Face of Defense: Soldier Mentors Kids on Drug Dangers

By Rick Scavetta

U.S. Army Garrison-Kaiserslautern

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany, April 12, 2011 – As Army Sgt. Mark Arnett wraps up his tenure here teaching kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, he can look back knowing he made an impact on children's lives.

For the past two years, Arnett has taught the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in the Kaiserslautern Military Community's four elementary schools.

"It's been great for me to see the difference D.A.R.E. is making in kids' lives," Arnett said. "The light bulb goes on and the wheels are turning," he said of how quickly children understand the message about the risks of drug and alcohol use.

Since 1983, D.A.R.E. has taught millions of students worldwide about the dangers associated with using alcohol and drugs. National D.A.R.E. Day is observed each April in the United States by a presidential proclamation, community events and other activities. This year, President Barrack Obama declared April 7 as National D.A.R.E. Day.

It's been a few weeks since Arnett taught his final D.A.R.E. class here. He departs Kaiserslautern soon for Fort Knox, Ky., where he’ll serve with the 1st Infantry Division.

Meanwhile, Arnett said when kids see him in the Kaiserslautern community, they ask him to come back.

"That's rewarding, to know that they learned and that it was a fun experience for them," he said.

During a previous duty tour at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Arnett donned the McGruff the Crime Dog suit and shook hands with kids. He had never been in front of a classroom, but in becoming Kaiserslautern's D.A.R.E. instructor, Arnett learned the subtleties of teaching.

"As a soldier, you instruct your peers," he said. "It's totally different in front of fifth graders, trying to get them to listen to you."

Department of Defense Dependents Schools students here complete 10 lessons over several weeks, working from D.A.R.E. planners, Arnett said. Weekly lessons include students acting out skits on peer pressure and watching videos about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

In Europe, where beer and wine are often part of the local culture, alcohol is easier to obtain at a younger age. Children living overseas know that, Arnett said.

"We stress the impacts alcohol has on young bodies, the adverse effects that it can have," he said. "Kids are pretty smart. They know it's bad for you, just not how bad it can be."

What kids learn in D.A.R.E. can have a ripple effect within their families, Arnett said. One Kaiserslautern fifth-grader recently brought her lessons home and helped her mother quit smoking, he said.

Staffing a D.A.R.E. officer for Kaiserslautern Military Community schools make sense, as police in military communities mirror the work of their civilian counterparts, said Master Sgt. Kenneth Pryor, U.S. Army Garrison-Kaiserslautern’s provost sergeant.

"It gives us an opportunity to have an officer go into the classroom, so the kids don't just see a police officer as a cop," Pryor said. "It humanizes the individual."

In February, Lt. Col. Kevin Hutchison, commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Kaiserslautern, spoke at the Kaiserslautern Elementary School graduation. He thanked Arnett for his efforts in making the D.A.R.E. program a success.

"He is the face of D.A.R.E. in our community," Hutchison said.

Arnett will pass the D.A.R.E. teaching reins to Army Spc. Kathy Ogburn. In less than four years as a military police officer, Ogburn has served at Fort Hood, Texas, and helped train local police in Afghanistan. She said she’s excited about taking on new challenges here.

"I've worked the road and I've deployed," Ogburn said. "Now, I get a chance to do something completely different."

Research Examines Blast Impact on Human Brain

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

FORT DETRICK, Md., April 12, 2011 – There’s little debate about the risk of a brain injury when a service member gets a blow to the head -- whether from an enemy round or from crashing against a wall or being inside a vehicle during an explosion.

But some of the foremost academic researchers from around the world, working in cooperation with the Defense Department’s Blast Injury Research Program, are trying to determine exactly what happens to a service member’s brain when it’s exposed to a blast, but with no direct head impact.

Their answers could change the way the military protects tens of thousands of deployed troops from improvised explosive devices, mortar rounds and other explosions, Michael J. Leggieri Jr., director of the Defense Department’s Blast Injury Research Program Coordinating Office, told American Forces Press Service.

DOD has long recognized the risks of overpressure and shock waves associated with blasts on the human body, Leggieri said.

For the past 18 years the Army Medical Research and Material Command based here has conducted a robust research program focused on occupational exposures to blasts -- such as when an artillery crewman fires a howitzer.

As a result, the command helps the Army evaluate the blast impact of every weapons system before it’s fielded.

But the current conflicts, and the frequency of percussive blasts and explosions, leave researchers questioning: What effect are they having on the brain, and how can we better protect service members against traumatic brain injuries?

The answer isn’t as easy as it may appear, Leggieri explained. That’s because, despite decades of study in the United States and around the world about brain injury, no one completely understands what happens to the human brain during a blast.

