Vigilant Shield Tests Homeland Defense Processes

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By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2011 – Navy ships, Army ground-based radar and missile systems and Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard aircraft have descended on Key West, Fla., for the field training portion of U.S. Northern Command’s annual homeland defense exercise that kicked off this week.

Northcom’s Vigilant Shield 12 exercise launched Nov. 1 and continues through Nov. 10, combining field and command post exercises to train Northcom and North American Aerospace Defense Command staffs in homeland defense and homeland security processes, Lt. Alain Blondin of the Canadian navy, a command spokesman, told American Forces Press Service.

“The scenario for the exercise is based on potential military threats to the United States and Canada that require extensive military planning to provide a range of military options to our national leadership,” said Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Northcom and NORAD commander, in a blog announcing the exercise.

Northcom’s operations center at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., working in coordination with a joint deployable integrated air and missile defense system and elements of a logistics support facility dispatched to Naval Air Station Key West, are testing their capabilities against simulated enemy attacks, Blondin said.

Although most of the scenarios are classified, Blondin said, they will involve “the full spectrum of threats,” including simulated terrorist attacks.

“It’s an old Army truth that you have to train like you fight, and the exercise scenario will undoubtedly put us through our paces,” Jacoby said. This exercise will not only train us for that worst-case situation, but it will also aid our planners in preparing for it.”

“Homeland defense is our most important mission, and it’s a sacred trust we share with the citizens of the United States and Canada,” he said. “VS 12 will make us better and, most importantly, make our countries safer in the long run.”

To increase the realism of the scenarios and test the ability of federal, state and international partners to provide a synchronized response to homeland threats, Vigilant Shield planners have piggybacked on other training exercises.

For example, routine training flights under way across the Washington, D.C., region are testing Northcom’s and NORAD’s ability to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Aviation Administration, among other federal agencies.

This year’s Vigilant Shield is being linked to two other concurrent exercises: Vigilant Guard Arizona and Determined Dragon. Vigilant Guard Arizona, a joint regional exercise sponsored by Northcom and the National Guard Bureau, is designed to improve military processes, procedures and coordination with state and local responders, officials said. Canada Command is conducting Determined Dragon to test the readiness of Canadian forces at the national level.

Jacoby emphasized the importance of a strong exercise program to maintain readiness, noting Winston Churchill’s famous quote, “Everywhere men pray for peace, but prepare for war.”

“I firmly believe that quote accurately reflects how the men and women of these commands go at their business each and every day, and that’s why it’s important as we look at a decreasing military budget to maintain and sustain critical training exercises like Vigilant Shield,” he said. “Every time you exercise, you learn something new.”

Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group Completes PMINT

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By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lauren G. Randall, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) conducted the PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) from Oct. 24 through Nov. 3.

PMINT is the first integrated training between the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) comprised of approximately 1,700 Sailors from amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), and approximately 1,200 Marines with the 24th MEU.

PMINT enhanced operability between the Sailors and Marines and began the process of forming a blue-green team during three phases and approximately two weeks of training exercises.

During the first phase, Sailors and Marines worked together to safely embark and integrate the 24th MEU including all of the aircraft, vehicles, gear and personnel throughout the three ships within the ARG.

Sailors and Marines conducted many well deck and flight deck operations during the first two days transporting 24th MEU gear from land to the ARG ships.

"PMINT is not new, we understood what we needed to do which is to bring the blue-green team together for the first time underway," said Marine Capt. Jeremey Wilkinson, MEU Battalion Landing Team (BLT) operations officer. "No matter how you cut the cake, green team cannot be successful without the blue and blue team cannot be successful without the green. So we have to learn how to work together to deliver the right solution around the world."

The second and longest phase was integrated training. Phase two of PMINT included a series of air defense exercises, surface gunnery, communication scenarios, boarding exercises, planning, co-mingling standard operating procedures and testing gear.

During the training exercises, Sailors and Marines worked on their driver training for the on and off loading of vehicles, dock landing qualifications, shipboard familiarization and overall team building.

"In the well decks, we've done a lot of integrated training, bringing different types of crafts and vehicles aboard," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW/SCW) Kenyon Copeland, assigned to Iwo Jima.

"We've worked together with the MEU, the watercraft crews and ships company to stage them to see what kind of storage we can have, and if we would be able to fit any more and still get around."

Post exercise evaluations were held after each operation. All training evolutions were reviewed and critiqued in order to identify any problems and improvement possibilities.

"This is to basically get everyone on the same page before deployment, so that we can operate safely and complete our mission," said Copeland. "All the trainings have gone well; we've worked well together and kept our heads on a swivel."

The debarkation process involved off-loading embarked personnel, aircraft, watercraft and vehicles from the Iwo Jima ARG.

Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Joshua D. Kramer said Sailors and Marines worked well together and expects similar cohesiveness during the next training exercises.

