Study to Seek Clues to Soldier Suicides

By Steve Vogel

Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 10, 2009

Doctors leading the largest study ever of suicide and mental health in the military are developing intensive soldier surveys that they hope will provide clues as to why suicide rates among Army personnel have grown dramatically in recent years.

The study, a collaboration between the National Institute of Mental Health and the Army, will seek data from every soldier recruited into the Army over the next three years as well as from about 90,000 soldiers already in the service, and the project could eventually involve half a million participants.

The soldiers will be asked on a volunteer basis for personal information that can be used to make psychological assessments. Family members might be contacted for further information. In some cases, saliva and blood samples will be collected for genetic and neurobiological studies.

The information will serve as an "ongoing natural laboratory," officials said, as researchers follow these soldiers for years, looking for common strands as to which individuals are more likely to commit suicide.

"We're looking at suicide as the culmination of a long chain of events," said Robert K. Heinssen, the NIMH study director.

In 2008, 143 soldiers committed suicide, the highest number in the three decades that the Army has kept records.

"The most frustrating thing is trying to find a cause," Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army's vice chief of staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 30.

The five-year, $50 million study, which stems from an agreement in October between the Army and NIMH, is an ambitious attempt to solve the mystery.

Last month, Robert J. Ursano, chairman of the psychiatry department at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, was named to lead an interdisciplinary team of four research institutions involved in the project.

The study will be "complex in its design, and it's looking at a rare phenomenon," Ursano said.

A number of factors may play roles in suicide, according to Ursano, including post-traumatic stress disorder, family issues, alcohol abuse and neurobiological factors.

Repeated deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere since 2001 is another factor, but one that does not by itself account for the increases in suicide, Ursano said.

"It's a much more complex aggregate of factors," Ursano said. "Deployment increases the stress on a family, but it's clearly not the deciding factor."

The surveys are expected to begin early next year. The information gathered on individual soldiers will be subject to strict privacy safeguards, officials said.

In addition to the planned surveys, researchers are working with the Army to identify and collect relevant information from existing databases, Heinssen said. Data on soldiers who have committed suicide since 2004 will be analyzed.

While the study will continue for years, the researchers are expected to quickly identify and report on potential risk factors to help the Army prevent suicide.

"That's kind of a different way of doing business for us," Heinssen said.

NIMH will report to the Army on a quarterly basis beginning in November. Findings will be incorporated as quickly as possible into treatment programs, according to Chiarelli.

Potential Recruits 'Experience' Army

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 10, 2009 - Army Sgt. Steve Compton remembers the gulp rising in his throat when he stepped inside an Army recruiting station to get information about enlisting. Every head turned his way – except that of the one recruiter Compton felt comfortable enough to approach, and who ultimately enlisted him. Nearly seven years later, Compton is helping to give potential recruits, and anyone else curious about the Army, a less intimidating introduction at the Army Experience Center here.

More than 12,000 people have visited the one-of-a-kind facility since its doors opened almost a year ago at the Franklin Mills Mall near Northeast Philadelphia's city limits.

The center is billed not as a recruiting station, but as an educational facility that offers an array of interactive computer game stations and simulators visitors can enjoy to their hearts' content.

The goal, explained Capt. Jared Auchey, the company commander, is to make the center as inviting and nonthreatening as possible so people want to come in and enjoy the offerings – and learn about the Army in the process.

"The bottom line is, we want people to walk away with a favorable experience about the Army," Auchey said. "If they want to join, that's great. But if they don't, we want them to look back at coming here as a positive experience."

Unlike the bland recruiting station Compton remembers, the Army Experience Center beckons visitors inside. It's situated within a traditional shopping mall, just across from a restaurant that features interactive video games and an indoor skateboard park.

Inviting sofas and chairs positioned around wide-screen TVs beckon mall-weary feet inside the glass-front panels. A boutique within the center sells Army T-shirts, running shorts and other paraphernalia. A snack bar sells treats.

The 23 soldiers who man the center wear Army polo shirts and khaki pants rather than uniforms, and they're quick to note they have no recruiting quotas to fill. All were hand-picked for the job, and they're happy to share their own Army experiences or answer questions about Army life or opportunities with anyone who asks.

But they're also happy to let visitors stroll through on their own, checking out interactive displays that show where Army bases are located worldwide, what kinds of jobs soldiers perform and how much they get paid.

But the most popular attractions at the Army Experience Center are the rows of X-Box 360 video game consoles that feature Army-made as well as off-the-shelf computer games.

Other big draws are life-size simulators that replicate flying a UH-60 Black Hawk or AH-64 Apache helicopter or driving a Humvee as part of a convoy delivering humanitarian supplies in a combat zone.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Baggett, a soldier of seven years who jumped at the opportunity to be assigned to the Army Experience Center, calls these offerings "the wow factor."

"What we have here is a really high-tech way to show the young Americans who visit here there's a lot more to the Army than they think," he said.

As the games and simulations put participants through realistic combat scenarios, they also introduce key Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

For example, after Christopher Brooks and his wife, Jennifer, went through a Black Hawk simulation, Conway talked them through not only how they performed against the enemy, but also how they communicated and worked together as a team.

Brooks, a former soldier, had a leg up on most visitors, but his wife said she learned a lot through the exercise.

"We don't want people to come in here thinking that it's all about shooting things up," Auchey explained. "There's a lot more than that to being in the Army, and that's what we want people to understand after visiting here. We want them to have a taste of what it's like to be a soldier."

The experience helps to clear up a lot of misconceptions about the Army in this historically Navy city that's never quite lived up to its recruiting potential.

"All that a lot of the people who come in here know is what they've seen in the Hollywood movies," Compton said. "This helps change that perspective. This is valuable face time for the Army."

Seventeen-year-old Joseph Staszak gets a lot of that face time, spending six to seven hours playing computer games at the center almost every day. "I don't have an X-box at home, and here I can play for free," he said.

Staszak works part-time in a hospital cafeteria, but said he plans to join the Army as soon as he undergoes the knee surgery he needs to enlist.

"Going into the Army is a way for me to go to college, and it offers great benefits," he said, pausing the action in a video game that takes the player through Army basic training. "And coming here is a good way to learn about all that."

Not all the visitors who hang out at the center aspire to be soldiers, but Auckey said that's fine with him. Even those who choose not to join the Army will be better informed about it, and more likely to share their positive impressions with others, he said.

Thirteen-year-old Sean Yaffee, for example, doesn't see himself joining the military. But he's becoming another regular at the center, where he can play the same computer games he has at home, but in the company of his buddies.

Yaffee said he's learned a lot about the Army at the center. "It just tells you about the Army experience, but it doesn't pressure you," he said. "I'm really just here to have a good time."

Sgt. 1st Class Monica Godfrey, who has spent 10 of her 18 Army years as a recruiter, likes the center's no-pressure approach, and what it communicates about the Army. Visitors can experience some of the concepts she said are simply too hard to put into words in a traditional recruiting office.

