By Navy Petty 2nd Class Katrina Parker
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - U.S. Joint Forces Command and its partners, including the Department of Homeland Security, have completed an experiment designed to enhance national security by providing joint force commanders with a better capability to share information with interagency, multinational and nongovernment agencies during crisis operations. During the Interagency Shared Situational Awareness (Limited Objective Experiment, Joint Forces Command's joint concept development and experimentation directorate conducted a series of experiments last week to address standards, policies and procedures involving sharing of information over a wide area.
"What we are trying to do here is create an environment and come up with a concept of operations that will enable seamless information sharing between [the Defense Department and] interagency and multinational partners," said Navy Cmdr. Chad Hixson, the project lead. "Often times, there are policies and procedures that stand in the way of doing that."
Hixson said that even when leadership is willing to share information with agencies, the people who actually are sitting at the desk might misunderstand existing policies or be impeded by barriers limiting trust between the organizations, thus interfering with information sharing. The experiment identified policies, procedures, cultural and trust issues that can block information sharing, Hixson said.
Participants included the Joint Staff, National Guard Bureau, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, the State Department, the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.
"All the key players in national security are represented," said Navy Capt. Timothy Spratto, the experimentation directorate's capabilities solutions group lead. "There is a large coalition of the willing coalescing around this experiment to explore their information-sharing techniques."
Spratto said such operations and experiments build trust among participants by providing first-hand experience in the value of sharing information with partners while achieving their own objectives.
"This experiment is a great opportunity for those organizations to get together and look at the policies and procedures that impede information sharing," said Navy Cmdr. Gregory Sleppy, Joint Staff action officer and observer. "Each organization and department has their own rules on how they share things, and those rules are not always the same. We are trying to figure out what those things are that impede the progress and flow of information."
Sleppy cited problems in 2005's Hurricane Katrina response as an example of the need to share information between agencies and government to support the people involved with the disaster relief effort.
"People may not realize that right now those organizations do not operate on the same network and cannot share information effectively," Sleppy said. "There is no common depository or situational awareness between those organizations. As a decision maker, it is difficult to make good decisions without all the information. This experiment pulls all those organizations together down to the tactical level to see how we might come up with solutions for the future."
The interagency shared situational awareness experiment focused on three areas of information sharing: geospatial, file sharing and text chat. It used computer models and long-distance virtual connections that provided participants with a continuously evolving environment to simulate a crisis.
"All the agencies who participated saw an immediate improvement in their ability to share and receive information and build better situational awareness," Spratto said.
An analysis of the information gathered will determine the value of taking this new approach of information sharing into the field, he added. "We will determine if what we have accomplished is an improvement on existing information sharing architectures, methodologies, policies and processes," Spratto said. "If there is something we can deliver directly to present operators now to put into use immediately, we will look to move that into theater."
(Navy Petty 2nd Class Katrina Parker serves in the U.S. Joint Forces Command public affairs office.)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Colonel Discusses Multinational Airlift Operations from Hungary
By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class William Selby
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - For the first time, 12 nations have come together, independently of NATO, to fly in support of their national requirements under the provisions of the Strategic Airlift Capability program, a U.S. military officer in Papa, Hungary, said yesterday. "While we don't take operational directions from [NATO], our nations are free to use their flying hours to support NATO missions," Air Force Col. John D. Zazworsky Jr., commander of the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, said during a "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable. The Heavy Airlift Wing is the multinational, operational-level unit of the SAC program.
The wing's upcoming airlift operations will provide the countries involved with the ability to support humanitarian missions and combat operations, Zazworsky said. Ten of the nations involved NATO members, and two are part of the Partnership for Peace program, a stepping-stone toward NATO membership, he added.
"Due to the combination of countries," he explained, "we are not directly aligned under NATO."
While the United States contributed the wing's first three C-17 Globemaster III transport jets as part of its investment in the program, the countries involved will acquire the others jointly this fall, the colonel said.
"Each nation gives and contributes in proportion to its share of flying hours," he explained. "The money accumulated from the countries participating has produced these aircraft and the support that goes with them."
The United States has the largest share of hours and the largest share of people. "Most leadership roles are shared by the four largest countries here: the U.S., Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands," Zazworsky said.
At the request of the other nations, several U.S. members, including flight instructors and loadmasters, play key roles, he added.
"Since we already have experienced C-17 crew members, it was the quickest way to get experienced, battle-tested crews together and quickly bring in the non-C-17 nations and get their new crew members up to speed," he said.
So far, Zazworsky said, the wing has flown two missions to the United States to acquire specialized heavy equipment and vehicles required for the missions ahead.
One of the primary requirements for participating nations is to support the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. "The large majority of our missions will be in support of troop and equipment rotation and resupply for ISAF in Afghanistan," Zazworsky said.
Because of the significance of future missions, the colonel emphasized three priorities within the wing: team, mission and future.
"We worked real hard to knit the members together -- and their families -- to get a strong team," he said. "Then, as we start to shift more and more to the mission piece, we'd have this foundation to stand on.
"I've got a very small wing on paper, but very big in impact I hope in the future," he added.
(Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class William Selby serves in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 30, 2009 - For the first time, 12 nations have come together, independently of NATO, to fly in support of their national requirements under the provisions of the Strategic Airlift Capability program, a U.S. military officer in Papa, Hungary, said yesterday. "While we don't take operational directions from [NATO], our nations are free to use their flying hours to support NATO missions," Air Force Col. John D. Zazworsky Jr., commander of the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, said during a "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable. The Heavy Airlift Wing is the multinational, operational-level unit of the SAC program.
The wing's upcoming airlift operations will provide the countries involved with the ability to support humanitarian missions and combat operations, Zazworsky said. Ten of the nations involved NATO members, and two are part of the Partnership for Peace program, a stepping-stone toward NATO membership, he added.
"Due to the combination of countries," he explained, "we are not directly aligned under NATO."
While the United States contributed the wing's first three C-17 Globemaster III transport jets as part of its investment in the program, the countries involved will acquire the others jointly this fall, the colonel said.
"Each nation gives and contributes in proportion to its share of flying hours," he explained. "The money accumulated from the countries participating has produced these aircraft and the support that goes with them."
The United States has the largest share of hours and the largest share of people. "Most leadership roles are shared by the four largest countries here: the U.S., Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands," Zazworsky said.
At the request of the other nations, several U.S. members, including flight instructors and loadmasters, play key roles, he added.
"Since we already have experienced C-17 crew members, it was the quickest way to get experienced, battle-tested crews together and quickly bring in the non-C-17 nations and get their new crew members up to speed," he said.
So far, Zazworsky said, the wing has flown two missions to the United States to acquire specialized heavy equipment and vehicles required for the missions ahead.
One of the primary requirements for participating nations is to support the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. "The large majority of our missions will be in support of troop and equipment rotation and resupply for ISAF in Afghanistan," Zazworsky said.
Because of the significance of future missions, the colonel emphasized three priorities within the wing: team, mission and future.
"We worked real hard to knit the members together -- and their families -- to get a strong team," he said. "Then, as we start to shift more and more to the mission piece, we'd have this foundation to stand on.
"I've got a very small wing on paper, but very big in impact I hope in the future," he added.
(Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class William Selby serves in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
MILITARY CONTRACTS July 29, 2009
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
AAR Mobility Systems, Cadillac, Mich., is being awarded a maximum $94,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for procurement of specialized shipping and storage containers, shelters and accessories. Other locations of performance are in North Carolina and California. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is August 30, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM8ED-07-D-0003).
Freightliner of Savannah, Inc., Savannah, Ga.*, is being awarded a maximum $8,491,350 firm fixed price contract for cylinder assembly. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were originally three proposals solicited with six responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 27, 2014. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Warren, Warren, Mich., (SPRDL1-09-D-0033).
NAVY
AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pa., (N33191-09-D-0118); American International Contractors, Inc., Arlington, Va., (N33191-09-D-0119); United Infrastructure Projects , Dubai, UAE (N33191-09-D-0120); Kooheji Contractors W.L.L. Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain (N33191-09-D-0121), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for design and construction, renovation or repair of facilities, waterfront or airfields throughout Southwest Asia and Africa. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years, for all four contracts combined is $75,000,000. Work will be performed in Bahrain (50 percent), Djibouti (40 percent), and United Arab Emirates, (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed July 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the European Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe and Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity.
SRS, Inc.*, Gallatin, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5014); Precise Concrete *, Memphis, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5015); Chief Electric*, Memphis, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5016); A&H Contractors *, Memphis, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5017); G&M Associates*, Cookeville, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5018); are each being awarded a guaranteed minimum of $25,000 (base period), design-build multiple award construction contract for design, construction, and renovation of government facilities in Millington, Tenn. The total amount for all contracts combined is not to exceed $10,000,000 (base period and four option years). SRS Inc. is being awarded the initial task order in the amount of $1,901,908 (including the minimum guarantee) for design and renovation of Bldg-452 at Naval Support Activity MidSouth, Millington, Tenn. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by April 2010. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of August 2014 (August 2010 for the base period). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with five proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest/PWD MidSouth, Millington, Tenn., 38054, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $9,950,543 delivery order against a previously issued basic order agreement (N00019-05-G-0008) for incorporation of Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 0035, entitled Electro Optical (EO) Daylight Operations Improvements Step 2. ECP 0035 will bring EO sensor performance within specification compliance for laser designation accuracy, geo-point targeting, tracker performance, and weapons delivery through hardware and software retrofits. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, (60 percent); and El Segundo, Calif., (40 percent); and is expected to be completed in April 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $9,950,543 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
International Business Machines Corporations, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., was awarded a $23,693,109 cost-share contract to develop a prototype machine reading system, reader and context reasoner, that builds domain knowledge automatically from input test allowing the creation of DoD applications with limited cost. At this time, $2,308,559 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-09-C-0172).
AAR Mobility Systems, Cadillac, Mich., is being awarded a maximum $94,000,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for procurement of specialized shipping and storage containers, shelters and accessories. Other locations of performance are in North Carolina and California. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is August 30, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM8ED-07-D-0003).
Freightliner of Savannah, Inc., Savannah, Ga.*, is being awarded a maximum $8,491,350 firm fixed price contract for cylinder assembly. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were originally three proposals solicited with six responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 27, 2014. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Warren, Warren, Mich., (SPRDL1-09-D-0033).
NAVY
AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pa., (N33191-09-D-0118); American International Contractors, Inc., Arlington, Va., (N33191-09-D-0119); United Infrastructure Projects , Dubai, UAE (N33191-09-D-0120); Kooheji Contractors W.L.L. Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain (N33191-09-D-0121), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award construction contract for design and construction, renovation or repair of facilities, waterfront or airfields throughout Southwest Asia and Africa. The maximum dollar value, including the base period and four option years, for all four contracts combined is $75,000,000. Work will be performed in Bahrain (50 percent), Djibouti (40 percent), and United Arab Emirates, (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed July 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the European Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with eight proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Europe and Southwest Asia, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity.
SRS, Inc.*, Gallatin, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5014); Precise Concrete *, Memphis, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5015); Chief Electric*, Memphis, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5016); A&H Contractors *, Memphis, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5017); G&M Associates*, Cookeville, Tenn., (N40083-09-D-5018); are each being awarded a guaranteed minimum of $25,000 (base period), design-build multiple award construction contract for design, construction, and renovation of government facilities in Millington, Tenn. The total amount for all contracts combined is not to exceed $10,000,000 (base period and four option years). SRS Inc. is being awarded the initial task order in the amount of $1,901,908 (including the minimum guarantee) for design and renovation of Bldg-452 at Naval Support Activity MidSouth, Millington, Tenn. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by April 2010. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of August 2014 (August 2010 for the base period). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The basic contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with five proposals received. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest/PWD MidSouth, Millington, Tenn., 38054, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a $9,950,543 delivery order against a previously issued basic order agreement (N00019-05-G-0008) for incorporation of Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 0035, entitled Electro Optical (EO) Daylight Operations Improvements Step 2. ECP 0035 will bring EO sensor performance within specification compliance for laser designation accuracy, geo-point targeting, tracker performance, and weapons delivery through hardware and software retrofits. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, (60 percent); and El Segundo, Calif., (40 percent); and is expected to be completed in April 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $9,950,543 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
International Business Machines Corporations, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., was awarded a $23,693,109 cost-share contract to develop a prototype machine reading system, reader and context reasoner, that builds domain knowledge automatically from input test allowing the creation of DoD applications with limited cost. At this time, $2,308,559 has been obligated. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y., is the contracting activity (FA8750-09-C-0172).
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Air Guard Needs Newer Aircraft, Director Says
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard today is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives, the Air Guard's director said here today. "A big problem we have in the Air National Guard is figuring out how to recapitalize our aging fleet," Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast. The problem extends to fighters, tankers, airlifters, airborne warning and control systems and early warning radars. "It's the whole system that is old and needs to be recapitalized," the general said.
It's an issue facing not only the Air Guard, but the Air Force as a whole.
