Ceremony dedicates Wisconsin's first Armed Forces Reserve Center

By Sgt. Tyler Lasure
112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and senior military officials cut the ribbon Saturday (Jan. 7) for a new $24 million building on Madison's east side, replacing old armories, saving money, and allowing for joint training with Wisconsin National Guard, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps Reserve components.

The Armed Forces Reserve Center, the first in Wisconsin, is home to 16 units with approximately 800 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines from the reserve components of the armed forces.

"The best part of this facility is that all the military units are together, it is truly a joint organization and you learn from each other," said Navy Capt. Gary Haben, commander of the Navy Reserve Component Command-Midwest. "When we are forward, we are together, so it's great to train together too."

The AFRC not only allows for communication between branches of service, but also for unique training opportunities.

"We have the electronic warfare simulation system, there is a medical unit over here and they have all the unique equipment that medical units have, and the other units can see the equipment we have in ordinance and logistics,” said Army Col. Ronald Jones, commander of the Army Reserve's 646th Regional Support Group. “Whereas, before we were all in different locations and didn't have that stuff, over here we can see the whole spectrum.”

The engagement skills trainer - a virtual firing range - is one example of a training opportunity that the Marine Corps Reserve can share with other units in the building. Also, the 646th can share their medical training with other units in the building. The ability to train with other units and branches of service is important as service members continue to deploy.

"This Armed Forces Reserve Center also recognizes the truth that you have proven around the globe, that you are professional and capable to serve alongside your active duty counterparts," Kleefisch said. "But to maintain that capability and that readiness requires a facility to really meet those needs, and I think you can agree that this beautiful building and the ones around it afford the opportunity to train and unite in a 21st-century capability."

Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, also praised the service members.

"Everybody in this room in uniform is a citizen Soldier, citizen Marine, or citizen Sailor, but first and foremost they are citizens of the state of Wisconsin,” Dunbar said. “On the weekends and in the summers and when the nation calls on them - as they have called many times since Sept. 11, 2001 - they suit up and they go overseas to defend this country and they comeback, put the uniform back in the closet, and go back to their careers.

"There is something uniquely American and special about that relationship," Dunbar continued. "I tell you ladies and gentlemen, as long as we have facilities like this and men and women like this in uniform, we are never going to lose touch with what America is all about."

The new facility also allows an economic advantage as well as training opportunities. The AFRC meets or exceeds LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver criteria, meaning the building meets up to 60 percent of potential efficiencies in sustainability, energy and water conservation, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

"We spend a lot of money on utilities in older buildings," Haben said. "These newer ones are more efficient and cheaper to operate, so everybody wins there - the taxpayer especially."

It is estimated that the facility saved $12.7 million in renovation costs.

"It is a great idea to combine all the services in one building,” said Lt. Cmdr. Roger Walker, commander of the Navy Operational Support Center, one of the tenant units in the AFRC. "It saves money, lets us get to know one another, and I'm sure it is going to spread and before you know it, it will be only joint centers everywhere else."

Sailors and Marines Practice Damage Control Procedures aboard USS New Orleans

By Mass Communication Specialist2nd Class Dominique Pineiro, Amphibious Squadron 5 Public Affairs

USS NEW ORLEANS, At sea (NNS) -- Dozens of Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary unit (MEU) embarked aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) trained alongside the ship's crew of Sailors to learn the principles of shipboard damage control, Jan. 5.

The exercises, conducted by the ship's damage control training team (DCTT), were designed to help Marines learn the basics of damage control aboard a Navy vessel and integrate the green-side manpower into the ship's damage control procedures.

"If we ever needed to use them, they would have the basic knowledge to make them effective in a damage control situation," said Chief Damage Controlman Jody Schilling, New Orleans' DCTT leader.

Schilling said that in the event of a major shipboard emergency, all hands would be involved, and the Marine manpower would be extremely important.

"Some of the things Marines are really good at can be applied to damage control," said Schilling. "We want to use their skill sets, and apply our skill sets, so we can make a more effective team."

Training consisted of the basic fundamentals of damage control including dewatering, pipe patching, hose handling, personal protective equipment and how to dress-out properly.

"We want everyone [on the ship] to have the basic DC fundamentals," said Schilling. "You want to train to be prepared for everything. If the time comes when we have to execute, I want to make sure we're ready to go."

The exercises also served as a refresher for New Orleans' Sailors, who are required to go through basic damage training when they report to the command.

"Whenever a Sailor checks on board, they immediately get the overall basics," said Damage Controlman 1st Class Justin Kuhlman. "This is a bit more hands on, but they should already be familiar with everything here."

Lance Cpl. Justin Mischloney, a Marine assigned to the 11th MEU who took part in the training, said the training served as a way to help him get familiar with all the damage control equipment in case he was ever called upon to help in an emergency.