In fact, DOD has a lot of clinical data about the impact of blasts on the brain, but that’s from animal studies, Leggieri said. Comparing animal data to humans, particularly when dealing with something as complex as the brain, raises as many questions as it answers, he said.

In terms of humans, DOD has just one confirmed clinical case of a deployed service member who suffered a brain injury in a blast without hitting his head, Leggieri said.

“We know a lot about what happens when you get hit in the head or hit your head against something and it causes a brain injury,” Leggieri said. “That has been studied for decades, primarily by the automotive industry. Impact is something we know quite a bit about. But this whole question about blast is still a question.”

And although the Army is at work on its second-generation helmet sensor with plans to field it soon to about 30,000 soldiers, there’s still no clear indication of what those blast readings will mean in terms of the brain.

Theories abound in how blasts can cause brain injuries, Leggieri said. One prevalent theory advocates that the blast shock wave causes the skull to flex and as a result, damages the brain. Another theory actually has nothing to do with the head. It supports the idea that the blast pressure squeezes the thorax -- much the way fingers squeeze a tube of toothpaste. The result, theorists say, is a sudden vascular surge that goes up into the brain, causing an injury.

Getting to the bottom of what exactly happens is more than a scientific exercise, Leggieri said, it’s critical to finding the best way to protect service members.

The first theory might support a new kind of combat helmet protection, or modification to the current helmet. The latter might call for modified body armor. But providing the wrong solution, no matter how well-intentioned, could actually backfire in adding more weight and less mobility to the warfighter.

“If you are restricting their ability to perform the mission, you are actually putting them at risk because now they can’t do what they need to do to survive,” Leggieri said. “So you have got to be very careful about what protection systems you put on a soldier. You have to make sure they are really effective at what they are supposed to be doing.

“My point is, if you don’t understand the mechanism, you can’t possibly protect against it,” he added. “You may end up doing something that has no effect whatsoever.”

Leggieri assembled a forum of about 100 of the world’s leading brain-injury researchers to determine, first, whether their work shows that blast-induced mild traumatic brain injuries actually exist, and, if so, what happens within the brain to cause them.

“With this expert panel, we are reaching out to this community of modelers, clinicians, and experimentalists who do animal research in blasts, and getting these communities to finally work together and to communicate with each other,” he said. “We are going to have them help us pin down what we don’t know and to get to a solution.”

The meeting proved to be a huge success. Attendees “started to communicate, to share information, to come up with ideas about how we might approach this,” Leggieri said.

What’s needed, they agreed, is a validated mathematical model to show how a blast interacts with the human head, and how that might cause a brain injury. Current models -- and there are several -- are based on simulations that can’t be scientifically validated, Leggieri said.

So Leggieri established a DOD Brain Injury Modeling Expert Panel, made up of 19 leading modelers from academia, industry and government. So far they have met four times, with their fifth and final session slated for this summer.

“Their work is going to help us develop a research roadmap that will take us from where we are today … to a validated model of blast-induced brain injury that we can say with confidence is an accurate model of what happens to humans,” Leggieri said.

That milestone, he said, will help the Defense Department better tailor protective systems for its service members.

“The goal and the focus are on how to prevent this,” he said. “Let’s understand it and find a way to prevent it. If we can make a difference just in these areas, I think would be a huge advancement.”

Open Applications: Homes for Wounded Heroes

Military Warriors Support Foundation (http://militarywarriors.org) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 2007. Our Mission is to provide support for our nation’s wounded heroes as they transition out of the military and into their new civilian life. This is a very fragile time for these heroes, and their families, and it is our goal to provide programs that facilitate a smooth and successful transition. Our programs include home donation, academic and employment assistance, as well as recreational activities to develop life skills that are essential to achieving success.



Through Homes4WoundedHeroes, our homes donation program, we award 100% mortgage-free homes to combat wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to the home, each family receives three years of family and financial mentoring so that they may learn the necessary skills to become happy and successful homeowners. Our Homes4WoundedHeroes program not only changes the lives of the hero and their family, but it also changes the lives of the generations that follow.


MWSF is proud to announce that we are now accepting Open Applications for our Homes4WoundedHeroes program! If you are a combat wounded hero, injured during the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts, you are eligible to apply!! We encourage you to designate as many areas, within the United States, as possible that would work for you.


Recipients must still meet our eligibility requirements ( http://militarywarriors.org/openhomes) and will still undergo our usual review process. We are accepting applications for 14 days only, April 12th - 26th!! In addition to receiving the home, the family will receive 3 years of home and financial mentoring to set them on a path of success for the future!!

MWSF plans to award up to 100 homes during the next 9-12 months, so apply as soon as possible as homes will be awarded to the first and most qualified applicants!!