Upon completion of PMINT the Iwo Jima ARG plans to conduct composite unit training exercise (COMPT2X) and a certification exercise (CERTEX) in preparation to deploy in 2012.

Face of Defense: C-17 Crew Gives Aid to Earthquake Victims

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Leah Young
62nd Airlift Wing

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash., Nov. 4, 2011 – A group of U.S. airmen took to the air to deliver humanitarian relief supplies for victims of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck eastern Turkey Oct. 23.

The five-member C-17 Globemaster III crew, assigned to the 10th Airlift Squadron here, flew to Turkey Nov. 1 and delivered a 75,000-pound load of tents at Erzurum Airport.

"The men and women of McChord are always ready to provide airlift at a moment's notice," said Air Force Maj. Corey Simmons, the squadron’s director of operations. "It is an honor for the 10th Airlift Squadron pathfinders to provide relief to our great partner Turkey in their time of need."

According to officials at the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., the tents will provide shelter to earthquake survivors as recovery efforts continue. The tents are six-sided, pyramidal-shaped shelters that can comfortably house up to 10 people plus their clothing and equipment.

The tent's wind-, mildew- and fire-resistant construction and materials, officials added, ensure the warmth and dryness of the occupants even in frigid temperatures.

"Our airmen are focused on providing support at home and around the world at any time," Simmons said. "Rapid global mobility is a key to providing assistance at times like these."

McCain, Lieberman Receive NDU Foundation Award

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By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – Senior defense and national security leaders were on hand here yesterday as the National Defense University Foundation honored Arizona Sen. John McCain and Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman at its American Patriot Award dinner.

The annual event highlights the role of the National Defense University, based at Fort Lesley J. McNair here, as the pinnacle of professional military education.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said one of his first trips as chairman was to NDU.

“I did that on purpose, because I make three promises to the leaders of our military as I travel around and meet them,” he said. “The first promise I make is that we will probably not design your organizations exactly as you want them to be.”

The second promise, Dempsey said, is that they will get equipment that probably will not be exactly what they need.

“The third promise … is whatever guidance we give you will be a little late,” he said with a grin.

“I’ve lived up to those promises in my first month as the chairman,” the general said, “but the point I make to them is that it is the leaders that we develop that knit together all of that and produce the outcomes that our nation needs. And we ought to be really proud of that.”

The military is the premier leader development institution in the United States, “and leaders are what we need to move into an uncertain future,” he said.

Dempsey said he was delighted to be part of the event honoring McCain and Lieberman. He thanked them for their careers of service to America and for their commitment to character and values and also their commitment to developing leaders.

CIA Director David H. Petraeus, a retired Army general, said McCain and Lieberman have “walked point here in Washington for our troopers, intelligence professionals and diplomats -- two men who have answered the call of duty over expediency, the call of country over party.”

The senators have worked from their convictions to implement policies to meet wartime goals, Petraeus said, even when their positions were not politically popular.

The American Patriot Award recognizes people who have dedicated their lives in service to the United States. “But more importantly, it’s the ideals of our nation that they represent,” said Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Army chief of staff. “As a result of their efforts, today we have the strongest armed forces in the world as we continue to fight and serve across many continents.”

Lieberman and McCain have spent almost their entire lives serving the American people, Odierno said, “ensuring that we are not only prepared today, but prepared for tomorrow.”

The senators have served together on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and both have made repeated and in-depth visits to Iraq and Afghanistan. Lieberman has served in the Senate since 1989 and was the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee in 2000, but supported McCain, a Republican, in his bid for the presidency in 2008.

John McCain entered the Senate in 1987. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1958, and flew jets for the Navy. He was shot down over Hanoi during the Vietnam War and spent more than five years as a prisoner of war.

Commands Transition to NWU Type II/III

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tim Drake Godbee, Naval Public Affairs Support Element- West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Expeditionary commands around the fleet began the scheduled 7-month transition to the Navy Working Uniform Type II and III (NWU Type II/III) this month.

The NWU family of uniforms is intended to replace multiple, less capable legacy uniforms, reduce the Navy's total ownership costs, modernize the warfighter, and complete the vision of Task Force Uniform. As such, these two new uniforms in the NWU series have been developed for use in the tactical expeditionary mission of today's Navy, tailored for desert and woodland environments.

Commands that have been approved to wear the NWU Type II/III uniform will transition to the new uniform in alphabetical order by the name of the respective command.

The NWU Type II (desert) uniform will be worn by Navy Special Warfare (NSW) operators and Sailors assigned to NSW units or units which directly support NSW operations. The NWU Type III (woodland) uniform will be the standard camouflage uniform for all personnel, to be worn in non-desert environments, including most stateside areas. The only difference between the two uniforms is the camouflage pattern.

The NWU Type III will replace the existing tri-colored woodland camouflage utility uniform. It will be the standard camouflage uniform worn in the continental United States, and can be worn while deployed as prescribed by combatant commanders. Occasion for wear of the NWU Type III will be the same as the current woodland camouflage utility uniform per NAVADMIN 188/09.

