Navy-Marine Corps Unit Provides Numerous Capabilities

By Jian DeLeon

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 – A Navy-Marine Corps unit completed a wide range of missions across the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean in the past year, ranging from reclaiming a container ship that had been taken over by pirates to providing relief in the aftermath of flooding in Pakistan.

Marine Corps Col. Roy Osborn, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Navy Capt. Dale Fuller, former amphibious Squadron 3 commander of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, detailed some of those missions Feb. 9 during a “DOD Live” bloggers roundtable.

“I had about 2,300 Marines and sailors assigned to me,” Osborn said. I had a pretty heavy command element, a battalion-landing team -- which is my infantry side -- that has everything from tanks, tracks, artillery and riflemen in it. My combat-logistics battalion is a logistics-heavy combat-service-support heavy element that has everything from bulldozers to water makers in it. And then I have an air combat element, which is composed of helicopters, jets, maintainers and air defense, as well as communications capabilities.”

Fuller outlined the team’s naval capabilities.

“We have three ships assigned in supporting 15th MEU during this deployment,” he said. “We had the USS Peleliu, and Peleliu had approximately 2,000 sailors and Marines embarked. We carried and supported the helicopters on board. Along with that, we had four [utility landing craft] and, of course, the other capability, specifically, the surgical capability that we bring along with that ship by the fleet surgical team.”

The USS Dubuque, one of the oldest ships in the Navy, and the USS Pearl Harbor, one of its newer ships, also were part of the team.

Osborn gave a rundown on the team’s missions in 2010.

“We left in May, proceeded out to the Western Pacific, conducted operations in Timor-Leste and Indonesia, did a number of stops along the way, and then moved into [the 5th Fleet and U.S. Central Command area of responsibility],” he said, “and, in effect, conducted operations across the entire theater, to include operations in Africa as well.”

Overall, the team operated in 22 countries and five continents. The only places the team never operated are South America and Antarctica.

Osborn said the team’s missions were varied.

“We did the Pakistan flood relief,” he said. “We did [Operation Enduring Freedom] close-air support with our jets. We did the recovery of the [container ship MV Magellan Star] -- the power takedown -- and we also provided support for the rescued persons at sea, the Somali-Ethiopians, [whom] the Navy hosted for about 38 days.”

The recovery of the MV Magellan Star provided the perfect example of how the team can function effectively and efficiently, Osborn said.

“One of the things that we try to emphasize to everyone is [that] our MEU is a Navy-Marine Corps team,” he said. “The execution of the mission to recover the [Magellan] Star from the pirates probably was one of the best examples of the integration of the Navy and Marine Corps team.

The Navy and Marine Corps team integrated various capabilities, Osborn said -- “launching the aircraft, getting in with eyes on target, having the [USS] Princeton in overwatch, having the Marine snipers in the Huey [helicopter], having the Marine snipers on the bridge wing of the [USS] Dubuque, having the raid force and the naval special warfare boats moved in.”

The recovery mission took place over less than 20 minutes from the moment the first boat touched the side of the MV Magellan Star, he added, noting that the mission was accomplished without firing a single shot.

Fuller spoke about the difficulties encountered while providing relief in the Pakistan flood.

“The flood in Pakistan was two separate disasters,” he said. “The northern half of the country was a flash-flood tsunami-type disaster. It literally scraped the sides of the mountains off. In the south, the second part of the flooding that we supported, it was slow-inundation flooding.”

Fuller coordinated the drop-off of supplies and the movement of 8,000 evacuees from the mountains in northern Pakistan. The team acted in support of the Pakistani military, and supplies were provided by the World Food Program, he added.

The relief program proved to be labor-intensive, Fuller said.

“We were covering just about every military operation you can think of -- all the same way [and on the same day], and for multiple locations,” he said.

Even though the days were long, Fuller said, he remains proud of the work the Navy-Marine Corps team has accomplished, and sees it as a worthy investment.

“I think the sailors and Marines really did a fantastic job out there,” he said, “and what we pretty much demonstrated during our seven months is the return on investment that this … team gives our nation in supporting our national security concerns. … You really get your bang for the buck for this capability that the taxpayers are paying for.”

Osborn agreed.

“One of my old bosses used to say, ‘You know, for every dollar you spend in peace is $10 in warfare.’ And that's kind of the way we looked at it on this deployment,” he said.

“We enjoy what we do,” Osborn continued. “It's a fun job. But there's a very busy world out there, and there's a very insecure world out there, and so there's plenty of work left to be done.”

5K Run Helps Kick Off Centennial of Naval Events in San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Farrington, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- More 650 participants put on their running gear and took part in the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CoNA) 5K Beach Run Feb. 9 on board Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI).

Commander, Navy Region Southwest's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program sponsored the event to help recognize the CoNA and raise awareness for the upcoming celebration at NASNI.

"These kinds of things are always a morale booster so I'm glad to have been able to coordinate the event," said Thor Dekker, the NASNI MWR fitness coordinator. "It feels great to have so many people come out and celebrate something as historic as the 100 year anniversary of Naval Aviation."

According to Dekker, the 5K was open to all service members and other authorized MWR patrons. Runners had to complete a two-lap course in the sand along Breaker's Beach at NASNI.