"The Army is not all about combat," she said. "I also want people to experience the love and companionship, the esprit de corps and teamwork that's all part of being in the Army.

"We want people to understand that being a soldier means someone always has your back," she added, "and that we take care of each other."

MILITARY CONTRACTS August 10, 2009

NAVY
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Newport News, Va., is being awarded a $28,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-2100) for planned and growth supplemental work for the accomplishment of the fiscal year 2008 Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA) of USS Enterprise (CVN 65). The CVN 65 FY08 EDSRA is a ship depot availability of approximately 16-month duration. EDSRAs are similar to overhauls in that they restore the ship, including all subsystems that affect combat capability and safety, to established performance standards. Additionally, an EDSRA provides an opportunity to perform hull inspections and recoating, and other maintenance related evolutions below the waterline that cannot be accomplished while the ship is waterborne. The EDSRA provides sufficient time to perform more extensive repairs and testing than is possible during an Extended Selected Restricted Availability. Work will be performed in Newport News, Va., and is expected to be completed by December 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $28,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., is being awarded a $26,257,400 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-6306) to exercise an option for long lead material for 1,300 dismounted joint counter radio-controlled improvised explosive device electronic warfare (JCREW) systems. This contract is for the procurement and support of JCREW systems to be used by forces in each of the military services of the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nev. (90 percent) and Rancho Cordova, Calif. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Consigli Construction Co., Inc., Milford, Mass., is being awarded $19,270,355 for firm-fixed price task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-08-D-2112) for construction of a Fitness Center at Naval Station Newport. The work to be performed provides for the construction of a new facility to replace the existing gymnasium which is located in Building #109 and the existing fitness-plus facility located in Building #355. Buildings #109 and #355 will be demolished as part of this contract. In addition, this contract constructs a lighted softball field, a 3-court tennis facility, and installs field lighting to the existing track/soccer/football field. Construction of the softball field will require demolition of Building #144. Site work and other incidental related work is also included in this contract. Anti-terrorism Force Protection and sustainable design principles will be integrated into the design and construction. Work will be performed in Newport, R.I., and is expected to be completed by August 2011. The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase the cumulative contract value to $20,499,732. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.

Seaward Marine Services, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $10,076,792 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for waterborne hull cleaning and associated services to support the director of ocean engineering, supervisor of salvage and diving. The primary purpose of this contract is to provide hull cleaning, hull inspection and other related ship husbandry services on the underwater portion of Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Military Sealift Command ships and craft. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (52 percent); Honolulu (Pearl Harbor), Hawaii (30 percent); Yokosuka, Japan (10 percent); Singapore (3 percent); and Guam (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $50,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) website, with two proposals received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-D-4219).

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $7,374,953 definitization modification to previously awarded letter contract (N00024-08-C-5122) for the integration of complex war-fighting improvements as the platform system engineering agent for the ship self defense system. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (90 percent); Tewksbury, Mass. (2.5 percent); Portsmouth, R.I. (2.5 percent); St. Petersburg, Fla. (2.5 percent); and Tucson, Ariz. (2.5 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $394,546 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $7,074,494 firm fixed priced modification under contract (M67854-07-D-5032) delivery order #0010 for the procurement of engineering change proposals and tire chains in support of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) MaxxPro Dash vehicles. Work will be performed in West Point, Miss., and work is expected to be completed by the end of December 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively awarded, and the new requirements are sole source additions to the contract. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $7,046,245 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive/award-fee contract (N00019-07-C-0097) for the upgrade of six U.S. Air Force and six U.S. Marine Corp Low Rate Initial Production II (LRIP II) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft from the Block 0.5 to the Block 1.0 configuration. Work will be performed Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

Oceaneering International, Inc., Marine Services Division, Chesapeake, Va., is being awarded a $6,731,538 fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for waterborne hull cleaning and associated services to support the director of pcean engineering, supervisor of salvage and diving. The primary purpose of this contract is to provide hull cleaning, hull inspection and other related ship husbandry services on the underwater portion of Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Military Sealift Command ships and craft. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $33,788,897. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (54 percent); Mayport, Fla. (24 percent); Ingleside, Texas (17 percent); and New London, Conn. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $50,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) website, with two proposals received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-D-4220).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $6,172,565 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive/award-fee contract (N00019-06-C-0291) for the upgrade of two U.S. Air Force Low Rate Initial Production I (LRIP I) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft from the Block 0.5 to the Block 1.0 configuration. Work will be performed Fort Worth, Texas (35 percent); El Segundo, Calif. (25 percent); Warton, United Kingdom (20 percent); Orlando, Fla. (10 percent); Nashua, N.H. (5 percent); and Baltimore, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND
IBM Global Business Services of Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling of $20,000,000. This requirement is for Special Operations Resource Business Information System, which will provide an enterprise business systems tool for U.S. Special Operations Command to facilitate planning, programming, budgeting, execution, and program information reporting. The ordering period will be completed in August 2014. The contract number is H92222-09-D-0048.

AIR FORCE
Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $14,492,743 contract for the Research Information Analysis Center to research, test, develop, and deliver Integration Requirements Reports, Systems Requirements Reports, Inventory Effectiveness Analysis Report, and Training Records Reports for the Forecasting Management Productivity Tool Analysis Program. At this time, $72,464 has been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt, Neb., is the contracting activity. (HC1047-05-D-4005)

UNITED STATES TRANSPORTATION COMMAND
TransAtlantic Lines LLC of Greenwich, Conn., T 06830-5751, is being awarded a $5,737,108 fixed-price requirements contract for dedicated sealift services to transport lawful cargo by U.S. flag ships between Jacksonville, Fla., and the terminal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This contract is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2012. Orders placed against this contract will be funded at the time the cargo is booked. This contract was a 100 percent small business set aside acquisition with two bids received. The contracting activity is United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Directorate of Acquisition, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. 62225 (HTC711-09-D-0047).
Defense Logistics Agency

Solutions Lucid Group LLC.*, Oklahoma City, Okla., is being awarded a maximum $5,101,800 fixed price with economic price adjustment modification type contract for fuel. Other location of performance is McAlester, Okla. Using service is Air Force. There were originally 48 proposals solicited with 48 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-09-D-4539).

Triune Associates**, Dallas, Texas, is being awarded a maximum $42,224,842 fixed price with economic price adjustment type contract for fuel. Other locations of performance are various locations in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. Using services are Army and Air Force. There were originally 48 proposals solicited with 48 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-09-D-4542)

Summer Recruiting Remains Strong Across Services

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 10, 2009 - July was a boom month for military recruiting, with more than 15,000 young men and women entering the active-duty force, defense officials reported today. July recruiting and retention numbers released today show across-the-board successes, with a new high school graduation class among the recruitment-age population seeking career opportunities.

"In tougher economic times, youth are simply more willing to discuss options with recruiters," said Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy. "And when they learn the facts, they see the advantages."

