Navy Memorial Hosts 24th Annual Lone Sailor Awards Dinner

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Mikelle D. Smith, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy Memorial honored six military veterans during the 2011 Lone Sailor awards dinner held at the National Building Museum in Washington, Sept. 22.

The notable veterans included Lloyd "Beau" Bridges III, Jeff Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Brian Lamb, Jerry Coleman and Bob Feller. Beau Bridges, Lamb and Coleman were in attendance and were presented with the Lone Sailor award before military members and distinguished guests at the dinner.

Beau Bridges, an actor, producer and director, was recognized for his accomplishments as a civilian after serving both active and Reserve duty in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Lamb was recognized for his service as a naval officer and, later, founder of C-SPAN.

Coleman, said to be the only Major League Baseball player to have seen combat in two wars, was recognized for the 120 missions he flew as an aviator and his devotion to the Marine Corps.

The Lone Sailor award is presented to veterans who have excelled in their respective civilian careers while continuing to exemplify military values.

"This event allows the Navy Memorial Foundation, and the entire Navy, the opportunity to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the maritime services and our nation," said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson.

Beau Bridges, following in the footsteps of his father Lloyd, enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1959 and served eight years as a Reservist, after active duty.

"I enlisted when I was 17 after Kennedy threw up the blockade in Cuba," said Bridges. "My father, thinking that there would be a draft, suggested that I try to choose my service beforehand. My father had been made an honorary commodore in the Coast Guard and I knew a lot of the personnel, so I chose to enlist in the Coast Guard."

Bridges accepted his Lone Sailor Award on behalf of his deceased father, Lloyd, and younger brother Jeff who could not attend the event.

"My motto in the Coast Guard was Semper Paratus, which means "always ready." That is something that I have carried with me my whole life," said Bridges. "I also learned how important respect is; respecting yourself, respecting your mates, respecting the authorities that are training you and getting you ready ... these are all qualities that I have tried to pass on to my children and carry on for myself and my life."

Lamb, who enlisted in the Navy after graduating from Purdue University, served in many different media elements during his time in the military. He was an aide in the Johnson administration and also a Pentagon public affairs officer during the Vietnam War.

"When I got into the Navy there was structure," said Lamb. "I found people that were dedicated and committed ... I got a sense that people wanted me to learn and all of that fed into the beginning of my life; these foundation experiences will always be paramount in my life."

Lamb added that he didn't think he would have done what he did without serving in the Navy.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1967, Lamb began working as a freelance reporter and spent the next 12 years honing his skills as a political media journalist. In 1977, he won the support of key cable industry executives and began developing a station using satellite uplinks, known today as C-SPAN.

"The advice I would give to young Sailors today would be to look around and take advantage of every opportunity available to you," said Lamb. "Always ask questions. Get down to the bottom of why someone wants you to do what they are asking. If you pay attention, it will help you and it can work for you."

Coleman joined the Marine Corps in 1942 as a naval aviation cadet. After receiving his wings in 1944, he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant, and went on to see combat during World War II and the Korean War. (See these Korean War books written only by Korean War veterans)

"When I found out I was getting the Lone Sailor award, I was thrilled to death," said Coleman. "The proudest moment of my life was the day that I got my second lieutenant bars and my aviator wings ... that still, to this day, remains the highlight of my life."

Coleman returned to professional baseball in 1953 and finished up his career in 1957. He went on to become a sports broadcaster for CBS television and has been recognized by the Marine Corps, as well as being inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2007 for his work in broadcasting.

"As a professional baseball player and broadcaster I think the one thing that stayed with me since my time in the service has been trying to do my best," said Coleman. "When called upon, the United States military are the best qualified [people] in the world."

Prior to the awards ceremony dinner, Bridges, Lamb and Coleman received a tour of the Navy Memorial, which houses the Lone Sailor statue. The Lone Sailor statue is a composite of the U.S. Navy bluejacket, past, present and future, and was designed in 1987.

The Lone Sailor award has been presented to 73 Navy and Marine Corps veterans, and the Navy Memorial continues to provide Navy veterans and personnel currently serving with a place to celebrate their service.

Face of Defense: NCO Heads to All-Army Golf Trials

By Yvonne Johnson

U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Sept. 22, 2011 – Though Army Master Sgt. Sheila Sango has golfed just eight years, she has hopes of becoming one of the Army’s elite golfers.

