Guardsman Paints to Document Deployment

By Army Sgt. Michael L. Owens
Louisiana National Guard

April 7, 2010 - Between weekend drills, overseas deployments, the work in communities during peacekeeping and natural disaster missions, full-time jobs and school, National Guardsmen often find themselves too busy making a difference to find time for their hobbies. One soldier has found a way to combine the two.

For 31-year-old Army 1st Lt. Heather S. Englehart of the Louisiana National Guard, her hobby comes in the form of mixing colors on a canvas and making beautiful artwork.

On the military side, Englehart serves as the executive officer for the 1021st Vertical Engineer Company and as a full-time project manager for the Louisiana Guard's construction and facilities management office.

As an artist and painter, Englehart has made a national name for herself.

While the lieutenant was serving in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 with 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, internationally renowned artist Jim Pollock, who served in Vietnam, heard about her. He notified Renee Klish, curator for the Army Art Collection at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, and they, along with her unit's command, arranged for her to spend some time documenting her wartime experiences. Her paintings from that time are currently featured at the center in Washington, D.C.

"My executive officer at the time was Lt. Col. [Patrick] Bossetta, who was very supportive and allotted me the time to work with Jim on projects," Englehart said. "Of course, I still had to make sure this did not interfere with my assigned duties."

After seeing her artwork, Bossetta decided that Englehart should become the unit historian and document the unit's deployment through her paintings.

"I knew we had something special here and wanted to utilize her skills and talents as much as we could," he said.

Englehart and Pollock have two things in common: both have lived in Pierre, S.D., and both have been labeled as "war artists" during their overseas tours.

"Heather is keeping that tradition alive," Pollock said. "South Dakotans have officially covered three wars for the Army." Harvey Dunn captured his World War I deployment on canvas for the Army.

In November, Englehart was interviewed on the CBS "Sunday Morning" news program about her work.

"I was really shocked and excited to be interviewed about my artwork," she said. "Here is little old me being put in the same category as big-name artists."

Englehart said she has been involved with sketching and drawing for as long as she can remember.

"I can remember drawing in church as a kid," she said. "When most parents would be upset at this, my mom was just happy that I was doing something that would keep me quiet."

During her preteen years, Englehart's father encouraged her to take painting seriously, because it possibly could affect her future.

"From that point, I knew that drawing, sketching and painting would be a part of my career field," she said.

She took these abilities to North Dakota State University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in architecture with a minor in environmental design.

"This was a perfect fit for me," she said. "I was able to apply everything I learned and apply it to my work in college."

In 1997, she decided to join the military after being dared by a few friends.

"A few of my male friends had just graduated from basic training and said I couldn't accomplish the same thing," she said. "Since I am stubborn and hard-headed, I enlisted to show them they were wrong."

She spent the beginning of her military career and overseas deployment as a cook, and in 2005, she applied for and received a direct commission as an engineer officer.

Word about her work and talents quickly spread around the Louisiana National Guard, and after her commissioning, she was offered at full-time position with the construction and facilities management office.

"I was surprised by the offer and happy to receive it," she said. "Working here has given me the opportunity to continue doing something that I have always had a passion for."

Staff updates families on missing personnel

by Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes

April 7, 2010 - More than 280 loved ones of American servicemembers missing in action and prisoners of war gathered recently for a briefing from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office here.

The mission of the office, called DPMO, is to establish policies worldwide to account for all missing servicemembers from all conflicts from all branches of service.

"Today is our family update, and we do this in cities across the country every month, meeting with family members whose loved ones are missing in action from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War and World War II," said Larry Greer, the director of public affairs for the DPMO. "The gathering in San Antonio is the largest one we have ever done.

"We're trying to give them an overview of what's going on around the world to recover their loved ones, and then later we'll sit down with them individually and have an analyst go over their specific case," he said.

By comparing the missing servicemember's DNA -- obtained from hairbrushes, eyeglasses or even licked envelopes, or from blood relatives -- to samples collected during excavations, analysts identify to whom the remains belong. Analysts also are able to collect DNA from blood relatives to compare to remains that have been collected during excavations if there are no viable samples of the member's own DNA available.

During the update, family members had the opportunity to give DNA samples.

The DNA swabs are sent to a lab in Rockville, Md., and are checked, logged and given a case number, said Timothy Herbert, a mitochondrial DNA analyst with the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory.

"The DNA is extracted, amplified and sequenced,” explained Mr. Herbert. “The scientist there will assemble the sequence and get an actual mitochondrial DNA sequence. After we do that, it's loaded into our database system. The database is a reference for all the remains that come in."

Mitochondrial DNA analysis is not specific like the procedures used for paternity tests, but can be used in conjunction with other processes to make identification, Mr. Herbert said.

Because of the nature of DNA and the conditions of the remains, mitochondrial DNA analysis is heavily used in these cases, a sequence that is only passed through maternal blood lines. DNA samples from siblings with the same mother, female sibling's children or cousins from the same grandmother can be used in these cases.

The YSDR sequence is passed through paternal blood lines. Brothers of missing servicemembers, nephews, sons and male cousins on the father's side are candidates for these samples.

For Susan Jones, finding a DNA reference has been a little harder.

Mrs. Jones' father, Capt. Robert Greer, was an F-82 Twin Mustang radio operator in the Korean War when his plane was shot down on what was supposed to be his final night mission.

"He wanted nothing more than to serve his country in the Air Force," Mrs. Jones said.

Because Captain Greer was an only child with only female children and no cousins or living relatives on his mother's side, Mrs. Jones said they have not been able to find a DNA reference yet.

Mrs. Jones said she was 4 years, and her sister was 5 months old, when their father was shot down. Her mother was 31 years old when her father went missing, just three weeks before their wedding anniversary, she added. Her mother died three years ago and never remarried.

"The sad thing about (having loved ones) missing in action is there's no closure," Mrs. Jones said. "You always hear stories about people coming home seven or 10 years later. She always had the hope he would come back alive."

Although it has been more than 50 years, Mrs. Jones said it is a gut-wrenching experience to relive personal memories and to hear other's stories of missing family members.

"You're not only upset for yourself, but also what you missed out on, like not having a father, but also for all the other people," she said. "You just hope it wasn't all in vain."

This was Mrs. Jones fifth year attending the family update and she received some information that may help her family get one step closer to finding closure.

"Right now it looks like it's a dead end for us," Mrs. Jones said. "Then today after talking with some people, I thought, 'My sister may have my grandmother's eyeglasses!' That was something on the list (of sources of member DNA) they gave us today."

"Our hope here is to contribute enough information so they can know everything the U.S. government does about their cases," Mr. Greer said. "It's important for the family members themselves to be able to paint the whole story, to get through that last painful chapter of what happened."

In fiscal 2009, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command identified 98 individuals including 26 from the Korean War, 19 from the Vietnam War and 53 from World War II, according to the JAPC annual report.

"All of our former enemies, the communists in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, China and Russia are all cooperating with us to do research and conduct interviews with some of the former enemy soldiers, and to actually conduct investigations and excavations on the ground," Mr. Greer said.

"Between 1996 and 2005, we sent teams into North Korea, with (North Korean government) support, and we brought out more than 235 sets of remains of American servicemembers," he said.

Mr. Greer said operations in North Korea have been suspended since the spring 2005, but U.S. government officials will advise the teams how and when they will be able to re-enter the region.

Official Offers Tax Guidance as Deadline Looms

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

April 7, 2010 - With the April 15 tax deadline around the corner, a defense official today offered guidance on how troops can file their returns, and reminded servicemembers to submit their forms on time. Servicemembers have two options for filing: they either can seek advice from a legal assistance office on their base, where Internal Revenue Service-trained specialists can help them complete their forms, or they can do it online, Army Maj. John Johnson said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel.

Johnson, executive director of the Armed Forces Tax Council, steered troops toward the online option, which features an application created by the Defense Department and H&R Block, the commercial tax preparation company.

"I would personally be more comfortable using it, because I know that lots of military people use it, it's supported by the military, and it's less likely to have errors or problems," he said of the online option available at the Military OneSource Web site.

"They also have a toll-free number," he added, "that military folks can call and get help if they're going through their tax form and there's a question or problem."

By virtue of receiving input from military experts, the H&R Block program is tailored to servicemembers' needs, Johnson said.

