Comedian Brings Humor To Safety Stand Down At Naval Air Station Jacksonville

By Kaylee LaRocque, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

NAS JACKSONVILLE, FL (NNS) -- A safety stand down was held for Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) and Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax) Sailors and civilian employees to remind them to make smart decisions to stay safe over the holiday season.

"This is a particularly dangerous time of year. We had 35 vehicular fatalities within the Navy last year, 20 of those were motorcycle accidents. Of that total, seven were within Navy Region Southeast. Any number above zero is too many," said CNRSE Rear Adm. Jack Scorby Jr. "It's about taking care of yourselves, your shipmates and your families. So look out for one another and be careful out there on the roads."

CNRSE/NAS Jax Safety Officer Ron Williamson also offered some advice to the audience. "There always seem to be more accidents in the holiday season than during the rest of the year. So this safety stand down is a good reminder for everyone to be more vigilant to safety measures, not only on the roads but at home," he said.

The guest speaker for the event was Steve Verret, a master traffic safety instructor and professional stand-up comedian. Verret, who has taught driver safety for more than 25 years, used humor to relay important information regarding vehicle insurance, measures to take to avoid accidents, seatbelt use, open container laws, drinking and driving and using cell phones while driving. As the crowd laughed at his jokes and answered his questions, they took away a wealth of information regarding traffic safety.

Verret stressed the importance of not using cell phones while driving.

"Cell phones are the new DUI. I think they are more dangerous than drunk driving because those who drink and drive normally know they are doing something wrong but those drivers talking on cell phones or texting don't think they are doing anything wrong," said Verret.

"It may or may not be against the law in certain states but when you are on the phone while driving, you are not focused on the road. And, cell phone usage can be used in liability cases if you have an accident so you may not get compensation or someone else may get more compensation," he continued.

For Verret, conducting safety stand downs for military members is an important cause.

"I try to positively reinforce safety every time I conduct one of these events. No matter how many times you tell someone not to drink or drive and to wear their seatbelts, there are still those who either ignore this advice or just don't get it," said Verret. "I try to reach military personnel through these presentations because they do so much for our country and I think it's a shame that someone puts their life on the line overseas and then they come home and do one thing carelessly in their vehicle and they either lose their lives or are injured."

Scorby concluded the stand down by stating, "We have the finest Navy military and civilian forces and I'm proud to serve with you. We need to have all of you back following the holiday season so be careful out there and remember the reason for the season."

Holiday Safety Standdown Held at Guantanamo Bay

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Justin Ailes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Key leaders at Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, hosted the annual winter holiday safety stand-down at the installation's Bulkeley Hall auditorium, Nov. 27-28.

Officials at the naval station conduct two safety standdowns per year in an effort to promote safety awareness; one at the beginning of summer and one before the winter holiday season.

"We're here to discuss mishap precautions and prevent off-duty accidents," said NS Guantanamo Bay Executive Officer Cmdr. Colin Caswell. "Realistically, Sailors need to care about themselves and what they're doing, because any mishap will affect mission readiness."

Among the myriad of topics discussed, the stand-down focused mainly on suicide prevention, motor vehicle safety and residential risks associated with the holiday season.

"It is a very stressful time during the holidays," said NS Guantanamo Bay Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) Counselor Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Matthew Murcin. "Statistically, the military sees a 'spike' in the number of suicides during the holiday season. As of Nov. 1, there have been 54 reported suicides in the Navy. Whether or not it's stress, depression or other factors, we as leaders need to be aware of the warning signs associated with suicide and take the necessary actions to prevent it."

As part of suicide prevention awareness, service members in attendance were presented with handouts outlining the Navy's Ask, Care, Treat (ACT) policy and the warning signs associated with suicidal behavior.

"It's important for us to watch out for everyone and know that we can lower the suicide rate around us," said NS Guantanamo Bay Fleet and Family Support Center Educational Services Facilitator Lara Tur. "The unique position we are in at GTMO is that we have a very 'close-knit' community and we can all look out for each other."

During the standdown, attendees were also informed about the risk factors associated with fatigued holiday travel, and the dangers of drinking and driving and overall alcohol abuse.

Service members were also advised to take the necessary precautions when using holiday items such as decorative lights and "turkey fryers."

"Overall, we are concerned with holiday accidents and how it affects readiness," said Caswell. "This stand-down is targeted to keep you safe and provide you with useful tools you may need during the holidays."

