McNabb Passes Transcom Command to Fraser

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2011 – Presiding today at the change of command at U.S. Transportation Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey hailed a logistics enterprise Panetta called the backbone of the U.S. military.

Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb passed command to Air Force Gen. William M. Fraser III during the ceremony at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Panetta praised McNabb for his military leadership of a support structure upon which he said every other military operation depends.

“Very simply, … we could not do our missions and defend America without you,” he said. “No one goes anywhere, no one fights anywhere, no one stays anywhere without your support.”

The secretary cited the scope of that support last year alone. Transcom conducted more than 37,000 airlift missions, transported more than 2.3 million passengers by air and 29 million short tons of cargo by air and sea. Meanwhile, it kept combat units in both Afghanistan and Iraq supplied with food, fuel and spare parts, moved troops into the combat zone and evacuated the wounded.

Troops in the field “don’t ever need to worry about whether or not they have what they need, because you never stop delivering,” Panetta said.

He praised McNabb’s vision in establishing the northern distribution network through which nearly half all ground cargo now flows into Afghanistan.

Dempsey recalled that during his tenure as acting commander of U.S. Central Command, he saw McNabb’s efficiency in setting up the network to better support the Afghanistan mission. McNabb also introduced innovative air-dropping procedures to ensure troops in remote sites had all they needed while reducing the risks associated with ground convoys.

“We really are the only military in the world where, if we call for something, if we ask for something, if we need something on the battlefield, we are going to get it,” the chairman said. “And about nine times out of 10, it will get there because of Transcom.

“We consider you the strength of our forces,” he said of the Transcom team. “We couldn’t be the armed forces we are without them.”

Panetta noted that while Transcom provided “truly extraordinary and unceasing” support to these and other military operations, its members jumped into high gear whenever disasters struck around the world. The secretary rattled off examples of humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts made possible by Transcom: the Haiti earthquake; the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan; floods in Pakistan and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, among them.

“This command, under their great leader, stepped up and delivered,” Panetta said.

Panetta called Fraser a “proven and effective leader” who brings a wealth of experience to the job as he follows in McNabb’s footsteps.

McNabb, who is slated to retire Nov. 30, told Fraser he is taking command of “the best of the best.”

“You are being entrusted with one of our nation’s greatest asymmetric advantages: the strategic ability to move,” he said. “You have a championship team behind you, and I know you will be great.”

Fraser said he hopes to build on McNabb’s momentum as takes command at a challenging time – with continued high operational demands as well as new fiscal ones. Living up to them, he said, will require the entire Transcom team that has earned a reputation for getting the job done.

“Transcom, you deliver,” Fraser said. “It’s not the planes. It’s not the trains, the ships or the trucks that make amazing things happen. It is the people. You are the lifeline of the warfighter.”

NH Jacksonville Receives World Health Organization, UNICEF 'Baby Friendly' Designation

By Tami Begasse, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as one of only 119 baby friendly U.S. medical facilities during a press conference at the hospital Oct. 13 aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

As an officially designated Baby Friendly facility by Baby Friendly USA, a global initiative sponsored by WHO/UNICEF, -NH Jacksonville successfully implemented the recommended ten steps of a comprehensive breastfeeding program according to Baby-Friendly USA Executive Director Trish MacEnroe.

"The administration and staff of Naval Hospital Jacksonville are to be commended for their outstanding work in adopting policies and practices to support better breastfeeding," she said. "Baby-Friendly USA extends our heartiest congratulations as we confer to them the prestigious WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly designation. Hospitals play a vital role in helping mothers and babies successfully establish breastfeeding. Breast milk lays the best possible foundation for a lifetime of good health. It contains substances that cannot be reproduced artificially. As a result, infants who are not breastfed are more likely to incur a multitude of health problems that take a human toll and cost our health care system billions of dollars annually."

The Baby-Friendly designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice these 10 steps as demonstrated by quality processes. The comprehensive program includes initiating breastfeeding in the first hour of life, keeping mothers and babies in the same room, and support groups for women who breastfeed.

On average, 80 percent of mothers who delivered at NH Jacksonville were exclusively breastfeeding their babies when they left the hospital, something NH Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Lynn Welling said is vital to ensuring the health of its patients-from birth to retirement.

"We want to do all we can to improve the health of our youngest heroes and encourage the use of mother's milk for the more than 1,000 babies born in our hospital each year," he said. "This prestigious international recognition, illustrates our commitment to supporting a mother's decision to breast feed and ultimately helping reduce the risks of common childhood infections, asthma and diabetes."

While more than 20,000 facilities have received the Baby Friendly designation worldwide, only 119 facilities (including NH Jacksonville) have been certified in the United States. Along with being the first hospital in Northeast Florida, NH Jacksonville is the third military facility and the fourth hospital in Florida, which is something Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll recognized.

"Thank you for answering U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin's 'call-to-action' to health care professionals, communities, families and employers," she said. "Your commitment to this designation will ensure a healthier population of women and children, and will better prepare even the youngest Floridians with the best start possible."