"It's free, online tax filing," he said, "and [Defense Department] personnel review [the application] to make sure that it works correctly. And if problems come up, we try to fix them."

Johnson recommended seeking help through military bases' legal assistance office in cases where troops are confused by complex returns, or if their preference is to have their forms completed by experts.

"The easiest way to do it is online," he said. "But if you have complicated issues or you're just not comfortable doing your own taxes, then it's best to just go into the legal assistance office on base and have them do your taxes for you," he said.

Tax experts on base are IRS-trained personnel who work under the Volunteer Tax Assistance program, he added.

While the April 15 deadline applies to most troops stationed in the United States, servicemembers deployed to a combat zone or a "contingency operation" -- as defined by the Defense Department -- qualify for a 180-day extension upon their return.

"They're eligible for it if they're serving in a contingency operation – which would be a combat zone or something else that's designated as a contingency operation – Haiti, for instance is designated," he said. "So you're entitled to wait until you return from the operation and then you have up to 180 days to file your taxes – no penalties, no interest for that delay."

Johnson recommended that troops currently or soon to deploy to a combat zone or contingency plan area e-mail the IRS their projected deployment plan. Troops should include their name, Social Security number, the location of their deployment, and to include that their area of operation makes them eligible for the extension.

"The IRS does recommend that you notify them, and it's a good idea," he said. "That way, they know what's going on and they won't send a nasty letter to your spouse back at home. E-mails to the IRS from deployed troops should be addressed to Combatzone@irs.gov.

He added that troops who spent time in combat zones in 2009 should make sure they are taking advantage of the combat zone exemption, which allows them to withhold income earned during a combat tour from being taxed.

"Of course, like anything else, you should double-check that," he said. "Look at your W-2 form and make sure that it hasn't reported income that you earned in a combat zone."

MILITARY CONTRACTS April 7, 2010

NAVY

Sherlock, Smith & Adams, Montgomery, Ala., is being awarded a maximum $50,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect-engineering contract for various medical and dental facility projects at various locations in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for design and engineering services for the preparation of plans and specifications, cost estimates, design analysis, engineering studies, planning documents, DD 1391s, facilities studies, environmental assessments, facilities utilization studies, deficiency tabulation studies, economic analysis, program for design/space program, equipment planning, and category designation (medical/dental and non-medical). Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Pacific AOR. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of April 2015. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with 19 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-10-D-0005).

MAR Inc.*, Rockville, Md., is being awarded a maximum amount $30,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in support of the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, for the operation, maintenance, and repair of the M/V Independence, including providing research, development, testing, and evaluation of undersea surveillance systems, load handling systems, acoustic array systems, cable system components, cable and system survivability studies, installation methods, test vessel support, and training range establishment and maintenance. Work will be performed in Port Hueneme, Calif. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of April 2015. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured as a 100 percent small business 8(a) set-aside via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site, with one proposal received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Specialty Center Acquisitions, Port Hueneme, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62583-10-D-0363).

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $14,222,122 modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00024-09-C-5100) for the production of five fiscal 2010 ship self defense systems (SSDS) MK2 open architecture computing environment kits. The kits include cabinets, processors, converters, network devices, and interface units. The equipment sets consolidate the computing and interface requirements for the SSDS ship class variants. The fiscal 2010 kits will be installed at the Naval Air Systems Command land-based test site and on CVN 75, CVN 78, LPD 26, and LHA 7. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (50 percent), and Portsmouth, R.I. (50 percent), and is expected to be completed by January 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $10,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2229) for System Design Part 2 efforts associated with the Mobile Landing Platform program. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (58.2 percent); Beloit, Wis. (7.3 percent); Busan, South Korea (5.7 percent); Pittsburgh, Pa. (5.6 percent); Houston, Texas (5.0 percent); Annapolis, Md. (4.0 percent); Norfolk, Va. (2.0 percent); Belle Chasse, La. (0.7 percent); Mobile, Ala. (0.5 percent); New York, N.Y. (0.4 percent); Deerfield Beach, Fla. (0.2 percent); Georgetown, S.C.(0.2 percent); Houma, La. (0.2 percent); Clovis, Calif. (0.1 percent); New Orleans, La. (0.1 percent); Rochester, N.Y. (0.1 percent); Stevensville, Md. (0.1 percent); Ogden, Utah (0.1 percent); Old Saybrook, Conn. (0.1 percent); Pensacola, Fla. (0.1 percent); and other various locations. Work is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Hologic, Inc., Bedford, Mass., is being awarded a maximum $15,000,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for radiology systems, subsystems, and components. 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 43 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is April 6, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM2D1-09-D-8334).

1st ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION AND GOLF SCRAMBLE

Proceeds to Benefit USA Cares Warrior Treatment Today Program

USA Cares exists to help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need. Assistance is provided to all branches of service, all components, all ranks while protecting the privacy and dignity of those military families and veterans who request our help. In the past six years, USA Cares has received over 20,800 requests for assistance and responded with over $7,000,000 in direct grants of support. USA Cares is a Kentucky based 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization founded in 2003 and registered with the IRS.

Silent Auction Charity Event (Friday, May 14th) & 2 Man Charity Golf Scramble (Sunday, May 16th)

(Both hosted at the Superstition Springs Golf Club, Mesa AZ)

We are putting out the call to all friends and family in the area with hopes that you’ll consider attending one or both of these events, and most importantly, joining us at the Silent Auction. We’re looking forward to having a fun and enjoyable evening with friends and family, while raising some much needed funds for the men and women who serve our country. See the flyer below for event information.

If you’re available and would like to join us, please click on the link below to more info and to purchase tickets. Also, please consider forwarding this on to all of your family and friends in the greater Phoenix area. The Silent Auction seating is limited to 200 people, so please don’t wait to purchase your tickets. We hope to hear from you AND see you at the auction and scramble.

For those across the country – THANK YOU again for your continued support! We will miss you at the events.

More Information
https://oursoldiers.org/Fundraising_Events.html

Missing PRIMS Data Can Slow Your Promotion

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Maria Yager, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

April 7, 2010 - MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Navy officials reminded Sailors April 7 to include a review of their physical fitness assessment data in their selection board preparations.

"When the promotion list comes out, we scrub those names against PRIMS (Physical Readiness Information Management System). The vast majority of candidates have no problems," said Capt. Leo Falardeau, assistant commander, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) for career progression, referring to the Navy policy that requires Sailors to meet physical readiness standards in order to be promoted.

"As long as members have taken their PRT and passed it then the promotion process can continue," said Falardeau. "If it is anything other than that -- PRIMS is blank, the member is over body fat or failed the PRT -- then we have a discrepancy."

Last year, the Chief of Naval Personnel announced in NAVADMIN 073/09 that PRIMS data would be reviewed as part of the promotion and advancement process beginning with fiscal year 2010 boards. Falardeau's team reviews post-selection board results against the PRIMS database for all officers slated for promotion. As result a small number of promotions have been delayed in cases where a discrepancy has been found.

"In most cases, their PRIMS data is blank and just needs to be updated. The discrepancy can be resolved fairly quickly," said Falardeau. "In other cases the member must pass the PFA or if the error is in the fitness report, the fitness report must be corrected before the Sailor may be promoted. In cases where the data cannot be immediately fixed the promotion is delayed."

"We send a formal letter informing the member that they are delayed," said Falardeau. "And the small numbers that have been withheld have been trending downward, which we attribute to the word getting out."

To date, this process has only applied to officers, but the FY-11 E8/E9 Selection Boards for Navy Reserve personnel, which convened March 1, will be the first enlisted selection boards to undergo the same PRIMS review.

While command fitness leaders (CFL) are responsible for inputting PRIMS data after each cycle, Sailors are ultimately responsible for reviewing the information.

"It is very important that Sailors review their PRIMS account for accuracy," said Bill Moore, director for the Navy's Physical Readiness Program.

If a Sailor finds an error in PRIMS, the first step should be to contact their CFL. The command that input the data is responsible for correcting the record.

"The first course of recommended action is for that command to send the PRIMS program manager a correction request along with supporting documentation. If the command can't assist with the records correction, then the member can always submit to the Board for Corrections of Naval Records," said Moore.