"To be quite honest with you, the Air Force has the same recapitalization problem as the Air National Guard," Wyatt said. "Ours is a little bit more acute and a little more immediate, because our airplanes are a little bit older." And that immediacy, he added, affects the readiness status of Air Guard units.
"If you take a look at our F-16s that do the air sovereignty alert mission, 80 percent of those will be aging out within the next eight years," he explained. "Right now, the recapitalization plan for those units doesn't have [replacements] going to those units until the mid-2020s, and that is several years too late."
Discussions are under way about how to retool the Air Guard fleet. "We're working with the Air Force to address that problem, and we're making some progress, but to date there is no plan that addresses Air National Guard issues," Wyatt said.
One of the issues taking shape within those discussions is rebalancing the force structure of the Air Force as a whole. Wyatt said that rebalancing should come at the same rate across all components of the Air Force.
"In my opinion, since the Air National Guard provides 34 percent of the capabilities of the United States Air Force -- at 7 percent of the budget, I might add -- the smart thing to do would be to take a look at bedding down whatever capability the Air Force requires concurrently and proportionally in the Guard."
Wyatt said he is afraid to see a return to the days of the Air Guard flying castoffs from the active duty force, citing his experience with the results of that formula. He flew the A-7 Corsair II for the Oklahoma Air National Guard in the early 1990s.
"When Desert Storm kicked off, we had some great capability within the Air National Guard and the A-7 platform," Wyatt said. "But the active duty [Air Force] was not flying the A-7, and they were concerned with getting the top-of-the-line weapons in the fight, and we were not asked to participate.
"That seems to me to be a great waste of money," he continued. "It makes no sense to have a platform that you're not going to use in war."
Another waste is not capitalizing on the years of experience that Air Guard members bring with them, the general said. "We have the most experienced pilots, the most experienced maintenance crews," he told the group. "We are an older force, a more mature force, and if you don't provide a platform or the capability within the Air National Guard, then that great experience withers and it dies.
"It will take you generations to regenerate that," he said. "What the Air Guard offers is the capacity on top of what the Air Force offers."
On the recent debate on the future funding of the F-22 Raptor versus the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Wyatt -- who describes himself as a "platform agnostic" -- said capability is more important than the platform.
"I think we need to be in the same platform as the Air Force," he said. "If the decision is made in the future to acquire fourth-generation airplanes, similar to what the Navy is doing with the F/A-18 purchases, then I would advocate for the Air Guard to be in those same platforms, provided it's fielded concurrently and proportionally to the Air Guard."
And that makes fiscal sense, said Wyatt, who added that the planes and crews often pull double duty with regard to mission sets, since many Air Guard aircraft are flown as part of the air sovereignty alert mission, but can be deployed overseas as well.
"Those same airplanes that fly air sovereignty alert, they don't just do air sovereignty alert," Wyatt said. "They're written into the war plans. They do [air expeditionary force] rotations, and we participate the same as the Air Force does, so we should have the same equipment."
Wyatt said the biggest need is maintaining the Air Guard's capability to stay current in the roles it fills.
"What airplane we put it on, or how it's acquired, that's basically a decision for Congress to make," he said. "It doesn't make any difference to me. We just want the capability, and we need it before we lose the capability we currently have."
(Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy serves with the National Guard Bureau.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard today is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives, the Air Guard's director said here today. "A big problem we have in the Air National Guard is figuring out how to recapitalize our aging fleet," Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast. The problem extends to fighters, tankers, airlifters, airborne warning and control systems and early warning radars. "It's the whole system that is old and needs to be recapitalized," the general said.
It's an issue facing not only the Air Guard, but the Air Force as a whole.
"To be quite honest with you, the Air Force has the same recapitalization problem as the Air National Guard," Wyatt said. "Ours is a little bit more acute and a little more immediate, because our airplanes are a little bit older." And that immediacy, he added, affects the readiness status of Air Guard units.
"If you take a look at our F-16s that do the air sovereignty alert mission, 80 percent of those will be aging out within the next eight years," he explained. "Right now, the recapitalization plan for those units doesn't have [replacements] going to those units until the mid-2020s, and that is several years too late."
Discussions are under way about how to retool the Air Guard fleet. "We're working with the Air Force to address that problem, and we're making some progress, but to date there is no plan that addresses Air National Guard issues," Wyatt said.
One of the issues taking shape within those discussions is rebalancing the force structure of the Air Force as a whole. Wyatt said that rebalancing should come at the same rate across all components of the Air Force.
"In my opinion, since the Air National Guard provides 34 percent of the capabilities of the United States Air Force -- at 7 percent of the budget, I might add -- the smart thing to do would be to take a look at bedding down whatever capability the Air Force requires concurrently and proportionally in the Guard."
Wyatt said he is afraid to see a return to the days of the Air Guard flying castoffs from the active duty force, citing his experience with the results of that formula. He flew the A-7 Corsair II for the Oklahoma Air National Guard in the early 1990s.
"When Desert Storm kicked off, we had some great capability within the Air National Guard and the A-7 platform," Wyatt said. "But the active duty [Air Force] was not flying the A-7, and they were concerned with getting the top-of-the-line weapons in the fight, and we were not asked to participate.
"That seems to me to be a great waste of money," he continued. "It makes no sense to have a platform that you're not going to use in war."
Another waste is not capitalizing on the years of experience that Air Guard members bring with them, the general said. "We have the most experienced pilots, the most experienced maintenance crews," he told the group. "We are an older force, a more mature force, and if you don't provide a platform or the capability within the Air National Guard, then that great experience withers and it dies.
"It will take you generations to regenerate that," he said. "What the Air Guard offers is the capacity on top of what the Air Force offers."
On the recent debate on the future funding of the F-22 Raptor versus the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Wyatt -- who describes himself as a "platform agnostic" -- said capability is more important than the platform.
"I think we need to be in the same platform as the Air Force," he said. "If the decision is made in the future to acquire fourth-generation airplanes, similar to what the Navy is doing with the F/A-18 purchases, then I would advocate for the Air Guard to be in those same platforms, provided it's fielded concurrently and proportionally to the Air Guard."
And that makes fiscal sense, said Wyatt, who added that the planes and crews often pull double duty with regard to mission sets, since many Air Guard aircraft are flown as part of the air sovereignty alert mission, but can be deployed overseas as well.
"Those same airplanes that fly air sovereignty alert, they don't just do air sovereignty alert," Wyatt said. "They're written into the war plans. They do [air expeditionary force] rotations, and we participate the same as the Air Force does, so we should have the same equipment."
Wyatt said the biggest need is maintaining the Air Guard's capability to stay current in the roles it fills.
"What airplane we put it on, or how it's acquired, that's basically a decision for Congress to make," he said. "It doesn't make any difference to me. We just want the capability, and we need it before we lose the capability we currently have."
(Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy serves with the National Guard Bureau.)
Moscow Summit Produces Successes, 'To-Do' List
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - The United States had high goals for the recent Moscow Summit, and while significant progress was made, distinct challenges were identified as well, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian policy told a congressional panel yesterday. "It was a test of whether the U.S. and Russia can work together to address core defense and security challenges, including strategic arms reductions, Afghanistan, proliferation of dangerous technologies, military relations and missile defense. The results were strikingly positive," Celeste A. Wallander told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"While we did not achieve everything on the list with this first step," Wallander said, "we made significant progress on a number of very important issues and achieved very real agreements in the defense and military spheres."
Of the eight agreements and statements signed at the three-day summit that began July 6, seven addressed defense and security challenges, she said.
Earlier this year the United States began transporting nonmilitary goods through Russia under a NATO-Russia arrangement. On or about Sept. 6, a new agreement between the United States and Russia will take effect, allowing transit of lethal materiel and personnel through Russian airspace.
Providing for up to 4,500 military flights and unlimited commercial flights, the agreement will save the United States as much as $133 million over the use of other routes. It also allows for diversification of supply lines, and reduces transit times and fuel usage, Wallander said.
"The lethal-transit agreement is part of a broader improvement in U.S.-Russian cooperation on Afghanistan," she said, adding that Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has acknowledged that Afghanistan is a common problem for his country and the United States.
Another high-priority issue for President Barack Obama at the summit was ensuring the security of nuclear materials and facilities, and strengthening U.S. cooperation with the Russians to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Wallander said.
"President Obama and President Medvedev agreed to broaden cooperation to increase the level of security of nuclear facilities worldwide," she said. "We also remain committed to implementing the disposition agreement, through which we will dispose of 34 metric tons each of weapons-grade plutonium."
Russia may be open to more significant cooperation in this area as the country shares the U.S. goal of ensuring additional countries in the Middle East and Asia don't seek nuclear weapons, she added.
The summit also resulted in a joint understanding on the basic framework for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, follow-on treaty, which Wallander described as a central security issue in the countries' bilateral relationship that has global implications as well.
The presidents agreed to an allowable number of strategic delivery vehicles in the range of 500 to 1,100 and 1,500 to 1,675 of their associated warheads. These numbers would have to be achieved within seven years of the treaty's entering into force, she said.
This is compared to the maximum 1,600 launch vehicles allowed by the expiring treaty, and the 2,200 warheads allowed by the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty.
"While we made progress on START and nuclear security, missile defense remains a difficult issue," Wallander said. "Nevertheless, we were able to make some progress in laying the groundwork for cooperation in the future."
Medvedev agreed to conduct a joint ballistic missile threat assessment, which primarily would focus on Iran and North Korea, she said. "We hope that the threat assessment will offer an effective venue in which to discuss and explain our respective viewpoints," Wallander added.
The joint threat assessment's first meeting will be conducted in Moscow later this week.
The United States also pledged to renew efforts to open a joint data exchange center in Moscow. The center would allow for the sharing of missile launch data between the two countries in the effort to reduce or eliminate the chances for an inadvertent launch due to misunderstandings over a test or other benign missile launch.
"We believe that through this center we could also exchange data from third-country launches, information that would be of obvious benefit to both parties," Wallander said.
The U.S. decision on how to proceed with missile defense in Europe will be dictated by its security interests and will take into account its own security commitments to friends and allies, Wallander said. "But as we move forward," she added, "the steps initiated at the Moscow Summit will provide an excellent opportunity to engage Russia constructively on how the United States and Russia should cooperate in protecting our populations from nuclear and ballistic missile threats from Iran and elsewhere."
Russia and the United States also are working to improve military-to-military programs, with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Russia's defense minister signing a new framework on military-to-military cooperation. The framework establishes conditions that will raise military cooperation to a new level and deepen mutual understanding between the respective armed forces.
An agreement also was made to re-engage this fall, both bilaterally and multilaterally, on discussions to re-start conventional arms control in Europe, Wallander said.
Russia renewed the work of the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs, as well. The act reaffirmed the importance of the commission as a forum through which both nations seek to determine the fates of their missing servicemen, she said.
"The summit offered an opportunity for the U.S. to clearly affirm our commitment to the security and stability of countries throughout Europe and Eurasia," she said. "President Obama affirmed our commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries -- naming particularly Georgia and Ukraine, and the right of all countries to choose membership in alliances, including NATO."
Obama made clear during his meetings with Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that U.S. support for Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity was "steadfast and unequivocal," she added.
The Russian leaderships' views to the contrary were not surprising, but it was a measure of how much work is yet to be done and the importance of the U.S. commitment to it, Wallander said.
Another concrete result of the summit is the agreement to create the Bilateral Presidential Commission, which will provide a structure for implementing agreements reached and will monitor progress in further negotiations through six committees, she said. It also will lay the groundwork for seeking agreement and cooperation in additional areas.
While many challenges facing Russia and the United States were positively addressed during the summit, others remain on the to-do list, Wallander said.
"On the issue of sovereignty and the principles of international law that reinforce it in Europe and Eurasia, the discussions revealed that we remain far apart," she said. "[This will not] prevent us from implementing successful agreements with Russia and pursuing the very promising start established at the summit for a broader cooperative agenda.
"It is far better for our friends and partners in Europe and Eurasia if the U.S. can build on our summit success to seek progress on these tough security challenges," she added.
American Forces Press Service
July 29, 2009 - The United States had high goals for the recent Moscow Summit, and while significant progress was made, distinct challenges were identified as well, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian policy told a congressional panel yesterday. "It was a test of whether the U.S. and Russia can work together to address core defense and security challenges, including strategic arms reductions, Afghanistan, proliferation of dangerous technologies, military relations and missile defense. The results were strikingly positive," Celeste A. Wallander told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"While we did not achieve everything on the list with this first step," Wallander said, "we made significant progress on a number of very important issues and achieved very real agreements in the defense and military spheres."
Of the eight agreements and statements signed at the three-day summit that began July 6, seven addressed defense and security challenges, she said.
Earlier this year the United States began transporting nonmilitary goods through Russia under a NATO-Russia arrangement. On or about Sept. 6, a new agreement between the United States and Russia will take effect, allowing transit of lethal materiel and personnel through Russian airspace.
