Donley: Air Force Must Strike Balance in Budget

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes

Defense Media Activity

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Sept. 20, 2011 – The Air Force will maintain its technical edge and commitment to its people while addressing tough budget decisions, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said yesterday.

Donley spoke about the state of Air Force budget issues, current and future operations, and what Air Force officials are doing to maintain the force's capabilities during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.

"We are in a season of important national debate,” Donley said. “We have to move forward in a way that protects our national security and will provide our national leadership with the tools necessary to defend America's interests in the complex security environment in which we live."

Spending reductions across the Defense Department to help reduce the national debt will affect Air Force planning at all levels.

"Though very tough, these reductions are considered achievable as DOD reviews its roles and missions and examines all areas of the budget for savings," he said. "To get these savings, we will need to accept greater risk in some areas, terminate some lower-priority programs, streamline others, continue driving efficiency in our operations and make some tough choices about the core tenets of our national security strategy.

"It's safe to say that every single line of the budget is under scrutiny," he said.

Donley emphasized that DOD leaders are aware of how spending reductions could affect the services, and are working to mitigate any setbacks in the mission.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta “has made a commitment to ensure that our military has everything it needs to protect our national security at a time of considerable fiscal challenge in our country," he said. "And most importantly to our airmen, he has promised to fight for service members and their families as we face these budget challenges. He understands the importance of keeping faith with military service members and their families."

Donley also explained how balancing the force and modernizing equipment will play a factor in the way the budget is expended. Each factor must be considered in conjunction with the others.

"As we look at the Air Force budget, balance has been our guiding principle," he said. "If our force structure -- the size and composition of our Air Force -- is too large given the resources available, then we risk not being able to sustain the costs of ownership, such as providing for pay and benefits, training and materiel readiness. We need to avoid a hollow force."

If the force is too small, Donley went on to say, it could unintentionally drive some mission areas and career fields to unsustainably low levels, while losing the flexibility to accommodate new or evolving missions, or risk ability to sustain expeditionary operations.

Balancing the force also includes continuing to integrate total force airmen and assets.

"As we consider the broad scope of changes ahead, we are committed to maintaining an Air Force presence in each state, to include at least one active-duty, Reserve, or Air National Guard unit," Donley said. "This reflects our commitment to the total force, our ongoing efforts to find the right balance between our active-duty and our Air Reserve component forces, and recognition of airpower's important role in supporting governors and civil authorities in managing the consequences of natural disasters."

The secretary said that while it would benefit no one to down play the hard choices that confront the Air Force, neither should the picture be painted as so bleak that service members fear that the nation is turning its back "on those who have served with such devotion, and on the institutions that have kept our nation secure for generations."

"I want to make clear that as the Department of Defense adapts to the evolving budget environment, your Air Force is committed to keeping faith with our airmen and their families, and to sustaining core Air Force missions," he said.

Although much work remains before the Air Force can expect strategic clarity regarding budget reductions, Donley said there are certain key capabilities service officials are working to protect. One such area is the Joint Strike Fighter program, which provides the Air Force with the F-35 Lightning II.

"There are certain capabilities we will protect," he said. "We will apply best military judgment to oppose reductions that would cause irreparable harm.”

Donley said he and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz “are determined to set the right course, to make the right investments so that the Air Force evolves in positive directions, even with limited resources.

"We remain committed to maintaining air superiority and the capability to hold any target at risk," he said. "With a fighter fleet now averaging 22 years old, and with two decades of declining fighter force structure, modernizing our aging and smaller fighter force depends on the fifth generation capabilities of the joint strike fighter. Simply put, there is no alternative to the F-35 program. It must succeed."

Despite budget reductions, Donley said he is confident the Air Force will maintain its ability to flight, fight and win across the full spectrum of operations.

"The Air Force has always been a forward-leaning military service, always at the forefront applying new technologies to strengthen U.S. national security," he said. "And throughout our history, we have demonstrated the flexibility to evolve according to changing needs and requirements. The Air Force must be prepared to keep evolving as we finish today's fight and continue our mission to protect America today and in the future."

Obama: Americans No Longer Have to Lie to Serve

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 – President Barack Obama today issued a statement on the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that had barred gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

The repeal took effect at midnight.