"I feel it's really important we all know this," said Mischloney. "We outnumber the Sailors and if anything happens and a Sailor becomes a casualty, a Marine will have to step in and take his place."

New Orleans is part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Panetta, Dempsey Discuss Iran Situation

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2012 – Defense Department leaders agree international economic pressure represents a better option than military action in dealing with Iran.

In an interview with Bob Schieffer that aired today on the CBS news program “Face the Nation,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said while the U.S. government prefers to peacefully resolve friction with Iran, the department closely monitors Iran’s nuclear program and actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.

“We know that they’re trying to develop a nuclear capability, and that’s what concerns us,” Panetta said. “Our red line to Iran is: do not develop a nuclear weapon.”

The secretary noted all options to counter Iran, including military action, remain on the table.

“But the responsible thing to do right now is to keep putting diplomatic and economic pressure on them to force them to do the right thing, and to make sure they do not make the decision to proceed with the development of a nuclear weapon,” he said.

U.S. sanctions against Iran date to 1979, when an executive order froze Iranian assets in the United States in response to Iranian students’ hostage taking at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

U.S. sanctions increased with a 1984 order limiting arms sales and prohibiting international loans to Iran. A 1987 executive order banned imports of Iranian-origin goods and services in response to aggressive action against shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Responding to Iran’s support of international terrorism and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, the United States imposed further sanctions in 1995, barring U.S. involvement with petroleum development in Iran.

Additional sanctions in 1997, 2008 and 2010 limited U.S. investment, fund transfers and food trade with Iran. The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act imposes sanctions against Iran’s central bank, affecting Iranian oil exports to nations that do business with the United States.

The UN Security Council has imposed four rounds of economic sanctions against Iran, most recently in 2010.

Panetta said the international strategy toward Iran -- “to try to convince [them] that if they want to do what’s right, they need to join the international family of nations and act in a responsible way -- is working.”

The international community should continue working together on issues relating to Iran, he said.

“We have common cause here,” Panetta said. “We’re not interested in them developing a nuclear weapon; we are not interested in them proliferating violence throughout that region; we are not interested in them trying to assist in terrorism; we are not interested in them trying to destabilize governments in that region or anyplace else.”

If Iran takes the step to develop a nuclear weapon, he added, “They’re going to get stopped.”

Iran developing a nuclear weapon or blocking the Strait of Hormuz both represent “red lines” for the United States, the secretary said. The Iranian government has threatened to prohibit or restrict international maritime transit through the strait, which connects the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, and is the only ocean access for most Persian Gulf nations.

Iran could close the strait for a time, Dempsey said, but the United States has the ability to reopen the waterway.

“Yes, they can block it,” the chairman said. “We’ve described that as an intolerable act, and it’s not just intolerable for us, it’s intolerable to the world. But we would take action and reopen the straits.”

Dempsey said his job as the nation’s senior military officer is to ensure U.S. forces are prepared for any action they are ordered to carry out.

“My responsibility [regarding Iran] is to encourage the right degree of planning, to understand the risks associated with any kind of military action, [and] in some cases to position assets to provide those options in a timely fashion,” he said. “And all those activities are going on. “

Panetta: ‘Sequestration’ Would Upend Military Strategy

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2012 – The Defense Department’s new 10-year strategy will go “out the window” if the federal Budget Control Act’s additional spending cuts go into effect next year, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said.

“If we had to do over a trillion dollars in cuts in this department, I have to tell you that the strategy that we developed, we'd probably have to … start over,” Panetta said during an interview with Rachel Martin that aired today on the NPR program “Weekend Edition.”

President Barack Obama unveiled the strategy in a rare Pentagon appearance Jan. 5 alongside Panetta and other DOD leaders, saying he called for the strategy review to inform the budget process. The strategy is based on $487 billion in budget cuts over ten years.

The Budget Control Act, which Congress passed and Obama signed in August, includes automatic spending cuts across government, including about $500,000 to the Defense Department, to go into effect in 2013. The sequestration cuts, as they are known, were triggered by a congressional committee’s inability to agree on specific cuts last fall. Those across-the-board cuts will be in addition to the $487 billion the administration has proposed in DOD savings, unless Congress takes additional action.

Officials would not discuss specific cost-cutting proposals before the budget is due out early next month. But Panetta said last week he knows many proposals in the fiscal 2012 budget request will be politically sensitive.

“There is no doubt that the fiscal situation this country faces is difficult, and in many ways we are at a crisis point. But I believe that in every crisis there is opportunity,” he said on Jan. 5. “Out of this crisis, we have the opportunity to end the old ways of doing business and to build a modern force for the 21st century that can win today's wars and successfully confront any enemy, and respond to any threat and any challenge of the future.”

The strategy calls for reducing the number of men and women in uniform. The secretary told NPR “the human side” of defense spending cuts makes difficult choices even harder.

"What's going to happen to those people that come back to this country from the battle zones? How are we going to deal with them? What kind of jobs are we going to be able to provide them? How are we going to care for them?" he said.