Providing for up to 4,500 military flights and unlimited commercial flights, the agreement will save the United States as much as $133 million over the use of other routes. It also allows for diversification of supply lines, and reduces transit times and fuel usage, Wallander said.
"The lethal-transit agreement is part of a broader improvement in U.S.-Russian cooperation on Afghanistan," she said, adding that Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has acknowledged that Afghanistan is a common problem for his country and the United States.
Another high-priority issue for President Barack Obama at the summit was ensuring the security of nuclear materials and facilities, and strengthening U.S. cooperation with the Russians to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Wallander said.
"President Obama and President Medvedev agreed to broaden cooperation to increase the level of security of nuclear facilities worldwide," she said. "We also remain committed to implementing the disposition agreement, through which we will dispose of 34 metric tons each of weapons-grade plutonium."
Russia may be open to more significant cooperation in this area as the country shares the U.S. goal of ensuring additional countries in the Middle East and Asia don't seek nuclear weapons, she added.
The summit also resulted in a joint understanding on the basic framework for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, follow-on treaty, which Wallander described as a central security issue in the countries' bilateral relationship that has global implications as well.
The presidents agreed to an allowable number of strategic delivery vehicles in the range of 500 to 1,100 and 1,500 to 1,675 of their associated warheads. These numbers would have to be achieved within seven years of the treaty's entering into force, she said.
This is compared to the maximum 1,600 launch vehicles allowed by the expiring treaty, and the 2,200 warheads allowed by the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty.
"While we made progress on START and nuclear security, missile defense remains a difficult issue," Wallander said. "Nevertheless, we were able to make some progress in laying the groundwork for cooperation in the future."
Medvedev agreed to conduct a joint ballistic missile threat assessment, which primarily would focus on Iran and North Korea, she said. "We hope that the threat assessment will offer an effective venue in which to discuss and explain our respective viewpoints," Wallander added.
The joint threat assessment's first meeting will be conducted in Moscow later this week.
The United States also pledged to renew efforts to open a joint data exchange center in Moscow. The center would allow for the sharing of missile launch data between the two countries in the effort to reduce or eliminate the chances for an inadvertent launch due to misunderstandings over a test or other benign missile launch.
"We believe that through this center we could also exchange data from third-country launches, information that would be of obvious benefit to both parties," Wallander said.
The U.S. decision on how to proceed with missile defense in Europe will be dictated by its security interests and will take into account its own security commitments to friends and allies, Wallander said. "But as we move forward," she added, "the steps initiated at the Moscow Summit will provide an excellent opportunity to engage Russia constructively on how the United States and Russia should cooperate in protecting our populations from nuclear and ballistic missile threats from Iran and elsewhere."
Russia and the United States also are working to improve military-to-military programs, with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Russia's defense minister signing a new framework on military-to-military cooperation. The framework establishes conditions that will raise military cooperation to a new level and deepen mutual understanding between the respective armed forces.
An agreement also was made to re-engage this fall, both bilaterally and multilaterally, on discussions to re-start conventional arms control in Europe, Wallander said.
Russia renewed the work of the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs, as well. The act reaffirmed the importance of the commission as a forum through which both nations seek to determine the fates of their missing servicemen, she said.
"The summit offered an opportunity for the U.S. to clearly affirm our commitment to the security and stability of countries throughout Europe and Eurasia," she said. "President Obama affirmed our commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries -- naming particularly Georgia and Ukraine, and the right of all countries to choose membership in alliances, including NATO."
Obama made clear during his meetings with Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that U.S. support for Georgia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity was "steadfast and unequivocal," she added.
The Russian leaderships' views to the contrary were not surprising, but it was a measure of how much work is yet to be done and the importance of the U.S. commitment to it, Wallander said.
Another concrete result of the summit is the agreement to create the Bilateral Presidential Commission, which will provide a structure for implementing agreements reached and will monitor progress in further negotiations through six committees, she said. It also will lay the groundwork for seeking agreement and cooperation in additional areas.
While many challenges facing Russia and the United States were positively addressed during the summit, others remain on the to-do list, Wallander said.
"On the issue of sovereignty and the principles of international law that reinforce it in Europe and Eurasia, the discussions revealed that we remain far apart," she said. "[This will not] prevent us from implementing successful agreements with Russia and pursuing the very promising start established at the summit for a broader cooperative agenda.
"It is far better for our friends and partners in Europe and Eurasia if the U.S. can build on our summit success to seek progress on these tough security challenges," she added.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Navy Christens New Guided Missile Destroyer Jason Dunham
The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Jason Dunham, Aug. 1, 2009, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.
Designated DDG 109, the new destroyer honors Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dunham was born in Scio, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the U.S. Marine Corps.
On April 14, 2004, Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander's convoy was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand and immediately alerted his fellow Marines. When the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.
Retired Gen. Michael W. Hagee, former commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Debra Dunham will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. In accordance with Navy tradition, she will break a bottle of champagne across the ship's bow and christen the ship.
Jason Dunham, the 59th Arleigh Burke class destroyer, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Jason Dunham will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," the new maritime strategy that postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.
Cmdr. M. Scott Sciretta, born in South Amboy, N.J., is the prospective commanding officer of the ship and will lead the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,200-ton Jason Dunham is being built by Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics company. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
Additional information on Arleigh Burke class destroyers is available online at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=900&ct=4.
Designated DDG 109, the new destroyer honors Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dunham was born in Scio, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the U.S. Marine Corps.
On April 14, 2004, Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander's convoy was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand and immediately alerted his fellow Marines. When the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.
Retired Gen. Michael W. Hagee, former commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Debra Dunham will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. In accordance with Navy tradition, she will break a bottle of champagne across the ship's bow and christen the ship.
Jason Dunham, the 59th Arleigh Burke class destroyer, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Jason Dunham will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," the new maritime strategy that postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.
Cmdr. M. Scott Sciretta, born in South Amboy, N.J., is the prospective commanding officer of the ship and will lead the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,200-ton Jason Dunham is being built by Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics company. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
Additional information on Arleigh Burke class destroyers is available online at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=900&ct=4.
MILITARY CONTRACTS July 28, 2009
NAVY
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $52,454,810 firm-fixed-priced modification to previously awarded delivery order #0003 under contract M67854-07-D-5025 for the upgrade of 170 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I vehicles with independent suspension system kits. Work will be performed in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom areas of responsibility, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $28,647,406 firm-fixed-priced modification to previously awarded delivery order #0004 under contract M67854-07-D-5025 for the upgrade of 89 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category I vehicles with independent suspension system kits. Work will be performed in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom areas of responsibilities and in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $15,608,500 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded delivery order #0009 under contract M67854-07-D-5025 for the upgrade of 35 United States Special Operations Command Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category I vehicles with independent suspension system kits. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
ERS JV*, Sacramento, Calif., is being awarded $6,802,665 for firm-fixed price task order #0004 under a previously awarded environmental multiple award contract (N62473-07-D-3219) for pier radiological surveys and pier removal at Hunters Point Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for pier and wharf deconstruction at Hunters Point Shipyard. Several of the wooden piers and wharfs are structurally unsound and represent a potential hazard to navigation in San Francisco Bay. Work will be performed in San Francisco, Calif., and is expected to be completed by February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $48,703,289 firm fixed price, sole source contract for spare aircraft radar systems. Other location of performance is in Massachusettes, Mississippi and Texas. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations, Philadelphia, Pa., (N00383-07-G-700H-TBD).
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a maximum $18,450,000 firm fixed price, sole source contract for aircraft rotor blades. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations, Philadelphia, Pa., (N00383-06-G-006F-THF4).
Crown Clothing Co., Vineland, N.J.*, is being awarded a maximum $8,083,845 firm fixed price, total set-aside, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for men's coats. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Marine Corps. There were originally two proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the first option year period. The date of performance completion is July 28, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1104).
ARMY
FN Manufacturing, LLC, Columbia, S.C., was awarded on July 27, 2009 a $ 39,958,331 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons. Work is to be performed in Columbia, S.C., with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2014. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., was the contracting activity (W15QKN-09-D-0019).
Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC, Fairfax, Va., was awarded on July 27, 2009 a $ 37,564,871 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of two schools in the northern training area at Fort Bragg, N.C. This includes a 550 student middle school to serve 6th through 8th grade students (approximately 99,300 Sq ft), and 714 student elementary school to serve pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students (approximately 123,616 sq ft). The project scope also includes utilities, parking, playground areas, sports facilities, fencing, and landscaping and site development. Work is to be performed in Fort Bragg, N.C., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 15, 2011. Proposals were solicited on the World Wide Web with sixteen (16) proposals received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-09-C-0033)
Holte/Graham, J/V, Ramsey, Minn. was awarded on July 27, 2009 a $ 11,157,587 firm-fixed-price-construction contract for the construction of Phase I of a new readiness center located at the Arden Hills Army Training Site, Arden Hills, Minn. Work is to be performed in Arden Hills, Minn. with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with eight bids received. National Guard Bureau, Little Falls, Minn. was the contracting activity (W912LM-09-C-0005)
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Wichita, Kan. was awarded on July 24, 2009 a $ 21,621,564 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of one beechcraft king air B350 aircraft, two beechcraft king air B350C with cargo door option in the air ambulance/medical evacuation configuration and six one-month option for storage of the aircrafts. Work is to be performed in Wichita, Kan. with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, CCAM-RD-F, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0087)
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $52,454,810 firm-fixed-priced modification to previously awarded delivery order #0003 under contract M67854-07-D-5025 for the upgrade of 170 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category I vehicles with independent suspension system kits. Work will be performed in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom areas of responsibility, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $28,647,406 firm-fixed-priced modification to previously awarded delivery order #0004 under contract M67854-07-D-5025 for the upgrade of 89 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category I vehicles with independent suspension system kits. Work will be performed in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom areas of responsibilities and in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, LP, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., is being awarded a $15,608,500 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded delivery order #0009 under contract M67854-07-D-5025 for the upgrade of 35 United States Special Operations Command Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category I vehicles with independent suspension system kits. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
ERS JV*, Sacramento, Calif., is being awarded $6,802,665 for firm-fixed price task order #0004 under a previously awarded environmental multiple award contract (N62473-07-D-3219) for pier radiological surveys and pier removal at Hunters Point Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for pier and wharf deconstruction at Hunters Point Shipyard. Several of the wooden piers and wharfs are structurally unsound and represent a potential hazard to navigation in San Francisco Bay. Work will be performed in San Francisco, Calif., and is expected to be completed by February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Raytheon Co., El Segundo, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $48,703,289 firm fixed price, sole source contract for spare aircraft radar systems. Other location of performance is in Massachusettes, Mississippi and Texas. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations, Philadelphia, Pa., (N00383-07-G-700H-TBD).
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a maximum $18,450,000 firm fixed price, sole source contract for aircraft rotor blades. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Procurement Operations, Philadelphia, Pa., (N00383-06-G-006F-THF4).
Crown Clothing Co., Vineland, N.J.*, is being awarded a maximum $8,083,845 firm fixed price, total set-aside, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for men's coats. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Marine Corps. There were originally two proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the first option year period. The date of performance completion is July 28, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1104).
ARMY
FN Manufacturing, LLC, Columbia, S.C., was awarded on July 27, 2009 a $ 39,958,331 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons. Work is to be performed in Columbia, S.C., with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2014. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., was the contracting activity (W15QKN-09-D-0019).
Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC, Fairfax, Va., was awarded on July 27, 2009 a $ 37,564,871 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of two schools in the northern training area at Fort Bragg, N.C. This includes a 550 student middle school to serve 6th through 8th grade students (approximately 99,300 Sq ft), and 714 student elementary school to serve pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students (approximately 123,616 sq ft). The project scope also includes utilities, parking, playground areas, sports facilities, fencing, and landscaping and site development. Work is to be performed in Fort Bragg, N.C., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 15, 2011. Proposals were solicited on the World Wide Web with sixteen (16) proposals received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-09-C-0033)
Holte/Graham, J/V, Ramsey, Minn. was awarded on July 27, 2009 a $ 11,157,587 firm-fixed-price-construction contract for the construction of Phase I of a new readiness center located at the Arden Hills Army Training Site, Arden Hills, Minn. Work is to be performed in Arden Hills, Minn. with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with eight bids received. National Guard Bureau, Little Falls, Minn. was the contracting activity (W912LM-09-C-0005)
Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, Wichita, Kan. was awarded on July 24, 2009 a $ 21,621,564 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of one beechcraft king air B350 aircraft, two beechcraft king air B350C with cargo door option in the air ambulance/medical evacuation configuration and six one-month option for storage of the aircrafts. Work is to be performed in Wichita, Kan. with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, CCAM-RD-F, Redstone Arsenal, Ala. is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0087)
New Defense Threat Reduction Agency Director Named
Kenneth A. Myers III has been selected as the new director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He was sworn in July 27, 2009, at the Pentagon.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ashton B. Carter, said, "The selection of Ken Myers as the director of DTRA is another significant step in transforming how we defend against the threat of weapons of mass destruction. He has the right background with 15 years of hands-on nonproliferation, counter-proliferation and arms control experience at the national level to lead the agency in its mission to protect the United States and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and support a safe, secure and reliable deterrent." Carter added that Myers also brings experience with the Moscow and START treaties; export controls; the U.S. - India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act; and Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act.
