'River Rattlers' End a Year of Adversary Missions

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan Hill, Commander, Navy Reserve Force Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 204 wrapped up a mission with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group during the group's composite training unit exercise off the coast of California Dec. 20.

The "River Rattlers" of VFA 204 have had many deployments in 2010 lending their assistance to the fleet.

VFA 204 is an adversary squadron that flies the FA-18/A Hornet aircraft. The entire squadron, from the pilots to the mechanics who provide maintenance for the planes, are full time support (FTS) and selected Reserve (SELRES) Sailors. Their primary mission is to act as the enemy in the sky so other squadrons and strike groups can receive the requisite training to be combat-ready. With air combat training a constant necessity and with numerous squadrons to be trained, the New Orleans-based "River Rattlers" keep busy. They deploy numerous times a year to support the active component in training evolutions all around the world.

"We deploy roughly every other month, to support about six to eight detachments a year. We're mission ready. Our Sailors are ready to deploy and provide training to fleet squadrons," said VFA 204 Executive Officer Cmdr. Greg Rielly.

The deployment schedule provides the 40 SELRES in the squadron plenty of opportunity to get annual training and active duty training (ADT). This ensures the "River Rattlers" are highly skilled, regardless of whether they are full or part-time Sailors.

"The integration between our FTS and SELRES is seamless," said VFA 204 Command Master Chief (AW) John Harlin. "That's the way it should be. Our Reservists bring a lot to the table. For example, we have a (SELRES) chief who works as a defense contractor in his civilian job. He's able to bring that experience to his Reserve position making us a stronger squadron."

Many of the SELRES in VFA 204 go above and beyond the required training to support the River Rattler's mission. Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class (AW) Emily Seal from Gulfport, Miss., is one of them.

"Last year, I went on three deployments with the squadron," said Seal. "I was almost on constant ADT orders. I feel really strongly about committing myself to the mission and being with this command helps with advancement. The learning curve is fast, and there's so much to do, it's impossible not to learn."

The Navy Reserve prides itself on being "Ready Now. Anytime, Anywhere." With the "River Rattlers," this not only applies to them – it applies to the fleet they continue to serve in their adversary role. With assistance from VFA 204, Naval Air Forces will continue to receive necessary training, preparing them for any assigned mission.

Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo Hosts 'Jingle Stroll' Open Base Event

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Johnie Hickmon, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Thousands of guests flooded through the front gates of Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), Japan, Dec. 18 as the command hosted Jingle Stroll 2010, the first open base event in three years.

The event, organized by CFAS and the Kyushu Defense Bureau (KDB), featured basketball clinics and exhibition games with the Women's Japan Basketball League, performances by Taiko drummers and a self-guided historical walking tour around nine monuments.

Jingle Stroll was designed to continue the positive relationship the CFAS service members and their families have with the local community.

During the opening ceremonies at the Fleet Fitness Center, Sasebo Mayor Norio Tomonaga said the basketball tournament, which featured teams composed of Japanese and American children, is just one way to build on an already strong friendship. He addressed the children prior to the game and emphasized fun and friendship.

"To all the participants, don't worry if you don't understand each other's language," Tomonaga said. "If your feelings can be received, passes will be received also. I hope everyone performs well. Please have fun and make new friends today."

Director General of the KDB, Yukinari Hirose, thanked all involved in helping to make the event possible.

"I would like to express my appreciation to you to allow your kids to participate in this event," Hirose said. "I hope the children make as many friends as possible. I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who supported this event."

Another major event of the day included a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of an new wharf, Juliet Wharf. The ceremony for the new wharf, a project six years in the making, was attended by dignitaries representing the government of Japan, Nagasaki Prefecture, the city of Sasebo, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and the U.S. Navy.

Afterwards, visitors were able to tour the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the JMSDF ship JDS Kongo (DDG 173).

CFAS Commanding Officer Capt. Francis X. Martin said the event was a great way to enhance the friendship the base and community have with one another, especially with the children.

"I believe that children have great potential to build the future society through their experiences," Martin said.

George H.W. Bush Wins Holiday Light Contest

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sandi Grimnes, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) took first place in a holiday light display competition with other ships stationed aboard Naval Station (NS) Norfolk, Dec. 17.

Bushs' First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA) and Junior Enlisted Association (JEA) coordinated with the crew to decorate the ship with 6.2 miles of holiday lights.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Caleb Haynie, USS George H.W. Bush JEA president, said planning for the light display began in November.

"This was a whole command effort," Haynie said. "Every department has been absolutely involved in this, from electricians who ensure electrical safety, Supply [department personnel] who coordinated the ordering and receiving all the decorations, to Navigation and Air [departments] who helped hang the lights. There is no one department that is not involved in some way."

The decorating began while Bush was at sea and included the construction of a 25 foot wreath, and an 8 foot by 6 foot Santa sleigh painted with flames and strung with holiday lights. The ship's F/A-18 trainer jet, which served in place of Santa's reindeer, was wrapped in white net lights and then outlined in blue lights, and large cardboard storage containers were painted to look like presents.

All of the lights are LED with total lumens of more than 4.5 million.

"We are lit up like the 'Griswalds'," said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW/SW) Donnie Dowell, FCPOA president. "People will be blinded with the 6.2 miles of lights."

Dowell said this is the first year that USS George H.W. Bush has participated in the competition. Last year the ship hung up a few lights but did not compete.