During the strategy’s rollout at the Pentagon, Panetta repeated his often-stated pledge that DOD will “not break faith” with service members.

“I commit to you that I will fight for you and for your families,” he said.

Troop cuts also will affect the military’s ability to bring troops to bear quickly, Panetta told NPR.

“Part of our approach here is to make sure that we maintain a strong National Guard and a strong reserve,” he said. “They have been fully operational — we have brought them into battle zones. They have gained as much experience as the active force. But … if we are dealing with a leaner and meaner force, if we have to mobilize, there's only one place to go — and that's to the National Guard and to our reserve units.”

The new, leaner military will retain the ability to fight on multiple fronts, Panetta emphasized.

“That's the most important message the American people have to know,” he said. “This force is going to be able to fight any enemy, any aggressor that tries to take us on.”

The secretary said despite the strategy’s emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region as a defense focus, he does not view China’s military buildup as a direct threat to the United States.

“The fact is, as a major power, they have that capability,” he added. “What we have to ensure is that it's used for the right reasons.”

China and the United States face common threats in the region, the secretary said: “The whole issue of Korea and the stability of Korea, the whole issue of nuclear proliferation, the whole issue of providing free access to our ships that are operating in that area.”

Panetta said he intends for the military to work with China and other Pacific nations “to make sure that we secure that area for the future.”

DOD Leaders: U.S. Will Remain World’s Strongest Military

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2012 – The Defense Department’s new, 10-year strategy will ensure the United States remains the world’s strongest military power, DOD leaders emphasized in weekend interviews.

In an interview with Bob Schieffer that aired today on the CBS news program “Face the Nation,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said the department is changing to respond to a new global reality.

The strategy announced Jan. 5 outlines defense priorities for the coming decade, and emphasizes trimming the force while investing in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs, combating anti-access technologies, countering weapons of mass destruction and prevailing in all domains, including the cyber world.

“Clearly, we face the constriction of having to reduce the budget by almost half a trillion dollars,” the secretary said. “We developed a strategy that said [the military] is going to be leaner, it is going to be smaller, but it has to be agile, it has to adaptable, it has to be flexible, quickly deployable, and it has to be technologically advanced. That’s the kind of force we need for the future.”

The department’s plan calls for priority emphasis on the Pacific and the Middle East, while maintaining a presence elsewhere, Panetta noted.

“The bottom line is, when we face an aggressor anyplace in this world, we’re going to be able to respond and defeat them,” he added.

The chairman said a popular misconception about the new strategy assumes the nation’s forces will no longer be able to fight more than one conflict at a time.

“In fact, we were pretty adamant that we must be able to do more than one thing at a time, and by the way not limit ourselves to two,” Dempsey said. “The threat, and the environment in which we find ourselves in this decade of the 21st century, suggests to us that it’s likely to be more than two.”

The strategy aims to build a force capable across the military operational spectrum with the leadership, manning and equipment to provide options to the national command authority, the chairman noted.

One point that may have been underemphasized, he added, is that the military has “learned an enormous amount over the last 10 years about how to wage war.”

Dempsey said the military has developed strengths unforeseen a decade ago, noting its capabilities in special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and cyber.

“What we’re looking to do here is not constrain ourselves to a two-war construct, but rather build a force that has the kind of agility the secretary mentioned, that is a learning organization that will adapt itself to what it confronts,” he said.

The military has seen a decade of high demand, and defense leaders are working to ensure the force size remains adequate and adaptive to future missions, he said.

“We do have a … significant, capable [National] Guard and reserve component, and we do have an active component that has learned a lot over the last 10 years,” Dempsey noted. “What we’re trying to do is break the template and think about different ways of accomplishing the task, to give more options to our nation’s leaders.”

The geopolitical and economic challenges of 2012 demand a shift in military power, the general said.

“What we’re trying to do is challenge ourselves to respond to that shift and to react to that strategic inflection point,” he said.

Dempsey said his concern is that in light of changing strategy and budget issues, some will see the United States as a nation and a military in decline.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” the chairman asserted. “That miscalculation could be troublesome … it could cause even our close partners to wonder, what kind of partner are we? So what I’d like to say right now is, we’re the same partner we’ve always been, and intend to remain that way.”

4th Fleet Deputy Commander Visits 18th Annual Hispanic Games in NYC

From U.S. 4th Fleet – U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

MANHATTAN, New York (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Anatilio B. Cruz, Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) attended the 18th Annual Hispanic Games at the Armory New Balance Track and Field Center in New York City, Jan. 7-8.

The meet was sponsored by the U.S. Navy, and is sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) and the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA).

"The Hispanic Games are an extraordinary track & field competition with more adrenaline-fed energy than one could ever hope for in a live sporting event. These young student-athletes are absolutely amazing. They come from high schools from across the region and reflect the very same richness in diversity that makes this country great," Cruz said.