Dekker said very runner received a free t-shirt upon registration. First place male and female runners received a commemorative coin and two passes to Universal Studios theme park.

"We did a 5K back in July that had about 200 people come out to participate," said Dekker. "But I had no idea more than 650 people would come out to celebrate the Centennial of Naval Aviation."

Commemorating 100 years of progress and achievement in naval aviation, CoNA is a year-long tribute to the scope of all naval aviation activities, including aircraft, people, ships, innovations and significant milestones.

"One hundred years ago naval aviation was on the heels of the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk," said Rear Admiral Pat McGrath, who leads the CoNA effort. "Here in San Diego, experiments with 'hydroaeroplanes' set the stage for the flying machine to become an integral part of our Navy."

The highlight of San Diego area CoNA events is the Feb. 12 Open House and Parade of Flight at NASNI featuring more than 75 historic aircraft, ship and aircraft carrier tours, static display aircraft, and a classic car show.

‘Prevent, Prepare’ Key Special Ops Roles, Official Says

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 – The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review outlined strategic defense priorities: prevail in war, prevent and deter conflict, prepare for future conflicts and contingencies, and preserve and enhance the force.

“Today I want to unpack the … ‘prevent’ and ‘prepare,’ and discuss how I see [special operations forces] playing a critical role in both of those areas,” Dr. Janine Davidson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for plans, yesterday told attendees here at the National Defense Industrial Association’s 22nd Annual Special Operations and Low-intensity Conflict Symposium.

“What kind of conflicts are we trying to prepare [for] and prevent?” Davidson asked symposium attendees.

Nuclear proliferation, climate change, global pandemics, transnational criminal organizations and terrorism, Davidson said, make up a set of national security challenges more complex than ever before. She noted that future conflicts will more closely resemble current wars.

The response to these challenges requires culturally aware fighters, 21st-century intelligence resources, and a delicate approach to transitioning to peace, she said.

“These complexities are compounded … by an emerging period of fiscal constraint for our federal government,” Davidson said. “We must ask: ‘What can we do smarter, more effectively, and more efficiently while still meeting our defense priorities to protect the American people?’”

Unity of effort across “3-D” -- diplomatic, developmental and defense -- capabilities will remain as critical in the future as it is to today’s capabilities, Davidson said.

Coordination and planning with interagency partners are necessary, she said, but a successful “3-D” effort also will require “insight and knowledge –- something the [special operations] community has excelled at.”

Just as the community developed successful approaches for urban warfare, foreign internal defense and counterinsurgency conflicts, special operations will need to “put their brains around these new challenges,” she said.

One aspect of current conflicts that needs attention, she said, is the security gap created by the historically separate roles of American military and law enforcement organizations.

That gap, she said, is “being exploited by insurgents in the field as well as increasingly sophisticated transnational drug cartels and traffickers, regionally and on a global scale.”

It will take a whole-of-government effort and a thorough understanding of how the “bad guys” operate to counter them, Davidson said.

In transition situations such as in Iraq and the planned security transfer in Afghanistan, Davidson said, it will be important for the military to better understand diplomacy and development.

Realistically, she said, transfer to civilian-led operations doesn’t mean the military exits, but rather defense forces will continue to support their civilian counterparts.

Special operations forces will be critical in 3-D efforts, Davidson said, given “their special skill-sets and talent for bridging gaps among certain populations and communities.”

Only a rigorous effort to understand the differing requirements of defense, development and diplomacy, coupled with careful consideration of possible unintended outcomes, will allow a whole-of-government approach to succeed, she concluded.

Children's Dental Health Gets Brush Up

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandra Snow, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- The National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and the Naval Postgraduate Dental School (NPDS) promoted children's dental hygiene during a celebration featuring free cleanings and oral screenings, Feb. 4.

In celebration of National Children's Dental Health Month, the event not only offered face painting, games and storytelling, but also fluoride applications and cavity risk assessments for children ages six months to 12 years.

About 60 children, most of whom were under age 3, attended the celebration in NNMC's Pediatric Specialty Care clinic.

"We're trying to promote awareness about children's oral health issues," said Lt. Cmdr. Melissa Fries, NPDS Pediatric Dentistry chairman. "It's important for parents to understand the important role they play in ensuring good oral hygiene habits in their children at an early age."

"Many parents try to soothe their children during bedtime or naps with a bottle of milk or juice; unfortunately, the constant exposure to sugary liquids can create a thin film of plaque on young teeth," said Maj. Masoud Milani, NNMC Comprehensive Dentistry Program dentist. "The bacteria in plaque then decays teeth and can cause weakened enamel and other significant problems."

Fries said parents can help promote good health in their child's teeth early on by substituting drinks high in sugar with water.

"Baby teeth are eventually replaced by permanent teeth, but don't underestimate the importance of your child's first set of teeth," Milani said. "They not only make a huge impact on appearance, [but also] play a crucial role in your child's ability to speak and chew effectively."

To prevent tooth decay, Milani suggests using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste on a soft-bristle toothbrush, brushing for two minutes, twice a day. When the child is old enough to spit, increase the amount of toothpaste to a pea-sized smear. Infants, whose teeth have not broken through their gums, should still have their gums wiped with a clean cloth after each feeding.

Additionally, the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommend that children be seen by a dentist when they receive their first tooth, typically between six-months to one year of age.