"It's pretty amazing the amount of teamwork that has gone into this," Haynie said. "No one person can take credit for this project. Everyone has been putting in hours and volunteering."

For more news from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn77/.

This Day in Naval History - Dec. 21

From the Navy News Service

1861 - Congress declares Naval personnel eligible for the Medal of Honor, the Nation's highest award.

1943 - USS Grayling (SS 208) sinks its fourth Japanese ship in three days.

1951 - The first helicopter landing aboard a hospital ship takes place aboard USS Consolation (AH 15).

1968 - Apollo 8 is launched with Capt. James A. Lovell Jr. as Command Module Pilot. During the mission, Lovell becomes one of the first three people to see the far side of the moon. The mission lasted 6 days and 3 hours, including 10 moon orbits. Helicopters from USS Yorktown (CVS 10) take care of the recovery.

Coast Guard Retiree Hikes the Appalachian Trail

By U.S. Coast Guard PPC, Topeka

Senior Chief Petty Officer Vernon King, USCG (Ret.) recently completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and in doing so has earned the right to be call a "2000-miler". Completing the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip is a mammoth undertaking. Please join the crew of the Pay & Personnel Center in congratulating Senior Chief King on his remarkable achievement.

Commentary: A Holiday Visit to Arlington National Cemetery

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 21, 2010 – I walked the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery this morning to put wreaths on the graves of two dear friends and a fallen soldier I’ve never met.

The cemetery never fails to move me, its stark white headstones standing dress-right-dress along its hills and plains for as far as the eye can see. Driving through the grand entrance gates just as they opened this morning of the winter solstice – the longest, darkest day of the year – I knew I was in for an emotional morning.

Each headstone was adorned with a holiday wreath, donated as part of the “Wreaths Across America” project. The bright red ribbons provided cheerful contrast to the cemetery’s hills and plains, much of it still blanketed with the last remnants of an early-season snow.

Walking through Section 60, the final resting place for almost 700 fallen veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, I stopped at the grave of Army Staff Sgt. James R. Patton. I’d never met “Jimmy,” as his family calls him, but I had the privilege of meeting his mother, Sheila, during a recent trip to Fort Campbell, Ky.

Jimmy, who was serving his seventh overseas deployment since 9/11 with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, died in a helicopter crash in Tikrit, Iraq, on April 18. His father, Army Command Sgt. Major Gregory Patton, who is deployed to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team, accompanied his son’s body home for the funeral, then left to rejoin his unit. Sheila Patton, despite all she’s dealt with during the past year, has stood as a font of courage and inspiration to everyone whose lives she has touched.

“I am a proud momma of a soldier who died fighting for his country and doing what he loved doing,” she told me. “If he had to die before us, that is the only way we could ever have accepted his death: to smile and be proud and honored that God thought enough of my son to make him a hero.”

But despite Sheila’s seemingly Teflon composure, I know this Christmas will be a particularly painful one.

As I stood at Jimmy’s grave, I looked around me and took in the majesty of Arlington National Cemetery. In every direction, I saw reminders that other families, like the Pattons, will be feeling the loss of a loved one this Christmas.

Many had visited their husband’s, wife’s, father’s, mother’s, son’s, daughter’s, brother’s, sister’s gravesite, leaving behind personal and very individual tributes.

Some had left simple holiday memorials: a festive floral arrangement, a miniature Christmas tree, a wrapped gift box.

Others were more elaborate. The grave of Army Cpl. Christopher John-Lee "C.J." West, an 82nd Airborne Division soldier killed in Iraq in February 2004, featured two American flags, a large Styrofoam snowman, a set of felt reindeer antlers and a sweatshirt of West’s beloved Dallas Cowboys.

Two bright balloons flew over the grave of Sgt. Alberto Montrond, a 7th Special Forces Group soldier killed in Afghanistan in February 2006. At the base of his headstone, next to a wreath, was a plate with two holiday cupcakes.

A large floral arrangement with a ribbon proclaiming, “Rangers Lead the Way,” adorned Army Cpl. Ryan Casey McGhee’s grave. The 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, soldier was killed in Iraq in May 2009.

His mother had left behind a hand-written Christmas card, telling her son that although she thinks of him every day, the holidays are going to be especially tough.

He won’t be there to open gifts with his family, to share in a holiday toast, or even to call from a faraway deployment to tell them he loves them. And the empty seat at the dinner table will forever be a reminder of what they’ve lost.

As I left Arlington and headed off to work, I felt a deep sense of sadness over how much so many have sacrificed.

But then I remembered Sheila Patton, and the selfless gift she and so many others like her have given me and every other American.

Merry Christmas, Gold Star families. I wish you – and all of us -- peace on earth.

Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates has no public or media events on his schedule.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn attends POTUS signing of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal legislation at 9:15 a.m. EST at the Department of Interior Sidney R. Yates Auditorium.

President Signs 'Don't Ask' Repeal Act Into Law

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2010 – President Barrack Obama signed the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 into law here today.

“We are not a nation that says, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’” the president said at the signing ceremony. “We are a nation that says, ‘Out of many, we are one.’

“We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot,” he added. “We are a nation that believes all men and women are created equal. Those are the ideals that generations have fought for. Those are the ideals that we uphold today, and now it is my honor to sign this bill into law.”

