Airman Reaches Out to Ethiopian Children

By Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Stevenson
Special to American Forces Press Service

Feb. 10, 2010 - For one Air Force family stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea, the service's focus on the Year of the Air Force Family means providing an even greater impact by meeting the needs of others through adoption. The Year of the Air Force Family is an initiative focused on enhancing the support and care provided to those who firmly stand behind our airmen on a daily basis.

Air Force Col. John Marselus, commander of the 607th Air and Space Operations Center, and his wife, Kim, traveled to Addis Adaba, Ethiopia, in January where they picked up their newest son, Caleb, a 5-year-old orphan whom they adopted.

"The adoption process took about two years, but in reality this journey started well over two decades ago," Marselus said. The couple's trip to Ethiopia opened yet another opportunity to meet face-to-face with one of the many children they had sponsored worldwide for almost three decades.

As a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, the colonel started sponsoring needy children across the globe. The Marselus family was able to provide food, clothing and school supplies for dozens of children over the past 27 years. One of the children they sponsored was an Ethiopian girl named Meseret.

"We first started sponsoring Meseret about a decade ago when she was only 8 years old," Marselus said. "Here was this poor little girl, literally living on the other side of the planet in an environment we couldn't even begin to comprehend, and we were getting these touching letters from her thanking us and telling about the difference our involvement was having in her life."

After 25 years of sponsorship of multiple children, the Marselus family decided it was time to have an even greater impact on a needy child. It was at that point they decided to pursue the option of adoption.

"Sponsoring needy children like Meseret is great, but we were convicted to see if there was a child who needed a family," Marselus said. "We strongly felt that the right thing to do was provide an orphaned little boy or girl the love and nurturing they so desperately deserve."

After contacting an adoption agency and beginning the adoption process, the Marselus family was pleasantly surprised to discover the many programs and benefits the Air Force has in place to support adoptive parents. The National Defense Authorization Act provides for reimbursement of up to $2,000 of expenses per adoption with a maximum of $5,000 reimbursement per year. Additionally, AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, allows upward of 21 days of permissive temporary duty for travel associated with qualified adoptions.

"These are exactly the types of benefits needed for airmen who are pursuing adoption," Marselus said. "We are extremely pleased to see this commitment from the Air Force to help anyone who would pursue this option."

While in Ethiopia finalizing the adoption of their new son, the couple met Meseret, the girl they started sponsoring 10 years ago.

"It was an incredible experience getting to finally meet this amazing young lady who has changed our lives in so many ways," the colonel said. "We were able to celebrate her 18th birthday with her and were quite impressed with her and how well she was thriving in such an impoverished environment. Sponsorship had obviously had a positive impact as she recently completed high school and now has her eyes on becoming a doctor."

Reflecting on the whirlwind of emotional and life-changing events over the past few weeks, the Marselus family gives the Air Force great credit for their successful adoption of Caleb.

"Beyond the financial support and permissive TDY time provided by our Air Force, several on-base agencies such as the chapel, Aarman and family readiness center, the military personnel section and medical group have been amazing in helping Caleb transition from being an impoverished orphan into a healthy, cared-for and truly happy Air Force dependent," the colonel said. "Without a doubt traveling to Ethiopia, meeting Meseret and having Caleb become a part of our family was the adventure of a lifetime."

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Sean Stevenson is assigned to the 607th Air and Space Operations Center.)

LOWE’S EXPANDS SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY WITH YEAR-ROUND DISCOUNT

10 Percent Discount for Active, Reserve, Retired and Disabled Military Personnel and Immediate Family Members

February 10, 2010 - MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced today it will expand its support of the military by offering an all day, every day 10 percent discount to all military personnel who are active, reserve, retired or disabled veterans and their family members, with a valid, government-issued military ID card.

All other military veterans will receive the discount on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends.

“Lowe’s was founded on the heels of World War II by veterans Jim Lowe and Carl Buchan and has always been a supporter of the military,” said Larry D. Stone, Lowe’s president and chief operating officer. “The year-round discount program is one way we are reaffirming our commitment to the thousands of men and women who are serving throughout the world, as well as their family members at home.”

The discount is available on in-stock and Special Order purchases up to $5,000. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards.

While Lowe’s has had a military discount program in the past during select times of year, the new policy will allow those who are serving to benefit from the discount whenever they need it the most.

“What a great way to say thank you,” said Sloan Gibson, president and CEO of the USO. “We salute Lowe’s for the company’s commitment to helping military personnel and their families who served and continue to serve our nation.”

The USO was also selected as one of the beneficiaries of the Lowe’s Employee Giving Campaign in January. This initiative allows Lowe’s employees to donate directly from their paychecks to support those who are serving our country.

In addition to offering military discounts at specific times during the year, Lowe’s has extended benefits for its employees serving in the military and offers employment opportunities to military personnel after their military service has ended. Currently, more than 12,000 Lowe’s employees are military veterans or reservists.

About Lowe’s
With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,700 home improvement stores in North America. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com. Follow us on Twitter @Lowes or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lowes.

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal Demands Study, Gates Says

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 10, 2010 - The Defense Department's review of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law, which bans gays from serving openly in the military, will help to ensure readiness and unit cohesion remain intact if Congress repeals it, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview aired last night. Gates also discussed the close cooperation he and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have forged between their two departments during an interview with Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren, conducted last week as he visited Rome.

Expressing his personal support for a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law -- support shared by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen -- Gates emphasized the need for a full review to ensure it's done right if it happens.

"This is a force that's been under stress for eight years, been at war for eight years," he said. "And I don't want to do anything that makes the situation more difficult for those men and women in the fight."

Gates conceded that some consider the review a stalling tactic, but he called it critical to the process.

"The review that I am launching is to help inform the legislative process of some facts about the attitudes of our men and women in uniform, what they think about a change in the law, [and] what their families think," he said. "The truth is, we don't have any facts."

The ramifications go beyond the level of acceptance within units, the secretary explained. "We need to understand all of the different things that have to be dealt with in terms of housing and benefits, and regulations and fraternization rules, and conduct and training, and so on," he said.

This way, if Congress does change the law, "we can inform that process and offer some suggestions on mitigation if there are going to be negative consequences so we can figure out how to mitigate those consequences," he said.

"And if the law is passed," he added, "then we're in a much better position to be able to go forward and implement those changes in a way that doesn't undermine unit cohesion and readiness."

Gates emphasized the need for a careful, deliberate process.

"The military culture is a very strong one. It's a very different culture than a civilian culture," he said. "These people do not have choices about who they associate with. They can't just up and walk off the job if they don't like somebody that they're working with. And so we have to take all that into account."

Turning the discussion to enhanced Defense-State cooperation, Gates said the tone he and Clinton are setting at the top will affect both agencies so they're better able to partner to address challenges and threats.

The goal, he said, is to use all elements of the interagency process to prevent conflicts from happening in the first place so U.S. troops don't have to take action.

"So building the capabilities, both civilian and military, of governments around the world who are our friends and partners, is key," he said. "And we've got to cooperate to do that."

Gates pointed to the way former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, when he was commander of Multinational Force Iraq, worked together toward shared goals in Iraq.

"I think Ph.D. dissertations should be written about the relationship between Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, because it is a model of a relationship between the senior civilian and the senior military officer," Gates said.

U.K. Firm Pleads Guilty to Illegally Exporting Boeing 747 Aircraft to Iran

Firm Agrees to Pay $15 Million in Fines

Balli Aviation Ltd., a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based Balli Group PLC, pleaded guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a two-count criminal information in connection with its illegal export of commercial Boeing 747 aircraft from the United States to Iran, announced David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Channing D. Phillips, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; Thomas Madigan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement; and Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Under the plea agreement, Balli Aviation Ltd. agreed to pay a $2 million criminal fine and be placed on corporate probation for five years. The $2 million fine, combined with a related $15 million civil settlement among Balli Group PLC, Balli Aviation Ltd., the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), that was also announced today, represents one of the largest fines for an export violation in BIS history. Under the terms of the related civil settlement, Balli Group PLC and Balli Aviation Ltd. have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $15 million of which $2 million will be suspended if there are no further export control violations. In addition, Balli Aviation Ltd. and Balli Group PLC are denied export privileges for five years, although this penalty will be suspended provided that neither Balli Aviation nor Balli Group commits any export violations and pays the civil penalty. Under the terms of the settlement, Balli Group PLC and Balli Aviation, Ltd. will also have to submit the results of an independent audit of its export compliance program to BIS and OFAC for each of the next five years.