For questions, you may contact our office at 210.615.8973, or send an email to Support4WW@MilitaryWarriors.org


To Apply - http://militarywarriors.org/node/151

NORAD Flight Exercise Planned for National Capital Region

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), will conduct an exercise, Falcon Virgo 11-07, beginning midnight Tuesday into early Wednesday morning in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. and Frederick County, Md.

Flights in the National Capital Region are scheduled to take place between midnight Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.  Flights in the Frederick County, Md., area are scheduled to take place between 4:10 a.m.and 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.

In the event of inclement weather, the exercise will take place the next day until all training requirements are met.

For more information on Falcon Virgo exercises, please contact CONR Public Affairs at 850-283-8080, or the NORAD Public Affairs Office at 719-554-6889.

Naval Base Guam Welcomes Residents Back to Sumay

By Anna-Victoria Crisostomo, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Former residents of Sumay village and their descendents returned to their pre-World War II (WWII) home to celebrate the second annual "Back to Sumay Day" on U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) April 9.

Coordinated by island mayors from the villages of Agat, Santa Rita and Piti with NBG officials, Back to Sumay Day offered the returning residents the chance to return to the location of their once prosperous village.

The event started with a Catholic mass attended by former residents and their families. After the mass, Santa Rita Mayor Dale Alvarez welcomed many generations of people and reflected on the significance of the celebration.

"As the saying goes, 'you cannot know who you are, unless you know where you came from,'" Alvarez said. "Today, my dear people of Sumay, we are at the place where we came from."

Alvarez thanked Capt. Richard Wood, NBG commanding officer, for opening up the gates and allowing the residents to return to the place they once called home.

The mass was followed by cultural song and dance presentations by students from Harry S. Truman Elementary School in Santa Rita, Guam, and Cmdr. William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School on NBG.

Afterwards, attendees were treated to a traditional island feast and the sounds of local music. Throughout the day people viewed old photographs and a map of Sumay village that were part of a historical display. Some elders were able to locate their former homes from an aerial photograph and reminisced about their childhood in Sumay.

Juan T. Guzman, former Sumay resident and retired naval aviation machinist's mate, recalled his life as a 7-year-old boy in the old village.

"Oh, I love it because the people, the families, are very close together," Guzman said.

Volunteers from the University of Guam made their way through the crowd, listening to the stories of the manåmko' (man-UHM-koo), or elderly people, in an effort to record their memories for publication. Volunteers from military commands supported the event by assisting with set up and take down, trash recycling and helping the elders when needed.

Agat Mayor Carol Tayama reflected on the day's events and the hospitality offered to the community by base leadership.

"This is really a very great event for the original residents of Sumay and their families to come back and see where they were born, where they grew up, and we thank Capt. Wood for doing this for us," Tayama said.

Wood echoed Tayama's sentiments and stressed that, under his leadership, Back to Sumay Day would be a continuing event.

"It's important [for us] to remember that we're part of the community, that we work together with the mayors and the local villages to try to enhance cultural and historical opportunities for people who have ties to this land," Wood said. "[They can] come back and see where their grandparents lived, where the invasion occurred, where the village was destroyed - and how it was destroyed - and to welcome these people back for as long as they want to come back."

Back to Sumay Day was started by former NBG commanding officer Capt. Scott Galbreaith in 2010.

Political, Civic Leaders View Damage Along Kolekole Pass

By Grace Hew Len, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

WAIANAE, Hawaii (NNS) -- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Commander Capt. Richard Kitchens, hosted a group of political and civic leaders on a tour of Kolekole Pass Road in Waianae, Hawaii, April 9 to initiate talks of reopening the thoroughfare only months after weather caused extensive damage.

The Navy closed Kolekole Pass Road in January when significant road damage after heavy rains, and further pavement deterioration of the roadway, rendered the road unsafe for vehicular travel.

The tour group included state representatives, council members and neighborhood board representatives from the Leeward Coast, and representatives from State Civil Defense and the City Department of Transportation Services.

Kitchens hosted the tour in efforts to work with community and state government to discuss the issues and possibilities surrounding the reopening of Kolekole Pass as a state evacuation route. Kolekole Pass has served as an alternate route to Farrington Highway.

"There is no short-term solution to safely open the road due to the additional damage caused by the slide," said Kitchens, referring to the damage to an existing slide area on the road. "The roadway and embankment at the slide area requires major repair for it to be safely used."

Longitudinal cracks forming on the existing pavement require further monitoring. Kitchens said an in-depth assessment of the rockfall and roadway slope failure was completed in March. The engineering study provided recommendations for repairs to the landslide area and erosion control measures.

"The Navy is committed to being good neighbors and good stewards, and understands the compelling need to restore the road as an emergency egress," said Kitchens. "We are ready to partner with other government agencies and the community to find the funds to restore this important emergency evacuation route for civil emergencies."