Confront Financial Issues Early, Expert Advises

By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service

April 7, 2010 - Tough economic times have taken their toll on Americans in recent years, leaving many buried under debt or saddled with a now-unaffordable dream house that's plummeted too far in value to sell. While it may be tempting to ignore debt-related issues and toss unopened mortgage statements and bills into a neglected pile, confronting the issue head-on offers a much better option, a defense financial expert noted.

"Financial problems aren't like a fine wine; they don't get better with age," said Dave Julian, the Pentagon's personal finance director. "People should act sooner rather than later to get their finances under control."

Servicemembers and their families have a plethora of free resources at their fingertips to help, he noted, whether it's Military OneSource consultants or on-base personal financial managers. Both resources can help people devise a budget, identify spending pitfalls, manage debt and set up short- and long-term financial plans, he added.

"It's important to be on a plan, to live within your means and save for emergencies and long-term goals," Julian said. "Financial counseling can help you do that."

People also can turn to private-sector resources, such as nonprofit credit counseling agencies, but should do so cautiously, Julian warned. "It definitely pays, because of the potential of increasing your financial hardship rather than helping it, to do the research," he said.

People who are swimming in debt may be tempted to turn to a debt consolidation or settlement service, but this path also can lead them deeper into debt, Julian noted.

Debt consolidation or settlement companies look at debt, in some cases negotiate lower interest rates, and then work out a payment plan, or they can bargain with creditors for a lower payback amount. While attractive to people mired in debt, these companies are a largely unregulated industry, Julian noted, and some prey on debtors fueled by desperation.

"People should be very concerned and very careful," he said. "With the economic conditions that have arisen in the last year and a half, two years, a lot of these organizations have sprouted up and not all of these have been the best actors."

He noted that while it's common to require up-front fees, some companies may just take the money and run. "There have been cases in the news where members have paid their up-front fees and expected the debt settlement company to negotiate on their behalf with their creditors," he said. "But then a month, two months go by, and they've been paying their fees and find out the unreputable companies are gone."

Julian recommends people first consult with their installation personal financial manager or a Military OneSource consultant, who can do the research legwork and help to steer them toward reputable companies. The Better Business Bureau also can be a helpful resource to see which companies have favorable ratings, he added.

Even if they use a reputable company, people who pay back a lesser amount than they originally owed may find their credit rating affected, Julian said. "Any time you can pay back the full amount you owe, it is much better by credit reporting agencies, and is just a lot easier to do," he said.

But ideally, he added, people will avoid the problem in the first place or seek help at the first sign of trouble. "It's best to try to manage your finances as best you can or ask for help early on," he said.

Another potential pitfall is mortgage restructuring companies that offer to make mortgage payments more affordable. Julian recalled meeting a sailor who was about to pay a hefty fee the next day to have his loan restructured, something the sailor could have researched himself and done for free. The Navy intervened and the sailor kept his cash, but many others have lost money along the way.

As with debt consolidation companies, people should do their research first before handing money over to any company that is claiming to save them a lot of cash. In many cases, people can work with lenders to adjust payment plans or interest rates to make mortgage payments more affordable, all free of charge.

Above all, when behind in payments, it's important to speak up, Julian said.

"Nearly 58 percent of folks that lost homes due to foreclosure in 2007 never contacted their lender," he said. "Banks really don't want your house. They want your payments. If you can work out a payment plan with your lender, that's the best scenario."

The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides a wide range of protections for servicemembers facing mortgage issues. The act is intended to postpone or suspend certain civil obligations so servicemembers can devote full attention to duty and relieve stress on themselves and their families, according to a Military OneSource fact sheet. For instance, servicemembers who anticipate they may fall behind in their mortgage payments may be able to go into court to ask for anticipatory relief under the act.

Servicemembers can find out more about the act from their local legal assistance attorney.

The government also has several housing programs, some for first-time buyers and others for mortgage and foreclosure assistance. People can research these programs online through sites such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Julian suggested.

The first line of defense in dealing with financial issues is education, Julian said, noting that all the military services offer some type of basic financial classes. This can be especially helpful for young servicemembers, he added, who may have entered the military with up to $12,000 of unsecured debt.

Julian urged servicemembers to take advantage of the military's Thrift Savings Plan or Savings Deposit Program. The Savings Deposit Program offers deployed servicemembers the opportunity to invest up to $10,000 and receive 10 percent on their return annually.

"About half of our force is 25 and under," he said. "They are young, and time is their friend for savings and investment plans. Small contributions now can yield big returns in the future."

No matter how great the debt, Julian said, people shouldn't give up hope, and he urged those with financial problems to take advantage of the help that's available to them.

"It won't be easy, but you can get there," he said. "Folks do it every day."

Combat Stress Team Strives to Connect

By Army Sgt. Andrew A. Reagan
304th Public Affairs Detachment

April 7, 2010 - Air Force Maj. Kim Floyd and Air Force Senior Airman Jessica E. Delgado just want to talk. Floyd, a psychologist deployed from the 92nd Medical Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and Delgado, a mental health technician deployed from the 5th Medical Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., make up the Combat Stress Control Detachment 1 here. Since arriving in Afghanistan in January, the pair has operated out of Camp Goode and traveled regularly to the eight bases within the province.

Floyd and Delgado spend most of their time at each base simply getting to know servicemembers so they can break through the lingering stigma attached to seeking mental health care. Their goal, they said, is to develop a relationship with as many servicemembers as possible so they have a strong foundation to build on in case they have to tackle more serious issues.

"We want to be as available as possible," said Delgado, a native of Lemoore, Calif. "We're out there advertising ourselves. We'll go around the [forward operating base], play pool with the soldiers and hang out with them. We try to have at least 100 contacts a week. A good portion of my day, for at least four hours, I'm out and about meeting people, just to see how they're doing, see if there's anything I can do for them.

"My job isn't to sit behind a desk," she continued. "My job is to go out and do outreach. I meet a lot of great people."

Hand in hand with the duo's mission to make themselves known are their efforts to address preconceived notions that many servicemembers have about mental health issues. Both Floyd and Delgado said that once they put those notions to rest, individual troops and higher commands are very accommodating of their efforts.

"The stigma is still out there," Delgado said, "but we try to reach out to commands and let them know, 'Hey, we're not here to send your guys home, we're here to make sure your guys can stay.'"

Floyd, a native of Ruidoso, N.M., said that approach is working.

"Once they get to know us and trust that we're not going to send anyone home or take anyone's weapon away," she said, "they are more willing to talk with us about things that are concerning them."

Floyd also said that the pair's mission encompasses more than helping servicemembers cope with what is traditionally thought of as combat stress.

"Combat stress is probably a misnomer for what we do," she explained. "A lot of people think combat stress is related strictly to combat, when in fact it's stress related to being deployed, whether it's issues on the home front, sleep difficulties, leadership frustrations, or peer relationships and interactions. Some people develop depression and anxiety disorders out here, and we treat that as well."

Floyd expressed that she and Delgado are able to help their fellow servicemembers work through any issues they have, as well as her amazement at how resilient they are when times are tough.

"It's very rewarding to be able to help improve morale, to support the soldiers, airmen and Marines and keep them in the fight," she said. "So many of the soldiers we work with are so committed to their brothers in arms that they want to stay here even when they have issues going on at home. ... They are often very torn. They want to be here and help their guys, but they want to be home and help their family. ... I'm impressed by the people I've met, their desire to do a good job, and their commitment to each other."

Delgado added that while working with servicemembers, she strives to focus on the final outcome instead of lingering on past events.

"There are those depressing moments, but why dwell on those moments when, in the end, people see them as experiences?" she asked.

"Most of the soldiers out here, if you talk with them, they're going to be frustrated, they're going to be stressed out, but at the end of the conversation, they're going to feel that much less stressed out," Delgado said. "That's the part that matters, the end result. Not why they came into the clinic, but how they left. Usually, they leave pretty happy."

National Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of April 6, 2010

April 7, 2010 - This week the Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard announced a decrease in activated reservists, while the Navy and Air Force announced an increase. The net collective result is 1,323 fewer reservists activated than last week.

At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 104,607; Navy Reserve, 6,465; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,302; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,417; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 718. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 134,509, including both units and individual augmentees.