According to count one of the information filed with the court, beginning in at least October 2005, through October 2008, Balli Aviation Ltd. conspired to export three Boeing 747 aircraft from the United States to Iran without first having obtained the required export license from BIS or authorization from OFAC, in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and the Iranian Transactions Regulations. More particularly, the information states that Balli Aviation Ltd., through its subsidiaries, the Blue Sky Companies, purchased U.S.-origin aircraft with financing obtained from an Iranian airline and caused these aircraft to be exported to Iran without obtaining the required U.S. government licenses. Further, Balli Aviation Ltd. entered into lease arrangements that permitted the Iranian airline to use the U.S.-origin aircraft for flights in and out of Iran.

Count two of the information states that Balli Aviation Ltd. violated a Temporary Denial Order (TDO) issued by BIS on March 17, 2008, that prohibited the company from conducting any transaction involving any item subject to the EAR. Starting in or about March 2008 and continuing through about August 2008, Balli Aviation Ltd. willfully violated the TDO by carrying on negotiations with others concerning buying, receiving, using, selling and delivering U.S.-origin aircraft which went to the Export Administration Regulations.

"As this case demonstrates, corporations that conduct business with Iran in violation of U.S. export laws and sanctions face serious consequences," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. "The many agents, analysts and attorneys who worked on this successful investigation and prosecution deserve special thanks for their efforts."

"These charges reflect the commitment of the United States to vigorously enforce our laws against corporations that illegally seek to acquire U.S. aircraft from the U.S. on behalf of Iranian customers," said Channing Phillips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. "Those who seek to profit by violating and circumventing U.S. trade laws should take heed of today’s guilty plea by Balli Aviation."

"The significant fine is a direct consequence of the level of deception used to mislead investigators," said Thomas Madigan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement. "The case agents worked through a complex corporate maze to obtain the facts and bring the violators to justice."

"Today’s case should serve as further warning of Iran’s continued efforts to circumvent sanctions and obtain U.S. technology. Together with our colleagues from the Justice and Commerce departments, OFAC will continue to aggressively pursue both domestic and foreign entities that seek to violate U.S. sanctions programs by exporting goods to Iran from the United States." said Adam J. Szubin, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.

In announcing the plea, Assistant Attorney General Kris, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Madigan and OFAC Director Szubin commended Assistant Director for Operations John Sonderman, Special Agent in Charge Rick Shimon, Special Agent Joseph Varga, and Chief Counsel Attorney Gregory Michelsen, all of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. They also thanked Trial Attorney Jonathan C. Poling of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Asuncion of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, who are prosecuting this matter.

Gates Remembers Murtha as Champion of Troops

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 9, 2010 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he will remember U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania as a patriot and long-time champion of the nation's men and women in uniform. The 77-year-old Vietnam War veteran died yesterday of complications following gall bladder surgery.

Gates issued a statement after learning of Murtha's death while traveling in Europe. "America has lost a true patriot who served his country faithfully," he said, "first in uniform as a decorated combat Marine, and then as an elected representative."

Murtha was the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress, and he rose to become chairman of the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on defense. Gates noted that he had worked with Murtha for more than two decades, since the Reagan administration, when Gates worked at the CIA.

"I will always remember and be grateful for Congressman Murtha's personal efforts on behalf of the Afghan resistance fighting the Soviets - efforts that helped bring about the end of the Cold War," he said.

But the two did not always see eye to eye, Gates acknowledged. Murtha initially advocated the war in Iraq, but reversed his position in 2005, before the troop surge helped to turn the situation there around.

"In our dealings over the years, Jack and I did not always agree, but I always respected his candor and knew that he cared deeply about the men and women of America's military and intelligence community," Gates said in his statement. "My condolences to Joyce and the rest of the Murtha family."

According to his congressional biography, Murtha joined the Marine Corps in 1952, and served as a drill instructor at Parris Island, S.C., before attending Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va. He later served with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

He left active duty in 1955, but continued his service in the Marine Corps Reserve, volunteering for service in Vietnam in 1966 to serve as a battalion staff officer for the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. During his Vietnam service, he earned the Bronze Star with valor device, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

Murtha attained the rank of colonel before retiring in 1990, when he was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Statement by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the Death of Congressman Jack Murtha

February 8, 2010 - I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Murtha. America has lost a true patriot who served his country faithfully first in uniform as a decorated combat Marine, and then as an elected representative.

I've known Jack and worked with him for more than two decades, starting back in the Reagan administration when I was at CIA. I will always remember and be grateful for Congressman Murtha's personal efforts on behalf of the Afghan resistance fighting the Soviets - efforts that helped bring about the end of the Cold War.

In our dealings over the years, Jack and I did not always agree, but I always respected his candor, and knew that he cared deeply about the men and women of America's military and intelligence community. My condolences to Joyce and the rest of the Murtha family.

Iran's Nuclear Program Puts Middle East in Danger, Gates Says

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 8, 2010 - Iran's continuing nuclear development program only serves to put the Middle East in danger of nuclear weapons proliferation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. But, Gates pushed for stronger diplomatic and economic pressure from the international community rather than calling for military conflict.

"I think that everybody's interest is in seeing this issue resolve without resorting to conflict. But it makes it all the more important," he said. "We have to face the reality that if Iran continues and develops nuclear weapons it almost certainly will provoke proliferation in the Middle East. That's a huge danger."

Gates' comments came at a press conference alongside France's Minister of Defense Hervé Morin. Gates flew here today to meet with the ministers of defense and foreign affairs as well as France's President Nicolas Sarkozy, who he will meet for the first time.

Morin backed Gates' comments on Iran, saying that France supports putting international pressure on Iran to stop its current nuclear program.

Since 2006, France has repeatedly publicly stressed the danger of a nuclear-armed Iran and has worked with the United States and other members of the P5+1 group -- China, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany -- to demand that Iran end its current nuclear program, according to the U.S. State Department.

Gates said that if all international partners would agree on a plan, then sanctions could still work.

"The key is persuading Iranian leaders that their long-term best interests are best served by not having nuclear weapons, as opposed to having them," Gates said. "My hope is that we will then be able to keep this in economic and diplomatic channels.

"The point of the pressure is to bring the Iranians back to the negotiating table and to resolve this issue in a way that prevents Iran from having a nuclear weapon," he added.

Besides Iran, Gates said he talked about France's military support in Afghanistan. The secretary called France "close partners." Gates said that during the past few years the diplomatic relationship with France has "significantly" expanded.

The renewed relationship is in part due to the realization by both of the governments that "security challenges of the 21st century are too large and too complex to be dealt with by any single nation acting alone," he said.

Gates praised France's current efforts in Afghanistan, calling the mission "vitally important to the security of the whole world."

And he said that NATO and non-NATO allies must act quickly to capitalize on momentum noted by the senior commander on the ground this year. This will happen only if the allies provide Afghanistan with mentors and trainers to bolster their force to take over the security mission.

"We must act swiftly to increase the impact of the forces now headed to the theater for this pivotal year," Gates said.

The secretary said there has been a renewed energy among NATO and non-NATO partners with respect to the mission in Afghanistan. As a result, the number of troops committed to the fight by allies has almost tripled since Gates took office.

France has increased their forces by nearly half since the start of the war and has taken on new training responsibilities, fielding six operational and mentoring teams and offering six more. France has about 2,800 troops in Afghanistan.

Among NATO members, France is second only to the United States in terms of total troops deployed abroad. France is one of NATO's top five troop contributors.

For Wisconsin Guard members, resiliency is key to returning to life after deployment

February 8, 2010 - Some of that support comes from a new Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program that equips and trains service members, families and civilian employees to maximize their potential and face the physical and psychological challenges of sustained operations. Friday's presentation focused on resiliency.

