a terrific crew, and I can't say enough. From the captain down to the folks that prepare the meals and make the screws turn, you're doing an excellent job."
With less than two months left at sea, Mullen reminded Lincoln sailors not to become complacent within their jobs.
"You've done a great job so far," he said. "Keep your heads in the game and get Lincoln home safely."
Petraeus and Mullen walked throughout the crowds meeting sailors, and Mullen posed for pictures and passed out coins.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James E. Harrison, an aviation electronics technician with Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, said meeting Mullen was a unique experience.
"He gave me my first coin," Harrison said. "I doubt I'll be able to top it. I think it's really neat that he took time out of his busy schedule to hang out with us and see how we live out here on the ship."
The chairman had more words of praise for the deployed sailors.
"Thanks for what you are doing -- for serving your country, especially during this critical time," Mullen said. "Lincoln and [Carrier Strike Group 9] have an exceptional reputation."
Navy Rear Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, the strike group commander, congratulated the crews for a job well done in facilitating the visit.
"Thank you for all of the hard work and helping out to make this visit a success," he said. "The visit went very well, and I think they had a good time visiting with you guys. Good job."
Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as performing maritime security operations.
(Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Arianne A. Anderson serves in the USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs Office.)
Marines Look for Breakthroughs While Developing New Vehicles
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - The Marine Corps, like the Army, is "still waiting for that technological breakthrough" needed to build a combat vehicle that's light and agile but also protects crewmembers inside, the Marine Corps commandant said yesterday. "So we continue to wait," while exploring best options available now, Marine Gen. James T. Conway told reporters during a Pentagon news briefing.
Both the Army and Marine Corps have sent mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, with their V-shaped hull that deflects underbelly blasts away from the crew compartment, into Iraq and Afghanistan. The 10,000th MRAP rolled off the assembly line in early July, marking a milestone for the joint MRAP program that began as a Marine Corps initiative.
But the Marines have opted to buy fewer MRAPs than initially planned, and have dedicated them largely to specialized missions such as explosive ordnance disposal and engineering missions.
"In the past, our engineers have ridden to war in the back of a dump truck," Conway said. "We owe them something better than that." The small versions of the MRAPs, known as the Category 1 variants, are a good vehicle for that, the general added.
Ultimately, the Marines likely will need hundreds, not thousands, of MRAPs, he said.
Conway said the MRAP's bulk -- which he called too heavy for its suspension and axle systems -- and its top-heavy design make it less-than-optimal for many Marine Corps missions. Those problems are exacerbated in Afghanistan, where sloped roads, mountain trails and switchbacks make driving the vehicles particularly challenging. Although more MRAPs have been deployed to Iraq than Afghanistan, Conway said, the Marines have experienced more rollovers in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps is looking beyond current operations toward developing its next-generation fighting vehicles. The challenge, Conway said, is "Where do we want the Marine Corps to be in 2020 with its vehicle complement based on what we think the threat will be at that point?"
The expeditionary fighting vehicle, or EFV, "seems to be making some good progress," Conway said, but he conceded it's still a long way from production. The 17-passenger armored vehicle -- able to run on the ground as well as in the water -- hit some low points during operational testing in 2006, but is now moving forward. "We've got some good reports in recent weeks and months on the progress of EFV," Conway said.
The Marines also have their sights on a new joint light tactical vehicle to replace the aging Humvee fleet. The Army, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps have teamed up to develop vehicles designed from the drawing board stage to operate in combat. Humvees were adapted after the fact for combat conditions.
"We certainly want to mate with the Army on any program for the joint light tactical vehicle, but I think it's fair to say both services are still waiting for that technological breakthrough that's going to give us the amount of soldier and Marine protection in a vehicle that is lighter than what's on the market right now," Conway said.
The Marines are encountering the same problem as they attempt to develop a lighter, better productive helmet, he said.
"There is just not an apparent technological breakthrough in ceramics or in carbon fiber that's going to give us that lightweight technology that gives equal protection," he said.
Another program on the drawing board is the Marine personnel carrier, a medium-weight vehicle able to carry nine Marines and their gear. "We're going to try to sort out just what that vehicle needs to look like," Conway said.
American Forces Press Service
Aug. 28, 2008 - The Marine Corps, like the Army, is "still waiting for that technological breakthrough" needed to build a combat vehicle that's light and agile but also protects crewmembers inside, the Marine Corps commandant said yesterday. "So we continue to wait," while exploring best options available now, Marine Gen. James T. Conway told reporters during a Pentagon news briefing.
Both the Army and Marine Corps have sent mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, with their V-shaped hull that deflects underbelly blasts away from the crew compartment, into Iraq and Afghanistan. The 10,000th MRAP rolled off the assembly line in early July, marking a milestone for the joint MRAP program that began as a Marine Corps initiative.
But the Marines have opted to buy fewer MRAPs than initially planned, and have dedicated them largely to specialized missions such as explosive ordnance disposal and engineering missions.
"In the past, our engineers have ridden to war in the back of a dump truck," Conway said. "We owe them something better than that." The small versions of the MRAPs, known as the Category 1 variants, are a good vehicle for that, the general added.
Ultimately, the Marines likely will need hundreds, not thousands, of MRAPs, he said.
Conway said the MRAP's bulk -- which he called too heavy for its suspension and axle systems -- and its top-heavy design make it less-than-optimal for many Marine Corps missions. Those problems are exacerbated in Afghanistan, where sloped roads, mountain trails and switchbacks make driving the vehicles particularly challenging. Although more MRAPs have been deployed to Iraq than Afghanistan, Conway said, the Marines have experienced more rollovers in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps is looking beyond current operations toward developing its next-generation fighting vehicles. The challenge, Conway said, is "Where do we want the Marine Corps to be in 2020 with its vehicle complement based on what we think the threat will be at that point?"
The expeditionary fighting vehicle, or EFV, "seems to be making some good progress," Conway said, but he conceded it's still a long way from production. The 17-passenger armored vehicle -- able to run on the ground as well as in the water -- hit some low points during operational testing in 2006, but is now moving forward. "We've got some good reports in recent weeks and months on the progress of EFV," Conway said.
The Marines also have their sights on a new joint light tactical vehicle to replace the aging Humvee fleet. The Army, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps have teamed up to develop vehicles designed from the drawing board stage to operate in combat. Humvees were adapted after the fact for combat conditions.
"We certainly want to mate with the Army on any program for the joint light tactical vehicle, but I think it's fair to say both services are still waiting for that technological breakthrough that's going to give us the amount of soldier and Marine protection in a vehicle that is lighter than what's on the market right now," Conway said.
The Marines are encountering the same problem as they attempt to develop a lighter, better productive helmet, he said.
"There is just not an apparent technological breakthrough in ceramics or in carbon fiber that's going to give us that lightweight technology that gives equal protection," he said.
Another program on the drawing board is the Marine personnel carrier, a medium-weight vehicle able to carry nine Marines and their gear. "We're going to try to sort out just what that vehicle needs to look like," Conway said.
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