ARMY
Johns Hopkins University Advanced Physics laboratory, Laurel, Md., was awarded on Jan. 8, 2010, a $24,777,235 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is to build Phase II on the preliminary design created in Phase I, culminating in the completion of a working prototype that demonstrates the capabilities of the National Cyber Range (NCR). Upon completion of all phases, it is anticipated that the NCR will enable a revolution in the nation's ability to conduct cyber operations by providing a persistent cyber range. Work is to be performed in Laurel, Md. (43.8 percent); Cambridge, Mass. (24.8 percent); Albuquerque, N.M. (6.2 percent); North Chelmsford, Mass. (5.6 percent); Northport, N.Y. (4.4 percent); Los Angeles, Calif. (4.1 percent); Bethesda, Md. (2.7 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (2.5 percent); Idaho Falls, Idaho (2.4 percent); Columbia, Md. (2.0 percent); Columbia, Md. (1.3 percent); and Camden, N.J.(0.2 percent), with an estimated completion date of April 14, 2011. Bids were solicited via broad agency announcement with seven bids received. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-10-C-0039).
Bristol Construction Services, LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on Jan. 7, 2010, a $17,450,531 construction contract. This contract is to provide labor, materials and equipment to repair/upgrade the access rail line and on-post rail system, increasing turning radiuses and track gauges, at the Military Ocean Terminal, Sunny Point, Southport, N.C. Work is to be performed in Southport, N.C., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0072).
Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support, Orlando, Fla., was awarded on Jan. 8, 2010, an $8,121,044 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is for Phase II, which will build on the preliminary design created in Phase I, culminating in the completion of a working prototype that demonstrates the capabilities of the National Cyber Range (NCR). Upon completion of all phases, it is anticipated that the NCR will enable a revolution in the nation's ability to conduct cyber operations by providing a persistent cyber range. Work is to be performed in Orlando, Fla. (22.83 percent); Cherry Hill, N.J. (30.82 percent); Salt Lake City, Utah (1.54 percent); Minneapolis, Minn. (2.43 percent); Hanover, Md. (8.98 percent); Piscataway, N.J. (10.71 percent); Princeton, N.J. (8.53 percent); Columbia, Md., (3.17 percent); Golden Valley, Minn. (2.62 percent); Albuquerque, N.M. (3 percent); San Antonio, Texas (2.90 percent); and Washington, D.C. (1.99 percent), with an estimated completion date of April 14, 2011. Bids were solicited via broad agency announcement with seven bids received. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (HR0011-10-C-0042).
ITT Corp., Night Vision Division., Roanoke, Va., was awarded on Jan. 7, 2010, a $7,392,497 firm-fixed-price contract for various night vision equipments for the country of Canada. Work is to be performed in Roanoke, Va., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010. One sole source bid was solicited with one bid received. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-10-C-D214).
Cox Construction Co., Vista, Calif., was awarded on Jan. 8, 2010, a $6,754,600 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is to design and construct non-standard military operations urban training facility. This Phase IV of a four-phase program is to construct permanent urban operations training facilities to conduct force on force urban operations training at the battalion and brigade collective training level. Primary facilities for Phase IV include additional military operations terrain collective training facilities. Supporting facilities include site preparations, electric power and lighting, and paving and storm drainage. Work is to be performed in Fort Irwin, Calif., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities and Army Single Face to Industry Web sites, with seven bids received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Los Angeles, Calif., is the contracting activity (W912PL-10-C-0006).
NAVY
Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $13,459,708 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for ongoing support for the nuclear weapons security program and nuclear weapons surety, and the SSBN Transit Protection Program (TPS). The contractor will provide program planning, systems engineering services, support of surety inspections and monitoring, and analytical support. The contractor will also provide management support required in the implementation, improvement and execution of the TPS program. This contract contains options which, if exercised, will bring the value of the contract to $25,798,773. Work will be performed in Alexandria, Va. (94 percent); Kings Bay, Ga. (3.5 percent); and Silverdale, Wash. (2.5 percent). Work is expected to be completed by Nov. 26, 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $13,459,708 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. Strategic Systems Program, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-10-C-0016).
Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $10,803,500 cost-plus fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide airborne electronic attack engineering support for the EA-6B, EA-18G, and other advanced electronic attack derivatives at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Point Mugu, Calif. Work will be performed at NAWCWD, Point Mugu, Calif. (85 percent); NAWCWD, China Lake, Calif. (5 percent); Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md. (5 percent); and Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Wash. (5 percent). Work is expected to be completed in January 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR. NAWCWD, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-10-D-0014).
Orbital Sciences Corp., Launch Systems Group, Chandler, Ariz., is being awarded a $10,446,921 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for GQM-163A aerial target operations and maintenance services in support of the Naval Air Station (NAS), Point Mugu, Calif., and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Barking Sands, Hawaii. Work will be performed at NAS Point Mugu, Calif. (40 percent); Chandler, Ariz. (40 percent); and PMRF Barking Sands, Hawaii (20 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-10-D-0012).
Black Construction Corp./MACE International, JV, GMF Barrigada, Guam, is being awarded a $9,137,800 firm-fixed price contract for wharf utilities upgrade at Naval Support Facility, Diego Garcia. Work will be performed in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, and is expected to be completed by October 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 Web site with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Far East, Yokosuka, Japan, is the contracting activity (N40084-10-C-0004).
AIR FORCE
EOSPACE, Inc., Redmond, Wash., was awarded a $11,842,411 contract which will provide a program to develop and demonstrate revolutionary advances in photonic links for radio frequency antenna transmit and receive applications. At this time, $567,000 has been obligated. Det 1 AFRL/PKDB, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8650-10-C-7002).
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Veteran Gives Insight on Suicide Prevention
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - When retired Army Maj. Ed Pulido was medically evacuated from Iraq in August 2004, he knew tough challenges were ahead, as he'd have to learn to live without his left leg. But as he sat in his hospital bed at Brooke Army Medical Center on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he began to realize that recovering from his physical disability was only a small part of that challenge.
"When my leg was taken away ... I sat in the hospital bed not knowing what was happening to me mentally," said Pulido, who medically retired after a 19-year Army career. "I remember those three weeks at Brooke where I thought about the fact that as positive as I am, I hit that dark place, and those hidden wounds were the ones that would cripple me at times when I just didn't understand."
Post-traumatic stress had taken form, and depression and anxiety began to take their toll. Suddenly, suicidal thoughts began to surface, the Oklahoma native said.
Pulido shared the story of his struggles yesterday with an audience of more than 1,000 military and other government agency health-care workers and officials gathered here for the 2nd Annual Suicide Prevention Conference sponsored by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments.
The weeklong conference began yesterday and goes through Jan. 14 to give department health-care professionals insight to each organization's programs and best practices in suicide prevention. Nearly 100 veterans who've experienced suicidal thoughts, such as Pulido, are expected to share their stories of survival.
During his initial weeks of recovery from his Oct. 1, 2004, amputation surgery, Pulido had plenty of time to think, he said. He often thought about the day his Humvee was struck by a roadside bomb, the soldiers who saved his life and how his Army career abruptly came to an end. Also, he said, he found joy in his wife and young daughter, but was troubled with how he would support them.
"I didn't know how I was going to provide for my family, and that was the hardest thing for me to struggle with as I began this journey," he said. "When they took my leg, they took so much away."
Still, the darker days of combat in Iraq were behind him. However, the images of death and destruction, as he described it, lingered in his mind, and he soon realized they always would, he said.
Other reminders came to him during his rehabilitation, but not because he was learning to walk with a prosthetic leg. He was surrounded by other servicemembers learning to deal with their injuries, and as he watched them struggle, he worried that their sacrifice and service to the nation would be forgotten, he said.
"We have to care for them when they come back from war and make sure they are not forgotten," he said of his fellow wounded warriors.
Pulido stressed that his is just one of many stories. He reminded the audience of the importance of their support in making veterans' lives successful after returning from war. And although their lives have changed, he said, chaplains, counselors and health-care providers do well to show veterans that there's still much to live for.
Because of the care of his providers, family and with spiritual faith, Pulido began his journey of "challenge, triumph and change," he said.
"Challenge is sitting on the battlefield almost losing my life," he said. "Triumph is taking the first step after amputation, and change is living with the dark wounds of war and learning that with the right support systems in place, I can truly have a great life.
"This conference is what it's all about. ... Together, we can come together to bring change to how we take care of our servicemen and women," he said.
Pulido now spends much of his time advocating for wounded veterans, specifically in the areas of mental health and ortho-prosthetic technology.
The intervention he experienced helped to put him on the path to recovery and became his building block for understanding the mental wounds of war, he said. Through his work, he added, Pulido hopes to ensure mental health advocacy leaves no one behind on the battlefield.
Army Reserve Prepares for Post-Conflict Requirements
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - After World War I, a hit single begged the question, "How do you keep them down on the farm after they've seen Paree?" With the drawdown of U.S. forces under way in Iraq and plans announced to begin reducing forces in Afghanistan after July 2011, Army Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, the Army Reserve chief, is facing a similar quandary.
His big question is: "How do you keep the Army Reserve relevant, and its soldiers motivated, if it's allowed to revert from an operational reserve to its pre-war strategic-reserve status?
Stultz told an assembly of reserve soldiers today that he wants the Army Reserve to continue supporting the total force and to keep its combat-hardened capabilities sharp after the current conflicts end.
With proven battlefield successes and an Army force-generation process instilling predictability into training and deployment cycles, an operational Army Reserve can continue to fulfill critical military missions, he said.
"There are a lot of requirements out there today from all the [combatant commands] that are going unmet because of the demand in Iraq and Afghanistan," Stultz said. "And I think, long-term, if we put them in the global requirements system, there will be plenty of opportunities for reserve-component soldiers to go do things in the future, even with a drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan."
With a heavy concentration on combat-support and combat-service-support capabilities, the Army Reserve has a lot to contribute toward combatant commanders' security cooperation engagements, he said.
Stultz pointed to medical and engineering exercises in which the Army Reserve regularly engages within U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility.
Navy Adm. James Stavridis, U.S. European Command and NATO commander who previously served as Southcom commander, said these medical engagements "do more than anything else we do to enhance relationships with the United States, and the way people in those countries view us," Stultz said.
Rather than limiting these missions to the current two to three weeks, Army reservists could serve longer tours, Stultz said, all within their regularly scheduled force-generation cycles.
The Army introduced the force-generation training and deployment cycle concept in 2006 to ensure there's always a pool of trained, equipped and deployment-ready troops. For the Army Reserve, the plan means reservists can expect to deploy for up to a year once every five years.
"What I would like to be able to say in the future is, plan a 12-month engagement," Stultz said, with Army Reserve medical units pulling longer tours – potentially 90 to 120 days longer -- to support it. "We could really do a first-class support mission," he said, possibly rotating various reserve units through for its full duration.
Citing potential missions within U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Pacific Command, the general noted "a huge potential to really leverage a lot of capabilities – from logistics to engineers to civil affairs to medical to you name it – to have a huge impact out there."
The plan would enable Army reservists to maintain their skills, Stultz said, while giving them the predictability of knowing they would be on tap for deployments only one in every five years.
Stultz said his most recent Thanksgiving and Christmas visits to Iraq and Afghanistan reaffirmed how far the Army Reserve has come as an operational force.
