Duck Hunt Photos – Getting to Greenland

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Written by: Dan Bender

As part of the Coast Guard’s effort to locate a missing World War II air crew, a team has been dispatched to the frozen Greenland ice cap. Getting there was half the battle.

The journey to Greenland began Friday morning at Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., when Cmdr. Jim Blow and Master Chief Petty Officer John Long, from CG-711 Aviation Forces, departed with a C-130J crew and headed north. Their first stop was Trenton, N.J. where the contractors from North South Polar, Inc., were waiting with weeks worth of supplies and equipment for the desolate and unforgiving ice. Also waiting were a camera crew from HDNet World Report and a correspondent from the New York Times.

The next stop was St. John’s, Newfoundland, where the team stayed overnight and prepared for the last leg of the trip aboard the C-130 to Kulusuk, Greenland, Saturday. Today the 15-person team will take helicopters chartered from Air Greenland over a hundred miles west into the frozen wild of East Greenland.

Two helicopters have already left with the first wave of scientists to get the search started as soon as possible. The rest of us will be out there in the next few hours. Stay tuned for more updates.

Flournoy Reaffirms Commitment to Bringing MIAs Home

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2010 – The Defense Department is as committed as ever to bringing home thousands of U.S. servicemembers who remain missing from the Korean War and Cold War conflicts, the Pentagon’s undersecretary of defense for policy said today.

“This issue has the full and unequivocal support of this secretary and this nation,” Michele Flournoy said at the Korean War/Cold War Annual Government Briefing on the accounting of missing and imprisoned servicemembers held in Arlington, Va. Ensuring resources are available “to have the fullest possible accounting” is a top priority of the department, she said.

As many as 5,400 Americans may still be in North Korea, and another 900 may be in the demilitarized zone that has divided North and South Korea since an armistice in 1953 halted three years of fighting there, Flournoy said. Because there has never been a peace treaty to officially end the war, those areas remain inaccessible to the department’s search and recovery teams, she said.

American search teams were allowed into North Korea under tight control between 1996 and 2005, and recovered the remains of 225 U.S. servicemembers, 81 of whom have been identified, Flournoy said. Rising international tensions with North Korea over its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons and the sinking of a South Korean navy ship this year have ended those operations, the undersecretary said.

Further complicating efforts, Flournoy said, are ongoing reports that “tiny” numbers of veterans may have defected to the north, raising concerns that they are being held as prisoners of war. Department officials have spent years trying to determine if the reports are true, she said.

“We have no evidence that U.S. servicemembers are being held against their will in North Korea,” she said. “But we cannot tell you in many cases the fate of our missing servicemembers.”

Despite the challenges, she said, “We will get through this difficult period and do everything in our power to resume recovery operations and bring our servicemembers home.”

Flournoy called the issue of missing or imprisoned servicemembers “surely the most painful legacy of war,” and said the department is committed to keeping its search and recovery staff fully resourced. Congress, also, has shown its willingness to provide for the recovery of POWs/MIAs by including in the current budget a directive that the department develop the capacity to increase the identification of remains to 200 per year by 2015. The department usually recovers the remains of between 80 and 85 missing servicemembers each year, she said.

Meanwhile, the United States has had increasing collaboration with Russia and China to recover missing servicemembers, and currently is evaluating remains found from a plane crash in the China Sea reported by Chinese officials, the undersecretary said.

Flournoy told the audience that their work gives hope to the 200,000 military members currently deployed in war zones. POW/MIA work “is not an artifact of the distant past,” she said. “These issues remain urgent, and our commitment to leaving no one behind is as vital and real as it has ever been.”

Search and recovery techniques have vastly improved in recent years, and the department’s teams are the best in the world, Flournoy said. “No one is more dedicated to the mission,” she added.

“Your loved ones gave their lives for this country,” she said. “We honor their sacrifices, and we are committed to their recovery.”

Mullen Calls Iranian Nuclear Pursuit ‘Unacceptable’

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

DETROIT, Aug. 26, 2010 – Iran’s continued pursuit of nuclear capabilities is unacceptable in the eye of the U.S. government, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said today.

“Iran is a particularly difficult issue,” Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told local business leaders here. “Their achieving a nuclear weapon capability is unacceptable and incredibly destabilizing.”

Mullen responded to this issue amid town halls with local business leaders and Wayne State University students here as part of his “Conversations with the Country.” Local residents voiced concerns over the nature of the United States’ efforts to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“This is an enormous challenge,” he said. “We’re working hard to make sure either one of those outcomes doesn’t occur, because I think either will be very bad for all of us.”

The United States is still pursuing a diplomatic approach, he said. Financial sanctions were placed on Iran in June. Military intervention, the admiral added, is not an option the U.S. military currently wants to engage.

Mullen said there’s much the U.S. government doesn’t know about Iran. The countries haven’t had an open dialogue with each other since 1979, he noted.

“We don’t know each other very well,” the admiral said. “You may think you know enough to understand the consequences, but I worry about miscalculation here. I worry about a small incident rolling itself into something that could get out of hand.”

Iran's attainment of nuclear weapons would likely lead to a strike against Israel, Mullen said. The Israeli government has a “complete belief” that Iran has that in mind, he added.

“[Iran] is a regime that is a state sponsor of terrorism,” he said, noting the Islamic state’s links to al-Qaida and extremist fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan. “It is an existential threat. [Nuclear] capability in hand is an existential threat to Israel.”

Mullen said he is hopeful that the issue can be resolved on diplomatic terms. However, ending Iran’s nuclear pursuit is a “very difficult and complex problem.”

“I think Iran is on path to achieve that capability, and we need to be mindful of that,” Mullen said. “It’s a very critical part of the world. It’s a world that is reasonably unstable. And Iran continuing to expand on that does not bode well for any body in the world.”

Mullen was in Detroit today as part of a three-day “Conversation with the Nation” tour across the Midwest. The trip is geared toward helping local community leaders, businessman and academics hone the skills and life experience among military veterans. He met with businessman and community leaders in Chicago yesterday and will be in Cleveland tomorrow.

USNS Mercy Marks End of Pacific Partnership 2010 Involvement

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Brian Gaines, Pacific Partnership 2010 Public Affairs

DILI, Timor-Leste (NNS) -- The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) concluded operations in Timor-Leste Aug. 24, marking the end of the ship's participation in Pacific Partnership 2010.

Mercy left San Diego May 1 and will return its homeport of San Diego in late September 2010.

"It is hard to believe that just 11 days ago we opened Pacific Partnership 2010 in Timor-Leste," said Capt. Lisa M. Franchetti, Pacific Partnership 2010's mission commander. "We should all take great pride in what we have accomplished in such a short time."

Franchetti also thanked Timorese officials and volunteers for their efforts to ensure the mission was a success.

"Watching Pacific Partnership 2010 develop from a simple vision of what 'could be' to the reality of seeing our collective teams in action has been a rewarding experience for me and everyone involved," said Franchetti.

Col. Falur Rate Laek, Timor-Leste Military chief of staff, was extremely pleased with the mission, the fourth visit of its kind to his country.

"This cooperation is a continuation of previous cooperations, but this year builds greatly upon the others," said Laek. "All of the activities were performed successfully, and the work has been fruitful."

During the four-and-a-half month deployment the Pacific Partnership team conducted humanitarian and civic action activities in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

Capt. David Bradshaw, master of Mercy, was thrilled with the mission.

"Mercy is operated by the Military Sealift Command and has a crew of 67 civilian mariners, 13 of whom have been on board Mercy for all of her Pacific Partnership missions, as well as the response to the Indonesian Tsunami in 2004-2005," said Bradshaw.

In addition to the civilian mariners, Mercy was manned with more than 1,000 personnel from all four U.S. military services and 10 partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Cambodia, France, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Embarked non-governmental organizations (NGOs) included East-Meets West, International Relief Teams, Latter-day Saint Charities, Operation Smile, Project Hope, Hope Worldwide, University of California San Diego Pre-Dental Society, Vets Without Borders and World Vets.