A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100406ngr.pdf

General Officer Announcement

April 7, 2010 - The Secretary of Defense announced today that the President has nominated Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, to serve as commander, U.S. Marines Corps Forces Command; commanding general, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic; commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases Atlantic; commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe. Hejlik is currently serving as commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Pirates Captured

USS McFaul Captures Suspected Pirates, Rescues Crew


By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rachel McMarr

April 7, 2010 - MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- USS McFaul (DDG 74) captured ten suspected pirates and rescued eight crewmembers from the pirated Indian cargo dhow Faize Osamani, near Salalah, Oman, April 5 after the dhow and three skiffs attempted to attack the Motor Vessel (M/V) Rising Sun the same day.

M/V Rising Sun sent a distress call the morning of April 5 to alert maritime forces that pirate skiffs had pulled alongside and were firing small arms and rocket propelled grenades at their vessel. The Omani warship Al Sharquiyah (B 11) and U.S. destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) immediately responded.

As the naval vessels were in transit, M/V Rising Sun used the industry recommended "best management practices" of increasing speed, evasive maneuvers and spraying potential attackers with fire hoses to thwart the pirate attack as the navies were in transit. These efforts were rewarded when the pirate skiffs broke off their attack and returned to their pirated mother ship, the Faize Osamani.

Arriving first to the last known location of the pirated mothership was the Omani vessel. As the Omani ship approached, the nine hostage sailors from Faize Osamani jumped into the ocean in an attempt to get away from the dangerous pirates and toward their rescuer. The Omani Navy was able to rescue eight of these crew members, however, one crew member drowned. Despite the loss of their hostages, the pirates remained aboard the Faize Osamani.

As the Omani ship rendered assistance to the escaped hostages, USS McFaul arrived on scene. With two warships now operating in close proximity, the pirates agreed to a compliant boarding. McFaul approached the dhow and directed the suspected pirates to surrender by gathering on the bow with their hands in the air, which they quickly complied with but not before throwing their weapons overboard. Two boarding teams from McFaul deployed in rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB), boarded the dhow and took control of the Faize Osamani.

The surviving sailors of the dhow Faize Osamani have been returned to their vessel, while their lost shipmate has been transported to shore by the Omani warship. The suspected pirates were subsequently transferred to USS Carney (DDG 64) in anticipation of further transfer to a state willing to accept the pirates for prosecution.

Successful transit of the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin rests in the hands of those who sail the waters. An average of more than 20 ships from the Combined Maritime Forces, EUNAVFOR and NATO, and other independent nations work together every day to patrol the high risk areas and provide the maximum safety available for those sailing through these pirate-laden waters. However, it is incumbent upon owners and shipping companies to provide the best available protection for their ships by utilizing the shipping industry's 'best management practices' as a proven means to minimizing the risk of a successful piracy attack.

USS McFaul is attached to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group working in support of maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The mission of the McFaul is to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea in support of U.S. national policy. The ships are equipped to operate independently or as part of a carrier strike group or expeditionary strike group.

McFaul Crew Captures Suspected Pirates, Rescues Crew

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Rachel McMarr
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

April 7, 2010 - The crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul captured 10 suspected pirates and rescued eight crewmembers from the Indian cargo dhow Faize Osamani near Salalah, Oman, April 5 after a dhow and three skiffs attempted to attack the Motor Vessel Rising Sun the same day. Rising Sun sent a distress call that morning to alert maritime forces that pirate skiffs had pulled alongside and were firing small arms and rocket-propelled grenades at their vessel.

The Omani warship Al Sharquiyah and the USS McFaul immediately responded.

As the naval vessels were in transit, Rising Sun used the industry-recommended "best management practices" of increasing speed, evasive maneuvers and spraying potential attackers with fire hoses to thwart the pirate attack as the navies were in transit. These efforts were rewarded when the pirate skiffs broke off their attack and returned to their pirated mother ship, the Faize Osamani.

The Omani vessel arrived first to the last known location of the pirated mothership. As the Omani ship approached, the nine hostage sailors from Faize Osamani jumped into the ocean in an attempt to get away from the pirates and toward their rescuer. The Omani navy crew was able to rescue eight of the crewmembers; however, one crew member drowned.

Despite the loss of their hostages, the pirates remained aboard the Faize Osamani.

As the Omani ship rendered assistance to the escaped hostages, USS McFaul arrived. With two warships now operating close to each other, the pirates agreed to a compliant boarding. McFaul crewmembers approached the dhow and directed the suspected pirates to surrender by gathering on the bow with their hands in the air. They quickly threw their weapons overboard and complied.

Two boarding teams from McFaul deployed in rigid-hull inflatable boats, boarded the dhow and took control of the Faize Osamani.

The surviving sailors of the dhow Faize Osamani were returned to their vessel, and the Omani warship transported their lost shipmate's body to shore.

The suspected pirates were transferred to the destroyer USS Carney in anticipation of further transfer to a state willing to accept them for prosecution.

USS McFaul is attached to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, working in support of maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

SECNAV Announces Flag Officer Assignments

April 6, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced April 6 the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) John E. Jolliffe will be assigned as deputy reserve commander, U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command, Bahrain. Jolliffe is currently serving as Joint Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer, Navy Region Southwest, San Diego, Calif.

Rear Adm. (lower half) William F. Moran will be assigned as deputy director, Air Warfare Division, N88, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C. Moran is currently serving as commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group, Norfolk, Va.

Rear Adm. John C. Orzalli will be assigned as vice commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C. Orzalli is currently serving as fleet maintenance officer, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

Airmen complete month-long training in 2 continents

by Tech Sgt. Cohen A. Young
Defense Media Activity-Hawaii

4/6/2010 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 19th Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, recently completed two back-to-back training exercises in Thailand and Hawaii.

The squadron interacted with Thai and Singaporean air forces at Cope Tiger in Korat, Thailand, while also training here with the 199th Fighter Squadron of the Hawaiian Air National Guard.

The training in these two places differed from what they do on a daily basis in Alaska because of weather.

"We are able to do a lot of different things in Hawaii compared to Alaska," said Capt. Tyler Marsh, of the 19th FS. "The terrain for one is different because we fly over mountains (Alaska) daily compared to Hawaii where we can fly a 1,000 feet off the water,"

The 19th Aircraft Maintenance Unit staff is depended on heavily to keep the aircraft flying in hot or cold weather conditions.

"When we're in Alaska, our maintenance folks are out in the snow and ice all day to get out jets running, so keeping a good relationship with them is vital because we realize without them a lot of the stuff we do won't happen," Captain Marsh said.

Weather is a major challenge for the maintenance members in Alaska because when they have to fix something on the jet during the winter months, they have to evaluate the problem on the spot and then move the jet inside to begin work on it. This adds time to their processes.

"It's easier to maintain the jets in Thailand and Hawaii because we can handle any problems right away without moving them inside first," said Senior Airman Matt Pujanauski, an F-15 Eagle electrician with the 19th AMU.

Despite the challenges involved in working in the Alaskan weather, the maintainers were still able to keep the jets flying resulting in top recognition for the 19th FS.

"Being a nation at war, our Air Force is tasked at a high level, so it's been challenging to do some of the things that we've done," said Lt. Col. David Graff, the 19th FS commander. "This was the last deployment for the 19th FS and 19th AMU and it has been a great year for us."

The 19th FS is one of the squadrons closing its doors due to the fighter reduction program.

"Although it doesn't feel good to close down a squadron, it does feel good to finish off our last full year as a Raytheon Trophy winner, said Lt. Col James Suhr, director of operations for the 19th FS commenting on the award to the best air-to-air fighter squadron in the Air Force. I'm confident that no matter where the men and women of the 19th FS and 19th AMU go, they will continue to do good things."

Airmen keep servicemembers healthy through preventative measures

by Senior Airman Wes Carter
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

4/6/2010 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) -- Every day thousands of Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and contractors walk through the doors of Dining Facility Two here to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. They can do this without worrying if the food they are consuming is safe to eat, because of the efforts of the 332nd Expeditionary Aerospace Medical Squadron's Public Health Flight staff.

While the flight members conduct health-related functions dealing with sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis and animal bites, the largest part of their job is the inspection of the food servicemembers and contractors consume daily.