Sango, a career counselor with the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command here, was selected to compete in the All-Army Golf Trials held tomorrow through Sept. 26 at Fort Jackson, S.C.

Upwards of 30 of the Army's top golfers will compete in the trials. The top finishers from the 72-hole event will form the 2011 All Army Team, which will compete against teams from the Air Force, Navy and Marines in the Armed Forces Championship held Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, also at the Fort Jackson Golf Club.

This is Sango's second trip to the trials. She competed last year and hopes to do better.

"I didn't do as well as I can; it was a very humbling experience," Sango said. "Through the grace of God, I will do well this year."

A native of California, Sango is a 21-year Army veteran who came to Aberdeen in March from Hawaii. Sango has two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and said she started playing golf while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, after years of playing softball.

"I used to love softball, but for some reason I always enjoyed watching golf," she said.

Sango credits various coworkers who shared their knowledge of the game as she honed her skills. She said a Maryland-based nonprofit golfing organization, along with local golf club manager Rick Bond and golf pro Dave Correll, took her under their wings.

"Dave has been very valuable; he's given me great tips," Sango said. "There is no perfect swing. He takes your swing and works with that.”

Bond called Sango a great player who is driven to succeed.

"She's not just a wonderful player -- she's even a nicer person," he said. "She's a joy to be around and she has a tireless work ethic. Even if it's raining, she's out here working on her game. We're all pulling for her."

Sango said she feels her first assignment on the East Coast is not by chance.

"I just know I'm here for a reason," she said. "I've found a nice church here and a beautiful place to perfect my [golf] game.”

Sango said she loves the quiet of early-morning golf.

"There's nothing here but you and nature,” she said. “I see geese and deer, and I even saw a little fox out here. It's inspiring. So I just keep trying and trying. I know God will still love me whether I fail or succeed as long as I just don't quit."

Report Examines Lower Body Blast Injuries

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2011 – The Army Surgeon General’s Office released its report yesterday on dismounted complex blast injuries, which more than twice as many service members have suffered annually since the 2009 troop surge in Afghanistan.

Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Joseph Caravalho Jr., commander of the Army’s Northern Regional Medical Command, detailed the report’s findings to reporters here.

The injury pattern known as DCBI, Caravalho said, is typically caused by a mine or roadside-bomb explosion, affects troops on foot patrol, and involves traumatic amputation of one leg, at least a severe injury to the other leg, and wounds to any or all of the pelvis, abdomen and genitals.

Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker charted a task force in 2011 to study the injury pattern, Caravalho said. The group, which Caravalho chaired, included experts from the Army, Marine Corps and Veterans Affairs Department, who examined the causes, prevention, protection, treatment and long-term care options for service members suffering these severe injuries, he added.

“These are life-defining injuries for these warriors and their families, but it is not desperate,” Caravalho said. “All of us in uniform understand it’s not just about saving lives; it’s about doing everything military medicine can do to help them lead full and productive lives.”

The report details the number of surviving service member amputees from January 2010 to March 2011. Of 194 amputations, 78 resulted from DCBI and 116 from other causes. By service, 53 Marines, 23 soldiers and two sailors suffered dismounted complex blast injuries resulting in amputation.

Caravalho said while severe injuries nearly doubled from 2009 to 2010, military medicine is saving more lives than ever before.

More combat troops are surviving, he said, because personal protective equipment and armored combat vehicles have decreased the number of head, torso and serious burn injuries; battlefield medics focus first on controlling bleeding with tourniquets; helicopter evacuation times are shorter; there are highly trained medical professionals aboard those helicopters; and medical surgeons have improved surgical resuscitation.

The task force identified 92 recommendations to improve quality of care to service members suffering lower body blast injuries and their families, Caravalho said.

Some best practices have already been implemented, he added: paramedic training for flight medics, to improve the level of care available during medevac; and early use of blood products, possibly even on the battlefield.

Other recommendations focus on point-of-injury and long-term pain management, and on a multidisciplinary approach to long-term care, he said.

Army Col. (Dr.) James Ficke, chairman of the orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation department at Brooke Army Medical Center near San Antonio, told reporters he has worked with many service members who have suffered complex blast injuries.

One, a West Point graduate of less than a year, lost three limbs, Ficke said.

“He’s married; he has a brand-new baby,” Ficke said. “He went through a grieving process, as we can only imagine -- it would be hubris to say we understand what they’ve gone through. But for him to go through that grieving process, and then recover, and be in a wheelchair the rest of his life, but see that child grow up -- he has said, ‘I’m glad I’m alive.’”