The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ship Kunisaki (LST 4003) and Royal Australian Navy HMAS Labuan (L 128), HMAS Tarakan (L 129) and HMAS Tobruk (L 50) also participated in various phases of Pacific Partnership 2010.

By conducting surgery on board and setting up multiple health care clinics ashore each day, the Pacific Partnership medical team was able to treat more than 101,000 patients in the four countries, including more than 20,000 in Timor-Leste. On board Mercy, the surgical team performed 775 life-changing surgeries during the deployment, ranging from cataract removal and cleft palate/lip repair to orthopedic surgery and other surgical procedures not readily available to the people served.

"Pacific Partnership 2010 embodied a spirit of collaboration among all participants, from patients, to partner nation colleagues, to U.S. military and non-military staff. We worked as a team, learning from one another and establishing a solid foundation for future efforts involving humanitarian assistance or disaster relief," said Capt. Jeffery Paulson, the Medical Treatment Facility's commanding officer.

As part of the medical outreach effort, more than 58,000 pairs of eyeglasses and sunglasses were also distributed at medical civic action projects. The dental services provided on board Mercy and at the clinical outreach sites provided care for 1,505 patients. A notable example of integrated medical care occurred as the audiology department identified children with treatable ear problems on shore and brought them on board Mercy for care by the ear, nose and throat surgeon. Mercy's Biomedical Equipment Repair Team repaired 124 pieces of equipment, an estimated repair value of $5.8 million.

In addition, the Pacific Partnership team conducted a series of extremely well received subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) in each country, on topics requested by the host nation during the planning process. These events, held on board Mercy and ashore in the Dili area, covered a wide variety of topics including first aid, nursing, cardiology, orthopedics, nutrition, disaster response, water and food safety and public health promotion. More than 11,000 hours of exchange classes were attended by 2,350 service providers across the four countries.

Sixty community service projects, the majority of them at schools and orphanages, and 6 major performances by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band throughout the four countries provided additional opportunities to strengthen the bonds between the United States and our host nations.

Donations from Project Handclasp, the Navy's program which coordinates transportation and delivery of donated humanitarian, educational and goodwill material to needy recipients in foreign countries, and Latter-day Saint Charities also provided essential medical, comfort and school supplies to each of the countries visited.

Using three advance fly-in teams, Pacific Partnership was able to take on extensive construction and renovation projects involving the host nation at every step of the way. Eighteen engineering civic action projects renovated a variety of structures, including a school for disabled children in Vietnam, seven clinics and the renovation of the Nu Laran School, as well as a six-building school and community center complex in Dili. In a project that required more than a year of planning and three months to complete, U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 drilled three wells in Cambodia, providing thousands of people with readily available fresh drinking water.

"The numbers of people we were able to see and projects completed really only tell part of the story," said Franchetti. "What is most important for the long term are the strong relationships we were able to build with our host nations as well as our partner nations and NGO volunteers throughout this challenging mission. The skills we have all developed have made us significantly more ready to respond to a natural disaster or other humanitarian crisis in the future."

Although Mercy is on her way home, Pacific Partnership continues. A 64-person team from Mercy has transferred to the HMAS Tobruk (LSH 50) and are proceeding to Papua New Guinea – the last mission country. Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, a 25-person Australian contingent, USS Crommelin (FFG 37), Labuan and Tarakan will also participate in the 10-day mission to Papua New Guinea.

Pacific Partnership 2010 is the fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors aimed at strengthening regional partnerships among host nations, partner nations, U.S. government organizations and international humanitarian and relief organizations.

Face of Defense: Football Team Boasts Military Ties

By Army Sgt. Nathan Hastings
139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

SHERMAN, Ill., Aug. 27, 2010 – The Springfield Foxes are more than just a central-Illinois semiprofessional football team, thanks to strong military ties.

Jae Russell, a defensive end and team captain for the Foxes, is a sergeant with the Illinois Army National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters in his hometown of Springfield. He said he draws on his experience as noncommissioned officer in charge of training to help him lead his football teammates.

"The military plays a strong role in leadership, especially being a leader of this team," he said. "Being a [team] captain is overwhelming at times. Everyone is looking at you for answers. I draw on my military experience to help me with these situations."

Though the Foxes are in their inaugural season with the Alliance Football League their 5-4 record heading into an Aug. 14 game put them in a position to make the playoffs, a rare achievement for a first-year team.

Playing for the Foxes sometimes creates conflicts for Russell, but he said he knows which obligation comes first.

"If military obligations and games come into conflict,” he said, “military always wins."

Another member of the Foxes also serves in the National Guard. Army Sgt. 1st Class Chris Williams of Sherman is an administrative NCO with the Recruit Sustainment Program Battalion in Springfield. Williams, the special teams coach for the Foxes, said he also believes his training as an NCO is helping him with his role on the football team.

"At this stage of my career, being a NCO, leadership roles in the military help with leadership roles outside of the military," he said. "I was a convoy commander, so I was in charge of 10 to 20 soldiers. This helps with having to coach 11 to 12 guys on special teams."

Williams said he thinks his and Russell's leadership has helped the Foxes to become playoff contenders.

"The team was not a team at the beginning,” Williams said. “Now, it has gelled into a team. Our recent four-game winning streak … comes from learning strengths and weaknesses, knowing each other. This is much like a platoon or squad in the National Guard."

The Foxes staff, coaches and members have many connections to the Army National Guard. Army Sgts. 1st Class Richard Hollinshead and Angela Robinson are the brother and sister of head coach Jake Hollinshead.

"Not a lot of players are Guard members, but we have a lot of connections," Williams said.

The Foxes beat the Chicago Blaze 28-20 in their tenth and final game of the season Aug. 14, extending their winning streak to five games. Williams said he believes Russell gave the Foxes the inspirational speech they needed to hear at a critical point in the game.

"We were down 14 to 0, and Sergeant Russell gave such a great speech, I believe it helped continue our winning streak," he said.

Pacific Region Militaries Join Humanitarian Community Workshop for Pacific Endeavor

By Lt. Theresa Donnelly, Pacific Command Public Affairs

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore (NNS) -- Military representatives from Singapore and U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) hosted a humanitarian communication workshop for 16 Asia-Pacific nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as part of Pacific Endeavor at Changi Command and Control Center at Changi Naval Base, Singapore Aug. 16-27.

Established in 2003, Pacific Endeavor tests the processes participating nations, non-governmental organizations and other entities would likely deploy in support of a major natural disaster.

For the first time since the program's establishment, members of the humanitarian community played a key role in the workshop. The United Nations, Salvation Army and the Singapore Red Cross representatives participated to further the interoperability between non-governmental organizations and the military.

"I think it is really important to have the humanitarian community here this year," said New Zealand Army Lt. Dan Swale. "The military is just one component of the whole-of-government approach. There are so many partners that we work with when a disaster occurs."

More than 250 communication experts from the military, humanitarian community and private industry took part in the scenario, which simulated an earthquake in the Philippines. Teams from the various countries also tested routers and radio frequencies as well as received training on how to protect personal information stored on computer databases.

"This year, we were able to bring a scenario in and perform the functions of a C6 combined forces information team," said U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4 Vincent Street, Pacific Endeavor future operations planner. "This can fully support the communication needs of a multinational force during a major disaster."

Pacific Endeavor also lays the groundwork for enhanced relations among the humanitarian community, military forces and private industry. By putting the humanitarian community together in a workshop venue, they can quickly team up when a crisis hits and call upon their newly established contacts for assistance and advice.

"If we can't communicate, we can't operate," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, director for Command, Control, Communications, Computer Systems Directorate (J6). "We are so fortunate to have the non-governmental organizations with us this year. This provides a terrific laboratory to refine our skills that is most needed in times of disaster."

The workshop also explored emerging uses of social networking tools and highlighted the role of social networking sites, such as PACOM's All Partner Access Network used during Haiti relief efforts earlier this year. Operators received training on these resources so they will understand how to deploy these technologies in a disaster.