"When you get out there in Iraq and Afghanistan and see U.S. Army Reserve units in action, they can hold their own with anybody on the battlefield," he said. "And commanders across the force say 'I can't tell any difference.'... In terms of performance of the unit, they are as good as anybody else."
The key after the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will be to maintain those capabilities on a sustained basis, he said.
While the leadership has a big interest in maximizing Army Reserve capabilities, Stultz said, the soldiers themselves want to ensure they remain relevant.
"The soldiers we have signing up today for the Army Reserve are signing up to go do something. They are not signing up for a one-weekend-a-month, two-weeks-in-the summertime Army," he said. "If we go back to a strategic reserve, with tiered readiness, I think we will have a heck of a time retaining those soldiers, because that is not what they want."
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - After World War I, a hit single begged the question, "How do you keep them down on the farm after they've seen Paree?" With the drawdown of U.S. forces under way in Iraq and plans announced to begin reducing forces in Afghanistan after July 2011, Army Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, the Army Reserve chief, is facing a similar quandary.
His big question is: "How do you keep the Army Reserve relevant, and its soldiers motivated, if it's allowed to revert from an operational reserve to its pre-war strategic-reserve status?
Stultz told an assembly of reserve soldiers today that he wants the Army Reserve to continue supporting the total force and to keep its combat-hardened capabilities sharp after the current conflicts end.
With proven battlefield successes and an Army force-generation process instilling predictability into training and deployment cycles, an operational Army Reserve can continue to fulfill critical military missions, he said.
"There are a lot of requirements out there today from all the [combatant commands] that are going unmet because of the demand in Iraq and Afghanistan," Stultz said. "And I think, long-term, if we put them in the global requirements system, there will be plenty of opportunities for reserve-component soldiers to go do things in the future, even with a drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan."
With a heavy concentration on combat-support and combat-service-support capabilities, the Army Reserve has a lot to contribute toward combatant commanders' security cooperation engagements, he said.
Stultz pointed to medical and engineering exercises in which the Army Reserve regularly engages within U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility.
Navy Adm. James Stavridis, U.S. European Command and NATO commander who previously served as Southcom commander, said these medical engagements "do more than anything else we do to enhance relationships with the United States, and the way people in those countries view us," Stultz said.
Rather than limiting these missions to the current two to three weeks, Army reservists could serve longer tours, Stultz said, all within their regularly scheduled force-generation cycles.
The Army introduced the force-generation training and deployment cycle concept in 2006 to ensure there's always a pool of trained, equipped and deployment-ready troops. For the Army Reserve, the plan means reservists can expect to deploy for up to a year once every five years.
"What I would like to be able to say in the future is, plan a 12-month engagement," Stultz said, with Army Reserve medical units pulling longer tours – potentially 90 to 120 days longer -- to support it. "We could really do a first-class support mission," he said, possibly rotating various reserve units through for its full duration.
Citing potential missions within U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Pacific Command, the general noted "a huge potential to really leverage a lot of capabilities – from logistics to engineers to civil affairs to medical to you name it – to have a huge impact out there."
The plan would enable Army reservists to maintain their skills, Stultz said, while giving them the predictability of knowing they would be on tap for deployments only one in every five years.
Stultz said his most recent Thanksgiving and Christmas visits to Iraq and Afghanistan reaffirmed how far the Army Reserve has come as an operational force.
"When you get out there in Iraq and Afghanistan and see U.S. Army Reserve units in action, they can hold their own with anybody on the battlefield," he said. "And commanders across the force say 'I can't tell any difference.'... In terms of performance of the unit, they are as good as anybody else."
The key after the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will be to maintain those capabilities on a sustained basis, he said.
While the leadership has a big interest in maximizing Army Reserve capabilities, Stultz said, the soldiers themselves want to ensure they remain relevant.
"The soldiers we have signing up today for the Army Reserve are signing up to go do something. They are not signing up for a one-weekend-a-month, two-weeks-in-the summertime Army," he said. "If we go back to a strategic reserve, with tiered readiness, I think we will have a heck of a time retaining those soldiers, because that is not what they want."
Air Force Pilot Missing In Action From Vietnam War Is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial.
Air Force Maj. Russell C. Goodman of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be honored this week at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., home of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird demonstration team. At the time of his loss, Goodman was assigned to the Thunderbirds and was flying with the U.S. Navy on an exchange program. He will be buried in Alaska at a date determined by his family.
On Feb. 20, 1967, Goodman and Navy Lt. Gary L. Thornton took off in their F-4B Phantom from the USS Enterprise for a bombing mission against a railroad yard in Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam. They were struck by enemy antiaircraft fire and their plane exploded. Thornton was able to eject at just 250 feet altitude, but Goodman did not escape. Thornton survived and was held captive until his release in 1973.
Search and rescue attempts were curtailed because of heavy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire in the area of the crash.
Between October 1993 and March 2008, joint U.S.-Vietnamese teams led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigated the crash site twice and conducted two excavations, recovering human remains and pilot equipment. The aircraft debris recovered correlates with the type of aircraft the men were flying.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA – which matched two of his maternal relatives -- in the identification of Goodman's remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Air Force Maj. Russell C. Goodman of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be honored this week at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., home of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird demonstration team. At the time of his loss, Goodman was assigned to the Thunderbirds and was flying with the U.S. Navy on an exchange program. He will be buried in Alaska at a date determined by his family.
On Feb. 20, 1967, Goodman and Navy Lt. Gary L. Thornton took off in their F-4B Phantom from the USS Enterprise for a bombing mission against a railroad yard in Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam. They were struck by enemy antiaircraft fire and their plane exploded. Thornton was able to eject at just 250 feet altitude, but Goodman did not escape. Thornton survived and was held captive until his release in 1973.
Search and rescue attempts were curtailed because of heavy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire in the area of the crash.
Between October 1993 and March 2008, joint U.S.-Vietnamese teams led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigated the crash site twice and conducted two excavations, recovering human remains and pilot equipment. The aircraft debris recovered correlates with the type of aircraft the men were flying.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA – which matched two of his maternal relatives -- in the identification of Goodman's remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Six Nations Gear Up for Cobra Gold 2010
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - Cobra Gold, the largest multinational military exercise in the world, begins its 29th year of joint training and cooperation among six countries in the Asia-Pacific theater in Thailand on Feb.1.
Cobra Gold 2010 marks the first time South Korea will participate in the exercise.
"Thailand is one of our closest friends and partners in Asia, as well as being our oldest ally in Asia," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander, U.S. Army Pacific. "The Cobra Gold exercise is the largest multilateral joint military exercise in the world."
Sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and the Royal Thai Supreme Command, the three-week exercise includes a command-post exercise, a series of medical and engineering civic-action projects and joint and combined field training. The exercise continues to serve as a venue to build interoperability between the United States and its Asia-Pacific regional partners.
The command-post exercise focuses on training a Thai, U.S., Singaporean, Indonesian, and South Korean coalition task force. The exercise also includes Japan participating within a United Nations Force staff. A team composed of representatives from Brunei, Chile, China, Germany, Laos, Mongolia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam will observe the command-post exercise at the invitation of the Thai government.
Among Cobra Gold 2010's objectives is Pacom's rapid deployment of a joint task force and subsequent coordination with U.N. forces, with the aim of improving Pacom's ability to conduct multinational operations and increase interoperability with partner nations, officials said.
In addition, officials noted, the military-to-military relationships developed during Cobra Gold exercises underscore a combined capability to face myriad issues in the Asia-Pacific theater, including terrorism, transnational threats, and humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief efforts.
(From a U.S. Army Pacific news release.)
Jan. 12, 2010 - Cobra Gold, the largest multinational military exercise in the world, begins its 29th year of joint training and cooperation among six countries in the Asia-Pacific theater in Thailand on Feb.1.
Cobra Gold 2010 marks the first time South Korea will participate in the exercise.
"Thailand is one of our closest friends and partners in Asia, as well as being our oldest ally in Asia," said Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, commander, U.S. Army Pacific. "The Cobra Gold exercise is the largest multilateral joint military exercise in the world."
Sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and the Royal Thai Supreme Command, the three-week exercise includes a command-post exercise, a series of medical and engineering civic-action projects and joint and combined field training. The exercise continues to serve as a venue to build interoperability between the United States and its Asia-Pacific regional partners.
The command-post exercise focuses on training a Thai, U.S., Singaporean, Indonesian, and South Korean coalition task force. The exercise also includes Japan participating within a United Nations Force staff. A team composed of representatives from Brunei, Chile, China, Germany, Laos, Mongolia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam will observe the command-post exercise at the invitation of the Thai government.
Among Cobra Gold 2010's objectives is Pacom's rapid deployment of a joint task force and subsequent coordination with U.N. forces, with the aim of improving Pacom's ability to conduct multinational operations and increase interoperability with partner nations, officials said.
In addition, officials noted, the military-to-military relationships developed during Cobra Gold exercises underscore a combined capability to face myriad issues in the Asia-Pacific theater, including terrorism, transnational threats, and humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief efforts.
(From a U.S. Army Pacific news release.)
Joint Basing Moves Forward at Charleston
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - The latest step toward the scheduled stand-up of Joint Base Charleston took place here Jan. 8, as 18th Air Force officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing.
The joint base stand-up will begin the next phase in an ongoing process to merge Charleston Air Force Base with Naval Weapons Station Charleston as part of the base realignment and closure process.
When the last one stands up, 12 joint bases will have been established across the Defense Department.
The activation ceremony for the 628th Air Base Wing was accompanied by the inactivation of two groups under the 437th Airlift Wing and their immediate activation as the 628th Mission Support Group and 628th Medical Group under the new wing.
The 437th Airlift Wing had served as the base's host unit since 1991.
The 437th Aerial Port Squadron was realigned under the 437th Maintenance Group, and many wing staff agencies previously assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing now will operate under the 628th Air Base Wing. The organizational structure of tenant units on Charleston Air Force Base will remain unchanged. The 437th Airlift Wing and its airlift and support units will continue their mission of airlifting troops, passengers and military equipment; flying aeromedical airlift missions; and airdropping troops, equipment and supplies.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, formally introduced Air Force Col. Martha Meeker as the first commander of the 628th Air Base Wing, citing the depth of her intellect, her warrior spirit and her capacity for leadership.
"For the complexities of this great merger that we have -- pulling together the best of what the Navy has to offer and the best of what the Air Force has to offer -- we in the Air Force chose one of our great leaders, Col. Martha Meeker, to come down to Charleston," he said.
Meeker will direct host-unit duties for Charleston Air Force Base's tenant units, and after the Jan. 31 merger, for Naval Weapons Station Charleston's tenant units as well.
The air base wing's primary duties will be to provide base support for about 80,000 personnel, including active-duty and reserve military members, civilian government employees and contractors, military family members and retirees.
"On this day in 1790, George Washington gave the nation's first State of the Union address," Meeker noted in her remarks at the ceremony. "A fledging institution itself, the United States had fought hard for its freedom, and President Washington began his remarks by reaffirming his belief in the common defense that made that freedom happen. For as in his words, preparing for war is the most effectual means to preserving the peace.