Here is the president’s statement:

Today, the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is finally and formally repealed. As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members. And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service.

I was proud to sign the Repeal Act into law last December because I knew that it would enhance our national security, increase our military readiness, and bring us closer to the principles of equality and fairness that define us as Americans. Today’s achievement is a tribute to all the patriots who fought and marched for change; to Members of Congress, from both parties, who voted for repeal; to our civilian and military leaders who ensured a smooth transition; and to the professionalism of our men and women in uniform who showed that they were ready to move forward together, as one team, to meet the missions we ask of them.

For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to all our citizens. Our armed forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans. Today, every American can be proud that we have taken another great step toward keeping our military the finest in the world and toward fulfilling our nation’s founding ideals.

Kosovo-bound Soldiers receive sendoff

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By 2nd Lt. Nathan Wallin

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Elected officials, senior Wisconsin National Guard leaders, family and friends gathered at a large hangar at the 128th Air Refueling Wing in Milwaukee Friday (Sept. 16) to bid farewell to approximately 150 Soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

The Soldiers - members of the brigade's headquarters company as well as the 32nd Military Police Company - will serve alongside more than 700 National Guard Soldiers from seven other states, as well as six other nations, as part of a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo known as KFOR. The 157th will serve as the brigade headquarters unit for Multi-National Battle Group East, also referred to as Task Force Falcon.

Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, recognized the Soldiers preparing to deploy as well as their families.

"You can count on us," he said. "We'll do our job for you, as I know you'll do your job for the United States of America."

Gov. Scott Walker thanked the Soldiers for their continued dedication.

"Thank you for your service already," Walker said. "Thank you for being here today for this deployment. Most of all, thank you on behalf of a grateful state and a grateful nation."

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also praised the deploying Soldiers.

"You are making a sacrifice for everyone in this community," he said.

Walker presented Col. Jeffrey Liethen, brigade commander, with a state flag and asked the deploying Soldiers to remember the people of Wisconsin every time they looked at that flag.

Immediately following the ceremony, the deploying Soldiers departed for Camp Atterbury, Ind., for pre-deployment training. They will take part in Kosovo-specific mobilization training in Germany before arriving in Kosovo around Thanksgiving.

A maneuver enhancement brigade includes military police, civil affairs, engineering, signal and chemical units, and is designed to provide command and control and freedom of movement for a designated area.

Officials Expect Smooth ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 – The law is passed, the studies completed, the findings certified and the service member training accomplished. Today, after years of debate and months of preparation, the Defense Department starts on a new footing with the repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that since 1993 has banned gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

“Statements about sexual orientation will no longer be a bar to enlisting in the military or a cause for dismissal,” said Army Maj. Gen. Gary S. Patton, chief of staff for the Pentagon’s repeal implementation team.

In addition, former service members separated from the military under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell based solely on their sexual orientation will be eligible to reapply to return to military service. Patton said their applications will be evaluated using the same standards as all other candidates, and decisions will be based on needs of the service.

As these long-anticipated changes take place, Patton said he expects the repeal implementation to stay on track because of the pre-repeal training across the force. In addition, many other existing policies considered “sexual-orientation neutral” remain in place.

Duty assignments won’t be affected, and living and working conditions won’t change, Patton said. Service members won’t be separated or segregated based on sexual orientation, and will continue to share billeting and berthing as in the past.

With repeal, benefits will remain as they are. Service members will be able to designate whomever they want to receive member-designated benefits such as Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance, he said. Other benefits, such as basic allowance for housing, are limited by law and statute to cover only opposite-sex spouses and can’t be extended to same-sex partners, Patton said.

However, the Defense Department is studying the possible extension of other benefits where eligibility is not specifically defined by law, such as use of military morale, welfare and recreation facilities to same-sex partners. “We have not arrived at a decision on that,” Patton said. “The department continues to explore that possibility, post-repeal.”

Although the vast majority of military members and their families surveyed before the repeal indicated they had no issues with the repeal, Patton said he recognizes that some may. To those, he has a message: “We are not trying to change your beliefs. You have your freedom to exercise your beliefs and your freedom of speech.”

But with that, he said, “you have to maintain your dignity and respect for others.”