Benjamin included UNICEF/WHO's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in her national prevention strategy rolled out earlier this year at the Health and Human Services Consumer Health IT Summit.

The importance of following Baby Friendly steps is echoed by Heather Huffman, chair of the Northeast Florida Breastfeeding Collaborative.

"As the First Coast's first hospital to receive this prestigious international recognition, Naval Hospital Jacksonville has again demonstrated its commitment to providing our nation's heroes and their family members with the best possible care," Benjamin said. "Whether a health care professional, member of the community, employer or family member, I would encourage and challenge us as a community to strive to improve breastfeeding rates and increase our support for breastfeeding. I congratulate Naval Hospital Jacksonville on its efforts to support new mothers and provide babies with the best possible start in life."

According the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of an infant's life can offer many health benefits for babies and mothers, including a reduction in infectious diseases and mortality during infancy, improved bonding and increased postpartum weight loss. Breastfeeding also helps reduce the risks of common childhood infections, asthma, diabetes and other conditions that children who get mother's milk are less likely to develop. It saves time and money for families in both baby formula and medical costs. Low rates of breastfeeding cost an estimated $2.2 billion dollars in medical costs.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the hospital, located aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and five branch health clinics in Florida (Jacksonville, Key West and Mayport) and Georgia (Albany and Kings Bay). Of its patient population-215,000 active and retired Sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, National Guard members and their families-more than 57,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager at one of its facilities. Each and every day, a dedicated team of 2,500 military and civilian personnel sees 1,500 outpatients, admits 12 inpatients, cares for 125 people in the ER, performs 19 same-day surgeries, fills 3,600 prescriptions, conducts 3,000 lab tests and delivers two to three babies. Additionally, up to 15 percent of its active duty staff is deployed around the globe providing combat, humanitarian and disaster care.

Spray-on Protective Coating Wins "R&D 100" Award

By Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research Corporate Strategic Communications Office

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- R&D Magazine honored an Office of Naval Research (ONR) scientist with a 2011 "R&D 100" award Oct. 13 for the development of a revolutionary coating material that is blast-and fire-resistant.

The special high-tech surface technology, HybridSil Fire/Blast, acts like a force field that surrounds and protects any type of surface, making it blast-, ballistic- and fire-resistant.

"You can take an existing material and change it completely to make it more useful for the warfighter," said award recipient Dr. Roshdy George S. Barsoum, ONR's manager, Explosion-Resistant Coating, Ships and Engineering Systems Division. "Receiving this award is recognition that we are developing something that the warfighter can really use and exploit."

The coating is sprayed onto surfaces just like paint, with minimal surface preparation. It is applied in variable thicknesses: less for fireproofing and more for blast-resistance. But the tricky part is that the law of diminishing returns is at work; at some point, the more you apply, the less effective it becomes. Determining the appropriate amount for each surface and user need is complex, Barsoum said.

The Navy is particularly interested in the material's fire-resistant properties, since fires, along with floods, present the greatest threats on a ship or submarine. The Army and Air Force have also been investigating its use to protect buildings against vehicle-borne explosive devices.

The coating was developed with industry partner NanoSonic Inc, and the cost per gallon is equivalent to premium house paint. It can be used on new and old materials alike, making it easy to apply to existing ships or vehicles.

The research into this coating began after the bombing of USS Cole (DDG 67) Oct. 12, 2000. The Navy wanted to find new ways of protecting ships, including coatings and polymers that could shield against explosions and fire. The research took off after 9/11, and the new defensive coating was applied to the rebuilt sections of the Pentagon.

According to R&D Magazine's website, the R&D 100 awards identify and celebrate the top high-technology products of the year, spanning industry, academia and government-sponsored research. Winning products include sophisticated testing equipment, innovative new materials, chemistry breakthroughs, biomedical products, consumer items and high-energy physics.

ONR provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

Campaign Wants ‘Veteran’ Put Back in Veterans Day

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2011 – A new campaign is working to put the “veteran” back into Veterans Day and to rally public awareness of the sacrifices made by injured veterans and their caregivers.

The Wounded Warrior Project, which focuses primarily on wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and their caregivers, kicked off “Believe in Heroes” on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The campaign will continue through Nov. 11, Veterans Day, said Jonathan Sullivan, executive vice president of the nonprofit organization.

“Veterans Day has become a national holiday that most Americans give a cursory moment of thought to before going on with their day,” said Steve Nardizzi, the Wounded Warrior Project’s executive director.

Veterans will be recognized at NASCAR races, NCAA and NFL games as part of the campaign, Sullivan said. Two recent 8-kilometer events sponsored through the campaign drew 1,245 people in Jacksonville, Fla., and 65 in Seattle, he added, and the next 8k walk or run will take place Oct. 15 in Charlotte, N.C.

Regardless of how people show support, he added, the intent of the campaign is clear. “Believe in Heroes is a call to action,” he said, to recognize the meaning of Veterans Day, and to support the needs of wounded warriors and their caregivers.