"This is about prevention and getting good habits started early," said Fries. "The mouth is a personal space, so all kinds of behavior are normal and can be expected, but children that receive early dental visits tend to behave better during them and have better overall oral health than children who do not."

"You will need to instruct, monitor and motivate your child to help maintain good oral health habits," said Milani. "The attitudes established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health throughout life."

Fries said the event was specifically aimed at trying to target children who are not yet insured by the TRICARE dental program.

"If a child doesn't have dental insurance, it is unlikely that they will see a dentist by the recommended one year of age," she said.

"The TRICARE dental program is a comprehensive dental program the government offers to the active-duty service member family members, Reservists and their family members [through United Concordia]," said Janice Taylor, United Concordia senior dental benefits advisor.

Children of active-duty service members enrolled in the TRICARE dental program are automatically registered for the program at age four. In addition, children with siblings enrolled in the TRICARE dental program are automatically enrolled at birth. For children younger than four, registration is voluntary, explained Taylor. For children, TRICARE covers 80 percent of all cavity fillings and sealant applications.

Emergency, diagnostic and preventative services are provided at no cost. To enroll a child in TRICARE dental, visit www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com.

"Good oral health starts with early prevention and education," said Fries.

To schedule a pediatric dentistry evaluation at NNMC, call 301-295-1364.

For more news from National Naval Medical Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nnmc/.

This article was sponsored by Military Books.

Chairman Asks Communities to Help Veterans Reach Their Dreams

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 – He is proud and privileged to lead a military that is the best he has seen in more than 40 years, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

Speaking during a town hall meeting at Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg, Pa., Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said, “I’ll state the case up front: I believe that there is in our country [a] ‘sea of goodwill’ to support our men and women in uniform, and their families, and we are now in our tenth year of war.”

The chairman has traveled around the nation for his “Conversations with the Country” since last April, working to raise awareness of how Americans can help veterans and their families return successfully from war to civilian life.

“They are extraordinary young men and women, and they come from all over the country - and in some cases all over the world,” the admiral said. “They make a difference, and they want to make a difference.”

The same service and sacrifice the nation witnessed in Iraq is now occurring in Afghanistan, the admiral said, and those who do so are on average in their early 20s.

“They bear this burden proudly, they care deeply about our country, and it is the freedoms we enjoy that they serve to make sure are never, ever in question,” he said.

Many soldiers have deployed four or five times, the chairman said.

“The first one was six months, the second one was eight months, and after that we went to 12 months, and 15 months and 15 months, and we’re now back to 12 months,” he said.

Between deployments those troops got only as much time as they had spent away, Mullen said, and typically spent half of that time away from home.

For Marines, deployments are shorter but more frequent – “Seven months out, seven months back, since the war started,” he said.

The change that punishing schedule has wrought in Iraq is “breathtaking,” Mullen said.

“It is about politics in Iraq now, it’s not about violence,” he said. “And it’s about a future for 26 million people.”

There are young Americans who gave their lives and many others who served and sacrificed to create that possibility, the admiral said.

“In Afghanistan, we still are on this kind of rotation … though we are now home longer than we are deployed,” he said.

Mullen said for him, part of the conversation is “I want to make sure we are facing the fullness of these wars.”

The chairman said he and his wife, Deborah, greet returning troops, meet with military families, and visit service members wounded in the wars.

“You go in to visit them and their families, and the docs do the medicine, but the families really do the healing,” he said. “You go to try to lift their spirits, and after you spend time with them … they lift yours.”

Today’s returning warriors are a young generation determined to make a difference and wired to serve, the chairman said.

“What I want to have a conversation about with communities like yours is, these young men and women are coming back … and they will make a huge difference, I believe, in our future,” Mullen said.

Veterans have seen their lives change, but their dreams remain the same, he said: “They still want to go to school, they want to have a family … they’d like to own a piece of the rock.”

What he asks of communities are the things that will make those dreams possible, the chairman said.

“Education, employment and health,” he said. “I recognize … the employment challenge is huge here, as it is throughout the country. But this economy’s going to turn, and the number of jobs available is going to go up.”

The model by which the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments send a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who is leaving service back to his or her community with “have a nice life” is no longer acceptable, Mullen said.

“These are the same individuals who on Monday of a given week, I am devoting the fullness of my life and leadership to their success,” he said. “And on Tuesday, when they leave, I am no longer focused on them. I don’t think we can do that anymore.”

The military bureaucracy and American communities must be partners in making veterans and their families successful in their post-war lives, the chairman said.

While the Pentagon and the VA contribute funds for health care and education, Mullen said, communities are where those funds must translate to successful services.

“It has to be local, and leaders have to design the model, if you will, in the local community that’s going to achieve this kind of effect,” the admiral said.

He has seen a list of community services that succeed, the chairman said.

“What I’m asking of communities is to just open up your lenses, to include in your outreach, these families,” he said.

The chairman thanked the audience for joining in the conversation.

“Hopefully, out of this can come some inspiration and leadership to make a difference in their lives as they return,” he said.

Website Informs Financial Management Workers

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 – Members of the Defense Department’s financial management work force have a new website as a source for information one-stop shopping.

The site “FM Online” features the latest information and articles on topics of interest for the financial management community, in addition to up-to-date DOD guidance, policies and directives, officials said.

