U.S. Army Medicine Civilian Corps Begins the New Year with Web Fair, Career Fair and Focus Group Sessions

Chief of Recruitment and Retention Comments On MEDCOM’s Efforts To Fill Various Positions at 70+ Military Medical Facilities Across the Nation and How Holding Focus Groups Helps Strengthen MEDCOM Hiring Practices

Washington D.C. - The Civilian Corps of the United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) opens 2012 by bringing awareness to the many medical career opportunities available for civilian healthcare professionals by holding both web and career fairs in the month of January.  In addition, focus group sessions will be held in the upcoming months to assist MEDCOM in its continuous efforts to hire wounded warriors and disabled professionals.

“MEDCOM has several hiring initiatives scheduled for this year, each planned to highlight current and future positions ultimately leading to the hiring of qualified medical professionals," says Dr. Harrison, Chief, Recruitment and Retention, Headquarters U.S. Army Medical Command, Civilian Human Resources Division. "The web and career fairs being held this month are great ways to kick-off what is destined to be a year of new opportunities and new hires. “

The online career fair beginning January 9th at  www.CivilianMedicalJobs.com/webfair will provide job seekers with an interactive environment to learn more about openings, job locations and the benefits of working with the Army Medicine Civilian Corps. Visitors are also able to submit questions and receive feedback from career consultants until January 13th. After January 13th, job seekers are still able to apply and check back regularly for updates and new job listings.

On January 20th starting at 8 am at the Renaissance Austin Hotel, the Fort Hood-Darnall Army Medical Center is recruiting for immediate positions including behavioral health providers, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and administrators. For more information, visit http://CivilianMedicalJobs.com/jobfair.

Starting the last week of January, focus group sessions will be held in Ohio, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, and North Dakota. “We look forward to the opinions and input we will receive from our peers as well as those who are potential candidates,” says Harrison. “The information gathered will play an important role in the development of programs and affect the way MEDCOM will recruit and hire in the immediate future.”

For more information please visit the website, www.CivilianMedicalJobs.com and be sure to view the on-site calendar for a MEDCOM job fair near you. All press inquiries and interview requests go to kross@agencymabu.com.

American Taekwondo Association (ATA) Martial Arts Tourney to Benefit Military Families

Local Fayetteville chapter encourages residents to attend & show support as a portion of proceeds will go to the Army’s Army

Fayetteville, NC - January 10, 2012 - On January 20-21, 2012, the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) Martial Arts of Fayetteville will demonstrate its support for the military at its annual Home Town Heroes: Regional ATA Martial Arts Tournament at the Crown Coliseum Expo Center.  The local chapter will donate a portion of all proceeds from ticket and t-shirt sales to the Army’s Army, an organization made up of citizens and businesses that support the military, dedicated to ‘watching over those who watch over us©.’  The tournament is the area’s largest martial arts competition for youth and teenagers. Last year it drew in roughly 1,000 individuals, made-up of competitors and spectators, and organizers are hoping to attract an even bigger crowd this year.

The ATA Martial Arts of Fayetteville and the Army’s Army partnered together for last year’s tournament to honor 30 Purple Heart recipients, members of the local Fayetteville chapter 2226 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.  In Fayetteville/Cumberland Country, America’s First Military Sanctuary Community, the military receives VIP treatment, and the Purple Heart recipients experienced this firsthand at last year’s tournament. Each of the honorees were publicly acknowledged, received front row seats, and signed autographs.

“We are excited for the tournament, not only do we get to compete but we’re able to show our appreciation for our military heroes,” said Master Michael Brown, ATA Martial Arts of Fayetteville. “We invite the community to come join us and show their support for the military, as a portion of sales will go to the Army’s Army, a military support organization, to help them do what they do best.”

The Army’s Army operates three websites strictly devoted to supporting soldiers, veterans and their families:

•           FayettevilleWantsYou.com - A site that provides resources for military families relocating to Fayetteville/Cumberland County to help make their transition easier.