"It is so important for all the nations to be able to work together, help each other and find ways to improve our processes," said Bangladesh Navy Cmdr. Afzal Hossain. "This is a win-win situation for us. We have a lot to gain and share with others."

Mullen Shares Concern for Aid Workers in Pakistan

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

CLEVELAND, Aug. 27, 2010 – The U.S. military is taking “significant” precautions to ensure safety for its forces and U.S. aid workers providing flood relief in northwestern Pakistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.

The United States “certainly would hope that all of those who are providing aid in this very difficult set of circumstances would not be impeded,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told reporters.

Mullen was here as part of a three-day “Conversation with the Country” tour across the Midwest. The trip is geared toward helping community and business leaders and the academic community step up to help military veterans hone their skills and life experience as they make the transition into civilian life. He met with business and community leaders in Chicago on Aug. 25 and in Detroit yesterday.

The chairman’s comments come a day after the U.S. State Department voiced concern for American volunteers in Pakistan. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said U.S. relief workers there are fearful of a Taliban or extremist reprisal on foreigners.

Mullen agreed, saying such an attack by militants wouldn’t be a surprise.

“I share the concern that was stated yesterday by the State Department,” he said. “I haven’t seen any indication that that’s happened yet. But the insurgents have no moral bounds, and that they might do something like that isn’t outside the realm of possibilities.”

Mullen lauded the U.S. effort there. More than 6,500 displaced Pakistanis have been moved to safety since efforts began Aug. 5. Also, nearly 2 million pounds of relief supplies have been delivered.

The U.S. military has devoted 19 helicopters and three cargo planes to flood relief efforts, and more helicopters were promised today. About 400 U.S. troops are providing relief.

An estimated 20 million people could be affected by the flooding, which has isolated much of Pakistan’s Swat Valley and Peshewar regions.

“The floods are obviously huge and tragic,” Mullen said. “The United States is making significant contributions.”

US 6th Fleet Hosts Medal of Honor Recipient

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Stephen Oleksiak, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- A Medal of Honor recipient visited to Sailors at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet (CNE-CNA/C6F) headquarters on Naval Support Activity, Naples, Aug. 27.

While on holiday in Italy, retired Capt. Thomas G. Kelley and his wife, Joan, took time out of their vacation to speak with Sailors about their experiences and careers in the Navy.

Kelley and the nine Sailors selected to represent CNE-CNA/C6F covered a wide range of topics including post traumatic stress, their most memorable moments in their careers and one question that captured the nine Sailors undivided attention.

"What was going through your mind back in Kien Hoa Province?" said Operations Specialist 1st Class Seamus McGinley. "What kept you going?"

While serving as commander, River Assault Division 152 during combat operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam, June 15, 1969, then-Lt. Kelley was in charge of a column of eight river assault craft.

His division was extracting one company of U.S. Army infantry troops on the east bank of the Ong Muong Canal in Kien Hoa Province when one craft with loading ramp malfunctions came under enemy fire.

"My first thought was 'Not me, this isn't happening to me'," said Kelley. "But, then I gathered myself, trying to ignore my injuries, and did what I had to make sure that all of our craft got out of the canal."

Kelley sustained major head injuries during his effort to protect that broken craft until it was repaired, and ultimately lost his right eye.

"I guess it looked so bad, that I would occasionally hear them say, 'He's dead'," said Kelley. "But, I would yell right back, 'No, I'm not!'"

Kelley also spoke about the comraderie service members share in the military.

"Kelley feels the same way modern Sailors and other service members feel when it comes to our time in the service," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Jason Funk. "That one of the greatest parts of being in the military is the comradery we share; that sometimes this is a family closer than our own."

"I feel that since this an all-volunteer service it means that today's service member is very motivated and that they're here because they want be here," said Kelley. "It's clear to me that any one of these men or women would have done the same thing I did if the opportunity ever presented itself; it's nice to let them know that people from a different era appreciate what they're doing now."

Kelley received the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970, for his actions in Kien Hoa. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain in 1990 and worked as a civilian in the Department of Defense for several years. He currently serves as secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services.

Seabees Train to Build Expeditionary Pier

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Kuzlik, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 and 2 Seabees completed construction of a 500-foot elevated causeway system modular (ELCAS-M) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. Aug. 19.

Nearly 200 Reserve and active duty Seabees worked jointly to build the expeditionary pier system used to bridge the surf zone, providing an interface between cargo vessels and the beach.

The ELCAS facilitates the maritime offload of supplies, equipment and ordnance onto vehicles driven on the causeway and loaded by cranes also positioned on the causeway.

Seabees periodically conduct this exercise to maintain proficiency, something emphasized by Adm. J.C. Harvey, Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, who stressed the value of ELCAS-M capability in supporting the Navy's Sea Basing strategy.

Sea Basing offers enhanced operational flexibility and maximum combat power ashore with minimum force protection requirements, and increased command and control capability from the sea.

The Sea Basing concept is intended to replace the traditional means of employing naval forces, which include acquisition of advanced bases as close as possible to the scene of action, the landing of forces on a hostile shore, blockades, and the struggle for dominance and control of the local sea.

Constructing the ELCAS took Seabees 13 days to complete and involved more than 60,000 man-hours of labor by Navy steelworkers, engineering aides, builders and other Seabee personnel working alternating 12-hour shifts day and night.

"This was an extremely effective and efficient build," ACB-1 Reserve Officer-in-Charge Lt. Phong Pham said. "We had nearly 200 Seabees with a variety of skills and experience levels working to make this project such a success. ELCAS gives us capabilities and access that we have never had before."

Military Steps Up Role in Chesapeake Bay Preservation

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2010 - Military leaders pledged this week to step up efforts to help to control pollution and preserve the sprawling Chesapeake Bay, the United States' largest estuary and home to 68 military installations.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and installation commanders from throughout the watershed area met with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and other officials at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Aug. 25.

Mabus, the most senior defense department official at the session, called the bay restoration "pre-eminently a team effort," and said every military facility along the watershed has an obligation to "do the things that make a difference, long-term, in the Chesapeake."

The Defense Department is a major landowner along the 64,000-square-mile bay watershed, which includes Naval Station Norfolk, Va.; Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.; the U.S. Naval Academy; and Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Mabus noted that every military service has a presence on the bay, and an obligation to preserve it.

"We all recognize that what happens to the Chesapeake Bay is not just a concern of the people of the Chesapeake Bay," he told the conference attendees. "It affects our entire country."

He outlined extensive military environmental projects each of the 68 facilities already has under way. These include stricter, environmentally friendly building standards, upgrades to sewage treatment plants, and increased use of electric and hybrid vehicles to cut nitrogen emissions and porous pavements to control stormwater runoff.

Mabus pledged that the military will continue to work with local, state and federal officials to build on these efforts.

"It's part of our responsibility to make sure that we pass on this environment to our children, to our grandchildren and to this country in a better way than we found it," he said.

Speaking for the EPA, Jackson said military members recognize this obligation.

"I think the men and women of our armed forces understand that their duty to protect our country goes beyond weapons," she told the group. "It goes to the resources that are our country['s responsibility] to safeguard and protect."

Alaskan exercise prepares Madison-based Airmen for future deployments

Date: August 26, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDue
Wisconsin National Guard

More than 130 Wisconsin Air National Guard members - pilots, maintainers and support personnel from the Madison-based 115th Fighter Wing, along with 10 of the unit's F-16 Fighting Falcons - took part in a two-week Red Flag exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska for a unique training opportunity they wouldn't normally get in Wisconsin.

Pilots from the 115th flew against two active duty F-16 flying squadrons, from Misawa Air Base, Japan, and Osan Air Base, Korea. This was the first time in nearly eight years the fighter wing has participated in an Alaskan Red Flag exercise.

Maj. Bart Van Roo, an F-16 pilot with the 176th Fighter Squadron said he really enjoyed the Red Flag exercise and feels training in an unfamiliar environment against other pilots is invaluable.

Maj. Willa Panzer, officer in charge of the 176th Aircraft Maintenance Flight, said the Airmen who deployed to Red Flag really performed admirably, despite working at an unfamiliar location with outside units and new leadership.