The act repeals Section 654, Title 10, of the United States Code, which barred people who are openly gay, lesbian or bisexual from serving in the U.S. military. Today’s signing, as the president pointed out, begins a process that will culminate in full repeal over the coming months.

The old policy remains in effect until Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, and the president certify the military’s readiness to implement the repeal, the commander in chief said. “It’s especially important for servicemembers to remember that,” he added.

The president said he has spoken to all of the service chiefs, and all are committed to implementing the change swiftly.

“We are not going to be dragging our feet to get this done,” Obama said. “As commander in chief, I am certain that we can effect this transition in a way that only strengthens our military readiness. People will look back on this moment and wonder [why it was] ever a source of controversy in the first place.”

Mullen and Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn attended the signing. Several former servicemembers discharged under the old policy also were present. Obama commended their efforts and others’ in bringing about the change.

“I also want to commend our military leadership,” he said. “Ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a topic in my first meeting with Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and the Joint Chiefs. We talked about how to end this policy; we talked about how success in both passing and implementing this change depended on working closely with the Pentagon. And that’s what we did.”

Obama praised his defense and national security leaders for their oversight of the change. “The courage and the vision of Secretary Gates, of Admiral Mike Mullen, who spoke from the heart and said what he believed was right, of General James Cartwright, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Deputy Secretary William Lynn …,” he said, “also the authors of the Pentagon’s review, Jeh Johnson [defense general counsel] and General Carter Ham [commander, U.S. Army Europe], who did outstanding and meticulous work – and all those who laid the groundwork for this transition.”

The president said he has “every confidence” of the professionalism and patriotism of U.S. military members as repeal moves forward.

“With any change, there’s some apprehension,” Obama said. “Just as [servicemembers] have adapted and grown stronger with each of the other changes, I know they will do so again. I know that Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, as well as the vast majority of servicemembers themselves share this view … based on their own experiences, including the experience of serving with dedicated, duty-bound servicemembers who are also gay. ”

Obama said he wanted to speak directly to gay men and women serving in the military.

“For a long time, your service has demanded a particular kind of sacrifice,” he said. “You’ve been asked to carry added burden of secrecy and isolation, and all the while you’ve put your lives on the line for the freedoms and privileges of citizenship that are not fully granted to you.

“You’re not the first to have carried this burden,” he continued. “For while today marks the end of a particular struggle that has lasted almost two decades, this is a moment more than two centuries in the making. There will never be a full accounting of the heroism demonstrated by gay Americans in service to this country. Their service has been obscured in history; it’s been lost to prejudices that have waned in our own lifetimes.”

Gay servicemembers who will gain the right to serve openly when repeal is fully implemented, Obama said, will stand for all those who came before them who did not enjoy that right.

“You will serve as role models to all who come after,” he said. “I know you will fulfill this responsibility with integrity and honor, just as you have every other mission with which you’ve been charged.”

History: The Flying Santa

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

Post written by William Thiesen, Coast Guard Atlantic Area Historian

Throughout the history of  Coast Guard aviation, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft have been used to aid members of the general public or other federal agencies during emergencies and in times of need. However, the holidays have provided a unique opportunity for private citizens to return the favor.

In 1929, the first year of the Great Depression, aviation pioneer Captain William Wincapaw began the tradition of “The Flying Santa.” Also known as the “Santa of the Lighthouses,” Wincapaw oversaw flying operations for the Curtiss Flying Service at Rockland, Maine. He had a great deal of admiration for lighthouse keepers and their families, who served in isolated and inhospitable locations. On the morning of December 25, 1929, Wincapaw loaded his aircraft with a dozen packages of Christmas gifts and delivered them to a number of local lighthouses.

By 1933, the Flying Santa program was so well received that Wincapaw expanded it to include ninety-one lighthouses throughout Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Wincapaw began to dress as Santa and he enlisted his son, Bill, Jr., to help pilot some of the flights.

In the late 1930s, the program continued to expand requiring the services of a third Santa, famed New England maritime historian Edward Rowe Snow. Despite sporadic deliveries during World War II, the program expanded to 115 lighthouses requiring corporate sponsorship from locally-based Wiggins Airways. And, in 1946, the Flying Santa Program also began to embrace the latest technology using a helicopter to assist in lighthouse deliveries.

In 1947, founder Capt. Wincapaw suffered a heart attack during a summer flight out of Rockland. A memorial service was held in Rockland attended by numerous lighthouse keepers, their families, and representatives of the Coast Guard, Army and Navy. Edward Rowe Snow took over the Flying Santa Program after Wincapaw’s passing and, with the support of his family and some dedicated pilots, he expanded it to include nearly 180 lighthouses. In certain years, the program even served lighthouses on the West Coast and Sable Island off of Nova Scotia.

Snow continued the tradition until 1981, when health issues prevented him from participating in any further Flying Santa missions. The mantle of the Flying Santa was passed to another pilot, despite the automation of lighthouses in 1987. After over eighty years since its founding by Capt. Wincapaw, the tradition has continued with the support of the non-profit organization Friends of Flying Santa. And since 1996, Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Tom Guthlien has served as the Flying Santa, delivering gifts to Coast Guard shore stations from New York to Maine.

Madison Air National Guard unit ranked among best in nation

Date: December 21, 2010

The 115th Fighter Wing has proven it is among the best in the nation at doing what it takes to be ready for whatever mission it faces.  The Madison-based Wisconsin Air National Guard unit earned a nearly perfect rating during a Unit Compliance Inspection at Truax Field Dec. 10-15. Sixty inspectors from the Air Combat Command's Inspector General team, Langley Air Force Base, Va., observed nearly 1,100 Airmen and inspected every unit on base.