Seabees Cleanup High School in Support of Operation Tomodachi

By Lt. j.g. Benjamin Dunn, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 Public Affairs

SENDAI, Japan (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 provided support for Joint Support Forces Japan (JSF-J) March 30 at a local Sendai, Japan, high school affected by the March 11 tsunami and earthquake.

Seven NMCB 133 Seabees operating out of Camp Sendai in the Miyagi Prefecture, were part of a 50-person joint-forces team tasked with supporting cleanup efforts at the Ishinomaki Technical High School.

More than 800 students, school staff and local residents were isolated on the second floor of the high school for two days without running water, while the first floor was flooded with mud and debris in the rush of the tsunami.

Service members from the U.S. Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy, in conjunction with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), joined school officials and students with the cleanup of the classrooms, common spaces and student hall. Heavily soiled walls and workstations were scrubbed. Floors were cleared of mud and mopped, and damaged furniture and debris were removed as the school was restored to working order.

"It was great to go out and get involved with the cleanup and assist in the recovery effort. You could tell the students and school staff were excited and very appreciative to receive our support," said Builder 1st Class Matthew Culberson, a Seabee from NMCB 133 who participated in the cleanup.

The Seabees, and civilian and military leadership, collaborated on site to direct the efforts. Seabees are intimately familiar with disaster recovery operations, especially to those of NMCB 133 and other Atlantic-based battalions whose Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., homeport was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Disaster recovery is a primary mission of the U.S. Naval Construction Force, who train extensively for and excel in contingency operations.

The school's vice principal requested assistance with cleanup efforts to restore the school in time for the student's entrance exams.

Ishinomaki Technical High School was the first of many schools identified by the JGSDF slated to use U.S. forces in cleanup operations. The JGSDF has requested U.S. military assistance in clearing mud and heavy debris from the school grounds of over 40 damaged schools in the Miyagi Prefecture.

One of the benefits of clean up projects like this is, once schools are re-opened, students return to school and parents are free to return to work, and to contribute more to the recovery of their homes and towns. As children return to school, a sense of normality can be established while progress toward recovery is achieved with a greater sense of hope in the wake of the disaster.

NMCB has provided engineering and disaster-recovery subject matter expertise, and advisement of Naval Construction Force capability during humanitarian assistance and distaster relief efforts in the region.

Operation Tomodachi is a joint effort between the combined forces of the U.S. Military and the Japan Self-Defense Force aimed at facilitating recovery efforts in northeastern Japan.

Today in the Department of Defense, Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will attend the announcement to launch a year-long campaign in support of military families, “Joining Forces,” at noon EDT at the White House.  Media interested in attending should RSVP to firstladypress@who.eop.gov.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen delivers remarks at 6:30 p.m. EDT at the USO-Metro 29th Annual Awards Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, Arlington, Va.  Media interested in attending should contact Melissa Benik at 703-696-4827.

Commander, U.S. Pacific Command Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard and Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea Army Gen. Walter L. Sharp testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal 2012 and the Future Years Defense Program at 10 a.m. EDT in room SD-106, Dirksen Senate Office Building.

This Day in Naval History - April 11

From the Navy News Service

1783 - Congress declares the end of war with Great Britain.

1900 - The Navy accepted its first submarine, USS Holland (SS 1).

1970 - Launch of Apollo 13, commanded by Capt. James A. Lovell Jr. Former naval aviator Fred W. Haise Jr. was the lunar module pilot. While 200,000 miles from Earth, there was an explosion on board which forced Apollo 13 to circle the moon without landing. Mission duration was 5 days, 22 hours and 54 minutes. Recovery was by Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4 from USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2).

1991 - A U.N. ceasefire ends the Persian Gulf War.

U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Drop in on San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class(PJ) Michelle L. Turner

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- More than 33,000 San Diego Padres baseball fans watched eight members of the U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, parachute into Petco Park in San Diego during the opening ceremony of the Padres' 2011 Military Opening Day, April 10.

The game, part of Major League Baseball's opening week, marked the Leap Frogs' first performance in their home city this year.

"It was fantastic," said Karen Madden, the Padres' entertainment coordinator. "It was an honor and a privilege to have the Leap Frogs as part of the Padres' 2011 Military Opening Day."

Fans clapped and cheered as members of the team entered the baseball stadium with the word 'SEAL' embroidered on their blue and gold canopies.

"I loved it, it was so amazing!" said Verna Brawley, a Padres fan. "It looked like they were being blown away from the wind and then they all came together and landed in the stadium with such precision. They made it look so easy."

The Leap Frogs stacked their parachutes in the air to form 'biplanes' during the performance and the last jumper flew a large American flag to close the show.