"When we look at his words today," she continued, "all our airmen, our sailors, our soldiers and Marines, and everyone here who makes up Joint Team Charleston, are taking their place today in our common defense."
Allardice noted the impact the Charleston military community has had dating back to the Revolutionary War, and its current role in supporting military and humanitarian operations anywhere in the world. Joint Base Charleston, he said, will continue that impact with greater efficiency.
"Nothing happens in the world without Charleston from a military perspective," he said. "This is a national treasure here at Charleston. ... I know you are focused on preserving that, on building that and on establishing more and more of this great power projection platform that you represent here at Charleston."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles serves in the 628th Air Base Wing public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - The latest step toward the scheduled stand-up of Joint Base Charleston took place here Jan. 8, as 18th Air Force officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing.
The joint base stand-up will begin the next phase in an ongoing process to merge Charleston Air Force Base with Naval Weapons Station Charleston as part of the base realignment and closure process.
When the last one stands up, 12 joint bases will have been established across the Defense Department.
The activation ceremony for the 628th Air Base Wing was accompanied by the inactivation of two groups under the 437th Airlift Wing and their immediate activation as the 628th Mission Support Group and 628th Medical Group under the new wing.
The 437th Airlift Wing had served as the base's host unit since 1991.
The 437th Aerial Port Squadron was realigned under the 437th Maintenance Group, and many wing staff agencies previously assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing now will operate under the 628th Air Base Wing. The organizational structure of tenant units on Charleston Air Force Base will remain unchanged. The 437th Airlift Wing and its airlift and support units will continue their mission of airlifting troops, passengers and military equipment; flying aeromedical airlift missions; and airdropping troops, equipment and supplies.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, formally introduced Air Force Col. Martha Meeker as the first commander of the 628th Air Base Wing, citing the depth of her intellect, her warrior spirit and her capacity for leadership.
"For the complexities of this great merger that we have -- pulling together the best of what the Navy has to offer and the best of what the Air Force has to offer -- we in the Air Force chose one of our great leaders, Col. Martha Meeker, to come down to Charleston," he said.
Meeker will direct host-unit duties for Charleston Air Force Base's tenant units, and after the Jan. 31 merger, for Naval Weapons Station Charleston's tenant units as well.
The air base wing's primary duties will be to provide base support for about 80,000 personnel, including active-duty and reserve military members, civilian government employees and contractors, military family members and retirees.
"On this day in 1790, George Washington gave the nation's first State of the Union address," Meeker noted in her remarks at the ceremony. "A fledging institution itself, the United States had fought hard for its freedom, and President Washington began his remarks by reaffirming his belief in the common defense that made that freedom happen. For as in his words, preparing for war is the most effectual means to preserving the peace.
"When we look at his words today," she continued, "all our airmen, our sailors, our soldiers and Marines, and everyone here who makes up Joint Team Charleston, are taking their place today in our common defense."
Allardice noted the impact the Charleston military community has had dating back to the Revolutionary War, and its current role in supporting military and humanitarian operations anywhere in the world. Joint Base Charleston, he said, will continue that impact with greater efficiency.
"Nothing happens in the world without Charleston from a military perspective," he said. "This is a national treasure here at Charleston. ... I know you are focused on preserving that, on building that and on establishing more and more of this great power projection platform that you represent here at Charleston."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles serves in the 628th Air Base Wing public affairs office.)
Soldier Grabs Guinness Record
By Roger Teel
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 12, 2010 - Army 2nd Lt. Sophie Hilaire does not particularly fit the general image of an explosive ordnance disposal warrior. At 120 pounds, one wonders how she possibly could be strong enough to function in an 85-pound bomb suit, handling the physical and mental demands of defusing improvised explosive devices. But Hilaire is strong enough to run a marathon in full battle armor. In fact, she holds a world record for it.
After graduating from an all-girls Catholic school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Hilaire was accepted at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. She graduated last spring with degrees in management and environmental engineering, making her parents, Vincent and Sung-Suk Hilaire, of Longmont, Colo., proud. She was a member of the Army women's fencing team at West Point.
"My dad's uncle was in the Army, a warrant officer, but we really didn't have anyone particularly pushing us to go to West Point," Hilaire said. She used the collective "we" because her younger sister and brother both attend the U.S. Military Academy. Her sister Nicole is in her junior year, and her brother Philip is a freshman.
"We all had to work for it," Hilaire said. "We all had the same values. My mom is Korean and really stressed values in our family, and a sense of service -- you know, of giving something back."
Hilaire said she started a running regimen out of necessity during her junior year.
"After a summer of not running, I was worried about an Army physical fitness test I had coming up," she said. "I ended up performing better than I expected, and was motivated to continue running afterwards. I started running with a friend who helped me develop a training plan. My idea at that time was to train for a half marathon."
Her running "just took off" from there, she said.
Hilaire ran her first marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., in 2008, followed by the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., later that year. In May 2009, she ran the New Jersey Marathon in 3 hours and 37 minutes, qualifying by three minutes for the 2010 Boston Marathon.
By the time she was in training for her fourth marathon in Philadelphia in November, she was looking for additional motivation.
"I was just killing time until Boston next April, so I started looking for a cause," she said. "After a Google search, I chose to run for the American Veterans with Brain Injuries."
Hilaire said she read about the founder's son, Army Pfc. Chris Lynch, a runner who suffered a brain injury that caused a lack of coordination to the point that he no longer could run. Since his injury, he has relentlessly trained and has competed in marathons on a hand cycle.
"After reading about courageous servicemen like Chris," Hilaire said, "I felt humbled and inspired to do something for this organization. I was also looking for ways to increase my fund-raising. I ran the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon for charity. My goal was to raise $1,000, and I raised more than $1,500."
Her decision to shoot for the world record she now holds was a stroke of luck, she said.
"I just happened to look at the Guinness Book of World Records for marathons," she explained, "and saw an entry for the fastest time with 'full battle rattle' - Army combat uniform, boots, Army combat helmet and the protective vest with full body armor. A British soldier owned the record with a time of 5 hours, 11 minutes."
That was the goal she originally intended to beat, but Guinness officials opened a separate women's category for her, she said. "And before I ran the Philly marathon, the Brit's record was beaten," she added. "I think the current men's record is three hours and change."
Weighing down her slight frame with 30 pounds of additional gear, she focused on her goal.
"It made sense to me to raise funds for [American Veterans with Brain Injuries] while embracing the challenge of running in combat gear to generate awareness of this noteworthy cause," she said.
As she trained, she also engaged social media, notifying her friends by e-mail what she was doing and establishing a Facebook group to collect donations for her cause. She raised more than $4,000 for the organization, exceeding her goal of $2,000.
American Veterans with Brain Injuries officials were overwhelmed, Hilaire said. "They were down to their last $200 when they received my sponsors' donation," she explained, "so they were just elated."
She also established the Guinness record, finishing the marathon -- 26.2 miles -- in 4 hours and 54 minutes, though she's not yet listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. "I haven't received the certificate," she said. "I'm waiting for them to process it."
The lieutenant explained her strategy and noted that once she passed the 20-mile mark, she dedicated the rest of the race to others.
"I joined a five-hour pace group and stayed with them until I pulled away at the end," she said. "I ran the final 6.2 miles for seven different individuals. The first few I texted during the race to let them know; the final few I was too exhausted. I ran for veterans like Pfc. Lynch and Capt. Sam Brown, a personal hero and friend, who was severely burned by an IED."
Hilaire trained with a friend, Army 2nd Lt. Courtney Miller. "She ran with me for the first half of the marathon, despite an injury," Hilaire said. "She carried my Gatorade and took pictures to document the venture for Guinness."
It's hard to put into words what running a marathon does for her, the lieutenant said.
"At heart, I'm a long-distance runner. It gives me a reason to work out and train, but I had never pushed myself before," she said. "The feeling of being just a couple miles out from the finish line, knowing that you won't hit the wall and are about to meet this goal or time that you've dedicated every day of the last six months to, is incredibly emotional. Crossing the finish line is even better."
Running has helped every aspect of her life, Hilaire said.
"Everything became easier after I started running," she said. "Basic Army requirements, like the semiannual physical fitness test, became so much easier after I started training for marathons."
But, she added, she's not a natural runner.
"I've got flat feet, knock-knees and one leg is shorter than the other," she said, laughing. "It's just fun to set and meet goals along the way."
Asked if she'd run in battle-rattle again, the lieutenant replied, "Only if someone beats my record."
In mid-December, while Hilaire attended the Ordnance Branch Officer Basic Course at Fort Lee, Va., she was assessed as part of her request to become an EOD technician. The assessment included two 30-minute sessions of mental and physical tests in an EOD bomb suit and in hazardous materials and chemical suits. The bomb suit weighs about 85 pounds. During the evaluation, candidates are required to carry a 100-pound, 155 mm projectile 100 meters.
"For the typical soldier, this is a challenge," said Army Capt. Rob Busseau, an EOD officer from 20th Support Command, who conducted the assessment. "For a 120-pound second lieutenant, it required a massive amount of determination, motivation and intestinal fortitude."
Hilaire also completed multiple sets of push-ups, side-straddle hops and other demanding exercises. During both suit tests, she maintained a positive attitude and support for her classmates, Busseau said.
"She's an exceptional soldier with tremendous potential," he said. "After the evaluation, I interviewed Hilaire to determine her suitability to serve in the EOD field. She is a modest, yet confident, officer with a true passion for serving in the U.S. Army."
Hilaire was one of four candidates accepted into the Army EOD program following the assessment.
"I talked to a lot of mentors, specifically 1st Lt. Danielle Peek, a 2008 West Point grad who is now an EOD officer," she said, explaining how she came to her career choice. "Everything about EOD appeals to me - small teams, tight-knit working environments, technical skill sets, and most importantly, saving lives. It just fits my personality well, and I decided to give it a shot."
Her immediate plans include finishing officer basic on Jan. 20, then reporting Feb. 1 to Phase 1 of EOD training at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. After Phase 1, Hilaire will report to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to finish EOD training at the U.S. Navy-run Kaufmann EOD Training Complex.
"It's a funny coincidence, but the family who started [American Veterans with Brain Injuries] resides in both Huntsville and just a few minutes from Eglin. So EOD school will soon bring us together, and we will finally get to meet," Hilaire said.
She also has a date to run the Boston Marathon in April.
"Many of my peers may deploy soon after graduation," Hilaire said. "And it bothers me a little that I will be in a year-long training program. But I believe the benefits of the training will be worth the effort."
(Roger Teel works in the 20th Support Command.)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Guard biathlon team searches for future Olympians
By Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka
Nevada National Guard
In 2002, the U.S. Olympic team included five National Guard biathletes. In February, Sgt. Jesse Downs of the Vermont Guard has a legitimate chance to make the 2010 team. But who will represent the United States and the National Guard in future Olympic Games?To seek out future high-caliber athletes, the Guard’s biathlon program sent a team to West Yellowstone, Mont., during the Yellowstone Ski Festival in November to showcase its program to top youth skiers.
In addition to sending some of its top biathletes to the festival, recruiting and public affairs specialists were on hand to explain the many opportunities of being a Guard biathlete.