Service members who suffer these injuries can still live fruitful and productive lives, but need help to deal with fear of the unknown, he said.

“We have mentoring, we have individuals that have gone through something like this and are able to coach, and tell someone who’s just starting that process: ‘This is what it’s like. I’ve been there; I know,’” Ficke said.

Caravalho said research continues into “blast boxers,” armored underwear that may help prevent some genital and femoral artery injuries.

Army Col. (Dr.) Jonathan Jaffin, chief of staff for the Army Surgeon General Office’s Complex Battle Injury Work Group, said the military medical research community also is researching how to compress blood vessels “that otherwise you couldn’t get a tourniquet on.”

Ficke added, “If we can stop bleeding, we can keep people alive. That’s why we’ve seen such success in survival in this war, with severe injuries.”

The next challenge is to achieve similar success with genital injuries, he added.

“We have reconstructive urologists in the combat support hospitals, deployed, so that if there is a testicular or genital injury that is salvageable, that surgeon can do something far forward,” Ficke said.

The long-term prognosis for people who have had a leg amputated is best if doctors can preserve the other leg, even if it’s damaged, Ficke said.

“If we have technology … that can improve that ability to walk, it, long-term, gives them a better health outcome for heart disease, diabetes, all of those things,” he said. “We are now working with an exciting device that enables someone to use a limb that has had a devastating injury … and can still run.”

Military medical teams use a multidisciplinary approach to complex blast injuries, incorporating surgeons, therapists, prosthetists and behavioral medicine experts to give patients the best possible long-term outcome, Ficke said.

Caravalho said military medical professionals want service members to know there always is hope, even after complex traumatic injuries.

“Military medicine and the VA will be with them for the long term,” he said. “They are entitled to the absolute best care we can provide -- not because of their injuries, but because of their service.”

Schwartz: Air Force Will Preserve 'Core Contributions'

Discover the best Air Force books written by airmen for the airmen of tomorrow.

By Mitch Gettle

Air Force Public Affairs Agency

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Sept. 21, 2011 – Air Force leaders are focused on managing potential budget constraints so that the service can continue to provide its unique contributions to national security, the Air Force chief of staff said yesterday.

Speaking before hundreds of attendees at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here, Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said service leaders will not allow budget pressures to create a future force that "merely appears on paper to be effective, but in reality is reduced substantially in depth and breadth."

Schwartz said the Air Force's core contributions reside in four main areas: control and exploitation of the air and space domains, as well as mission assurance in cyberspace; global strike; rapid global mobility; and worldwide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

These four contributions are enhanced by the Air Force's superior command and control networks, Schwartz said.

"In any budget scenario, we will be required to continue providing capabilities that offer the nation's leaders a wide range of strategic options for rapid and flexible power projection," Schwartz said. "Our core contributions enable America's global perspective and result in appropriately tailored effects at times and places of our choosing."

The Air Force's unique capabilities are essential for the nation's strategic interests, economic prosperity and military readiness, Schwartz said, describing the United States as an "air and space nation."

"So as we may have to carefully consider reduced capacities in some areas while maintaining, and perhaps increasing investment in others, we must carefully consider and calibrate our acceptance of risk, manifested in a force that's smaller in size and scale," he said.

Such "difficult choices," will extend into the Air Force's procurement programs, the general said. Future development efforts will have to be less ambitious, and government and industry must appraise and adhere to genuine operational requirements and evaluate manufacturability early.

"We require straight talk from everybody," Schwartz said. "Government must ensure stable requirements and reliable funding streams, while industry must bid according to realistic estimates, and resist offering to sell more than what is operationally required."

The Air Force's acquisition corps is ready for such challenges, given the progress it has made over the last three years, he said.

"Although we will always be accountable for responsibly expending hard-earned and precious taxpayer dollars, we can regard our acquisition processes and procedures as having achieved a notable restoration of effective control and oversight," Schwartz said.

Another area the Air Force has made similar progress in since 2008 is the nuclear enterprise. "Without resting on our laurels, we can be proud of the result: a nuclear enterprise that is renewed and focused on its commitment to avoiding critical performance shortfalls," he said. "Our work in this critical area remains worthy, valued and essential to our nation's security."

To maintain such excellence across the Air Force, the general said the service will intensify its efforts to develop airmen, "arming them with intellectual and experiential strength that is on par with the advanced capabilities that our weapon systems provide."