The team observed and graded more than 600 tasks during their five-day evaluation in Madison. The final grade was a 99.5 percent compliance rating - the highest in 115th Fighter Wing history.

"I knew the outstanding Airmen of the 115th would rise to the top, as they always do. I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of them," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Brandemuehl, 115th Fighter Wing commander. "We welcome external inspection teams to our base. It gives us the opportunity to highlight that our Airmen and our processes are among the best in the country."

The Inspector General team travels to Air Force installations across the country to evaluate how a unit complies with laws, executive orders and applicable policies, regulations and instructions while performing their day-to-day mission.

In 2005, the unit earned a 99.4 percent compliance rating - the highest score at the time in Air Force history.

Excellence was documented across the base as eight subordinate units were recognized as "superior teams" and 58 Airmen were recognized as "superior performers."

Results like these are welcome news but not surprising to many of the 115th Fighter Wing members whose motto is "Dedicated to Excellence." Recently, the 115th became the second Air National Guard base in the country to earn the "Star" rating in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program - adding to a list of accomplishments that, Wing leaders say, sets the unit among the best in the nation.

This Day in Naval History - Dec. 20

From the Navy News Service

1822 - Congress authorizes the 14-ship West Indies Squadron to suppress piracy in the Caribbean.

1941 - Adm. Ernest J. King is designated commander-in-chief in charge of all operating Naval fleets and coastal frontier forces, reporting directly to the president.

1964 - USS Richard E. Kraus (DD 849) completes a successful emergency mission, aiding the disabled American merchant ship SS Oceanic Spray in the Red Sea.

1974 - Clearance of the Suez Canal for mines and unexploded ordnance completed by joint task force.

1989 - Operation Just Cause begins in Panama.

1998 - Operation Desert Fox in Iraq ends.

Submariners Get New Information Systems Technician Rating

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy released NAVADMIN 406/10, Dec. 17, announcing the creation of the Information Systems Technician Submarines (ITS) service rating and providing active duty Sailors with guidance on how to request an ITS conversion.

"The establishment of the ITS rating will provide the Submarine Force with an infrastructure of information assurance and network professionals who will be fully equipped to resolve future issues and implement new technologies on board our submarines," said Lt. Dan Morrison, Submarine, Non-Nuclear, Enlisted Community Manager. "Overall, the ITS rating is an excellent choice for Sailors who seek challenges in new and emerging technologies, and the opportunity to be submariners

The primary source ratings for ITS conversions will be from Sailors assigned to jobs in submarine Local Area Network divisions and those from ratings in the information assurance workforce, but all non-nuclear trained Sailors are eligible to request conversion. Information System Technicians (IT) with Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) codes of 2780, 2781, or 2735 will be eligible for direct conversion to ITS.

Describing the benefits of converting to ITS, Morrison explained, "Currently, submariners working outside of their source rating in support of submarine LAN requirements are at a disadvantage when taking promotion examinations. Sailors who convert to ITS will participate in ITS examinations and compete with other ITS professionals in their paygrade."

Any E-4 to E-6 active duty Sailor who wants to be part of the initial 180–200 selected for conversion must ensure they are eligible for submarine service prior to submitting their request (NAVPERS 1306/7 form) to Naval Personnel Command (PERS-811) by the Feb.1, 2011 deadline. Sailors possessing a Microsoft (MS) A+ or Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification are highly encouraged to apply and should note these certifications on their conversion request form.

Dependent upon their source rating and previous training, Sailors selected for conversion may require additional schooling and potentially incur additional obligated service. For example, Sailors who require an IT NEC may attend A-school as part of their conversion and Sailors from non-submarine ratings will need to attend Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) prior to being assigned to a submarine as an ITS. Applicants are encouraged to speak with a Navy Career Counselor about the conversion process.

To learn more about the ITS rating conversion, visit Navy Personnel Command's website at www.npc.navy.mil.

For more information from the chief of naval personnel, visit www.navy.mil/cnp.

Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group, 13th MEU Complete Certification Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Fletcher Gibson, USS Boxer Public Affairs

USS BOXER, At Sea (NNS) -- The 13th Marine Expeditionary unit, along with the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) and the Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group, completed its certification exercise (CERTEX) off the coast of Southern California Dec. 17.

The 12-day period of amphibious actions demonstrated the unit's ability to perform a wide variety of missions and was the final check mark making the 13th MEU/Amphibious Squadron 1 team ready for deployment.

Alongside Boxer, the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), and the Marines of the 13th MEU completed simulated missions ranging from maritime boarding to amphibious land raids, to civilian evacuation drills.

"We've been able to evaluate our full set of missions," said Maj. Ryan Caughlin, 13th MEU operations officer. "Since the first day we formed up, this is what our entire training has built up to."

While the focus of the evaluation was on mission completion for the Marines, their ability to integrate with their naval partners and deploy to their assignments was a key part of the evaluation.

Launching harrier jets from Boxer's flight deck or equipping landing craft from USS Green Bay played a large part in their ongoing success.

"There's no such thing as a pure Navy or Marine Corps show when you're an amphibious force," said Col. David Coffman, 13th MEU commanding officer.