"The Hispanic Games were started to celebrate the rich Hispanic heritage in the Harlem and northern Manhattan area, and every year it has become bigger and bigger," said Cmdr. Dennis Espiritu, Navy City Outreach, Navy Recruiting Command. "This weekend's event is the largest event at the New Balance Track and Field Center, and has spilled over to two days."

Twenty-three teams from all over the country competed during the two-day event. The meet, open to all high school age athletes competing with their high school teams, took place on a state-of-art six lane, 200 meter, banked track with a "Mondo" surface. Mondo surfaces consist of a rubberized artificial running surface for the sport of track and field.

"The athletes exude many of the same qualities and attributes we typically see in our service men and women...specifically: discipline, courage, dedication, commitment to excellence, tenacity, perseverance, and sacrifice," Cruz said. "The Navy is fortunate to be here as a sponsor and active supporter of The Hispanic Games."

The Navy Diversity Directorate's mission is to provide Navy leadership with the tools and resources to help create and sustain a cultural awareness that values diversity and an environment where every individual prospers and contributes to the mission.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Panetta, Hammond Discuss Strategy in Pentagon Meeting

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and British Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond talked defense strategy and the way ahead during a meeting yesterday at the Pentagon.

It was Panetta’s first meeting with Hammond, and it came following President Barack Obama’s announcement of the new U.S. strategic defense guidance.

Officials will use the guidance to set spending priorities in the president’s fiscal 2013 defense budget request. The aim is to set priorities in a constrained fiscal environment, as the department plans to trim $487 billion from the budget over the next 10 years.

The British also are under tight budget constraints, and plan to cut 8 percent out of their $59 billion annual defense budget over the next four years.

“They spent a good part of their meeting discussing innovative approaches to defense in an era of fiscal austerity, and agreed that NATO must continue to invest in military capabilities despite the imperative to achieve fiscal discipline,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said following the meeting.

The two men also discussed ongoing operations in Afghanistan, Little said. The British have 9,100 service members in the country – the second-largest foreign military presence. The British and U.S. secretaries discussed planning for transition to Afghan security lead.

“They touched on multiple regional issues” Little said, “to include relations with Pakistan and the threat of a nuclear armed Iran.”

The defense leaders also signed a “Statement of Intent on Carrier Cooperation and Maritime Power Projection” that will serve as the framework for increased cooperation and interoperability on the use of aircraft carriers. It also provides the basis for the U.S. Navy to assist the Royal Navy in developing its next generation of aircraft carriers, Little said.

“This cooperation is a cutting-edge example of close allies working together in a time of fiscal austerity to deliver a capability needed to maintain our global military edge,” he added.

Britain is building two angled-deck aircraft carriers that are scheduled to enter service in 2016 and 2018. The carrier version of the F-35 joint strike fighter will fly off the new ships.

Financial Responsibility: Pro-active or Reactive

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) LaTunya Howard, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The beginning of a new year is an excellent time for Sailors to review their financial plan, said a Navy financial specialist, Jan. 6.

"Far too many Sailors react to their spending rather than being proactive by planning ahead," said Chief Yeoman Shahana Ledee, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) command financial specialist. "A financial review should be at the top of the new year's resolutions."

Ledee said financial planning is key to good fiscal health. Sailors should consider using a budget worksheet to account for all income and expenses for their household. Investments, retirement savings, entertainment, travel and unexpected incidents are items often excluded from family planning.

"Debt elimination can be accomplished faster with written short and long-term goals," said Ledee. "Hold yourself accountable by tracking your spending. You'll minimize impulse buying and possibly have more to save or invest.

When considering a major purchase, Ledee reminds Sailors to consider all expenses associated.

"Purchasing a vehicle involves more than making its payment," said Ledee. Sailors must factor in maintenance, repairs, insurance and any additional cost associated with driving the vehicle. If you're interested in buying a home, be realistic about what you can afford, as it also involves more than making a payment. Consider the cost of utilities, property taxes, homeowner fees, insurance and any additional costs that will be required each month.

"Sailors should also keep in mind that poor fiscal health can cost more than money, it can cost their career," said Ledee. "Many individuals who lose their security clearance do so due to poor fiscal health. There are numerous free resources available to help us reduce that statistic."

Military OneSource at www.militaryonesource.mil provides free financial assistance for service members and their families. The "Money Management" section of the website features financial information and resources that can help service members with estate planning, credit and collections, budgeting, saving and investing and taxes.

Military OneSource web site also offers free federal and state tax preparation and filing assistance.

For more information on financial planning, budgeting or investing contact the command financial specialist, or call NPC customer service center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC or email CSCMailbox@navy.mil.

Even With Cuts, Military Will Remain Capable, Official Says

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2012 – Defense Department officials will use the military strategy guidance that President Barack Obama announced yesterday to tie numbers to the department’s fiscal 2013 budget request, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

The budget request is expected to be delivered to Capitol Hill in early February.