Dunbar said that resilience, by definition, is an object's ability to withstand force or trauma and rebound. "It's the difference between before we deployed to combat and after," he explained.

He dropped a baseball from shoulder height, noting how it bounced and referred to its "angle of resilience." He repeated this with a golf ball, a tennis ball and a football, each achieving different results.

"Some of us are like baseballs, and some of us are like golf balls," Dunbar observed. "Some of us are better at this than others."

With more than 3,300 Wisconsin Guard Soldiers and Airmen recently returned from a combat zone, it is essential that they are given the tools necessary to help them re-adjust to civilian life, said Dunbar. Because each individual in the National Guard is unique, there is no easy way to determine who may need help adjusting after a deployment.

So everyone is given the same access to the same tools, Dunbar said, referring to those programs as "arrows in a quiver."

Soldiers returning with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat team in January received briefings on some of these tools at "Wisconsin Day" - where the Wisconsin Service Member Support Division joined forces with the state Department of Workforce Development and the state Department of Veterans Affairs, along with several other agencies, to help returning Soldiers and Airmen understand rights and benefits they have earned as veterans - in particular; education, employment, health care, and the opportunity to file service-related Veterans Administration disability claims before leaving active duty. All returning service members receive similar briefings, which continue throughout the year during reintegration events.

Not only is the reintegration required, it is the right thing to do, Dunbar said. And it helps create a comprehensively fit service member; one who is resilient: physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually fit; is part of a family unit.

Dunbar noted that Guard members can face heightened stress levels without being on deployment, and detailed what he does to stay resilient.

"I try to remember my blessings," he said. "We live in the United States of America - it's pretty amazing, and we tend to forget."

He emphasized maintaining balance between work and family: "If all you do is work, you're missing some special time with your family," he said. Vacations can help maintain that balance, along with understanding that no one is irreplaceable.

"If I die tomorrow, I promise you the Wisconsin National Guard will still be a great organization," Dunbar said. "If you die tomorrow, I promise you your last thought will not be 'I should have worked harder.'"

The adjutant general also noted the importance of being true to oneself. "You have to be happy with who you see in the mirror," he explained. "In the end, being true to your self is being honest with God."

He also urged his audience to spend some time in silence, whether in prayer or just listening. "You'll be surprised at what you might hear," he said.

Tough Sanctions Could Still Work in Iran, Gates Says

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 7, 2010 - There is still time to toughen sanctions to pressure Iran into complying with international demands that it halt its nuclear program that many believe is geared toward developing a nuclear weapon, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.

"If the international community will stand together and bring pressure to bear on the Iranian government, I believe there is still time for sanctions and pressure to work," Gates said at a press event alongside Italy's minister of defense Ignazio La Russa.

"But we must all work together," he added.

Gates did not comment on specific proposed sanctions, but did say he supported those that target the government of Iran and not its people.

"We have seen what is going on inside Iran. I think the international community does not want the Iranian people to suffer more hardship than is absolutely necessary," he said.

This is Gates' first visit to Italy as U.S. defense secretary. During the two-day stop the secretary met with the prime minister as well as other senior officials. Besides Iran, the discussions ranged from disaster relief in Haiti to the United States' joint strike fighter program to the need to improve relations with Russia, Gates said.

Italy has promised another 1,000 troops for Afghanistan, the most of any ally since President Barack Obama's December announcement of a new strategy. Already they have about 3,200, mostly serving in Regional Command West, where Italy leads military operations. Italy's Carabinieri, its uniformed national police force that is also part of the military, is training the Afghanistan police force.

Gates said he is pleased with the additional commitments of troops by both NATO and non-NATO allies.

During his first year as defense secretary, only about 17,000 allied troops were posted in Afghanistan. Now, that number tops 50,000 in either troops on the ground or pledges.

"If you would have told me that we would have that kind of an increase two years ago I would have thought it a miracle," Gates said.

The job now is to relook at what types of troops are committed, he said.

"The key it seems to me is not necessarily more troops in addition to the 10,000 but rather to ensure that among those 10,000 there are as many trainers and mentors as we possibly can get," he said, referring to the number of troops allies have committed to send.

Gates has spent this trip, first in Turkey and now in Italy, asking his NATO counterparts to re-examine the composition of the troops they are sending. Tomorrow Gates will leave for France.

The secretary said he is confident they will be able to meet the need for trainers and mentors in Afghanistan.

Italy hosts U.S. Army and Air forces. The United States has about 13,000 military personnel stationed in Italy. Naples is the home port for the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet and Italy hosts the NATO Defense College in Rome.

Gates: Iran's Nuke Program Puts Middle East at Risk

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 6, 2010 - Iran's nuclear program continues to put security in the Middle East at risk despite international pressure to halt its efforts, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. "Iran is in violation of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, and I think there is a very great worry that if Iran ... proceeds with this program unconstrained, there is a very real danger of proliferation here in the region that would make it even more unstable and more unsafe for everyone," Gates said at a roundtable with traveling U.S. and Turkish press.

The secretary flew here yesterday after a meeting with other defense ministers in Istanbul. His comments come on the heels of a warning by U.S. National Security Advisor James L. Jones at a conference in Munich, where Jones called Iran's nuclear program a global threat.

The secretary praised President Barack Obama's diplomatic efforts toward Iran, saying he has never seen an administration reach out in as principled and comprehensive a way as the president has. But, Gates added, "the response has been quite disappointing."

Gates said the United States has no objection to Iran having a nuclear program that complies with the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, but believes it is using its program to develop a nuclear weapon.

"They have done nothing to reassure the international community that they are prepared to comply with the NPT or stop their progress toward a nuclear weapon," Gates said. "Therefore, I think that various nations need to think about whether the time has come for a different tack."

The International Atomic Energy Agency had offered to exchange Iran's lower-grade uranium for a higher grade that can be used for medical purposes. In the deal, Iran would turn over 1,200 kilograms of low-enriched uranium. Russia and France would enrich the uranium for use at a medical research reactor in Tehran.

Gates said Iran has rejected the offer, despite recent claims by Iranian officials that a deal is close to being reached.

"We had hoped that the Tehran research reactor proposal offered a way out of the current situation in a way that would be satisfactory to all the parties," he said.

Gates called for tougher sanctions on the country if it does not comply with the terms of the agreement in an effort to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

"Iran is the only country in the region that has publicly declared its intent to destroy another state in the region. This is not encouraging for a country that has a nuclear program, to say the least," he said. "So I think there is a broad international agreement ... to get Iran to stop this program."

Turkey sits on Iran's western border and is in a unique position to influence Iran, Gates said.

During his one-day stop here, Gates met with Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul to discuss the war in Afghanistan, NATO's plans for a missile defense system and U.S.-Turkish military relations.

Gates said he did not press Turkish officials for more troops in Afghanistan. The secretary said he is impressed by the Turkish contributions so far. The country has about 1,700 troops in Afghanistan, with two provincial reconstruction teams and several mentoring teams.

Military and Police Books of the Year

Between the three websites, more than 2,200 American Heroes and their books are listed.

February 6, 2010, (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press, the publishers of www.military-writers.com, www.police-writers.com and www.firefighter-writers.com, announced the results of their annual recognition.

About the Websites
Military-Writers.com is a website that lists servicemembers from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have authored books. Currently, the site lists 1146 servicemembers and their more than 3,700 books. Servicemembers are listed by name, branch, rank and type of book.

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local law enforcement officials who have written books. Currently, the website lists 1,082 state or local police officers and their more than 2,300 books. Law enforcement officials are listed by name, department and type of book. Additionally, the website has separate sections which list federal law enforcement officials, international police officers and civilian police personnel.

FireFighter-Writers.com lists American firefighters and other emergency services personnel who have authored books. Currently, the site lists 22 firefighters and over 200 books.

About the Awards
The Military-Writers.com Book of Year 2010 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the servicemember. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a servicemember in the previous year.

The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2010 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the police officer. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a police officer in the previous year.