"I think this was an excellent deployment," Panzer said. "These folks have a can-do attitude and all share the common goal of getting the job done."

Master Sgt. Robert Pelletier, 115th Maintenance Squadron avionics integrated shop technician, said the exercise allows the younger Airmen to realize the importance of their roles in a deployed environment because "pilots can't do their job, if [Airmen] don't do theirs."

"It is very similar to an [Air Expeditionary Force] deployment - they get to see how important it is to work together to get the job done and how their job impacts each sortie," Pelletier said. "Everyone worked well together and did a great job."

The purpose of exercises like Red Flag is to streamline processes, garner more "deployment like" experience and work out any kinks in the entire process.

Senior Airman Brandon Barger, an ammunitions troop with the 115th Fighter Wing, said despite some changes in the mission when he arrived to Red Flag, the exercise was very productive.

It's always nice going to another base and learning how to deal with many different types of people and how they do things," Barger said. "I can say some of our newer people learned a lot and have taken some things away from this trip."

MCPON Sends 2010 Labor Day Message to the Fleet

Special from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West released the following Labor Day message to the fleet Aug. 27.

"Shipmates and Navy Families,

As we enjoy the last few weeks of summer, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our Sailors and their families to keep safety in mind especially during what is considered to be the unofficial last weekend of summer, Labor Day weekend.

We all need to think about off-duty risk management while planning our Labor Day weekend activities, and not try to cram in too many activities into one weekend which could lead to injury or fatality.

While we have seen success in summer risk management, the loss of even one trained and ready Sailor is unacceptable, and last Labor Day weekend we lost two. As of Aug. 6, 2010, eight Sailors have died this summer during off-duty hours: four in four-wheel motor vehicle mishaps, two on motorcycles and two during recreation mishaps. Based on an average of the last five years, nearly twice as many Sailors are killed on motorcycles during Labor Day weekend than any other weekend. Remember, proper personal protective equipment is a requirement year round, on or off base. Keep in mind that if you are going to play, play it safe … summer sports cause numerous minor injuries every year and 12 Sailors were injured participating in sporting activities last year.

I issued a challenge to the Fleet during Fourth of July weekend and that was to keep up the success rate of zero fatalities from Memorial Day, and I'm giving you the same challenge for this Labor Day weekend.

Use caution when driving, participating in water activities, and if drinking, have a plan. Stay safe and enjoy your much-deserved time off with your family and friends, and as always, keep in mind our Sailors who are deployed and can't be with their loved ones.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend and HOOYAH!"

Military Medicine Embraces Disney's Customer-Focus

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 26, 2010 - Two years ago, still stinging from a 2007 scandal that rocked Walter Reed Army Medical Center to its foundation, the Army turned to a seemingly unlikely partner to instill throughout the institution a mindset of putting patients first.

Then-Col. Patricia D. Horoho, now a major general leading the Army Nurse Corps, recognized that the same principles that had made the Disney Corporation so successful could apply to the Walter Reed Health Care System she had stepped in to command, so she turned to the Disney Institute, the corporation's external training arm, for insights into how to transform the Army's health-care culture.

Mandatory sessions for every Walter Reed employee, led by Disney trainers, emphasized every person's role in providing patients and their families the best possible hospital experience.

"One day of training with Disney isn't going to change our hospital," Horoho said as that training was under way. "Disney is one piece of a whole systemwide process we're trying to change."

But the initiative proved so successful that when the Disney contract expired, Army Medical Command hired a former Disney employee for an additional five-year stint to build on the groundwork.

The goal, explained Frederick Larson, who now serves in Walter Reed's care, service and cultural transformation office, is to extend those lessons -- throughout the joint task force overseeing all military health care in the Washington national capital region, and ultimately, to the entire Army medicine community.

Earlier this week, an auditorium full of medical professionals gathered at the National Naval Medical Center here, watching images of Donald Duck, Snow White and Mickey Mouse flash on the overhead screen as Larson described the formula that's made Disney theme parks the gold standard for customer service.

"At Disney, every single person, from the executive suite to the guy who cuts the lawn, is in the business of creating a magical experience, of creating happiness," he told the audience, some in uniform or civilian clothes, others in lab coats or hospital scrubs.

They succeed, Larson said, because they all keep their focus on the customer -– the guest or vacationing family.

"It's the center of everything the organization does," he told American Forces Press Service after the presentation. "It drives the business decisions that are made, the operational decisions, the safety standard. It covers every single element, right down to how the salt shakers should look."

That same customer focus and attention to detail can go a long way toward transforming the way the military medical community treats its patients and their families, he said.

"When you instill at the organizational level, in each and every individual, the notion that 'It is my responsibility to provide care and service,' 'It is my responsibility to understand what that patient, what that family needs,' the natural outcome is providing a more relevant, caring service experience," Larson said.

He shared Disney's recipe for success with his Bethesda audience, emphasizing that they apply equally in patient care: understand your mission and who you serve, set standards and design processes to consistently meet them, and continually evaluate what you're doing and make changes when they're needed.

Too often, groups of people within large organizations -– the military included –- develop a "silo mentality," Larson explained after the presentation. They may do a great job within their own narrow scope of responsibilities, but don't fully understand their role as members of the larger organizational team.

"I tell people, each of us experiences this hospital at about 15 percent each and every day," he said. "But our patients experience this hospital at 100 percent. So it is vitally important that we all think in terms of what it feels like to experience this hospital as a patient, so we can actively develop those cooperative and collaborative relationships that benefit the people we are here to serve."

Larson used a show-business analogy to underscore the importance of every person within the health care system -– from the appointments clerk to the receptionist to the operating room nurse and surgeon -– in formulating a patient's hospital experience.

Each person is an "actor" within a "greater show," he said, and needs to understand their connection to the other players as they all work together according to a well-rehearsed script. "If we apply that theatrical metaphor to the way we render care and service, we inevitably create a better care experience and a better care outcome," he said.

Larson admitted he sometimes runs into skeptics who scoff at the concept of turning military medicine into a "Mickey Mouse operation." But he's impressed by how quickly they become believers. "Once they hear the material and the rationale and theory behind it, they realize that this all makes sense," he said.

So much sense, in fact, that Larson is working with the Army's surgeon general, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric Schoomaker, to take some of the best practices being realized through the program beyond the Washington Beltway.

Larson anticipates a major outreach initiative within the next 12 months, "at least through the Army system, and maybe further."

"We're working on it right now," he said. "A number of folks are working very hard right now to articulate those best practices and get them pushed out."

As he focuses on that effort, Larson said, he still gets regular phone calls from former co-workers from his 20 years with Disney, expressing amazement that he "walked away from the best job in the world and joined the Army."

Larson quickly clarifies that he's a civilian employee, not a soldier, but said he's never once looked back.

"It was the best job in the world, but frankly, this has turned out to be an even better job," he said. "Every night, you go home dead tired, but with the sense that you have accomplished something, that you have made a difference in people's lives. It's very real; it's very tangible. There is no ambiguity whatsoever."

Navy Tightens E5 Eval Recommendations

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- In an effort to more clearly define top-performing Sailors, the Navy is revising the E-5 periodic evaluations beginning March 15, 2011, with a mandatory "ranking" requirement.

According to NAVADMIN 286/10, the E-5 force distribution rules are being changed so that the total number of "early promote" and "must promote" recommendations cannot exceed 60 percent, and "Must Promote" recommendations can be increased by one for every unused "early promote" quota.

Previously, raters were not limited in how many "must promote" recommendations they were able to give, but "early promote" recommendations have been set and remain at 20 percent.

As the Navy continues centering its attention on performance, it is more important than ever for Sailors to ensure their records are up-to-date and accurate. The Electronic Service Record can be viewed at https://nspics.nmci.navy.mil and Official Military Personnel Files are available on BUPERS Online https://www.bol.navy.mil.