"The NWU Type II/III approval is a culmination of a four-year effort comprising all of the expeditionary stakeholders, ensuring we capture the true operational requirements our Sailors' need to succeed on the battlefield," said Master Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Robert McCue, NWU Type II/III Conformance Test Monitor during an interview in Aug. "They provide unmatched capabilities to the warfighter enabling tactical advantage and enhancing mission success thus saving lives."

Each Expeditionary Sailor will receive three blouses, three trousers, two cover insignia, one parka, one fleece liner, one helmet cover, and one sun hat (boonie cap). Fleece watch caps will be provided at a later time once available.

Items from the NWU Type II/III will be issued only by the approved commands and will not be available at Naval Exchanges.

The Chief of Naval Operations approved the final design for the NWU II/III Aug. 30.

Testing for the NWU Type II/III began in July.

Services Have Learned Irregular Warfare, Leaders Say

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By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2011 – The military has institutionalized lessons learned from the past decade of nonconventional warfare and will work to maintain doctrine and skills that allow the services to balance readiness for traditional defenses as well as irregular fighting, service leaders told a congressional committee today.

“In 2002, the nation effectively went to war with two armies,” Maj. Gen. Peter Bayer, the Army’s director of strategy, plans and policy, told the House Armed Services Committee. “One, comprised of general-purpose forces, was prepared to excel against traditional adversaries in direct combat. The second, comprised largely of special operations forces, was prepared to prevail in an irregular environment.

“The Army quickly learned that success on the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq required adaptation in both general-purpose and special operations forces,” Bayer said. The Army has adapted since then by institutionalizing irregular warfare capabilities and capacity across the force, he said.

Bayer was joined by Rear Adm. Sinclair M. Harris, director of the Navy irregular warfare office; Brig. Gen. Daniel O’Donohue, director of the Marine Corps’ capabilities development directorate; and Brig. Gen. Jerry P. Martinez, director for joint integration in the Air Force’s directorate of operational capability requirements. All four said readiness for irregular warfare is critical to future operations, and they described how each of the services has blended conventional and irregular warfighting doctrine and skills.

The Navy has leveraged its Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and established maritime partnership stations and maritime headquarters with maritime operations centers to meet demands, Harris said. “The evolution of intelligence and strike capabilities has enabled the Navy to meet urgent combatant commander requirements for counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations,” he said.

The Navy Irregular Warfare Office, created in 2008, has led the institutionalization of irregular capabilities, Harris said.

The Marine Corps has designed a readiness force for post-Afghanistan operations – beyond 2014 – “that mitigates this hybrid threat, creates options and provides decision space for senior leadership” that considers joint, interagency and allied responses, O’Donohue said.

That force will be fundamentally different from the current or pre-9/11 force, O’Donohue said. “It draws on a rich history of innovations in irregular warfare, but is recast as a scalable crisis response force ready to counter complex irregular, conventional and hybrid threats – and the gray areas in between,” he said.

“Above all,” O’Donohue added, “we prepare to operate in and adapt to unpredictable, uncertain, complex environments at a moment’s notice.” He noted that irregular warfare is not new, and had the same definition in the Marines’ Small Wars Manual of 1940 as it does today.

As for the Air Force, Martinez said, the service is part of a larger, joint, coalition effort, and that works to supplement or improve host-nation and regional capabilities. “Air power directly contributes by establishing a secure environment in which the partner nation can flourish, ultimately without direct assistance,” he said.

By assessing, training, advising and equipping a troubled partner air force, airmen can contribute to that nation’s sovereignty and legitimacy while creating opportunities for economic growth, political development and stability, he added.

Like his counterparts at the hearing, Martinez said the Air Force’s challenge going forward will be how to balance the requirements for irregular warfare with those of traditional fighting, although he added that an increase in capabilities in one area usually helps the other.

The most important thing the Army can do to advance the institutionalization of irregular warfare is to continue educating its leaders, Bayer said.

“By developing adaptive and creative leaders, the Army ensures its ability to respond to a wide range of future tasks,” he said. “Maintaining a highly professional education system is crucial to institutionalizing the lessons of the past decade and ensuring that we do not repeat the mistakes of post-Vietnam by thinking that these kinds of operations are behind us.”

Future battlefields will be populated with hybrid threats, Bayer said, with combinations of regular and irregular tactics against enemies that include terrorists and criminal groups. The Army must remain flexible to operate against “whatever the threat” and in all types of settings, he said.

“As pressures for cuts in defense spending and force structures increase, the Army must assess which capabilities to emphasize, how many of each, and at what level,” he said. “Finding the right mix will be a challenge.”

The key to advancing the Army’s ability to respond to irregular threats will be to ensure the necessary force structure to support a versatile mix of capabilities in an uncertain future, he said.