Officials will use the strategy review to set funding levels and priorities as the department seeks to trim $487 billion through fiscal 2022, Little said.

In a meeting with reporters, Little corrected what he said was a misperception in media coverage that the strategy guidance means the U.S. military will be able to handle only one war going forward.

“The document did not say that we are going down to fight one war,” he said. “What the document said was that we are prepared to address a full spectrum of threats. This country is poised to take on more than one national security challenge at a time.”

The military will be postured to defeat aggression and take on challenges from other countries and nonstate actors, he added.

“That is an inviolable principle on the way ahead on our defense strategy,” Little said. “It is simply wrong to suggest that we are going back to some one-war construct – if that ever existed.”

Being able to fight two wars has been an important pillar in military doctrine, Little said. Still, the nation must adapt as the threats change and the security landscape has changed.

“We have threats that can come from nation states, we have threats that can come from nonstate actors like al-Qaida,” he said. “We have to be flexible enough and adaptable enough to address contingencies that arise from any of those sources.

“Let me be very clear,” he continued. “If we take on more than one threat from a state or nonstate actor, we will be prepared to address those threats, and we will win.”

Not everything the Defense Department has done has been tied to a two-war strategy, Little noted.

“We are prepared today to deal with various contingencies,” he explained. “There may be new problems that might arise, and new domains. We are thinking ahead, and that is the proper thing to do.

“No one should leave this room thinking that we will only be able to fight one war at a time,” he continued. “That is not what the strategic guidance outlines.”

NPC Leaders to Discuss Post-ERB, Transition Matters in Western Pacific

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Representatives from Navy Personnel Command's fleet engagement team will meet with Sailors, families and leadership in Japan and Hawaii this month to discuss personnel policies and force management measures impacting the fleet, officials said Jan. 6.

"We'll be discussing post-Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) matters, with an emphasis on transition benefits," said Capt. Steven Holmes, director, community management branch, Bureau of Naval Personnel. "These visits are also an excellent opportunity to get feedback directly from the fleet and share personnel policy information directly from the source."

Representatives from the enlisted distribution division, enlisted community managers and the Navy's ERB transition assistance coordinator will conduct all-hands briefs geared for transitioning Sailors, including specific information for Sailors not retained by the ERB, as well as guidance specific to Sailors transitioning from overseas.

ERB affected Sailors and their spouses are encouraged to attend the all-hands sessions.

The team will be in Japan at Yokosuka Naval Base Jan. 17, Naval Air Facility Atsugi Jan. 18, and in Hawaii Jan. 20 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay.

The fleet engagement team will also conduct a leadership roundtable for commanding officers and their command teams at each site for commands that have ERB affected Sailors.

"It is imperative that every leader in the chain of command take an active role in the transition process to ensure each Sailor is optimally prepared whether they leave the Navy after four years of service or 30," said Holmes.

Sailors should contact their command career counselor for local briefing times and locations.

Navy will conduct additional fleet engagement visits to San Diego, Pacific Northwest, Norfolk, and Mayport/Jacksonville in the coming months. Dates will be released as they become available.

For more information about transition benefits visit Transition Assistance Web Page available under the Hot Links section of the Navy Personnel Command at www.npc.navy.mil.

For more information about ERB transition support, check out the NPC ERB transition support page at www.npc.navy.mil/boards/ERB/, contact the NPC customer service center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672), or email cscmailbox@navy.mil.

Strategy Guidance Underscores Asia-Pacific Region

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2012 – The new defense strategy guidance President Barack Obama announced yesterday underscores the growing strategic importance of Asia and the Pacific, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command said.

Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard told participants at the Hawaii Military Partnership Conference yesterday the strategy recognizes challenges as well as opportunities in a region where change is the only constant.

“There is always a lot occurring in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is never static,” Willard told the forum. He noted that during his 39 years of military service, much of it served in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, “there has never been what I would call stability.”

The United States has tailored its posture in the region over the years, while the region itself has changed in “dynamic, dynamic ways,” economically as well as politically, the admiral explained.

The new strategy guidance reflects those changes, Willard said, providing a strategic vision intended to guide the military through 2020 with its heavy focus on Asia and the Pacific.

It recognizes that U.S. economic and security interests are inextricably linked to developments in the vast, 39-nation region, he told the group.

“Accordingly, while the U.S. military will continue to contribute to security globally, we will of necessity rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region,” he said, quoting the guidance directly.

U.S. relationships with Asian allies and key partners will remain critical to the region’s future stability and growth, Willard said. So while strengthening existing alliances that have provided a vital foundation for regional security, he said, the United States also will strive to forge closer ties with emerging regional partners.

Willard recognized India’s as well as China’s emergence as “two Asian giants driving economic developments in the region.”

He cited investments toward a long-term strategic partnership with India so it can serve as “a regional economic anchor” and enhance security in the broader Indian Ocean area.