The all-amphibious operations of CERTEX also marked a shift for most of the Marines involved who had until now only been involved in land operations and training. Nearly 60 percent of the MEU personnel had never done a ship deployment, and Coffman said he was excited to be able to turn them into sea-going Marines.

"The [best] part to me is watching the Marines learn what it is to be a Marine," he said, "To not just ride around on a ship, but operate from a ship and do our mission."

CERTEX was the third and final group exercise for the 13th MEU and Boxer ARG. Previous exercises consisted of the PHIBRON/Marine Integration (PMINT) which first tested the Blue/Green team's ability to coordinate together, and the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) which tested the Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group as a whole.

With these three major certifications behind them, the ARG and MEU are ready for their scheduled deployment in early 2011.

NMCB 7 Returns from Ten Month Deployment

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Yan Kennon, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- More than 600 Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 returned to their homeport of Gulfport, Miss., Dec. 17, marking the completion of a successful 10-month deployment.

During the deployment, NMCB 7 provided contingency construction, humanitarian and civic assistance and exercise related construction projects throughout the European, African and Southern Command areas of responsibility.

NMCB 7 began its deployment in February and exercised command and control of their entire deployment from Naval Station Rota's Camp Mitchell. Once on deck, the battalion began deploying detachments, which completed construction and contingency projects in 33 separate locations in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Central and South America.

More than 120 Seabees were continually assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as an enduring detachment, with smaller detachments completing projects in Kenya, Comoros, Ethiopia, and the Djiboutian countryside. The battalion also embarked Seabees aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), debarking for projects in several countries on the Pacific shores.

Prior to the battalions scheduled deployment, NMCB 7 was called upon to assist with disaster relief efforts in Haiti, during Operation Unified Response, amidst the aftermath of a 7.0 earthquake which struck the area Jan. 12.

During Operation Unified Response, NMCB 7's Air Detachment made a huge impact supporting the Joint Task Force, while working with Underwater Construction Team 1, Amphibious Battalion 2, U.S. Marine Corps and various other joint forces.

"Though the situation was tragic, our Seabees reinforced the value of the naval construction force to the nation's national security strategy and our partner nations," said Cmdr. Jayson Mitchell, NMCB 7 commanding officer.

NMCB 7 turned over its operational responsibilities to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 during a December 14 ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain.

Throughout their 10 month deployment, NMCB 7 deployed Seabees on more than 15 detachments and details spanning locations such as Israel, Morocco, Liberia, Montenegro, Burkina Faso, Latvia, Senegal, Sao Tome and Romani.

NMCB 7 is one of the original ten Seabee battalions authorized by the Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks in 1942. The battalion is homeported at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, and is currently the east coast's Battle "E" Seabee battalion.

Face of Defense: Veteran Receives Bronze Star 68 Years Later

By Kim Walron

U.S. Army Forces Command

FORT McPHERSON, Ga., Dec. 21, 2010 – It was nearly 69 years ago that Seymour S. Lavine came here to enlist, hoping to do his part to end the second World War. He recently returned to collect the Bronze Star the Army said he was due for his heroism in the South Pacific.

Lavine, 98, was a sergeant with the Army's 37th Infantry Division on the island of Luzon in the Philippines on Jan. 9, 1945, when his unit was ambushed.

With enemy rifle fire snapping jungle branches and leaves all around them, Lavine said he knew that to stay where they were meant certain death for him and his fellow soldiers. He grabbed a Browning automatic rifle from the soldier behind him and yelled for the rest of his soldiers to run. Then, with the weapon at his hip, Lavine fired back at his attackers, covering the retreat of a dozen fleeing American soldiers who made it to safety, thanks to him.

"While this Bronze Star is being awarded for specific action on one particular day, it actually represents much more," Army Gen. James D. Thurman, commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, the Army's largest command, said during a Dec. 16 ceremony here for Lavine. "This medal is in recognition of the contribution of an ordinary man who became an extraordinary soldier because he chose to serve his nation and his fellow citizens. And, he did this during the most dangerous period of the 20th century."

The room was packed with soldiers from general to specialist. Their common thread was the enthusiastic way they gathered to pay tribute to a warrior from what has been called America’s "Greatest Generation."

"Today, we have the honor to go back in history and reflect a little bit about a great solider,” Thurman said. He noted that Lavine heard the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on his 29th birthday in 1941, and he enlisted shortly after in 1942.

After the medal presentation, Lavine shared memories of his service during World War II.

"One day I was leading a patrol," he said. "We came across a tribe of people that we found out [later] were cannibals." He paused and looked over his audience. "I'm not sure what it was they fed us for dinner, but I don't think I really wanted to!"

This brought howls of laughter and a hearty round of applause for Lavine.

"I have had a wonderful life," he said. "I've had more opportunities than many, and am so grateful to all of you."

When World War II broke out, Lavine quit his job selling clothing to department stores. He drove his 1939 Pontiac to Fort McPherson to enlist in the Army.

Lavine said he had no choice but to fight. "I knew what was happening in Europe," he said, referring to the Holocaust. "And I was Jewish."

Lavine was sent to the other side of the world after training where Japan had established a stronghold of islands across the Pacific. Fighting there was among the bloodiest, most violent of the war.