From the earliest stages of the Wounded Warrior Project, Sullivan said, there was concern about the sacrifices caregivers would make to care for their wounded warriors. “Once the most traumatic of injured warriors are out of the hospital and back home,” he added, “the caregiver can be in for a long road ahead.”

Engaging families and caregivers is essential to helping warriors make the transition back to life after they’re injured, Sullivan said, noting that combat injuries affect both the warrior and the family.

The idea for the campaign stemmed from what Sullivan said seemed to be dwindling public interest in the significance of Veterans Day. “Very few people pause Nov. 11 and reflect on the sacrifices our vets made on behalf of us,” he said, and he expressed the hope that the two-month campaign to raise support and awareness of the wounded, their caregivers and all U.S. veterans would create a groundswell of interest that will repeat year after year, every Veterans Day.

But Sullivan said he won’t stop there. Like the year-round campaign for breast cancer awareness that intensifies with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Sullivan said, he envisions year-round “Believe in Heroes” awareness that culminates in a campaign from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11 each year.

“The public would be reminded of how much our wounded warriors sacrificed on the battlefield for us,” he said.

Sailors Promote Drug-Free Living at Guam School

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Jeremy M. Starr, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

MAGNILAO, Guam (NNS) -- Sailors from the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) helped to educate students about the dangers of substance abuse at Henry B. Price Elementary School, Oct. 11.

Sailors assisted the Guam National Guard, Department of Education teachers and local law enforcement in celebrating Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign that educates and encourages youth to live a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.

"One of the things that Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen have in common is that we are drug-free," said Lt. Alan Fleming, Frank Cable chaplain, to 1st and 2nd grade students. "All services wear different uniforms, but we all believe abstaining from drugs is honorable in serving our country."

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Jerome Claybron, assigned to the Frank Cable, shared his story about living a life free of drugs.

"Many people say I am strong and tall," said Claybron to the students. "The reason I am this way is because I have never taken drugs in my life. Drugs damage the body, making you weak, tired and lazy, so don't use drugs."

The Guam National Guard Counter Drug Program extended the Red Ribbon Week to a full month to teach 50-plus schools about the message of living without drugs. Soldiers have visited nine schools so far and are on a fast pace schedule until Halloween.

"We want Guam to be entirely free from drugs," said Army 1st Sgt. John Pangelinan. "We want Guam to stay beautiful, and the Red Ribbon Month is lined up with activities such as poetry, rap, school gate decorating contests, and information tables located inside several malls on the island to support this mission."

Fleming also emphasized the importance of Sailors being role models to the younger generation.

"This was a good opportunity to give the students a picture of good role models," said Fleming. "The Sailors did that today by sharing their jobs on the submarines and ship, which I believe influenced the young minds in a positive way to help shape their future."

"We ask you here to pledge more than a week to being drug-free; we want you to pledge being drug-free your entire life," added Pangelinan.

Red Ribbon Week takes its name from the red campaign ribbons that honor Enrique Camarena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was kidnapped and killed in Mexico City while investigating drug traffickers in 1985.

Frank Cable conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Defense Office Protects Privacy, Liberties of Troops, Civilians

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2011 – A small and little-known Defense Department office has the big task of protecting service members’ and civilian employees’ personal information in the digital world, while also getting accustomed to its new charge of protecting their civil liberties.

The Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office is working to reduce official uses of Social Security numbers and to educate the workforce about appropriate uses of social networking and the need for encrypting workplace email, the office’s director, Michael E. Reheuser, said during a recent interview with American Forces Press Service.

“We want to make sure that everything we do across the department, we’re doing the best we can to protect people’s privacy interests, and their civil liberties interests,” he said.

The privacy side of the office began in the 1970s post-Watergate era over concerns about government intrusions. It carried out its charge of giving advice, training and filing official reports for decades, while evolving into the Information Age with its added potential for widespread misuse of personal information online, said Reheuser, a retired Marine Corps colonel who served as DOD’s associate deputy general counsel before heading up the privacy and civil liberties office.

Congress added the civil liberties component in DOD and seven other departments and agencies two years ago at the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, which focused on the need for better information-sharing among federal agencies to prevent terrorist attacks. As part of its civil liberties work, the office is charged with ensuring that agencies don’t share information that infringes on civil liberties, Reheuser said.

The office, which reports to Michael L. Rhodes, director of administration and management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, must file quarterly reports to Congress regarding DOD privacy and civil liberties matters. It filed its first report on civil liberties in the last quarter, Reheuser said.

The office focuses primarily on internal issues – those of service members and DOD civilians -- which range from protecting Social Security numbers and Internet-based information on the privacy side, to ensuring First Amendment protections of religion and free speech on the civil liberties side, Reheuser said.

Examples of complaints referred to the office include that of a service member who drove his car on base bearing a bumper sticker critical of the commander in chief, and those from service members who said their religious-based dietary restrictions were compromised by roommates. The office also may look into external issues, such as possible rights violations of civilian visitors to military properties, but those are rare, Reheuser said.