Noting China’s rise as a regional power, Willard underscored both China’s and the United States’ interest in building a cooperative bilateral relationship that promotes regional peace and stability. He shared concerns expressed in the strategy about China’s lack of transparency about its strategic intensions, emphasizing that greater clarity will help avoid friction in the region.

Meanwhile, Willard noted the emphasis in the new guidance in working with allies and other regional states to maintain peace on the Korean peninsula, particularly in light of North Korea’s new leadership.

U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea are watching that situation closely to determine if the succession will go smoothly, Willard said, and to assess any changes within North Korea or its relations with its allies, including China and Russia.

Looking to the future, Willard said, the new strategic guidance recognizes that a balance of military capability and presence will be critical to maintaining peace, stability, the free flow of commerce and U.S. influence throughout the region.

As the new strategy is implemented, Willard commended the 330,000 members of Pacom – soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilian employees and contractors – standing watch in Asia and the Pacific.

“They are proud, they are very accomplished and their singular goal is to maintain the security, if not the stability, of the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

“We will continue to maintain the watch and deal with the ever-evolving Asia-Pacific theater as it becomes central to the security focus of our country for the first time, in my experience,” he said.

Deadline Nears for Employer Support Award Nominations

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2012 – Members of the National Guard and reserves have just 10 more days to nominate their employers for the Defense Department’s highest award recognizing employers who have gone the extra mile to support their reserve-component workers.

Jan. 16 is the deadline for nominations for the 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Since its inception in 1996, the award has recognized 160 employers who provided exemplary support far beyond their basic legal requirements.

They’ve been large corporations, state and local agencies, mom-and-pop businesses and everything in between, all recognizing the important role their citizen-service member employees play in national defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve officials said.

President Barack Obama acknowledged employers’ contributions to this mission in declaring National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week when the 2011 Freedom Award recipients were honored.

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

James Rehholz, national ESGR chair, said this support will remain critical in the future. “Even as our nation scales down our combat missions abroad, Guard and Reserve members and their employers remain a critical component in our national security equation,” he said. “Just as our country has heavily relied on the more than 1 million men and women of the Guard and Reserve, these service members have counted on their employers for support and encouragement.”

Rebholz urged members of the reserve components to nominate deserving employers for the Freedom Award. The ESGR website provides guidance to make it easier and faster for reservists and Guard members to make their nominations.

Winners will be announced in early summer and honored during a ceremony in Washington this fall, officials said.

Last year’s 15 Freedom Award recipients, selected from 4,049 nominations, were: 3M Co. in St. Paul, Minn.; Ameren Corp. in St. Louis; Burt County Sheriff’s Office in Tekamah, Neb.; CSX Transportation in Jacksonville, Fla.; Electrical Contractors Inc. in Omaha, Neb.; Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Mich.; Hanson Professional Services Inc., in Springfield, Ill.; Integrity Applications Inc. in Chantilly, Va.; Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Santa Ana, Calif.; Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa; Qwest Communications, since acquired by CenturyLink, Inc. in Monroe, La.; St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton, S.D.; State Employees’ Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C.; the Town of Gilbert, Ariz.; and Wells Fargo & Co. in San Francisco.

The support they provided ran the gamut from extending full civilian pay and benefits while the reservist or Guardsman was deployed to sending care packages, keeping up the employees’ yard work and even babysitting their children when duty called.

"They took care of my family when I was gone," Illinois Army National Guard Maj. Craig Holan said in nominating his employer, Hanson Professional Services Inc., for the 2011 Freedom Award. "My boss would check in on them. I just didn't have to worry. I wish all members of the Guard and reserves could say that about their employers."

Navy Reserve Lt. j.g. Todd Brooks said his 2011 Freedom Award winning employer, Ford Motor Co., “has made it possible for hundreds of reserve and Guard employees to serve the nation in support of not only operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, but other missions throughout the world vital to national security, global stability and humanitarian assistance."

“I salute my employer, Ameren, and its employees who truly stand behind supporting their Guard and Reserve soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines,” agreed Air Force Lt. Col. Bruno R. Stopka from the Missouri Air National Guard in nominating his employer for the 2011 Freedom Award. As the company and its staff support those who currently serve, he said, they also “continue to recognize those who have previously served our great country.”

(American Forces Press Service reporter Terri Moon Cronk contributed to this article.)

USS Missouri Completes PSA and Extended Modernization Ahead of Schedule

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- The crew of USS Missouri (SSN 780) and General Dynamics Electric Boat accomplished two major milestones, a first for the Virginia-class submarine program, by completing the submarine's post-shakedown availability (PSA) sea trials and extended modernization Jan. 6, a month ahead of schedule.

"I'm proud of the crew for their hard work to accomplish these milestones," said Cmdr. Tim Rexrode, Missouri's commanding officer. "Because of this teamwork and camaraderie, USS Missouri will be delivered from post-shakedown availability and extended modernization about a one month ahead of schedule."