No new policy will allow anyone who disagrees with the repeal to break their contractual obligations. Anyone who has complaints or issues associated with the repeal should take them to a commander or inspector general, Patton said. Sexual orientation issues will not be addressed by equal opportunity channels in the way gender, race and religion issues are.

With the repeal in effect, Patton said he expects military members will honor it. “The repeal is a law,” he said. “The military follows the law and we are executing this as part of our mission.”

A key in carrying out the mission, he said, is a principle emphasized during mandatory pre-repeal training throughout the force that the military has embraced throughout its history.

“The training focused on the changes in policy, that sexual orientation is not a reason for a person to be denied enlistment in the service or separated from the service. And that we continue to treat all service members with dignity and respect,” Patton said.

Part of that respect, he said, is to allow all service members to live honest lives. “During Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, gay and lesbian service members were required by law to withhold their sexual orientation, and in some cases, they potentially violated their own personal integrity,” Patton said. “Upon repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, they won’t be placed in that predicament.”

As a result, the repeal “will strengthen the military,” he said. “It will continue to allow us to keep gay and lesbian service members in the military, and we will be a better military for it.”

Face of Defense: Soldier Cites Struggles, Recovery

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By Kevin Goode

Fort Bragg Paraglide

FORT BRAGG, N.C., Sept. 19, 2011 – Army Suicide Prevention Month provides a lot of information and training aimed at educating soldiers not to take their lives, said a troubled soldier who’s now getting help.

Yet, he said, the September-observed annual campaign often doesn’t provide real stories of soldiers who’ve struggled mightily and reached out for counseling.

“Until you suffer loss, whether it’s an emotional toll from combat, divorce or depression, you don’t realize the toll it’s taking on you,” said Army Capt. Douglas Ray, the public affairs officer for the 16th Military Police Brigade here.

“Divorce, for me, was an eye-opener,” he said. “The maturity that I needed was stuff that I’m still working on today. It was something that I think I only could have gotten and started developing through counseling.”

Ray said so much is asked of soldiers like maintaining success of the unit, completing the mission and training that it leaves very little time for self-assessment, and the stress and the pressure can be overwhelming. It is sometimes forgotten, he added, that not all wounds are visible.

For Ray, understanding suicide and depression was something he learned early. When he was 15, his father committed suicide.

“My dad suffered from bouts of depression,” he said. “I still do, but the key to success for me is recognizing when it’s happening so I can combat it. Genetically, I have some of the same issues my dad had.”

Like many, Ray said he didn’t always feel the need to speak to a counselor, but his mother recognized the signs in her son’s life and took him to see a counselor.

It wasn’t until years later, after his divorce, that he recognized the value of talking to a counselor.

“The emotional toll of divorce and, -- good, bad or indifferent -- it was my wake-up call. I knew I needed help,” Ray said.

Ray said his ex-wife told him to get help.

“She was telling me I needed to get help, but you aren’t going to listen to somebody you aren’t talking to anyway,” he said.

The Army’s suicide prevention program, Ray explained, tells leaders and rank-and-file soldiers to be aware, observant and to listen when fellow soldiers experience emotional problems. Military leaders and troops are to encourage troubled service members to seek help. And troops seeking counseling and other assistance for mental health issues should face no stigma for doing so.

“The value of talking to a dispassionate third party, somebody who didn’t know me who could tell me what I was saying or define for me things I couldn’t define for myself was great,” Ray said.

One person telling his story opens the door for dialogue, Ray said, but it is just a beginning. In the military, he said, there are many who have dealt with everyday struggles and suffer in silence.

“My hope is that if somebody can see that there is somebody out there who realizes they need help and get help and now is doing much better, they, too, will keep on trying,” he said.

Important messages conveyed by suicide prevention programs should be personalized, Ray said.

“Soldiers need to know that there are other soldiers and resources out there, [and] that [other soldiers] have gone through the same thing and have overcome the obstacles, with help,” he said.

Success before Stress: Are You In Control of Your Choices?

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By Dr. Vladimir Nacev

Dr. Vladimir Nacev is a retired Navy and board certified clinical psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology. He has served overseas and spent most of his time in clinics and hospitals providing clinical services to service members and their families. He is a subject matter expert on alcohol and substance abuse prevention at DCoE.