The Military-Writers.com 2010 Book of the Year
Ride the Thunder: A Vietnam War Story of Honor and Triumph authored by former Major Richard Botkin, USMC, is the Military-Writers.com Book of the Year.

Former United States Marine Corps Major Richard Botkin “graduated from the University of Michigan's School of Business. He served from 1980 to 1995 on active and reserve duty as a Marine Corps infantry officer with units to include 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, and 4th Force Reconnaissance Company. His understanding for Southeast Asia has been enhanced by the nine medical/dental mission trips he helped to organize and lead to Cambodia between 1998 and 2007, and four trips to Vietnam, including one with his main Vietnamese character Le Ba Binh, to specifically do research for Ride the Thunder. Richard Botkin currently lives with his family in northern California, where he is an investment advisor for a major brokerage firm.” Richard Botkin is the author of Ride the Thunder: A Vietnam War Story of Honor and Triumph.

According to the book description of Ride the Thunder: A Vietnam War Story of Honor and Triumph, “Richard Botkin breaks new ground in telling the heroic story of a few American and Vietnamese Marines who fought brilliantly and turned the tide of the Vietnam War, only to have policymakers surrender the battlefield. Botkin recounts the exploits of the American Marines and their Vietnamese allies who were largely responsible for thwarting the North Vietnamese invasion of the northern portions of South Vietnam - known as the 'Easter Offensive of 1972' in the West that was intended to bring the nation to its knees. These are the men who 'rode the thunder' and almost saved a nation. Botkin tells the story of Captain John Ripley's daring raid to destroy the Dong Ha Bridge; Major Le Ba Binh and his seven hundred Marines bravely holding off more than 20 thousand North Vietnamese troops; Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Turley's leadership and bravery that helped thwart the Easter Offensive - and much more.”

The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2010
The Sixth Session authored by Lieutenant Joe Hefferon, Essex County Sheriff’s Office, is the Police-Writers.com Book of the Year.

Lieutenant Joe Hefferon of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office is a 22 year veteran of law enforcement who is currently assigned to the office of the chief. He “has been a police officer for more than twenty-two years. His experiences have given him access to the scarier hallways of the human psyche, helping to layer his narrative with poignancy, grit, and dark humor. Joe Hefferon is the proud parent of two beautiful children, Jack and Kaitlin.” Lieutenant Joe Hefferon is the author of The Sixth Session.

According to the book description of The Sixth Session, “Newspaper man Carter Jackson forms an unlikely alliance with Detective Brooke Enright to stop the awful killing of children while reconciling their own inner torment. Carter is reeling over the death of his beloved wife and immerses himself in the brutal investigation, set against one bitter cold December. The Sixth Session will make you think about the best and worst of human capacities. It will make you want to fall in love again, even with all its tragic consequences.”

American Heroes Press Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Guard Supports Washington Blizzard Response

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 6, 2010 - More than 100 soldiers and airmen from the District of Columbia National Guard were on duty yesterday and today supporting the district's emergency response to a weekend blizzard.

The Guard members are transporting patients and doctors to area hospitals, taking Metro Police officers to and from work throughout the city and even transported Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier to a shooting scene on Stanton Avenue.

Officials said Guard personnel are expected to remain on duty through Feb. 9 in support of one of the worst blizzards in the history of the national capital region.

"This is our job, and this is what we do," said Army Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, commanding general of the D.C. Guard Joint Force Headquarters. "We have always answered the call for help from the District of Columbia at a moment's notice, and our people have done a tremendous job in supporting emergency missions during this historic blizzard."

D.C. National Guard personnel were needed to drive a dozen Humvees to Metro Police precincts throughout the city today, and they proved to be invaluable as the storm worsened and roadways became impassable. In addition to the Humvees, support personnel were stationed at the district's armory and at the D.C. Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency, which was the hub of the city's response to the storm.

Airman Tells Cancer Survival Story

By Air Force Master Sgt. Martie Moore
Special to American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ronnie Barham, the 506th Air Expeditionary Group chief enlisted manager here, recalled a day seven years ago involving another noncommissioned officer now serving with him in Iraq. "He had a tube down his nose; IVs in his arms, had lost a lot of weight and was heavily medicated," Barham said. "He looked really rough, and he looked up at me and said, 'I'm comin' back, Chief.'"

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mark Duran didn't know how sick he was at the time.

"I had a dry cough and couldn't stay warm. I just thought I had the flu," recalled Duran, now a 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures technician who'd deployed to Iraq from the 301st Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Reserve Field Carswell-Fort Worth, Texas.

The cough lasted about three months before high fevers started setting in, and Duran's friends finally convinced him to go to the doctor. The X-rays revealed his spleen was three times its normal size. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.

According to the National Cancer Association, the disease's symptoms include the painless enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen or other immune tissue. Other warning signs, which Duran developed, include fever, weight loss, fatigue and night sweats.

When the doctor told him he had cancer, Duran didn't look at it as a death sentence. He had a 30-percent chance of survival.

"I didn't realize it was as bad as it was," he said. "When the doctor told us it was Stage 4, I thought, 'Well that has to be the least serious. Stage 1 must be the worst. I was near death and totally ignorant about how serious it was."

The stage of a cancer, usually measured on a scale of 1 to 4, indicates of how much the cancer has spread. The stage often takes into account the size of a tumor, how deeply it has penetrated, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs.

Duran said he believes the doctor didn't convey the gravity of the diagnosis because he thought he might lose hope.

"He didn't realize how strong my Christian faith is," the airman said.

Duran had surgery Jan. 8, 2004, to remove his spleen and gall bladder, which was 80-percent cancerous.

"It was beyond a Stage 4. There's no such thing as a 5," Duran said. "I still question why I'm still here, but I'm here for a purpose."

After surgery and chemotherapy treatments, Duran was not prepared for what came next.

"The hardest part was paying for it. It was catastrophic," he said. "Every chemo treatment is $7,000." After insurance, Duran still had $50,000 in medical bills to pay out of his pocket.

As a civilian, Duran works for the Birdville Independent School District in Texas, and he has been in the Air Force Reserve for 26 years. Although family and friends tried to help, it just wasn't enough. He chose to file bankruptcy.

"Between the cancer and bankruptcy, it changed the importance of things in my life," Duran said. "I saw what I owned and what wasn't important and what really is important, like relationships with family and friends. It strengthened my relationship with my wife and even my in-laws. With my in-laws, I'm no longer a son-in-law. I'm a son to them."

Serving his country also is high on Duran's priority list.

"I never intended to get out, but I thought the military might force me out," he said.

Duran's reserve commander and Barham wrote letters to the medical review board, urging them to retain Duran, and it worked.

"From the beginning, I said I'm going to do my 33 years," Duran said.

"He really loves the military and is proud to serve," Barham said. "We wrote the letter so he could still serve, and he volunteered to come here as a structural augmentee. Back home, he is an electrician."

Duran has been in Iraq for more than four months and said he is glad he volunteered to deploy.

"I'm part of a good thing, and I couldn't be surrounded by a better group of people," he said.

Duran credits his positive attitude and faith for keeping him cancer-free for the past six years. Meanwhile, he has been grateful for every moment.

"Don't take your life for granted," he said. "There's not always a tomorrow."

(Air Force Master Sgt. Martie Moore serves in the 506th Air Expeditionary Group public affairs office.)

Two Former Elected Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal Officials Convicted of Conspiracy and Embezzlement from the Tribe

Fourteen Convicted Following Investigation of Financial Activities of Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee

February 6, 2010 - OKLAHOMA CITY—Today, a federal jury found WILLIAM F. BLIND, JR. (a/k/a “Bill Blind”), 68, and his wife, VINITA H. SANKEY, 60, both of Canton, Oklahoma, guilty of conspiracy and embezzlement of more than $150,000 of funds belonging to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma (“Tribes”), including net gaming revenues derived from the Lucky Star Casinos, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

“These defendants used their elected positions within the Tribe to take funds for improper and personal use,” said U.S. Attorney Coats. “Tribal elected officials must be held to the same standard as other elected government officials. I commend the FBI agents and prosecutors who worked diligently on these cases for six years in order to expose this corruption and to bring these 14 defendants to justice.”