Capt. Michael Bernacchi, commodore, Commander, Submarine Squadron 4 said that the boat and her crew's completion ahead of schedule is in direct line with the Design for Undersea Warfare, which was published in 2011.

"This is a notable example of how the design is being implemented on the waterfront," said Bernacchi, who added that the entire Missouri, Electric Boat, and Squadron 4 teams worked together to apply the design to complete the modernization ahead of schedule.

He said the design was the catalyst which drove him and the commanding officer to challenge all aspects of the modernization and warfighting readiness to see how they could think outside the box.

"Missouri is not just coming out; she is coming out ready to fight. We have already scheduled her for operations when she would have previously still been in the PSA. Because of this effort she is taking over operations for a sister ship, which will allow the Submarine Force to give almost 10 additional months of Surge ready and Ready for Tasking time back to the fleet. This is a huge achievement for everyone," said Bernacchi.

Bernacchi's scheduled change of command is Jan. 13; his next assignment will be chief of staff, Commander, Submarine Group 2.

In addition to the completion of the PSA and modernization ahead of schedule, Dec. 19, USS Missouri and her crew returned to General Dynamics Electric Boat after successfully completing their sea trials also a month ahead of schedule.

Rexrode reflected on the significance of USS Missouri being the first Virginia-class submarine commissioned to complete their sea trails, PSA and modernization this far ahead of schedule.

"We worked hard to challenge previous assumptions and deliver effective first time results that should carry forward to future projects. As a result of these efforts the fleet has one more submarine for tasking earlier than planned," said Rexrode.

Missouri is the seventh submarine of the Virginia class. General Dynamics Electric Boat delivered the submarine to the U.S. Navy in July 2010. The submarine's crew consists of about 134 officers and enlisted personnel. Missouri is the fifth Navy ship to be named in honor of the people of the "Show Me State."

Panetta: Coming Budget Cuts Demand Careful Balance

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2012 – The coming round of defense budget cuts will differ from previous drawdowns, “where the threat kind of went away,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said yesterday.

Terrorism remains a danger, and Iran, North Korea, China and the Middle East pose key defense concerns, Panetta told Jeffrey Brown on the PBS “Newshour” program. DOD must retain the power to counter these and other pressures while reducing redundant structures, trimming its force size, scaling back weapons modernization and adjusting compensation, the secretary noted.

The interview followed yesterday’s budget strategy announcement, during which Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey joined President Barack Obama in an unprecedented Pentagon briefing.

“We are at a strategic turning point,” the secretary told PBS. “We just ended the war in Iraq. We're in a transition course … in Afghanistan. We just completed the NATO mission in Libya. We've made significant progress against terrorism, particularly al-Qaida.”

Given the remaining threats, the change in war footing, and the mandate to slash spending, “what we've got to do is … have a flexible, adaptable, agile force that can deal with a myriad of challenges in today's world. That's what we've got to be able to develop,” Panetta said.

The secretary added some detail to two topics emphasized during the strategy guidance rollout: increased emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region, and the acknowledgement that some risk comes with deep defense cuts.

“What are the risks? When you're smaller and leaner, you're not going to have that large a presence throughout the world,” he noted. An effective smaller force will need to mobilize quickly, bring advanced technology to bear, and rely on partnerships, the secretary said.

Mobilization demands both a strong logistics framework and a robust reserve component, Panetta said. But advanced technology demands ongoing research, innovation and implementation, all of which are costly, he added, and partner relationships require matching efforts from other nations, which also are resource-constrained.

“So you can see the risks that are out there,” Panetta said. “We think they're acceptable, but they are risks.”

But there is no risk that the U.S. military will become a one-front force, he emphasized.

“The United States has to have the capability to deal with more than one enemy … and win,” the secretary said.

The Asia-Pacific region calls for increased U.S. military attention because many factors there could develop into challenges, Panetta said: possible instability on the Korean peninsula, free movement of maritime commerce, nuclear proliferation, humanitarian crises and disasters are all issues that could trigger U.S. power being invoked.

“That's the reason we have got to focus an emphasis on the Pacific region,” he added.

The secretary said that emphasis includes maintaining a strong naval presence in the Pacific, maintaining a military presence in South Korea, pursuing the rotational Marine deployment to Australia the president announced in November, and looking for other, similar opportunities “to enhance our presence, to … indicate that we are a Pacific power and we are there to work with the countries in that area to try to maintain the peace.”

The 2013 defense budget request to be announced in the coming weeks reflects “a lot of hard choices,” Panetta said.

“When you cut a half trillion dollars from the defense budget, it affects almost every area in the defense budget,” he noted.

During the strategic spending review leading up to yesterday’s announcement, department leaders examined operations, modernization and procurement, compensation and force structure for possible savings, the secretary said.