Myers most recently served as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In this position, he serves as the senior advisor to Sen. Richard G. Lugar, the committee's ranking member, on European, former Soviet and Central Asian Affairs, and the Caucasus. He joined the committee in 2003.
Myers earned his bachelors degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a masters degree from the Catholic University of America.
DTRA is a Department of Defense combat support agency with an annual budget of more than $2.8 billion and a military/civilian workforce of approximately 1,900. DTRA focuses on reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction through a combination of advanced technology programs and innovative operational methods. Several technologies developed at DTRA have made significant impact in Afghanistan and Iraq. DTRA also has an integral role in several international WMD-related treaty verification programs.
DTRA headquarters is located at Fort Belvoir, Va. The agency operates field offices in Alexandria, Va.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and San Francisco, Calif. Overseas locations include Darmstadt, Germany; London, United Kingdom; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Moscow and Votkinsk, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; and Yokota, Japan.
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ashton B. Carter, said, "The selection of Ken Myers as the director of DTRA is another significant step in transforming how we defend against the threat of weapons of mass destruction. He has the right background with 15 years of hands-on nonproliferation, counter-proliferation and arms control experience at the national level to lead the agency in its mission to protect the United States and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and support a safe, secure and reliable deterrent." Carter added that Myers also brings experience with the Moscow and START treaties; export controls; the U.S. - India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act; and Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act.
Myers most recently served as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In this position, he serves as the senior advisor to Sen. Richard G. Lugar, the committee's ranking member, on European, former Soviet and Central Asian Affairs, and the Caucasus. He joined the committee in 2003.
Myers earned his bachelors degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a masters degree from the Catholic University of America.
DTRA is a Department of Defense combat support agency with an annual budget of more than $2.8 billion and a military/civilian workforce of approximately 1,900. DTRA focuses on reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction through a combination of advanced technology programs and innovative operational methods. Several technologies developed at DTRA have made significant impact in Afghanistan and Iraq. DTRA also has an integral role in several international WMD-related treaty verification programs.
DTRA headquarters is located at Fort Belvoir, Va. The agency operates field offices in Alexandria, Va.; Albuquerque, N.M.; and San Francisco, Calif. Overseas locations include Darmstadt, Germany; London, United Kingdom; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Moscow and Votkinsk, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; and Yokota, Japan.
Military Prepares for Varied Threats, Official Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review now under development envisions a U.S. military with the wherewithal to confront current threats such as al-Qaida as well as having the capacity to meet future security challenges, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The future security environment "is going to be more challenging" and will "involve a mix of adversaries," David Ochmanek, deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development, told reporters attending a Defense Writers Group breakfast. Ochmanek is heavily involved in the development of the 2010 review.
The congressionally mandated Quadrennial Defense Review is conducted by the Pentagon every four years to assess the threats and challenges faced by the United States and to rebalance the Defense Department's strategies, capabilities and forces necessary to confront today's conflicts and predicted future security challenges, according to a Defense Department fact sheet.
"There is still a lot of deliberation going on," Ochmanek said, regarding the ultimate capacity of U.S. forces envisioned in the 2010 review, which is due to Congress by February.
Ochmanek said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has "explicitly" acknowledged throughout the process that the United States has important security interests in multiple regions of the world, and therefore needs to retain the capacity and capability to project power to defend those interests.
"So, there's very much a desire to keep something like a 'two-war' or multi-engagement capacity in the force," Ochmanek said, noting that he envisions a U.S. military with the necessary force structure to conduct possible wars simultaneously on the Korean peninsula and against Iran.
Gates also believes that the United States requires flexible forces that can engage in the full spectrum of plausible challenges offered by potential foes, Ochmanek said.
U.S. forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq now are battling radical extremists, Ochmanek said, while future threats could involve enemies that employ hybrid warfare -- a mix of irregular and conventional tactics and weaponry. For example, the fighting that occurred in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006 pitted Israeli troops against Hezbollah terrorists who used improvised explosive devices as well as state-of-the art anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles.
Ochmanek also observed that the existence of North Korean and Iranian ballistic missiles and those countries' nuclear arms programs present new and different security challenges than what the United States faced during the Cold War.
However, the U.S. military will be prepared to meet those and future challenges, he said.
"We're going to field capabilities better suited to this uncomfortable, hybrid environment; we're going to have the capacity to do multiple things at once," Ochmanek said.
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review now under development envisions a U.S. military with the wherewithal to confront current threats such as al-Qaida as well as having the capacity to meet future security challenges, a senior Defense Department official said here today. The future security environment "is going to be more challenging" and will "involve a mix of adversaries," David Ochmanek, deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development, told reporters attending a Defense Writers Group breakfast. Ochmanek is heavily involved in the development of the 2010 review.
The congressionally mandated Quadrennial Defense Review is conducted by the Pentagon every four years to assess the threats and challenges faced by the United States and to rebalance the Defense Department's strategies, capabilities and forces necessary to confront today's conflicts and predicted future security challenges, according to a Defense Department fact sheet.
"There is still a lot of deliberation going on," Ochmanek said, regarding the ultimate capacity of U.S. forces envisioned in the 2010 review, which is due to Congress by February.
Ochmanek said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has "explicitly" acknowledged throughout the process that the United States has important security interests in multiple regions of the world, and therefore needs to retain the capacity and capability to project power to defend those interests.
"So, there's very much a desire to keep something like a 'two-war' or multi-engagement capacity in the force," Ochmanek said, noting that he envisions a U.S. military with the necessary force structure to conduct possible wars simultaneously on the Korean peninsula and against Iran.
Gates also believes that the United States requires flexible forces that can engage in the full spectrum of plausible challenges offered by potential foes, Ochmanek said.
U.S. forces deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq now are battling radical extremists, Ochmanek said, while future threats could involve enemies that employ hybrid warfare -- a mix of irregular and conventional tactics and weaponry. For example, the fighting that occurred in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006 pitted Israeli troops against Hezbollah terrorists who used improvised explosive devices as well as state-of-the art anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles.
Ochmanek also observed that the existence of North Korean and Iranian ballistic missiles and those countries' nuclear arms programs present new and different security challenges than what the United States faced during the Cold War.
However, the U.S. military will be prepared to meet those and future challenges, he said.
"We're going to field capabilities better suited to this uncomfortable, hybrid environment; we're going to have the capacity to do multiple things at once," Ochmanek said.
On Target Leadership
Editor's Note: The author is a former servicemember.
July 28, 2009 (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press announced that the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.) will be a guest on the internet-based radio program BullsEye Leaders hosted by attorney David Porter, on September 1, 2009 at 3PM Central.
Date: September 1, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM Central Time
Listen Live: http://www.bullseyeleaderradio.com
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Hosted by attorney David Porter, the President/Chief Creative Officer of BullsEye Leadership, BEL Radio delivers high energy, cutting edge content for you to experience a revolutionary transformation in your business, profession or career. BEL Radio features guests from all arenas in the world of business. Sharing the common thread of success, and nuggets of wisdom to give you a leg up in the marketplace.
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies 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 has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at 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 is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
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."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
Following the Rabbit to War
As a kid growing up in one of the fog shrouded districts of San Francisco, I spent a lot of time by myself. Our two-story stucco house supported on each side by the adjoining homes had one great redeeming factor, a large back yard. It was there I spent many hours lost in a world of imagination and fantasy. There were creatures to be caught, princesses to save and wars to be fought. Like Alice following the rabbit through the woods, I was curious about war. My back yard battles consisted of taking a well-armed castle constructed of an abandoned deck of playing cards. It was surrounded by a watery moat, hand-dug in the soft dirt and guarded by my mixed collection of plastic G.I. figures. I would always wonder how they could shoot straight with those curved rifle barrels. Even my stepfather’s anger about the holes in the back yard did not deter me from staging battle after battle. I was preparing myself because I knew that one day I would be going to war. I even knew how I would act the very first time I was under fire and could hear the shells exploding around me. It was almost a calming realization that I would not be afraid. I was nine years old at that time.
Years later, walking alone down an airfield in Vietnam past a row of Huey helicopters tucked in for the night, I thought about those lost days of my youth. I had followed the mysterious rabbit, and true to the tale, I had encountered the realm of marvel and madness. Sights that to this day haunt me, visions of greatness and sacrifice that humble me.
Unlike Alice, there is no awaking from the dream, no relief in sanity, just the harsh reality of life-- plastic soldiers melt, card castles collapse and boys march off to war.
I discovered what drove the rabbit mad.
Years later, walking alone down an airfield in Vietnam past a row of Huey helicopters tucked in for the night, I thought about those lost days of my youth. I had followed the mysterious rabbit, and true to the tale, I had encountered the realm of marvel and madness. Sights that to this day haunt me, visions of greatness and sacrifice that humble me.
Unlike Alice, there is no awaking from the dream, no relief in sanity, just the harsh reality of life-- plastic soldiers melt, card castles collapse and boys march off to war.
I discovered what drove the rabbit mad.
Senior Executive Service Appointments and Reassignments
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced the following Department of Defense senior executive service appointments and reassignments.
Appointments
Michele S. Jones has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as special assistant to the secretary of defense for White House liaison, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. Jones previously served with The Bones Theory Group, LLC, Jacksonville, Fla.
S. Veronica Richardson has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as deputy under secretary of defense (resource issues), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, D.C. Richardson previously served as a volunteer with the Obama for America campaign in Virginia.
Nancy E. Boyda has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve manpower and personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Washington, D.C. Boyda previously served with the U.S. House of Representatives as a congresswoman from Kansas.
Regina E. Dugan has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics), Washington, D.C. Dugan previously served with RedXDefense, Washington, D.C.
John R. Harvey has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as principal deputy to the assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics), Washington, D.C. Harvey previously served with the Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
Reassignment
Gretchen Anderson is assigned as the director for revolving funds, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, D.C. Anderson previously served as the associate director for defense-wide programs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, D.C.
Appointments
Michele S. Jones has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as special assistant to the secretary of defense for White House liaison, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. Jones previously served with The Bones Theory Group, LLC, Jacksonville, Fla.
S. Veronica Richardson has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as deputy under secretary of defense (resource issues), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, D.C. Richardson previously served as a volunteer with the Obama for America campaign in Virginia.
Nancy E. Boyda has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve manpower and personnel, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Washington, D.C. Boyda previously served with the U.S. House of Representatives as a congresswoman from Kansas.
Regina E. Dugan has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics), Washington, D.C. Dugan previously served with RedXDefense, Washington, D.C.
John R. Harvey has been appointed to the senior executive service and will be assigned as principal deputy to the assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear and chemical and biological defense programs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics), Washington, D.C. Harvey previously served with the Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
Reassignment
Gretchen Anderson is assigned as the director for revolving funds, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, D.C. Anderson previously served as the associate director for defense-wide programs, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, D.C.
Admiral Expects U.S.-China Military Talks to Resume Soon
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Plans are under way for the United States and China to take the first steps toward resuming their stalled military-to-military dialogue, possibly within the next couple months, the top U.S. officer in the region told reporters today. Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, expressed optimism about the likelihood of a Military Marine Consultative Agreement session soon after participating yesterday in the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hosted the two days of talks that continue today, called them "the beginning of an unprecedented effort to lay the foundation for a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive U.S.-Chinese relationship for the 21st century."
Keating noted across-the-board interest, within both the U.S. and Chinese delegations, in resuming relations between the two countries' militaries as part of that broader effort.
The "unmistakable theme" of yesterday's talks was that both "want to continue to build upon the foundation of trust and mutual respect our two countries have, as manifest by military-to-military relations," he said.
Both President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have made it clear they want the relations to resume, Keating said, so now it's only a matter of getting arrangements in place. "We have agreed to do it," he told reporters. "We are just working on the final details."
Plans are under way for the first meeting, a Military Marine Consultative Agreement session Keating said he expects to take place "in the very near future," probably in Beijing. Pinned down by reporters, he expressed hope the meeting occur "within a month or two."
After that session, Keating said, he looks forward to other opportunities for Chinese military officers to come to U.S. Pacific Command headquarters at Camp Smith, Hawaii, or to the Pentagon, and for senior U.S. military leaders to visit their counterparts in Beijing.
Keating said he'd like to see the military relationship extend to include humanitarian and disaster relief exercises, personnel exchanges, information-sharing on counterterrorism techniques and procedures and observation of bilateral and multilateral exercises.
A Chinese official noted during yesterday's session that "no country can develop sound policy if it tries to do so in isolation," Keating told reporters.
"I think that's a great way of expressing the sense all of us feel – the desire to get back together again and discuss exercises, discuss personnel exchanges, discuss responses to humanitarian assistance crises and the provision of disaster relief," he said.