All four services met or exceeded their July active-duty recruiting goals, officials reported. Meanwhile, the reserve components signed on almost 8,000 new members, with six components meeting or exceeding their monthly goals.

Only the Army National Guard and Air National Guard fell short of their initial July projections. Officials called this an intentional measure designed to help them manage their end strength, because they're already on track to meet their annual goals.

The ground forces demonstrated the strongest recruiting showings. The Army, with 6,199 active-duty accessions, topped its July goal by 2 percent. The Marine Corps exceeded its active-duty goal by 15 percent, with 3,451 new members.

Both services showed solid successes in reserve-component recruiting, too. The Army Reserve signed on 1,628 soldiers, 123 percent of its monthly goal. The Marine Corps recruited 1,135 members -- 201 percent of its goal.

The Army Guard added 2,562 members to its ranks, and is on a steady track to meet its annual goals, officials said.

Meanwhile, both the Navy and Air Force met their July active-duty goals, signing on 3,421 and 2,654 new members, respectively.

Both services' reserve components met their July goals, with 688 accessions in the Navy Reserve and 907 in the Air Force Reserve.

AFPS Blog: Obama Spends Birthday Focused on Vets

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 10, 2009 - President Barack Obama strode into the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Aug. 4, uttering apologies for being late as he approached the four military journalists to shake their hands and thank them for coming to talk about veterans' issues.
It was the president's birthday, and the fact hadn't been lost at 1600 Pennsylvania venue. Reporters filing through the security gate passed a group of revelers in pointy party hats assembled outside the fence line. They called out birthday greetings to TV cameras, hoisting a larger-than-life image of the president high under the oppressive afternoon sun.

Inside the White House, Obama had a full schedule of events, including lunch with the Senate Democratic caucus just before his session with me and three other military journalists.

Each session, he explained as he sat across from the reporters with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki at his side, had included birthday festivities that he hadn't known about and hadn't factored into his schedule.

It was shaping up to be a good birthday, he reflected. His Secret Service agents had presented him with a fishing rod. His military aides gave him a display for his military coin collection.

"I'm making out," he said with a smile. "I want to see what Michelle gives me."

The pleasantries exchanged and his visitors now at ease, the president explained why he'd called the session to talk about what his administration is doing to support veterans.

Congress is about to take its summer recess and several major veterans conventions are coming up within the next month. "And we think we've got a great story to tell about where we are moving when it comes to how we treat our men and women who served in the United States armed forces," he said.

Obama praised troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, forming "as experienced and as battle-hardened a group of veterans as we've seen in a generation, basically.

"They have performed with extraordinary valor," he said, only to return home to a weakened economy brought on by the financial crisis.

So rather than just "tinker around the edges" to improve VA services for them, Obama said, he opted to "take a forceful series of steps to make sure that the VA was equipped to provide the services that our veterans so richly deserve."

That's the thinking behind the fiscal 2010 VA budget, with its largest funding increase in 30 years, he said. The additional $25 billion over the next five years will go a long way: "more robust" treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, new VA clinics in rural areas to make services more accessible, more claims adjudicators to reduce backlogs.

Obama calls passage of the budget a big success that will enable these and other changes needed at VA to occur. They'll put VA on "a much firmer footing, moving forward," he said. "The key now is implementation, execution.

For that to happen, he said, he's counting on Shinseki to make VA "a much more customer-friendly operation oriented to bringing people in, not keeping them out, and toward giving them the services they need in a cost-efficient way.

Obama ran down a litany of initiatives under way, and took questions on a broad range of other VA issues. Although all four of us reporters had notes in front of us on the table, the president had none. Shinseki filled in some of the gaps, but there weren't many.

The clock was ticking and the staff behind Obama, sitting along a flag-filled wall, was getting nervous. They were, again, behind schedule.

Obama remained at ease, but deliberated a bit less as he responded to the last two questions.

Overall, he said, he's pretty satisfied with the direction things are going as he works to make good on his campaign promises to do right by America's veterans.

"Of all the things we've accomplished over the first seven months of my administration, one of the things I'm most proud of is that I really believe we have been true to our commitment to our veterans," he said. "The promises that I made during the campaign, we have followed through on. And it will provide tangible, concrete benefits to our veterans for years to come."

The interview was now over, the tape recorders off, and suddenly Obama was preparing to dash off to his next appointment -- again, behind schedule.

Hands were shaken and thank-yous exchanged, along with a fresh round of "happy birthdays." The president paused before returning to the Oval Office across the hallway, asking the reporters, "Tell all your readership I appreciate what they do for our country every day."

The Problem with Liberals

For liberals the fight is never, the battle is never won, nor is it lost.

Nothing better illustrates this than Obamacare. The merits of the bill are beyond the scope of this post. What really is at issue is one question: why this again? Single payer health care was tried in 1994 and defeated in a rather ugly fashion. The end result of Hillarycare was the loss of the House and Senate, and the governor's mansion in states like New York and Texas. Yet here the liberals are, trying it once again.

Those of us who thought Bill Clinton should have been impeached for the Lewinsky affair recognized that our argument - that such behavior was inappropriate for anyone, much less the president - was rejected by the public. There was a tacit acknowledgement that we lost the debate and it was time to move on. If President Obama was cought doing more or less the same thing, I think most conservatives would be indifferent.

For liberals there's always an excuse. Humphrey lost in '68 because the youth vote didn't turn out. McGovern lost in '72 because Nixon played on the country's fears. Reagan won in '80 and '84 because he was good in front of the camera. Bush the Elder beacuse of America's racists response to the Willie Horton ads. Bush the Younger won his elections because he stole them. Often the problem lies with America. The country is racist, or selfish or unsophisticated.

For liberals the problem is never with them. Of course people want single payer health care. Of course people want gun control. Of course people want high taxes. They just don't know it becuase of the powerful interestsl the insurance lobby, or the NRA.

The solution to groups of like minded people organizing against the liberal agenda is campaign finance reform.

Liberals are nostalgic for the 60's, but the rest of America is not. This writer bets that when most Americans saw Mayor Daley's police at the Chicago convention wade into crowds of protestors, batons swinging, most Americans were rooting for the Police - and the Ohio National Guard too.

Will Stroock's Novel about Operation Desert Storm can be purchased at Amazon

Team Leadership

Editor's Note: The author of Leadership: Texas Hold 'em Style is a former servicemember.

August 8, 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 TeamWork Radio.

Date: August 18, 2009
Time: 7:30AM PACIFIC
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/generationfreedom/2009/08/18/Teamwork-Radio

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Each week TeamWork Radio discusses “topics and tools to help you build a strong team and grow your business.”

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

Jews who shoot back

I must say I am most intrigued by the premise behind Quintin Tarantino's new movie, Inglorious Basterds. Briefly, a half dozen Jewish soldiers are dropped into German occupied France with orders to raise hell. Each man owes, as their commander, played by Brad Pitt says, '100 Nazi scalps.'