Veteran ‘Screaming Eagles’ Reach Out to Wounded Warriors

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2010 – Army Pfc. Charles “C.J.” Stewart isn’t feeling forgotten this holiday as he recuperates from his combat wounds here at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He’ll be surrounded by his family, a nurturing medical staff and, as a bonus, veterans of the 101st Airborne Division who continue to reach out to today’s “Screaming Eagles.”

Stewart was on a rescue mission in June when the 1st Brigade, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s Combat Outpost Fitzpatrick in Pashmul, Afghanistan, came under attack. As Stewart, a combat medic, ran to get his medical bag, one of the incoming rocket-propelled-grenade rounds nearly ripped his right arm from his body.

Thirty-six surgeries later, with another scheduled for tomorrow to repair nerve damage in his now fully reattached arm, Stewart is an outpatient living at Walter Reed’s Mologne House.

But more than six months after being wounded, far from his buddies in Afghanistan and his unit headquarters at Fort Campbell, Ky., he’s never lost his feeling of connection to the 101st Airborne Division.

That’s because he gets regular visits, not just from his unit’s rear detachment, but also by members of the 101st Airborne Division Association and its regimental associations.

The associations have visitation teams that call on division soldiers being treated at Walter Reed and all other major military hospitals. If they can’t visit personally, they frequently ask another 101st veteran to visit as their representative.

Retired Army Col. Bob Seitz leads the visitation teams for both the 101st Airborne Division Association and 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association.

“Saying ‘Thank you’ isn’t enough,” said Seitz, who served with the 506th AIR in Vietnam. “The key thing is, we let these young soldiers and their families know that we genuinely care about their recovery. We want the soldier and the entire family to know through the whole course of the recovery, no matter how long it takes, that we are there for them, ready to support them in any way they need us to.”

Visitation team members arrive at the hospital as quickly as possible after the wounded warrior is able to receive visitors. Often they pick up families flying into a nearby airport, transport them to the hospital and help them get settled in at their new temporary quarters.

The veterans visit the soldiers laden with gift bags full of unit memorabilia, including unit flags to hang in their hospital rooms, as well as incidentals to make their hospital stays more comfortable. And throughout their treatment and recuperation, they stop by regularly to check on soldiers’ progress and see if there’s anything they need.

“We develop a relationship with the family and the soldier because, when we see something come up as an issue or concern, we want to be able to take it off the plate,” Seitz said.

“We old guys can sense out a problem pretty quickly and then work to solve it, either help the Army solve it or solve it as an association,” he continued. “And that’s important, because if these soldiers have an issue or a problem, that works against a good attitude and good morale and in getting well.”

Often the associations’ help comes in the form of financial assistance. It may be diapers for a young family that’s just run out or toys to entertain young children away from home while their wounded parent recovers. In at least one case, it was heating oil for a military wife struggling to make ends meet after giving up her regular paycheck to care for her husband.

The associations also frequently cover the cost of plane tickets for family members who have to travel back and forth between their loved ones’ hospital beds and jobs at home. “The Army pays for one round trip, but it doesn’t pay for multiple round trips,” Seitz said. “We can provide them additional tickets, without any reimbursement back to us as our gift to them.”

Some of the associations, including the 506th, also provide scholarships and financial support for widows and orphans of division soldiers.

Donations to the organizations cover the cost of this support. And because the organizations are run by volunteers and have no operating costs, Seitz said 100 percent of the contributions go directly toward helping wounded warriors and their families.

Army Maj. Bradd Schultz, rear detachment commander for the 101st AD’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, called the associations’ support a godsend.

“They’re very powerful in what they can do as advocates for the soldier,” he said. “They’ve been doing this for years, they know everybody at Walter Reed and the other hospitals and they can fix a problem before I even know about it.”

Schultz said it gives him great peace of mind knowing that the visitation teams serve as his regular eyes and ears at Walter Reed. They can report back on things hospital reports simply don’t reveal -- such as soldiers’ morale -- and key the rear detachment in to any issues they need to know about.

Schultz said it’s also great knowing where to turn to when he learns of a problem and needs help.

“I can call them up and say, ‘I have a soldier with an issue and $200 will solve it, and I get the check for $200 to solve the issue,” he said. “These guys are amazing in terms of what they do for our soldiers.”

Robin Stewart said she’s been amazed at the support the 101st association has provided her son C.J. as he recuperates at Walter Reed.

“From the time he first arrived at Walter Reed, they have always checked in on us, sometimes even daily,” she said. “They’ve been absolutely awesome. And you knew from the start, they weren’t there because they felt obligated. They were there because they truly cared.”

C.J. is now hanging the third division flag he received from the 101st association because the first two have been completely covered with autographs from visiting well-wishers – ball players, celebrities, general officers, even President Barack Obama.

But Stewart said the association’s support to her son and family goes far beyond material gifts. “It’s the comfort of them stopping by, checking on us, and knowing there’s someone we can call if we need them,” she said.

For CJ, the visits are an opportunity to hear the stories of former 101st soldiers, learn about his division’s legacy, and get a regular reminder that the division takes care of its own. “They’ve been here for me, checking in on how everything is going and doing their best to give me a homey feeling here,” he said. “There’s a definite bond.”

Eugene “Gene” Overton Jr., cofounder and membership director of the 506th AIR Association, called its support for wounded warriors and their families a way to recognize the sacrifices of soldiers who are continuing the Screaming Eagles’ proud legacy.

“The greatest value of what we do is letting the soldiers and their families know they are not alone, and that their family is a lot larger than their immediate family,” he said. “A lot of veterans are out there, ready, willing and able to support them.”