Top 10 Emergency Preparedness Gifts

Great holiday ideas that show you care

Many of us struggle with finding just the right gifts for our friends and loved ones during the holidays. ReadyWisconsin has some great gift ideas that not only help others get ready for emergency situations, but that also say you care and you want them to be safe.

Here is our ReadyWisconsin Top 10 List:

1)  Emergency Weather Radio: A NOAA weather radio is like having your own emergency siren in your home. It is one of the best ways to protect your family in the case of a disaster. Emergency radios are a 24-hour source of weather forecasts, watches, warnings and other emergency information. You can purchase emergency radios for around $30 at most electronic stores, hardware stores and even neighborhood drug stores.

2) Winter Weather Survival Kit: Everyone should carry a winter survival kit in their vehicle. In an emergency it could save your life and the lives of your passengers. It should include:

•           flashlight with extra batteries

•           shovel

•           water

•           snack food including energy bars and raisins

•           matches and small candles

•           extra hats, socks and mittens

•           first aid kit with pocket knife

•           blankets or sleeping bag

•           road salt, sand or cat litter for traction

•           booster cables

•           emergency flares and reflectors

•           fluorescent distress flag and a whistle to attract attention

You can make your own kit or purchase kits at hardware stores and online retailers. And remember, each of these kit items make a great “stocking stuffer”. 

3) Cell Phone Adapter:  “Murphy’s Law”…the moment you need to use your cell phone to make an emergency call is the moment you have no power left in your battery. Giving someone a cell phone adapter to plug into a car lighter is a great way to say you care. 

4) Home Emergency Kit: In an emergency, basic services (electricity, gas, water, etc.) may be cut off for days or even weeks. You may be stuck in your home during that time or evacuated at a moment’s notice. You probably won’t have time to shop or search for the supplies you need. That’s why it is important to have your own fully-stocked disaster kit ready. The kit should include items like:

•           water

•           non-perishable food that doesn’t need electricity for storage or preparation

•           flashlights with extra batteries

•             first aid kit

•           pet supplies

5) Enrollment in a CPR or First-Aid Class: Call your local American Red Cross or American Heart Association chapter to find a class near you or your loved ones. 

6) Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Many people know that smoke detectors save lives in a fire. But did you know that carbon monoxides can save you from the "silent killer". Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can be generated by improper ventilation of furnaces, generators and other devices. According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States, with more than 20,000 people visiting the emergency room and nearly 500 killed each year from overexposure to the gas.

7) Fire Extinguishers: Give one for the kitchen, another for the garage, a third to keep in your car. 

8) Foldable Ladder: Keep it near a second-story window for quick escape in a fire

9) Pet Disaster Kits: Your pets will need food and water in a disaster just like you. Leashes and a carrying case or crate for safer transportation and housing during a disaster is also a good idea.

10) Battery Powered Lamps: Not only great for camping but perfect in an emergency when the power goes out and you need a lot of light.

And one more idea! As you gather with family and friends this holiday take a few minutes to discuss what they will do in the case of an emergency or disaster. This includes developing a simple family communications plan and identifying how you would get in touch with loved ones and where you might meet if you are separated when an emergency or disaster takes place.

Face of Defense: Airman Swears Allegiance, Attains Dream

By Air Force 2nd Lt. Alexis McGee
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J., Nov. 29, 2012 – An 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron airman assigned here was full of nerves on the morning of Nov. 16, as he was about to become a U.S. citizen in a New York ceremony broadcast live on NBC’s “Today" show.

Air Force Senior Airman Jorge Contreras sits with group of immigrants preparing to take the U.S. citizenship oath live on NBC’s "Today" show, Nov. 16, 2012, at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Alexis McGee   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Senior Airman Jorge Contreras, a materiel management journeyman and a native of Peru, has served in the U.S. Air Force for the past four years, but he said he has known for years that he wanted to become a citizen.

 

“I feel like I’m already a citizen,” he said. “The ceremony is more of a formality.”

Contreras’ quest to become a citizen began in 2010. “I had already lived in America for 11 years when I decided to become a citizen,” said Contreras, who calls Elizabeth, N.J., home. “I was raised in this culture, so I feel like I’m a part of it. I know this is where I want to raise my family.”

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services department contacted Contreras two months after he submitted his application for citizenship and invited him to attend the “Today" program ceremony.
“I felt really excited about it,” he said. “They saw something in me, and I felt really humbled that they called me.”