Being Jewish myself, I say-bravo, and more. Why stop at 100? Why 1,000, or 100,000?

As I write this my daughter is watch An American Tale, about a Jewish mouse and his family fleeing the Cossacks, in what I suppose is Polish Russia. This theme annoys me, and always has. Why flee? Instead of shouting 'aye Gawalt!' when the Cossacks come, why not instead run back to your house and get your rifle? Don't say Kaddish when your loved one is impaled upon a Cossack sword, kill the SOB who did it.

This is why I've always enjoyed the story of the hunting don and execution of the Palestinian terrorists behind the Munich Massacre. Revenge was an end unto itself. Steven Spielberg's inadequate movie on the subject was full of hand ringing and equivocation on the part of the protagonist. He brought justice to the fiends who murdered his countrymen, what is the problem?

Jewishness is one of my the themes of my novel, A Line Through the Desert. Sgt Jake Bloom is large, works with his hands, and indulges in bar fights. When the school thug called him a 'Kike' Jake just punched his lights out. He has no use for the ADL. Once his cousins wanted to play Fiddler on the Roof, but he wanted to play Raid on Entebbe. As he asks his girlfriend, 'Do all Jews have to be wimpy little fags?'

Will Stroock's Novel about Operation Desert Storm can be purchased at Amazon

DoD to Award $14.1 Million for Science and Engineering Research

The Department of Defense announced today the awarding of 28 grants totaling $14.1 million as part of the fiscal 2009 Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR). The grants will enhance research and engineering capabilities at 20 academic institutions in 14 states in scientific disciplines critical to national security and the DoD.

The list of projects selected for fiscal 2009 DEPSCoR funding is available online at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug 2009/DEPSCOR.pdf

The awards are the result of a merit competition for DEPSCoR conducted for the DoD research and engineering directorate. The Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) solicited proposals using a defense-wide broad agency announcement. The solicitation was published on the Internet and available at Grants.gov. The fiscal 2009 program solicitation received 131 proposals.

Academic researchers in Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming were eligible to receive awards under this competition.

The average award is approximately $504,372. All awards are subject to the successful completion of negotiations between the DoD and the academic institutions.

MILITARY CONTRACTS August 7, 2009

AIR FORCE
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Western Region, El Segundo, Calif., was awarded a $57,100,000 modified contract to provide a demonstration unit of the initial parts of the MP-RTIP for the Joint Stars E-8 platform. At this time, $27,200,000 has been obligated. Multi-Sensor Command and Control Aircraft Program Office, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-00-C-0100 P00174).

DWG & Associate, Inc., Colorado Springs, Colo., was awarded a $40,000,000 modified contract for simplified acquisition of base engineer requirements at the Air Force Academy. At this time, $100,000 has been obligated. 10th Contracting Squadron, USAF Academy, Colo., is the contracting activity (FA700-09-D-0020).

Alion Science and Technology Corp., Chicago, Ill., was awarded a $32,678,765 contract that will provide research to expand technological developments, integration, validation, and program deployment in the areas of intelligent ground system, force protection technology, vehicle electronics and architectures, ground vehicles power & mobility, and ground system survivability. At this time, $12,744,203 has been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., is the contracting activity (N61339-03-D-0300).

Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., was awarded a $19,323,655 contract for the Reliability Information Analysis Center to research, test, develop and deliver engineering and technology assessment reports, standards and specification reports, configuration assessment reports, feasibility assessment reports, and interoperability test reports for the secure site technology analysis, upgrades, installation and testing project. At this time, $2,811,594 has been obligated. 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb. is the contracting activity (HC1047-05-D-4005).

Telecommunications Support Services, Inc., Melbourne, Fla., was awarded a $9,138,334 contract to provide operations, maintenance and technical support to the Mobile Air Surveillance Systems, in support of U.S. and allied nations' counterdrug effort in U.S. SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. At this time, $387,810 has been obligated. Air Combat Command Acquisition Management and Integration Center, Newport News, Va., is the contracting activity (FA4890-09-C-0009).

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Santa Clara, Calif., was awarded a $5,605,006 modified contract to provide a configuration change to the Counter Space Plug-in, providing increased capabilities to support counterspace operations. At this time, $4,134,348 has been obligated. SMC/SYSW/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8819-07-C-0004).

NAVY
Eagle Industries Unlimited, Inc., Fenton, Mo., is being awarded a $20,609,459 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-08-C-3009) for an additional 49,500 enhanced small arms protective insert carriers. The work will be performed in Lares, Puerto Rico, and work is expected to be completed February 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $20,609,459 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was a sole source award issued pursuant to the statutory authority under 10 U.S.C. §2304(c)(2), as implemented by FAR 6.302-2, "Unusual and Compelling Urgency." The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Corp., Eagan, Minn., is being awarded a $19,806,856 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for technical engineering, life cycle support, and repair services of Ohio class submarine data processing subsystem equipment and related systems. Work will be performed in Middletown, R.I., and is expected to be completed by August 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $75,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, R.I., is the contracting activity (N66604-09-D-1340).

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Keyport, Wash., is being awarded a $19,327,300 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-04-C-6101) to provide additional MK54 torpedoes and support services necessary to support Fleet Operational Requirements for the various torpedo product lines. Work will be performed in Keyport, Wash., (50 percent) and Portsmouth, R.I., (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by October 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

American Systems Corporation, Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $14,487,200 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing arrangement to provide engineering and security engineering services to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific in the area of assured computer and network operations. This contract contains four options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $23,955,600. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility in San Diego (15 percent) and at government ship and shore facilities worldwide (85 percent). The period of performance of the base award is from Aug. 7, 2009 through Aug. 6, 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of this fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website (under solicitation N66001-09-R-0014), and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with four offers received. SSC Pacific is the contracting activity (N66001-09-D-0014).

Navistar Defense LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded a $7,757,743 firm-fixed-priced modification under contract (M67854-07-D-5032) delivery order #0006 to order engineering change proposals, ambulance sustainment parts, and ambulance head clearance retrofit kits for Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Work will be performed in West Point, Miss, and work is expected to be completed by the end of December 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The base contract was competitively awarded, and the new requirements are sole source additions to the contract. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

ARMY
King Fisher Marine Service LP, Port Lavaca, Texas was awarded on August 5, 2009 a $12,952,200 firm-fixed-price contract for the removal of approximately 1 million cubic yards of new work grudging of the Galveston Channel from Stations 8+031.53 to 0+500, and the construction of the following principal features at San Jacinto placement area: mechanically constructed levees, construction of hydraulic fill berms, installation of new drop-outlet structure, rehabilitation of existing drop-outlet structure, removal and backfill of existing weir, installation of stone protection templates. Work is to be performed in Galveston County, Texas with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2010. Four bids solicited with two bids received. U.S.A. Engineer District, Galveston, Texas is the contracting activity (W912HY-09-C-0029).