The Leap Frogs brought the crowd to their feet and were followed by the Marine Corps Band San Diego's rendition of the national anthem shortly afterward.

"As SEALs, we're really America's away team," said Chief Warrant Officer (SEAL) Keith Pritchett, a member of the Leap Frogs. "It's always great to be able to perform at home and to be able to show San Diegans how much we appreciate their support."

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy Recruiting.

Comics on Duty Entertain USS Ronald Reagan

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas A. Groesch, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Comedians from Comics on Duty performed standup comedy shows for Sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) April 10 and 11.

Celebrity comedians Tom Foss, a 20-year comedy veteran, and Danny Villalpando, a comedian for more than 16 years, visited Ronald Reagan to help crewmembers relax and boost morale through laughter. The comedians were flown onto the ship took a tour, greeted crewmembers, and also observed flight operations before performing.

"I love the ship. I think the ship is great," said Villalpando. "We got to go inside the bubble [flight deck bubble] which was definitely entertaining. Everyone aboard Ronald Reagan is as sweet as can be."

Ronald Reagan's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Fun Boss Kendra Smith helped plan and coordinate the event.

"They say laughter is the best medicine, and it's helpful when you've been at sea for awhile," said Smith.

Yeoman Seaman Jasmin Moraleslicea was appreciative that entertainers would make the journey to Ronald Reagan while the ship is underway.

"They put everything they were doing in their lives on hold to come here and entertain us," Moraleslicea. "It means a lot to the crew that they would take time to do that."

Villalpando performed first, sharing a comedy routine he said was inspired from his personal experiences in life. He was followed by Foss, who delighted the crowd with his comedy routine, which he described as "mistakes" from his life that everyone can laugh at.

"I don't write many jokes, I just re-tell stories," said Foss, with a laugh.

With every seat in the mess deck filled, and standing room only during the event, the Comics on Duty event was a success with Villalpando and Foss creating many new fans.

"It was great to see so many of the ship's crew attending the comedy show," said Smith. "I'm curious to see how many people have clicked the "Like' button on Tom Foss and Danny Villalpando's Facebook pages after last night's show."

After the show the comedians took pictures with the crew, handed out Comics on Duty patches, and autographed photos.

"It is an awesome feeling to be able to help raise morale," said Villalpando. "You guys have been out here for 67 days; you need a good laugh."

Foss expressed his feelings on performing for service members.

"As a comedian I use my freedom of speech to make a living," said Foss. "To get to entertain the people who defend my most precious freedom is very rewarding."

Villalpando agreed with the sentiment.

Comics on Duty, sponsored by Navy Entertainment, has been entertaining troops around the globe since 1992.

The Ronald Reagan strike group is currently deployed and operating in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Navy Medicine Makes House Call During Dallas Navy Week

By Valerie A. Kremer, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

DALLAS, Texas (NNS) -- The Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) and Navy Medicine examined shared initiatives focused on best practices in patient centered and veteran care as part of Dallas Navy Week, April 7.

Rear Adm. Richard C. Vinci, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, deputy chief, Logistics and Installations, met with leadership, staff, and patients, and toured the VANTHCS facility during the visit.

"We are grateful Rear Adm. Vinci visited our facility during Dallas Navy Week," said Mark Doskocil, acting director, VA North Texas Health Care System. "The opportunity to share information about best practices, advancements, and the exceptional health care we provide to our Nation's veterans was a bonus," said Doskocil. "Our patients and employees were also honored to salute and meet the Admiral."

During the visit, leadership from VANTHCS and Vinci shared similarities and best practices in the Navy's Medical Home Port model. In this model, patients are assigned a team of health care providers that monitor their needs and continued care of the patient. The model leads to better coordination of health care services and decreased emergency room visits.

VANTHCS's similar initiative is called Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). The model is comparable to the Medical Home Port model, assigning the veteran with a professional health care team that plans care and life-long health and wellness needs for the patient.

"Gaining this shared knowledge and learning best practices from the VANTHCS PACT model provides insight as to how both organizations are providing the same type of care and moving in the same direction when it comes to patient centered care," said Vinci. "As Navy Medicine fully implements the Medical Home Port model across the Navy Medicine enterprise, we will continue to share these best practices with the VANTHCS."

As the Department of Veterans Affairs' second largest health care system, VA North Texas Health Care System serves more than 100,000 veteran patients each year, delivering more than one million outpatient visits. The award-winning facility prides itself on providing exceptional care to America's heroes in 38 North Texas counties and two counties in southern Oklahoma.