Meanwhile, Keating called the Chinese military's plans to establish a new Web site Aug. 1 a positive step forward in promoting transparency and a better understanding of China's military intentions.
Mutual understanding of each other's intentions, along with a foundation of trust, are "critical to enhancing peace and stability all across Asia and the Pacific region," he said.
American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Plans are under way for the United States and China to take the first steps toward resuming their stalled military-to-military dialogue, possibly within the next couple months, the top U.S. officer in the region told reporters today. Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, expressed optimism about the likelihood of a Military Marine Consultative Agreement session soon after participating yesterday in the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hosted the two days of talks that continue today, called them "the beginning of an unprecedented effort to lay the foundation for a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive U.S.-Chinese relationship for the 21st century."
Keating noted across-the-board interest, within both the U.S. and Chinese delegations, in resuming relations between the two countries' militaries as part of that broader effort.
The "unmistakable theme" of yesterday's talks was that both "want to continue to build upon the foundation of trust and mutual respect our two countries have, as manifest by military-to-military relations," he said.
Both President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have made it clear they want the relations to resume, Keating said, so now it's only a matter of getting arrangements in place. "We have agreed to do it," he told reporters. "We are just working on the final details."
Plans are under way for the first meeting, a Military Marine Consultative Agreement session Keating said he expects to take place "in the very near future," probably in Beijing. Pinned down by reporters, he expressed hope the meeting occur "within a month or two."
After that session, Keating said, he looks forward to other opportunities for Chinese military officers to come to U.S. Pacific Command headquarters at Camp Smith, Hawaii, or to the Pentagon, and for senior U.S. military leaders to visit their counterparts in Beijing.
Keating said he'd like to see the military relationship extend to include humanitarian and disaster relief exercises, personnel exchanges, information-sharing on counterterrorism techniques and procedures and observation of bilateral and multilateral exercises.
A Chinese official noted during yesterday's session that "no country can develop sound policy if it tries to do so in isolation," Keating told reporters.
"I think that's a great way of expressing the sense all of us feel – the desire to get back together again and discuss exercises, discuss personnel exchanges, discuss responses to humanitarian assistance crises and the provision of disaster relief," he said.
Meanwhile, Keating called the Chinese military's plans to establish a new Web site Aug. 1 a positive step forward in promoting transparency and a better understanding of China's military intentions.
Mutual understanding of each other's intentions, along with a foundation of trust, are "critical to enhancing peace and stability all across Asia and the Pacific region," he said.
Face of Defense: Reservist Marks 40 Years of Service
By Army Staff Sgt. Lesley WatersSpecial to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - Richard Nixon became the 37th president of the United States, gas cost 35 cents per gallon, the New York Mets won the World Series in five games over the Baltimore Orioles, and Catharine Zeta-Jones, Brett Favre, Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Aniston were born. The year was 1969. It was also the year Army Reserve Sgt. Maj. Samuel Stoner, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa's joint intelligence chief and senior enlisted advisor, was drafted into the military. Stoner said he never dreamed of making a career of the Army when he first got drafted.
"After serving my first two years on active duty, I just wanted to put the military behind me and get on with life," Stoner said. "Instead, I felt I had something more to offer my country and my fellow soldiers, so I decided to continue my first six-year obligation in the Army Reserve."
It wasn't until after the end of his six-year obligation in the reserves that he decided to make the Army a career.
"My plan was [to be promoted to] E-8 at 20 years and then punch," he said. "Here I am 40 years later; who would have ever thought? Now I am looking forward to kicking my feet up and laying back in my recliner at 'Fort Living Room, Pa.'"
The Chambersburg, Pa., native credits his long career to his first brigade command sergeant major at Fort Riley, Kan. Each time the command sergeant major saw Stoner, he would stop and say hello or ask how his day was going.
"Even though I was intimidated, ... I always respected him for his genuine concern for the soldiers and I thought, if given the chance, I would like to emulate that same sense of concern," Stoner said.
Stoner is neither the first nor the only person in his family to serve in the military. His father served in the Army during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He also has a son who enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and was mobilized during Operation Desert Storm.
"Even though my son didn't make the military a career like I did, just knowing he was willing to make the sacrifice makes me proud of him for the time he served his country," he said.
Stoner added that his older brother, Barry, a retired Army master sergeant, was – and still is – an inspiration.
"My brother has always been an inspiration and an example for me to follow throughout my military career," he said. "I have tried to call my family at least once a week since my deployment, but I've always made a special effort to call him just to get words of encouragement from him. He has been a true brother to me in every meaning of the word."
Stoner said he has seen quite a change in the military in his 40 years of service, especially in attitudes and professionalism from the Cold War and Vietnam War era to Desert Storm and the present day.
"The Vietnam War created a different kind of professional through the will to survive a war, unlike the wars the U.S. fought in past years," he said. "We fought a war with valor to come home with less than a hero's welcome."
Today's servicemembers, he added, have the advantage of technology that allows them to be better equipped and educated to meet the modern challenges. They also have more support on the home front, he said.
"Today, we find soldiers fighting on multiple fronts and returning home to welcome home ceremonies and cheering crowds across the entire country," Stoner said.
Though he's proud of his 40-year career, Stoner said, it hasn't been about him.
"To me, it has always been about taking care of soldiers," he said. "A true leader can never give enough of himself to a soldier who has given of himself so freely to his country."
Stoner received the Legion of Merit for his 40 years of service. After serving nearly a year here, he will return to his home unit in St. Louis before retiring to his home in Pennsylvania.
(Army Staff Sgt. Lesley Waters serves in the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa public affairs office.)
Utah Guard Enlists Help From 'A Few Good Goats'
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - When it comes to fighting wildfires, most people immediately think of water or fire retardant dropped from helicopters and other aircraft, or soot-covered firefighters using hoses and foam to battle back towering blazes. Few people, however, think of goats as a firefighting tool, but goats are exactly what the Utah National Guard is using to lessen the potential of wildfires at this installation near Salt Lake City.
The Utah Guard has enlisted more than 1,200 goats and sheep to consume sagebrush and oak brush before this year's fire season, said Sean Hammond, manager of the Utah Guard's Integrated Training Area. Less brush means less fuel for wildfires, he explained.
But contrary to popular belief, goats won't eat everything.
"There are certain plants that they would just have to be starved to eat," said Doug Johnson, natural resources manager for the Utah Army National Guard. "But they'll eat a lot of our heavy fuels pretty readily, like the sagebrush and the oak brush. And they do a great job dealing with those fields."
The goats were first introduced in 1999 as an experiment in cooperation with Utah State University, Hammond said. Two years later during a massive wildfire that spread through the camp, the goats proved their worth.
"The 'goat firebreak' had only been constructed a very short distance," Hammond said, "but where it was constructed, the fire stopped, even when it jumped roads and other firebreaks."
In 2003, the goats were officially added to Camp Williams' fire prevention plan and were used to construct more firebreaks. The Utah Guard has steadily increased the length of those areas over the past six years, and currently has about 10 miles of goat-cleared firebreaks, Hammond said.
The value of the goats' efforts was proven again in 2006, when another major wildfire broke out on the camp.
"The fire was driven by winds approaching 20 mph into twin, bulldozed firebreaks," Hammond said. "The twin firebreaks held for between 10 and 15 minutes before the fire jumped the lines and raced uphill toward the camp's northern boundary."
At that point, pushed by nearly 40 mph winds, the blaze neared the top of the ridge, when it hit the area cleared by the goats.
"The fire line plowed into the goat firebreak and stopped," Hammond said. "Personnel on the ridge at the time ... remarked that had it not been for the goats, the fire would not have stopped at the ridgeline."
If the fire had not stopped there, Hammond explained, it most likely would have continued on to nearby housing developments.
The goats also have helped to clear Camp Williams of other unwanted items. In 2007, an unexploded artillery shell was found after the goats had cleared an area along the camp's artillery impact area. Suspected to have been fired during training in the mid-1980s, the round sat unnoticed in heavy brush before the goats got to it.
"They eat [just about] everything down to stubble," said Army Lt. Col. Hank McIntire, the state public affairs officer. "It makes it look like a wasteland. Once the area was cleared off by the goats, the round was easily seen."
A berm was built around the shell for safety, and an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the shell with an explosive charge. The wildfires of the previous year had come within 200 meters of the shell, McIntire said.
The goats' success has strengthened ties with those who live near the camp, McIntire added. Plans are under way to increase the number of goat-built firebreaks. A planned extension is to be built along the western edge of the camp, and the Utah State Forestry and Fire Department will pick up the addition's cost, Hammond said.
(Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
July 28, 2009 - When it comes to fighting wildfires, most people immediately think of water or fire retardant dropped from helicopters and other aircraft, or soot-covered firefighters using hoses and foam to battle back towering blazes. Few people, however, think of goats as a firefighting tool, but goats are exactly what the Utah National Guard is using to lessen the potential of wildfires at this installation near Salt Lake City.
The Utah Guard has enlisted more than 1,200 goats and sheep to consume sagebrush and oak brush before this year's fire season, said Sean Hammond, manager of the Utah Guard's Integrated Training Area. Less brush means less fuel for wildfires, he explained.
But contrary to popular belief, goats won't eat everything.
"There are certain plants that they would just have to be starved to eat," said Doug Johnson, natural resources manager for the Utah Army National Guard. "But they'll eat a lot of our heavy fuels pretty readily, like the sagebrush and the oak brush. And they do a great job dealing with those fields."
The goats were first introduced in 1999 as an experiment in cooperation with Utah State University, Hammond said. Two years later during a massive wildfire that spread through the camp, the goats proved their worth.
"The 'goat firebreak' had only been constructed a very short distance," Hammond said, "but where it was constructed, the fire stopped, even when it jumped roads and other firebreaks."
In 2003, the goats were officially added to Camp Williams' fire prevention plan and were used to construct more firebreaks. The Utah Guard has steadily increased the length of those areas over the past six years, and currently has about 10 miles of goat-cleared firebreaks, Hammond said.
The value of the goats' efforts was proven again in 2006, when another major wildfire broke out on the camp.
"The fire was driven by winds approaching 20 mph into twin, bulldozed firebreaks," Hammond said. "The twin firebreaks held for between 10 and 15 minutes before the fire jumped the lines and raced uphill toward the camp's northern boundary."
At that point, pushed by nearly 40 mph winds, the blaze neared the top of the ridge, when it hit the area cleared by the goats.
"The fire line plowed into the goat firebreak and stopped," Hammond said. "Personnel on the ridge at the time ... remarked that had it not been for the goats, the fire would not have stopped at the ridgeline."
If the fire had not stopped there, Hammond explained, it most likely would have continued on to nearby housing developments.
The goats also have helped to clear Camp Williams of other unwanted items. In 2007, an unexploded artillery shell was found after the goats had cleared an area along the camp's artillery impact area. Suspected to have been fired during training in the mid-1980s, the round sat unnoticed in heavy brush before the goats got to it.
"They eat [just about] everything down to stubble," said Army Lt. Col. Hank McIntire, the state public affairs officer. "It makes it look like a wasteland. Once the area was cleared off by the goats, the round was easily seen."
A berm was built around the shell for safety, and an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the shell with an explosive charge. The wildfires of the previous year had come within 200 meters of the shell, McIntire said.
The goats' success has strengthened ties with those who live near the camp, McIntire added. Plans are under way to increase the number of goat-built firebreaks. A planned extension is to be built along the western edge of the camp, and the Utah State Forestry and Fire Department will pick up the addition's cost, Hammond said.
(Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Cosmic Reminder
Funny how the past never gets left to far behind. It reminds me there are forces at work a single individual will never comprehend. There seems to be a bond between people, objects, time and space. Is it the intensity of a situation or just plain coincidence that draws things together? Could it be a reminder that some things, events or people should not be forgotten? What we learned in that past experience should be brought forward and made public, not just documented, archived and left for a chance discovery in millenniums gone by.
It took me 35 years to write my book on the Vietnam War. Not because I was ashamed, frighten or mentally unstable. The time was just not right for me.
When I returned home after my second tour, I was constantly asked the same two questions, “Did I kill anyone?” and, “Did any of your friends get killed?” For the curious, the answer is, “Yes”. Back in the late 60’s, those questions were ignored. Why should I give someone a cheap thrill when friends of mine paid the tab?
This weekend, I was a guest speaker at a helicopter airshow. I had finished a video a few weeks ago showing a helicopter assault set to rock and roll music.
I wanted the audience to feel the excitement and sounds the two seem to have in common. The end of the clip is a solemn, almost religious finish that brought some of the audience to tears as it slowly shows the number of American casualties helicopter crews suffered in that 10 year war. War is not sane, glorious or forgiving. Hero’s are not made, they are lost.
I had a table set up outside on the airfield by the Vietnam Huey helicopter display so I could discuss my book and answer questions I was not able to due to my 30 minute window as a speaker. I was talking to the owner of the beutifully restorded ship and he asked me what group I had flown with in the war. I told him our call sign was “Little Bear”. He then informed me this helicopter was an x Little Bear aircraft! The markings had been changed to represent the unit he flown with in Vietnam. With only 25 helicopters in my unit and the fact I had been on over 250 missions, the chances were pretty good I had taken this ship into combat.