•           MilitaryDiscounts.com - A blog that houses hundreds of military discounts, in one convenient place.
•           BriefFromTheFront.com - The Army’s Army, Executive Director’s blog that covers local news and events of interest to soldiers and their families. 

Currently, the organization is made up of over 1,500 volunteers and dozens of partners that provide various types of military support through programs, such as relocation fairs, and events geared towards soldiers, veterans and their families, including children of fallen soldiers.

The Regional Tournament: Hometown Heroes will feature highly-skilled sixth, seventh and eighth degree black belts, as well as some of the younger Tiny Tigers, and white, orange and yellow belts working their way up to black belt. Spectators will be able to see competitors trained in Combat BME, Songahm forms and sparring, ATA Extreme Weapons, and ATA Extreme Forms.

To view photographs from last year’s event: Home Town Heroes: Regional ATA Martial Arts Tournament, click here.

About The Army’s Army:

Fayetteville/Cumberland County is America’s first sanctuary community for the Military and their Families. The Army’s Army is the world’s only volunteer organization of citizens and businesses who have pledged their moral, physical and spiritual support to those in the military. We do everything we can to make soldiers, veterans and their families feel welcome, appreciated and safe. The Army’s Army is dedicated to “watching over those who watch over us©.” For additional information, visit www.armysarmy.com.   

About ATA Martial Arts:

The American Taekwondo Association (ATA) is the premier North American organization dedicated to the martial arts discipline of taekwondo, and is the founding organization of other international affiliates that include the World Traditional Taekwondo Union (WTTU) and the Songahm Taekwondo Federation (STF).  Counting both the U.S. and worldwide, our organizations have over 1,500 independently owned and operated licensed schools and clubs, and have registered over one million students since the ATA's inception in 1969.

This Day in Naval History - Jan. 09

From the Navy News Service

1861 - Union steamer Star of the West is fired on by the Confederates in Charleston Harbor just before the American Civil War.

1918 - The Naval Overseas Transportation Service is established to carry cargo during World War I.
1945 - Carrier aircraft begin a two-day attack on Japanese forces at Luzon, Philippines.

Official: Strategic Guidance Recognizes U.S. NATO Commitments

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2012 – As the United States implements new strategic guidance that increases its focus on Asia and the Pacific, it also needs to pursue “smart defense initiatives” as it continues to honor its NATO commitments, a senior defense official said today.

Budget constraints will demand new efficiencies and new approaches to collective defense, Julianne Smith, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO policy, told reporters at the Foreign Press Center here.

Smith joined Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Phillip Gordon in explaining how the new strategic guidance will impact defense in the European theater.

“The trans-Atlantic relationship remains an essential source of stability in an unpredictable world,” Gordon said, with Europe remaining the United States’ principal partner in promoting global and economic security.

“And so the strategy outlined last week reaffirms our commitment to European security,” he said, and continued commitment to the so-called Article 5 responsibility to aid any NATO ally in the event of an attack.

Gordon underscored the need to continue enhancing U.S. cooperation and interoperability with European partners to maintain this commitment and address global challenges.

He cited the recent military cooperation in Libya and current operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo, the Balkans and Horn of Africa, as well as diplomatic cooperation on issues ranging from non-proliferation and missile defense.

Smith said the strategic guidance comes at a “pivotal moment” for the United States. “We have just ended our mission in Iraq, we are transitioning through our mission in Afghanistan and obviously we face unprecedented challenges here at home,” she said.

Looking to the future, she said rebalancing of force structure toward Asia and the Pacific will require the United States to adapt its posture in Europe to reflect the evolving strategic landscape.

Pending cuts will put “added pressure on all of us collectively to come up with some innovative pooling, sharing [and] multilateral procurement,” she said, as well as innovative approaches to “doing more with less.”

The NATO Summit that President Barack Obama will host this May in Chicago is expected to address these and other challenges, with a focus on capabilities and partnerships and the transition in Afghanistan.