As a child growing up in three different cultures, I learned the value of being cosmopolitan—learning the difference between having an opinion and holding a judgment, between having a choice and making a decision. Years later when I became director of an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation clinic, I conveyed the message that while drinking alcohol is a choice, the amount of alcohol we consume may not always be under our control. For some, drinking alcohol is a high risk factor with serious consequences that may need to be avoided.

The clinical literature defines three types of drinking: binge drinking, heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. Recent data on service members with multiple deployments suggest that those born after 1980 are almost seven times more likely to develop a new onset of binge drinking and five times more likely to develop a new onset of alcohol-related problems. Men who were exposed to combat were more likely to experience a new onset of binge drinking while women more likely to report a new onset of heavy drinking and less likely to report binge drinking or alcohol-related problems.

From my clinical work I learned that the dilemma in becoming sober was not the stopping of drinking, but overcoming denial and rationalizations. Denial is a primitive defense mechanism that hides reality from us, sometimes for good reasons. Rationalization is a process where we give ourselves permission to do something we were going to do anyway. These are like ankle-biters that we need to unload and be ever so vigilant against. The challenge is to learn how to be a responsible drinker. Drink not just with your mouth open but your eyes open too.

As a parent, professor and clinician I always try to convey that we have the freedom to do anything and everything we want, but we should also have the courage to face the consequences. The challenge in life is to go through it with lots of fun, happiness and growth while paying the least amount of consequence or punishment. Healthy living means creating a safe, nurturing environment with trust, compassion and humor. By doing this we’ll reduce our stress levels and risk factors that sometimes compel us to hurt ourselves.

These are exciting and challenging times for our warriors and the psychological health field. For those who are serving or have served and their families, my sincerest “thank you.” We could not have done it without you. Bravo Zulu!

Chairman’s Corner: Happy Birthday Air Force!

By Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON – Our Air Force was literally born “in the air.” President Truman was aboard the presidential VC-54C – the Air Force One of its day – when he signed the National Security Act of 1947. With Truman’s stroke of the pen sixty-four years ago, America’s Air Force was launched as an independent Service.

In the decades since, our Air Force has grown a rich tradition of pushing back the bounds of the possible, rising to meet any challenge.

Wherever the interests of our Nation or our allies and partners are at stake, the men and women of our Air Force have been – and continue to be – among the first and fastest to answer the call.

I see this every day as I’ve watched and worked with airmen around the globe in my four years as your chairman.

From executing operations simultaneously across the spectrum of conflict and multiple domains, to delivering the highest chance of survival to our wounded of any war in U.S. history, the commitment of our airmen has been extraordinary and your contributions pivotal.

It has been a tremendous privilege to serve with the finest men and women in the world’s greatest air, space, and cyberspace force. I salute each of you and your families for your service and thank you for the difference you make for our Nation and for so many around the world. Happy Birthday Air Force!

31st Seabee Readiness Group Seabees Train Marines

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Dan Pearson, Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Seabees from the 31st Seabee Readiness Group (31st SRG) trained Marines here from the NINTH Engineer Support Battalion (9th ESB) to construct non-standard bridging using timber, hand tools and muscle from Sept. 12-16.

The 31st SRG Seabees taught Marines from the 9th ESB's Bridging Platoon valuable skills in preparation for the battalion's upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

"We've been looking at the after action reports of (the battalion we're relieving), and a lot of the missions they're doing have been taking MGBs (medium girder bridges) and replacing them with non-standard bridges," said 1st Lt. Matthew Paluta, bridging platoon commander. "This is a great opportunity for us to develop that skill set."

Medium girder bridges are only rated for 10 thousand passes before they must be disassembled and every component checked for structural integrity. Many of the bridges built by U.S. forces in Afghanistan are getting very close to that limit. "What this is going to do is allow us to pull our assets and give the Afghans more of a long-term structure," said Staff Sgt. Richard Glory, platoon sergeant. "If they're taught how to do it they can do their own repairs."

The training needed to construct a non-standard timber bridge is not available in the Marine Corps, so the platoon came to the Seabees of the 31st SRG to gain the mission skills they need.

"It's different from what we usually get. Instead of pins in metal bridges, we use bolts and wood. It's an alternative to metal bridging in case we don't have the means and supplies to do an MGB," said Lance Cpl. John Hoover. "We get to put it together and take it apart and try something new by adding more bays to make it longer. The quality of the training was really high."