"We check how the food is stored, what temperature it is cooked at and what the environment it is stored in looks like among other things," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Ledward, a 332nd EAMS public health technician. "Our No. 1 priority is to ensure people aren't susceptible to food poisoning or other food-borne illnesses. Anything that affects the whole population involves us."

The Public Health Flight staff is responsible for inspecting Dining Facility Two, deemed the establishment well above satisfactory during a detailed check in March. Each monthly inspection is unannounced in order to prevent the facility to prepare.

"We gave the dining facility a rating of 'excellent,'" Sergeant Ledward said. "In order to receive this high of a mark, the facility has two satisfactory ratings in a row. This ensures they are being consistently conscious of potential health issues."

It's important to remember that public health Airmen aren't just trying to keep a few people from a trip to the clinic. In a deployed location the health of every Airman is vital.

"It gives me a good piece of mind that when I come in here I won't get sick," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Jackson, a 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron member. "My unit already has a high mission tempo right now, for me to be out of the picture because I am sick would cause them to have to grab someone else, it would affect the whole mission from the top down."

Holding the DFAC accountable is a big part of keeping Airmen at Joint Base Balad healthy, but there are some things each Airman should do to help stay fit to fight, according to the public health staff, such as washing their hands regularly, covering their mouth when they sneeze or cough, and keeping work and living areas clean to keep germs under control.

U.S. Naval Academy Museum Features Award-Winning Maritime Art

April 6, 2010 - ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- An exhibition of the award-winning maritime art of Patrick O'Brien is currently on view at the newly renovated U.S. Naval Academy Museum.

The exhibit of artist Patrick O'Brien's work features naval subjects of ships and battles, including two historic views of the Naval Academy itself with training ships departing under sail for summer cruises: the USS Constellation in 1871 and the USS Severn underway in 1908. Several of the children's books that O'Brien illustrated and a number of the original watercolor sketches for the illustrations are also part of the exhibit.

The exhibition will continue through April 30. The U.S. Naval Academy Museum is free and open to the public Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

O'Brien, who lives and works in Baltimore, began his career as a draftsman in a naval architectural firm and earned a degree in biology from the University of Virginia. Since 1985, he has worked as an illustrator and painter. His clients have included National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, the Smithsonian Institution, ExxonMobile, and the U.S. Naval Institute. O'Brien is also the author and illustrator of eleven non-fiction books for children.

Visitors to the Naval Academy may walk through Gate 1 (King George St.) and Gate 3 (Maryland Ave.) and will be required to show valid, government issued picture identification. Vehicles without Department of Defense decals are not permitted on the Naval Academy grounds. Handicapped visitors with proper decals are permitted through Gate 1 after a vehicle inspection. All bags are subject to search.

USS Monterey Sailor Saves a Life

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Scott Boyle, Naval Surface Force Atlantic Public Affairs

April 6, 2010 - NORFOLK (NNS) -- A Sailor from the Norfolk-based Guided Missile Cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) saved a young boy from drowning April 4.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Dustin Kilgore was talking to a friend on his balcony at the Holly Point Apartment complex in Chesapeake, Va., when he heard a scream and splashing coming from the large canal and pond outside his apartment.

"I yelled to a woman screaming and asked what happened," Kilgore said. "She yelled that her nephew was in the water and couldn't swim."

Kilgore immediately dropped the cell phone and ran out of his apartment to the edge of the murky pond. He jumped in and began swimming to the boy, about 300 feet away.

"My instincts kicked in, and I just wanted to get the child out of the water," Kilgore said.

By the time he reached him, the boy had sunk to the bottom of the canal. With his hands wide, he crouched down, dredging the bottom. A few frantic minutes passed when Kilgore's foot touched something.

"I reached down and felt his thigh," he said. "Then, I yanked him out of the water and started carrying him to the edge."

"The edge" was a concrete ramp another 75 feet from where the boy fell in the water. The boy didn't have a pulse and wasn't breathing. Kilgore immediately started Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

"It was instinct, being a parent; whatever it was, I just reacted and used my training," he said.

Kilgore repeated the process - 15 chest compressions, a breath, cleaning the murky water from the boy's mouth - he repeated the process over and over. Then, there was a pulse. Kilgore didn't stop.

"We're taught to always continue until relieved, so I did until the paramedics came," he said.

Paramedics arrived and took over. A few minutes later, the boy was breathing again, and he was rushed to the hospital.

"I'm not surprised at all by what he did," said Lt. j.g. Christopher Apt, Kilgore's division officer on Monterey. "He is such a great guy."

Two days later, the local news media interviewed Kilgore at the same location about the events of Easter afternoon. Standing in his service dress blue uniform just yards from the concrete ramp he knelt on a few days before, he tells the story again.

A few witnesses to the events come up and smile.

"That boy saved his life," one says.

"No way he survives if that kid doesn't do what he did, what a hero," says another.

As the interviews end, a woman walks up to hug him. She tells him her grandson, two years old, happy and full of life is okay and coming home from the hospital.

"That was all I cared about," Kilgore said. "I just wanted to know he was going to be alright."

After all that happened, Kilgore reflected on the events of Easter Sunday.

"A twist of fate, spiritual, whatever you want to call it, I was just in the right place at the right time," he said.

Child and Youth Program Expanding by 7,000 Child Care Spaces

By Bruce Moody, Commander, Navy Installations Command, Fleet and Family Support Program

April 6, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy is expanding its Child and Youth Program by more than 7,000 child care spaces fleetwide for children ages 12 and under.

The expansion will reduce a child's time spent on waiting lists to three months or less to meet 80 percent of the potential need across the Navy by the end of 2011.

"Reaching the OSD goal of providing access for 80 percent of the potential need has been elusive," John Baker, Commander, Navy Installation Command's Director of Fleet and Family Readiness, said this month during testimony to members of the House Armed Services Committee. "With strong financial support from the president, congress, OSD and Navy, we have been able to launch an aggressive expansion plan that will allow us to meet our space requirements."

Commander, Navy Installations Command's Child and Youth Program is achieving the expansion through a variety of measures to include the construction of 31 new child development centers. Classrooms are being converted to accommodate children under the age of three, the age group in highest demand. Also, the Navy has also partnered with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) to subsidize high-quality civilian care for military families off-base through an effort called Military Child Care In Your Neighborhood and Operation Military Child Care, provides subsidies to deployed families using licensed child care.

During fiscal 2009, Navy programs cared for more than 49,000 children ages six weeks to 12 years of age in 128 child development centers, 86 school-aged care programs and 3,115 on- and off-base licensed child development homes.

Beyond merely providing child care spaces, the Navy's Child and Youth Program provides services that significantly enhance the ability of our families to cope with the many demands of military life. Navy Child and Youth Programs partnered with NACCRRA last April to launch a new program that provides these Navy families up to 40 hours of respite care a month.

To date, over 240 Navy families received respite care for their children with special needs enrolled in categories four and five of the Exceptional Family Members Program (EFMP).

"The respite care program allows the parent to leave their child, knowing that the provider is equipped to deal with their child's particular needs, and allows them some much needed time to take for themselves," Greg Young, Navy Child and Youth Program manager, said.

Cadets, McCool Students Tour USNS Amelia Earhart

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corwin Colbert, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

April 6, 2010 - SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) invited students for an underway tour in the waters off U.S. Naval Base Guam April 5.

More than 100 children from Commander William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps of Guam and Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) of Father Duenas Memorial School spent approximately nine hours on the Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship.

"The purpose of bringing the children out was to teach the children patriotism," said Cecilio Gonzales, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps regional director and a McCool history teacher. "As for the cadets, even though there is no obligation to join, we want to show them what the high-tech and diverse Navy and merchant marines can do."

Throughout the tour, the group was briefed on the mission of the ship, MSC and the Navy. USNS Amelia Earhart is the sixth ship of nine in the Navy's T-AKE class. As part of MSC's Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, these ships deliver ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to the Navy's carrier strike groups at sea and other naval forces worldwide, allowing them to stay at sea, on station and combat ready for extended periods of time.

"The children had an exhausting tour," said Senior Chief Operations Specialist (SW) Phillip Heldt, the senior enlisted advisor for the military detachment of the ship. "We gave them a tour on mostly every space we have on board."

The children witnessed a damage control and chemical, biological and radiation display and an underway replenishment and vertical replenishment static display as well as toured medical spaces. They also had the opportunity to drive the ship on the bridge.