Schwartz acknowledged the excellence displayed by all airmen by recognizing the achievements of Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez Jr., a joint terminal attack controller who, despite suffering serious wounds, helped save his Special Forces team in Afghanistan during a Taliban attack by expertly calling in air strikes.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley recently approved the awarding of the Air Force Cross, the service's highest military honor, to Gutierrez, Schwartz announced during his remarks.

While airmen face a future of fiscal and operational challenges, Schwartz said he remains confident that the Air Force will remain ready to defend the nation and its freedoms.

"The U.S. Air Force will be prepared for whatever the nation requires of us," he said. "We will provide the many utilities of airpower, as only airmen can provide it: vital in the national context and indispensable in the proud pursuit of our nation's interests.

"We will be there for our joint teammates and for the nation," he continued. "We will do it, or we'll die trying."

DOD Announces Return of Facilities in Germany

The US Department of Defense announced today that it will return several facilities to the German government.  These are: the Oberweis Annex warehouse; three communication sites at Pruem Air Station, Hahn Communication Station and ARFT radio relay station; Hochspeyer ammunition storage facility; and Bitburg Storage Annex No.2 (French Kaserne).

These closures are part of U.S. European Command’s continued effort to remove non-enduring sites, bases and installations from its real-property inventory.

There are no personnel changes associated with these facilities and their return will have no impact on U.S. Air Forces in Europe operations in Europe.  The United States plans to return the facilities to the host nation now through 2015.

Cost savings per site are as follows:

·         Oberweis Annex warehouse: approximately $1.24 million

·         Pruem Air Station communication sites, Hahn Communication Station and  ARFT radio relay station: approximately $560,000 

·         Hochspeyer ammunition storage facility: approximately $52,000

·         Bitburg Storage Annex No.2 (French Kaserne): approximately $1.5 million

As with all stationing actions, the United States has coordinated with host-nation officials prior to this public announcement.

For additional information regarding this announcement, please contact U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs at 011-49-6371-47-6558 or pa.ops@ramstein.af.mil .

2011 - 2012 Influenza Vaccination Season Underway

Discover the best Navy books written by sailors for tomorrow's sailors.

From Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs and U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy officials reminded all Navy active duty Sailors and Reservists Sept. 22 they must receive the seasonal influenza or "flu" vaccine upon its availability at their local installation's medical treatment facility (MTF) as directed by NAVADMIN 207/11.

The Navy's goal is to have 90 percent of all Navy personnel vaccinated for the flu by Dec. 1.

"It's important for all the active duty personnel to realize that the single best way to prevent the flu is with vaccination," said Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr., U.S. Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "Without it, the influenza virus could have a sweeping impact on our force readiness and ability to meet our mission."

Each year in the U.S., there are more than 25 million reported cases of the flu with more than 150,000 hospitalizations due to complications and more than 24,000 deaths.

Navy personnel and their family members can take preventive measures to reduce the risk of exposure to and spread of the flu. These methods include washing hands, maintaining a clean home and work environment, teleworking, and staying home from work when sick.

To learn when the flu vaccination will be available at your local MTF, check your installation newspaper, social media sites, or contact your local MTF.

Wisconsin Guard command chief warrant officer promoted to highest rank

Discover the stories of other Iraq War veterans from these Iraq War books written by the men and women who fought there.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Craig T. Krenz of Tomah, Wis., command chief warrant officer for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, was promoted to the rank of chief warrant officer 5 in a Monday (Sept. 19) ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters, Madison.

The rank of chief warrant officer 5 is the highest attainable as a warrant officer.

"I’m humbled and I’m honored," Krenz said. "I’ve had the fortune of having a great career."

During the ceremony, Krenz imparted lessons learned throughout his career. "The best thing I can pass on to anybody is know your commander’s intent."

Krenz enlisted in 1980 with the Headquarters Company, 724th Engineer Battalion located in Superior. He served as a vehicle driver, unit clerk, personnel staff non-commissioned officer and reconnaissance sergeant until 1990, when he transferred to the Headquarters State Area Command in Madison.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Craig T. Krenz, the command chief warrant officer for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, is promoted to the rank of chief warrant officer 5 in a Sept. 19 ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters, Madison. His father, Bruce Krenz, and wife Jeanine, help pin on the new rank. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez 

Krenz was appointed as a warrant officer in1992 after completing the Warrant Officer Candidate Course at Fort McCoy, and served as a military personnel technician in both the Headquarters State Area Command and 232nd Personnel Services Company.