Steelworker 2nd Class (SCW) Joseph Hamilton, 31st SRG Contingency Construction Crew Training, said the Marines were very motivated for the training. "They want to do it all by hand, because usually they won't have a forklift."

They performed the training in full battle gear with Kevlar and body armor and lifted 20-foot-long timbers into place to build the three-bay bridge.

"Most of these guys have only dealt with the MGB and have never built a timber bridge at all," Hamilton said.

The Seabee instructors' expertise was welcomed by the Marines of 9th ESB. "The Seabees really know a lot about bridging. They're helping us a lot," said Pfc. Timothy Haerr. "We're learning how to put them up and take them down so we can do it faster in combat. I've learned a lot in a short period of time."

The Marines' evident enthusiasm was due in part to the scarcity of the training, said 9th ESB Seabee Liaison Officer 2nd Lt. Matthew Librizzi. "We don't get many chances to do this in Okinawa, so when they get the chance, they are all into it. It's a good experience for the Marines to get."

This was not the first time Marines from the 9th ESB worked with Seabees from Port Hueneme to accomplish a task. In 2007, the 9th ESB worked side by side with Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR building combat operation outposts, forward operating bases and clearing roads of improvised explosive devices. The 9th ESB Marines and Seabees from NMCB 4 helped coalition forces achieve provincial Iraqi control in Iraq.

The training should pay off in another way for both the Marines and the Seabees in mutual respect and camaraderie as well. The Seabee instructors' knowledge and the Marines' discipline and motivation were just some of the qualities commented on by the trainers and trainees. "Some of these junior Marines have never operated with Seabees," said Glory. "As combat engineers, we operate with Seabees on a regular basis, and this helps build rapport."

The 31st SRG Seabees provide support to the Commanders, 1st Naval Construction Regiment, 9th Naval Construction Regiment, 30th Naval Construction Regiment and their subordinate units. The 31st SRG serves as the personnel receiving and processing activity for deployed Pacific Fleet Naval Construction Force units. In addition to training new personnel in transit, 31st SRG Seabees also provides support to active duty personnel family members through the family support groups.

Obama proclaims Employer Support of Guard, Reserve Week

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (9/19/11) - The National Guard and Reserve constitute nearly half of the nation's military forces and make vital contributions to overseas missions and domestic emergency response operations, President Barack Obama said in a presidential proclamation issued Sept. 16.

In the proclamation, Obama named Sept. 18 to 24 National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week.

"I call upon all Americans to join me in expressing our heartfelt thanks to the members of the National Guard and Reserve and their civilian employers," the president said.

He also called on state and local officials, private organizations and all military commanders to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, he said, "the 9/11 Generation has borne the burden of war with courage and valor, continuing the legacy of the brave men and women who served before them."

More than 5 million volunteers have worn the country's uniform over the past 10 years and thousands have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, the president said.

"During America's struggle for independence, ordinary individuals in small towns across the colonies banded together to confront an empire," Obama said. "Today, their spirit lives on in the Guard and Reserve."

The members of our National Guard and Reserve demonstrate the dignity and selflessness that are at the core of the American spirit, he added.

"These patriots serve not only in combat, but also when disaster strikes at home, offering a strong hand to victims of floods, tornadoes, and fires across America," the president said.

Employers who provide jobs to Guard and Reserve members when they are home also are vital to the nation's success, he said, and many offer support as well to service members and their families during deployments.

"We are deeply grateful for their work, and this week we celebrate not only our service members, veterans and military families, but also their devoted employers," the president said.

This year, he added, to help connect service members, veterans and their families to employment opportunities, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, announced Joining Forces, a comprehensive national initiative to support and honor the nation's patriots.

"As part of this initiative we issued a challenge to private sector employers to hire or train 100,000 unemployed veterans or their spouses," the president said, and proposed tax credits for businesses that hire returning troops.

"This week we remember our obligations to each other, and we pay tribute to the employers of our Guardsmen and reservists whose support and flexibility is vital to the strength of our military," the president said.

"The support of employers across our country," Obama added, "reflects the best of the American spirit -- the understanding that we are bound together to serve and protect our nation."