The office does not adjudicate cases, Reheuser stressed, but rather investigates whether the proper rules and regulations are in place to safeguard against problems, then reports its findings to Congress.

“We’re trying to avoid duplicating what’s already in place,” he said. “We have lots of great mechanisms for people concerned about issues to report those, and we don’t want add a new layer to that. What we want to do is make sure we gather the information about those complaints and report it to Congress.”

With only 20 employees, Reheuser said, the office reviews every DOD instruction and policy to make sure all follow privacy and civil liberties laws. Because of its small staff, the office relies on the military services and other DOD offices to inform its work, and share information about the office, he said.

The office’s priorities now are on reducing official uses of Social Security numbers and training employees on breach management on the privacy side, and on standing up the civil liberties side, Reheuser said.

With Social Security numbers, he said, “We want to make sure that, as a department, we are not unnecessarily using Social Security numbers because we know that if that information is stolen, it can lead to identity theft very quickly.”

Reheuser said he has received reports of unnecessary uses of Social Security numbers, such as service members having to present them to check out a volleyball at a gym. The office is assisting in the review of all forms used to collect Social Security numbers and eliminate all for which the numbers aren’t essential to business, he said.

The office also is working to train and educate service members and employees that they need to encrypt all email that contain personally identifiable information, and to send to people on a need-to-know basis only.

With more than 7 million computers and handheld devices in the department, “there are lots of ways that people inadvertently share personally identifiable information,” Reheuser said.

“If you’re relying solely on the firewalls, you probably should be more careful than that,” he said. “Encryption safeguards beyond firewalls.”

The privacy and civil liberties office doesn’t have the lead on social networking, but does monitor policies and practices, and offer training and advice. Mostly, Reheuser said, people just need to be more cautious.

“Social media is becoming more of a threat as more and more people use it, and they’re sloppy about it,” he said. “If you watch what people tweet, and what they blog, and what they post to Facebook, you wonder, ‘Did you really want to say that? Did you really think it through?’

“Our big catch phrase is, ‘Think before you post,’” he continued. “Think to yourself, would I put this on a sign in my front yard? If not, then you might not want to put it on the Internet, because once you put it up there, you can’t get it back.”

With more than 1,500 official DOD websites, there is no real way to monitor even official sites, Reheuser acknowledged, so the office is working to educate everyone on good Internet practices whether they work on official sites or for their own use.

“We rely a lot on the individual judgment of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and we’re trying to educate them and let them know that something that might be appropriate for a civilian to post, is not appropriate for a service member,” he said.

“People really do think, ‘This is mine, and I can say whatever I want on it,’ and of course we want to encourage freedom of speech,” he added. “But in the military, we don’t have as much freedom of speech as we do outside the military.”

Leap Frogs Perform at Greatest Show Off Earth

Check out these Navy SEAL books written only by real SEALs!

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (PJ) Michelle Turner, Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, performed during the 40th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, N.M. Oct. 7-9.

The fiesta was the cornerstone event of Albuquerque Navy Week - one of 21 Navy Weeks planned across the United States in 2011.

"Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, nicknamed 'The Greatest Show Off Earth,' drew an estimated 750,000 spectators over nine days," said Don Edwards, event director. "It started in 1972 with just 13 balloons. This year 555 balloons took to the air, including 98 special shapes, from more than 20 countries."

Rain and high wind prevented the balloons from launching Friday, however conditions became favorable by jump time and allowed the Leap Frogs - composed of Navy SEALs and support personnel - to perform.

"We actually felt like [the Leap Frogs] salvaged our day," said Edwards, a U.S. Air Force veteran. "It created a lot of excitement. It was a nice treat."

A Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft carrying the Leap Frogs circled high above the park as the jumpers prepared to make their jump. The crowd below waited with excitement and cheered as colored smoke trailed the ramp of the aircraft, which indicated the performance was about to begin. Five black spots appeared in the sky behind the aircraft and moments later those spots turned into blue and gold parachutes.

Each of the Leap Frogs' six performances was different. The first show included single jumpers who flew various Navy flags and trailed smoke. The rest of the jumps from the C-130 included multi-canopy formations that had the crowd clapping and cheering. The Leap Frogs stacked three canopies together and transitioned to a drag-plane, then a down-plane maneuver.

Each jumper was met with thunderous applause from the crowd gathered around the drop zone on the balloon-launch area.

Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Justin Gauny and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Justin Gonzales made history when they became the first skydivers to jump out of a hot-air balloon during the Fiesta. The balloon, named Cardiac Air-Rest and piloted by Colin Graham, launched from a school upwind of the drop zone. It floated to 3,500 feet above ground level before the jumpers left the pilot alone in his basket.

It took a lot of coordination between the Federal Aviation Administration, air traffic control, balloon pilot Colin Graham, the jumpers and a little luck with the weather, said Edwards.

"Everything came together, the planets lined up, and it worked out to be a perfect morning," said Edwards. "[The jump] was pretty awesome, and it looked like the crowd was pretty excited about it too."

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez attended the fiesta and thanked the Leap Frogs for their service.