"I learned a lot about how the ship transfers cargo to other ships so that those ships do not have to go into port," said Brenna Leadingham, a McCool eighth-grader. "My step-dad is in the Navy. I can appreciate what he does more."

The tour ended with flight quarters and the group had a chance to witness a Puma HC1 helicopter land on the ship's flight deck.

"I liked the helicopter landing," Leadingham said. "Now I can tell sea stories of the tour and how the whole lunch line shifted when the ship was rocking."

Cmdr. Dawn Richardson, officer in charge of the military detachment of the ship, was pleased at how well the underway tour went.

"The tour was successful," Richardson said. "It was a great opportunity for the merchants and Sailors to interact with the youth. The children may be the future of the Navy or MSC. Hopefully they will remember the positive experience they had during this underway."

Retired Navy Senior Chief Willie Pizarro, naval science instructor for Father Duenas Memorial School, said hopefully the students understand some concepts of shipboard life.

"This doesn't happen very often," Pizarro said. "The kids are very excited. I just hope the children can take back a positive experience and a feeling of teamwork and camaraderie like Sailors on board who are home away from home."

Second Navy Family Gram Focuses on Deployment Resources for Families

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

April 6, 2010 - WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy released its second monthly Family Gram April 1 describing resources available to assist families of deployed Sailors, demonstrating Navy's continuing commitment to fostering a family support structure which proactively prepares families for Navy life.

"The Navy is committed to providing our families the same high-quality support they provide our Sailors," said Rear Adm. Michael Browne, director of Navy's personal readiness and community support branch. "One way we are meeting that goal is by providing our families with the tools necessary to successfully manage life during deployments and other prolonged separations."

While the Navy has always offered support to families, its programs and services have evolved in recent years to meet the needs of today's deployment cycle to include Sailors serving around the globe as individual augmentees (IAs).

NAVADMIN 120/10 describes and provides information to access about a dozen resources from traditional support structures such as command leadership and ombudsmen to more progressive resources such as the IA Web site and the Family Handbook.

Ombudsmen are an all-volunteer force and serve as the first line of support for Navy families, according to the message. The program has offered an official two-way communication tool among families, Sailors and their commands for 40 years and is often led at each command by a Navy spouse selected by the commanding officer and trained for the position.

The IA Family Handbook provides practical information concerning support services, finances and family coping suggestions, according to the Family Gram. For more personalized needs, each command also offers a command individual augmentee coordinator (CAIC) who mentors, advocates and provides professional sources of information for IA Sailors and their families.

Stigma of Suicide

Navy Works to Reduce Stigma of Discussing Suicide


By Electronics Technician 2nd Class Mark A. Moore, Submarine Group Two Public Affairs

April 6, 2010 - GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) hosted a Suicide Awareness and Prevention Summit at Naval Submarine Base New London on March 30 and March 31.

The goal of the summit is to provide leadership with available resources and assistance to institutionalize fleet requirements regarding implementation and execution of suicide prevention and awareness policies.

Each year, the Navy loses Sailors to suicide. Many of these Sailors are our own shipmates, and most, if not all, of these tragedies can be prevented. The stigma that some Sailors face with seeking help for their problems can stand in the way of preventing suicide.

Relationship issues, drug abuse, financial problems, legal issues and mental health problems can increase a person's suicide risk, according to experts. Eric Hipple, former Detroit Lions quarterback and author of "Real Men Do Cry", has dedicated his life to suicide prevention after losing his 15 year-old son, Jeff, to suicide in 2000. He's now the Outreach Coordinator for the Depression Center for the University of Michigan. He spoke about his experiences during the summit.

"Ninety percent of all suicides are due to some type of untreated or undiagnosed mental illness, depression being one of those," said Hipple. "If someone suffers from depression and does not get treatment, the chance of them taking their own life is greater than someone who is treated."

So, what is the stigma of seeking help in the military? According to Marie Parker, USFF Suicide Prevention Coordinator, some Sailors fear losing respect from shipmates or vice versa. Also, some Sailors mistakenly believe that getting help will make them lose their security clearance. That, however, is a myth.

According to the Navy's suicide prevention website, "less than 2% of revoked or denied clearances are for psychological problems. In the vast majority of situations, getting counseling or treatment an indicator of the good reliability and judgment required for clearances. Failure to seek help and allowing problems to get worse and start to impact performance, conduct and finances, is more likely lead to clearance loss."

The next USFF Suicide Awareness and Prevention workshops will be held in Gulfport, Miss. on April 20 - 21, Sigonella, Italy on May 10 - 11, Naples, Italy on May 13 - 14 and Rota, Spain on May 17 - 18. The workshops are intended to provide leadership with available resources and assistance to institutionalize fleet requirements regarding implementation and execution of suicide prevention and awareness policies.

MILITARY CONTRACTS April 6, 2010

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

Air BP, Warrenville, Ill. is being awarded a maximum $124,754,182 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for aviation turbine fuel. Other locations of performance are Texas and Louisiana. Using service is the Defense Energy Support Center. The original proposal was Web solicited with 27 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is April 30, 2011. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-0474).

Goodrich Corp.*, West Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a maximum $20,589,102 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for jet engine fuel pump. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Air Force. 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 April 2013. The Defense Logistics Agency (DSCR-ZBAB), Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity (SPRTA1-10-D-0053).

Avfuel Corp.*, Ann Arbor, Mich., is being awarded a maximum $5,212,150 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel. Other location of performance is Washington. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. There were originally two proposals solicited with two responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 31, 2014. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-10-D-0026).

ARMY

JLG Industries Inc., McConnellsburg, Pa., was awarded on April 1 a $85,737,655 firm-fixed-price contract for 492 All Terrain Lifter Army Systems 10,000 pound lift capacity variable reach rough terrain forklifts. Work is to be performed in McConnellsburg, Pa., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with four bids received. TACOM Contracting Center, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-D-A001).

Combat Support Associates, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded on March 31 a $46,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract is a six-month extension of the combat support contract for Kuwait. This procurement is for base operations support services, including security and logistics for supplies and services, which are critical to accomplishing the mission and functions of assigned and tenant units moving into, out of, and within the country of Kuwait. Base operation services also support the Coalition/Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration mission; promotes security and stability within the region; and provides operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom, while simultaneously fulfilling international security commitments and theater deterrence in support of the Defense Cooperative Agreement between the United States and Kuwait. Work is to be performed in the Kuwait area of responsibility with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. O ne bid was solicited with one bid received. Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island Arsenal, Ill., is the contracting activity (DASA02-99-C-1234).

Olin Corp., Winchester Division, East Alton, Ill., was awarded on March 30 a $43,442,000 sole-source indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with firm-fixed-price orders. This procurement is for the manufacture and delivery of caliber .50 M903 sabot light armor penetrator; M962 Sabot light armor penetrator tracer bulk; and the 4:1 linked configuration of the M903/M962. Delivery order #0001 will be issued at contract award. Work is to be performed in East Alton, Ill. (50 percent); Towanda, Pa. (26 percent); Jonesborough, Tenn. (8 percent); Independence, Mo. (6 percent); Hopkins, Minn. (4 percent); Wood Dale, Ill. (4 percent); and St. Marks, Fla. (2 percent), with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2016. One sole-source bid was solicited with one bid received. Joint Munitions & Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-10-D-0010).

Science Application International Corp., McLean, Va., was awarded on March 30 a $39,999,302 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract will be issued under the Army Geospatial Center (AGC) Broad Agency Announcement in support of the Business Transformation Agency (BTA). This action is titled "Shared Approach for the Design, Development and Operation of Federated Information Systems/Services, Database and Dissemination." The contractor will provide basic and applied research in the field of database development and will provide technical support to BTA's business systems for service-oriented architecture implementation. It will also develop a federated architecture based on a common vocabulary and the primitives and patterns concept. These efforts, in support of the BTA and business mission area, will be applicable and transferable to AGC's database development efforts and similar efforts across the Department of Defense. Work is to be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 28, 2015. Bids were solicited via Broad Agency Announcement with one bid received. Army Geospatial Center, Contracts Office, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W5J9CQ-10-C-0009).