Flags lowered to half-staff Monday in Wisconsin for U.S. Army Sgt. Chester Stoda

Flags at Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities across the state will fly at half-staff Monday (Sept. 19) in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda of Black River Falls, Wis., who lost his life while serving his country supporting Operation Enduring Freedom according to a Department of Defense release received late Friday. The Guard will render these honors in accordance with an executive order that will be issued by Gov. Scott Walker Monday.

EXECUTIVE ORDER:

Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Sergeant Chester G. Stoda of the United States Army Who Lost His Life While Serving His Country Supporting Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan

WHEREAS, Sergeant Chester G. Stoda provided faithful and honorable service to the people of the State of Wisconsin and the people of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the people of Wisconsin mourn the death of Sergeant Chester G. Stoda; and

WHEREAS, a memorial service will be held for Sergeant Chester G. Stoda on September 19, 2011;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, SCOTT WALKER, Governor of the State of Wisconsin, by the authority vested in me by Federal and State law, do hereby order that the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of Wisconsin shall be flown at half-staff at all buildings, grounds, and military installations of the State of Wisconsin equipped with such flags beginning at sunrise on Monday, September 19, 2011, and ending at sunset on that date.

______________________

All Wisconsin state government facilities are covered by the governor's order and a 2007 amendment to the U.S. Flag Code now requires all federal facilities in Wisconsin to comply. Other government agencies, businesses and private residences with flagpoles may also honor Sergeant Chester G. Stoda by lowering their U.S. and Wisconsin state flags to half-staff during the daylight hours on September 19.

U.S., Australia Tackle 21st-century Challenges

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2011 – Australia and the United States are determined to broaden their security cooperation efforts to counter threats and challenges of the future, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said yesterday.

“The depth and breadth of discussions we’ve had here today really do confirm for me that the United States has no closer ally than Australia,” Panetta said in San Francisco following meetings there with senior Australian officials.

Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defense Minister Stephen Smith at the Presidio for the annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations, called AUSMIN.

The meeting was held on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the treaty at the Presidio by Australia, New Zealand and the United States in 1951.

After the meeting, the leaders released a 2011 Joint Communiqué and a separate joint statement on cyberspace, and then held a press conference in a room whose windows looked out through pine trees and Monterey cypress on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Australia and the United States are strengthening and broadening their 60-year-old alliance, the leaders said, to address together emerging 21st-century challenges such as global terrorism and cyber defense.

“With that goal in mind,” Panetta said, “we discussed today the efforts of the bilateral force posture working group … which has been making steady progress in developing options for our two militaries to train and operate together more closely, including more combined defense activities and shared use of facilities.”

The work to strengthen the alliance’s presence and posture in the Pacific “reflects a reality we all recognize,” he added, “that the security and prosperity of our two great nations depends on the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.”

The joint statement on cyber security sends a strong signal about the two nations’ commitment to work together to counter and respond to cyber attacks, Panetta said.

“This is the battlefield of the future,” the secretary said, “and our ability to work together is extremely important to the challenge of being able to counter this very significant emerging threat.”

Australia’s military contribution to the International Security Assistance Force is about 1,550 defense force members deployed within Afghanistan, according to the Australian government’s Defense Department. About 800 Australian military personnel deployed in the broader Middle East region provide support functions, including maritime, for Afghanistan operations. About 50 Australian civilians are working in Afghanistan, as well as 10 Australian defense civilians.

Panetta expressed the deep appreciation of the U.S. government and the American people for Australia’s very strong partnership in Afghanistan and for the considerable sacrifices Australian troops and their families have made during this time of war.”

For 60 years, the secretary said, the United States and Australia “have gone into battle together and we have bled together because of the shared values and the deep bonds between our people. We are both immigrant nations and that creates a very strong bond between the United States and Australia, particularly for this son of immigrants.”

Clinton said each new global challenge has brought a new cause for cooperation with Australia.

“That is exactly what happened 10 years ago when America was attacked on Sept. 11, just days after the 60th anniversary of our alliance,” she said. “Australia invoked the treaty to come to our defense.”

As Pacific powers, Australia, the United States and their alliance have provided a context for the region’s dynamic economic growth, Clinton added, underwriting peace and security and promoting trade and prosperity.