Blind and Sankey were elected to the Tribe’s Business Committee as representatives for the Arapaho District One (A-1) in 1998 and served on the Business Committee until 2006. Blind and Sankey also had served as Tribal Tax Commissioners. Blind served for a period as Tribal Chairman and Sankey served for a period as Tribal Secretary.

Evidence at trial showed that, between 2000 and 2006, Blind and Sankey conspired to embezzle tribal funds entrusted to them by virtue of their elected positions through submission of various travel claims for expenses related to conferences they did not attend, improper reimbursements, and payment for expenses of relatives to which they were not entitled.

In addition, evidence showed that tribal funds were used to purchase cashiers’ checks from which cash was retained for personal use, and that checks were improperly drawn on the Tribal operating and tax accounts for personal use. Also, evidence showed that tribal funds were used to purchase various vehicles (including a 2001 Dodge Pickup, 2002 Lincoln Town Car, Chrysler 300 M, and a 2003 Dodge 1500 Quad Cab Pickup), two riding lawn mowers, and a portable storage building, which were not returned to the Tribes upon leaving office. In total, more than $150,000 of Tribal funds were embezzled or converted.

The pair was originally indicted in November of 2008. The trial lasted six days and the jury deliberated about six hours before finding Sankey guilty of conspiracy and 21 counts of embezzlement. The jury found Blind guilty of conspiracy and eight counts of embezzlement and found him not guilty on a single count of embezzlement.

At sentencing, Blind and Sankey each face up to five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution on each count. Sentencing for both defendants has been set for May 5, 2010.

Related Case Prosecution Summary

The case against Blind and Sankey arose out of a long-term investigation of financial activities of the 33rd Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee which has also resulted in the conviction of the following individuals in prior separate cases:



• Robert Tabor, 62, of Calumet, Oklahoma, pled guilty to conspiracy to embezzle more than $114,000 of net gaming revenues derived from the Lucky Star Casinos. Tabor was the Arapaho District A-2 elected representative and Chairman of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee. In April of 2008 he was sentenced to serve 12 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $114,376.47 in restitution. (Case No. CR-07-211)

• Colleen Tabor, 49, of Calumet, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzlement of $7,646.60 of Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal funds derived from the Lucky Star Casinos. She was the wife of Robert Tabor. In April of 2008 she was sentenced to serve four years' probation and pay $7,646.60 in restitution. (Case No. CR-07-211)

• James Wayne Pedro, Sr., 69, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzling gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos and also pled guilty to making a fraudulent statement to HUD. Pedro was an elected member of the Business Committee of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. In April of 2006 he was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $193,235.77 in restitution to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and $6,277 to the Oklahoma Housing and Finance Agency. (Case No. CR-05-203)

• Peggy Bigpond, 53, of Concho, Oklahoma, pled guilty to unlawfully receiving and converting gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos to her own use. Bigpond worked as Pedro’s secretary during a portion of his term of office on the Business Committee of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. In April of 2006 Bigpond was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $32,276.66 in restitution to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. (Case No. CR-05-204)

• Lea E. Schantz, 42, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to receiving and converting gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos, knowing that the funds had been embezzled. Schantz also pled guilty to making a false statement to HUD. In April of 2006 Schantz was sentenced to serve eight months in federal prison and ordered to pay $48,434 and $6,277 in restitution. (Case No. CR-05-205)

• Vera E. Franklin, 55, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzlement of $7,000 of Cheyenne-Arapaho net gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos. Franklin was an elected member of the Business Committee of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, serving as the Cheyenne District 2 representative. Franklin was sentenced in October 2007 to serve one month in federal prison and pay $7,000 in restitution. (Case No. CR-07-73)

• Louella Oldbear, 56, of Del City, Oklahoma, was convicted by a jury in November 2007 of embezzling over $17,000 and making a false statement to the FBI about the use of Cheyenne-Arapaho tribal money to purchase vehicles. She was sentenced to serve 12 months and one day in federal prison and ordered to pay $17,064.94 in restitution to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes, and serve three years of supervised release and perform 104 hours of community service following her release from prison. Oldbear was Secretary to a Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee member. (Case No. CR-07-77).

• Renee Island, 43, of Calumet, Oklahoma, was convicted by a jury in January of 2008 of conspiracy and embezzlement of Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribal funds derived from the Lucky Star Casinos involving transfers of tribal funds between January and September 2003. She was sentenced to serve 10 months in prison and pay $34,837.38 in restitution to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and serve three years of supervised release following her release from prison. Island was employed by the Cheyenne-Arapaho A-2 District as the secretary to Robert Tabor. (Case No. CR-07-49)

• Edward Dunn Whiteskunk, 51, of Hammond, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzling net gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos. He was sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison, pay $98,865.97 in restitution to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Whiteskunk served as a member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Business Committee and was the elected representative of the Cheyenne District 4. (Case No. CR-08-35)

• Roy D. Bullcoming, 54, of Seiling, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzlement of net gaming revenues from the Lucky Star Casinos. He was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison, pay $101,585.68 in restitution to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. Bullcoming served as a Business Committee Representative of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, representing the tribal membership of Cheyenne District 1. He also served as a ceremonial Peace Chief for the Cheyenne Tribe. (Case No. CR-08-55).

• Eugene Blackbear, Jr., 56, of Watonga, Oklahoma, pled guilty to embezzlement from the Lucky Star Casinos. He was sentenced to serve five years' probation and pay $14,843.51 in restitution to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Blackbear was an employee of the Tribes. (Case No. CR-08-141)

• Robert Roy Woods, Sr., 64, of El Reno, Oklahoma, pled guilty to defrauding Social Security by failing to report income he was earning from the Arapaho District One (A-1) office for his self-employed labor. Woods was sentenced to serve three year's probation and pay $13,312.86 in restitution to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. (Case No. CR-07-024)

All of these cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim Robinson and Arvo Mikkanen.

MILITARY CONTRACTS February 5, 2010

ARMY

GM GDLS Defense Group, LLC, JV, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Jan. 28, 2010, a $253,329,165 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This action is for a new follow-on contractor logistics support delivery order 0019 Mod DS. The contractor shall provide contractor logistics support for Stryker Family of Vehicles in both garrison and deployment locations. The period of performance is from March 1, 2010, through Feb. 28, 2011. Work is to be performed in various locations with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. TACOM Contracting Center, CCTA-IL, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-D-M112).

The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on Feb. 1, 2010, a $108,550,867 firm-fixed-price requirement contract to support Corpus Christi Army Depot in the overhaul, repair and recapitalization of the AH-64/H-47 weapon systems. Work is to be performed in Corpus Christi, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2015. One bid solicited with one bid received. Aviation and Missile Command Contracting Center, CCAM-AL-D, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-D-0027).

The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., was awarded on Jan. 28, 2010, a $99,270,307 firm-fixed-price contract to exercise the option for 13 aircraft in Lot 14. Work is to be performed in Mesa, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2013. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aviation and Missile Command Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-C-0093).

DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on Feb. 3, 2010, a $93,694,518 firm-fixed-price contract to award delivery order 0002, which is an order of 275 M1000 trailers. Work is to be performed in St. Louis, Mo., with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0107).

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on Feb. 1, 2010, an $84,739,677 firm-fixed-price contract for the partial exercise of the option for 627 explosively formed penetrator kits on the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012. Five bids were solicited with five bids received. TACOM, AMSCC-TAC-ADCA, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

AIR FORCE

Boeing Co., Seal Beach, Calif., was awarded a $75,939,504 contract which will provide for Global Positioning Satellite GPS IIF Space Vehicle, sustainment and operational control segment support for calendar year 2010. At this time, $25,000,000 has been obligated. GPSW/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (F04701-96-C-0025, P00532).

Northrop Grumman System Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $5,935,099 contract which will provide performance for engineering, manufacturing and development activities in support of the Global Hawk program. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 303 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-4600,P00349).

NAVY

Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $70,004,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee repair contract for repairs in support of the V-22 aircraft. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pa. (50 percent), and Fort Worth, Texas (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2012. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00383-10-D-003N).