Dallas Navy Week is one of 21 Navy weeks to take place across the country this year. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they make in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

Dempsey Lays Out Themes for Tenure as Army Chief

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2011 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wanted an Army chief of staff willing to challenge the status quo, and he believes he has one in Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

Dempsey succeeded Gen. George W. Casey Jr. as the Army chief of staff during a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., today. Due to a family tragedy, Casey and his family did not attend the event.

“Whatever challenges confront us in the future, your Army will respond with the same courage and resolve with which it has responded over the past 235 years,” Dempsey said.

Gates extolled the new chief of staff saying that he was impressed with Dempsey’s “keen mind, strategic vision, quiet confidence and the energy he brings to every assignment.”

Dempsey served as the commander of the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad in 2003. He then helped put in place the Iraqi army and police. He served as the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command and stepped in as acting commander when Navy Adm. William Fallon resigned.

“While serving as acting Centcom commander, General Dempsey reorganized the headquarters, published new theater strategy and campaign plans, all the while managing the rotations and deployments of tens of thousands of troops throughout his command’s [area of responsibility],” Gates said.

He moved to the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command where he “spread the gospel of adaptation in a world, where, as he is fond of saying: ‘Uncertainty is the only certainty in life in this century,’” the secretary said. “He has pushed the Army to become more versatile and decentralized, and overhauled its approach to war-fighting, publishing a new capstone concept that elevates adaptation to an institutional imperative.”

Today the Army is in transition, which is not a new phenomenon, Dempsey said in his remarks. The Army is always in transition, but this one is unique because the Army is entering its 10th year of war with an all-volunteer force. The general called that an “incredible testament to America’s soldiers and their families.”

The way ahead will be tough and the service must “center its sights on who we are as an Army.”

Dempsey spoke about themes important to him and the service moving forward. “We will provide whatever it takes to achieve our objectives in the current fight,” he said. “We will win in an increasingly competitive learning environment -- that’s the domain in which we must prevail.”

The service must develop a shared vision of the Army in 2020. “We will design units and prepare leaders to over match their adversaries,” he said. “We will master our fundamentals and develop deep global expertise.”

He said the Army will continue to change, but that the service will change only when it contributes to the versatility and relevance of the nation’s military instrument of power.

In an era of constraint, the Army must maintain a reputation as a good steward of America’s resources. “We will remain connected to America, and we will succeed in all of that because we will re-connect, engage, empower and hold our leaders accountable,” he said.

Between now and June 14, the Army Birthday, Dempsey said he will engage the senior military and civilian leaders of all services. He will publish “a document that charts our way ahead including a portfolio of initiatives that chart our way ahead to deliver on the themes.”

Trust is the heart of the military, the general said. “My commitment and expectation to this great Army is that we will work on strengthening the bond of trust among those with whom we work, among whom we support and among those who march with us into battle,” he said. “On the foundation of trust we will overcome any challenge we confront in the future.”

U.S. Military Remains Ready to Help Japan

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2011 – The U.S. military remains ready to help Japan, even as it has repositioned many assets since a 9.0 magnitude earthquake marked a chain of disasters there one month ago, military officials said.

Numerous aftershocks have rocked northeast Japan since the March 11 earthquake, including a 6.6 magnitude aftershock reported today and a 7.1 magnitude quake reported April 8.

The U.S. military has not been called to help with the most-recent aftershocks, but continues to give support and remains positioned to respond to requests by the Japanese government, Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan told reporters today.

“We continue to provide some measure of assistance to Japan, but certainly not at the level it was at a few weeks ago,” Lapan said.

The military sent some 20,000 troops, 140 aircraft and at least 20 ships in support of Operation Tomodachi since March 11, according to military officials.

While no U.S. ships are directly supporting Operation Tomodachi today, several are forward deployed to Japan as part of their regular operations, officials said. About 50,000 U.S. troops are based in Japan.

“U.S. forces remain committed to the government and people of Japan and are positioned for sustained support,” DOD public affairs officer Navy Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde said. “U.S. military forces throughout Japan maintain the capability to provide rapid response.”

The repositioning of U.S. military assets “is an indicator of the tremendous progress the Japanese government and the Japan Self-Defense Forces have made on the ground in dealing with this catastrophe,” she said.

The initial earthquake was followed by a tsunami and a partial meltdown of some of Japan’s nuclear reactors, as well as multiple aftershocks in the past four weeks. The U.S. military responded to Japan immediately, with assistance to Japanese forces, as well as more than 2 million gallons of water, 189 tons of food, 11,960 gallons of fuel and 100 tons of relief supplies, officials said.

Buddha’s War – A Vietnam Veteran’s Novel

With the addition of Sergeant Major Krystek, Military-Writers.com now lists 1249 current, former and retired US Military personnel who have authored nearly 4000 books.