Panetta did not discuss the effects that could result from an additional half-trillion-dollar reduction in defense spending, as the Budget Control Act’s sequestration provision requires.

“What I would ask people to do is … hold your judgment as to whether or not we ought to cut the defense budget a lot deeper, until … you see the decisions we are going to have to make in order to be able to achieve $500 billion in defense savings,” he said.

As a former California congressman, Panetta said, he understands that some current members of Congress will be concerned about how the 2013 defense budget request might affect their constituents and districts.

“I urge them to take a look at our larger strategy here, what we've released today, and hopefully be able to work with us to achieve the same kind of balance we're trying to achieve here,” the secretary said.

Fort Campbell Makes Advances in TBI Evaluation

By Kathy Helmick, DCoE deputy director for traumatic brain injury

In December, I had the opportunity to visit Fort Campbell, Ky., to learn more about their Military Functional Assessment Program. Maj. Sarah Goldman, Army Office of the Surgeon General, traumatic brain injury (TBI) program manager, and I were invited to see this comprehensive, advanced five-day assessment, which is part of a 12-week program designed to treat service members with TBIs.

 This evaluation does not rely on a pen and paper test or a computer assessment. It takes place on post and in the program’s simulation lab, exposing service members to realistic combat scenarios while allowing a team of medical and rehabilitation providers the opportunity to evaluate their responses. Service members are observed on camera while combat-related decision-making functions are tested, such as how long it takes a service member to come to the aid of a fallen comrade, identify a threat, plan a course of action, or radio call into a command center. If they perform tasks in simulated combat situations in accordance to Army standards, then this information helps guide return-to-duty decision-making.

 Additionally, the lab tests how the service member performs under environmental stressors, such as lack of light or loud sounds, to approximate scenarios encountered in combat zones.

 One of the program’s best practices relates to integrating the expertise of a non-commissioned officer (NCO) to evaluate the ability of the soldier to perform the tasks to established Army standards. In the assessment we saw, the NCO was instrumental in educating medical providers about Army standards and describing combat scenarios. Leveraging the knowledge of a qualified NCO helps the medical provider offer a comprehensive evaluation of the service member’s impairments associated with TBI and the injury’s effects on their ability to perform military duties on the battlefield to standard.

I was also impressed with how this program focused on function; instead of clicking a dot on a computer test or circling a multiple choice question, service members with TBI are put in an environment to test their performance and capabilities. Some service members may perform well in a controlled rehabilitation environment, but may not be able to perform as well when multitasking during a high-pressure combat scenario. It was clear that the service members appreciated this type of evaluation and gained more confidence, whether they transitioned back to duty, or out of the military into civilian life.

In continuing to follow this advanced program, I hope that we can identify key outcomes that predict return-to-duty success, or help service members return back home.

Lincoln Carrier Strike Group Arrives in Thailand for Port Visit

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman K. Ashley Lawrence, Carrier Strike Group 9 Public Affairs

LEAM CHEBANG, Thailand (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser Cape St. George (CG 71), arrived in Leam Chebang, Thailand, for a port visit, Jan. 6.

While in Thailand, strike group Sailors will visit with the people of Thailand, experience the local culture and conduct a series of community service projects (COMSERVs) to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Cmdr. Denis Cox, Lincoln's chaplain, said the COMSERVs will be a great opportunity for CSG9 Sailors to get to know the people of Thailand.

"Our Sailors will get to interact with the great institutions of Thailand and meet Thai people in their community," Cox said. "They'll get to know our Sailors for what they really are: servants, leaders and genuinely good people. And nothing will expose our Sailors to what it means to be Thai more than working on these projects."

For the COMSERVs, Sailors will paint schools, clean local temples and visit with children at an orphanage in Pattaya.

Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Caleb R. Thomas, assigned to Lincoln, said he can't wait to go on one of the many Morale, Welfare and Recreation-sponsored tours that will be available to strike group Sailors in Thailand. In addition to historical sites such as Bangkok's Grand Palace and the ruins of Ayudhaya, Sailors will also have the opportunity to visit the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, ride elephants and have fun in Thailand's tropical rain forest.

"I plan on having a great time in Thailand," Thomas said. "I can't wait to enjoy a few days relaxing on the beach and cable riding through the jungle."

Ensign Deborah I. Frazier, assigned to Lincoln's combat systems department, said she is also looking forward to relaxing, and she wants to develop a firsthand appreciation for the rich heritage of Thailand.

"Now that I have the chance to see their culture, I'd really love to see their temples," Frazier said. "We're incredibly lucky that we get to spend time here."

Lincoln is in the 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) as part of a deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans en route to support coalition efforts in the 5th Fleet AOO. Thailand is the first port call of Lincoln's 2011-2012 deployment.

CSG 9 is comprised of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

Following deployment, Lincoln will change homeports from Everett, Wash., to Norfolk, Va., for a periodic refueling complex overhaul.