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded an undefinitized advance acquisition contract with an estimated value of $50,394,000 for long lead materials and components associated with the manufacture and delivery of 18 Lot 8 UH-1Y build new aircraft, eight Lot 8 AH-1Z remanufactured aircraft, and two Lot 8 AH-1Z build new aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (60 percent), and Amarillo, Texas (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in January 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0015).

Nova Group, Inc., Napa, Calif., is being awarded $8,175,000 for firm-fixed-price task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-06-D-1005) for construction of an aircraft direct fueling station and the installation of one emergency generator set at the Naval Air Facility El Centro. Work will be performed in El Centro, Calif., and is expected to be completed by January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

RD Buie Enterprises, Boerne, Texas (SPM8E6-10-D-0003); Middle Atlantic Wholesale Lumber, Owings Mills, Md. (SPM8E6-10-D-0004); Sylvan Forest Products, Portland, Ore. (SPM8E6-10-D-0005); and S&S Forest Products, Boerne, Texas, are each being awarded a maximum $10,248,249 firm-fixed-price, total set-aside, tailored logistics support contract for wood products for the eastern region. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with 16 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract includes a two-year base and three one-year options. The date of performance completion is Feb. 4, 2012. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM8E6-10-D-0006).

Military Legal Resources

Official Records of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humanitarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts

Geneva, 1974-1977

This 17-volume set includes the full text of all resolutions and protocols enacted at the four sessions of the Diplomatic Conference, held in Geneva from February 20 through March 29, 1974; February 3 through April 18, 1975; April 21 through June 11, 1976; and March 17 through June 10, 1977. The objective of the Conference was to study two draft Additional Protocols, relating to the protection of victims of international and non-international armed conflicts, that were prepared by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Volume I contains the Final Act, the resolutions adopted by this Conference, and the draft Additional Protocols. Volume II contains the rules of procedure, the full list of participants, the report of the Drafting Committee, and the reports of the Credentials Committee for all four sessions of the Diplomatic Conference. Volumes III and IV contain the table of amendments. Volumes V through VII contain the summary records of the plenary meetings of the conference. The summary records and reports of Committees I, II, and III are contained in volumes VIII through XV. The summary records and reports of the Ad Hoc Committee on Conventional Weapons are in volume XVI. A complete table of contents of the sixteen volumes is in Volume XVII. (Library of Congress Call Number KZ6456.2 1978; OCLC Number 4616070)

View the Resource
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/RC-dipl-conference-records.html

Army to Increase Fiscal 2010 Base Operating Support by $500 Million

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. announced today that the Army is taking steps to increase funding by $500 million for Base Operating Support (BOS) in fiscal 2010.

"We will continue to look for efficiencies and best practices, but the bottom line is we will not shortchange our soldiers and their families," said McHugh.

The Army's Installation Management Command will continue to work closely with each installation to ensure its essential base operating support needs are met. Additionally, the Army will conduct a comprehensive mid-year review of all installation BOS accounts to ensure installations can meet Army priorities.

"The secretary and I remain committed to ensuring our soldiers and families get the support they need and we will continue to provide the resources to do that," Casey reiterated.

For more information media may contact Col. Catherine Abbott at 703-693-4723.

Military to Continue China Outreach, Official Says

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - The U.S. military will continue to reach out to China's military to foster relations as both nations expand their presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the Pentagon's deputy assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific affairs said yesterday. "From this administration, you will hear the consistent theme that the United States is a Pacific nation in every regard – geopolitically, militarily, diplomatically, and economically," Robert Scher told the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a 12-member panel of public and private sector experts on Asian affairs, at a meeting on Capitol Hill. "Asia and the Pacific are indispensible to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century."

The hearing came a week after Chinese officials in Beijing declared a suspension of military relations with the United States in retaliation for the Obama administration's recent announcement of a nearly $6.4 billion arms deal with Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said then that he hoped any downturn in U.S.-China military relations would be temporary. He cited a law passed three decades ago that allows the United States to support Taiwanese defense, despite the two countries' lack of formal diplomatic ties. He said similar arms deals exchanged under the Bush administration also angered Beijing, prompting the Chinese to cool military-to-military relations with Washington.

Scher did not address the arms deal in his prepared remarks before the commission, but said U.S. alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines "remain the bedrock of our presence and engagement in Asia-Pacific."

The administration is committed to strengthening those alliances to address continuing and emerging challenges in the region, as well as to build on relations with other key Pacific players such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore, he said.

Scher noted that China is expanding its relationships throughout Asia, while growing both its economy and its military. While most Southeast Asian states have been receptive to defense engagements with China, the country is "long from becoming the security partner of choice to the region as a whole," he said.

U.S. officials do not view China's engagements in the region as "a zero-sum game," Scher said. In fact, he said, "we see great potential for China to bring its growing capacities to bear in support of finding common solutions to common problems," such as counterpiracy, nonproliferation, counternarcotics and humanitarian assistance.

A continued point of contention in U.S.-China military relations has been China's increasingly assertive position on maritime and territorial issues in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea, partly due to the country's increasing demand for oil and natural gas, Scher said. The United States will continue to work with its allies in the region to ensure that international policies are followed to allow full navigational rights in the region, he added.

"We strongly object to behavior that puts at risk the safety of our vessels and is a clear violation of international norms of behavior in ocean waters outside territorial seas," he said. "Our military activity in this region is routine and in accordance with customary international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention."

Meanwhile, the United States is seeking a greater presence in the Asia-Pacific region through a "whole-of-government" approach, Scher said, while "clearly demonstrating through word and deed that U.S. forces will remain present and postured as the preeminent military force in the region."

The complexity of today's security environment calls for continuous dialogue between the U.S. and Chinese armed forces at all levels and expansion of cooperation, Scher said.

The United States and China both seek regional stability, economic growth and to stem the rise of extremism in the region, he noted.

"As China's international role expands, and its defense engagements in Southeast Asia increases, our two militaries will increasingly find themselves operating in the same space," Scher said. "We need to have sustainable and reliable communication channels to ensure that China understands our interests and does not seek to challenge them militarily."

Wisconsin Army Guard brigade takes major step in transformation

By Sgt. Andy Poquette
157th Brigade Public Affairs

February 5, 2010 - Changing missions can be difficult. Changing missions after 90 years can be extremely difficult, but that's exactly what the Soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) are doing. After 90 years as the 57th Field Artillery Brigade, the Soldiers of the newly transformed 157th MEB, headquartered in Milwaukee, are taking on new roles, new responsibilities, and new challenges.

"As a field artillery brigade, throughout the ' 80s and ' 90s, we had one mission - field artillery," said 157th MEB Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Shields. "Our annual training was the same each year - go to Fort McCoy and fire. Now, as a maneuver enhancement brigade, we have opportunities for those willing to breathe new life into the organization."

The maneuver enhancement brigade is a new Army concept that focuses on battlefield command and control. Unlike specialized units of the past, the MEB is able to own ground on the battlefield, thereby assuming responsibility of a piece of land. This responsibility can encompass everything from route clearance and military police to civil affairs and air space management.

"A maneuver enhancement brigade is an organization that is designed to provide command and control for a designated area," explained Sgt. Maj. Charles Kirchner, chief operations sergeant for the 157th MEB. "This can be during war or peace time. We are a unit comprised of subject matter experts in the areas of military police, CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear], aviation, operations, area management, logistics and engineering."

The brigade began its transition in 2007 with a complete restructuring of the organization. Maintenance, chemical, signal and engineer units were created from previously existing field artillery battalions and brigade detachments. This restructuring presented new opportunities for Soldiers, and new training challenges.

"Our biggest challenge during this transition has been getting our Soldiers qualified in the new MOS skill sets that are required for the MEB," Kirchner said. "But it is important to remember that with this transition we are now more relevant to the current world situation both in peace and wartime."

Shields said that change is good.

"Change grows an organization," he said. "With this transition, Soldiers have the opportunity to become much more diverse in their skill set. While it has been a challenge for our Soldiers to get the required schools completed, you have to keep your eye on the end state.