FM Online links to “FM myLearn,” a new e-catalog that serves as a gateway to professional development and training opportunities provided across the department’s financial management work force, officials added.

The Pentagon comptroller’s office maintains the site, which is accessible to all DOD common access card holders and focuses on the department’s financial management work force, which comprises more than 45,000 civilian employees and military service members.

Unlike public websites, access to FM Online is limited to common access card holders, officials said.

The website also contains a search tool and links to other financial management-related websites, both within and outside of the Defense Department.

Special Operations Focuses on World’s ‘Unlit Spaces’

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 – A NASA composite image of the Earth at night, seen from space, offers an illuminating reference point for the shift in special operations forces’ missions since 2001, their senior officer said this week.

Before Sept. 11, 2001, the military considered the places where the lights are to be the most strategically important on the globe, said Navy Adm. Eric T. Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

Olson discussed the strategic importance of the globe’s unlit areas during Feb. 8 remarks at the National Defense Industrial Association’s 22nd Annual Special Operations and Low-intensity Conflict Symposium.

“I’ve come to think of this as … representative of how the world has changed,” Olson said, indicating the photograph.

The swath of light stretching in a narrow band across the Northern Hemisphere represents industrialized nations with “developed societies, … things and money,” Olson said, and during most of the 20th century, he added, the U.S. military focused on that area.

“But the world changed over the last decade,” he said, explaining that Socom now considers 51 countries to be of high-priority interest in the global campaign against the extremist threat.

For the most part, “there’s not a great deal of overlap” between those countries’ locations and where the lights are, Olson said.

“Our strategic focus has shifted largely to the south, … certainly within the special operations community, as we deal with the emerging threats from the places where the lights aren’t,” he said.

Olson said the unlit places generally have ungoverned or under-governed spaces, more porous borders and less-secure airports than in more developed areas.

“They have the opportunity for training, for movement, for smuggling –- for activities to occur that ultimately may threaten us,” he said. “They are also places where the population may be riper for recruitment into behavior that is sort of challenging to the more legitimate form of government.”

Places where special operations forces are deployed show “a pretty high degree of overlap” with the unlit places in the photograph, Olson said.

“We are in these places at the request of the host government and in accordance with the strategy [of] the geographic combatant commander,” he said. “These are countries where building partner capacity, assisting our partners in helping themselves, is becoming more and more important to us.”

Olson described the two primary “flavors” of special operations activities: strike capability -- which he called the “man-hunting, thing-hunting, direct-action piece” -- and the indirect approach, which includes engagement, training, advising, mentoring, equipping and “sticking with” foreign forces.

It’s the second approach, Olson said, that ultimately leads to decisive effects on the battlefield, but the direct action buys time for engagement, and both are necessary for success in operations such as those in Afghanistan.

Many of the nations where special operations forces primarily operate today, the Socom commander said, don’t historically have a strong military-to-military relationship with the United States “either because of politics, or economies, or both.”

The absence of a historical military relationship poses a number of challenges to effective military partnerships with those countries, the admiral said.

“We don’t know them, and they don’t know us,” Olson said. “We generally don’t speak their languages, we don’t understand their histories, we don’t know their families, we don’t know how work is done, we don’t know how money is made, we don’t know all the nuances, we don’t know the effects, truly, of climate, of terrain, of religion, of culture, in these regions. And it takes time to get there from here.”

Special operations forces see an ever-increasing need to work effectively in locations where they haven’t operated before in the numbers or with the purpose they have now, he said.

When he was first asked how the special operations community has changed since 2001, Olson said, his answer referenced the classic military construct of “shoot, move, communicate.”

“Our ability to shoot hasn’t changed all that much,” he said, noting that weapons and tactics have improved, but that forces find, approach and address targets in much the same way as they did before 9/11.

But Socom’s ability to move, particularly over ground, is significantly better, Olson said.

“Before [2001], of our five active-duty Special Forces groups, only one … had a motor pool of any significance. Now we are fully equipped, across our force, with a variety of vehicles,” he said.

But the “sea-change movement” within the special operations community and the real change over the last decade, Olson said, has been in the third area.

“By ‘communicate,’ I mean ‘network,’” he said. “We have placed networks on the battlefield with truly powerful effect.”

Olson said networks offer instant communication, the ability to change targets while en route to a target, the ability to sort out friendly and enemy forces at the target with biometric feedback quickly, and the ability to transmit imagery and classified message traffic wherever a team-sized element may be.

“Wherever there is a vehicle or a handful of people, we have that kind of connectivity now,” he said. “And then all of the talent that is required to … grow up in that networked community.”

But shooting, moving and communicating isn’t all there is to it, Olson pointed out. The goal, he said, is understanding.

“If you can shoot, you can move and you can network the battlefield, how do you then know that what you’re doing is right?” he asked.

It takes a deep understanding of a place to accurately predict the effects of special operations actions, Olson said. His approach to fostering this understanding, he added, is what he calls “Project Lawrence,” inspired by Thomas Edward Lawrence, a British army officer better known as “Lawrence of Arabia,” who served as a liaison officer to Arab forces during their revolt against Ottoman rule in 1916 to 1918 during World War I.