"To understand the sacrifice that families make for their loved ones to serve - to allow us to be safe - is very personal to my husband and I," said Martinez whose step son has served with special operations forces as a special warfare combatant-craft crewman in the U.S. Navy for four years. "The patriotism is so enormous in the State of New Mexico. Our National Guard is constantly being called on, whether in Kosovo or out helping to fight fires here in New Mexico. To all of our services, we are so grateful."

Spectators gathered around the jumpers after each performance to ask questions and meet a Navy SEAL face to face. Children helped each jumper pack his parachute.

"I thought it was cool!" said Devon Casados, a seven-year-old boy from Albuquerque. "I want to go parachuting!"

Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and raise awareness in areas that may not have a significant Navy presence. Sailors took part in events across Albuquerque including performances by the Navy Band Southwest "The Destroyers", presentations by Sailors assigned to Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) and other community relations activities.

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy Recruiting as a "Global Force For Good." The team is composed of parachuting experts from Naval Special Warfare including Navy SEALs, special warfare combatant-craft crewmen, and an NSW parachute rigger, in addition to support personnel.

Dempsey outlines objectives, focuses on future

By Army Gen. Martin Dempsey
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON (10/3/11) – It is an honor to be the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve with you.

The most important thing I want you to know is that I trust you to do what’s right for each other and for our country.

Thanks for your service. You have fought harder and your families have sacrificed more than most will ever know. You make us the finest military on the planet. We’re powerful, versatile, responsive, and resilient. We are admired by our allies and partners, and we are dreaded by our enemies. You are our decisive advantage.

To ensure we remain the joint force our nation needs, I’ll focus on a few key themes as I begin my time as Chairman.

We must achieve our national objectives in the current conflicts. As long as our forces remain in harm’s way, we must ensure they have what they need to succeed.

We must look beyond our current requirements – to 2020 – and develop Joint Force 2020 to provide the greatest possible number of options for our nation’s leaders and to ensure our nation remains immune from coercion.

Keeping our military the best led, best trained, and best equipped force in the world is the non-negotiable imperative. Doing so in a new fiscal environment will be hard, but we’ve overcome similar challenges in our past, and the nation is counting on us to overcome them again.

We must renew our commitment to the Profession of Arms. We’re not a profession simply because we say we’re a profession. We must continue to learn, to understand, and to promote the knowledge, skills, attributes, and behaviors that define us as a profession.

And, of course, we must keep faith with our military family. Our active, Guard and Reserve service members, our wounded warriors, our families, and our veterans deserve the future they have sacrificed to secure.

Continue mission! I am proud to serve with you.

USS George H.W. Bush Sees Success in Can Tab Collection Program

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Michael Smevog, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- Thanks to the efforts of motivated Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the crew collected 35 pounds of can tabs, Oct. 9, which will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Program.

George H.W. Bush Sailors empty nearly 4,000 cans each day. For most, that means 4,000 pieces of trash. However, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (SW) Gibbi L. Johnson, assigned to George H.W. Bush Medical Department, who enjoys saving lives on and off duty, saw a hidden treasure in the aluminum waste.

Commanding Officer Capt. Brian E. Luther made an announcement in May at the beginning of the ship's deployment that Sailors could collect tabs and donate them to charity. Johnson decided she should take the opportunity and accomplish something meaningful during the ship's first operational deployment, and began collecting can tabs around the ship to donate to the Ronald McDonald House program, which is part of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

"I feel like we have a great opportunity to make a difference in a child's life since we're out here, and so many cans are being used anyway," Johnson said.

The Ronald McDonald House program provides a home-away-from-home for relatives to stay near hospitalized family members, and has provided support to millions of people, including Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Airman (AW) Sarah M. Strong, assigned to George H.W. Bush Air Department.

When Strong was four years old, her family stayed in a Ronald McDonald House while her 12-year-old sister, Jessica, was sick in a neighboring hospital. After being poisoned by E. coli, Jessica was flown to Morgantown, W. Va., a considerable drive from the family's home in Elkins, W. Va. The family arrived at the hospital and slept on the waiting room floor. At that time, the family was living from paycheck to paycheck, but the hospital staff told them they could stay at the Ronald McDonald House. For a small donation to the foundation, the Strong family was able to stay close to the hospital and be near their daughter. Unfortunately, the last night they were at the hospital, Jessica passed away.

Despite their circumstances, the family was thankful for the opportunity provided by RMHC. The Strong family was able to spend Jessica's last few days with her. RMHC has helped provide millions of families with places to stay while their children are in hospitals, and continues to make a positive difference with the donations it receives.

After her sister passed, Strong and her then 8-year-old sister, Allison, collected can tops in their elementary school in support of the foundation that helped her family. More than 10 years later, when Strong received an e-mail from Johnson about collecting can tops on the ship, Strong felt that she should help ensure as many were collected as possible.

"I feel like I should give back and help a family like we were helped," said Strong.