In February 2009, he mobilized for active duty with the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and served in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Upon his return, he rejoined Joint Force Headquarters and was selected as the command chief warrant officer for the Wisconsin Army National Guard where he serves as the principal advisor to the adjutant general on Warrant Officer policy, career management and assignments.

1265 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coastguardsmen

With the addition of Sergeant Patrick Thibeault’s book My Journey as a Combat Medic from Desert Storm to Operation Enduring Freedom, Military-Writers.com now lists 1265 U.S. Military Servicemembers who have authored 3986 books.


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Patrick Thibeault, USA

Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

The November 17, 2011, episode of American Heroes Radio features a conversation with Chief Warrant Officer Marc Yablonka, CSMR, the author of Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Program Date: November 17, 2011
Program Time: 1500 hours, PACIFIC
Topic: Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2011/11/17/distant-war-recollections-of-vietnam-laos-and-cambodia

About the Guest
Chief Warrant Officer Marc Yablonka, CSMR, “is a graduate of the Professional Writing School of the University of Southern California. He served as a Public Affairs Officer (CWO-2) with the 40th Infantry Division Support Brigade and the Installation Support Group, California State Military Reserve, at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California, between 2001 and 2008. He also served with the Sar-El unit of the Israeli Defense Forces. Marc Yablonka is the author of Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.”

According to the book description of Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, “This is a newly-edited compilation of eighteen years of Yablonka’s reportage on American involvement in Indochina and the people affected by America’s connection to that part of the world. After all those years and numerous articles about an indelible mark on American history published in the likes of the U.S. Military’s Stars and Stripes, Army Times, American Veteran, the Weider History Group publication Vietnam Magazine and others, these stories needed a wider audience for the world to know what they suffered, how most survived, and how they overcame adversity. Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, will be the vehicle to the reader’s understanding of a war and its aftermath that may seem distant now, but what is important is that it will make readers realize—if they haven’t already—that in war, whether in the jungles of Vietnam or the sands of Iraq, in a very real sense, while who wins and who loses is obviously important, what is equally necessary is that good somehow must and shall prevail.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2011/11/17/distant-war-recollections-of-vietnam-laos-and-cambodia

Listen from the Archive:
http://www.americanheroesradio.com/distant_war.html

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Panetta: Budget Cuts Will Boost Risk to Nation at War

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 – Budget cuts create more risk for the military in a time of war, but the risk can be reduced by making decisions strategically and protecting core national security interests, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

“While we will continue to focus on reducing overhead and duplication, make no mistake,” Panetta told reporters during a Pentagon news briefing, “these reductions will force us to take on greater risk in our mission to protect the country in time of war and in the face of growing security challenges.”

The nation must think and act smartly as it makes difficult but necessary fiscal decisions about force structure, personnel and operations, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who joined Panetta at the briefing, said.

“It is because I believe that our national debt is our greatest national security threat that I also believe we must do our part to reduce it, to limit its harm,” he added.

The department, Panetta said, is undergoing a strategy-driven process to prepare to implement the more than $450 billion in savings that will be required over 10 years as a result of the debt-limit agreement.

“This review is still ongoing,” he said. “No decisions have been made, but I am committed to making these decisions based on the best advice that I receive from the service secretaries and from the service chiefs, as well as the combatant commanders.”

The following principles will guide such decisions, he said. The nation must:

-- Maintain the world’s best military, a force capable of deterring conflict, projecting power and winning wars;

-- Avoid a hollow force and maintain a military that, even if smaller, is ready, agile and deployable;

-- Take a balanced approach to the entire budget for potential savings -- from trimming duplication and bureaucratic overhead to improving competition and management in operating and investment programs, to tightening personnel costs and developing a smaller, more agile and flexible future force; and

-- Keep faith with the men and women in uniform because the volunteer force is central to a strong future military.

Panetta said that the budget-cutting environment “can be used as an opportunity to shape the very best defense we can for this country as we approach the next 10 years.”

Achieving the mandated savings “will be very hard and require extremely difficult tradeoffs,” Panetta said. He added that an automatic trigger in the nation's debt-reduction law to take more cuts out of federal spending if Congress fails to agree on reductions by Nov. 24 would be potentially devastating.