Air Force Announces Classic Association at Kirtland Air Force Base

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, recently approved the creation of a classic associate unit by aligning elements of the 150th Wing and 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

The 58th SOW, which is a regular Air Force unit, will serve as the host, and will have primary responsibility for the aircraft and its active duty members.  As the associate unit, the 150th Wing of the New Mexico Air National Guard, will have primary responsibility for the guardsmen assigned and share the aircraft assigned to the unit.

The primary mission for the new associate unit includes flying training for HC/MC-130P, HH-60, and UH-1 aircraft. Guardsmen from the 150th Wing have already begun training for this mission.

Additionally, guardsmen from the 150th Wing will add secondary missions of rapid, deployable engineering, power production, and intelligence targeting.

This new association maintains a cadre of qualified flight instructors with long-term continuity and preserves New Mexico Air National Guard manpower to support state emergencies.

For questions regarding this release, please contact Kirtland Air Force Base public affairs at 505-846-5991.

Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Completes Seven-Month Deployment

From USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Nearly 7,000 Sailors and Marines deployed with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) returned to their homeports Dec. 20, following a seven-month deployment.

The Norfolk-based Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) and guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Ross (DDG 71) returned after supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, Operation New Dawn (OND) in Iraq and maritime security operations in the Mediterranean Sea.

"This has been a great deployment because of the hard work and professionalism of our Sailors and Marines over the last seven months," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Harry S. Truman CSG. "Whether conducting combat flight operations in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces in Afghanistan, preventing piracy on the open seas, or interacting with the local community during well-deserved port visits, the strike group represented themselves and their country with the greatest pride and professionalism."

Shortly after departing Norfolk May 21, the Truman CSG participated in the 100th anniversary of French naval aviation celebration. French aircraft landed and catapulted off Truman, while F/A-18s and E-2s from CVW 3 touched down on the French nuclear aircraft carrier CVN Charles de Gaulle (R 91). French maintenance crews embarked aboard Truman to conduct a practice engine change on a French Rafale F3 in Truman's hangar bay.

The Truman CSG joined the 5th Fleet Area of Operations in June 2010 and began combat operations in support of OEF and OND. During the next five months, CVW 3 aircrews flew 2,915 missions into Afghanistan and Iraq, providing vital close air support to coalition forces on the ground.

"Our success in support of OEF and OND is a glowing testament to world-class training, the high caliber of men and women who volunteer to serve and the manner in which they came together to perform as a mission-focused team," said Capt. Jay Bynum, commander, CVW 3. "We are so thankful and blessed to be returning home with all our Sailors, Marines and aircraft and to be reunited with our families to enjoy the holiday season."

While operating in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, several Truman CSG ships rescued mariners adrift at sea. The visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams from Winston S. Churchill rescued 62 distressed mariners after their dhow capsized in the Gulf of Aden Sept. 27, while the VBSS team from Oscar Austin provided assistance to two Iranian mariners after their dhow sank Nov. 18.

"Whether conducting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, operating with the Harry S. Truman in the Northern Arabian Sea, or conducting escort operations and other duties in the Arabian Gulf, the ships of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 were essential in maintaining peace and stability throughout the 5th Fleet AOR," said Capt. Bob Barwis, commander, DESRON 26.

Returning a few days before Christmas, the leadership aboard Truman is both proud and thankful to have safely achieved so much while deployed for 213 days and traveling nearly 55,000 nautical miles.

"It is truly wonderful to return to our homeport and reunite with our families and loved ones after seven months at sea," said Capt. Joe Clarkson, Harry S. Truman's commanding officer. "With the invaluable support of family and friends throughout this deployment, we accomplished the mission we were sent to do, and it is good to be home to celebrate the holidays with our families."

Obama Calls on Senate to Ratify New START

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2010 – President Barack Obama used his weekly address today to call on Congress to ratify the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty before recessing for the holiday, warning of the consequences of delays in moving forward on “an urgent national priority.”

“Ratifying a treaty like START isn’t about winning a victory for an administration or a political party,” the president said. “It’s about the safety and security of the United States of America.”

That, he said, is why the treaty has had bipartisan support from former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, as well as every living Republican secretary of state, the United States’ NATO allies and the U.S. military leadership.

Obama also noted that Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed the importance of the treaty earlier this week at the White House. “All the Joint Chiefs are very much behind this treaty because of the transparency [and] because of the reality that both the United States and Russia are going to have to recapitalize their nuclear arsenals,” Cartwright said. “To have transparency … to put structure to that activity, we need START, and we need it badly.”

“And that’s why every president since Ronald Reagan has pursued a treaty like START, and every one that has been reviewed by the Senate has passed with strong bipartisan support,” the president said today.

“We have taken the time to get this right,” Obama said, noting that new START has undergone more than seven months of Senate review and 18 congressional hearings.

“It’s time to get this done,” he said.

Delaying action comes at a cost, the president emphasized. “Every minute we drag our feet is a minute that we have no inspectors on the ground at those Russian nuclear sites,” he said.

CNO Issues Statement Following Vote to Repeal DADT

Special from Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, released the following statement following the vote to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell":

"I am pleased the Congress voted to repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute (section 654 of title 10, United States Code).

"This Senate action does not immediately change the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

"If the President signs the provision into law, there are still a series of steps that will take place before Don't Ask, Don't Tell is repealed.