An updated release of the NAVFIT98A software is planned for January 2011 to incorporate the policy change. The software was modified earlier this year to incorporate changes regarding the documentation of Physical Fitness Assessments and Individual Augmentee assignments.

MILITARY CONTRACTS August 28, 2010

NAVY

BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle LP, Sealy, Texas, is being awarded a $628,999,998 firm fixed priced delivery order #0009 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5030) for the procurement of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Engineering Change Proposal for enhanced sustainability and safety of 1700 Caiman Multi-Theater vehicles (CMTV). The sustainability includes: CMTV Chassis, Caiman Underbody Survivability Kit, CMTV Integration Recon, Kuwait; CMTV Training and Integration Support, Kuwait, Commercial Off The Shelf Manual (Operator and Maintenance), New Equipment Training package (Operator New Equipment Training and Field Maintenance New Equipment Training, CMTV Integration Manual, CMTV Deprocessing Kit, CMTV Authorized Stockage List, CMTV Prescribed Load List, and CMTV Battle Damage Assessment and Repair. Work will be performed in Kuwait (90 percent) and Texarkana, Texas (10 percent), and work is expected to be completed by the end of December 2011. Contract funds willnot expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Company, Integrated Defense Systems (Raytheon IDS), Sudbury, Mass., is being awarded a $55,411,697 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-5111) to exercise an option for the production of an Aegis ashore test site AN/SPY-1D(V) Transmitter (XMTR) Group and MK 99 Mod 8 Fire Control System. Work will be performed in Andover, Mass. (88 percent) and Sudbury, Mass. (12 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2015. Contract funds in the amount of $55,411,697 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

L-3 Communications, Ocean Systems, Calif., is being awarded a $24,711,376firm-fixed-price contract for Low Frequency Active Towed Sonar (LFATS) for the Egyptian Navy (100 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. The LFATS is a long-range active/passive variable-depth sonar. The system consists of an operator console, power amplifier, towed body arrays, and handling system. The contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $27,258,160. Work will be performed in Sylmar, Calif. (65 percent); San Diego, Calif. (13 percent); Bryan, Texas (13 percent); and Alexandria, Egypt (9 percent), and is to be expected to be completed by January 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-4156).

Regal Select Services, Inc.*, Abbeville, Ala., is being awarded a $22,755,119 firm-fixed-price contract for Facility Inmate Grounds and Public Works services at Naval Air Station, Pensacola. The work to be performed provides for routine grounds maintenance and other as needed Public Works services aboard the air station and surrounding areas. Work will be performed in Pensacola, Fla., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 2015. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website,with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-10-C-0778).

Team ENVIRO Joint Venture II*, Columbia, S.C., is being awarded an $11,131,313 firm-fixed-price contract for design and construction of the Pre-Trial Detainee Facility at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The primary facility includes specific confinement cells, detainee and staff showers, administrative areas, quarter deck, visiting areas, dining area, religious areas and library. The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $13,476,029. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, N.C., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with 14 proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N40085-10-C-5335).

Computer Sciences Corporation, Falls Church, Va., is being awarded a $9,432,818 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for program management and technical support services for the Naval Operational Logistics support Center's Ordnance Information System which is used to track Navy ordnance worldwide. This contract includes four one-year option year periods which, if exercised, with bring the total value of the contract to $49,685,779. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (90 percent); Mechanicsburg, Pa. (5 percent); and Crane, Ind. (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce On-line website, with five offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, is the contracting activity (N00189-10-D-Z041).

Serco, Inc., Virginia Beach, Va., is being awarded an $8,334,968 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for program management and technical support services for the Naval Operational Logistics support Center's Ordnance Information System which is used to track Navy ordnance worldwide. This contract includes four one-year option year periods which, if exercised, will bring the total value of the contract to $44,143,282. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (90 percent); Mechanicsburg, Pa. (5 percent); and Crane, Ind. (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce On-line website, with five offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office is the contracting activity (N00189-10-D-Z042).

CACI, Inc., Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $6,876,836 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for program management and technical support services for the Naval Operational Logistics support Center's Ordnance Information System which is used to track Navy ordnance worldwide. This contract includes a four one-year option year periods which, if exercised, with bring the total value of the contract to $36,148,781. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va. (90 percent); Mechanicsburg, Pa. (5 percent); and Crane, Ind. (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce On-line website, with five offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Norfolk, Contracting Department, Philadelphia Office, is the contracting activity (N00189-10-D-Z040).

JDS Uniphase Corporation, Germantown, Md., is being awarded a $6,309,800 firm-fixed-price requirements contract to manufacture 300 Internet Protocol Test Sets for a five-year term to support the General Purpose Electronic Test Equipment Weapons System. Work will be performed at the manufacturer's facility in Guadalajara, Mexico, and work is expected to be completed by August 2015. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with six companies solicited, and one offer received. The Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP), Mechanicsburg, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00104-10-D-D006).

Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $6,000,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-03-C-5115) for management and engineering services to maintain and modify as necessary the design of DDG 51 Class Combat System compartments and topside arrangements, in support of the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems. The required services include program management and operation support, quality assurance, configuration management, ship design integration, fleet lifecycle engineering support, installation support, firmware maintenance, combat system test and evaluation, Navy furnished material support, special studies, and future-ship integration studies. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J. (40 percent), Bath, Maine (27 percent), Pascagoula, Miss. (22 percent), San Diego, Calif. (6 percent), Norfolk, Va. (3 percent), Port Hueneme, Calif. (1 percent), Syracuse, N.Y. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Correction: DTI Associates, Inc., a Kratos Company, Arlington, Va., for $11,088,758 under contract number N00178-10-C-1056 was announced August 23, 2010 with an incorrect work completion date. The completion date is May 16, 2011.

AIR FORCE

Booz Allen Hamilton of Herndon, Va. was awarded a $19,840,870 contract which will provide Space Command Missile Warning/Missile Defense Survivability/Vulnerability Requirements Analysis. At this time $804,464 has been obligated. 55 CONS/LGCD, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. is the contracting activity. (SP0700-03-D-1380, delivery order 370)

EDO Corporation-Defense Systems of Amityville, N.Y. was awarded a $9,988,898 contract which will provide AN/ALQ-161A Subsystem Software Deficiency Analysis and Block Cycle Support (Engineering Services). WR-ALC/GRWKB, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. is the contracting activity. (F09603-03-D-0029-0056)

GrammaTech of Ithaca, N.Y. was awarded a $12,881,619 contract which will provide multilevel protection, combining new approaches to analysis, confinement and diversity techniques against the exploitation of vulnerability sets commonly found in binary executables. AFRL/PKDA, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity. (FA8650-10-C-7025)

DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

Kitware, Inc., Clifton Park, N.Y., is being awarded a $10,962,069.00 cost plus fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract (HR0011-08-C-0135) for the Video and Image Retrieval and Analysis Tool (VIRAT) program. Work will be performed in Clifton Park, N.Y. (47.1 percent); Littleton, Colo. (20.5 percent); Santa Barbara, Calif. (6.7 percent); Burlington, Mass. (3.2); Golden Valley, Minn. (3.0 percent); Los Angeles, Calif. (2.1 percent); Orlando, Fla. (2.1 percent); New York, N.Y. (2.1 percent); Berkeley, Calif. (2.1 percent); College Park, Md. (1.8 percent); Troy, N.Y. (1.7 percent); Austin, Texas (1.7 percent); Herndon, Va. (1.5); Cambridge, Mass. (1.0 percent); Riverside, Calif. (0.9 percent); Ithaca, N.Y. (0.9 percent); Cambridge, Mass. (0.9 percent); Pasadena, Calif. (0.7 percent). The work is expected to be completed by February 2012. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is the contracting activity.

Swift Small Boat Crew Hosts SME Exchange in Barbados

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Rachael Leslie, High Speed Vessel Swift 2 Public Affairs

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (NNS) -- Two Sailors assigned to the small boat crew currently deployed aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2, hosted an impromptu three-day subject matter expert exchange in Bridgetown, Barbados, Aug. 23-25.