Gordon said the new strategy guidance reaffirms many of the objectives the alliance already is pursing while emphasizing two core messages. It reinforces that the United States is “absolutely committed to maintaining the capabilities we need for Article 5,” he said. Meanwhile, he said it demonstrates that “we’re absolutely committed, not just to maintaining, but to enhancing our ability to partner with Europeans on global security missions.”

Smith clarified that while the new guidance will alter, but not eliminate, the so-called “two-war construct” -- the United States’ ability to engage in two conflicts simultaneously.

“We will not be sizing our forces for two overlapping large-scale ground-intensive combat operations,” she said. “Instead, if we find ourselves engaged in a major combat operation in one theater, we will focus on spoiling the objectives of an aggressor elsewhere.”

This, she explained, will enable the United States to reduce the size of the force while also taking advantage of new concepts of operations in fields such as space, cyber, special operations and precision strikes.

Guam Corpsmen Hold Bone Marrow Registry Drive

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gabrielle Blake, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- Hospital corpsmen assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, held a Bone Marrow Registry Drive at Polaris Point Jan. 3-4.

The purpose of the drive was to disseminate information about the new process of collecting bone marrow.

"We are trying to get rid of that stigma of pain," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rebecca Jones, assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. "Most people know about the old, painful method with the giant needle. This new process is not as bad. It is just like donating a unit of blood."

The drive was held across the Department of Defense (DoD) allowing Sailors and anyone who is DoD sponsored and between the age of 18 and 60 to be placed into the registry. Donors filled out personal information and gave cheek swab samples.

Jones said everyone who is able to enter the registry, should.

"You could be in the registry and never get called up or you can get called up and once they do a little bit more testing, you may not be a match," said Jones.

"Finding a match is hard," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Edgardo Victorino, assigned to Frank Cable, "So the more people who register, the more selections there are for them to pick out someone compatible."

During the drive, the corpsmen explained the benefits of being a bone marrow donor.

"You never know who will need it some day, said Victorino. "It could be your wife or child. It's an opportunity to save someone's life."

"The people you are donating to are dying so you are giving somebody a second chance at life that they would never have," said Jones. "If you really think about it, it is two weeks of a little bit of discomfort for you and a whole lifetime for that person you are donating to."

Frank Cable is being temporarily relieved by USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) as the primary afloat maintenance activity in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

War Yields Lessons in Preventing, Treating Eye Injuries

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2012 – Ten years of conflict has given rise, not only to the world’s best body armor and state-of-the-art battlefield technologies, but also a new understanding about ways to prevent eye injuries and treat those who suffer from them.

When the war in Afghanistan kicked off in 2002, ballistic goggles were hard to come by in the military supply system and combat troops rarely wore them, Army Col. (Dr.) Donald Gagliano, executive director of the Vision Center of Excellence, told American Forces Press Service.

As improvised explosive devices became the enemy’s weapons of choice, eye injuries soared, affecting as many as 29 percent of all battlefield casualties, Gagliano estimated. So as the military began introducing improved body and head protection, ensuring troops had and wore ballistic glasses also became a top priority.

Eye injuries initially dropped, Gagliano reported, but as IEDs and high-energy blast waves become increasingly powerful, eye injuries continued to take their toll. So as part of its charter, the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Center of Excellence is focusing on ways to prevent injuries and improve the care and rehabilitation for wounded warriors.

In addition to exploring these areas, the center is promoting research that could one day restore vision to those who have lost it, Gagliano reported.

Eye prosthetics are likely to be a decade or more away, but Gagliano said he’s optimistic that initiatives under way will bear fruit. In the meantime, Gagliano and his deputy, Dr. Mary Lawrence, offered several suggestions to help prevent battlefield eye injuries and ensure the best outcome when they occur:

-- Wear ballistic eye protection. While not completely eliminating eye injuries, they greatly reduce their occurrence, particularly against fragments. One of the programs at the Center of Excellence is exploring improvements to existing ballistic eye protection devices.