For the Defense Department, that means another $500 billion from defense spending over 10 years, on top of more than $450 billion in cuts already identified over the same period.

“The roughly $1 trillion in cuts forced by sequester would leave us with a military that would be unable to protect this nation from the range of security threats we face,” the secretary said.

Such sequestration would hollow out the force, reducing military and economic strength, he added.

“Cancellation of weapon systems, construction projects [and] research activity would seriously cripple our industrial base,” Panetta said, “which would be unacceptable not only to me as secretary of defense, but to our ability to be able to maintain the best defense system.”

Mullen said the department must begin with a clear-eyed assessment of things the joint force must continue to do for the nation and the options it must be able to provide the president.

“And [we must] be willing to curtail or even end those missions and capabilities which do not comport with that strategy,” the chairman said.

The United States must consider the world as it is, the threats as we see them, he added.

“Programs that are behind schedule or woefully over budget should be considered for elimination. The personnel accounts, which make up the vast majority of our allocation, should be scrubbed for inefficiencies and overhead,” Mullen said.

Exercises and operations that do not directly contribute to essential security commitments should be recalibrated, he added.

“We ought to make sure that the military is the right one for the future: flexible and adaptable enough to fight wars both big and small, near and far,” the chairman said, “a force that can secure our national interests, and not by its size and shape define those interests.”

Mullen said he is convinced the effort to find more than $450 billion dollars in cuts over the next 10 years is achievable, but agreed with Panetta that possible sequestration cuts puts “at risk the very security we are charged to provide.”

Ten years of war have not broken the all-volunteer force, the chairman said, “but drastic budget measures that adversely affect the lives and livelihoods of our people very well might. We can afford to lose some things, but we cannot to lose them.”

The budget environment presents difficult choices for our armed forces, Panetta said.

“I believe that if we can avoid further cuts, we will have an opportunity to set priorities and make the hard choices needed to build a stronger force for the future,” he said, “and to keep faith with our men and women in uniform.

Defense Leaders Laud Repeal, Return of ‘Equality’

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2011 – The official end today of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law reflects the American values that military members uphold, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today.

“Thanks to this change, I believe we move closer to achieving the goal at the foundation of the values that America's all about -- equality, equal opportunity and dignity for all Americans,” he told reporters during a Pentagon news briefing.

Panetta reaffirmed his dedication to all who are serving and ensuring everyone who wishes to serve has the opportunity to do so regardless of sexual preference.

“As secretary of defense, I am committed to removing all of the barriers that would prevent Americans from serving their country and from rising to the highest level of responsibility that their talents and capabilities warrant,” he said. “These are men and women who put their lives on the line in the defense of this country, and that's what should matter the most.”

Panetta credited several groups for helping prepare the Defense Department for the implementation of the repeal.

“I want to thank the repeal implementation team and the service secretaries, along with the service chiefs, for all of their efforts to ensure that DOD is ready to make this change, consistent with standards of military readiness, with military effectiveness, with unit cohesion, and with the recruiting and retention of the armed forces,” he said.

“All of the service chiefs have stated very clearly that all of these elements have been met in the review that they conducted,” Panetta said. “Over 97 percent of our 2.3 million men and women in uniform have now received education and training on repeal as a result of these efforts.

“I also want to thank the Comprehensive Review Working Group for the work they did on the report that laid the groundwork for the change in this policy,” he added.

Panetta also lauded Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his commitment to the repeal of the 1993 law.

“And above all, I'd like to single out … Admiral Mike Mullen,” he said. “His courageous testimony and leadership on this issue, I think, were major factors in bringing us to this day. And he deserves a great deal of credit for what has occurred.”

Mullen said he steadfastly believed repealing the law was the right thing to do.

“I testified early in 2010 that it was time to end this law and this policy,” he said. “I believed then, and I still believe, that it was, first and foremost, a matter of integrity.

“It was fundamentally against everything we stand for as an institution to force people to lie about who they are just to wear a uniform,” Mullen added. “We are better than that.”

The chairman said the repeal will strengthen the DOD and emphasize positive values.

“Today, with implementation of the new law fully in place, we are a stronger joint force, a more tolerant force, a force of more character and more honor, more in keeping with our own values,” he said.

Mullen also emphasized the Defense Department is well prepared for implementation of the repeal.

“I am convinced we did the work necessary to prepare for this change, that we adequately trained and educated our people, and that we took into proper consideration all the regulatory and policy modifications that needed to be made,” he said.