A cosmic reminder for me to keep speaking about the war so the men who perished in these machines should not be forgotten.
NOTE: A little over 7000 Huey helicopters participated in the Vietnam
War. Over 3000 were lost.
It took me 35 years to write my book on the Vietnam War. Not because I was ashamed, frighten or mentally unstable. The time was just not right for me.
When I returned home after my second tour, I was constantly asked the same two questions, “Did I kill anyone?” and, “Did any of your friends get killed?” For the curious, the answer is, “Yes”. Back in the late 60’s, those questions were ignored. Why should I give someone a cheap thrill when friends of mine paid the tab?
This weekend, I was a guest speaker at a helicopter airshow. I had finished a video a few weeks ago showing a helicopter assault set to rock and roll music.
I wanted the audience to feel the excitement and sounds the two seem to have in common. The end of the clip is a solemn, almost religious finish that brought some of the audience to tears as it slowly shows the number of American casualties helicopter crews suffered in that 10 year war. War is not sane, glorious or forgiving. Hero’s are not made, they are lost.
I had a table set up outside on the airfield by the Vietnam Huey helicopter display so I could discuss my book and answer questions I was not able to due to my 30 minute window as a speaker. I was talking to the owner of the beutifully restorded ship and he asked me what group I had flown with in the war. I told him our call sign was “Little Bear”. He then informed me this helicopter was an x Little Bear aircraft! The markings had been changed to represent the unit he flown with in Vietnam. With only 25 helicopters in my unit and the fact I had been on over 250 missions, the chances were pretty good I had taken this ship into combat.
A cosmic reminder for me to keep speaking about the war so the men who perished in these machines should not be forgotten.
NOTE: A little over 7000 Huey helicopters participated in the Vietnam
War. Over 3000 were lost.
Gates Discusses Iran, Other Issues With Israeli Leaders
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed the Iranian nuclear problem and other defense issues with Israeli leaders here today. Gates met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak during a quick trip to Israel.
During a news conference with Barak at the historic King David Hotel, Gates received firsthand the Israeli feeling on Iran's nuclear weapons program. "This is a central issue in our minds here," Barak said. "We do welcome a coordinated international effort to try to block this nuclear military problem."
The Israelis told Gates that the continuation of the Iranian effort could destabilize the whole Middle East. "Israel retains its position that no option should be taken off the table," the defense minister said. "Of course, at this stage, priority still should be given to diplomacy and international cooperation."
Gates agreed that a nuclear-armed Iran "would be profoundly destabilizing to the entire region and a threat certainly to Israel, the United States and other countries in the region." He said Israel and the United States are in full agreement on the consequences of Iran becoming a nuclear power.
"We also agreed that we must take every opportunity to persuade the Iranians to reconsider what is actually in their own security interests," Gates said.
President Barack Obama has said the United States will discuss the situation with Iran, but that the offer is not open-ended. "The president is fully aware that the Iranians may simply try to run out the clock," Gates said. "I think the president is hoping for some kind of response by this fall," at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly session.
The international community is imposing sanctions against Iran for its continued intransigence. Another path being pursued is to try to convince the Iranians that the country's security is diminished by continuing to develop its nuclear capability.
"This is partly because it would be destabilizing, partly because it might set off an arms race in the Middle East," Gates explained. U.S. efforts include developing bilateral and multilateral relationships with friends and allies in the region, he noted. This already has resulted in cooperation in the region on maritime surveillance and air defense, he added.
On his first visit to Israel in more than two years, Gates reiterated Obama's pledge that the bond between the United States and Israel is unbreakable. "We also discussed the regional challenges we both face from terrorism to the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons," Gates said during the news conference.
The United States provides Israel with financial and technical aid to combat threats posed by rockets and missiles. "We will continue to ensure that Israel has the most advanced weapons for its national defense," Gates said. For example, he said, he and Israeli officials discussed progress with the Joint Strike Fighter. Israel is a partner in the stealth aircraft's development.
"Of course, achieving long-term security for Israel is ultimately dependent on a sustainable, comprehensive Middle East peace," Gates said. "The goal is vitally important for regional security."
The United States will help to move the process forward by addressing Israeli requirements to make a two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution possible, Gates said.
Barak said Israel appreciates the U.S. commitment to the security of Israel and the monetary and technical assistance to keep Israel's qualitative military edge.
Following the meetings, Gates departed for Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah and military leaders.
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates discussed the Iranian nuclear problem and other defense issues with Israeli leaders here today. Gates met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak during a quick trip to Israel.
During a news conference with Barak at the historic King David Hotel, Gates received firsthand the Israeli feeling on Iran's nuclear weapons program. "This is a central issue in our minds here," Barak said. "We do welcome a coordinated international effort to try to block this nuclear military problem."
The Israelis told Gates that the continuation of the Iranian effort could destabilize the whole Middle East. "Israel retains its position that no option should be taken off the table," the defense minister said. "Of course, at this stage, priority still should be given to diplomacy and international cooperation."
Gates agreed that a nuclear-armed Iran "would be profoundly destabilizing to the entire region and a threat certainly to Israel, the United States and other countries in the region." He said Israel and the United States are in full agreement on the consequences of Iran becoming a nuclear power.
"We also agreed that we must take every opportunity to persuade the Iranians to reconsider what is actually in their own security interests," Gates said.
President Barack Obama has said the United States will discuss the situation with Iran, but that the offer is not open-ended. "The president is fully aware that the Iranians may simply try to run out the clock," Gates said. "I think the president is hoping for some kind of response by this fall," at the opening of the U.N. General Assembly session.
The international community is imposing sanctions against Iran for its continued intransigence. Another path being pursued is to try to convince the Iranians that the country's security is diminished by continuing to develop its nuclear capability.
"This is partly because it would be destabilizing, partly because it might set off an arms race in the Middle East," Gates explained. U.S. efforts include developing bilateral and multilateral relationships with friends and allies in the region, he noted. This already has resulted in cooperation in the region on maritime surveillance and air defense, he added.
On his first visit to Israel in more than two years, Gates reiterated Obama's pledge that the bond between the United States and Israel is unbreakable. "We also discussed the regional challenges we both face from terrorism to the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons," Gates said during the news conference.
The United States provides Israel with financial and technical aid to combat threats posed by rockets and missiles. "We will continue to ensure that Israel has the most advanced weapons for its national defense," Gates said. For example, he said, he and Israeli officials discussed progress with the Joint Strike Fighter. Israel is a partner in the stealth aircraft's development.
"Of course, achieving long-term security for Israel is ultimately dependent on a sustainable, comprehensive Middle East peace," Gates said. "The goal is vitally important for regional security."
The United States will help to move the process forward by addressing Israeli requirements to make a two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution possible, Gates said.
Barak said Israel appreciates the U.S. commitment to the security of Israel and the monetary and technical assistance to keep Israel's qualitative military edge.
Following the meetings, Gates departed for Jordan, where he will meet with King Abdullah and military leaders.
MILITARY CONTACTS July 28, 2009
NAVY
Turner-Penick, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $103,725,091 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of four Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQs) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of four BEQ. The BEQ's will house a total of 1384 Marines in the standard 2+0 configuration and will include a multipurpose community area and laundry facilities. The contract also contains five options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $110,536,246. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 10 proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-09-C-1233).
General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $33,841,223 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-07-D-0024) to exercise an option for Information Technology/Information Management Department Support Services. This modification provides for a wide range of services and products, including information engineering; business process improvement relative to automation; analytical and technical support for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP); consultation; hardware and software evaluation and selection; systems analysis; systems and applications sustainment, including configuration and maintenance of web sites and servers; integration of systems and applications; database administration; production support; information assurance; network support; firewall support; and imaging services. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., was awarded a $49,900,900 contract of technical and software enhancements to baseline systems to determine the benefits of the learning and reasoning technologies to military applications. At this time, $2,179,059 has been awarded to each contractor. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y. is the contracting activity. (FA8750-09-D-0183)
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems LP, Sealy, Texas is being awarded a maximum $34,097,605 firm fixed price, sole source contract for axle assembly parts in support of MRAP. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 24, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Warren (DSCC-ZG), Warren, Mich. (SPRDL1-09-C-0121).
DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY
Apriva ISS, LLC, of Scottsdale AZ, was awarded a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract on July 24, 2009 in the amount of $17,014,208.00. The contract provides for the operations and maintenance of the existing Secure Mobile Environment Portable Electronic Device (SME-PED) Multi-Carrier Entry Point (MCEP 1), and the build-out, operations and maintenance of an additional MCEP, referred to as MCEP 2. The period of performance is for a one year base period and four one-year option periods. MCEP 1 performance will be at the AT&T Data Center located in Mesa AZ, and MCEP 2 performance will be at the DISA Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) located in St Louis, MO. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO), Scott AFB, IL, is the contracting activity (Contract Number HC1013-09-C-2002).
Turner-Penick, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $103,725,091 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of four Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQs) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of four BEQ. The BEQ's will house a total of 1384 Marines in the standard 2+0 configuration and will include a multipurpose community area and laundry facilities. The contract also contains five options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $110,536,246. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 10 proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-09-C-1233).
General Dynamics Information Technology, Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $33,841,223 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00421-07-D-0024) to exercise an option for Information Technology/Information Management Department Support Services. This modification provides for a wide range of services and products, including information engineering; business process improvement relative to automation; analytical and technical support for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP); consultation; hardware and software evaluation and selection; systems analysis; systems and applications sustainment, including configuration and maintenance of web sites and servers; integration of systems and applications; database administration; production support; information assurance; network support; firewall support; and imaging services. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AIR FORCE
SRI International, Menlo Park, Calif., was awarded a $49,900,900 contract of technical and software enhancements to baseline systems to determine the benefits of the learning and reasoning technologies to military applications. At this time, $2,179,059 has been awarded to each contractor. Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, N.Y. is the contracting activity. (FA8750-09-D-0183)
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Systems LP, Sealy, Texas is being awarded a maximum $34,097,605 firm fixed price, sole source contract for axle assembly parts in support of MRAP. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 24, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency, Warren (DSCC-ZG), Warren, Mich. (SPRDL1-09-C-0121).
DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY
Apriva ISS, LLC, of Scottsdale AZ, was awarded a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract on July 24, 2009 in the amount of $17,014,208.00. The contract provides for the operations and maintenance of the existing Secure Mobile Environment Portable Electronic Device (SME-PED) Multi-Carrier Entry Point (MCEP 1), and the build-out, operations and maintenance of an additional MCEP, referred to as MCEP 2. The period of performance is for a one year base period and four one-year option periods. MCEP 1 performance will be at the AT&T Data Center located in Mesa AZ, and MCEP 2 performance will be at the DISA Defense Enterprise Computing Center (DECC) located in St Louis, MO. The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO), Scott AFB, IL, is the contracting activity (Contract Number HC1013-09-C-2002).
U.S., China Can Cooperate on Security Issues, Obama Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - The United States and the People's Republic of China can cooperate on a number of security issues of mutual interest, such as preventing the spread of nuclear arms and combating global extremism, President Barack Obama said here today. The relationship between the United States and China "will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world," Obama said during opening remarks of the two-day U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue conference held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
Then-President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao initiated the twice-yearly U.S.-China dialogue meetings in 2006 as a framework for the two nations to discuss issues of mutual economic interest. Obama has increased the State Department's role in the conference, which alternates locations each year between China and the United States.
"Today, we have a comprehensive relationship that reflects the deepening ties among our people," Obama said of the current state of U.S.-Chinese relations.
Obama also cited his conviction that the countries share mutual security interests following the fall of the Berlin Wall two decades ago that marked the end of the Cold War. For example, he said, the United States and China can cooperate to advance the two nations' mutual desire to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
"Make no mistake, the more nations acquire these weapons, the more likely it is that they will be used," he said. "Neither America nor China has an interest in a terrorist acquiring a bomb, or a nuclear arms race breaking out in East Asia."
It is of vital importance to global peace and security, Obama said, to dissuade countries like North Korea and Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The United States and China "must continue our collaboration to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," Obama said, "and [to] make it clear to North Korea that the path to security and respect can be traveled if they meet their obligations.
"And, that is why we must be united in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," he added, "and urging the Islamic republic to live up to its international obligations."
It is the responsibility of all of the world's nations, Obama said, to cooperate to safeguard all vulnerable nuclear materials from falling into the hands of terrorists.
"In the 21st century, a strong and global regime is the only basis for security from the world's deadliest weapons," Obama said.
The American and Chinese governments, the president said, also can increase their military-to-military cooperation to reduce the chance of potential misunderstandings and to combat global extremists.
"Through increased ties between our militaries, we can diminish causes for dispute, while providing a framework for cooperation," Obama said. "Through continued intelligence sharing, we can disrupt terrorist plots and dismantle terrorist networks."