-- Avoid wearing contact lenses in combat environments, particularly in dirty, sandy areas. In addition to the high risk of infection, wearers risk exposure to flying fragments from explosions or weapons fire.

-- Consider refractive surgery to improve vision problems and eliminate the need for corrective glasses or contact lenses.

-- Don’t apply pressure to the eye area when providing battlefield care for a comrade suspected of having an eye injury. Pressure may be the appropriate treatment to some wounds, but in the case of eye injuries, it can cause severe complications and even blindness.

-- Apply a Fox Eye Shield, if available, over the eyes of any patient suspected of having an eye injury. Fox Eye Shields are now included in every Air Force and Marine Corps individual first aid kit, and the Army is expected to begin adding eye shields to its kits soon. If one of these metal devices isn’t immediately available, Lawrence recommended using another rigid surface such as the bottom of a coffee cup or even knee pads or elbow pads and taping it over the patient’s eyes.

Vision has a major impact on military readiness as well as quality of life, Gagliano emphasized.

“If you can’t see, you can’t fight,” he said. “And the bottom line is, that makes not only you, but also your entire unit, vulnerable.”

Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group Arrives in U.S. 5th Fleet AOR

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At sea (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Jan. 9.

While in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR, Carl Vinson CSG will conduct missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

Commanded by Rear Adm. Thomas Shannon, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 will also participate in routine scheduled exercises and engagements with coalition and regional partners.

"We will work closely with our regional partners to demonstrate our commitment to security and stability in the region," said Shannon. "Our arrival in Fifth Fleet represents our commitment to stand by our partners, friends and allies, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region."

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is deployed with guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97). Embarked aboard Vinson is Destroyer Squadron 1 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, which include the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22, the "Sunliners" of VFA 81, the "Stingers" of VFA 113, the "First of the Fleet" of (VFA) 25, the "Garudas" of Electronic Attack Squadron 134, the "Tigertails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125 and the "Red Lions" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15.

Carl Vinson and embarked CVW 17 departed its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., Nov. 30, for a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. CSG 1 departed Hong Kong Dec. 30, after a three-day port visit, prior to transiting to U.S. 5th Fleet.

The U.S. Navy 5th Fleet AOR encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of area including the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, parts of the Indian Ocean and 20 countries.

UPDATED: Military Child of the Year Nominations Close This Week

Deserving Young Patriots Will Win $5,000

SAN ANTONIO – Operation Homefront is announcing the last call for 2012 Military Child of the Year Award nominations.  The award will be given to an outstanding military child from each Service – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.  The winners, who each will receive $5,000, will be flown with a parent or guardian to Washington, D.C., for special recognition ceremony on April 5, 2012.  Nominations are being accepted online until January 15, 2012 at www.OperationHomefront.net/MCOY.  

Ideal candidates for the Military Child of the Year Award demonstrate resilience and strength of character, and thrive in the face of the challenges of military life.  They demonstrate leadership within their families and within their communities.

“The sons and daughters of America’s service members learn what patriotism is at a very young age,” said Jim Knotts, chief executive officer, Operation Homefront.  “Children in military families understand sacrifice and live with the concept of service.  This is what the Military Child of the Year Award honors.”

Nominees must:

•           Must have valid military ID or currently be enrolled in DEERS
•           Must be between the ages of 8-18
•           Must be able to travel to Washington, D.C., for the ceremony on April 5, 2012

Finalists must have a background check to confirm the information provided in the nomination and must provide references.

Recipients of the 2011 awards are profiled in the book “Our Youngest Heroes,” available through Amazon.com.

Family Matters Blog: Career Fair to Focus on Military Spouses

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2012 – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is hosting a career fair in Washington, D.C., this week dedicated solely to helping military spouses find jobs.

The Hiring Our Heroes – Military Spouse Career Forum will feature a host of national and local employers specifically seeking qualified military and veteran spouses, as well as resume and interview coaching, and resources for starting a business. The forum is scheduled for Jan. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Spouses of active duty and reserve members, retirees, veterans and fallen service members are welcome to attend.