“I appreciate [Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s] confidence in me, and his kind praise,” Mullen said. “But today is really about every man and woman [in uniform] who serves this country … regardless of how they define themselves.”

Panetta said the long-awaited repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” brings the nation closer to true equality.

“Thanks to this change, we move closer to achieving the goal that is at the foundation of American values -- equality and dignity for all,” he said.

McHugh Cites Major Improvements at Arlington National Cemetery

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh today released publicly a “Report to Congress,” updating improvements made at Arlington National Cemetery more than a year after he ousted the cemetery’s leadership and made sweeping changes in its structure and oversight.

“In just over a year, the cemetery’s new management team has made major progress in reconciling decades’ worth of paper records with physical graveside inspections to regain accountability,” McHugh wrote in a letter to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. “They have put in place new policies and procedures to protect against and prevent the type of errors uncovered in the Army’s previous investigations. Equipment and training have been modernized, contracting procedures revamped, a historic partnership created with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the workforce improved and reinvigorated, and ongoing outreach and information has been provided to family members and the American public.”

McHugh provided the report to Congressional oversight committees in response to legislation seeking the status of a directive he signed that made sweeping reforms at Arlington National Cemetery. In compiling the report, McHugh directed the Army’s inspector general to again inspect the facility to determine compliance. An earlier inspector general report, also ordered by McHugh, found failures in management and oversight that contributed to the loss of accountability, lack of proper automation, ineffective contract compliance, and a dysfunctional workforce.

“Perhaps most important, the inspector general found the mismanagement that existed prior to these changes, ‘no longer exists,’” he said. “And that ‘significant progress has been made in all aspects of the cemetery’s performance, accountability and modernization.’ We’re confident that the Army is on the right path toward repairing the cemetery’s failures and restoring the confidence of Congress and the American people.”

McHugh noted that even while making massive improvements in the cemetery’s management and oversight, the pace of 27 to 30 funeral services per day -- many with full military honors -- has not abated.

“Since 1864, the United States Army has been steward of this, the country’s only active military shrine,” McHugh said. “I believe this report will demonstrate the Army’s steadfast commitment to repairing what was broken in the past, and ensuring America’s continued confidence in the operation of its most hallowed ground.”

NOTE: The secretary’s “Report to Congress” and the Department of the Army inspector general’s report on inspection of Arlington National Cemetery are available at: http://www.army.mil/arlington .

For more information contact Lt. Col. Lee M. Packnett at 703-697-7592.

USS Makin Island Completes COMPTUEX

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By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Behnke, USS Makin Island Public Affairs, and Sgt. Elyssa Quesada, 11th MEU Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) returned to San Diego Sept. 16 after completing a 16-day Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California.

The training was another first for the Sailors and Marines assigned to the Navy's newest amphibious assault ship.

"This is part of our first work-up for our first deployment, and I have been completely impressed at the level of execution and precision with which Team Raider has performed," said Capt. Jim Landers, Makin Island's commanding officer.

Landers said COMPTUEX gives units of the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group a chance to address operational challenges they may face during deployment.

Some of the tasks Sailors practiced included mass casualty and general quarter drills, flight deck operations, well deck operations, battle scenarios, a replenishment-at-sea evolution with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO 202), and a fueling-at-sea exercise with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52).

Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's ground combat element honed their skills both ashore in combat scenarios and aboard Makin Island for training. One exercise included sliding 35-feet down onto the ship's elevator utilizing a thick, plaited rope rigged to a parked helicopter on the flight deck.

The training simulated a technique for inserting a company-sized force into an objective area.

"When we're inserting by air - in six or eight aircraft - fast-roping from helicopters is the answer if we encounter a fouled (landing zone), be it debris or obstacles, or we're restricted from landing in an urban environment," said 1st Lt. Matthew Astphan, Company I executive officer. "And if we're proficient enough, it's actually faster to rope down into multiple sites without the pilots having to land."

The successful completion of COMPTUEX means that the ARG is ready to begin the Certification Exercise (CERTEX), the final test before deployment.

"Based on what I've observed across both the crew of Makin Island, the rest of the ARG and the execution of the MEU, I have absolutely no reservations about 100 percent success in CERTEX," said Landers.

Makin Island is named in honor of the World War II raid carried out by Marine Raider Companies A and B, 2nd Raider Battalion on Japanese occupied Makin Island Aug. 17-18, 1942. LHD 8 is the second ship to bear the name "USS Makin Island."