The Army demonstrated flexibility in Iraq and Afghanistan with modular brigades that included a host of irregular warfare specialties, including information operations, public affairs and civil affairs, Bayer said.

All of the officers said foreign language and cultural training will grow as a requirement for service members.

Japanese-American Vets Earn Highest Civilian Honor

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By C. Todd Lopez

Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2011 – Hundreds of former soldiers wearing blue and red caps bearing the names of their World War II units walked, shuffled or were wheeled into the Capitol Visitors Center here yesterday to witness the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded for their bravery and contribution to country more than 66 years ago.

The Japanese-American soldiers are the American-born sons of parents who emigrated from Japan to the United States from Japan. In Japanese, they are called Nisei -- the second generation.

But those soldiers are all American, and fought for the United States during World War II as part of segregated, all-Japanese-American units that included the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service. The three units together were the most decorated units of that war.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese-Americans had been rounded up and were forced to live in internment camps inside the United States. They were branded enemies of their own country.

"For Japanese-Americans, the days and months after Pearl Harbor must have seemed like a giant and painful step backward," said U.S. Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. "Removed from their homes and placed in camps, these loyal Americans endured years of discomfort and disgrace. But out of this story of prejudice comes another story that reaffirms America's worth and America's exceptionalism. Today, we honor the thousands of Japanese-Americans who served in the Army's three units we honor today, most of whom were recruited during their internment."

These Japanese-American soldiers, Boehner said, distinguished themselves in nearly every operation in every theater of World War II.

"On behalf of my colleagues and the American people, thank you for fighting to make this the greatest nation on Earth, and God bless all of you for all of your work," Boehner said.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, a Medal of Honor recipient, was among the Congressional Gold Medal recipients. As a Nisei himself, he served as part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II.

After Pearl Harbor, Inouye said, Japanese-Americans like himself were not satisfied to sit and do nothing while America fought. They petitioned the government for an opportunity to demonstrate their love of country and patriotism. Today, those soldiers are recognized for their commitment to the United States, Inouye said.

"This has been a long journey, and a glorious one," the senator said. "We wish to thank all of you, all Americans, for this recognition. It's heartwarming, and I am certain that I speak for all assembled here. But more importantly, I'm certain that those resting in cemeteries are pleased with this day."

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer of California participated in getting the legislation passed to allow the medal to be presented to the veterans.

"Granting this medal is a long-overdue honor which recognizes and expressed our long-overdue appreciation for your dedicated service during World War II," Boxer told those in attendance. She said those service members fought the war on two fronts: the enemy in combat and prejudice at home.

"While we can never repay the debt that we owe you, we can and we must recognize your valor and your patriotism, and that is what we are doing here today," Boxer said.

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona said America's Nisei veterans of World War II did "everything that was ever asked of them, and more.”

“And what is most remarkable,” he added, “is that they did so despite the fact that our nation at times fell short of its responsibilities to them and Americans like them."

McCain said he and his fellow legislators are appreciative and proud of the Japanese-American veterans’ World War II service and patriotism.

"It's not every day that the leaders and members of Congress have an opportunity to put aside our usual difference over the impending business of the day to join together with bipartisan unanimity to pay tribute to fellow citizens who have served a just cause greater than their own self-interests," McCain said. "When it comes to honoring those among us who have given everything to protect our nation, Americans have always and will always stand as one, just as we do today."

U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California noted that the gathering to award the Congressional Gold Medal was not complete, as many of the soldiers who served were killed in combat or have died since the end of World War II.

"We remember those for whom today came too late, and we particularly honor those who never came home," Pelosi said. "In battle, today's awardees proved that they were great fighters. In their service, they proved they were great patriots. Your cause was not just the end of fascism, but promoted the end of discrimination -- the American ideal of equality, which is our heritage and our hope."

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award that’s bestowed by the U.S. government. Veterans in attendance at the ceremony receive a bronze replica of the medal. A single gold medal will be placed in the Smithsonian Institution for all Americans to see.

More than 33,000 Japanese-Americans served in World War II. Together, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team earned seven Presidential Unit Citations, two Meritorious Service Plaques, 36 Army Commendation Medals, and 87 Division Commendations. Individually, soldiers earned 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, more than 354 Silver Stars, and more than 4,000 Purple Hearts.

Chile Operates with US Naval Forces as part of Submarine Rescue Exercise CHILEMAR III

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By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Karolina A. Martinez, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Chilean submariners from CS Carrera (SS 22) along with the U.S. Navy's Deep Submerging Unit (DSU), participated in exercise CHILEMAR III of the coast of Southern California Nov. 3.

CHILEMAR is an annual bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Chile, which is designed to demonstrate interoperability between U.S. submarine rescue systems and Chilean submarines. The exercise also promotes greater understanding and cooperation between the U.S. and Chile.