Science Application International Corp., Mclean, Va., was awarded on April 1 a $32,815,507 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The war fighter analysis and integration contract provides the Army, other services, and the Department of Defense an advanced capability for analysis and integration of defense issues. These defense issues include investigation of battlefield and battle space systems and technologies; impact of changes to force structures; analysis of training, tactics, procedures, and hardware-software; including specific efforts for simulation design; simulation engineering, implementation, integration, and maintenance; parametric modeling; data collection, reduction, and first- level analysis; and design, engineering, and integration of simulations and modeling to support evacuation of potential threats, doctrine and requirements, technologies, design and performance, manufacturing processes, logistics and manpower, and defense system interface architectures. Work is to be performed in McLean, Va., with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (DASG60-02-D-0006).

Donjon Marine Co., Hillside, N.J., was awarded on March 30 a $30,932,000 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract consists of deepening of the existing 47-foot Federal Navigation Channel System to a depth of 52 feet. The project consists of dredging and disposal of non-rock, and possible drilling, blasting, dredging and disposal of rock. Work is to be performed in New York and New Jersey Harbor Channel Navigation with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with three bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, CECT-NAN, New York, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912DS-10-C-0006).

Science Application International Corp., McLean, Va., was awarded on March 30 a $24,097,263 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract will be issued under the Army Geospatial Center Broad Agency Announcement. The contractor will develop the human resources architecture to align with the set of Web Ontology Language (OWL) ontologies and resources description framework data describing the operational requirements, domain concepts, and systems of the distributed Department of Defense human resources community. The foundation of this effort includes ontology architecture for modeling; processes on the Object Management Group/Business Process Management Notation standard; domain vocabularies based on the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) OWL standard; information systems and mapping to those systems based on database-to- resource description framework query; an open framework; and rules based on the draft W3C rule interchange format standard. These models will be collaboratively developed by a group of ontology experts, human resources subject matter and system experts, and business process engineers. Work is to be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 18, 2013. Bids were solicited via Broad Agency Announcement. Army Geospatial Center, Contracts Office, Alexandria, Va., is the contracting activity (W5J9CQ-10-C-0007).

FLIR Systems, Inc., Portland, Ore., was awarded on March 30 a $12,516,015 firm-fixed-price contract. This requirement is for the purchase of 25 FLIR Star Safire II systems; three turret FLIR units; three central electronics units; and three hand control units. Work is to be performed in Portland, Ore., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2010. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-F-0004).

Robertson Fuel Systems, LLC, Tempe, Ariz., was awarded on March 30 a $10,347,180 firm-fixed-price contract for 14 fuel tank kits for the UH-60 Blackhawk. Work is to be performed in Tempe, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2015. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aviation & Missile Commands Contracting Center, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-10-D-0029).

The Ross Group, Tulsa, Okla., was awarded on March 30 a $10,225,685 firm-fixed-price contract for electrical work at multiple locations in Fort Sill, Okla. Work is to be performed in Fort Sill, Okla., with an estimated completion date of April 11. Three bids were solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (W9126G-06-D-0043).

World Technical Services Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on March 30 a $9,363,352 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics support services. Work is to be performed in Fort Sill, Okla., with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2010. One sole source bid was solicited with one bid received. Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sill., Okla., is the contracting activity (W9124-10-C-0002)

DQSI, LLC, Covington, La., was awarded on March 30 a $7,666,836 firm-fixed-price contract for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 8(a) multiple-award task order contract for Atchafalaya Basin Floodway, Bayou Sorrel Lock, 2010 northwest guide wall replacement and new dolphins, Iberville Parish, La., (ED 09-140) (ED9140-10-M-0001). Work is to be performed in Plaquemine, La., with an estimated completion date of April 21, 2011. Bids were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site with three bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-D-0047).

Capco, Inc., Grand Junction, Colo., was awarded on March 30 a $7,063,501 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of the M192 light-weight ground mount. Work is to be performed in Grand Junction, Colo., with an estimated completion date of July 24, 2010. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center, Picatinny, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-09-D-0027).

AeroVironment., Simi Valley, Calif., was awarded on March 30 a $6,781,162 firm-fixed-price contract. This effort exercises a priced option for 51 Marine Corps digital data link systems; 51 initial spares packages; and contractor logistics support. Work is to be performed in Simi Valley, Calif., with an estimated completion date of March 29, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Contracting Command/CCAM-AR-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-05-C-0338).

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Productions, Inc., Burlington, Vt., was awarded on April 1 a $6,760,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 8,000 barrels for the M2 machine gun. Work is to be performed in Saco, Maine, with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2011. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. TACOM Rock Island, CCTA-AR-SA, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-04-D-0108).

Sabre Defense Industries, LLC, Nashville, Tenn., was awarded on April 1 a $6,720,000 firm-fixed-price contract for 8,000 barrels for the M2 machine gun. Work is to be performed in Nashville, Tenn., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2011. Two bids were solicited with two bids received. TACOM Rock Island, CCTA-AR-SA, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-04-D-0107).

NAVY

Lockheed Martin, Maritime Systems and Sensors, Moorestown N.J., is being awarded an $85,000,000 definitization modification to previously awarded letter contract (N00024-09-C-5103) for Aegis platform systems engineering agent activities and Aegis modernization advanced capability build engineering. This modification includes FY10 research, development, test, and evaluation incremental funding of $54,613,863 and the definitized contract with options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $450,000,000. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Canadian Commercial Corp., General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, London, Ontario, is being awarded a $28,578,333 firm-fixed-priced modification to delivery order #0007 under contract (M67854-07-D-5028). The procurement is for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle engineering change proposal upgrades and associated non-recurring engineering costs to support the 250 low-rate initial production 17 MRAP RG-31A2 vehicles ordered. Work will be performed in Centennial, Colo., and Boston, Mass., and is expected to be completed no later than Dec. 31, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $20,395,814 contract which provides for the trainers software development effort and the urgent response effort and to increase the not-to-exceed amount for the depot partnering effort. At this time, $20,395,814 has been obligated. 478 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (FA8611-08-C-2897,P00044).

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Clearfield, Utah, was awarded a $15,459,507 contract which provides for the Minuteman enhanced reliability accelerometer engineering and feasibility study, Phase III, prototype. At this time, $10,990,902 has been obligated. 526th ICBMSG/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-98-C-0001).

McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded a $10,264,377 contract which provided for the purchase of 89 carriage load crew trainers and 356 weapons load crew trainers to support F-16 Block 40/50, F-35, and F-22 integrations and training requirements. 681 ARSS/PK, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA8672-10-C-0013,P00004).

EDO Corp., Lancaster, Calif., was awarded a $8,520,662 contract which will provide for standard high-power radar signal simulators (AN/PLM-4), 85 production units (AN/PLM-4) with millimeter wave option, and 6 production units. Two percent of this effort will support Foreign Military Sales efforts to Morocco. 542 CBSG/PKT, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-07-C-0004).

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, Clearfield, Utah, was awarded a $7,476,242 contract which provides for detailed vendor technical data used during the production of the Minuteman missile propulsion replacement program. This data will help identify potentially significant future use to support age degradation analysis, and sustainment anomaly or failure investigations. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 526 ICBMSW/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-98-C-0001).

L-3 Communications Corp., Bristol, Pa., was awarded a $5,500,000 contract which provides for National Security Agency-certified telemetry support device products that will be used for both encryption and decryption of critical flight test data. At this time, no money has been obligated. AFFTC/PKEE, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA9302-10-D-0010).

Vice Chairman Expresses Comfort With Nuke Production Freeze

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service

April 6, 2010 - The nation's second-ranking military officer said today that he's comfortable with a new U.S. policy that halts future production of nuclear weapons.

The freeze on developing new nuclear platforms, save for extraordinary cases requiring presidential approval, is an element of the Nuclear Posture Review, the first overarching look at U.S. nuclear strategy since the end of the Cold War.

"I don't feel constrained in the least, really," Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters during the nuclear policy unveiling at the Pentagon today. "I think we have more than enough capacity and capability for any threat that we see today or might emerge in the foreseeable future."

The Nuclear Posture Review, which culminates a year of Defense Department-led efforts involving top interagency officials, articulates a roadmap for cutting America's nuclear arsenal, edging the U.S. toward President Barack Obama's stated long-term goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. The NPR ceases U.S. testing of nuclear weapons and the development of new nuclear weapons platforms.