Airmen Missing In Action From WWII Identified

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

Army Air Forces 1st Lt. William J. Sarsfield of Philadelphia; 2nd Lt. Charles E. Trimingham of Salinas, Calif.; Tech. Sgt. Robert L. Christopherson of Blue Earth, Minn.; and Tech. Sgt. Leonard A. Gionet of Shirley, Mass., will be buried as a group in a single casket on Sept. 21 in Arlington National Cemetery, along with remains representing previously identified crew members 2nd Lt. Herman H. Knott, 2nd Lt. Francis G. Peattie, Staff Sgt. Henry Garcia, Staff Sgt. Robert E. Griebel, and Staff Sgt. Pace P. Payne, who were individually buried in 1985.  These nine airmen were ordered to carry out a bombing mission over Rabaul, Papau New Guinea (P.N.G.), in their B-17E Flying Fortress nicknamed Naughty but Nice, taking off from an airfield near Dobodura, P.N.G., on June 26, 1943. The aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and ultimately shot down by Japanese fighter aircraft.  A tenth man, the navigator and only survivor of the crash -- 2nd Lt. Jose L. Holguin -- was held as a prisoner of war until his release in September 1945.

In 1949, U.S. military personnel in the area were led by local citizens to a B-17 crash site on New Britain Island.  Remains were recovered but couldn’t be identified given the technology of the time.  The remains were buried as unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

In 1982 and 1983, Holguin returned to the area and located the crash site.  A fragment of the aircraft nose art was recovered and is displayed in the War Museum in Kokopo, P.N.G.  In 1985, the remains were exhumed and identified as Knott, Payne, Garcia, Peattie, and Griebel.  In 2001, a team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated the site and found additional human remains and crew-related equipment.

Among forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC used dental comparisons and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA -- which matched that of some of the crewmembers’ families -- in the identification of their remains.

At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans.  Today, more than 73,000 are unaccounted for from the conflict.

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

Artists Draw Inspiration from Vinson Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Megan Catellier, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 welcomed members from the National Cartoonists Society Sept. 18-19 as part of a 'Humor Tour' and Navy Operational Stress Control project to visit service members along the West Coast.

Patrick Hrabe, the creator of the web series "Hey, Shipwreck," and founder of Tube Daze Productions; Mike Rote, a staff artist with Bongo Comics Group which creates comics based on "The Simpsons" and "Futurama"; Gary McCoy, an award-winning comic artist whose work has appeared in American Greetings greeting cards and "Parade" and "Playboy" magazines; Stephen Silver, main art director for cartoons such as Disney Channel's "Kim Possible" and Cartoon Network's "Danny Phantom"; and Greg Evans, creator of longtime newspaper cartoon, "Luann", visited Vinson for the last stop of their tour during the ship's underway operations off the coast of California.

"These [artists] love what they are doing," said retired Senior Chief Journalist Karen Suich, a Navy Personnel Command representative accompanying the tour. "They are giving up their time and money to come out and show their support for today's service members. It really is amazing."

The artists have visited physical therapy patients at Naval Medical Center in San Diego, a Wounded Warrior Battalion in Camp Pendleton, Calif., Fisher House at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Soldier and Family Assistance Center in Schofield Barracks in Honolulu and a Wounded Warrior Battalion West at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

"These Sailors, Soldiers and Marines need to know that humor can still be a part of their lives and future, even though life might not seem to offer them much humor at the present time," added Suich. This is Silver's third time touring and meeting service members.

"We all just love being here and doing this. Bringing joy to service members and their families is humbling for us and it's an easy way to give back," said Silver.

"Being on this ship is surreal. You see the news and you see what the Navy is doing, but you never get to see it in person. It's so great to put smiles on faces."

Evans advised service members in attendance to, "follow your passion! If you like to draw, just keep drawing." Evans has been creating new comics for Luann, a misunderstood teenage girl, for more than 26 years.

Evans praised his experience with Vinson Sailors.

"The quality of service and seriousness of doing your jobs is astounding to me," he said. "You are all around the age of 20, it's truly impressive."

Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman Bridget Carroll shared her appreciation for the artists' visit.

"It's a great service, what they are doing," said Carroll. "We don't really get to see how much people appreciate us, so it's really nice to see them here, doing what they are doing."

Carl Vinson and CVW 17 are conducting underway operations off the coast of Southern California.