"Each new job makes you more marketable both as a Soldier and civilian, and creates advancement opportunity," Shields continued. "For senior NCOs we are looking for a broad background. Understanding of other jobs is critical to advancement to a leadership position." With the change to a MEB, officer and senior NCO positions have nearly doubled at the brigade headquarters, and Soldiers have more opportunity to advance than ever before. Soldiers of the 157th can specialize in military police, chemical, air space management, public affairs, civil military operations, engineering, medical and liaison from the rank of private to colonel.

Recently Soldiers in the 157th MEB headquarters element had a chance to test their new specializations at the brigade's first warfighter exercise, held at Fort Leonard Wood's Maneuver Support Center. The week-long training exercise was designed to establish a baseline for how far the brigade has come in its transition.

"The exercise went very well," Shields said. "It was an opportunity for the MEB to exercise at its elementary stage, its tactical standard operating procedure. It's all been theory so far, and we really haven't had an opportunity to practice."

Shields said the exercise proved to be a major stepping stone which set benchmarks for the brigade.

"We have a plan, and now we have a base," he said. "We can work towards the plan and our goals. Without this, you don't have a clear picture."

This exercise was the first of many planned for the brigade, with a corps-level warfighter scheduled for next year. Going forward, the brigade plans to use what it learned at Fort Leonard Wood to refine its training plan, and rehearse the military decision-making process. Focus is now shifting from individual training to section-level training.

"Section training is key," Shields said. "The entire section needs to understand its role. For drill weekends, we plan to have staff members drill on Fridays once a quarter to handle administrative work so drills focus on section training. We also rewrote the operations order for the warfighter exercise to continue the fight at [the] armory. We will continue training from the exercise at a section level."

The transformation of the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade is part of the Army's strategic initiative to move towards a modular, multi-functional force.

NORAD Plans Air Patrols for Super Bowl

American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - Fighter jet crews from North American Aerospace Defense Command's Continental United States Region will be busy Feb. 7 protecting the skies around Sun Life Stadium in Miami during Super Bowl XLIV. Air Force fighter jets will be airborne while enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's temporary flight restriction zone during the big game.

"As America's air defenders, we have a total team mindset," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, commander of NORAD's Continental United States Region. "Special events like this world-renowned sporting event take precise coordination with all mission partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FAA and local law enforcement."

In preparation for the Super Bowl, the FAA will impose a temporary flight restriction over the greater Miami area. Air Force fighters will be on patrol, and Customs and Border Protection assets also will fly during the event. This interagency partnership helps to ensure the safety of the skies over the stadium, officials said.

Airmen at the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here will closely monitor all air activity while the FAA temporary flight restriction is in place, said Air Force Col. Randy Spears, the center's commander.

"The men and women of this AOC monitor the skies 24/7 ... for the contiguous United States, and Sunday's special event is another part of our mission set," Spears said.

The flights will have minimal impact on aircraft in the area and are not in response to any specific threat, officials said.

"We want citizens to know that we are always on the job, and defending our homeland from air threats is our number one priority," Dean said.

(From a NORAD Continental United States Region news release.)

Military Prepares to Support Super Bowl XLIV

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - As the excitement builds in the minutes before the Super Bowl kickoff, four Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fighter jets will scream over Miami's Sun Life Stadium in a dramatic show of military support for the big game. The F-15s, from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing, will time their flyover to begin just as country music superstar Carrie Underwood belts out the last note of the national anthem, reported Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Bittner, the 125th Wing's public affairs officer.

Air Force Lt. Col. John Black, who goes by the call sign "Homer," will lead the formation, followed by Wing Commander Col. Bob "Squirt" Branyon. Lt. Col. Mike "Speedo" Rouse, the 159th Fighter Squadron commander, will be in position three, with Col. Bill Bair, commander of the 125th Fighter Wing's operations group, holding up the rear.

After the pilots land at nearby Homestead Air Reserve Base, a Miami-Dade police helicopter will whisk them back to the stadium, where they'll be introduced to the crowd, Bittner said.

The Super Bowl flyover is a first for the Air National Guard. The wing has done flyovers for other National Football League events, most frequently over Jaguars games near its Jacksonville International Airport base. But Bittner said there's a special panache that comes with flying over the big daddy of football games.

"It's a huge honor," he said, calling it a recognition of the wing's impressive operational readiness posture, and its 24/7 mission of being ready to scramble at a moment's notice to protect U.S. air space.

The flyover is just part of the military support being provided as the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts do battle during Super Bowl XLIV.

The Armed Forces Color Guard from the Military District of Washington will kick off that support, marching onto the field before the game to present the colors, accompanied by two drummers from U.S. Air Force Band.

Meanwhile, as more than 75,000 fans enjoy the sold-out game, military forces will be at work behind the scenes, supporting civil authorities to maintain security in and around the stadium and in the skies overhead.

Fighter jets from Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region will be airborne, working in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FAA and local law enforcement to enforce flight restrictions over Miami during the game, reported the commander, Air Force Maj. Gen. Garry Dean.

Air Force Col. Randy Spears, commander of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center, called the mission an extension of the eagle-eyes his airmen provide every day. "The men and women of this AOC monitor the skies 24/7, 365 for the contiguous United States, and Sunday's special event is another part of our mission set," he said.

In addition, the Florida National Guard's 44th Civil Support Team will be on the ground, poised to support civil authorities, as required. The 40-member team, a mix of soldiers and airmen, is trained respond to any emergency situation, including those dealing with weapons of mass destruction, said Air Force Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, a Florida National Guard public affairs officer.

As in recent years, about 40 wounded Marine Corps warriors will be enjoying the game in person, courtesy of tickets donated by the Cleveland Browns.

Meanwhile, thousands of U.S. servicemembers will be watching, too, either at home or overseas, via Armed Forces Network broadcasts.

Troops Overseas to Get Live Super Bowl Feed

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - When millions of Americans gather around their TV sets this weekend for Super Bowl XLIV, they'll have lots of company from U.S. forces around the world and at sea, thanks to the American Forces Radio and Television Service.

AFRTS has been delivering the game live for the past 43 years.

The full game, including the pre-game show, will be beamed by satellite to American Forces Network viewers and American Forces Radio listeners in 175 countries and aboard Navy ships at sea, said Larry Sichter, affiliate relations chief for the Defense Media Activity's AFN Broadcast Center in Riverside, Calif.

So as the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts take their positions at Miami's Sun Life Stadium for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff, troops in Germany will be cheering them on 30 minutes after midnight on Feb. 8. In Iraq, it will be 2:30 a.m. Feb. 8; in Afghanistan, an hour and a half later, at 4 a.m., and in Japan and Korea, 8:30 a.m.

AFN will re-air the game twice for those who prefer to wait until local prime time rather than watching the game live, Sichter said.

Regardless of where they're stationed or deployed, everyone who watches the AFN broadcast will see all the Super Bowl festivities -- including Carrie Underwood's rendition of the national anthem, followed by a flyover of four Florida Air National Guard F-15 fighter jets, as well as The Who's halftime performance.

The only thing the overseas viewers won't get will be about 43 minutes of mostly beer, pizza and insurance commercials. That, explained Sichter, is because AFN is not permitted to air them as a condition of getting the programming free of charge. So in their place, military viewers overseas will see a bevy of encouraging "shout-outs" from President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and many of the players themselves, as well as some of AFRTS' newest command information spots.

Obama is taping his Super Bowl message today. Gates, who is traveling in Europe, already has recorded his 60-second video, in which he expresses appreciation for the troops overseas and recognizes the hardship of being away from home, especially during special event like the big game, said Paul Waldrop, chief of the AFRTS radio and TV production office.

In addition, AFRTS taped shout-outs from 22 players -- 11 Saints and 11 Colts, including Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, the two quarterbacks – to air throughout the game. All expressed thanks and encouragement to the troops overseas, Waldrop said.

AFRTS also will broadcast promotions for its other programming. It also plans to roll out several new spots on topics on the upgraded AFN decoder box used to unscramble the AFN TV signal for overseas viewers, as well as a new service that will enable troops to ask questions about their benefits, then get the answers aired on TV.