Socom needs “Lawrences” of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mali, Indonesia and other places, Olson said.

“Absolutely, enormously essential and valuable when you can find these kinds of people, because they are the key to understanding the place,” he said. “Much better if we can recruit them from that place and make them part of us than … train us to be part of them, but we’ve taken a balanced approach to that, and frankly, we have more of us.”

Socom is intensifying the training and preparation of its people to work in the places they’re sent, Olson said, with a particular focus on high language capability.

“You don’t get the sense of a place if you can’t look at it through the lens of that language and communicate with those people,” he said. Over the past year, Socom has created cultural support teams made up of women that are deployed with tactical elements in all sorts of situations and remote environments, Olson said.

The teams are trained in many advanced skills, but their primary value is that they give those tactical elements access to “the 50 percent of the population … that we simply couldn’t reach before,” the admiral said.

That access has greatly increased his forces’ understanding of their operating environments, Olson said, noting his ideal approach to operations is “understand, communicate, move and shoot.”

“If you don’t understand, your communications will be wrong; if your communications are wrong your movement will be wrong; and if your movement is wrong you’re not shooting at the right things,” he said.

Government Publishes Veterans Homelessness Report

From HUD and VA News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2011 – The Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs departments today published what officials say is the most authoritative analysis yet of the extent and nature of homelessness among military veterans.

According to HUD and VA’s assessment, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009, while roughly 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.

The assessment, part of President Barack Obama’s plan to prevent and end homelessness in America, is based on an annual report HUD provides to Congress and explores in greater depth the demographics of veterans who are homeless, how veterans compare to others who are homeless, and how veterans access and use the nation’s homeless response system.

“This report offers a much clearer picture about what it means to be a veteran living on our streets or in our shelters,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said. “Understanding the nature and scope of veteran homelessness is critical to meeting President Obama’s goal of ending veterans’ homelessness within five years.”

“With our federal, state and community partners working together, more veterans are moving into safe housing,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said. “But we’re not done yet.

“Providing assistance in mental health, substance abuse treatment, education and employment goes hand-in-hand with preventive steps and permanent supportive housing,” Shinseki continued. “We continue to work towards our goal of finding every veteran safe housing and access to needed services.”

Obama announced in June the nation’s first comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness, including a focus on homeless veterans. The report, Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, puts the country on a path to end veterans’ and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to ending homelessness among children and families by 2020.

Key findings of the report include:

-- More than 3,000 cities and counties reported 75,609 homeless veterans on a single night in January of 2009; 57 percent were staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program while the remaining 43 percent were unsheltered. Veterans represent about 12 percent of all homeless people counted nationwide during the 2009 assessment;

-- During a 12-month period in 2009, about 136,000 veterans -- or about 1 in every 168 veterans -- spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. The vast majority of sheltered homeless veterans -- 96 percent -- experienced homelessness alone. Four percent of homeless veterans were found to be part of a family. Sheltered homeless veterans are most often single white men between the ages of 31 and 50 and living with a disability;

-- Veterans are 50 percent more likely to become homeless compared to all Americans and the risk is even greater among veterans living in poverty and poor minority veterans. HUD and VA examined the likelihood of becoming homeless among American veterans with particular demographic characteristics and found that during 2009, twice as many poor Hispanic veterans used a shelter compared with poor non-Hispanic veterans. African American veterans in poverty had similar rates of homelessness;

-- Most veterans who used emergency shelter stayed for only brief periods. One-third stayed in a shelter for less than a week; 61 percent used a shelter for less than a month; and 84 percent stayed for less than three months. The report also concluded that veterans remained in shelters longer than did non-veterans;

-- Nearly half of homeless veterans were in California, Texas, New York and Florida while only 28 percent of all veterans were located in those states;

-- Sheltered homeless veterans are far more likely to be alone rather than be part of a family household; 96 percent of veterans are individuals compared to 66 percent in the overall homeless population.

HUD and VA are working to administer a joint program targeting homeless veterans. Through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program, HUD provides rental assistance for homeless veterans while VA offers case management and clinical services.

HUD last month awarded $1.4 billion to keep nearly 7,000 local homeless assistance programs operating. The Department also allocated $1.5 billion through its new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program. Made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, HPRP is intended to prevent persons from falling into homelessness or to rapidly re-house them if they do.

To date, more than 750,000 people, including more than 15,000 veterans, have been assisted through HPRP.

Northcom Looks to Expand Partnership with Guard

By Army Sgt. Darron Salzer

National Guard Bureau

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Feb. 10, 2011 – U.S. Northern Command depends heavily on the National Guard and is looking for more opportunities to expand that partnership, Northcom’s deputy commander said here recently.

In remarks Jan. 20 during the National Guard Bureau Domestic Operations Workshop, Army Lt. Gen. Frank J. Grass said the National Guard is Northcom’s most important partner in its three critical mission areas: homeland defense, security cooperation and civil support.

“And if you look across the board at the things that we do,” he added, “there is not a mission that we do that the Air Guard or Army Guard doesn’t touch every day or accomplish for us.”

Grass said partnering between Northcom and the National Guard is a critical component of today’s national security strategy.

Grass noted eight areas of focus for Northcom that affect the homeland the most and said some of those areas hold potential for growth in the Northcom-National Guard Partnership.