“It’s my goal to get the word out about the National Guard’s biathlon program, especially to the thousands of young skiers throughout the nation,” said Maj. Andrew Parsons, the new biathlon program coordinator. “In addition to the many individual benefits these young men and women will receive as Airmen and Soldiers and as athletes in a fully-funded and supported program, these future biathletes will improve the combat ability of the Guard with their high level of fitness and rifle marksmanship.
“And, of course, they will have the potential to represent the National Guard and the U.S. in future national and international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics.”
The Yellowstone Ski Festival drew about 3,000 Nordic skiers to the town referred to by the locals as “West” located just outside Yellowstone National Park. The week’s activities included a sprint biathlon, a novice biathlon and a biathlon clinic in addition to traditional cross country races and clinics.
About 50 people participated in the biathlon clinic, co-hosted by the National Guard and the U.S. Biathlon Association.
“I really appreciate the opportunity for my skiers to shoot real biathlon rifles on a safe, regulation range – we don’t often get that chance,” said Jeff Schloss, a Nordic ski coach at a local school. “Some of our skiers enjoy the extra aspect of marksmanship included in the biathlon and may choose to specialize in biathlon in the future.”
Members of team didn’t have much time to relax during the festival. On Nov. 25, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Blanke of the Utah National Guard competed in the 10-kilometer biathlon race at noon, taught a biathlon clinic at 2 p.m., and then manned the National Guard biathlon exhibit booth at the ski festival from 7-9 p.m.
“There were some busy days for sure, but it was rewarding to teach so many children – and adults too – about the sport of biathlon,” Blanke said. “I think having a National Guard presence at these huge ski festivals is a great idea and I believe these young skiers will be, in addition to potential Olympians, high quality Soldiers and Airmen.”
The top National Guard athlete in the 10-kilometer biathlon at Yellowstone was Vermont’s Sgt. Brian Letourneau, who finished seventh. He missed only one target and was tied for the top marksman in the field.
The Guard biathlon program has opportunities and events for every Soldier and Airman in the National Guard, not just elite skiers.
“For newcomers to the sport, we offer regional races that focus on participation and the development of state teams,” Parsons said. Regional races this season include: the West regional in Montana Dec. 9-13; the Midwest regional in Minnesota Jan. 13-17, 2010; and the East regional in Vermont Feb. 3-7. The Chief, National Guard Bureau championships are set for Minnesota Feb. 27 through March 10. Those championships culminate the domestic military biathlon calendar.
Parsons said 35 of the 54 National Guard states and territories annually participate in biathlon.For information on the National Guard biathlon program, contact Parsons at Andrew.F.Parsons@us.army.mil or call (802) 899-7120.
Nevada National Guard
In 2002, the U.S. Olympic team included five National Guard biathletes. In February, Sgt. Jesse Downs of the Vermont Guard has a legitimate chance to make the 2010 team. But who will represent the United States and the National Guard in future Olympic Games?To seek out future high-caliber athletes, the Guard’s biathlon program sent a team to West Yellowstone, Mont., during the Yellowstone Ski Festival in November to showcase its program to top youth skiers.
In addition to sending some of its top biathletes to the festival, recruiting and public affairs specialists were on hand to explain the many opportunities of being a Guard biathlete.
“It’s my goal to get the word out about the National Guard’s biathlon program, especially to the thousands of young skiers throughout the nation,” said Maj. Andrew Parsons, the new biathlon program coordinator. “In addition to the many individual benefits these young men and women will receive as Airmen and Soldiers and as athletes in a fully-funded and supported program, these future biathletes will improve the combat ability of the Guard with their high level of fitness and rifle marksmanship.
“And, of course, they will have the potential to represent the National Guard and the U.S. in future national and international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics.”
The Yellowstone Ski Festival drew about 3,000 Nordic skiers to the town referred to by the locals as “West” located just outside Yellowstone National Park. The week’s activities included a sprint biathlon, a novice biathlon and a biathlon clinic in addition to traditional cross country races and clinics.
About 50 people participated in the biathlon clinic, co-hosted by the National Guard and the U.S. Biathlon Association.
“I really appreciate the opportunity for my skiers to shoot real biathlon rifles on a safe, regulation range – we don’t often get that chance,” said Jeff Schloss, a Nordic ski coach at a local school. “Some of our skiers enjoy the extra aspect of marksmanship included in the biathlon and may choose to specialize in biathlon in the future.”
Members of team didn’t have much time to relax during the festival. On Nov. 25, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Blanke of the Utah National Guard competed in the 10-kilometer biathlon race at noon, taught a biathlon clinic at 2 p.m., and then manned the National Guard biathlon exhibit booth at the ski festival from 7-9 p.m.
“There were some busy days for sure, but it was rewarding to teach so many children – and adults too – about the sport of biathlon,” Blanke said. “I think having a National Guard presence at these huge ski festivals is a great idea and I believe these young skiers will be, in addition to potential Olympians, high quality Soldiers and Airmen.”
The top National Guard athlete in the 10-kilometer biathlon at Yellowstone was Vermont’s Sgt. Brian Letourneau, who finished seventh. He missed only one target and was tied for the top marksman in the field.
The Guard biathlon program has opportunities and events for every Soldier and Airman in the National Guard, not just elite skiers.
“For newcomers to the sport, we offer regional races that focus on participation and the development of state teams,” Parsons said. Regional races this season include: the West regional in Montana Dec. 9-13; the Midwest regional in Minnesota Jan. 13-17, 2010; and the East regional in Vermont Feb. 3-7. The Chief, National Guard Bureau championships are set for Minnesota Feb. 27 through March 10. Those championships culminate the domestic military biathlon calendar.
Parsons said 35 of the 54 National Guard states and territories annually participate in biathlon.For information on the National Guard biathlon program, contact Parsons at Andrew.F.Parsons@us.army.mil or call (802) 899-7120.
Better Mental Fitness Will Help Prevent Suicide, General Says
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2010 - Preventing suicide is more than simply recognizing the signs, it involves building strong community and individual support before the idea ever sets in, the Army's top psychiatrist and director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said here today. "[Suicide prevention] involves building and developing a tool kit for life," Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree K. Sutton said in her opening remarks at the 2010 departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Conference.
The weeklong conference is geared toward increasing collaboration between the military services and VA by raising awareness and sharing best practices in prevention.
The "tool kit for life" Sutton describes includes a model of total fitness that addresses physical, emotional and spiritual needs, a sort of total level that the Defense Department and VA need to promote among their communities. It will be their best efforts in tackling the growing rate of suicide among veterans and military members, she said.
Sutton said healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and feeling connected to something are important factors in keeping mentally fit.
She asked the audience to ponder a few questions: "Are we putting the kinds of fuel into our bodies that help our brains, our bodies, our souls [and] our spirit perform at maximum effectiveness and efficiency? Do each of us here to do have at least two individuals that if we were to reach that hour of darkness, the moment of truth, that we could call a friend and gain that human-to-human, that heart-to-heart connection?
Do we belong to a team? Do we have faith that leads us to a commitment that is greater than any of us as individuals?"
Sutton explained that if everyone – troops, leaders and family members – knew the answers to those questions about their family and fellow servicemembers, "perhaps we would be a step further away from the terminal signs of hopelessness and despair."
Both departments recognize that psychological wounds are as dangerous as physical injuries, she said. They also understand that emotional distress is not limited to results of combat on the battlefield.
For that reason, the general said suicide prevention is a public health challenge. She cited a need to build resiliency among the individuals in society and in the military. Prevention shouldn't be left on the shoulders of health care providers, but rather techniques should be taught by them in all levels of the community.
"Preventing suicide is far too important and too enormous of a challenge to be left to the docs," she said. "We're all in this together."
Both departments can revolutionize psychological health care through visionary leadership and a change in culture in which people come forward with their issues as well as recognize symptoms in others, she said.
Both departments recognize that suicide prevention is a growing problem with no easy solution. Although treatment works, the goal of those attending the conference should be to instill good life practices in their units and communities, she said, so treatment may become a last resort.
"We are on a journey," the general said. "We know that stigma can kill, hugs can heal, words can work, treatment can save and help is hope. We can tool up here this week, go home and apply these lessons and ask ourselves every day: Is what my team and I are doing today is action? Is our effort worthy of the service and sacrifice of those who we are so privileged to serve?
"We're not content with today's best," she continued. "We must make today's best better."
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2010 - Preventing suicide is more than simply recognizing the signs, it involves building strong community and individual support before the idea ever sets in, the Army's top psychiatrist and director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury said here today. "[Suicide prevention] involves building and developing a tool kit for life," Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree K. Sutton said in her opening remarks at the 2010 departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs Suicide Prevention Conference.
The weeklong conference is geared toward increasing collaboration between the military services and VA by raising awareness and sharing best practices in prevention.
The "tool kit for life" Sutton describes includes a model of total fitness that addresses physical, emotional and spiritual needs, a sort of total level that the Defense Department and VA need to promote among their communities. It will be their best efforts in tackling the growing rate of suicide among veterans and military members, she said.
Sutton said healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods and feeling connected to something are important factors in keeping mentally fit.
She asked the audience to ponder a few questions: "Are we putting the kinds of fuel into our bodies that help our brains, our bodies, our souls [and] our spirit perform at maximum effectiveness and efficiency? Do each of us here to do have at least two individuals that if we were to reach that hour of darkness, the moment of truth, that we could call a friend and gain that human-to-human, that heart-to-heart connection?
Do we belong to a team? Do we have faith that leads us to a commitment that is greater than any of us as individuals?"
Sutton explained that if everyone – troops, leaders and family members – knew the answers to those questions about their family and fellow servicemembers, "perhaps we would be a step further away from the terminal signs of hopelessness and despair."
Both departments recognize that psychological wounds are as dangerous as physical injuries, she said. They also understand that emotional distress is not limited to results of combat on the battlefield.
For that reason, the general said suicide prevention is a public health challenge. She cited a need to build resiliency among the individuals in society and in the military. Prevention shouldn't be left on the shoulders of health care providers, but rather techniques should be taught by them in all levels of the community.
"Preventing suicide is far too important and too enormous of a challenge to be left to the docs," she said. "We're all in this together."
Both departments can revolutionize psychological health care through visionary leadership and a change in culture in which people come forward with their issues as well as recognize symptoms in others, she said.
Both departments recognize that suicide prevention is a growing problem with no easy solution. Although treatment works, the goal of those attending the conference should be to instill good life practices in their units and communities, she said, so treatment may become a last resort.
"We are on a journey," the general said. "We know that stigma can kill, hugs can heal, words can work, treatment can save and help is hope. We can tool up here this week, go home and apply these lessons and ask ourselves every day: Is what my team and I are doing today is action? Is our effort worthy of the service and sacrifice of those who we are so privileged to serve?
"We're not content with today's best," she continued. "We must make today's best better."
MILITARY CONTRACTS January 11, 2010
NAVY
Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $34,739,262 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0024) to exercise an option for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot-level maintenance for 44 F-5 aircraft operated by adversary squadrons. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Fla. (40 percent); NAS Fallon, Nev. (30 percent); and the Marine Corp Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $34,739,262 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $5,500,000 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive/award-fee contract (N00019-07-C-0097) for the procurement of diminishing sources panoramic cockpit display graphics processor units for the Joint Strike Fighter low rate initial production aircraft. Work will be performed in California, Md. (90 percent), and Fort Worth, Texas (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 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.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded a maximum $25, 987, 875 firm-fixed-price contract for diesel engine with container. 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 Dec. 23, 2010. The Defense Logistics Agency, Warren, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (SPRDL1-10-C-0040).