MACRO Industries, Inc, Huntsville, Ala., was awarded on August 5, 2009 a $9,514,350 firm-fixed-price contract for the acquisition of 357 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter armor panel ship sets and 36 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter Armor Repair Kits. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, Ala.,with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, CCAM-AR-B, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-09-C-0222).

North America Aerodynamics, Inc, Roxboro, N.C., was awarded on August 4, 2009 a $13,390,025 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 1,999 each G11 Cargo Parachutes with an option for an additional quantity of 1000 each NSN 1670-01-016-7841. Work is to be performed in Roxboro, N.C., with an estimated completion date of Jul. 30, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with five bids received. Research Development & Engineering Command Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W58P05-C-0028).

Honeywell International, Inc, Phoenix, Ariz. was awarded on July 31, 2009 a $255,076,495 firm-fixed-price contract to provide parts and support for the overhaul of 1,000 SAGT (Automotive Gas Turbines) 1500 engines of equivalents per year for Program year 4 (PY4) and the potential Program Year 5 (PY5) of the Total InteGrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) program in support of Abrams tank production, Abrams derivative vehicles and Army stock spares. The engine equivalents will support the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) turbine value stream (TVS) AGT 1500 engine overhaul line. This action is required as soon as possible but no later than the end of the 3rd quarter fiscal year 2009 to ensure a continuous flow of engines through the engine overhaul line to meet the tank production line requirements at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) and to meet field spare requirements. The TIGER program is an Army initiative to revitalize the Automotive Gas Turbine (AGT) 1500 (horsepower) engine fleet which supports the Abrams tank and derivation vehicles (M1A1 tank, M1A2 tank and the Heavy Assault Bridge (HAB)). The TIGER program will increase the reliability of the AGT 1500 engine by improving the overhaul processes to a "near" new engine standard, including durability based design improvements and will provide the support to Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) for the overhaul of up to 1000 each AGT 1500 engine equivalent per year. This approach will foster a long-term partnership between PM Heavy Brigade Combat Team (configuration management), TACOM Heavy Combat Products Support Integration Directorate (forecasting oversight), Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) (depot facilities, workforce, warranty support) and Honeywell Int'l (technical support, overhaul process expertise, demand management, supply chain management, inventory control and field service/ warranty support). Work is to be performed in Anniston, Ala., (13 percent), Phoenix, Ariz., (66 percent), Greer, S.C. (19 percent), and Rocky Mountain, N.C., (2 percent) with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S.A. TACOM- Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-C-0173).

AM General, LLC South Bend, Ind., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $ 124,118,947 firm-fixed-price contract to add 843 EA High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV) to contract. Work is to be performed in Mishawka, Ind., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009. One bid solicited with one bid received. TACOM Warren, AMSTA-AQ-ATCA, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (DAAE07-01-C-S001).

Carothers Construction, Inc, Oxford, Miss., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $ 32,526,500 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a vehicle maintenance instruction facility (VMIF) at Fort Benning, Ga. This is comprised of an 185,500 sq. ft. VMIF, vehicle parking, security building and support infrastructure. The project scope also includes utilities, access roads and drivers, parking lot, paving, walks, curbs, gutters, lighting, and security for parking lot. Site improvement, exterior communications, fire protection, storm sewer system, site preparation, erosion control grassing, landscaping and signage. Work is to be performed in Fort Bragg, N.C., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 25, 2010. Seven bids solicited with five bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W91278-07-D-0036).

Tetra-Tech EC, Inc, Norcross, Ga., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $ 33,250,205 firm-fixed-price contract for Lake Ponchartrain and vicinity, LPV-101 Phase 2, 17th Street Canal to Topaz St., Orleans Parish, La. The work consists of demolition and replacement of floodwalls, fabrication and replacement of floodwall gates, driving piling, earthwork to upgrade levees, upgrading roadwork and utility installations. Work is to be performed in Orleans Parish, La. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hurricane Protection Office, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-09-C-0077).

T J Fig Inc, Stockton, Calif., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $27,193,855 time and material contract for mobile training teams to conduct CONUS and OCONUS field level maintenance new equipment training and operator level new equipment training training on the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected family of vehicles. Work is to be performed in CONUS, OCONUS, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. One bid solicited and one bid received. TACOM Contracting Center, Detroit Arsenal, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-C-0486).

Kiewit Pacific Co., Vancouver, Wash., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $16,133,285 firm-fixed-price contract for the Tillamook North Jetty capping project with requirement to procure and place stone to repair the jetty. Work is to be performed in Tillamook, County, Ore., with an estimated completion date Sept. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. U.S.A. Corps of Engineer, Portland, Ore., is the contracting activity (W9127N-09-C-0031).

Weeks Marine, Inc., Covington, La., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $ 14,947,500 firm-fixed price contract for the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection & Restoration Act (CWPPRA), Pilottown Anchorage Area maintenance dredging, Plaquemines Parish, La. Work is to be performed in Plaquemines Parishes, La., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 15, 2009. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with two bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-09-C-0091).

Nelson Inc., Memphis, Tenn., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $9,241,900 firm-fixed-price construction contract for the Stone Dike construction at various locations along the Mississippi River between Miles 954.0 to 599.0 AHP. Work is to be performed along various locations along the Mississippi River with an estimated completion date of Jan. 29, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District Memphis, Memphis, Tenn., is the contracting activity (W912EQ-09-C-0025).

GDLS, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Jul. 31, 2009 a $7,591,072 firm-fixed-price contract to follow on procurement to extend periods of performance (tech services) on the existing contract in Morocco. Work is to be performed in Casablanca, Morocco with an estimated completion date of Jun. 15, 2010. One bid solicited with one bid received. TACOM-Warren, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-C-0371).

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthieum Heights, Md., was awarded on Aug. 6, 2009 a $9,449,478 firm-fixed-price contract for the Electromagnetic Imaging/ Interface Control Document (EMI/ICD) engineering change proposal for a required design change to the synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator STARLite System. Work is to be performed in Linthieum Heights, Md., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2009. One Sole Source bid solicited with one bid received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-08-C-P427).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Crowley Petroleum Distribution, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska is being awarded a maximum $6,953,300 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for petroleum products. Other locations of performance are posts, camps and stations throughout the state of Alaska. Using services are Army and Air Force. The proposal was originally Web 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, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-1009).

Adirondack Book House Talks Leadership

Editor's Note: The author is a former servicemember.

August 7, 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 Adirondack Book House.

Date: September 4, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM Pacific
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/TheAdirondackBookhouse

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Adirondack Book House reviews books and provides authors an outlet to dicuss their work. The Adirondack Book House is hosted by Peter Klein, the author of numerous travel and hiking books on the Adirondack area of New York State as well as the author of the fiction series The Valkyrie Vampire.