Strong went around the ship to pass out bags for divisions who weren't already saving tabs so that they could begin saving. Strong and Johnson regularly collect the tabs around the ship and add them to the barrel so they can be cashed-in at a recycling facility to provide a donation to the Ronald McDonald Foundation in Hampton Roads, Va. when the ship returns home from deployment.

Johnson and Strong feel so strongly about the project that they did not hesitate to remove the tabs from cans they found in divisional metal bags, or in the large tri-walls that were on the flight deck during the ship's steel beach picnic.

"I feel like if everybody else sees me doing it, then they'll start saving them too," Strong said.

Strong hopes that Sailors support the positive cause so that more families can receive help in difficult times.

"I got really excited when I saw them being collected [in the Oasis] in Dubai," she said, referring to the ship's last port visit to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

There are currently 305 Ronald McDonald Houses in 52 countries and regions around the world. Ronald McDonald Houses provide more than 7,000 bedrooms to families around the world each night, saving them over $250 million in hotel costs. RMHC's programs include Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which are places to rest and regroup at the hospital where a sick child is staying, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, which are clinics on wheels that offer affordable health care for children in their neighborhoods.

George H.W. Bush is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility on its first operational deployment conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

Virginia Guard home after helping Vermont reopen 400 miles of roads

By Cotton Puryear
Virginia National Guard

BLACKSTONE, Va. (10/3/11) –Virginia National Guard Soldiers supporting tropical storm recovery operations in Vermont completed their last mission there Sept. 27 and have since returned home.

About 20 Soldiers and six 20-ton dump trucks started hauling operations earlier last month to assist with clean-up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene. Most of the personnel and all of the dump trucks were provided by the 157th Engineer Platoon while the 3647th Maintenance Company provided a maintenance team and support vehicle.

 While in Vermont, The Virginia Guard members transported 781 dump-truck loads for a total of 8,860 cubic yards of rock and fill dirt. They drove more than 25,600 miles and logged in nearly 2,900 hours of training time on the equipment.

The Virginia Guard augmented the 133rd Engineer Battalion from the Maine Army National Guard and worked directly for the Vermont Agency of Transportation in coordination with a civilian contractor.

According to the VAT, 450 miles of Vermont’s 2,700 miles of state highway were closed the day after Hurricane Irene hit. State road crews, contractors and National Guard personnel from six different states worked nearly 16-hour days for eleven days and opened all but 57 miles of state highways.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin praised the work of everyone involved and called opening the road network “an extraordinary achievement.”

The experience in Vermont was positive for the Virginia Soldiers, according to Facebook posts.

“From the first day and the first plate of brownies, the local community has been so supportive, thankful and generous that we were all in awe,” wrote Army Sgt. Steven Moore in a post on the Vermont Rutland Herald Facebook Page.

“We are accustomed to southern hospitality, but the people of Vermont have taken it to a new level,” he added to his post. “Thank you, Vermont, for showing how people can pull together in times of need. I can only hope that if this ever happens in Virginia, or anywhere else in this great country, the people would act the same way.”

Another Facebook user in Vermont responded to Moore’s post with: “I know that Vermont appreciates all that the National Guard members do for us,” wrote Kathi Sheehan Stern. “We thank them for being here in our time of need.”

Vermont’s need for assistance was channeled through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Long, Jr., the adjutant general of Virginia, approved the request to provide the personnel and equipment.

“This is exactly how the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system is supposed to work,” Long said. “When a state needs additional capability to assist in a time of need, they can reach out to other states to provide that capability. We are glad to be able to assist the citizens of Vermont with their clean-up effort. I am sure they would do the same thing for us.”

Ike Hosts Tours, Kicks Off Norfolk Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zach Martin, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower welcomed visitors aboard for tours, Oct. 8, signaling the start of Norfolk Navy Week 2011, a celebration of the Navy's long-standing and continued relationship with Virginia's Hampton Roads communities.

Naval Station Norfolk kicked off their celebration of the week-long festivities with a Fleet Fest opening their gates to the public for an open house.

A centerpiece of the Fleet Fest was a chance to visit the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Eisenhower.

"The community gets to see what we do to protect their freedom, and it helps them feel like they're a part of us," said Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate Jorge Estrada, of Eisenhower's Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department.

Guests were ferried down the pier to the ship, up the brow and into the hangar bay where they were presented with static aircraft displays, visual presentations, and plenty of Eisenhower Sailors ready to explain and demonstrate how they contribute to the mission readiness of today's Navy.

"My role in Fleet Fest is to show the visitors our ship, show them what we do on Ike, and keep them together so they [remain safe]," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Doug Herbert of Eisenhower's Medical Department who assisted as a tour guide.

Guests aboard the ship expressed their gratitude toward the Sailors' continued sacrifices in protecting the country's national interests, both at home and abroad.

"I liked being able to see the bulk of what it is Sailors do. It's impressive, and I can't say enough how much I thank each and every servicemember," said Barbara Taylor of Suffolk, Va.

Along with static displays and presentations in the hangar, guests rode the ship's aircraft elevator to the flight deck where Sailors explained the process required to launch and recover an F/A-18 Super Hornet in support of the Navy's mission.