Sysco Seattle, Inc., Kent, Wash., is being awarded a maximum $15,000,000 indefinite-quantity/indefinite-delivery contract for prime vendor full line food service distribution. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. This 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 Jan. 9, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-09-D-3327).
Sysco Seattle, Inc., Kent, Wash., is being awarded a maximum $14,215,492 firm-price with economic price adjustment contract for prime vendor food and beverage support. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is the Navy. This 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 Jan. 9, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-09-D-3330).
Randolph Engineering, Inc., Randolph, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $9,000,000 firm-price with economic price adjustment contract for optical frames and accessories. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There was originally a Federal Business Opportunities proposal solicited with four responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Jan. 20, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2DE-10-D-7544).
Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $34,739,262 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-09-C-0024) to exercise an option for organizational, selected intermediate, and limited depot-level maintenance for 44 F-5 aircraft operated by adversary squadrons. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Fla. (40 percent); NAS Fallon, Nev. (30 percent); and the Marine Corp Air Station, Yuma, Ariz. (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $34,739,262 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $5,500,000 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive/award-fee contract (N00019-07-C-0097) for the procurement of diminishing sources panoramic cockpit display graphics processor units for the Joint Strike Fighter low rate initial production aircraft. Work will be performed in California, Md. (90 percent), and Fort Worth, Texas (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in February 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.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., is being awarded a maximum $25, 987, 875 firm-fixed-price contract for diesel engine with container. 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 Dec. 23, 2010. The Defense Logistics Agency, Warren, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (SPRDL1-10-C-0040).
Sysco Seattle, Inc., Kent, Wash., is being awarded a maximum $15,000,000 indefinite-quantity/indefinite-delivery contract for prime vendor full line food service distribution. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. This 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 Jan. 9, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-09-D-3327).
Sysco Seattle, Inc., Kent, Wash., is being awarded a maximum $14,215,492 firm-price with economic price adjustment contract for prime vendor food and beverage support. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is the Navy. This 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 Jan. 9, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM300-09-D-3330).
Randolph Engineering, Inc., Randolph, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $9,000,000 firm-price with economic price adjustment contract for optical frames and accessories. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There was originally a Federal Business Opportunities proposal solicited with four responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Jan. 20, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2DE-10-D-7544).
Defense, VA Officials Address Suicide at Conference
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2010 - There are no clear-cut answers to suicide prevention, but through collaboration and team work from federal and private institutions, the nation can better address the challenge, Defense and Veteran Affairs department officials said today. In a joint Defense-VA conference here, more than 1,000 military and other-government health-care workers and officials gathered for the 2nd Annual DoD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference. Titled "Building Strong and Resilient Communities," the conference is the largest of its kind for military members and their families.
The conference, which runs through Jan. 14, is geared toward increasing collaboration between the military and VA by raising awareness and sharing best practices in prevention.
Suicide prevention isn't a new challenge, but it's one both departments are dedicating much effort to. In his keynote address, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said soldier suicide is an issue that troubled him throughout his military career. It's an issue that still concerns him, as he is charged with providing services to more than 7 million veterans.
"Throughout my years and service in uniform, suicides were one of the most frustrating leadership challenges I faced," Shinseki, a retired Army general, chief of staff, and Vietnam War veteran, said. "We continue to be challenged."
Of the more than 30,000 people who fall to suicide nationwide each year, 20 percent are veterans. About 18 veterans commit suicide every day. Each of VA's 153 medical centers and the largest of its 774 community-based outpatient clinics have suicide prevention coordinators who ensure counseling and services as a priority, he said.
Everyone is vulnerable to suicide, the secretary said. Age, personality or positions in the military and in society hold no bearing on who's more at risk. Emotional wounds are just as common as physical injuries, but more difficult to spot, which makes suicide prevention such a challenge, he said.
"You can splint and patch physical wounds, but emotional wounds don't lend themselves to such fixes," he added. "But we must continuously develop equivalent accommodations."
In the veteran community, VA has established 24/7 help lines, hired thousands of additional health-care professionals and counselors, 400 of which are dedicated solely to suicide prevention research and counseling.
VA has developed a culture of ownership, which Shinseki feels is the most critical aspect of solution, he said. Raising awareness in individuals to take responsibility in helping their family members, fellow servicemembers and veterans is essential in this endeavor, he added.
"We must build and maintain a strong support system, one in which everyone has a role, where we collectively assume ownership of the problem," he said. "It's not someone else's problem, it's our problem. It doesn't matter whether they're in uniform or not."
Shinseki charged the audience with furthering VA and Defense Department efforts. Both departments stand to be better positioned to aid the men and women who are struggling to regain the courage to live, he said.
"This audience of health-care providers, clinicians, counselors, researchers and community partners constitutes our main attack against suicides," he continued. "You're the experts. You bring full weight to the discussion. You dispense help and hope to those who see themselves as helpless and without hope."
Giving people information on the departments' array of prevention resources is another key aspect in the two organizations' efforts, Ellen P. Embrey, assistant defense secretary for health affairs, said in her remarks on behalf of the Defense Department. The armed services are addressing suicide prevention through increased sensitivity to warning signs and developing comprehensive education and services throughout a servicemember's career, she said.
Embrey also cited enhanced community and peer support and quality research and analysis as part of the Defense Department's initiatives. Still, both departments have a long way to go in better understanding suicide prevention, she said.
"Every life lost to suicide is both a personal tragedy and a tragedy to society, whether civilian or military," she said. "It's also a tragedy because, for all of our sophisticated knowledge, we still do not know all there is to know about preventing these needless deaths from occurring."
Embrey continued by highlighting initiatives taking place in each of the services. The Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps all have their unique programs and methods, but all are equally important in combating suicides, she said.
"They highlight a holistic and comprehensive strategy that we are attempting to bring to bear to confront the challenge of suicide," she said. "We are doing this primarily through increasing education and awareness, building very strong systems of support at a 360-degree level and reducing stigma to the extent possible to those who are trying and need to get help.
"As far as the Department of Defense is concerned, there is no individual, family member, military leader, or VA or DoD or community resource that can be omitted from the suicide prevention equation," she added.
Implementing these strategies is not just a commitment, it's an obligation to the nation's servicemembers and veterans, she said.
"We own them a debt of gratitude, we owe them the very best we can give them, and we are committed to reducing the burden of suicide," Embrey said. "The communities of partnership of both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs are absolutely dedicated to this issue, and our attention will not lag, and our dedication will not falter."
Yoga helps vets find balance
Jan 7, 2010
By Steve Reeves, Fort Jackson Leader
For Roslyn Reesemoran, a horrible accident in the early days of the Iraq war remains fresh in her mind. A platoon sergeant in 2003, Reesemoran was in an Army transportation company, responsible for refueling trucks that carried critical supplies to Soldiers.
One day while out on a mission, as usual, small children ran up to the trucks and asked for food and water.
But on this particular day, one of the trucks accidentally ran over a small child.
"To see that kid die just tore my heart out," said Reesemoran, who is now retired from the Army. "I had a real problem after that being around kids. When I got back, I was really angry."
She went to the Veterans Administration seeking medical care in 2008 after her retirement and, like 20 percent of today's combat veterans, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Specifically, she was suffering from bereavement and anxiety, doctors told her.
"I had been suppressing all my memories," Reesemoran said.
That's when she was invited to try a new program at Fort Jackson, one that uses the ancient practice of yoga to help Soldiers who have been diagnosed with PTSD decrease physical and mental tension.
Soldiers who are diagnosed with PTSD or other anxiety disorders are referred to the program. About 15 Soldiers have participated in Fort Jackson's program so far.
Skeptical at first, Reesemoran gave it a try and was immediately impressed.
"It works," she said. "We're learning to deal with those memories that were suppressed."
Alison Thirkield, a clinical psychologist with Joint Mental Health Services, Moncrief Army Community Hospital, works with Soldiers like Reesemoran who have post-deployment issues such as PTSD. To treat PTSD among combat veterans, the military is exploring alternative methods, such as yoga.
Yoga uses meditation, deep relaxation, gentle stretching and breathing to reduce physical, emotional and mental tension. It has been found to be useful in helping people to deal with anxiety caused by traumatic events.
"Yoga is a different way of getting in and trying to address these symptoms," Thirkield said. "Yoga can teach Soldiers very concrete relaxation strategies. It's grounded in many of the same principles that therapy is grounded in."
Walter Reed Army Medical Center treats Soldiers diagnosed with PTSD with yoga at its specialized care program. First introduced at Walter Reed in 2006 as part of the Army's aggressive approach in dealing with the mental and physical problems facing many returning combat veterans, yoga is now used at treatment centers across the Army.
Yoga can be very beneficial in calming the autonomic nervous system, which controls a person's "fight-or-flight" response to stress, Thirkield said.
"The fight-or-flight system in combat gets activated so often that it sometimes gets stuck," Thirkield said. "Yoga is a very effective way to quiet down the autonomic nervous system."
Ginger Doughty, a yoga instructor in Columbia, has been working with Soldiers suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia and other symptoms of PTSD, as well as chronic pain. She leads a two-hour group class once a week on post. Doughty said yoga's emphasis on the mind-body connection helps PTSD sufferers deal with their symptoms.
"It's a life-changing experience," Doughty said. "You still have problems, but yoga teaches you to flow around them a little better."
Yoga's emphasis on breathing techniques and proper body alignment can help Soldiers with PTSD deal better with anxiety attacks, she said.
"Yoga helps them to realize that those feelings will pass," Doughty said. "It teaches them that they already have all the tools they need to get through those episodes."
Doughty said she is convinced that yoga will become a standard tool in dealing with anxiety issues for Soldiers.
"I don't think this will work for everybody, but I firmly believe it will work for most people," she said.
The program has already made a difference in her life, Reesemoran said, helping her to feel more like the person she was before she went to Iraq.
"It's helping me to cope with those old memories," she said. "I've been able to accept the new person that I am and reconnect with the old person I was."
By Steve Reeves, Fort Jackson Leader
For Roslyn Reesemoran, a horrible accident in the early days of the Iraq war remains fresh in her mind. A platoon sergeant in 2003, Reesemoran was in an Army transportation company, responsible for refueling trucks that carried critical supplies to Soldiers.
One day while out on a mission, as usual, small children ran up to the trucks and asked for food and water.
But on this particular day, one of the trucks accidentally ran over a small child.
"To see that kid die just tore my heart out," said Reesemoran, who is now retired from the Army. "I had a real problem after that being around kids. When I got back, I was really angry."
She went to the Veterans Administration seeking medical care in 2008 after her retirement and, like 20 percent of today's combat veterans, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Specifically, she was suffering from bereavement and anxiety, doctors told her.
"I had been suppressing all my memories," Reesemoran said.
That's when she was invited to try a new program at Fort Jackson, one that uses the ancient practice of yoga to help Soldiers who have been diagnosed with PTSD decrease physical and mental tension.