The early morning showings and lack of commercials don't appear to have dampened any enthusiasm about the big game. Signs popping up at the new International Security Assistance Force Joint Command headquarters in Kabul advertise a big Super Bowl party in the command's new morale, welfare and recreation tent. The festivities will kick off at 4 a.m., and will feature prizes, souvenirs and other treats, reported Navy Capt. Jane Campbell, the command's public affairs officer.

To the south, at Kandahar Air Base, the Army Corps of Engineers' Afghan Engineer District South is readying its own tent for what it's billing as a "town hall" during the big game.

Unfettered by the nine-and-a-half-hour time difference from Miami, and with access to computers so they can continue working throughout the game, participants will feast on breakfast foods rather than hot dogs, and they'll imbibe with coffee and orange juice rather than long tall ones, said public affairs officer Pat Ryan. Many of the staffers developed a deep fondness for New Orleans while working there after Hurricane Katrina, she noted, so they're expected to root heavily for the Saints.

Meanwhile, the dining facility at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, in Afghanistan's mountainous eastern Ghazni province, is setting up "something special" for Task Force White Eagle members who want to watch the game despite the "o-dark-thirty" kickoff time, reported Air Force Master Sgt. Sarah R. Webb troops, the provincial reconstruction team public affairs officer.

And at Balad Air Base in Iraq, viewing areas are being set up around every large-size TV around, a defense contractor at the base reported. Although General Order No. 1 – which forbids troops there from drinking alcohol – remains in effect, he said he expects fans to tap into a big supply of nonalcoholic beer and to chow down on other readily available munchies.

Troops overseas have been treated to live Super Bowl broadcasts since the first big game in 1967, initially through short-wave radio broadcasts, Sichter said.

Televised Super Bowl coverage was limited at first to videotape copies of the game distributed after the fact to overseas outlets, unless AFN outlets contracted with commercial networks to get the game live. That all changed in 1982, when AFRTS stood up its satellite network, enabling it to provide live Super Bowl broadcasts to all troops overseas.

Jeff White, the AFN Broadcast Center's executive director, expressed thanks to the National Football League, CBS and Westwood One Radio for granting AFN the rights to broadcast the game again this year.

"We're delighted to be able to deliver the Super Bowl to the AFN audience,' he said. "It tops the list as the world's most popular sporting event and underscores our mission to provide a 'touch of home' to the troops who serve out country overseas."

Study Measures Traumatic Brain Injury

By Christen N. McCluney
Special to American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - Scientists at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center and a professor at Columbia University are working on a collaborative study measuring brain damage on traumatic brain injury patients.

"It's a large problem to the Army and the soldiers," Thomas Meitzler, a scientist at the Army center, said during a Feb. 3 interview on the Pentagon Channel podcast "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military."

He was also joined by Joy Hirsch, professor at Columbia University and director of the Program for Imaging and Cognitive Sciences.

Soldiers who are exposed to blasts associated with roadside bombs often are not aware of any resulting mild TBI and return to duty without proper medical diagnosis and treatment. The study, a cooperative research and development agreement between TARDEC and the Columbia University Medical School, is helping to determine what areas of the brain are susceptible to damage and measuring how the brain is engaged while performing certain functions.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, a specialized MRI that captures high-resolution images of the brain and identifies regions engaged during specific mental tasks, allows the researchers to ask patients to do tasks and look at what parts of the brain are working during a specific function.

"Oftentimes in traumatic brain injury, patients have symptoms of injury, but the physical evidence is not obvious," Hirsch said. "When we apply a functional MRI, then we can begin to understand the neurophysiology that underlies the behavioral disabilities."

Participants are asked to do cognitive, language and memory tasks so researchers can understand how the brain works during target acquisition in the field. "We have a battery of tests that are aimed to probe people's ability to control emotions, memories and to solve problems," Hirsch said.

Meitzler added that understanding how the brain works is important in helping to optimize tasks, and doing this provides a window into how the brain works during decision making, identification and search in the field.

The researchers also are proposing that soldiers be scanned before they are deployed and then upon their return to provide a basis for comparison.

"We hope to store that information on a digital dog tag so that [it] is always carried with them and can be referred to at a later time," Meitzler said.

It would be a great baseline of information, Hirsch said, and doing the comparison when soldiers return from deployment also would help to start treatment of brain injuries much earlier and before behavioral signs kick in.

The results of using this imaging will be used to guide and monitor therapy, and prevent compounding injury by multiple blast exposures.

"Functional MRI has become the backbone of neuroscience," Hirsch said. "We can use it for new ways to think about treatments."

The team also is looking into putting sensors inside armored vehicles so that they can record the magnitude and location of roadside-bomb blasts. With information about the size or type of blast the vehicle has experienced, the team can relate that to patients and be more proactive in treatments of future patients who experience similar injuries.

With this information, future vehicles could be developed so that blasts cause fewer injuries, the scientists said.

(Christen N. McCluney works in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)

Guardsmen Prepare for Second Major East Coast Storm

By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
Special to American Forces Press Service

Feb. 5, 2010 - Schools are closing, weekend activities are being cancelled and the federal government here will shut down four hours early today, but the National Guard is on duty in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia in anticipation of a major winter storm.

About 660 Guardsmen have been activated for a storm that is expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow and bring high winds to the northern and western parts of Virginia and then continue north up the East Coast this weekend.

"This storm will bring severe weather to many parts of Virginia," said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. "As the storm affects your area, please stay off the roads and contact local authorities if help is needed."

McDonnell declared a state of emergency Feb. 3, and the state's Department of Military Affairs is staging more than 400 personnel from the Virginia Army and Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force at key locations in the commonwealth.

If needed, the DMA will bring an additional 100 personnel on duty when the weather picture and state and local support requirements become clearer, according to a news release from the state.

"We are moving DMA personnel into position in order to be on standby for possible missions to assist state and local emergency response organizations with rescue and transportation operations," said Army Col. Rob McMillin, a Virginia National Guard joint operations officer.

Personnel were expected to be in place yesterday and to be ready for duty this morning, Guard officials reported.

McMillin stressed that the Virginia National Guard receives its missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist state and local emergency response organizations and is not able to respond to direct support requests from the public.

"During the winter storm in December 2009, we received calls directly from citizens, and we are not able to respond to those requests." McMillin said. "We urge people who need assistance to make a request through their local dispatcher or 911 services, and that request will be forwarded to the DMA when appropriate."

McMillin said the initial plan is to place Virginia National Guard personnel with Humvees on duty at locations throughout the commonwealth.

This is the third time since the middle of December the DMA has called up Guardsmen for weather-related duty. The DMA had nearly 250 soldiers, airmen and members on duty throughout southern Virginia on Jan. 29 and 700 on duty after a storm that began Dec. 18.

In Maryland, the National Guard has pre-positioned its forces and equipment to provide support to civil authorities. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to declare a state emergency later today.

"The Maryland National Guard always stands ready to support the governor and the citizens of Maryland," said Army Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, the state public affairs officer. "We provide essential, lifesaving services when local and state response capabilities are overwhelmed, including the capability to provide transportation, shelter, food, water and medical support.

He added that the National Guard has 34 armories across Maryland that also will be used to support this ongoing operation.

In the District of Columbia, Washington Mayor Andrew Fenty declared a snow emergency this morning. The National Guard will provide 12 Humvees and 60 soldiers to help in implementing the district's Snow Emergency Management Plan.

In Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell is prepared to declare a state of emergency, his spokesman said. If needed, the Delaware National Guard will be mobilized.

In South Dakota, 16 Guardsmen are still on duty helping to re-establish road and utility infrastructure and conduct search-and-rescue operations as required by local authorities. The state experienced strong winter storms with high winds, snow, and freezing rain on Jan. 23, and more than 2,000 residents are currently without power throughout the state.

National Guard missions normally performed during snow operations include assisting local law enforcement with transportation and evacuation, distribution of supplies, road clearing and snow removal, search and rescue, security and law enforcement airspace coordination, aircraft support and patient evacuations, airspace coordination, and sheltering assistance.

(Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke serves at the National Guard Bureau. Army Maj. Cotton Puryear of the Virginia National Guard contributed to this report.)