“The detailed joint communiqué we’re releasing today reflects the full range of our interests, values and vision,” the secretary said, “from maritime cooperation to joint development projects to building stronger ties with India to promoting democracy and prosperity in the Pacific islands.”

And, Clinton joked, “although Australians have taken over the Oscars, the Tour de France and now the U.S. Open, our affection for your country remains undiminished.”

The attacks on 9/11, Rudd said, are “a salient reminder of our common challenge based on our common values to deal robustly, comprehensively and globally with the challenge of terrorism.”

Looking westward from the California coast, Rudd said the Asia-Pacific region is destined to flourish and thrive as a powerful economic engine with global reach.

“The waters of the Pacific we see out there off the coast of San Francisco will be the center of gravity for global economic growth, for global security for the half-century to come,” Rudd said. “And it is in our combined interest to ensure that this Pacific century is indeed a pacific century.”

And, the AUSMIN cyber statement represents a new, critical area of operational engagement between Australia and the United States, he said, “which affects governments, business and citizens the world over, the region over and our countries individually.”

Like confronting terrorism, Rudd added, the cyber security realm “is a battleground that is fought unconventionally often without a known enemy. That is why it is critical that this becomes a formal part of our alliance deliberations and committed cooperation in the event of such attack in the future.”

The leaders also reviewed common engagement with China and the countries of Northeast Asia, including South Korea and Japan, and with countries in Southeast Asia, including Australia’s neighbor, the Republic of Indonesia, Rudd said.

Additionally, the leaders discussed engagement across the Indian Ocean and South Asia and the important relationship with India, as well as regional challenges including North Korea’s nuclear program, “which profoundly concerns our two countries,” Rudd said.

“More broadly we also reviewed our common interests in the Middle East,” he added, including the Mideast peace process, recent changes under way in Egypt and Libya and, with great concern, the abuse of human rights and the killing of innocent people in Syria.

Smith reported progress on the bilateral working group that for a year has been developing options to align Australian and U.S. forces for improved national security.

“We are looking at increased joint exercises, increased joint training [and] increased joint operations,” Smith said, adding, “As I’ve put it colloquially in Australia, more ships in, ships out; more planes in, planes out; more troops in, troops out.”

The group has more to do, Smith said, noting the work is very important.

“Whilst we regard this very much potentially as an extension of the good work we already do,” he said, “it will in an operational sense be the single largest potential change to the day-to-day working arrangement of the alliance since the establishment of … joint facilities.”

According to the communiqué, “Our discussions have acknowledged that our respective military forces must be postured to respond in a timely and effective way to the range of contingencies that may arise in our region, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and to enhance our ability to work with the armed forces of regional partners.”

Such discussions continue, Panetta said.

“Our goal here” he said, “is to try to strengthen that relationship as best we can so we can send a clear signal to the Asia-Pacific region that the United States and Australia are going to continue to work together, to make very clear to those that would threaten us that we are going to stick together.”

DCoE Webinar Focuses On Case Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) will host its latest webinar, “Case Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury,” Sept. 22, 2011 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (EDT).

This webinar will focus on the need for a collaborative approach to treat mild traumatic brain injury and the role of the case manager. Additionally, resources and tips will be provided to assist military case managers with service members who experience persistent symptoms related to concussion and mild TBI.

Scheduled speakers are:

■Lisa Perla, Department of Veterans Affairs, national polytrauma coordinator

■Susan Kennedy, DCoE, TBI Clinical Standards of Care directorate, case management consultant

■Jennifer Audette, Albany Veterans Affairs Medical Center, N.Y., Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn program manager

All professionals who care for service members are encouraged to attend, including service members and their families. To register or for more information, please email: DCoE.MonthlyWebinar@tma.osd.mil.

Follow us on Twitter@DCoEPage during the webinar for live Tweeting and use #DCoEWebinar to join the conversation.

For previous DCoE monthly webinar topics, presentations, audio recordings and resources, visit the webinar section of the DCoE website, dcoe.health.mil. For more information on future topics, please download the complete webinar schedule.

SECNAV Visits NSWC Crane

From Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Public Affairs

CRANE, Ind. (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus made his first visit to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, Sept. 13.

Mabus met with NSWC Crane Commanding Officer Capt. Charles S. LaSota and Technical Director Duane Embree as well as civilian and military personnel to learn how the warfare center supports the Navy.