The focus areas are:

-- Counterterrorism and force protection;

-- Combating transnational criminal organizations;

-- Defense support of civil authorities;

-- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear consequence management;

-- Maritime warning;

-- Aerospace warning and control;

-- Missile defense; and

-- The Arctic region.

“We are interested in hearing from the states through the National Guard Bureau on where [our two agencies] can partner more,” the general said. “The National Guard makes me proud every day, and it will be written in history that [the Guard] did an amazing job for the nation, and that you are a true national treasure.”

Spouses Can Nominate Boss for Patriot Award

Special to American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 10, 2011 – Spouses of National Guard and Reserve service members are invited to nominate their employers for the Patriot Award, following a recent expansion in the program, announced yesterday by the Defense Department’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve agency.

Nominations for the Patriot Award were previously open only to Guard and Reserve service members to nominate their employers.

However, after learning of the growing number of employers with supportive initiatives for military spouses, ESGR added nominations for spouses’ employers, who will receive their own DOD award, the only one of its kind for military spouses.

Employers of military spouses are not legally obligated to provide special support, but Guard and Reserve spouses often share the challenges that go with military service. Child care, managing the household, and work schedules often have to be adjusted when a military spouse deploys.

Military spouses value the cooperation and encouragement of their employers just as much as those in the Guard and Reserve. The expansion of the Patriot Award honors flexible employers and is the only DOD-sanctioned award designated for spouses’ bosses.

The nation has relied heavily on Guard and Reserve service members during overseas military operations over the past decade. Reserve component members have deployed and fought with active-duty troops. Unlike spouses of active duty troops, Guard and Reserve spouses often don’t live near a network of large military bases. In many cases, an employer is a spouse’s strongest support community.

Spouses already have begun submitting nominations. Robyn Gellerup, a Wisconsin mother of three, works as an office manager for a construction company showroom.

“While my husband was deployed both times, [my employers took] care of us like we are part of their family, from mowing our lawn, plowing snow from our driveway, to performing maintenance on our vehicles and home,” Gellerup said. “It gave my husband peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong I could just pick up the phone and they’d be there.”

All spouses of Guard and Reserve members are eligible to nominate their employers. Nomination forms are accessible on the ESGR website. Each nominated supervisor will receive a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation, presented by the spouse’s employee or a volunteer from the ESGR State Committee.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 to develop and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers.

Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For more information about ESGR Outreach Programs, or ESGR volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-336-4590 or visit the agency’s website.

Today in the Department of Defense, Friday, February 11, 2011

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

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus presents the Vietnam Era Navy Cross to Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ned Seath at 9 a.m. EST at the Marine Corps Museum, Quantico, Va.  Media interested in attending should contact the public affairs officer for National Museum of the Marine Corps Gwenn Adams at 703-784-6134.

National Capital Region Flyovers of Arlington National Cemetery occur at 9:05 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. EST with one B-52.

This Day in Naval History - Feb. 10

From the Navy News Service

1862 - Union gunboats destroy Confederate ships during a victory in the Battle of Elizabeth City.

1900 - The first naval governor of Guam, Commodore Seaton Schroder, is appointed.

1960 - USS Sargo (SSN 583) surfaces at the North Pole.

TAG Lines – For WING Families, Soldiers & Airman

Live Internet Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, 15 February, 6 p.m. (1800)

Join Brig. Gen. Donald Dunbar, Tuesday for an online town hall – topics of discussions will include:

·         724th Engineer Battalion Homecoming

·         Family Program Conference

·         Youth Camp, 29 - 31 July 2011

·         Tax Preparation Services

·         Strong Bond events

Log in, ask questions and share your thoughts with the man at the top.  Go to http://dma.wi.gov/TAGLines now to sign up for an e-mail reminder of this important event.

On event day:

·         Using your browser, navigate to: http://dma.wi.gov/TAGLines

·         Select a screen name that will appear when you ask a question or make a comment… example:  “Sherry_B/2/127th “

·         Then sit back read, watch and chat with the TAG, members of his staff and other participants about issues that affect you.

·         Don’t be worried if your comments or questions don’t appear right away. We anticipate there will be lots of messages going back and forth, and there are delays between the time you click “Send” and the time it appears in the message window for all to see that are a normal part of the system we are using.

·         Our “auto scroll” feature ensures you're always shown the newest content without having to refresh or scroll your screen. You can turn this on or off by using the controls at the bottom of the viewer window.

·         Subtle sound effects alert you to new content as it’s published. This can also be turned on or off as needed.

Reminder: In order to facilitate an open discussion with General Dunbar, please limit sharing this invitation to Wisconsin National Guard members & their families.

RIVRON 3 Sailors Test Combat Skills

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Paul D. Williams, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

CHESAPEAKE, Va (NNS) -- Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 3, Det. 1, Sailors successfully completed a two-week final evaluation problem (FEP) on the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Va., Feb. 4.

The Detachment participated in various scenarios designed to test the Sailor's combat skills, and how they perform in a simulated combat environment.

"FEP is the final evaluation problem and is essential for the overall certification of the detachment to deploy," said Chief Warrant Officer William Norton, RIVRON 3 training officer and FEP evaluator. "It's essential we check their knowledge and test their skill sets to ensuring they are ready to fight."