The Peterson family of Hampton Roads said their time aboard Eisenhower's flight deck was the highlight of the tour. They also enjoyed riding the elevator.

Following the flight deck tour, the guests departed, but most remained in the ship's shadow for activities near the pier including a children's play area, car show, live entertainment and various concessions.

"It's nice to see all the quality that goes into manning a ship, and I love to see what goes on there," said Francesca Novollo of East Shodsberry, Pa.

Norfolk Navy Week is one of 21 Navy Weeks being held across America in 2011 as part of an ongoing program to educate and inspire America's public by allowing them to see firsthand what the Navy brings to their communities.

NBK Hosts 2nd Annual Women's Symposium

Women took a large role in the armed forces during WWII. Discover the best World War Two books written by veterans from combat zones and the home front!

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Scott A. McCall, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Sailors and Coast Guardsmen from around Navy Region Northwest participated in the second annual Women's Symposium Mentorship Program on Naval Base Kitsap (NBK), Oct. 7.

The program is designed to provide mentorship to female service members stationed in the Northwest by providing them support and guidance.

"It's very important on NBK in general. A large population of our Sailors here are female," said NBK Command Master Chief (SS) Shaun Peirsel. "If they don't feel like they're a part of the command and being utilized, then I'm going to lose out. And I'm not going to be able to accomplish my mission."

The symposium's primary focus was to highlight the role women have played in the military throughout history.

"Women have always found a way to impact the military, and they were doing it even when people would tell them, 'no you can't do this,'" said Peirsel.

Coast Guard Command Master Chief for the Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor Penny Koons said that women have been pioneers for a long time, and there's a lot of history for women in the military.

"Women have been involved in every military conflict since the American Revolution in 1775," said Koons. "However, it was really in 1942, during World War II, when men were being shipped overseas that women were needed to step up and fill factory jobs - they were even needed to fill in for the military. WWII was a really important time for our women because it opened the doors."

The symposium included a panel discussion which gave service members the opportunity to ask senior enlisted leadership questions on various topics including professional and personal conduct and raising a family while on active duty.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW/AW) Elisha Chandler said attending the symposium was not only beneficial to women but, indirectly, for men as well.

"We're here not only to support each other, but to be better Sailors for our junior peers [and that includes] men, too."

Piersal said symposiums like these impacts more than the Navy, but the armed forces in general.

"This country will be better protected by the armed forces if we are all working together," said Peirsal. "It's not about male, female, race or [anything else]. It's about people caring about protecting their country."

Sailors Visit Food Shelter during Albuquerque Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Pat Migliaccio, Navy Office of Community Outreach

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (NNS) -- Three Sailors from the Virginia-class submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) volunteered their time, Oct. 4, for a meet and greet, and to serve meals to more than 200 homeless individuals at the Joy Junction homeless shelter during Albuquerque Navy Week.

"It was great for the Navy to be here and give support," said Master Chief Machinist's Mate Joaquin Arroyo, one of the Navy volunteers. "Everybody needs help sometimes. Joy Junction gives individuals a place to stay and learn a skill until they can get back on their feet."

Joy Junction is New Mexico's largest homeless shelter and first opened its doors in 1986. It is the only shelter in New Mexico that will take in a single parent with children, and provides shelter and assistance for approximately 200 to 300 individuals on a daily basis.

"We don't want to be known as just a shelter but a stepping stone to better accommodations," said volunteer coordinator Jonathan Matheny. "Everyone here has a story. They're not just homeless."

After dinner, the "Destroyers" a pop/rock group from Navy Band Southwest had the crowd up on its feet and cheering with an electric performance of classic rock and roll hits.

"The people really appreciated us being here," said Arroyo. "As a 'global force for good,' our job is to reach out and help anyone who needs assistance, be it overseas or at home."

"Coming to Joy Junction shows the Navy who you're protecting and doing your job for; people who can't protect themselves," added Matheny. "It doesn't get any more poignant than that."

The visit coincided with Albuquerque Navy Week 2011, one of 21 Navy weeks planned across America this year. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

For more information about the 2011 Albuquerque Navy Week, go to Navyweek.org/albuquerque2011.

Carter Takes Office as Deputy Defense Secretary

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – Ashton B. Carter was sworn in as deputy secretary of defense in a private Pentagon ceremony this morning.

The Senate unanimously confirmed Carter in his new position Sept. 23. He most recently served as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, a job he assumed in April 2009.

Carter succeeds William J. Lynn III, who took office Feb. 12, 2009, and returns to private life.

Following Carter’s Senate confirmation, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta thanked senators for their “strong vote of confidence” in Carter.

“Ash has a steady hand, a keen intellect, and an effective management style that will help this department keep faith with our troops and protect our nation,” Panetta said. “He is already an essential part of my team as an outstanding undersecretary of defense, and I look forward to his continued guidance and leadership as he assumes his new responsibilities.”

Panetta said Lynn “served with distinction and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform.”

“I wish Bill and his family all the best for the future,” the secretary added.