Sergeant Major Dean Krystek, USA (ret.) “was assigned to the to the Special Security Group, MACV HQs, from May 68 to Dec 68; with the SSG detachment at the 25th ID in Cu Chi base camp from Dec 68 to Jul 70, and then again with the MACV SSG from Jul 70 to Oct 70.”

A Vietnam Veteran, he retired in 1995. Although he retired from the Army he says of his post-military career, “I may have left the military, but until recently I wore the uniform; working as a contractor in Afghanistan for nearly 5 years in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where I trained the Afghan military alongside US and coalition forces.” Sergeant Major Dean Krystek is the author of Buddha's War.

According to the book description of Buddha’s War, “SP4 Bruce Dudak, aka "Buddha" has been in Vietnam a while and feels it's time to go home. Originally flattered by the young bar girls who seemed to adore him in spite of his rather odd appearance (resembling the Chinese image of the Buddha), he's grown weary of their attention, and longs for an honest relationship. Bruce feels he's destined for a lonely life because he knows his chances of finding true romance are nil, but nevertheless, he he's tired of being a Saigon warrior.

Trinh, once a popular bar girl, has had her life shattered by the war. Her face, still stunningly beautiful on one side, is obscenely disfigured on the other. Betrayed by the American soldier she loved, she is also destined to be alone.

When fate brings them together, Bruce finds Trinh unexpectedly alluring. At first he denies his interest in her, yet he is compelled to be with her. Trinh does not want Bruce's pity, yet his sincerity offers her renewed hope. As they discover their love for one another, they also discover that the peace they seek comes from how they view themselves and not how they appear to others.”

Army Change of Responsibility

As Delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Fort Myer, Va., Monday, April 11, 2011

Earlier today, we said goodbye to a valued leader, George Casey.  This afternoon, we welcome a new Chief of Staff, General Marty Dempsey, who will lead America’s oldest military service, the United States Army, into the future.

First, I too would like to recognize the Dempsey family.  His wife, Deanie, who has endured all the endless moves and extended absences experienced by so many of America’s military families.  Thank you Deanie, you have been a real friend to military families and a stalwart advocate for our wounded warriors and I know you will continue to champion the Army family.  I’d also like to thank the Dempsey children for their service, Christopher, Megan and Caitlin, who all followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the Army.

I’ve known Marty for some years now.  He has always impressed me with his keen mind, strategic vision, quiet confidence and the energy he brings to every assignment.

A real soldier-scholar, Marty earned a Masters in English from Duke University and then returned to West Point to teach English to young cadets.  But it was in the field, with mud on his boots and in the company of his beloved fellow soldiers, where General Dempsey truly shined.  His learning, training, and leadership experience prepared him for the challenges that awaited in Iraq.  First, as commander of the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad during the difficult initial year, then heading up Multi-National Security and Transition Command in 2005, where he stood up the Iraqi Army and police forces that played such a key role in the success of the surge. 

During his 36 years of active service, General Dempsey is one who has never been satisfied with the status-quo – a quality I have always looked for when selecting our military’s senior leaders.  That is one of the reasons I was so comfortable having General Dempsey assume the leadership of CENTCOM – as a three star – when the position unexpectedly became available in 2008.  While serving as acting CENTCOM commander, General Dempsey reorganized the headquarters, published new theater strategy and campaign plans, all the while managing the rotations and deployments of tens of thousands of troops throughout his command’s AOR.

As leader of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, General Dempsey spread the gospel of adaptation in a world, where, as he is fond of saying: “Uncertainty is the only certainty in life in this century.”  He has pushed the Army to become more versatile and decentralized, and overhauled its approach to war-fighting, publishing a new capstone concept that elevates adaptation to an institutional imperative.

Before recommending him to the President as the next Army Chief of Staff, General Dempsey and I had talked about some of the same questions I posed recently to the cadets at West Point: In a post-Iraq and eventually, a post-Afghanistan future, how does the Army right-size itself to address future threats while maintaining hard-won battlefield experience?  And, how will the Army keep, challenge and empower those bright, young, battle-tested officers returning home so they will be around to lead it into the future?

The Army’s force design study he began while at TRADOC will, I’m certain, find the answers to some of those questions I’ve raised.  When it comes to developing and retaining future Army leaders, General Dempsey understands that a complex and unpredictable world will demand yet more agility and more resilience from our young men and women in uniform.  In turn, the Army must continue to challenge these young NCOs and officers to help them develop personally and professionally.

I’m confident Marty Dempsey will bring the same passion and dedication to building the Army’s next generation of leaders and guiding its future transition as he has to every other position during his impressive career.  Marty, you truly are a soldier’s soldier and I know the Army is in able hands.

Thank you and god bless you all.