RIVRON 3 completed a 13-week rigorous training cycle, and the evaluation was the last hurdle to clear before deploying. During the evaluation, Sailors responded to simulated indirect fire, chemical, biological and radiological defense, mass casualty drills, small craft interdictions and various other combat scenarios that fall within the Riverine area of responsibility.

"We have a well rounded training plan to deploy," said Engineman 1st Class (EXW) Jonathon Teal, RIVRON 3, Det. 1, leading petty officer. "With the Iraq mission being complete, this training scenario was set up to resemble other areas of potential security threats with elements of improvised explosive device attacks similar to what we saw in the Middle East."

Overall, the detachment had been put to the challenge and successfully demonstrated the last 13 weeks of training provided them with the ability to meet irregular challenges.

"The detachment went above and beyond," said Norton. "They excelled in their skill sets and did a great job overall."

The Riverine forces mission is to combat sea-based terrorism and other illegal activities, such as transportation of weapons of mass destruction components, hijacking, piracy and human trafficking.

RIVRON 3 is part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and an enduring force providing capability across the full range of military operations in the maritime strategy to include forward presence, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, sea control and power projection and deterrence.

Loneliness of Combat

By Army Capt. John Marion

Army Capt. John Marion flies the AH-64D Apache, and has carried out about 1,000 hours of combat flight time. He’s served seven years in the Army, with tours to Baghdad, Iraq and Al Kut, Iraq. Currently on his third deployment in Khowst, Afghanistan, John writes for the DCoE Blog on what it has felt for him to be a soldier and deployed.

I never really know how to respond when people ask me about deployments. With two tours in Baghdad under my belt, and currently serving in Eastern Afghanistan, words like boring, chaotic, harsh, exciting, gratifying, depressing and just about every other descriptor you might expect come to mind. Truth is, deployments can be such a rollercoaster that no one word can really capture the full extent of what it feels like, but of course, I usually throw a few of them out there to satisfy their curiosity.

The only word, or feeling, I've found that remains constant, is “loneliness.” Now, most people don't want to hear that because it isn't what combat is supposed to be like, and most veterans don't want to say that because either it's too revealing or entirely unexciting to the listener. It seems to me that the loneliness that springs from combat results from the separation of pre- and post-combat experiences.

Looking back, I can recall the first onset of that loneliness. When I was accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, my life began to change. I certainly felt some excitement and anxiety as I started down this brave new path, but I also felt a deep regret that, in many respects, my life would never again be as carefree. I sacrificed wild college years for hard and tedious study, so that I could better serve my nation. Although I’ve kept close contact with my friends, I know that they simply can't relate to most of my military experiences. That lack of understanding separates you from the life that you led and the life you now lead. West Point initiated that crevice of isolation that has turned into a gorge.

The first time I deployed I accepted the thought that I might not make it home. I understood the risks and I had very little trouble moving from the academic theory to the practical reality. I would either get smoked, or I wouldn't. I had metaphorically put my name in a hat knowing that mine might be the next drawn. As a deployed soldier the time I spent at West Point immersed in leadership examples (both good and bad) and rigorous academic study, seemed a waste. The brave, intelligent and disciplined soldier could end up dead just as quickly as a cowardly, foolish one. Facing your own mortality with such random, unforgiving swiftness gives you a unique perspective…and takes some time to accept.

Family and friends may try, but they will never really understand the “loneliness” of a deployed soldier. And as that soldier, you can only accept that "a man never steps into the same river twice" and know that you're not alone.

DCoE resources for you or someone you know:

DCoE Outreach Center (24/7)

Call: 866-966-1020 / E-mail: resources@dcoeoutreach.org

Chat: www.dcoe.health.mil/24-7help.aspx

Afterdeployment.org

www.afterdeployment.org

Real Warriors Campaign

http://www.realwarriors.net/

Wasp Sailors Aid in "Extreme Makeover"

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Koons, USS Wasp Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) Sailors volunteered to help build a house during the filming of the television show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", Jan. 31-Feb. 6.

"What we've done is to change the life of a family forever, and for us to be a part of helping others in the Hampton Roads community is a big deal," said Lt. Matthew Weems, USS Wasp chaplain.

The show's format involves the destruction of an old home and the building of a new one for a needy family. Wasp's involvement with the project began when members of the ship's Volunteer Service Program committee heard about it on the radio.

"Soon after we learned about it, we called the show's producers and volunteered to help," said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Richard Weaver.

During the project, many other volunteers, both civilian and military, aided in the effort.

"The immediate response was huge when we put the word out," said Betsy Burns, project volunteer coordinator. "Since Hampton Roads is such a close-knit community, we had volunteers from all branches of the armed forces as well as civilians, many with military ties, come out to help."

The Wasp Sailors assisted in tasks such as clearing the road of debris and helping repair lawns dug up by construction machinery. They also performed crowd control duty as the new house was revealed to the waiting family, Feb. 5

"It was a very emotional moment for them," said Weaver. "They were excited to see their brand new home ready for them to move into."

For other volunteers, helping to build a brand new house is simply part of a good day's work.

"I did an 'Extreme Makeover' project in Jonesboro, N.C., and it's a great thing to do because it helps out families, and the community as a whole," said Jay Burns, local resident and volunteer.