Soldiers who are diagnosed with PTSD or other anxiety disorders are referred to the program. About 15 Soldiers have participated in Fort Jackson's program so far.
Skeptical at first, Reesemoran gave it a try and was immediately impressed.
"It works," she said. "We're learning to deal with those memories that were suppressed."
Alison Thirkield, a clinical psychologist with Joint Mental Health Services, Moncrief Army Community Hospital, works with Soldiers like Reesemoran who have post-deployment issues such as PTSD. To treat PTSD among combat veterans, the military is exploring alternative methods, such as yoga.
Yoga uses meditation, deep relaxation, gentle stretching and breathing to reduce physical, emotional and mental tension. It has been found to be useful in helping people to deal with anxiety caused by traumatic events.
"Yoga is a different way of getting in and trying to address these symptoms," Thirkield said. "Yoga can teach Soldiers very concrete relaxation strategies. It's grounded in many of the same principles that therapy is grounded in."
Walter Reed Army Medical Center treats Soldiers diagnosed with PTSD with yoga at its specialized care program. First introduced at Walter Reed in 2006 as part of the Army's aggressive approach in dealing with the mental and physical problems facing many returning combat veterans, yoga is now used at treatment centers across the Army.
Yoga can be very beneficial in calming the autonomic nervous system, which controls a person's "fight-or-flight" response to stress, Thirkield said.
"The fight-or-flight system in combat gets activated so often that it sometimes gets stuck," Thirkield said. "Yoga is a very effective way to quiet down the autonomic nervous system."
Ginger Doughty, a yoga instructor in Columbia, has been working with Soldiers suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia and other symptoms of PTSD, as well as chronic pain. She leads a two-hour group class once a week on post. Doughty said yoga's emphasis on the mind-body connection helps PTSD sufferers deal with their symptoms.
"It's a life-changing experience," Doughty said. "You still have problems, but yoga teaches you to flow around them a little better."
Yoga's emphasis on breathing techniques and proper body alignment can help Soldiers with PTSD deal better with anxiety attacks, she said.
"Yoga helps them to realize that those feelings will pass," Doughty said. "It teaches them that they already have all the tools they need to get through those episodes."
Doughty said she is convinced that yoga will become a standard tool in dealing with anxiety issues for Soldiers.
"I don't think this will work for everybody, but I firmly believe it will work for most people," she said.
The program has already made a difference in her life, Reesemoran said, helping her to feel more like the person she was before she went to Iraq.
"It's helping me to cope with those old memories," she said. "I've been able to accept the new person that I am and reconnect with the old person I was."
Adjutant General named to FEMA Advisory Council
Wisconsin's Adjutant General has been appointed to a national group to advise the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on all aspects of disaster preparedness and management. Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin and Wisconsin's Homeland Security Advisor, was named by FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate to the National Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC is comprised of emergency management and law enforcement leaders from state, local and tribal government and the private sector to advise the FEMA Administrator on all aspects of disaster preparedness and management to ensure close coordination with all partners across the country.
"I am honored to serve on the National Advisory Coucil and appreciate the support of Gov. Jim Doyle, the GHSAC, and Wisconsin's First Responder community who supported my nomination," Dunbar said. "The council's mission is timely and important and I look forward to working with Administrator Fugate to help improve our nation's readiness."
The 35-member council was formed in 2007 following Hurricane Katrina. NAC members serve three-year terms and are selected based on their expertise in emergency management and response, public health, infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, communications and other areas related to FEMA's mission.
Dunbar has served as Wisconsin's Homeland Security Advisor and as chair of the Governor's Homeland Security Council since September 2007. The Adjutant General is Wisconsin's senior military officer and commander of the Wisconsin National Guard. He is also responsible for Emergency Management working closely with the Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) Administrator and county emergency managers to coordinate statewide preparedness and response. Since 2007, he has led the response and recovery efforts for two major flooding events and a snow emergency in Wisconsin which resulted in federal disaster declarations.
Real Warrior Describes Post-traumatic Stress
By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2010 - When Staff Sgt. Megan Krause returned home from a deployment in Iraq in 2006, she thought the scariest moments of her life were over. At her homecoming, "I ran to my mother in that hangar; we both cried tears of joy," said Krause, now an Army Reserve medic attached to a combat engineering unit in Pennsylvania. "I told her it was over and I was fine.
"Boy, was I wrong."
Krause later found herself waging a terrifying war with post-traumatic stress disorder. She described the battle and her road to recovery here today during the Real Warriors Campaign session at the 2010 Suicide Prevention Conference sponsored by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Krause said she hit rock bottom while a student at Penn State University about two years after her deployment.
"It was when I found myself face down in the mud pit, in the middle of a pigpen in State College, Pa., running from the insurgents that I thought were chasing me, that I realized I had not yet survived," Krause said. "I might not have been having suicidal ideations, but I was well on my way to killing myself."
Krause said she drank a bottle of red wine every night just to get to sleep.
"It's scary because you know you party harder than the average college kid and then get behind the wheel of your car because you just don't care anymore," she said. "It's scary because you know you're not going to class or work and you're throwing your life away.
"And you don't know how to stop the cycle."
Her nights, she said, were filled with nightmares of explosions and friends she couldn't save in time.
"I didn't want to die, but I wasn't leaving myself with many other options – until I asked for help," she said.
Help came in abundance, she said. "My [Reserve] unit wanted nothing more than to help me. They encouraged me to talk to the VA, talk to them." Her first sergeant admitted he, too, was seeking help for post-traumatic stress and told Krause it was the best decision he ever made.
"His words were ringing in my head that scary night as I rolled over [in bed] and called [the VA] for help," she said. "I knew I couldn't keep going down the path I had chosen." Two "battle buddies" showed up at 3 a.m. to drive her to the hospital.
Through the VA, Krause found the help she needed and, despite her initial embarrassment, "I discovered here was no shame in admitting that I was in trouble and needed help," she said.
"In fact, I earned more respect for seeking help and facing my problems head on than I ever had while failing to be the [noncommissioned officer] I wanted to be."
Wanting to help others waging similar psychological battles, Krause volunteered to share her story through the Real Warriors Campaign.
This initiative, launched by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, features stories of servicemembers who have sought treatment and continue to maintain successful military or civilian careers, according to the campaign's Web site. These efforts are aimed at combating the stigma associated with seeking psychological health care and treatment.
Krause appears in several public service announcements on the campaign's site at realwarriors.net. The response to her coming forth with her story has been amazing, she said.
A short time ago, Krause said she received a late-night call from a college friend, also a veteran, who had seen her PSA.
He "was driving his Mustang down the back roads of Pennsylvania at 70 mph, drunk, willing himself to turn into a tree," she said, fighting back tears.
Her friend was the same "battle buddy" who had driven her to the hospital a year prior, "and now he needed a return favor."
He asked her to tell him her story and she poured forth every detail -- the sleepless nights, drinking, terror, stress and that "moment of clarity, all the while begging him to pull over to the side of the road."
He did pull over and, like Krause, sought help for his post-traumatic stress.
"He said, 'Promise me you will keep doing what you're doing because there are people out there who need to hear it,'" she said.
Krause encouraged conference attendees to use the Real Warriors site, which includes links to resources, a live chat room, and information about the Defense Centers of Excellence Outreach Center, a 24/7 call center staffed by health resource consultants. The Outreach Center can be reached toll-free at 866-966-1020 or via e-mail at resources@dcoeoutreach.org.
Krause said coming forth takes courage, but it's well worth the effort.
"Our stories need to be shared with anyone who has struggled or may struggle in the future, so they too can win this terrifying battle," she said.
"I'm winning the battle with PTSD and you can too."
Florida Guardsman named Female Athlete of Year
By Carol Carpenter
AFNORTH Public Affiars
(12/21/09) -- When she was just 5 years old, Karrie Warren was already learning to hit softballs in her family's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., backyard. The balls were pitched patiently, one after the other, by an encouraging father who saw something special in his little girl's extraordinary ability to connect a bat with a ball.
No one could have predicted then where these childhood practice sessions might lead. Nearly three decades later, a huge payoff occurred.
Now 32, and a member of the Air Force and a security and requirements supervisor at Tyndall's 601st Air and Space Operations Center, Master Sgt. Warren has been named the U.S. Air Force Female Athlete of the Year for 2009.
The trim-and-fit Florida Air Guard member won this distinction, not only because of her ability to play an exceptional game of softball, but also because of her remarkable physical fitness and leadership skills both on and off the field.
"I was shocked, but very honored, to have won this award," Sergeant Warren said. "I strive to do my best whether it's at my job or in sports, and to even be nominated is something I will treasure for the rest of my life."
The prestigious award was announced at the Air Force Fitness and Sports Awards luncheon in Orlando earlier this month. Presenting the award were Maj. Gen. (select) Timothy Byers, an Air Force civil engineer at the Pentagon, and Michael Bensen, deputy commander of the Air Force Services Agency.
The able sergeant was lauded at the ceremony for several major athletic accomplishments, including leading the Air Force women's team to the full-services Armed Forces Women's Softball Championship title. She was also praised for serving as captain of the Armed Forces All-Tournament team, which took second place at the 2009 Amateur Softball Association National Championship.
Additionally, she led the Tyndall AFB women's softball team to second place in the 2009 World Softball Tournament, and they played this year at the Pac-Wide Softball Championship in Korea. For doing well at both events, the team was designated the 'All-Tournament team.'
Col. Randy Spear, 601st AOC commander, praised Sergeant Warren for her notable achievements. "It is an honor to have one of our own recognized for such a prestigious award," he said. "She is an exceptional athlete, not only on the field, but at her job as well."
Getting to this point has not been fast or easy for the dedicated athlete. She has, in fact, spent most of her life honing her ability to play softball, as well as advancing her personal physical fitness goals along the way.
Recounting her early years learning the game, Sergeant Warren said that in addition to countless hours of informal practice with her father, by age 9 she was playing on organized local teams with other girls her age.
Later as a teenager, she was an enthusiastic player on various school teams and amateur leagues, some of which had her and sister team members traveling to other states and regions of the country to compete against similarly organized teams.
She recalls those early years on softball fields as very good ones, spending every playing season with her entire family―father, mother and two brothers―cheering her on from the stands, often the loudest and proudest fans in the crowd.
"My two older brothers weren't all that interested in sports, so my father held out hope for me, his last child," she said with a smile. "He drove me to do my best, and I've always tried to follow his advice."
She feels fortunate that her father, who died two years ago, was able to watch her play on Air Force and Armed Forces teams in previous years. "All his early effort paid off," she said, adding that her mother and brothers continue to offer much proud support.
As an adult, she quickly realized that any sports ability can be enhanced by other kinds of physical fitness, so she developed the habit of making plenty of time for regular exercise. Today she runs two miles four times a week and weight trains three times a week, using a regimen intended for male athletes.
She is also careful about eating a healthy diet, mostly choosing foods such as baked chicken or fish and lots of vegetables. "I admit I love fried foods, but I try to avoid them, except in small portions," she said, adding that nutritious food is essential for the "mind, body and soul."
A typical day for Sergeant Warren includes getting up early, showering and eating breakfast―usually oatmeal and a banana or whole wheat toast and eggs. Then she heads to her job at 'America's AOC,' where she's in charge of security and directs the installation of computer and other equipment.