No one nation can all by itself confront the challenges of the 21st century, he said, noting: "It is this fundamental truth that compels us to cooperate."
Obama said he doesn't entertain the belief that the United States and China will agree on every issue, nor choose to view the world in the same way.
"But that only makes dialogue more important," Obama said, "so that we can know each other better, and communicate our concerns with candor."
The president acknowledged that some people in the United States and China believe that the two nations are fated to pursue an adversarial course.
"I take a different view," he said of such a potentially negative U.S.-Chinese relationship. "I believe in a future where China is a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations; a future when our nations are partners out of necessity, but also of opportunity."
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - The United States and the People's Republic of China can cooperate on a number of security issues of mutual interest, such as preventing the spread of nuclear arms and combating global extremism, President Barack Obama said here today. The relationship between the United States and China "will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world," Obama said during opening remarks of the two-day U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue conference held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
Then-President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao initiated the twice-yearly U.S.-China dialogue meetings in 2006 as a framework for the two nations to discuss issues of mutual economic interest. Obama has increased the State Department's role in the conference, which alternates locations each year between China and the United States.
"Today, we have a comprehensive relationship that reflects the deepening ties among our people," Obama said of the current state of U.S.-Chinese relations.
Obama also cited his conviction that the countries share mutual security interests following the fall of the Berlin Wall two decades ago that marked the end of the Cold War. For example, he said, the United States and China can cooperate to advance the two nations' mutual desire to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
"Make no mistake, the more nations acquire these weapons, the more likely it is that they will be used," he said. "Neither America nor China has an interest in a terrorist acquiring a bomb, or a nuclear arms race breaking out in East Asia."
It is of vital importance to global peace and security, Obama said, to dissuade countries like North Korea and Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The United States and China "must continue our collaboration to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," Obama said, "and [to] make it clear to North Korea that the path to security and respect can be traveled if they meet their obligations.
"And, that is why we must be united in preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon," he added, "and urging the Islamic republic to live up to its international obligations."
It is the responsibility of all of the world's nations, Obama said, to cooperate to safeguard all vulnerable nuclear materials from falling into the hands of terrorists.
"In the 21st century, a strong and global regime is the only basis for security from the world's deadliest weapons," Obama said.
The American and Chinese governments, the president said, also can increase their military-to-military cooperation to reduce the chance of potential misunderstandings and to combat global extremists.
"Through increased ties between our militaries, we can diminish causes for dispute, while providing a framework for cooperation," Obama said. "Through continued intelligence sharing, we can disrupt terrorist plots and dismantle terrorist networks."
No one nation can all by itself confront the challenges of the 21st century, he said, noting: "It is this fundamental truth that compels us to cooperate."
Obama said he doesn't entertain the belief that the United States and China will agree on every issue, nor choose to view the world in the same way.
"But that only makes dialogue more important," Obama said, "so that we can know each other better, and communicate our concerns with candor."
The president acknowledged that some people in the United States and China believe that the two nations are fated to pursue an adversarial course.
"I take a different view," he said of such a potentially negative U.S.-Chinese relationship. "I believe in a future where China is a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations; a future when our nations are partners out of necessity, but also of opportunity."
Small Business Leadership Strategies for Growth
July 27, 2009 (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press announced that the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.) will be a guest on the internet-based radio program Grassroots Business Network, LLC, discussing
Small Business Leadership Strategies for Growth.
Date: July 28, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/GBN/2009/07/29/Small-Business-Leadership-Strategies-for-Growth
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Grassroots Business Network, LLC organizes and promotes networking events and training seminars in the areas of networking, sales, marketing, business development, and holistic wellness. According to Tyrone Turner of Grassroots Business Networks, LLC, “Our main base of operations is New York City (Manhattan), Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. What makes our networking events so special is that we have our events in professional environments - we do not hold them in bars or restaurants as we don't feel those locations are necessarily conducive to effective networking. Another thing is that we provide all attendees with a comprehensive contact sheet/follow-up list. This list has the following information: name, mailing address; e-mail, website, phone number; best time to call; hobbies and interests; and products/services that they are looking to buy in the next 90 days. The training seminars feature up and coming “grassroots” experts. Cutting to the chase, the individuals who speak at our events are the stars of tomorrow, so take advantage of meeting and learning from them now.”
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies 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 has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at 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 is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
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."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
Small Business Leadership Strategies for Growth.
Date: July 28, 2009
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/GBN/2009/07/29/Small-Business-Leadership-Strategies-for-Growth
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Grassroots Business Network, LLC organizes and promotes networking events and training seminars in the areas of networking, sales, marketing, business development, and holistic wellness. According to Tyrone Turner of Grassroots Business Networks, LLC, “Our main base of operations is New York City (Manhattan), Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. What makes our networking events so special is that we have our events in professional environments - we do not hold them in bars or restaurants as we don't feel those locations are necessarily conducive to effective networking. Another thing is that we provide all attendees with a comprehensive contact sheet/follow-up list. This list has the following information: name, mailing address; e-mail, website, phone number; best time to call; hobbies and interests; and products/services that they are looking to buy in the next 90 days. The training seminars feature up and coming “grassroots” experts. Cutting to the chase, the individuals who speak at our events are the stars of tomorrow, so take advantage of meeting and learning from them now.”
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies 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 has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at 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 is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
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."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
SECRECY NEWS
From the FAS Project on Government Secrecy Volume 2009, Issue No. 64 July 27, 2009
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
ISCAP DIRECTS NSA TO RELEASE COMINT HISTORY
In 2005, the National Security Agency released a partially declassified 1952 history of communications intelligence prior to Pearl Harbor with several passages censored. But this month, the NSA released the complete text of the document after the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) determined that there was no justification for continued classification of the withheld portions.
During World War II, "Collaboration with the BRITISH COMINT organization got off to a bad start so far as the Navy was concerned...," according to one newly declassified paragraph from the official history. "For several months U.S. Navy COMINT personnel thought they had been double-crossed by the British and were reluctant to go ahead with collaboration in direction finding and other matters which were greatly to England's advantage throughout 1941." Subsequent cooperation, however, proved "harmonious."
Now it can be told.
The NSA document was released in response to a mandatory declassification review request, followed by an appeal to ISCAP, submitted by researcher Michael Ravnitzky. See "A Brief History of Communications Intelligence in the United States" by Captain Lawrence Safford, USN, 21-27 March 1952:
http://www.fas.org/irp/nsa/safford-2009.pdf
The new disclosure illustrates once again the efficacy of the ISCAP in overcoming the reflexive secrecy of executive branch agencies, including those that are represented on the ISCAP itself. More often than not, the ISCAP has released information that one of its own member agencies said must remain classified.
Fundamentally, the ISCAP's experience over the past decade or so demonstrates the importance of extending declassification authority beyond the original classifying agency. Left to their own devices, agencies will adhere to past classification practices indefinitely. But when such practices are critically examined by others, including others within the executive branch, they often wither before the scrutiny.
If there is a solution to "the problem of overclassification," as requested by President Obama in a May 27, 2009 memorandum, it is bound to involve this kind of independent, external review of agency classification and declassification practices.
CRS ON INNOVATION INDUCEMENTS, POSTAL CLOSURES
A new report from the Congressional Research Service examines the government's use of "grand challenges" or monetary prizes to provide incentives for technological advancement. In quite a few cases, such incentives have inspired or accelerated new technology breakthroughs -- in lightweight power supplies and autonomous unmanned vehicles, for example.
In other cases, the proffered prizes have gone unclaimed because the challenge was not met, as in a recent competition to generate breathable oxygen from simulated lunar soil. In any case, it seems likely that the new CRS report is the best thing ever written on the subject. See "Federally Funded Innovation Inducement Prizes," June 29, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40677.pdf
Another new CRS report considers the mundane but significant fact that the US Postal Service may soon close thousands of post office branches and stations due to declining demand and volume. This exhaustive report, once again, is almost certainly the best, most informative treatment of its chosen subject. See "Post Office and Retail Postal Facility Closures:
Overview and Issues for Congress," July 23, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40719.pdf
Despite the efforts of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Sen. John McCain and a few others, there appears to be little near-term prospect that Congress will permit direct public access to CRS reports like these. Fortunately, routine unauthorized disclosures of the reports continue to meet the need fairly well. See also, lately:
"Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database," July 22, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40717.pdf
"Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2010," July 15, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40710.pdf
"The U.S. Newspaper Industry in Transition," July 8, 2009
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40700.pdf
"Agricultural Conservation Issues in the 111th Congress," July 7, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40692.pdf
OTHER NEWS AND RESOURCES
The corrosive tendency of government agencies to classify historical information that is already in the public domain is made vividly clear in a collection of erroneously redacted documents compiled by William Burr of the National Security Archive. See "More Dubious Secrets: Systematic Overclassification of Defense Information Poses Challenge for President Obama's Secrecy Review," July 17, 2009:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nukevault/ebb281/index.htm
A 2008 intelligence community policy memorandum on "Connection of United States and Commonwealth Secure Telephone Systems," which was almost entirely redacted and withheld from disclosure, is posted here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/dni/icpm/2008-500-2.pdf
Some 700 classified images of Arctic sea ice have been declassified and released, the Department of Interior announced in a July 15 news release.
"It reportedly is the largest release of [imagery] information derived from classified material since the declassification of CORONA satellite images during the Clinton Administration," the DOI said. The release followed a National Research Council report that said the release of such classified imagery was needed to support climate change research.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2009/07/doi071509.html
Persistent concerns over the government's use of the state secrets privilege to curtail civil litigation were aired at a June 9, 2009 hearing before Rep. Jerrold Nadler's House Judiciary Subcommittee. The record of that hearing, with abundant supporting materials submitted for the record, has just been published. See "State Secret Protection Act of 2009":
http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2009/statesec.html
Secrecy News Blog: http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/
ISCAP DIRECTS NSA TO RELEASE COMINT HISTORY
In 2005, the National Security Agency released a partially declassified 1952 history of communications intelligence prior to Pearl Harbor with several passages censored. But this month, the NSA released the complete text of the document after the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) determined that there was no justification for continued classification of the withheld portions.
During World War II, "Collaboration with the BRITISH COMINT organization got off to a bad start so far as the Navy was concerned...," according to one newly declassified paragraph from the official history. "For several months U.S. Navy COMINT personnel thought they had been double-crossed by the British and were reluctant to go ahead with collaboration in direction finding and other matters which were greatly to England's advantage throughout 1941." Subsequent cooperation, however, proved "harmonious."
Now it can be told.
The NSA document was released in response to a mandatory declassification review request, followed by an appeal to ISCAP, submitted by researcher Michael Ravnitzky. See "A Brief History of Communications Intelligence in the United States" by Captain Lawrence Safford, USN, 21-27 March 1952:
http://www.fas.org/irp/nsa/safford-2009.pdf
The new disclosure illustrates once again the efficacy of the ISCAP in overcoming the reflexive secrecy of executive branch agencies, including those that are represented on the ISCAP itself. More often than not, the ISCAP has released information that one of its own member agencies said must remain classified.
Fundamentally, the ISCAP's experience over the past decade or so demonstrates the importance of extending declassification authority beyond the original classifying agency. Left to their own devices, agencies will adhere to past classification practices indefinitely. But when such practices are critically examined by others, including others within the executive branch, they often wither before the scrutiny.
If there is a solution to "the problem of overclassification," as requested by President Obama in a May 27, 2009 memorandum, it is bound to involve this kind of independent, external review of agency classification and declassification practices.
CRS ON INNOVATION INDUCEMENTS, POSTAL CLOSURES
A new report from the Congressional Research Service examines the government's use of "grand challenges" or monetary prizes to provide incentives for technological advancement. In quite a few cases, such incentives have inspired or accelerated new technology breakthroughs -- in lightweight power supplies and autonomous unmanned vehicles, for example.
In other cases, the proffered prizes have gone unclaimed because the challenge was not met, as in a recent competition to generate breathable oxygen from simulated lunar soil. In any case, it seems likely that the new CRS report is the best thing ever written on the subject. See "Federally Funded Innovation Inducement Prizes," June 29, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40677.pdf
Another new CRS report considers the mundane but significant fact that the US Postal Service may soon close thousands of post office branches and stations due to declining demand and volume. This exhaustive report, once again, is almost certainly the best, most informative treatment of its chosen subject. See "Post Office and Retail Postal Facility Closures:
Overview and Issues for Congress," July 23, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40719.pdf
Despite the efforts of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, Sen. John McCain and a few others, there appears to be little near-term prospect that Congress will permit direct public access to CRS reports like these. Fortunately, routine unauthorized disclosures of the reports continue to meet the need fairly well. See also, lately:
"Issues Regarding a National Land Parcel Database," July 22, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40717.pdf
"Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2010," July 15, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40710.pdf
"The U.S. Newspaper Industry in Transition," July 8, 2009
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40700.pdf
"Agricultural Conservation Issues in the 111th Congress," July 7, 2009:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40692.pdf
OTHER NEWS AND RESOURCES
The corrosive tendency of government agencies to classify historical information that is already in the public domain is made vividly clear in a collection of erroneously redacted documents compiled by William Burr of the National Security Archive. See "More Dubious Secrets: Systematic Overclassification of Defense Information Poses Challenge for President Obama's Secrecy Review," July 17, 2009:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nukevault/ebb281/index.htm
A 2008 intelligence community policy memorandum on "Connection of United States and Commonwealth Secure Telephone Systems," which was almost entirely redacted and withheld from disclosure, is posted here:
http://www.fas.org/irp/dni/icpm/2008-500-2.pdf
Some 700 classified images of Arctic sea ice have been declassified and released, the Department of Interior announced in a July 15 news release.