Damage Controlman 1st Class Coy Bozeman, and Engineman 1st Class Kevin Nichols facilitated the small boat operations fundamentals exchange, which included more than 20 members of the Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua defense forces, in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010.

According to Nichols, the plan for them to host an exchange came about in Guatemala when a local SEAL team asked them to share their knowledge of small boats with local Navy personnel.

"Due to a lack of knowledge in Guatemala, a lot of the preventive maintenance wasn't being done on their small boats, and because of it, the life of the boats was significantly decreased," said Nichols, who works as a Basic Engineering instructor at the Center for Naval Engineering in Great Lakes, Ill., when not deployed. "When we arrived in Barbados, some of the other facilitators realized there was a need for our knowledge here too, and they asked us to set up an official exchange."

The first day of the exchange included PowerPoint presentations and group discussions on the functions of boat components, start-up procedures and basic boat handling maneuvers. After lunch, the group used the RHIB boats to put their skills to the test.

"It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot from the members of the BDF, and I hope they learned a lot from me," said Bozeman, who works as an educational services officer and command career counselor at the Naval Operational Logistics Center at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., when not deployed. "We were able to demonstrate for them the concept of fluid dynamics, and how differently a vehicle handles in the water, vice a car on land."

The second day of the exchange included more presentations and group discussions on chart reading, piloting and navigation, International Association of Lighthouses Authority (IALA) A and B, and survival raft essentials.

"In my normal job I'm an instructor, so it's a much more formal, structured way of teaching," said Nichols. "Because this was an exchange between our military and theirs, it was a much more hands-on, relaxed evolution, and I really enjoyed that. It's also such a beautiful country, and we enjoyed being out in the ocean with the boats."

SPS 2010's primary mission is information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services in the U.S. Southern Command's Area of Responsibility throughout the Caribbean and Central America. Swift is scheduled to continue its support of SPS 2010 until early fall.

Enterprise Successfully Completes Final Evaluation

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Croft, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) successfully completed their Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Period (FEP) Aug. 22, moving the aircraft carrier one step closer to deployment.

Thirty-two members from the Afloat Training Group (ATG), Atlantic evaluated Enterprise's crew during more than 200 complex unit level exercises, placing emphasis on the ship's Integrated Training Team's (ITT) ability to conduct training and assess the ship's watch-standing, warfighting and survival capabilities across all required warfare areas.

"The ship did great," said Lt. Clem V. Gattano, ATG's carrier training liaison officer. "Every aspect of training and evaluation went exactly like I had hoped. Everyone did great."

The ITT is comprised of multiple training teams including, combat systems, damage control, medical, seamanship, navigation and air teams. The training team has reached a level of proficiency that has enabled them to properly integrate and conduct advanced strike group exercises.

In particular, ATG recognized the damage control training team for their level of professionalism and dedication across the board.

"Every member of the damage control training team should be very proud," said Chief Damage Controlman (SW/AW) Jeff B. Foster, ATG's damage control team leader. "Their leadership and ability to train really shows in the Sailors under them. Every Sailor I had the pleasure of working with had a great attitude and was eager to learn."

During the two-day FEP, Enterprise Sailors successfully demonstrated their ability to respond to major conflagration and mass casualties, as well as conduct torpedo evasion maneuvers, underway fueling and man overboard exercises amongst many other drills throughout the ship.

With TSTA and FEP complete, Enterprise will conduct flight operations in advance of its return to homeport of Norfolk. However, the crew must immediately begin preparations for its next hurdle, the Composite Training Unit Exercise

"Now that we have passed the final evaluation period, we have to make sure to keep up on our training and exercises," said Lt. Cmdr. Vanessa Givens, Enterprise's training officer. "We have to sustain the proficiency level we are currently at."

Enterprise is conducting work-ups and flight deck operations in preparation for its upcoming deployment.

Reflections on Katrina – LT Robert “Dave” Lewald

Thursday, August 26, 2010
Written by: LT Connie Braesch

This week marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Coast Guard response operations in the aftermath of the storm surpassed that of any previous response with a total of 33,545 persons saved.

In this series, we will present posts from first responders as they reflect on their response to the hurricane.

A master cutterman… more than 23 years of Coast Guard sea service… 25 years on active duty… but nothing could prepare him for what he saw and experienced after Hurricane Katrina.

Lieutenant Robert “Dave” Lewald, currently the commanding officer of CGC James Rankin homeported in Baltimore, Md., admits his life was forever changed after the legendary storm struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005.

Not only was he a first responder, he was also a resident of New Orleans. His house was damaged, making the list of “blue roofs” lining the streets, and his family was sent away with other evacuees. He had to put aside his personal loss and focus on his duties.

Then Chief Warrant Officer Lewald was the commanding officer of the 160-foot construction tender CGC Pamlico homeported in New Orleans. He knew his crew and boat would play a critical role in post hurricane response.

Responding post storm

After evacuating the boat and crew for safety, Lewald immediately returned to New Orleans with a small fleet of vessels. His task direction was simple – head down river and see what you can do to help. It’s what he summarized as “finding a mission of opportunity.”

“The farther down river we got, the worse things were,” he said. “Barges up on the banks and ships up on the levees.”

Soon after arriving down river, Lewald began getting calls for help – first transporting more than 100 people away from rising flood waters to ultimately rescuing a total of about 7,000 people in just over five days. Using Algiers ferry landing as a make shift evacuation center, he coordinated medical personnel, helicopters and buses to triage and relocate people rescued by his crews.

Safety was a priority but ingenuity and quick thinking was a necessity. Picking up and moving thousands of people on the water required Lewald and his crews to solve problems on the fly.

“All I know is that every one of the sailors that was with me saw what needed to be done and just did it,” he said. “I told the guys before the fleet disbanded in Algiers – make sure you remember this, make sure you remember what you did. Keep those mental pictures because it will stay with you for your life.”

Restoring the waterway

After an week of incredible rescues, confrontational law enforcement and safety issues and handling emotional trauma of survivors and crewmembers, Lewald knew there was more work to be done. As the commanding officer of a construction tender, Lewald had to quickly switch gears and turn his attention to restoring the river to shipping traffic.

The Gulf Coast region is one of the most important maritime areas in the country and the hurricane’s destruction proved to have global economic implications. With more than 1,900 (80 percent) of the aids to navigation below New Orleans gone or severely destroyed and hundreds of barges, fishing vessels, and other debris blocking safe navigation, Lewald had a monumental responsibility ahead of him.

“The task was obviously daunting,” said Lewald. “We knew from pre-existing plans what aids to do first. From there, we just fell into work, triaging the work to decide priorities.”

Staging out of the destroyed Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Station in Venice, La., the Pamlico crew worked almost around the clock to reopen the river. They were able to restore the river and open it to 24 hour traffic without restrictions in just two weeks – much faster than any predicted expectations.

Although the river was now open and maritime traffic began to flow, Lewald and his crew still had even more work ahead of them. Not only to continue to restore the Gulf Coast region but also to restore their homes and lives. Five years later, Hurricane Katrina is still a time in Lewald’s life he cannot talk about with ease. It will forever remain in his heart and mind both personally and professionally.

Program helps military voters with upcoming election

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFRNS) -- All 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia will hold general elections Nov. 2. Puerto Rico will not hold an election this cycle.

All citizens residing outside the United States who have not registered or requested an absentee ballot this year should do so as soon as possible.

To register or request an absentee ballot, use the Federal Post Card Application.

Go to www.fvap.gov, and follow the prompts to register and request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 2 election.

Some states allow submitting the FPCA by e-mail or fax, in addition to regular mail. The instructions will tell you how to fax or e-mail the form. (Courtesy of Air Force Print News)

Falcons Sweep Airspace, Flightline Clean

By Air Force Senior Airman Clay Murray
52nd Fighter Wing

Aug. 26, 2010 - F-16 Fighting Falcons and other aircraft are a common sight here, but if people stop at the right time and place, they might see falcons on the prowl. These birds and the base falconer serve an important role in controlling pests that pose a bird-strike threat to airborne jets or can damage aircraft on the ground.