Asked for the military's view about the cessation of new nuclear warhead development, Cartwright -- a former commander of U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the country's global strategy -- said he is comfortable with the current U.S. arsenal, and that Stratcom's current commander, Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, agrees.

"Both for myself, as a previous commander at Stratcom, and also for General Chilton, we both feel very comfortable with these numbers and with these descriptions of reuse, replace, refurbishment," the vice chairman said.

Instead of developing new capabilities, the policy states that the United States will attempt to extend the lives of warheads currently in use. Refurbished weapons will use only nuclear components based on previously tested designs and will not support new military missions or provide for new military capabilities, officials said.

In an effort to rebuild an aging nuclear infrastructure and invest in related facilities and personnel, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates requested that $5 billion be transferred from the Defense Department to the Energy Department over the next several years. On specific nuclear warhead platforms, Gates said, the United States will study options for ensuring their safety, security and reliability on a case-by-case basis.

"In any decision to proceed to engineering development, we will give strong preference to options for refurbishment or reuse," Gates told Pentagon reporters. "Replacement of any nuclear components, if absolutely necessary, would require specific presidential approval."

The terms laid out in the Nuclear Posture Review reflect the reality of the current security environment, Cartwright said, noting that the policy does not muzzle military leaders who identify a need for testing or for developing new capabilities pending changes.

"Nobody has ever removed from the commander or anyone else in that chain the ability to stand up and say, 'I'm uncomfortable; I believe that we're going to have to test, or I believe that we're going to have to build something new,'" he said. "That's not been removed here."

The provisions engendered in the policy have been embraced by the top uniformed commanders, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the nation's military leaders were allowed to submit their input during the process.

Mullen said even while it precludes nuclear testing and the development of new warheads, the review bolsters regional deterrence by fielding new missile defenses, improving capabilities to counter weapons of mass destruction and revitalizing the nuclear support infrastructure.

"The chiefs and I fully support the findings of this Nuclear Posture Review," Mullen said, "because we believe it provides us and our field commanders the opportunity to better shape our nuclear weapons posture, policies and force structure to meet an ever-changing security environment."

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said American laboratory directors and a host of other outside technical reviews have been very clear that life-extension programs can maintain the safety, security and effectiveness of the stockpile without testing.

"In any decision to proceed to the engineering development for warhead life-extension programs, the United States will give strong preference to the options of refurbishment or reuse," he said, adding that proposals for new developments would be sent to the president "only if critical stockpile-management program goals cannot otherwise be met."

Review Provides Deterrence, Arms Reduction Roadmap

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

April 6, 2010 - The Nuclear Posture Review is a roadmap for reducing America's nuclear arsenal while maintaining an effective deterrent, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at the Pentagon today. The congressionally mandated review charts the steps toward reducing nuclear risks to the United States, U.S. allies and partners, and the international community.

"This review describes how the United States will reduce the role and numbers of nuclear weapons with a long-term goal of a nuclear-free world," Gates said.

Gates – accompanied by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen – explained some of the changes the review recommends.

New declaratory policies have taken the place of intentionally vague policies of the past, Gates said. For example, if a state that does not have nuclear weapons is in compliance with the nonproliferation treaty and its obligations, the United States will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against that state. If such a state were to use chemical or biological weapons against the United States or its allies or partners, however, "it would face the prospect of a devastating conventional military response," the secretary said.

Gates said the United States will adjust its policy if circumstances dictate the need. "Given the catastrophic potential of biological weapons and the rapid pace of biotechnology development," he said, "the United States reserves the right to make any adjustment to this policy that may be warranted by the evolution and proliferation of biological weapons."

The Cabinet secretaries and the chairman stressed that the Nuclear Posture Review was a collegial interagency and international effort.

"The consultations that supported this process included more than 30 of our allies and partners," Clinton said. "For generations, the United States' nuclear deterrent has helped prevent proliferation by providing our non-nuclear allies in NATO, in the Pacific and elsewhere with reassurance and security. The policies outlined in this review allow us to continue that stabilizing role."

Officials said this is the most comprehensive review of U.S. nuclear strategy since the end of the Cold War, and that it places the prevention of nuclear terrorism and proliferation at the top of the U.S. nuclear policy agenda.

"Given al-Qaida's continued quest for nuclear weapons, Iran's on-going nuclear efforts and North Korea's proliferation, this focus is appropriate, and indeed,... an essential change from previous reviews," Gates said.

Gates stressed that the review has strong messages for Iran and North Korea.

"Whether it's in declaratory policy or in other elements of the [Nuclear Posture Review], we essentially carve out states like Iran and North Korea that are not in compliance with [the nonproliferation treaty]," he said. "And basically, all options are on the table when it comes to countries in that category, along with nonstate actors who might acquire nuclear weapons."

The message to Iran and North Korea is if they play by the rules, then they will be covered by the new recommendations, Gates said. "But if you're not going to play by the rules, if you're going to be a proliferator, then all options are on the table in terms of how we deal with you."

The review has the full support of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mullen said.

"We believe it provides us and our field commanders the opportunity to better shape our nuclear weapons posture, policies and force structure to meet an ever-changing security environment," Mullen said. "This Nuclear Posture Review reaffirms our commitment to defend the vital interests of the United States and those of our partners and allies with a more balanced mix of nuclear and non-nuclear means than we have at our disposal today."

The review's conclusion that the United States can maintain deterrence with half of its current nuclear arsenal served as the basis for U.S. negotiations for the new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia that President Barack Obama is scheduled to sign April 8. The United States also will continue an on-going and high-level dialogue with Russia and China aimed at fostering more stable, resilient and transparent strategic relationships, Gates said.

Some aspects of the posture will remain static. The United States will continue to field its triad of nuclear-capable missiles, aircraft and submarines.

"The United States will continue to hold accountable any state, terrorist group or other nonstate actor that supports or enables terrorist efforts to obtain or use weapons of mass destruction, whether by facilitating, financing, or providing expertise or safe haven for such efforts," Gates said.

The United States will continue to develop and improve non-nuclear capabilities – including regional missile defenses – to strengthen deterrence and reduce the role of nuclear weapons, Gates said. "Finally, the United States will continue abiding by its pledge not to conduct nuclear testing," said he added.

Review Reduces Weapons, Maintains Deterrence, Obama Says

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

April 6, 2010 - The Nuclear Posture Review recognizes that nuclear terrorism by violent extremists and nuclear proliferation to more states – not a nuclear exchange between nations – pose the greatest threat to U.S. and global security, President Barack Obama noted in a statement issued today.

Obama called the review, released today, a major step toward fulfilling his pledge to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. national security strategy while sustaining a safe, secure and effective deterrent as long as nuclear weapons exist.

While acknowledging the threat of nuclear weapons getting into the wrong hands, the review recognizes that the national security of the United States and its allies and partners "can be increasingly defended by America's unsurpassed conventional military capabilities and strong missile defenses," the president said.

He noted concrete steps the United States has taken to reduce the role of nuclear weapons, while preserving its military superiority, deterring aggression and safeguarding U.S. security:

-- Moving the prevention of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism to the top of its nuclear agenda for the first time, and aligning its policies and funding for programs to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and encourage international cooperation toward that goal.

-- Promoting international responsibility in meeting nonproliferation treaty obligations, and promising not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states that are parties to the treaty and comply with their nonproliferation obligations.

-- Pledging not to conduct nuclear tests, develop new nuclear warheads or pursue new missions or capabilities for nuclear weapons, and pressing for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

While reducing the role of nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal, Obama said, the Nuclear Posture Review also recognizes their important deterrent value as the United States works to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, prevent nuclear terrorism and pursue the day when these weapons no longer exist.

Meanwhile, he vowed to press for substantial investments to improve the safety and effectiveness of the existing nuclear stockpile while also strengthening conventional capabilities.

"So long as nuclear weapons exist, we will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal that guarantees the defense of the United States, reassures allies and partners, and deters potential adversaries," he said.

Obama called these measures important steps toward the comprehensive agenda he laid out in Prague last year to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and to pursue world peace and security without them.

He said he looks forward to advancing this agenda in Prague on April 8, when he and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign the new strategic arms reduction treaty that commits both countries to substantial nuclear arms reductions.