"This exercise is important because you cannot serge friendship," said Rear Adm. Robert J. Kamensky, vice commander, Submarine Force. "You build that over time. Here's a demonstration of friendship being built so that whenever we have to exercise it, we already know each other. We can trust each other in that we'll be able to operate as a team."

A personal relationship between the U.S. commander of DSU and Chilean submarine commanders provide the genesis for CHILEMAR. Assigned together as classmates Chile's Naval War College, the commanders continued to engage beyond that duty assignment and convinced their respective higher headquarters that a bilateral rescue exercise served beyond both countries' interests. This highlight the importance of personal relationships gained during international programs.

The exercise included a practice rescue scenario in which DSU's pressurized rescue module (PRM), mated with Carrera for a transfer of personnel from the simulated distressed submarine to the rescue vessel.

"We actually went down and mated at 480 feet with the Chilean submarine Carrera," said Navy Diver 2nd Class Joe Olin, a PRM attendee assigned to DSU.

Once the hatch was opened and personnel climbed the ladder safely onto the submarine and up to the PRM, they exchanged gifts, greetings and even a few crewmembers were exchanged between the two nations, before resurfacing.

"We went down and met the captain and the crew," said Olin. "We shook hands and exchanged gifts with them and let them know that submarine rescue is real and that we can deploy all over the world within 72 hours and be on station and ready to do our jobs and provide a real rescue if needed."

CHILEMAR is also designed to prepare and train both nations to perform Submarine Escape and Rescue (SER) which is an international humanitarian aid discipline that requires cooperation across national and alliance boundaries.

"It was an excellent experience all around, not only because we got to see action and be part of it, but we got to watch the interaction between sailors from Chile and Sailors from the United States," said Kamensky, who was one of the personnel who rode in the PRM to witness the evolution. "Watching how they interact was extremely heartening to me as one of the leads in the submarine force because it speaks for how well our coalition can cooperate and make things happen. It was extremely rewarding."

MCPON Visits Everett

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jerine Lee, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick D. West visited Naval Station Everett to speak with Sailors of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, Naval Station Everett Sailors and civilians during an all hands call in the ship's hangar bay, Nov. 3.

West spoke to Sailors about changes in the Navy such as budgeting, warfare pins, retirements and manpower in the Navy. Afterwards, he answered questions from the audience.

"We are a Navy on the go," said West. "Overall, we are doing well but the Navy is constantly changing and we need to stay focused, communicate with each other and keep moving."

In his remarks, he also recognized the dedication of the Sailors and support from their families by thanking them for their service and appreciation for their sacrifices.

"Nothing would get done if it wasn't for the hard work of the Sailors on this great warship," said West. "All those ships out there are just hunks of metal and technology floating in the sea. The engine that truly runs the Navy is you, our Sailors."

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Kathryn Benjamin met and spoke with West and said he brought inspiration to the ship.

"It was really nice to have a senior enlisted leader speak to us so we can relate," said Benjamin. "He is a good person and an even better role model that brought motivation to the crew before the upcoming deployment."

Face of Defense: Creative Marine Loves Music

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By Marine Corps Cpl. John Robbart III

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif., Nov. 3, 2011 – A desire to serve his country and his love of music influenced Lance Cpl. Richard B. Orellana to join the Marine Corps.

Orellana said he started playing the drums when he was 5 years old. At age 13, he taught himself the guitar. At 19, he picked up the trombone.

“There’s always something I can learn. I try to keep pushing myself creatively,” he said.

Orellana’s devotion to music paid off when he auditioned for and was accepted into the Los Angeles Unified School District All-City Honor Marching Band as a junior in high school.

“Richard was the best drummer to ever come through Chatsworth High School, which is why I recommended him for the all-city band,” said Larry O. Williams, Chatsworth High School’s band director. “I remember him as a freshman -- he was so talented, but controlling his energy was the real challenge.”

Orellana’s talent doesn’t end with being an exceptional musician. He also found that he could draw. His high school art teacher, he said, saw his sketches and challenged him to take advanced-level courses.

During his junior year, Orellana competed in a nationwide art competition, which earned him a scholarship to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. He recalled he was surprised at how comfortable he felt with a pen and sketchpad.

“I took courses in design and illustration -- I had found my niche,” he said.

However, Orellana’s scholarship ran out after he’d attended a trimester at the school, and his family could not afford to pay for his art classes or music lessons.

“I was crushed, devastated, you name it,” he said. “I couldn’t believe that my dreams couldn’t be fulfilled because of my economic background.”

Orellana said he found himself making bad decisions and heading toward trouble.

“I needed to get away from that trouble back home and get set on a straight and narrow path,” he said, speaking of a time when he needed discipline in his life. Orellana decided he would join the Marine Corps and audition for the Marine Corps Band.

Before his final audition for the Marine band, Orellana injured his finger skateboarding and was unable to complete the audition. He needed to depart for recruit training and had to reclassify for training in an administration job.