Ronald Leu of the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron has been the base falconer here for 10 years. He's the fulcrum between base officials and the mission-critical predators that keep nuisance populations to tolerable levels.

"These birds prey on rabbits, but more importantly, crows," Leu said. "It's important to keep airspace clear so the aircraft can fly as normal."

Leu's job as base falconer is part-time; his primary job is making precision machine parts.

The falconer releases trained birds of prey to pursue crows, rabbits and other local wildlife that can pose problems for wing operations. Once the falconer sees that a bird has made a successful catch, he quickly meets with it to limit how much it eats. As long as the bird is still hungry, Leu explained, it will continue hunting in the area.

The birds do an excellent job at reducing the numbers of animals that pose threats to aircraft, Leu said.

"The birds keep the airspace clear of crows, and this lowers the number of bird strikes," he said. One bird, Rosie, is especially adept at catching feral cats.

"I wouldn't want to lose Rosie," Leu said. "She is a very experienced cat hunter. Crows and other birds are much easier to hunt than cats, since [cats] have claws in the front and back, and teeth too."

Although he is only seen on base with the birds two to four times each week, Leu said, a lot of time and effort must be spent training the birds and working with them.

"I train them for about a month before we begin, but sometimes it's less," he said. "If you buy birds of prey that are already trained, you also buy some other people's problems."

Training and interacting with birds has been a passion for Leu for years. His interest began at the age of 4, he said, when he would seek books and everything else he could find about birds. He owned his first bird when he was 9, and years later owned many sparrows.

Veterans Offer 'Enormous' Potential

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

Aug. 26, 2010 - Military veterans bring a wealth of skills and life experience to their communities, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday, underscoring his desire to ensure a better future for veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen met with local business executives, veterans who own small businesses and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, advocating the "enormous" potential of veterans.

Today's veterans are of a "generation who is flat-out wired to contribute, flat-out wired to serve," he told the Executives' Club of Chicago. "They are the foundation of our country. They represent the best of the best."

Chicago was the first stop for the chairman on a three-day "Conversation with the Country" tour across the Midwest. The trip is geared toward helping community leaders, business leaders and academics realize the talents today's veterans have to offer as they integrate into the nation's work force and education systems.

"[Veterans] have an enormous amount of potential and an enormous amount to offer," the admiral said. "What I hope to do is inspire local leadership to put together a model to meet the needs of those [veterans] who are coming back."

The same outreach plan probably won't work in every community, he added, but each plan should be centered on education, employment and health needs.

Communities across the nation want to reach out to the veteran community, Mullen said, and veterans want the opportunity for education and employment to take care of their families.

Officials of the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments are actively seeking new initiatives to help this cause, Mullen said, but that's not enough.

"We transition veterans to VA for benefits, then to their communities," he explained. "Too often, we do that and say, 'Have a nice life.'"

Getting America's communities involved is the only way to reach out effectively to veterans and their families, he said. The Defense Department, VA and local communities need to be better linked for the sake of the veterans, he added.

"Veterans are returning from these wars, and their dreams haven't changed a bit," he said. "They'd like to get an education. They'd like to raise a family. They'd like to own a home, and certainly they'd like to be contributing members of society."

Most of these veterans are in their 20s with highly valued experience and discipline, Mullen said, and can have a positive effect in their work settings and their communities for many years to come.

"These are individuals with matchless life experience," Mullen said. "I need local leadership to not let them fall through the cracks."

Mullen said his goal is to inspire community leaders to connect with the Defense Department and VA and to streamline their efforts to facilitate the transition for servicemembers returning to civilian life.

Americans support their servicemembers even though they may not support the wars they fight in, the chairman noted, and the sacrifices servicemembers make inspire him to work hard to reach out to their communities.

"There's more than 1 million who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and thousands and thousands come back to communities and can contribute so much," he said. "Those who serve are extraordinary people. Those that don't know us, take a chance. It's worth the risk."

American Support Boosts Troop Morale, Mullen Says

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

Aug. 26, 2010 - At last night's Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Baltimore Orioles here, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff couldn't help but notice the difference between the nation's support for today's servicemembers and veterans and the reception returning servicemembers received when they came home from Vietnam early in his military career. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game and he also helped the host White Sox honor soldiers from a local Army Reserve unit.

Forty years ago, at the height of the Vietnam War, America didn't support its troops, Mullen said. There was no tickertape parade when they returned from battle, and stories of Vietnam veterans being ridiculed in the streets by protestors were all too common.

The tension was so bad, Mullen said, that some servicemembers were even ashamed to wear their uniforms. Mullen witnessed such displays first hand, he noted, saying that's just the way things were when he began his career in 1968.

Mullen, a Vietnam War veteran, has spent the past three years overseeing the war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. When the wars kicked off in 2001 and 2003, respectively, he said, one of his initial fears was that the American people might not support the troops.

"As someone who grew up [during the Vietnam War] and saw a complete disconnect between our men and women in uniform and the American people, [the level of support] was a huge concern for me when these wars started," he said. "It was terrible during Vietnam. It was really bad how troops were treated."

But today, military members and their families are well supported, he noted. Though many do not support the wars, the American public has never lost sight of the current generation of servicemembers and their sacrifices, the chairman said.

Some 1 million troops have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or both. More than 5,500 have given their lives. Tens of thousands suffer from visible wounds or from invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress or other psychological injuries.

Mullen often tells troops and civilians during his travels that every troop who deploys to combat potentially has some sort of psychological war wound. People are concerned, he said, and Americans want to reach out and make a difference in the lives of troops and veterans.

Chicago was the first stop for Mullen on a three-day "Conversation with the Country" tour across the Midwest. The trip is geared toward helping community leaders, business leaders and academics realize the talents today's veterans have to offer as they integrate into the civilian work force and education systems.

"I have found that the American people throughout the country are anxious to help support these men and women," he said. "Trying to make that connection between those of us who depend on and lead these precious people and the sea of good will out there is what this is all about."

Mullen has worked to help hundreds of civic and business leaders and outreach groups across the nation -- on this trip and others – to gain a better understanding of veterans in their communities.

"There's a level of knowledge about what we're going through, about the challenge we have," said the chairman explained. "I want to make sure that information is out there, and that there is a way for us as leaders inside the military to connect with leaders throughout the country to make sure we can take care of these people."

Mullen noted the ovation the Army Reserve soldiers received during the game. The cheers from thousands of fans at U.S. Cellular Field were humbling, the troops said. Children ran and pointed to them and to uniformed members of Mullen's traveling party.

The servicemembers even had their own cheering section. One mother commented that her young son seemed more excited to see "you guys in uniform that the ball players."

"The morale boost servicemembers get from this is great," Mullen said. "Just knowing that people care about them makes a huge difference."

USS Hawaii Departs for Western Pacific Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, (NNS) -- The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific region Aug. 25.

With a crew of 136, this is Hawaii's first Western Pacific deployment and the first time deploying from Pearl Harbor.

Hawaii will be conducting a multitude of missions while assigned to 7th Fleet during the next several months.

"It has been a very busy year for the team as they have made the homeport shift from Groton, Conn., to Pearl Harbor in July 2009 and have progressed through the deployment certification process during most of 2010," said Cmdr. Steve Mack, USS Hawaii commanding officer and a native of Silver Spring, Md. "For a large part of the crew this will be their first deployment and for many it will also be the first time to the Western Pacific. Our goals are to complete all assigned tasking safely and return to our friends and family."

For Sonar Technician Submarine 3rd Class Marquis Perry, from Kansas City, Mo., this will be his first deployment.

"I am very excited and motivated to get underway on deployment where I will finally get the opportunity to utilize my training," said Perry. "I am also looking forward to all of the world travel and experiencing the different cultures of the places we will visit."

Measuring 377 feet long and weighing 7,800 tons when submerged, Hawaii is one of the Navy's newest and most technologically sophisticated submarines.

The state-of-the-art submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare.