"It reportedly is the largest release of [imagery] information derived from classified material since the declassification of CORONA satellite images during the Clinton Administration," the DOI said. The release followed a National Research Council report that said the release of such classified imagery was needed to support climate change research.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2009/07/doi071509.html
Persistent concerns over the government's use of the state secrets privilege to curtail civil litigation were aired at a June 9, 2009 hearing before Rep. Jerrold Nadler's House Judiciary Subcommittee. The record of that hearing, with abundant supporting materials submitted for the record, has just been published. See "State Secret Protection Act of 2009":
http://www.fas.org/sgp/congress/2009/statesec.html
Army Leverages Social Media to Promote Recruiting
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - When young people began flocking to MySpace about two years ago, the Army recognized social networks as a whole new way to reach its primary recruiting population. So Army recruiters and accessions staffers, too, are establishing an Army presence in the growing array of social networking forums, Suzanne Nagel, Army Accessions Command's media and Web chief for Army advertising, told American Forces Press Service.
They're using them to connect with 18- to 24-year-olds who regularly use social networking sites, to direct them to the primary Army recruiting Web site, and to help answer their questions about Army service in a nonthreatening, no-pressure environment.
"In essence, our philosophy is that we want to fish where the fish are," Nagel said. "For us, the fish are the prospects -- the person who might be interested in joining the Army."
From its first corporate sponsorship page on MySpace -- which now boasts more than 90,000 "friends" -- to a comprehensive plan being developed for fiscal 2010, the Army is expanding its social media presence to better reach these prospects.
Many potential recruits might never go to the www.goarmy.com recruiting Web site on their own, Nagel conceded. They're more likely to do so, she said, if steered to the site through a MySpace, Facebook or other social networking contact.
"The people we want to reach are spending an awful lot of time in social networking sites," she said. "So you have to be in those environments to be able to talk to the people you want to talk to."
The goal, she said, is to help people understand the Army experience. "The more people know about the Army, and the more they know about the reality of the Army, the better they will be equipped to make that decision to join," she said.
Nagel calls the men and women in uniform whose unfiltered voices tell the ups and downs of their Army experiences the key to the Army's social media efforts.
"There is no better way to tell the Army story than to get it directly from the mouths of soldiers -- the people who have experienced it every single day," she said. "With all of our social networking ventures, we are looking to leverage our soldiers and to make them the spokespeople."
Real-life soldiers representing every rank and a variety of military specialties and backgrounds provide an unfiltered perspective on daily life in the military through blog entries, photos and videos posted on the ArmyStrongStories.com Web site.
"As people go on our site and ask questions about joining, and should they do it, we want our soldiers to be on those sites, giving them the answers from their own perspectives," Nagel said.
The Army monitors the discussion to ensure material posted doesn't violate security considerations or include political commentary and isn't offensive. But otherwise, the discussion is straightforward and uncensored, with soldiers calling things as they see them.
"We definitely don't want them giving canned answers that we have prepared for them," Nagel said. "The people who are on the discussion board and our social networking site can cut through the propaganda really, really quickly. They know what's real and what's canned. So it's important that the conversation be real."
Recruiters are generating similar conversations as they set up Facebook pages and develop networks of friends to talk about Army opportunities.
Another Army discussion board launched late last year links former and current ROTC cadets. "The whole goal is to keep people interested in ROTC and to allow people who have been there to talk to people going there, to share those experiences," Nagel said. "We're seeing some interesting results, and looking to possibly expand it."
The Army is making plans to expand its full range of social media networking, getting more soldiers to contribute videos for the Army's YouTube site, and sharing comments on its Facebook page.
Meanwhile, a social networking plan being developed for fiscal 2010 will build on that headway while looking to what's ahead in the quickly evolving medium. The Armywide plan will help the service tap into the new opportunities these tools provide.
"Social networking is changing on almost a daily basis," Nagel said. "So we're trying to take advantage of the things out there, and to identify emerging sites and take advantage of those as they come along."
As these social networks develop, Nagel doesn't measure their success through the number of friends or followers, or visitor hits alone. "We are looking at it to see what kind of conversations are going on, and the number of people driving back to the [goarmy.com] site," she said.
What's developed so far already vastly exceeds what many Army officials expected, she said, which was little more than an Army fan page. But they quickly noticed another phenomenon as dialogue grew to include more than just potential soldiers, she said.
Applicants who had already signed up, but hadn't yet shipped off to basic training, began using the site to stay connected. "I'm getting ready to ship to basic in three weeks, and am looking for somebody who is going to be at Fort Jackson, [S.C.]," a MySpace friend might ask.
These connections help reinforce the applicant's decision to join the military, Nagel said. "With recruiting, it's not just about getting people to sign up," she said. "It's about keeping the people interested in joining so they don't drop out before actually shipping to basic training."
Meanwhile, as applicants began connecting, their parents began using the site to connect with each other, too. Teachers, coaches and other adults who influence young people's decisions to join the military began joining the conversation.
The Army hopes to generate more of these conversations through its social networking efforts.
"We want to make sure people can understand the Army experience," Nagel said. "Our goal is to change perceptions and convince people who maybe wouldn't otherwise think about the Army in a positive way."
American Forces Press Service
July 27, 2009 - When young people began flocking to MySpace about two years ago, the Army recognized social networks as a whole new way to reach its primary recruiting population. So Army recruiters and accessions staffers, too, are establishing an Army presence in the growing array of social networking forums, Suzanne Nagel, Army Accessions Command's media and Web chief for Army advertising, told American Forces Press Service.
They're using them to connect with 18- to 24-year-olds who regularly use social networking sites, to direct them to the primary Army recruiting Web site, and to help answer their questions about Army service in a nonthreatening, no-pressure environment.
"In essence, our philosophy is that we want to fish where the fish are," Nagel said. "For us, the fish are the prospects -- the person who might be interested in joining the Army."
From its first corporate sponsorship page on MySpace -- which now boasts more than 90,000 "friends" -- to a comprehensive plan being developed for fiscal 2010, the Army is expanding its social media presence to better reach these prospects.
Many potential recruits might never go to the www.goarmy.com recruiting Web site on their own, Nagel conceded. They're more likely to do so, she said, if steered to the site through a MySpace, Facebook or other social networking contact.
"The people we want to reach are spending an awful lot of time in social networking sites," she said. "So you have to be in those environments to be able to talk to the people you want to talk to."
The goal, she said, is to help people understand the Army experience. "The more people know about the Army, and the more they know about the reality of the Army, the better they will be equipped to make that decision to join," she said.
Nagel calls the men and women in uniform whose unfiltered voices tell the ups and downs of their Army experiences the key to the Army's social media efforts.
"There is no better way to tell the Army story than to get it directly from the mouths of soldiers -- the people who have experienced it every single day," she said. "With all of our social networking ventures, we are looking to leverage our soldiers and to make them the spokespeople."
Real-life soldiers representing every rank and a variety of military specialties and backgrounds provide an unfiltered perspective on daily life in the military through blog entries, photos and videos posted on the ArmyStrongStories.com Web site.
"As people go on our site and ask questions about joining, and should they do it, we want our soldiers to be on those sites, giving them the answers from their own perspectives," Nagel said.
The Army monitors the discussion to ensure material posted doesn't violate security considerations or include political commentary and isn't offensive. But otherwise, the discussion is straightforward and uncensored, with soldiers calling things as they see them.
"We definitely don't want them giving canned answers that we have prepared for them," Nagel said. "The people who are on the discussion board and our social networking site can cut through the propaganda really, really quickly. They know what's real and what's canned. So it's important that the conversation be real."
Recruiters are generating similar conversations as they set up Facebook pages and develop networks of friends to talk about Army opportunities.
Another Army discussion board launched late last year links former and current ROTC cadets. "The whole goal is to keep people interested in ROTC and to allow people who have been there to talk to people going there, to share those experiences," Nagel said. "We're seeing some interesting results, and looking to possibly expand it."
The Army is making plans to expand its full range of social media networking, getting more soldiers to contribute videos for the Army's YouTube site, and sharing comments on its Facebook page.
Meanwhile, a social networking plan being developed for fiscal 2010 will build on that headway while looking to what's ahead in the quickly evolving medium. The Armywide plan will help the service tap into the new opportunities these tools provide.
"Social networking is changing on almost a daily basis," Nagel said. "So we're trying to take advantage of the things out there, and to identify emerging sites and take advantage of those as they come along."
As these social networks develop, Nagel doesn't measure their success through the number of friends or followers, or visitor hits alone. "We are looking at it to see what kind of conversations are going on, and the number of people driving back to the [goarmy.com] site," she said.
What's developed so far already vastly exceeds what many Army officials expected, she said, which was little more than an Army fan page. But they quickly noticed another phenomenon as dialogue grew to include more than just potential soldiers, she said.
Applicants who had already signed up, but hadn't yet shipped off to basic training, began using the site to stay connected. "I'm getting ready to ship to basic in three weeks, and am looking for somebody who is going to be at Fort Jackson, [S.C.]," a MySpace friend might ask.
These connections help reinforce the applicant's decision to join the military, Nagel said. "With recruiting, it's not just about getting people to sign up," she said. "It's about keeping the people interested in joining so they don't drop out before actually shipping to basic training."
Meanwhile, as applicants began connecting, their parents began using the site to connect with each other, too. Teachers, coaches and other adults who influence young people's decisions to join the military began joining the conversation.
The Army hopes to generate more of these conversations through its social networking efforts.
"We want to make sure people can understand the Army experience," Nagel said. "Our goal is to change perceptions and convince people who maybe wouldn't otherwise think about the Army in a positive way."
The Streets Ran Red
Editor's Note: The Author is US Navy Veteran.
On October 2, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with US Navy veteran and Paramedic Morgan Lawrence about his career and book - The Streets Ran Red.
Program Date: October 2, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: The Streets Ran Red
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/10/03/The-Streets-Ran-Red
About the Guest
Morgan Lawrence has worked in the emergency medical services field for over twenty years in a number of states throughout our country. His experience has spanned rural and metropolitan rescue services. He is certified in air, ground, and marine rescue. He is a US Navy veteran. After a work related injury in 1986, he left the field of emergency medicine. Morgan went back to college and received Degree’s in Psychology on the Bachelors and Masters level with a concentration on forensic psychology. He is currently certified in Acute Trauma Stress Management and contributes to several trade magazines. He is currently living and working in south Florida. Morgan Lawrence is the author of The Streets Ran Red.
According to the book description of The Streets Ran Red, “These are the true life stories of the men and woman I have associated with in my twenty year career as a Paramedic. While reading this book, you will get to feel and understand some of the pressures of working the street. The Streets Ran Red is an account of the lives of a pair of deputy sheriff paramedics and the supporting cast of medical experts who helped them save lives. This is a true account of a group of special individuals who make up a very special team. The accounts described in this book actually happened and the victims were real. The names and locations have been changed at the requests of some of the characters.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hold, where it is Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/10/03/The-Streets-Ran-Red
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
On October 2, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with US Navy veteran and Paramedic Morgan Lawrence about his career and book - The Streets Ran Red.
Program Date: October 2, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: The Streets Ran Red
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/10/03/The-Streets-Ran-Red
About the Guest
Morgan Lawrence has worked in the emergency medical services field for over twenty years in a number of states throughout our country. His experience has spanned rural and metropolitan rescue services. He is certified in air, ground, and marine rescue. He is a US Navy veteran. After a work related injury in 1986, he left the field of emergency medicine. Morgan went back to college and received Degree’s in Psychology on the Bachelors and Masters level with a concentration on forensic psychology. He is currently certified in Acute Trauma Stress Management and contributes to several trade magazines. He is currently living and working in south Florida. Morgan Lawrence is the author of The Streets Ran Red.
According to the book description of The Streets Ran Red, “These are the true life stories of the men and woman I have associated with in my twenty year career as a Paramedic. While reading this book, you will get to feel and understand some of the pressures of working the street. The Streets Ran Red is an account of the lives of a pair of deputy sheriff paramedics and the supporting cast of medical experts who helped them save lives. This is a true account of a group of special individuals who make up a very special team. The accounts described in this book actually happened and the victims were real. The names and locations have been changed at the requests of some of the characters.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hold, where it is Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/10/03/The-Streets-Ran-Red
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
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