“Orellana is very good at what he does,” said Marine Corps Cpl. Michael A. Travis, Orlellana’s supervisor at the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit here. Orellana, he said, is considering becoming a combat illustrator so that he can use his creative talents.

“He needs a specialty where he can be more free,” Travis said. “Being creative is his ‘thing.’ … He has made creative cover pages, unit symbols and designed different things for our section.”

Meanwhile, Orellana is still making music. He has a drum set in his barracks room, and sometimes plays at local venues.

Orellana said he also makes time to help out his fellow Marines.

“If there’s one thing I’ll always take from my time in the Marine Corps, it’s to look out for others,” Orellana said. “I want to be that person who can help, not only artistically, but also morally, to make sure [other Marines] have that role model who will keep them out of trouble.”

Army Secretary: Balance Needed as Wars Draw Down

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By Rob McIlvaine
Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2011 – With the drawdown of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, talented soldiers will need to be retained while Army infrastructure draws down, and the American people and warfighters need to maintain a connection, Army Secretary John M. McHugh said here yesterday.

"You can't have an Army without people," McHugh told reporters at a Defense Writers Group breakfast, adding that the Army today is family-oriented, unlike the 1970s, when the vast majority of soldiers were single.

McHugh said it’s also time to take a look at the balance between contracting and providing government services.

"I think it was long overdue that the Army takes the opportunity to look at how it does its business,” he said. “We had outsourced a lot of jobs, hired a lot of contractors, and they did yeoman's work for us, but it was time after nearly a decade of that trend to take a better look at how we're doing things inside the Army. And I expect … by the time these [changes] are implemented, we could save, say by the year of 2017, upwards of $10 billion a year."

McHugh said he hopes these kinds of savings will contribute toward decreasing the deficit and the debt, and will, in turn, spur the economy. But without a budget, he added, decisions are difficult to make.

"Now, we're looking at possible options so that we can make smart decisions correctly, rather than not-so-smart decisions quickly,” he said. “But until we know what our figures are, it's kind of hard to say what we would actually take action against."

And whatever comes about, the Army secretary said, he believes the military needs to remain part of the American fabric, noting that the National Guard and the Army Reserve provide that connection.

"I would argue that the Guard and Reserve are terrific ambassadors across virtually every state and every community in this nation. … They put a face on the goodness that is military service,” he said. "Those that are operating in areas or states where we don't have a base are playing an even more important role, because they can help bring the military message to communities and people that otherwise don't have reason to be exposed to it."

Meanwhile, after 10 years of war with less than 1 percent of the population serving in uniform, McHugh said, the Army has to make sure it doesn't become an enclave unto itself.

"We're already scheduled and programmed to come down from current [strength], roughly [from] 569,000 to 520,000,” he said. “But for us, the glideslope by which we reach that end strength so that we can direct resources and balance ourselves, while providing the programs that are underpinning those forces, is equally important.”

End strength -- the total number of soldiers -- drives the Army’s cost, McHugh said. So if the budget goes down further, he explained, the end strength is likely to come down as well.

"What that will be will in part be determined, of course, by what that budget number is,” he said. “So it's not like we have a vote in this matter. We will, at the end of the day, be handed a budget. And our key objective, whatever that budget number may be, is to come out and shape an Army that is balanced and retains the great skills and capabilities that have been honed over the last 10 years.

“We don't want to lose this most effective land force the world has ever seen,” he added, “and balance is the key to that."

As the Army draws down in size, McHugh said, it has less need for facilities.

"At some point, we have to begin to look at rationalizing the vacancies, and would it make sense for us to support another [base realignment and closure process],” he said. “We don't want to be over-structured. That costs -- in fact, it wastes -- money. But at this point, we need to do a little bit more analysis."

The operating force has become incredibly adaptive over the last 10 years, the Army secretary said, recalling a recent trip to Afghanistan’s Arghandab Valley, one of the bloodiest battlegrounds of the war there.

"We took off our body armor and walked into a village about a half mile away, and the soldiers that led the fight to clear that part of the valley were now working with the Afghan elders,” he said. “They were establishing the Afghan local police with a special operations captain, a young man, and a first lieutenant, just over a year out of West Point.”

The young officers were exercising authorities and responsibilities the Army probably would have given to a brigadier general 10 years ago, McHugh said.

“Now, they were out there doing amazing things, and each and every day they change what they're doing, because the enemy changes,” he told the writers. “That's adaptability. That's creativity."

Young leaders accustomed to having such authorities and responsibilities in the combat theater over the past decade could become frustrated with garrison life, McHugh noted.

"How do we bring soldiers like that home, who have exercised such authorities and have shown such creativity, into a garrison environment and keep then interested and challenged and engaged is one of our critical challenges for the future,” he said.