Three days a week she gathers with fellow Airmen for organized physical training - better know to Airmen as PT sessions, and the other two days she takes advantage of the AOC's fitness center to work out on her own. "My unit stresses physical fitness, and my personal motivation is that I want to feel and perform the best that I can," she said of her rigorous exercise routine.
Although she is single, doesn't have children and can usually find sufficient time after work for active pursuits, she thinks all Airmen, regardless of their situation, can and should carve out time for a sound fitness routine. She believes it should be done not only for individual health and well-being, but also to meet the current and new Air Force PT standards that go into effect in July 2010.
"If you are already fit, you won't have a problem with the new standards," she said.
But her first love - softball - is the main part of her fitness routine that keeps life especially interesting and fun.
A longtime center-left outfielder, she points out that while she has improved her batting and fielding abilities over the years, she doesn't see herself as the best player on any given team. "I'm not the best player, but I do try to be a smart player," she said. "I don't make the big power plays; I just look for holes to place the ball and get on base. The others bring me in."
Looking ahead, she realizes that eventually she will have to retire her bat for good. "How long I play will depend on my work schedule," she said. "And at some point it will be time to welcome a new round of younger players to the game."
(12/21/09) -- When she was just 5 years old, Karrie Warren was already learning to hit softballs in her family's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., backyard. The balls were pitched patiently, one after the other, by an encouraging father who saw something special in his little girl's extraordinary ability to connect a bat with a ball.
No one could have predicted then where these childhood practice sessions might lead. Nearly three decades later, a huge payoff occurred.
Now 32, and a member of the Air Force and a security and requirements supervisor at Tyndall's 601st Air and Space Operations Center, Master Sgt. Warren has been named the U.S. Air Force Female Athlete of the Year for 2009.
The trim-and-fit Florida Air Guard member won this distinction, not only because of her ability to play an exceptional game of softball, but also because of her remarkable physical fitness and leadership skills both on and off the field.
"I was shocked, but very honored, to have won this award," Sergeant Warren said. "I strive to do my best whether it's at my job or in sports, and to even be nominated is something I will treasure for the rest of my life."
The prestigious award was announced at the Air Force Fitness and Sports Awards luncheon in Orlando earlier this month. Presenting the award were Maj. Gen. (select) Timothy Byers, an Air Force civil engineer at the Pentagon, and Michael Bensen, deputy commander of the Air Force Services Agency.
The able sergeant was lauded at the ceremony for several major athletic accomplishments, including leading the Air Force women's team to the full-services Armed Forces Women's Softball Championship title. She was also praised for serving as captain of the Armed Forces All-Tournament team, which took second place at the 2009 Amateur Softball Association National Championship.
Additionally, she led the Tyndall AFB women's softball team to second place in the 2009 World Softball Tournament, and they played this year at the Pac-Wide Softball Championship in Korea. For doing well at both events, the team was designated the 'All-Tournament team.'
Col. Randy Spear, 601st AOC commander, praised Sergeant Warren for her notable achievements. "It is an honor to have one of our own recognized for such a prestigious award," he said. "She is an exceptional athlete, not only on the field, but at her job as well."
Getting to this point has not been fast or easy for the dedicated athlete. She has, in fact, spent most of her life honing her ability to play softball, as well as advancing her personal physical fitness goals along the way.
Recounting her early years learning the game, Sergeant Warren said that in addition to countless hours of informal practice with her father, by age 9 she was playing on organized local teams with other girls her age.
Later as a teenager, she was an enthusiastic player on various school teams and amateur leagues, some of which had her and sister team members traveling to other states and regions of the country to compete against similarly organized teams.
She recalls those early years on softball fields as very good ones, spending every playing season with her entire family―father, mother and two brothers―cheering her on from the stands, often the loudest and proudest fans in the crowd.
"My two older brothers weren't all that interested in sports, so my father held out hope for me, his last child," she said with a smile. "He drove me to do my best, and I've always tried to follow his advice."
She feels fortunate that her father, who died two years ago, was able to watch her play on Air Force and Armed Forces teams in previous years. "All his early effort paid off," she said, adding that her mother and brothers continue to offer much proud support.
As an adult, she quickly realized that any sports ability can be enhanced by other kinds of physical fitness, so she developed the habit of making plenty of time for regular exercise. Today she runs two miles four times a week and weight trains three times a week, using a regimen intended for male athletes.
She is also careful about eating a healthy diet, mostly choosing foods such as baked chicken or fish and lots of vegetables. "I admit I love fried foods, but I try to avoid them, except in small portions," she said, adding that nutritious food is essential for the "mind, body and soul."
A typical day for Sergeant Warren includes getting up early, showering and eating breakfast―usually oatmeal and a banana or whole wheat toast and eggs. Then she heads to her job at 'America's AOC,' where she's in charge of security and directs the installation of computer and other equipment.
Three days a week she gathers with fellow Airmen for organized physical training - better know to Airmen as PT sessions, and the other two days she takes advantage of the AOC's fitness center to work out on her own. "My unit stresses physical fitness, and my personal motivation is that I want to feel and perform the best that I can," she said of her rigorous exercise routine.
Although she is single, doesn't have children and can usually find sufficient time after work for active pursuits, she thinks all Airmen, regardless of their situation, can and should carve out time for a sound fitness routine. She believes it should be done not only for individual health and well-being, but also to meet the current and new Air Force PT standards that go into effect in July 2010.
"If you are already fit, you won't have a problem with the new standards," she said.
But her first love - softball - is the main part of her fitness routine that keeps life especially interesting and fun.
A longtime center-left outfielder, she points out that while she has improved her batting and fielding abilities over the years, she doesn't see herself as the best player on any given team. "I'm not the best player, but I do try to be a smart player," she said. "I don't make the big power plays; I just look for holes to place the ball and get on base. The others bring me in."
Looking ahead, she realizes that eventually she will have to retire her bat for good. "How long I play will depend on my work schedule," she said. "And at some point it will be time to welcome a new round of younger players to the game."
Guardmembers must submit civilian employment information
By Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
National Guard Bureau
(1/11/10) - Army and Air National Guard members are encouraged to provide their civilian employment information to the Department of Defense through a mandatory program that has been around since the early 1990s.
The Civilian Employment Information (CEI) program makes it possible for defense officials to know who can be called up for active duty without jeopardizing the civilian forces responsible for safeguarding our country, Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard, wrote in a memorandum to the states last year.
Reporting by the 450,000-member National Guard has been very good in the past with more than 90 percent providing information in the last five years, said James Lamback, the chief of Employer Support for the National Guard Bureau.
But information is required to be updated every year, and reporting is currently at 50 and 60 percent for the Army and Air Guard, respectively.
The goal for the Army Guard is to reach 97 percent by Sept. 30, the end of this fiscal year, said Army Guard officials.
Guardmembers must fill in 10 specific data fields concerning their civilian employer, including employment status, employer’s name and mailing address, their job title and their total number of years in their current civilian occupation.
Technicians must also register as government employees.
As part of this program, the DoD must: give consideration to civilian workers, including emergency responders such as police officers, firefighters and medical personnel; ensure more members with critical civilian jobs and skills are not retained in the Guard longer than necessary to respond to emergencies; and inform civilian employers of their rights and responsibilities under the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act.
The information could also be used to determine which units or unit members should be mobilized, defense officials said. Information about full-time employers would also make it possible for DoD officials to enhance employer support for the Guard and Reserve.
Employees are considered full time for CEI purposes if their employer considers them to be employed full time. Self-employed personnel are considered full time if they work for themselves for an average of at least 30 hours per week.
Guardmembers who fail or refuse to provide this information, or who knowingly provide false employment-related information, may be subject to administrative action or punishment, officials said.
Employment data can be entered on the Defense Manpower Data Center Web site.
National Guard Bureau
(1/11/10) - Army and Air National Guard members are encouraged to provide their civilian employment information to the Department of Defense through a mandatory program that has been around since the early 1990s.
The Civilian Employment Information (CEI) program makes it possible for defense officials to know who can be called up for active duty without jeopardizing the civilian forces responsible for safeguarding our country, Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard, wrote in a memorandum to the states last year.
Reporting by the 450,000-member National Guard has been very good in the past with more than 90 percent providing information in the last five years, said James Lamback, the chief of Employer Support for the National Guard Bureau.
But information is required to be updated every year, and reporting is currently at 50 and 60 percent for the Army and Air Guard, respectively.
The goal for the Army Guard is to reach 97 percent by Sept. 30, the end of this fiscal year, said Army Guard officials.
Guardmembers must fill in 10 specific data fields concerning their civilian employer, including employment status, employer’s name and mailing address, their job title and their total number of years in their current civilian occupation.
Technicians must also register as government employees.
As part of this program, the DoD must: give consideration to civilian workers, including emergency responders such as police officers, firefighters and medical personnel; ensure more members with critical civilian jobs and skills are not retained in the Guard longer than necessary to respond to emergencies; and inform civilian employers of their rights and responsibilities under the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act.
The information could also be used to determine which units or unit members should be mobilized, defense officials said. Information about full-time employers would also make it possible for DoD officials to enhance employer support for the Guard and Reserve.
Employees are considered full time for CEI purposes if their employer considers them to be employed full time. Self-employed personnel are considered full time if they work for themselves for an average of at least 30 hours per week.
Guardmembers who fail or refuse to provide this information, or who knowingly provide false employment-related information, may be subject to administrative action or punishment, officials said.
Employment data can be entered on the Defense Manpower Data Center Web site.
Airman Follows Famous Uncle
By Mike Joseph
Special to American Forces Press Service
Jan. 11, 2010 - When Airman Christopher Platte decided to join the Air Force last year, he didn't know he would be following in famous footsteps. Graduation from Basic Military Training here Dec. 11 capped a two-day whirlwind for Platte that included rare time spent with his great uncle, retired Air Force Capt. Claude Platte, an original Tuskegee Airman. BMT graduation was the first time since he was an infant that Platte had been with his famous uncle, who helped break down racial and educational barriers by becoming one of the first African American officers trained and commissioned in the newly reopened Air Force pilot training program at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in the 1940s.
The younger Platte found out about his uncle after telling his family he wanted to join the Air Force. He first spoke with his great uncle in November 2008, he said.
"I talked to my mother about [joining the Air Force] and she said, 'Oh, by the way, you have a great uncle who is a Tuskegee Airman,'" Platte recalled.
"I had no idea," he added. "I think that it's going to be a great motivation for me to take it a step higher now that I know where I come from. Even if I decide not to be a pilot, it's motivation to be the best I can be in the Air Force."
The elder Platte served 18 years in the Air Force and trained more than 400 African American airmen to fly solo and pilot specialized military aircraft. Captain Platte's brother -- Christopher Platte's grandfather -- was also a Tuskegee Airman.
Captain Platte has received many honors including an honorary doctorate in public service from Tuskegee University in 2006, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
Retired from Bell Helicopter Textron Co. and living in North Texas, Platte and other Tuskegee Airmen travel the country telling their stories.
A modest man who stays involved in community service, the elder Platte said he wasn't out to break down barriers; he only wanted to fly.
"It was something I wanted to do," he said. "It was just like getting a toy. I didn't think about the segregation part of it. I wasn't interfered with, so I really enjoyed it."