Job seekers and employers can register for this free event and learn about other chamber-sponsored career fairs around the country at hoh.greatjob.net. Be sure to upload your resume when registering. For assistance with registration, email hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

The Chamber of Commerce launched the Hiring Our Heroes program last year. This yearlong, nationwide effort is aimed at helping veterans and spouses find employment, with a goal of conducting 100 hiring fairs across the country.

The chamber also is involved with the Wounded Warrior Transition Assistance Program, Student Veterans Internship and Employment Program and a Women Veterans and Military Spouses Employment Program.

This “aggressive agenda,” officials noted on the chamber’s website, “focuses on one measure of success: jobs for the 1 million unemployed veterans in America.”

Bataan Loses 921 Pounds

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) James Turner, USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, Red Sea (NNS) -- The 175 Sailors and Marines aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) who finished the 17-week "Cruise-to-Lose" program Jan. 4 lost a total of 921 lbs. while deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The Bataan Cruise-to-Lose program featured a voluntary competition for service members wanting to shed excess weight during deployment.

"The program was very motivational and positive," said Cpl. Charles Ott, the overall Cruise-to-Lose winner. "I lost 49 pounds and I believe I can keep it off now because the program was designed to lose weight over an extended period of time. It has become second nature to me to eat healthy and exercise regularly."

The program was administered by representatives from the embarked Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 8 and allowed every participant to follow their own routine as long as they followed a few simple rules, such as drinking a glass of water before every meal, dedicating time for physical exercise three to five times each week, and limiting desserts to the weekends.

The participants were required to have their weight and blood pressure checked once each week and have their body mass index checked once every two weeks to keep track of everyone's progress.

"I found a lot of my motivation every week when we did our weigh-ins," said Ott. "Seeing my progress helped me stay motivated the entire competition. When I first got on the Bataan I had a goal of losing just a few pounds because my jeans fit a little tight. I lost more than I imagined and I feel a great deal of accomplishment as well as feeling a lot healthier physically."

FST program coordinators e-mailed the participants every week with tips on physical exercise and nutrition. Cruise-to-Lose also offered a nutrition class and physical training for anyone who needed a little help coming up with a workout regimen on their own.

"I helped a few participants improve their overall fitness by giving them workouts that consisted of half cardio exercise and half weight lifting-exercise," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW) John Luna, FST-8 Command Fitness Leader.

"I think the hardest part for most people trying to lose weight while deployed is staying motivated," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Denecia Weekes, one of the program coordinators. "A deployment can be discouraging at times, but a friendly competition always helps people to stay motivated."

Some of the participants say the success was due to the support of everyone wanting to achieve the same goal.

"The Cruise-to-Lose program allowed Sailors and Marines to work as a team to achieve their own personal goals," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW) James Barrier, a program participant who lost 12 lbs. "It's beneficial for everyone to have a support group to keep you on track. Even motivated people have tendencies to let their diet slip and even skip going to the gym on occasion, but this program helped a lot of people stay honest by working together."

Although Sailors and Marines who participated in the program did so for the long-term benefits that regular exercise and good nutrition provide, the $100 Amazon gift card that was awarded monthly to the participant who had experienced the biggest percentage decrease in body fat, and the $250 Amazon gift card that was awarded at the half-way point were welcome prizes.

"Most of the rewards came just in time for the holidays, which made Christmas shopping a little easier financially for the winners," said Weekes.

Sailors and Marines expressed their satisfaction with their Cruise-to-Lose experience and indicated they recommend it to fellow shipmates.

"If the Cruise-to-Lose program is offered again I would highly recommend it to any service member looking to lose a few a pounds," said Ott. "Just remember to be patient because it takes a lot of work and a lot of time to do it the correct way."

Bataan is the command ship of Bataan Amphibious Ready Group conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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.