The deputy secretary of defense is delegated full power and authority to act for the secretary of defense and exercise the powers of the secretary on any matters for which the secretary is authorized to act.

Before filling the undersecretary position, Carter was chair of the International and Global Affairs faculty at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and co-director with former Defense Secretary William J. Perry of the Preventive Defense Project, a research collaboration of Harvard and Stanford universities.

Carter served as a member of the Defense Science Board from 1991-1993 and 1997-2001, the Defense Policy Board from 1997-2001, and on the secretary of state’s International Security Advisory Board from 2006-2008.

In 2001-2002, he served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Science and Technology for Countering Terrorism and advised on the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

Carter holds bachelor's degrees in physics and medieval history from Yale University and a doctorate in theoretical physics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes scholar.

Norwich University Midshipmen Spend a Day Learning About the Submarine Force

Check out these great NROTC books written by actual cadets who served as naval officers!

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group Two Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Thirty four midshipmen from Norwich University, in Northfield, Vermont, traded a day in the classroom for a day at Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., Oct. 7.

Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, commander, Submarine Group Two, met with the visiting midshipmen during their visit to briefly discuss the submarine force.

"Opportunities to meet with the next generation of naval officers from universities such as Norwich is a sense of pride for me, especially those who plan to pursue the submarine force upon their commissioning," said Breckenridge.

Breckenridge shared his path into the U.S. Navy with the midshipmen. "As a lobsterman son from Massachusetts, my big break was acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy," said Breckenridge.

Breckenridge, who received a degree in Aerospace Engineering, shared his selection into the nuclear power pipeline and the importance of being one of the final midshipmen interviewed by Adm. Hyman Rickover to currently serving as commander of Group Two.

"Who we are and what we do as an undersea force is invaluable to the country and will only grow in its importance as you join the fleet," said Breckenridge. "This is an important moment in history for all of us who serve our nation."

During their visit to the submarine base, the midshipmen visited the Naval Submarine School's Damage Control Trainer, visited the Ship Control Operations Trainer and toured the Virginia-class submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778).

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Lawrence Oliver, commanding officer of the Norwich University Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit, participated in the base tour and highlighted the importance of these types of visits.

"Norwich University NROTC unit actively seeks out opportunities to expose our midshipmen to life in the naval services, both Navy and Marine Corps. This exposure is a combination of centrally mandated academic year instruction, highlighted by summer training evolutions, as well as less formal events and training venues organized by individual NROTC units. Our trip to Submarine Group Two is an example of the latter," said Oliver.

Prior to his present assignment, Oliver was assigned as the Marine tactical air force analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Assessment and Program Analysis from June 2009 to June 2011. Oliver added that visits to Naval Submarine Base New London will directly impact their Midshipmen's decision regarding service selection and career path.

"It is visits like this that allow our midshipmen the opportunity to have 'hands on' experience with actual training equipment and systems. These type of venues, along with more formal NROTC events, afford the young midshipmen a unique perspective that will facilitate their follow-on service," said Oliver. "Additionally, given the nascent nature of our midshipmen, a positive experience, such as Groton, goes a long-way in peaking interest and motivation in their pursuit of a commission."

Lt. Mike Piazza, USS Alexandria (SSN 757) and Lt. j.g. Mark Czynski, USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720), both midshipman training officers assisted with the tour.

"I attended Norwich University before being accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, and my participation with the NROTC students today is to convey the best of our submarine force has to offer because of its tight-knit crew," said Piazza.

Czynski highlighted the inherent capability of our undersea forces. "I always appreciate the opportunity to share how talented and motivated our submariners are because it helps us attract the kind of leaders we need in the submarine force."

Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Capt. Alden Partridge, as the first private military college in the United States and the birthplace of the nation's ROTC program.

National City Chamber of Commerce Honors Local Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Raul Moreno Jr., Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Public Affairs

NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (NNS) -- The National City Chamber of Commerce held their 55th annual Salute to Navy luncheon, Oct. 5 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

Started in 1957, the Salute to Navy is a National City tradition that honors the U.S. Navy Sailors and their families, bringing them together with civilians and elected officials.

National City Mayor Ron Morrison addressed the Sailors in attendance expressing his gratitude for their service.

"We've got 150 young men and women here today representing the thousands upon thousands that are a part of ... the greatest force for freedom and peace in this world," said Morrison. "So, on behalf of the city, I want to thank you and let you know how much you are appreciated."

Melyn Acasio, co-chairman of the Salute to Navy committee, talked about the service members who worked to reconstruct the nation after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

"Today is an opportunity to say 'thank you' to our Navy and to our beloved armed forces for helping us rebuild America," said Acasio.

Naval Base San Diego Commanding Officer Capt. Winton Smith presented Special Boat Operator 1st Class Troy Bacon with Naval Base San Diego's Sailor of the Year award and on behalf of the Sailors, thanked the committee for organizing the event.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be here," said Bacon, "You don't know how much it means for the Sailors who come back from deployment and integrate back into the city. It's really a warm gesture, and I thank you."