International Surface Warfare Officers School Fosters International Relations

By Surface Warfare Officer School Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Fifteen naval officers graduated from the three-week Combat Information Center Watch Officer (CICWO) course during a ceremony at the International Surface Warfare Officers School (ISWOS) on board Naval Station Newport, R.I., April 1.

The officers were from Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tunisia, Trinidad-Tobago, and Uruguay. More than 150 allied nations send military students through selected courses at training centers and schools throughout the Naval Education and Training Command domain.

"The mission of ISWOS is simple; create the foundation for building trust through knowledge sharing for the purposes of international partnership and global security," said Lt. Cmdr. Jody Mandeville, director of the Surface Warfare Officer School International program. "The program is designed to foster international cooperation and prepare officers to serve at sea through professional education and knowledge sharing, and falls in line with the chief of naval operations' guidance for 2011, of establishing international relationships to increase security and achieve common interests in the maritime domain."

During their stay, students were immersed in the school's mission of preparing officers to serve at sea. The course emphasizes multi-threat warfare, combat information center equipment, special maneuvering, and navigation.

Students were taught how to plan, coordinate, and manage the supervision of all combat information center operations and training during routine peacetime steaming.

The school's high-tech conning officer virtual environment (COVE) and full mission bridge simulators gave the students a greater understanding of ship handling.

The students shared the same facilities and instructors with American students, and like their American counterparts, used the same modern classrooms and high-tech virtual reality trainers. The technology, along with hands on training, is used to broaden the scope of the students surface warfare knowledge, and ranges from basic seamanship to complex maritime operations.

Social and cultural events are included in the curriculum. Each student was assigned a sponsor to introduce them to American culture and foster personal relationships. During their free time the sponsors hosted students in their homes, took them to movies and gave them opportunities to experience American culture in an informal setting.

Students also participated in field service programs designed to promote an understanding of American society, its institutions, ideals and overarching commitment to basic principles of human rights. Trips included lectures at Salve Regina University, social gatherings with international students attending the U.S. Naval War College, and a Newport history and mansions tour.

Troops to Receive Full Mid-month Pay on April 15th

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2011 – All service members will receive their full mid-month pay they have earned in their April 15th paychecks, Pentagon officials said today.

“Basically, all active duty and reserve service members will receive full mid-month pay on the 15th of April,” Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said. “It may be in two separate payments, but on the 15th everyone will receive their full allotted pay.”

Confusion arose about the April 15 payday due to the threatened closure of the U.S. government last week. Administration and congressional leaders came to an agreement that ended that action late on April 8.

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service had posted “net pay advice” to some service members, telling them what to expect in their accounts.

“Those net pay advice statements were made … before we knew there was an agreement to fund the government,” Lapan said. “When those were posted they only showed partial payments, but again, everyone will receive their full pay on the 15th for the duty served and it may be in more than one deposit.”

Officials urge service members to check their end-of-month leave and earnings statements carefully. The normal end-of-month statements will be posted to accounts on April 22.

The finance and accounting service has restored access to all leave and earnings statements, net pay advice or advice of pay for service members on the Mypay website.

“The most-current advice of pay will still only show the partial payments for April 1-8,” the finance service posted on its website. “This will allow us to make sure we can still process pay for April 9-15 and take steps to ensure it is in bank accounts on the 15th.”

Continuing Promise Veterinarians to Provide Vital Training for Jamaican Counterparts

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st (SW) Kim Williams, Continuing Promise 2011 Public Affairs

USNS COMFORT, At Sea (NNS) -- Military veterinarians embarked on board USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), in conjunction with other civilian veterinarians, began facilitating diagnostic parasitology classes for Jamaican veterinary practitioners during a port visit to Kingston, Jamaica, as part of Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11), April 10.

U.S. Army Capt. Rachel Lee and veterinary health care technicians, Army Sgts. Heather Robinson and Bethzabe Delgado, will perform the first study of food animals the island country has had in the last two decades.

"In Jamaica, we are going to be teaching at the national diagnostic lab, so we will probably have a very big influence there since they haven't had a parasitology study in food animals since 1980," said Lee. "These studies are very important for condemnation reasons, because there are a lot of things that animals can get that would prevent people from eating their meat safely."

Lee said that she and her team will teach at least three classes and work one-on-one with the host country animal health practioners.

"I'm excited to be on this mission, because I've only had one other similar mission to the Philippines, which was very small scale, as far as larger animals goes, so working as part of CP11 will be very exciting for me," said Robinson. "I'm very interested in helping the locals learn more about how to better their livelihood and their food because their animals are their lifeline."

The CP11 mission consists of veterinarian care in addition to medical, dental, engineering and subject matter expert exchanges. The mission is focused on helping people and building lasting partnerships with nations throughout the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Comfort will also visit Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Peru.

COMUSNAVSO/COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.