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

Customer Input Drives Moving Company Selection

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 7, 2009 - The Defense Department is shifting the way it selects the civilian companies that move servicemembers and defense civilians to new duty stations by focusing on customer service rather than on cost. Officials now rank companies' performance based in part on input from people they've moved. Servicemembers and defense civilians are asked to fill out a 12-question survey after the move is made.

The customer input gives military transportation offices a new measure for determining which movers are used and how often, said Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Bradley, deputy chief of staff for personal property for the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

"The survey was determined to be a way to get servicemember feedback on improving the quality of service they get from the mover," he said. "It came from a quality-of-life issue where people said they didn't like moving or the moving process, and [that] it was difficult and should be better."

The survey is completed online. Customers receive an e-mail message with a link to the survey after their household goods are delivered at their new duty station. This input gives them a direct voice and an opportunity to improve their quality of service, Bradley said.

"Basing part of the transportation acquisition services on customer feedback forces moving companies who want to stay active in the program to focus on servicemembers," Bradley said.

The survey is one of three factors used to choose and rank moving companies. It's the cornerstone of the "best-value acquisition" program the Defense Department is shifting toward to better accommodate servicemembers, he said. Moving company rates and how well the company handles servicemember claims for lost or damaged items also determine which companies are used and how frequently.

Each survey is used for a year to determine the overall quality of the mover. Although the Defense Department has been collecting the data since November, Bradley said, participation in the survey hasn't been as high as he and personal property representatives would like. Only about 20 percent of military members who used military-contracted transportation companies have participated in the survey.

"It's absolutely key that the servicemembers take their time and fill out that [survey], which is quick -- it's only 12 questions," he said. "We just want to get a sense of [whether] it's a good mover or bad mover and go from there.

"As you can imagine, the moving industry wants to be evaluated on 100 percent of the surveys, not 20 percent," he continued. "They beat us up pretty well to get the survey-return rate up higher to establish a good basis of who's good and who's not."

Moving companies also review the surveys. Movers will be issued warning letters if they receive too many low ratings and survey scores. The more warning letters a moving company receives, the further down the list they move among preferred moving companies. Poorly ranked companies will be used less frequently, and eventually will be removed from the list all together, Bradley said.

"Servicemembers and [Defense Department] civilians now have a specific way to influence how many shipments a mover can get," he said. "If you're in the lowest [ranking] for long, you're eventually going out of business. But if movers are great, we want to reward them with more shipments, so other servicemembers can get a quality move as well."

Bradley acknowledged that most people dislike participating in surveys, but stressed the positive effect this particular survey can have on military members and civilian moving companies.

"Surveys are frustrating, but this one has an impact on your quality of life," he said.

The survey scores have been used to calculate mover rankings since November, but the survey itself has been available and collected since spring 2004. Defense employees who don't receive the e-mail prompting them to fill out the form can go to http://www.move.mil/ to complete the survey.

Global Strike Command Will Stress Nuclear Mission

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 7, 2009 - A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission will be made today with the activation of the service's Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will bring together the Air Force bomber force and intercontinental ballistic missiles under a single commander.

"Standing up the command is no small task, and actually we're doing it sooner than we anticipated," Donley said during a Pentagon news conference Aug. 5. "This command will provide the combatant commanders the forces needed to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations through ICBM, B-2 and B-52 operations."

Air Force Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz will command the organization. The headquarters will include 900 people, and is slated to reach full operating capability by Aug. 7, 2010, Donley said. The 20th Air Force, the service's missile organization, will come under the new command in December; and the 8th Air Force, the bomber component, will come under the command in April.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz stressed that the new command will be a major command like Air Combat Command or Air Force Special Operations Command. The role is to "organize, train and equip America's ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers, and prepare a cadre to do this important work with passion and professionalism," he said during the news conference.

Ensuring professionalism and pride in the nuclear field will be vital to the command's success, Schwartz said, noting that airmen with nuclear expertise had been leaving the service, feeling their work was not appreciated.

"The bottom line is retention has a lot to do with perceptions on how important people's work is, and how worthy that work is," the general said. "We've worked to make it clear to those who will serve in this command that the work is important to the country's defense and it will continue to be so."

Making the command a major command also will give airmen in the nuclear fields an advocate equal to the other commands, he said.

The creation of the command is an effort to boost security and reduce errors. In a 2007 incident, nuclear weapons were loaded aboard a B-52 bomber at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and flown to Barksdale before the mistake was discovered. In another incident, nuclear nose cones mistakenly were shipped to Taiwan. As a result, the service's top civilian and military officials -- Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley -- resigned.

Multiple studies of the incidents and the Air Force's atmosphere revealed that the service's nuclear forces and the entire enterprise lacked clear lines of authority and responsibility, officials said. The Global Strike Command is one of the solutions.

Donley said moves at the Air Staff and in the field have emphasized accountability and compliance with respect to nuclear issues at all levels. The service has re-emphasized training for inspectors and added $750 million over the Future Year Defense Plan for nuclear efforts, in addition to a $4.2 billion base budget. The service also is standing up another B-52 squadron, in part to provide for longer and more focused training.

A number of entities have an interest in the nuclear arena, including the U.S. Strategic Command and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. These agencies will play a key role in inspections of the new command, Schwartz said.

The command will have an inspector general, and the service has made a special effort to make the inspections "more challenging and intrusive to ensure that commanders get good feedback in how healthy their commands were," the general said.

Inspections will be demanding, he promised, and will include operations, security, maintenance and weapons.

The emphasis on the nuclear missions means that when a mission requires B-2s or B-52s to carry conventional weapons, they will be reassigned from the new command to the regional commanders for that mission. Global Strike Command will ensure that air and ground crews have expertise in conventional weaponry and raids, but the focus must remain on the nuclear capability, the chief of staff said.

GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND ACTIVATION CEREMONY

The Air Force Global Strike Command activation ceremony takes place here August 7 during a 10:30 a.m. ceremony in Hoban Hall.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, will participate in the ceremony with General Schwartz serving as the presiding officer.

Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz will assume command of Global Strike Command, taking responsibility for the organization, training and equipping of Airmen for the nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.

The command’s mission will stretch across five Air Force bases and several direct reporting units. The most notable change that will take place over the next several months will be the transfer of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile forces, plus B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress bombers’ operational responsibility from Air Force Space Command and Air Combat Command, respectively.

Media members interested in attending the activation ceremony should contact public affairs by 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, so they can make arrangements to attend. ** Broadcast media planning to bring live trucks to the base must contact public affairs no later than Friday, July 31, so arrangements can be made for parking the trucks.** Due to the amount of traffic and construction on the base, media interested in covering the activation ceremony August 7 should be at the 8th Air Force Museum parking lot no later than 8:30 a.m. for the scheduled events.

AFPS Blog: New GI Bill Will Make Huge Impact

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 7, 2009 - If history is any guide, the new Post-9/11 GI Bill may be the most effective piece of legislation Congress ever has passed. The new GI Bill that President Barack Obama signed in June went into effect Aug. 1. It is aimed at giving today's servicemembers the same benefit that warriors from past wars received.