"I've asked our [Training and Doctrine Command] folks, and I've asked leaders throughout the institutionalized Army, as to how we can reconfigure everything from social programs to education programs to flexibility and our rating system to allow more creativity and perhaps re-examine the traditional Army ladder of promotion to see what we can do to create an environment that keeps young leaders -- just amazing soldiers like that -- interested in the Army, and at the same time, of course, attracting those kinds of folks in the future.

That's not a budget problem,” he continued. “It's just a problem of our breaking out of our traditional way of thinking about things and trying to create a peacetime Army and opportunities in that peacetime Army that will keep the kind of incredible people that have been stepping forward and putting their name on the dotted line for the last 10 years coming to us.”

TV Special to Celebrate Veterans, Military Families

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2011 – A Veterans Day TV special will celebrate service members and veterans and spotlight the issues they face as they leave the military and re-enter their communities and the workforce.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ‘Rise and Honor’ A Veterans Day Special” will air Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. The show teamed up with the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Hollywood’s leading charity, to present the one-hour special, a news release said.

The reality show undertakes massive home renovations for families in need with the help of a builder and a host of volunteers. This season’s premiere featured Barbara Marshall, a 15-year Navy veteran who has devoted her life to helping homeless female veterans.

“In 200 episodes, we've seen thousands of armed forces volunteers to help us rebuild homes and lives,” said Brady Connell, the show’s executive producer. “Now we're thrilled to be able to honor all veterans with this television special.”

The special will feature host Ty Pennington as he revisits past episodes with some of the show’s most memorable military stories. The “Extreme Makeover” crew also will visit with some of the families featured in those episodes to find out how they’ve been faring since their home makeover and how they’re continuing to aid their fellow veterans.

Throughout the show, celebrities will spotlight the issues veterans face after service, and the strengths and skills they bring to the workforce and their communities, the release said. Celebrity guests include Whoopi Goldberg, Jewel, George Lopez, J.R. Martinez, Rachael Ray, Sherri Shepherd, Robin Williams and Major League Baseball players Daniel Murphy of the Mets, Shane Victorino of the Phillies and Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox.

Additionally, the Entertainment Industry Foundation will launch its “Rise and Honor” program during the special. The program raises funds to support reintegration services for veterans and their families, benefiting organizations such as the Fisher House Foundation, Hire Heroes USA, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, USO, Volunteers of America and Welcome Back Veterans. These organizations offer veterans and their families services and support such as housing, job placement, health care, rehabilitation and mental health treatment.

“We’ve highlighted the difficult struggles our veterans often face when returning home,” George Verschoor, executive producer, said. “We are so proud to take this a step further with a moving tribute to our nation’s heroes, while inspiring Americans to give back to those who’ve given our country so much.”

The special will culminate with an event featuring an audience of active-duty service members and veterans, along with a live musical performance by Jewel, who also will co-host the special.

In the news release, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis cited the importance of efforts such as this one that shine a light on veterans’ issues as they transition from military to civilian life.

“All across the country, we have talented and dedicated veterans who have been unemployed for far too long,” she said. “These service men and women are right here and ready to get back to work. They just need a little help from all of us to find a good job at a fair wage and successfully transition from military to civilian life.

“We applaud ABC and the Entertainment Industry Foundation for broadcasting this special show to raise awareness of the needs of our returning veterans and their families,” she added.

Cumberland County, NC School System Honors Vietnam Veterans as Part of Heroes Homecoming

55,000 students take part in more than 100 activities leading up to Veterans Day

Fayetteville, NC – November 2, 2011 – More than 30 percent of students in the Cumberland County School System come from military families. So it’s fitting that the school system has put together a detailed list of resources and events all geared towards honoring Vietnamveteran heroes as part of Heroes Homecoming. Heroes Homecoming is a 60-event, 10-day celebration honoring and paying tribute to Vietnam vets from across the country. It will take place in Fayetteville/Cumberland County, NC, from November 4-13, 2011.

There is no other city in the country tied more closely to the Vietnam War and that entire period of our country’s history. More than 200,000 troops trained at Fayetteville’s Fort Bragg before being deployed to Vietnam. The community currently has both a considerable population of native-born Vietnamese and one of the highest concentrations of Vietnam veterans in the country. Yet there is still a great deal of misunderstanding among residents, especially the younger generation, about just what this history means. Heroes Homecoming is designed to celebrate the community’s history and cultural diversity, while promoting an atmosphere of appreciation between Fayetteville and Vietnam, and giving thanks to those who fought for us in that conflict.

“An event like Heroes Homecoming provides an unprecedented opportunity for our children to learn about that period in history,” said Frank Till, Superintendent of Cumberland County Schools. “I am very proud that our schools have the opportunity to honor the tremendous sacrifices of those who served during the Vietnam War.”

The Cumberland County School System, the fourth largest district in the state, is made up of 85 schools and nearly 55,000 students. From November 4-11, more than 100 activities will take place at the majority of elementary and secondary schools throughout the county. Many of these events will focus on the Vietnam War era and conflict.