"First, the Department of Defense will prepare the necessary policies and regulations to implement the change. We will also ensure that the force is provided training on the new policies.

"Second, the President, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must certify that the change can be made consistent with military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention.

"Finally, there is a 60-day period following certification before repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell takes effect.

"As we move forward our Navy's superb leaders, both officer and enlisted, will be key to a successful transition to the new policy. Navy leadership will continue to keep all informed.

"The United States Navy will remain the world's most ready, capable and professional Navy where all our shipmates will continue to be treated with dignity and respect."

Statement by Adm. Mike Mullen on Senate Vote to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

"I am pleased to see the Congress vote to repeal the law governing ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell.’ Handling this through legislation preserves the military's prerogative to implement change in a responsible, deliberate manner.

 “More critically, it is the right thing to do. No longer will able men and women who want to serve and sacrifice for their country have to sacrifice their integrity to do so. We will be a better military as a result.

 “I look forward to working with Secretary Gates and the Service chiefs as we set about the task of preparing and certifying the joint force to implement the new law. And I am committed to making sure that process is well-led, maintains our combat readiness and upholds our high standards."

The last of the fall buoy runs

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

For nine weeks, Coast Guard units across the Great Lakes have been working around the clock in the largest domestic aids to navigation recovery operation in the United States … and just in time! With the slow-moving snowstorm that brought snow and fierce winds to the upper Midwest last week, there is no doubt that winter is here and more icy weather is on the way.

Operation Fall Retrieve put Aids to Navigation teams, buoy tenders, and stations to the test as they worked together to ensure 1,264 navigational aids along 6,700 miles of Great Lakes coastline were replaced before they could become damaged by the harsh winter weather.

Units are still hard at work, braving the cold weather to finish clearing the critical aids before the ice sets in permanently. One of the units finishing up the last of the buoy retrievals is Coast Guard Cutter Mobile Bay.

Mobile Bay began the cutter’s “buoy run” in mid-October, and has primarily operated in the waters of Green Bay with an occasional trip to work on a few buoys on the Lake Michigan side of Door Peninsula.

During their run, Mobile Bay was responsible for as many as 61 seasonal buoys. A huge order for such a short deployment considering this is two thirds of all the buoys the cutter maintains annually.

The crew of Mobile Bay replaced the seasonal buoys with winter aids capable of withstanding the abuse of almost five months of shifting ice flows.

“In general, the seasonal buoys are replaced in succession based upon their importance to navigation for major shipping and to a lesser degree with the greater probability of ice forming in that location,” said LT Bryan Estell, executive officer of Mobile Bay.

While the crew still works through foul weather, like the snowstorm last week, they try to take advantage when the weather is just right for operations, which may mean working long hours over holidays to ensure the buoys are recovered prior to ice formation.

“It’s hard, dirty work; an ‘all-hands’ evolution where everyone on the cutter plays a role in ensuring that every buoy is maintained and positioned properly,” said Estell. “Every time we work AtoN, we drive away from the buoy with a real sense of accomplishment.”

The hard work and long days make a real difference for the professional mariners who transit the Great Lakes during the treacherous winter months. Mobile Bay will return to its moorings in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., but not to rest … It’s icebreaking season!

First Lady Sorts ‘Toys for Tots’ With Volunteers

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C., Dec. 17, 2010 – First Lady Michelle Obama joined military and civilian volunteers here today to sort gifts for the Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” program, which collects and distributes holiday gifts for underprivileged children.

"We're so proud of the work you do for the country and the fact that you are putting it all out for kids across this country," she told the group in a warehouse brimming with large, colorful gift boxes marked by age groups. "We couldn't do it without your leadership."

Servicemembers' families play a big role in making the program work, Obama noted. "It is just another tribute to the hard work that our military families put into this country, after already sacrificing so much for this country," she said.

The idea for Toys for Tots came from a Marine reservist and his wife more than 60 years ago, the first lady said.

"Ever since then,” she added, “our military members and their families have made the holidays brighter for millions of kids all across the country. It's another example of how military families are always willing to do their part for their community."

Obama’s motorcade to the event included a vanload of toys.

"We're here today because we want to do our part," she said. "We've been collecting toys from our staff, and today we brought as many as we could fit into one [vehicle], but there's still more to come."

The first lady took the opportunity to ask the public to contribute to the program, noting that it’s now possible to contribute toys online through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s website, http://www.toysfortots.org. She also asked people not only to think of infants and small children when shopping for gifts, but also to keep older children in mind.

"We're working with families with kids as old as 14 years, and we want to be sure that these preteens and teens have something to open on Christmas, too,” she said.

Clothing, books and backpacks are good gifts for that age group, Obama said.

"If you've already donated for the little kids, and you want to take one more shot at it for the bigger kids, we'd encourage you to do so," she added.

People experiencing financial struggles know someone else needs more of a hand up, Obama said, and participating in the program does more than simply helping the gift recipients.

"Taking the time to shop for another family really teaches our kids the importance of giving at a time when they're expecting to get,” the first lady said. “It teaches them by your example."

Obama spent time with the troops and volunteers, sorting toys into the decorated boxes that soon were overflowing with presents.

Over the 62 years of Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program, Marines have distributed more than 400 million toys to more than 188 million children in need, according to the foundation’s website.

Today in the Department of Defense, Monday, December 20, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.