By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 25, 2010 - The Defense Logistics Agency is taking steps to cut costs and boost efficiency as part of a larger effort to reform the way the Pentagon does business, defense officials said today.

"We recognize that we are asking the U.S. Congress and American people for a lot of money to maintain our national security," Robert F. Hale, the Defense Department's comptroller and chief financial officer, told reporters during a teleconference. "We've got to make sure every dollar counts."

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates laid out his plans to reform the way the Pentagon does business and to eliminate duplicative, unnecessary costs. Among his directives, the secretary tasked the services and defense agencies to achieve up to a $100 billion in overhead savings over the next five years.

Joining Hale on the call, Navy Vice Adm. Alan S. Thompson, director of DLA, outlined the steps his agency is taking to comply with Gates' initiative.

"Warfighter support is our organization's primary focus, but along with that comes the need to deliver products and services efficiently and to reduce prices," he said. DLA has taken several steps toward that end, he added, with additional actions planned for upcoming months.

Thompson said DLA will pursue a price reduction of up to 10 percent across the board by providing a greater focus on reasonable prices, incorporating price reduction factors in strategic sourcing opportunities and establishing more long-term contracts.

The agency also will work to improve business efficiency by enhancing documentation to ensure "nonconforming" and counterfeit parts don't enter the Defense Department's supply chain, the admiral said. The Defense Department has a "zero tolerance policy" for suppliers that provide counterfeit parts, and while the majority of suppliers are above board, the agency must weed the others out, he added.

Thompson also touched on a new enterprise business system that's enabling DLA to do a better job of demand planning and forecasting. The enterprise business system, he explained, is the "engine" the DLA uses to run.

"We don't want to underbuy, [and] we don't want to overbuy," he said. "This adds extra costs to our supply chain."

On the information technology front, the agency plans to use a procurement module, called e-procurement, to replace its legacy contract writing capability, Thompson said, and it also plans to merge a number of legacy information technology systems.

An operational evaluation team also is looking to reduce the risk of procurement fraud by seeking potential vulnerabilities and developing risk-mitigation strategies, Thompson noted.

"As a result of the team's work, we've implemented several actions to tighten up our acquisition processes," he said. To leverage buying power, the agency is consolidating purchases across the agency rather than entering into separate, smaller contracts, the admiral explained.

Also, agency officials are meeting with more than a thousand DLA suppliers and potential suppliers to discuss the need to work together to cut costs and increase efficiencies. DLA is a high-volume organization, Thompson noted, executing more than 10,000 contract actions daily. DLA has a history of continuous cost reduction, Thompson said, but it will redouble its efforts to meet Gates' initiative.

"We're focused on warfighter support and, frankly, good stewardship of American taxpayer dollars," he said. "We're going to hold support to the warfighter constant at the very high level we've been providing in recent years."

Volk Field open house a success

By Staff Sgt. Stephen Montgomery
115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Low clouds and uncertain weather didn't keep approximately 3,000 visitors away as Volk Field opened its doors for its biennial open house and air show Saturday (Aug. 21), giving the public a chance to see what the Air National Guard is all about.

"It's a great way to foster the relationship with the community and to help them better understand what we do here," said Lt. Col. Steve Dunai, Volk Field operations director.

There was a Madison-based F-16 Falcon and a Milwaukee-based KC-135 Stratotanker as well as a static display by the 128th Air Control Squadron.

Building and growing the relationship with the local community was one of the key goals of the open house.

"We are proud to be located where we are and this is one way to give back to our neighbors," said Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Cullen, Volk airfield manager. "It's an affordable way to have fun and enjoy the day."

Another aspect of the open house was a fly-in for general aviation pilots and an aviation safety seminar hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. There were 145 pre-registered aircraft for the fly-in, some coming from as far as Milwaukee and Green Bay, but due to weather only 20 aircraft were able to make it in.

Some of the pilots flying in were there for the seminar, while others came for "the experience of landing on a military base," Cullen said - something that few civilian pilots ever get to experience.

The air show featured both military and civilian performers and static displays such as a B-25 Mitchell Bomber, F-86 Sabre Jet and T-6A Texan II, as well as displays by the Juneau County Dive Team and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

SECNAV Hosts Chesapeake Bay Commanders Conference

From U.S. Naval Academy Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS (NNS) -- The secretary of the Navy in conjunction with the governor of Maryland hosted the Maryland Chesapeake Bay base commander's conference at the U.S. Naval Academy Aug. 25.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley were joined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and commanders of military installations in the Chesapeake Bay region.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most biologically diverse estuary in the United States. According to the Chesapeake Bay Project website, the region is home to oysters, more than 350 fish species, hundreds of migratory bird species, approximately 418 million blue crabs and 17 million people.

As the Defense Department's (DoD) Executive Agent, the Department of the Navy is responsible for ensuring all of the 68 DoD installations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed adhere to environmental and clean water standards.

"We all recognize that what happens in the Chesapeake Bay is not just a concern for the people of the Chesapeake Bay," Mabus said during the conference. "It affects our entire country. It affects every American."

Both Mabus and O'Malley stressed partnership between state and federal governments and the military in fighting pollution in the bay area.

"I'm particularly happy that we have every service represented at this conference, because every service has a presence on the bay," said Mabus. "Every one of our armed services has a responsibility to preserve the Chesapeake for those who follow."

The Navy has already made strides toward becoming more environmentally friendly, upgrading wastewater treatment plants at various installations, implemented low-impact development practices to reduce storm water runoff, and applied building construction standards in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system.

The Navy is also buying more hybrid and electric cars, participating in shore restoration projects and partnering with local communities to reduce erosion.

"These projects both improve overall water quality and enhance and improve existing wildlife habitats," Mabus said. He also discussed the importance of the Chesapeake Bay throughout the Navy's history.

"For over two centuries we have been protected by our waters," Mabus said. "It is from this bay that countless thousands of service men and service women have shipped off to a dozen conflicts in order to preserve freedom around the world. It is on this bay, here at the Naval Academy, that we educate future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps."

The Naval Academy has been extensively involved in efforts to study and preserve the Chesapeake Bay. In 2005, the academy established the multidisciplinary Center for Chesapeake Bay Observation and Modeling, bringing together the expertise of engineers and scientists to improve knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

Since 2008, 82 midshipmen have been involved in Chesapeake Bay research, specifically oyster restoration, through class projects, capstones and independent research.

"We are charged with imbuing our midshipmen with a unique understanding of the special relationship we have with the water," Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Michael Miller said. "Our profession depends upon a healthy ecosystem, and I believe that if we continue to educate our young men and women here, that can have a profound influence."

The academy's oyster aquaculture project, funded by Naval Sea Systems Command, involves the study of water quality and oyster growth rates, and researching the use of containment structures for both oyster culture and restoration of environmental conditions in College Creek and the Severn River, tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay that border the academy grounds.

MCPON Visits Misawa Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew M. Bradley, Naval Air Facility Misawa Public Affairs

MISAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The Navy's most senior enlisted Sailor visited Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 24.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West held an all-hands call and toured the base, visiting with Misawa-based Sailors.

This is West's first visit to Misawa as MCPON - a visit he has been anticipating.

"I've been looking forward to this trip for a long time," said West, as he addressed an audience consisting of hundreds of Sailors during the all-hands call.

MCPON had planned to visit Misawa in 2009, but inclement weather prevented him from making the trip to the northern-Japanese locale.

West made up for lost time by spending more than an hour answering a broad range of Sailors' questions with enthusiasm. He also pointed out that the Navy could not be successful without the very people in attendance.

"You're in the Navy and you get to do something that less than one percent of the country gets to do," said West. "The Navy does extremely well and we're good, not because we have the greatest technology or best platforms, it's Sailors like you that make the Navy so strong."

Navy Career Counselor 1st Class Todd Wean felt the visit was beneficial and offered a real morale boost to the more than 600 Sailors stationed at Misawa.

"I think this visit was good for Sailors here," said Wean. "It shows them that no matter what corner of the world they are stationed, the MCPON will take the time and effort to come out and personally thank them for the job they do."