For Weaver, the main benefit of the project is helping those in need to get back on their feet.

"It was a chance to give back to the community, and to be involved in a charitable project such as this, is always a good thing," he said.

This article was sponsored by Military Books.

Troops Urged to Quit Smokeless Tobacco

From a Tricare News Release

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Feb. 10, 2011 – When the Defense Department weighs in on kissing and spitting, it’s with good reason -- two good reasons, in fact: love and health.

Using smokeless tobacco can pose a stinky, unsavory obstacle to sharing a kiss with a loved one, parent, child or sweetheart. It also may cause a slew of serious health problems. That’s why TRICARE wants military personnel to participate in the Great American Spit Out on Feb. 24, and kiss the spit goodbye for a day.

About 19 percent of 18- to 24-year-old men in the armed forces use smokeless tobacco -- that’s more than double the national rate. The DOD Quit Tobacco -- Make Everyone Proud campaign at www.ucanquit2.org is focusing on helping those who spit and chew tobacco to develop a personalized cessation plan.

“Many of our servicemen started using smokeless tobacco at a young age due to peer pressure and became addicted before realizing the negative effects it could have on their personal relationships and health,” said Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Aileen Buckler, a U.S. Public Health Service officer and chairman of the DOD Alcohol and Tobacco Advisory Committee.

Throughout the month of February the DOD website will host a special Great American Spit Out page, www.ucanquit2.org/facts/gaspo/, where service members can publicly post their pledge to quit.

Also on the website, Navy Capt. (Dr.) Larry Williams, public health emergency officer, will answer questions about smokeless tobacco. Installations planning cessation events will find ideas, an event registration page, pledge cards, and downloadable promotional materials.

Service members and their friends, families and other supporters are invited to join the event on Facebook at www.facebook/ucanquit2.org. Those planning to quit can get a “Kiss me, I’m Tobacco Free” badge to post on their Facebook page.

The website will showcase graphic photos of the devastating effects of surgery for oral cancer, which has been linked to smokeless tobacco use. Those who use smokeless tobacco are marked by bulging cheeks, gunk stuck in teeth, permanently discolored teeth, and spitting cups -- all universally unappealing. Visitors will also find hard-hitting facts that dispel the myth that smokeless tobacco is a safe alternative to smoking. For example, almost half of those who contract oral cancer die within five years, and one American dies from oral cancer every hour.

“Don’t let spitting and chewing get in the way of your personal relationships,” Buckler urged. “Take this opportunity to do something for yourself and those you love. Kiss smokeless tobacco goodbye and experience the benefits to your social life and health.”

Enrolling in the website’s comprehensive support system, Train2Quit, can be the first step in the journey to saying goodbye to smokeless tobacco. The system features interactive components such as quit tools, self-assessment questionnaires, and quizzes.

Service members can create a customized quit plan with a calendar to track progress and learn how to beat cravings, overcome weight gain and cope with nicotine withdrawal. The site also has personal quit coaches, available 24/7, to get answers to questions about becoming tobacco free.

Airmen Missing in Action From WWII Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 11 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Army Air Forces Technical Sgt. Charles A. Bode, 23, Baltimore, will be buried on Feb. 11 in Arlington National Cemetery.  On Nov. 20, 1943, Bode, along with 10 other B-24D Liberator crew members, took off from Jackson Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea, on an overwater mission near the northern coast of the country.  During the mission, the only radio transmission from the crew indicated they were 20 miles northwest of Port Moresby, but they did not return to Jackson Airfield.  Subsequent searches failed to uncover any evidence of either the crew or the aircraft.

Following the war, the Army Graves Registration Service conducted investigations and searches for 43 missing airmen including Bode and the other 10 airmen, but concluded in June 1949 that all were unrecoverable.

In 1984, the government of Papua New Guinea notified U.S. officials of a World War II crash site in a ravine in Morobe Province.  A U.S. search and recovery team investigated the crash site in late 1984 and located B-24 aircraft wreckage. They also recovered human remains but were unable to complete the mission due to time constraints and the threat of landslides.  From that time until 2004, multiple teams from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) attempted to access and excavate the location but the threat of landslides made recovery too dangerous to continue.  During a site visit in 2004, local villagers turned over human remains they had previously removed from the area.

In addition to Bode’s individual burial, the crew of 11 men, 1st Lt. Richard T. Heuss, 23, Berkley, Mich.; 2nd Lt. Robert A. Miller, 22, Memphis, Tenn.; 2nd Lt. Edward R. French, 23, Erie, Pa.; 2nd Lt. Robert R. Streckenbach, Jr., 21, Green Bay, Wis.; Tech. Sgt. Charles A. Bode; Tech. Sgt. Lucian I. Oliver, Jr., 23 Memphis, Tenn.; Staff Sgt. Ivan O. Kirkpatrick, 36, Whittier, Calif.; Staff Sgt. William K. Musgrave, 24, Hutsonville, Ill.; Staff Sgt. James T. Moran, 21, Sloatsburg, N.Y.; Staff Sgt. James B. Moore, 21, Woburn, Mass.; and Staff Sgt. Roy Surabian, 24, Medford, Mass., will be buried as a group on March 24 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of Bode’s remains.

At the end of World War II, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans.  Today, more than 74,000 are unaccounted-for from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.