The World War II GI Bill gave veterans unprecedented educational opportunities. The bill provided money for college, training and homes. The generation that came of age in the Depression and during the war took to the benefit like fish to water.

I was privileged to attend the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion with Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers in 2004. The ceremony on June 5 was held at the drop zone for the 101st Airborne Division outside the town of Ste. Mere Eglise. Veterans of the drop -- then in their late 70s and early 80s -- attended.

The reporters traveling with Myers spoke with many of the veterans, and one in particular I remember. A reporter made the statement to one 101st Airborne vet that dropping into Normandy on June 6, 1944, was probably the high point of his life. The man thought a bit and said (as best I can recollect), "I like to think I did more with my life. I helped put a man on the moon, too."

When the veteran got out of the service in 1946, he attended college using the GI Bill. He received an engineering degree from Cornell University and went to work at Grumman on Long Island where he helped design the lunar lander.

Could he have done this without the GI Bill? No way, the man said. College wasn't an option for anyone in his family, he said. It was too expensive.

But the GI Bill paid for his education and gave him enough to live on -- in fact, he got married while in college. The GI Bill also helped him finance his first home, and one of his sons used the Vietnam-era legislation to go to college.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, just over half of the servicemembers from World War II used the GI Bill's educational benefits. Still, that means roughly 7.8 million men and women were able to tap into an educational opportunity that otherwise probably wouldn't be available.

The success of the GI Bill encouraged lawmakers who introduced legislation for veterans of the Korean and Vietnam eras. After the Korean War, 2.4 million servicemembers used GI Bill benefits and 7.8 million veterans of Vietnam. In fact, 75 percent of Vietnam vets used the educational benefit to some extent.

Since the GI Bill went into effect, servicemembers have used $83.6 billion for education and training benefits. The GI Bill was much more than a simple give-away. The men and women who used the bill bettered their situations. They earned more money and contributed more to America than just their service during war. They formed the largest middle class the world has ever seen and paved the way for post-war prosperity.

Along the way, they introduced a few things to the world -- computers, television, artificial hearts, satellites, rocketry and countless other discoveries, inventions and processes.

The money invested in educating and training generations of Americans has made the United States a leader of the world. This was not lost on President Barack Obama when he spoke at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., on Aug. 3.

"The contributions that our servicemen and women can make to this nation do not end when they take off that uniform," he said. "We owe a debt to all who serve. And when we repay that debt to those bravest Americans among us, then we are investing in our future -- not just their future, but also the future of our own country."

No one can tell how the investment in the new GI Bill will pay off for America and the world. The servicemembers in the military today are all volunteers and have already proven to be among the most motivated and goal-oriented members of their generation.

Perhaps when some vet is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the start of Operation Enduring Freedom he or she can say, "It was a highlight of my life, but I also helped put a man on Mars."

Military Officers Climb in Perceived Status

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 7, 2009 - U.S. military officers have "very great prestige," and their status is climbing, according to a poll released this week. The Harris Poll ranked 23 occupations based on the responses of more than 1,000 adults polled last month.

More than half of those polled gave military officers top marks, saying that the position held very great prestige. Military officers tied with teachers for 51 percent.

Firefighters, scientists, doctors and nurses topped the list, and accountants, stockbrokers and actors were at the bottom of the list.

Military officers garnered a 5 percent increase over last year's poll results. Of those surveyed, 24 percent said military officers held considerable prestige, 17 percent responded with some prestige, and 7 percent said the job held hardly any prestige at all.

The Harris Poll has asked this same question since 1977, but military officers didn't make the list of occupations until 1982. In that year, only 22 percent said the job held very great prestige. Ten years later, that percentage raised 10 points to 32 percent. By 2000, the number had jumped to 42 percent, and in 2002 it was up to 47 percent.

This year's increase follows last year's drop to 46 percent. Polls in 2006 and 2007 reported top spots at 51 and 52 percent, respectively.

More than 200,000 officers serve in the active-duty military forces.

Geren to Remain as Senate Delays Successor's Confirmation

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 7, 2009 - The Senate adjourned without voting to confirm New York Rep. John M. McHugh as Army secretary, but Pete Geren will remain on the job until formally replaced, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today. It will be at least a month before a vote can be held.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates "is deeply disappointed" that the Senate delayed the confirmation of the Army secretary and undersecretary, Morrell said.

In the meantime, Geren will continue to serve as Army secretary. "It's too important a job to be left vacant or manned in an acting capacity while we've got tens of thousands of soldiers in combat," Morrell said.

President Barack Obama announced the nomination of McHugh, a Republican representative from upstate New York, on June 2. His district in New York includes Fort Drum, and he has served on the House Armed Services Committee. The Senate Armed Services Committee held confirmation hearings July 30.

Army Completes Staff Sgt. Maseth Death Investigation

The Army announced today that the investigation into the tragic death of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth has been completed. The extensive, eleven-month investigation conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Command concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove that any one person, persons or entity was criminally culpable in the death of Maseth.

The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology medical examiner previously found the cause of Maseth's death to be electrocution and the manner accidental. The completed Criminal Investigation Division death investigation concurs with those findings.

"This has been a complex investigation involving numerous people, circumstances and contractual agreements," said Brig. Gen. Rodney Johnson, commanding general, U. S. Army Criminal Investigations Command. "It was a lengthy, thorough and detailed investigation. Reviewing the many documents and issues did take an extraordinary amount of time, but we wanted to do everything we could to get it right. We owe that to Staff Sgt. Maseth and his loved ones."

The investigation revealed that there were numerous entities and individuals, both contractors and government employees, who breached their respective duties of care; however none of those breaches, in and of themselves, were the proximate cause of his death. The investigation was closed with a finding that there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove any criminal negligence in the soldier's death.

"As with all of our criminal investigations, if new, credible information becomes available, we stand ready to reopen the investigation to pursue the truth, wherever it may lead," Johnson said.

There have been 18 reported deaths due to electrocution in Iraq since March 2003, including 16 service members and two contractors. Fourteen of these cases occurred in the field away from military facilities or in work situations that included performing maintenance on electrical systems.

After a series of electrical accidents and incidents, Multi-National Force–Iraq created Task Force Safety Actions for Fire and Electricity in August 2008 to assess and analyze fire and electrical safety issues in Iraq and then direct actions to remedy those hazards.

As of July 25, the task force has inspected more than 67,000 of the approximately 90,000 pieces of equipment and facilities in Iraq, many of which were substandard structures dating from the Saddam Hussein era. The task force is ahead of schedule to complete the inspections by November. The inspections have led to the correction of nearly 14,000 deficiencies found thus far as the facilities are brought into compliance with the United States National Electric Code. Most deficiencies have been related to electrical grounding and bonding that enables the proper functioning of circuit breakers.

Since Maseth's death, there has not been another confirmed electrocution death of a soldier in Iraq.