Captain Platte's return to Lackland AFB for his great nephew's graduation was the first time he had been back since his own BMT nearly 50 years ago.
And, as Airman Platte begins his military career, he's entering as a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist. He, too, started down a different trail.
After all, how many airmen begin their career with an Eagle Scout Court of Honor the day before BMT graduation?
"It was an interesting experience. It was not a traditional court of honor," he said about the Dec. 10 ceremony.
Col. William Mott V, the 37th Training Wing commander, presided over the event and presented Platte with his Eagle Scout award.
The two days of activities were enough to make a mother proud.
"I don't think there are words to describe how proud I am," said Platte's mother, Marilyn Wright. "He really didn't have any idea the legacy he was stepping into. Since he was six, he's been saying, 'I want to fly planes; I want to be in the air!'"
"Honestly, I tried to discourage him, but it's in his heart to be an airman," she said. "Now he's fulfilling a dream."
(Mike Joseph works for 37th Training Wing public affairs.)
182 Days in Iraq
On January 29, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Phil Kiver, US Army, about his book 182 Days in Iraq.
Program Date: January 29, 2010
Program Time: 2100 Hours Pacific
Topic: 182 Days in Iraq
Listen Live:
www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/182_days_iraq.html
About the Guest
Phil Kiver is a native of Cheney Washington. A graduate of Eastern Washington University, with a degree in Political Science and a veteran of the Washington Army National Guard. After college he joined the Army serving overseas in Iraq, Chile, Kyrgyzstan, and Germany. While stationed at Fort Hood Texas Kiver anchored an Army news show, on KCEN NBC Waco Texas. During this time he received a master’s degree in Military History from American Military University. After serving three years on active duty he left the Army and moved to Manassas Virginia. Kiver has worked as the communications director for federal republican candidates and as a fundraiser for the RNC. He was also a credentialed journalist on Capitol Hill for USA Radio Network out of Dallas Texas In addition he has three published books about his time in Iraq, and has just completed two more from his most recent trip to Iraq where he served as deputy public affairs officer for 2nd Brigade 1st Armor Division of the US Army. He has been a featured speaker at the Library of Congress as well as the Ronald Reagan Library. Phil Kiver is the author of 182 Days in Iraq.
According to the book description of 182 Days in Iraq, “Phil Kiver s real-life, moment-to-moment journal of his assignment as an Army journalist in Iraq is honest, irreverent gripping and emotional one moment a howl the next. Kiver s journals are raw reaction, impression, and introspection. This, folks, is what it feels like to be Phil Kiver in this war in Iraq missing home, lounging at one of Saddam s pools, angry with the brass, witnessing the deaths of children and comrades, nighttime explosions too close for comfort, pasta with the Italians, toasting the fallen with the Ukrainians. It s a delirium of experience with this journalist sorting through the rubble and smoke in search of the story that will one day be history.
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:
www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/182_days_iraq.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: January 29, 2010
Program Time: 2100 Hours Pacific
Topic: 182 Days in Iraq
Listen Live:
www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/182_days_iraq.html
About the Guest
Phil Kiver is a native of Cheney Washington. A graduate of Eastern Washington University, with a degree in Political Science and a veteran of the Washington Army National Guard. After college he joined the Army serving overseas in Iraq, Chile, Kyrgyzstan, and Germany. While stationed at Fort Hood Texas Kiver anchored an Army news show, on KCEN NBC Waco Texas. During this time he received a master’s degree in Military History from American Military University. After serving three years on active duty he left the Army and moved to Manassas Virginia. Kiver has worked as the communications director for federal republican candidates and as a fundraiser for the RNC. He was also a credentialed journalist on Capitol Hill for USA Radio Network out of Dallas Texas In addition he has three published books about his time in Iraq, and has just completed two more from his most recent trip to Iraq where he served as deputy public affairs officer for 2nd Brigade 1st Armor Division of the US Army. He has been a featured speaker at the Library of Congress as well as the Ronald Reagan Library. Phil Kiver is the author of 182 Days in Iraq.
According to the book description of 182 Days in Iraq, “Phil Kiver s real-life, moment-to-moment journal of his assignment as an Army journalist in Iraq is honest, irreverent gripping and emotional one moment a howl the next. Kiver s journals are raw reaction, impression, and introspection. This, folks, is what it feels like to be Phil Kiver in this war in Iraq missing home, lounging at one of Saddam s pools, angry with the brass, witnessing the deaths of children and comrades, nighttime explosions too close for comfort, pasta with the Italians, toasting the fallen with the Ukrainians. It s a delirium of experience with this journalist sorting through the rubble and smoke in search of the story that will one day be history.
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:
www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/182_days_iraq.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Tracking and Recovery of Persons at Risk
Editor's Note: The guest is a former servicemember.
On February 4, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Captain Gene Saunders, Chesapeake Police Department (ret.) on the radio tracking and recovery of persons at risk.
Program Date: February 4, 2010
Program Time: 1700 Hours Pacific
Topic: Radio Tracking and Recovery of Persons at Risk
Listen Live:
http://www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/radio_tracking_recovery_persons_at_risk.html
About the Project Lifesaver International
Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small LoJack® SafetyNet™ personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer's area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes -- 95% less time than standard operations. The Project Lifesaver Program also offers National Alzheimer’s training and certificates for interested members.
About the Guest
Captain Gene Saunders, Chesapeake Police Department (ret.) served 33 years in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Detectives and Training. He served in-line function and command elements of all of these units. Gene Saunders co-founded the Special Weapons and Tactics team in 1974 and served as tactical commander and commander for 23 years and over 800 operations. He served as Chief Investigator on several large multi-state, international drug conspiracy investigations. In addition to his law enforcement service, Gene Saunders also served in National Guard and State Defense force in Infantry, Airborne and Ranger Units in various leadership positions. He has been a certified instructor in Pursuit Driving, Firearms, Special Operations, Raid Planning, General Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue. He founded Project Lifesaver International in 1999 and have overseen its' growth to over 1,070 public safety organizations in 45 states; Canada and Australia.
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.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/radio_tracking_recovery_persons_at_risk.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
On February 4, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Captain Gene Saunders, Chesapeake Police Department (ret.) on the radio tracking and recovery of persons at risk.
Program Date: February 4, 2010
Program Time: 1700 Hours Pacific
Topic: Radio Tracking and Recovery of Persons at Risk
Listen Live:
http://www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/radio_tracking_recovery_persons_at_risk.html
About the Project Lifesaver International
Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small LoJack® SafetyNet™ personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer's area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes -- 95% less time than standard operations. The Project Lifesaver Program also offers National Alzheimer’s training and certificates for interested members.
About the Guest
Captain Gene Saunders, Chesapeake Police Department (ret.) served 33 years in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Detectives and Training. He served in-line function and command elements of all of these units. Gene Saunders co-founded the Special Weapons and Tactics team in 1974 and served as tactical commander and commander for 23 years and over 800 operations. He served as Chief Investigator on several large multi-state, international drug conspiracy investigations. In addition to his law enforcement service, Gene Saunders also served in National Guard and State Defense force in Infantry, Airborne and Ranger Units in various leadership positions. He has been a certified instructor in Pursuit Driving, Firearms, Special Operations, Raid Planning, General Law Enforcement and Search and Rescue. He founded Project Lifesaver International in 1999 and have overseen its' growth to over 1,070 public safety organizations in 45 states; Canada and Australia.
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.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/radio_tracking_recovery_persons_at_risk.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
An American Family in World War II
On January 22, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Dr. Sandra O'Connell on An American Family in World War II.
Program Date: January 22, 2010
Program Time: 2100 Hours Pacific
Topic: An American Family in World War II
Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/american_family_world_war_two.html
About the Book
According to the book description of An American Family in World War II, “On the morning of December 7, 1941, life for families across America was forever changed by events over which they had no control, but were to witness and play a part. An American Family in World War II is the moving story of one of those families — told largely in their own words. When Ralph Minker Jr. entered U.S. Army Air Cadet training in 1943, he began a correspondence with his parents and two teenage sisters; letters that describe the rigors of pilot training and ultimately his life at “this air base I call home,” as he flew 37 combat missions over Nazi Germany. The letters from the family members to Lee bring a vibrant reality to the home front — rationing, bond drives, and the daily tension of war — through the people who lived it. Woven together with commentary by the editors, this is an intensely personal and richly detailed account of life in America during the harrowing days of WWII.”
About Captain Ralph Lee Minker
Captain Ralph Minker, USA “was 18 when he entered Army Air Cadet training on his way to becoming a B-17 bomber pilot. He exchanged letters with his parents and two sisters throughout the war. After completing combat in 1945, he returned to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1947. Ordained a Methodist Minister in 1952, Reverend Minker served eight churches in the Delaware and Maryland Conference of the United Methodist Church before retiring in 1990. In 2005 Ralph Minker was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1995, Rev. Minker was active in planning the book and proud when it was published. He passed away from complications of the disease on August 5, 2008.”
About the Guest
Sandra O'Connell and Ralph Minker were married in March 1980. Reading the Minker family correspondence and a meeting in 2000 with WW II historian, Harry Butowsky, led inevitably (after five years of work) to An American Family in World War II. She was the lead researcher and writer on Ralph’s missions and the home front issues. Prior writing experience includes nine years as technology editor for HR Magazine. Sandra has a Ph.D. from New York University.
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:
www.americanheroesradio.com/american_family_world_war_two.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: January 22, 2010
Program Time: 2100 Hours Pacific
Topic: An American Family in World War II
Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/american_family_world_war_two.html
About the Book
According to the book description of An American Family in World War II, “On the morning of December 7, 1941, life for families across America was forever changed by events over which they had no control, but were to witness and play a part. An American Family in World War II is the moving story of one of those families — told largely in their own words. When Ralph Minker Jr. entered U.S. Army Air Cadet training in 1943, he began a correspondence with his parents and two teenage sisters; letters that describe the rigors of pilot training and ultimately his life at “this air base I call home,” as he flew 37 combat missions over Nazi Germany. The letters from the family members to Lee bring a vibrant reality to the home front — rationing, bond drives, and the daily tension of war — through the people who lived it. Woven together with commentary by the editors, this is an intensely personal and richly detailed account of life in America during the harrowing days of WWII.”
About Captain Ralph Lee Minker
Captain Ralph Minker, USA “was 18 when he entered Army Air Cadet training on his way to becoming a B-17 bomber pilot. He exchanged letters with his parents and two sisters throughout the war. After completing combat in 1945, he returned to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1947. Ordained a Methodist Minister in 1952, Reverend Minker served eight churches in the Delaware and Maryland Conference of the United Methodist Church before retiring in 1990. In 2005 Ralph Minker was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1995, Rev. Minker was active in planning the book and proud when it was published. He passed away from complications of the disease on August 5, 2008.”
About the Guest
Sandra O'Connell and Ralph Minker were married in March 1980. Reading the Minker family correspondence and a meeting in 2000 with WW II historian, Harry Butowsky, led inevitably (after five years of work) to An American Family in World War II. She was the lead researcher and writer on Ralph’s missions and the home front issues. Prior writing experience includes nine years as technology editor for HR Magazine. Sandra has a Ph.D. from New York University.
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:
www.americanheroesradio.com/american_family_world_war_two.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
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