All classes will invite parents, relatives or other Vietnam veterans to speak to students about their service. They will be invited to share their experiences, both good and bad, with older students during an interactive panel discussion.

Students will create and present artwork, poems and songs in honor of Vietnam vets. They will write letters of appreciation that will be delivered to local veteran hospitals and nursing homes. Students will have the opportunity to read books like “The Wall” and “The Lotus Seed” and to watch videos like “How Tiger Got His Stripes” and discuss their significance afterward.

Facts and statistics about the Vietnam War will be read over the PA system each day as part of the morning announcements. Students will bring in pictures and videotaped interviews of their veteran family and friends to share during “Vietnam Show and Tell.” There will be a school-wide moment of silence for Vietnam soldiers that were killed or injured in the war, as well as a breakfast and brunch held in honor of all Vietnam vets.

Students will learn about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and will have the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall that will be located at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum (ASOM) throughout Heroes Homecoming. Schools will also raise funds to purchase an “In Remembrance of Our Vietnam Veterans” brick paver at the ASOM.

The entire Heroes Homecoming curriculum can be viewed at http://livebinders.com/play/play/190294.

Heroes Homecoming is being held in partnership with the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. All Heroes Homecoming events recognize the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam veterans, ranging from concerts and parades, to lectures and movie viewings, to cultural celebrations and recognition ceremonies. For more information on Heroes Homecoming, visit www.HeroesHomecoming.com.

About Heroes Homecoming: As America’s First Military Sanctuary Community, Fayetteville/Cumberland County is giving brave Vietnam veterans the welcome home they deserve. The community will host Heroes Homecoming – the biggest commemoration/reunion of its kind – for the 10 days leading up to Veterans Day 2011. The event series will feature celebrations, discussions, fellowship and memories for all those who attend. Heroes Homecoming is Fayetteville/Cumberland County’s way of showing all Vietnam veterans that we remember and appreciate their courage, their sacrifice and everything they’ve done to defend our freedom – now and forever.

About the FACVB: The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for positioning Fayetteville/Cumberland County as a destination for conventions, sporting events and individual travel. For additional information, visit www.visitfayettevillenc.com or call 1-800-255-8217. Fayetteville/Cumberland County is America's first military sanctuary. Through the Army's Army and other volunteer groups, our citizens and businesses are dedicated to “watching over those who watch over us ©.”

World Record Cheese Carver and Harris Teeter Honor Veterans and Raise Awareness for Wounded Warrior Project

Who:  Nationally recognized cheese carver and Guinness Book of World Records holder, Sarah Kaufmann, “The Cheese Lady,” along with Harris Teeter.

What:  Will be saluting all veterans and active duty military personnel and raising awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project with a special cheese carving. Kaufmann, known for her military cheese carvings will be sculpting Old Glory and her protectors in one, 640-pound Cheddar Mammoth.

When & Where:  Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 – 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. carving   

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. carving   
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. carving   
Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 – 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. carving
Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 – 11 a.m. carving finished
Harris Teeter Pentagon Row
900 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, Va. 22202

Phone: 703-413-7112

Why:  Sarah Kaufmann is honored to be part of Harris Teeter’s promotion to raise awareness and encourage support for the Wounded Warrior Project.  Shoppers are welcome to come out and celebrate all military personnel, past and present, watch Sarah in action, taste the Mammoth Cheddar and enjoy other fine foods from their neighborhood market.

For more than 16 years Kaufmann has been sculpting salutes to the military and their families.  Famous sculptures include a six-foot long aircraft carrier celebrating the return of the USS Ronald Reagan and the “yellow submarine,” the USS Jallao, honoring the men that built and served on the submarine during and after World War II. View Sarah’s military carvings here.

Interviews: Sarah is available for in-store interviews during her time at Harris Teeter. Journalists and cameras are permitted inside the store for photographs, video footage or in-person interviews. Please contact Danna Jones at 704-844-3904.

For any additional information on Sarah “The Cheese Lady” or to request photos contact Angela Hemauer, Flavorful Insight Marketing Communications & PR, ahemauer@flavorfulinsight.com or 715-212-2910.

About Sarah “The Cheese Lady” - Sarah “The Cheese Lady” is a nationally recognized cheese sculptor and Guinness Book of World Records holder for World’s Largest Cheese Sculpture set August 14, 2011 at the Wisconsin State Fair. Since 1996, she has created hundreds of sculptures, captured countless media impressions on national and cable television networks, and appeared at numerous professional sporting events.  Kaufmann carves in her studios in Cincinnati and San Diego and often appears in person to sculpt cheese live at venues across the United States: food & wine festivals, supermarkets, tradeshows, state fairs, sporting events, museums, civic celebrations and other special occasions. Her works of art can be viewed at www.sarahcheeselady.com. Facebook: Sarah Kaufmann “The Cheese Lady” Twitter: @sarahcheeselady.