"It is an honor to have the secretary of the Navy visit NSWC Crane," said LaSota. "He is passionate about our vital role in the nation's defense and we appreciate his acknowledgement of our technology and support to the warfighter."

During his visit, Mabus toured the command's Ground Expeditionary Electronic Warfare Division to learn about its advancements in countering improvised explosive devices - one of the largest threats to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The secretary also visited the Crane-developed Ground Based Operational Surveillance System. A tower-based system that provides continuous, real-time surveillance, radars and wireless data transmission to communicate with troops on the ground as well as unmanned aerial systems - GBOSS has been a vital system against IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Other technology briefings showcased NSWC Crane's power and energy initiatives including the Solar Stik and the Power Management Kit. NSWC Crane's Solar Stik system consists of a single wind turbine generator and two solar panels that are used to charge a 12-volt lead acid battery system, allowing special forces to power equipment using energy harvested from the sun and wind, alleviating the burden and vulnerabilities associated with refueling generators. The Power Management Kit is a lightweight device that can charge equipment in the field used by the Navy's explosive ordnance disposal team. The device eliminates nearly 50 pounds of batteries usually hauled by the teams.

This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps which will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve Secretary Ray Mabus' energy goals to improve our energy security and efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence, and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.

Mabus also learned about NSWC Crane science, technology, engineering and math outreach efforts to increase elementary, middle and high school students' interest in technology-related fields as well as the warfare center's nationally recognized wounded warrior program that helps veterans transition to civilian employment.

Located on the third largest naval installation in the world, the warfare center is a naval laboratory with research and development efforts that support the Navy by providing capabilities and resources in sensors, electronics, electronic warfare and special warfare weapons.

Wisconsin Guard unit demonstrates its ability to serve, protect

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

A Wisconsin National Guard unit continues to hone its skills for responding to threats of weapons of mass destruction in the state.

The 54th Civil Support Team, a full-time joint Army and Air National Guard unit based in Madison, is participating in a five-day exercise named "Operation Bay Watch" in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The exercise scenario depicts a domestic terrorist attack involving a nerve agent at the Door County Fairgrounds race track, and also a dirty bomb laboratory in the municipal area.

According to Karl Nagel, a member of the Army controller-observer team heading the exercise, the 54th CST will be judged on how well it responds to various training events. Some events from the race track venue could recur in the dirty bomb laboratory venue if observer-controllers determine that the 54th CST requires additional training.

Lt. Col. David May, deputy director of domestic operations, plans and training with the Wisconsin National Guard's Joint Staff, explained that the 54th CST is required to complete a training proficiency exercise approximately every 18 months. Their last certification exercise was in March 2010.

"With one of two exercise days complete, the team is doing very well," May said Sept. 14. "But [the unit] will face some rigorous challenges on the final day. The scenarios are built to ensure the team is tested in all the required areas, but also are intended to be realistic."

The 54th CST assists local first responders in determining the nature of an attack, provides medical and technical advice, and - as the first military responder to the scene - serves as an advance party if additional state or federal military resources are required. They do not take over the scene, but coordinate with the local incident commander and determine how to best assist local response efforts.

Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, said that while the Civil Support Team is not a brand-new concept - it was conceived during the second term of the Clinton administration - it nonetheless reflects the changing role the National Guard plays in protecting the homeland.

"The 54th CST represents the high end of our core mission," Dunbar said. "Floods, fires and storm responses may not require the same specialized skill sets that the Civil Support Team possesses, but deep down it's the same mission - provide capabilities to local authorities to safeguard our communities. But whether natural or man-made, if the threat changes, the National Guard adapts."

May noted that local support in Door County for this exercise has been outstanding.

"The county parks department and staff, the county emergency manager, Sturgeon Bay Police Department, local businesses and local citizens have accommodated everything that we have needed," he said.

This exercise follows on the heels of real-world protective missions the 54th CST conducted at Lambeau Field in Green Bay for the season-opening National Football League game, at the State Capitol building for the 9/11 10th anniversary ceremony, and at Miller Park in Milwaukee for a celebration of 9/11 veterans. The same proactive mission to detect and counter threats was also recently conducted at the National Guard Association of the United States general conference in Milwaukee at the end of August.