For more information, contact Army Public Affairs, Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, christopher.garver@us.army.mil , or 703-697-2564.

For questions regarding the criminal investigation contact CID Public Affairs, Chris Grey, christopher.grey@us.army.mil, or (703) 806-0372.

For questions about Task Force SAFE, contact the MNF-I Press Desk at mnfipressdesk@iraq.centcom.mil.

Speicher Search Details Announced

The Navy announced today additional details regarding the recent discovery of the remains of Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher in Iraq. Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on Jan. 17, 1991, during Operation Desert Storm.

Acting in part on information provided by an Iraqi citizen in early July, Multi National Force – West's (MNF-W) personnel recovery team went to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Speicher's jet. The Iraqi, a Bedouin, was 11 years old at the time of the crash and did not have direct knowledge of where Speicher was buried, but knew of other Bedouins who did. He willingly provided his information during general discussion with MNF-W personnel and stated he was unaware of the U.S. government's interest in this case until queried by U.S. investigators in July 2009.

The Iraqi citizens led MNF-W's personnel recovery team to the area they believed Speicher was buried. The area where the remains were recovered was located approximately 100 kilometers west of Ramadi, in Anbar province. There were two sites that teams searched. One site was next to the downed aircraft that was discovered in 1993 and the other site was approximately two kilometers away. The second site was where Speicher's remains were recovered.

The recovery personnel searched two sites from July 22-29. The personnel recovery team consisted of approximately 150 people, mostly Marines and other forces under MNF-W.

The recovered remains include bones and multiple skeletal fragments. Based on visual examination of the remains and dental records at the site, a preliminary assessment was reached that the remains were that of Speicher. After searching the site another day, no further remains were recovered.

On July 30, the remains were turned over from the recovery team to MNF-W mortuary affairs at Al Asad. The remains were then transported to Dover Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del. They were examined by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology's (AFIP) Armed Forces medical examiner who positively identified them as those of Speicher on Aug. 1.

Positive identification by AFIP was made by comparing Speicher's dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth were a match, both visually and radiographically. AFIP's DNA Lab in Rockville, Md., confirmed the remains to be Speicher on Aug. 2 via DNA comparison tests of the remains by comparing them to DNA reference samples previously provided by family members.

Mullen Describes Daunting, Complex Challenges

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 6, 2009 - The challenges facing the world today are the most daunting and complex in his lifetime, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told a student leadership group today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told the members of the National Student Leadership Council held at American University here that the global financial crisis overlays challenges in all parts of the world.

Mullen told the students – who hold leadership positions at high schools around the country – his job has not changed with the changing of administrations. "I still provide the best military advice I can to the president and secretary of defense and the National Security Council," he said.

Mullen said he provided the same advice to President George W. Bush as he does to President Barack Obama; what changes, the admiral explained, are the administration's goals. When Obama took office, Mullen said, he helped to formulate the strategy for all U.S. troops to be out of Iraq by the end of 2011. In Afghanistan, the president put together a regional approach and a strong civilian-led team to address "soft power" aspects of the new strategy.

Obama has made it a priority to pursue a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine, Mullen said, and he noted that the president has reached out to Iran. "I am encouraged by that, and I'm hopeful as well, but I am realistic about that," the chairman said. "It's been a long time since we've had any dialogue with Iran, and it will take awhile [to establish].

"Every president develops his policy," the nation's top military officer said, "and then we go out and execute that policy."

Challenges also do not wait, he pointed out.

"The challenges that we have right now are daunting and going to grow," Mullen said, citing the need to defend computer networks as one example. The United States depends on information technology, he said, and attacks via cyberspace could cause the nation serious harm.

"The problem is going to grow, and I look to your generation to address it," Mullen said. "It is a vital need, not just for the military, but for the entire nation and for the globe."

Mullen said he spends most of his time on the broader Middle East. This includes Lebanon, the two-state Israel-Palestine solution, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. "It's creeping into the 'stans of Central Asia," he said, referring to other countries in the region whose names end similarly. "All are interrelated."

The chairman said he recently returned from his 13th visit to Pakistan since February 2008. "Every time I go to Pakistan, I learn more and I learn more about what I don't know," he said. "Pakistan is an enormously complex country, a critical country undergoing great pressure, scrutiny and challenges. It is where Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida and its leadership reside."

In Pakistan, the chairman said, he does more listening than talking and tries to "see the problems through their eyes – not through American eyes."

"We can't adequately address problems in assisting other people, supporting other people, unless we learn more about them," he told the students.

The military is pushing for servicemembers to learn more history of these regions, Mullen said, and the Defense Department needs military members to understand the languages. "Exposure to other people and cultures will be even more important as you get older," he told the young audience.

The chairman told the students that the Army and Marine Corps are particularly stressed in the two wars. Soldiers and Marines have deployed constantly since the United States was attacked in 2001, he said, and their families also are paying a price.

"There are young dependents – not much older than you -- who haven't seen their Mom or Dad a lot over the past eight years," he said.

The chairman told the young leaders they need to study leadership during a time of change. "Lots of things are changing, have changed and will change," he said. "Leading through change is the most challenging kind of leadership." People like the status quo and they fight against change, he explained, and leadership means helping people embrace change to make the changes work.

The admiral noted that the nation is living in a time of great needs. "Service – any service – is needed, and there is nothing more satisfying," the chairman said. "When you serve, you get back more than you ever give."

One student asked Mullen to describe the best part of his job.

"My favorite part of the job is dealing with the young people who make this all happen," he said. "If you go to any unit, the average age in units is 21 or 22 years old," he said. "In the most difficult of circumstances, they come through. I leave much more inspired by my engagement with them than I could ever create for them."

The same is true, he added, with the families of servicemembers. "I have engaged mothers and fathers who have lost their son or daughter, and their fortitude, their courage, their bravery is hard to put words around," he said. "It makes me feel so good about our country and being an American."

Send a Book to our Troops

For every copy of MEXICAN BOWL FISHING: And Other Tales of Life sold on www.williamdouglaslittle.com, he is donating a copy to our deploying military members with the help of the National Guard! Order your copy today and William will hand sign a copy to the troops, complete with a message of gratitude and reassurance for the recipient. For less than 15-bucks, you can get your own copy of the book and donate a copy - or - select the option to send BOTH copies directly to our service members. This will give our troops a humorous book of short-stories to read and share while they're off defending freedom in foreign lands. A great way to say "Thank You" to the men and women serving our country!

More Information
http://williamdouglaslittle.com

Leadership and Lit Media Reviews.

Editor's Note: The author is a former servicemember.

August 6, 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 Lit Media Reviews.

Date: August 9, 2009
Time: 2:30 PM Pacific
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/litmediareviews/2009/08/09/Literary-Discussions-tune-in-then

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Lit Media Reviews “is the spot to be heard.” Hosted by Colleen Lue, the program reviews literature, bloggers and podcasting events. It also features interviews with award winning and bestselling authors.

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