An NBC crew traveled here Nov. 8, once Contreras’ chain of command approved.

“I was nervous at first when the crew came down,” Contreras said. “But then I realized all they wanted to see was me, and you can never be nervous about yourself. Once I got to know the team in person, all my nervousness went away.”

The “Today" team invited Contreras’ mother, Luz Reque, and girlfriend, Karla Espinoza, to attend the show and watch as he made the life-changing declaration.

“I am extremely proud of him,” Espinoza said. “I know he tries really hard at everything he does, so I feel it is something he deserves.” Espinoza, a citizen of Ecuador, also is working toward U.S. citizenship.

Nine co-workers and fellow airmen also traveled to New York to support Contreras.
“This is a pretty big deal for him,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Aldrine Estrella, an 87th LRS materiel management craftsman.

“I went through the same thing a few years ago, so I know how big of a deal it is to become a U.S. citizen,” Estrella said.

Estrella, a native of the Philippines, earned his U.S. citizenship in 2010. He said he encouraged Contreras to do the same, but was quick to point out that Contreras didn’t need much encouragement.

As Contreras scanned the spread of muffins, fruit and bagels the “Today” team put out before the ceremony, he couldn’t help but smile in appreciation for what was to come.

“My mom is here, my girlfriend is here, and all the airmen are here,” he said. “I feel so honored.”
The 38-degree temperature did not stand in the way of the excited soon-to-be U.S. citizens who anxiously awaited the ceremony at Rockefeller Plaza.

“Once they got everything in motion, I said to myself, ‘Forget the cold,’” Contreras said. “I was very happy to get my citizenship in front of my family.”

Contreras became a U.S. citizen along with 29 other immigrants, and now can enjoy all the rights he has fought to preserve.

“It feels awesome to now be able to take advantage of all the rights I’ve been defending,” said Contreras, who enlisted in the Air Force at age 21. “To me, it is less of an official title and more of a commitment.”

With his commitment to the U.S. in his heart, at the forefront of Contreras’ mind throughout the whole process was his family.

“A lot of doors just opened for me, and now I am ready to explore them and make my family proud,” he said.
 

AFCYBER takes part in second USCYBERCOM Cyber Flag exercise

by Tech. Sgt. Scott McNabb
24th Air Force Public Affairs

11/21/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- 24th Air Force, the U.S. Air Force's cyber component to U.S. Cyber Command, took part in the Cyber Flag 13-1 training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Oct. 29-Nov. 8.

USCYBERCOM designed Cyber Flag to bring together Department of Defense cyber and information technology professionals to hone their cyber skills against a realistic adversary in a tactical virtual environment.

"Our increasing dependency on reliable and efficient network connectivity and the growing threat posed by cyber adversaries highlight the importance of practicing combined operations in defense of the DOD information infrastructure," said Capt. Christian Mapp, 24th Air Force exercise branch chief. "As the service provider for Air Force networks, 24th Air Force participation with the other service components is critical to ensuring a synchronized and coordinated approach to DOD network defense being available and capable should the need ever arise."

Mapp said the Air Force assembled a total force team comprised of more than 70 active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard cyber warriors from across the nation.

This year's Cyber Flag was larger than the first Cyber Flag held in 2011 on the same cyber range. This year's exercise saw approximately 700 participants, up from last year's 300, and doubled the network size. All participants had a specific role to play, playing the part of a U.S. team or role-playing an adversary.

"Exercises like Cyber Flag test participants' readiness when faced with a realistic cyber event in a stressed environment against a dynamic and skilled adversary. This was not a simple 'capture the flag' event," said Col. George Lamont, director of USCYBERCOM Joint Exercises and Training.

The exercise included an opposing force whose mission was to penetrate and disrupt the computer networks of the "good guys," or Blue Force - made up of DOD cyber service components.

Lt. Col. Jamie Maki, 24th Air Force chief of exercise and training chief, said Cyber Flag is designed to provide realistic training opportunities for a number of DOD commands to deter and, if necessary, defeat a cyber attack. Additionally, much like Red Flag is to the air world, Cyber Flag aims to give cyber operators experience with tactics, techniques and procedures of our cyber adversaries and test our own tactics, techniques and procedures. The teams were given opportunities to coordinate actions across the offensive and defensive spectrum as well as partnering with our sister services.

Despite this only being the second Cyber Flag, Maki said some of the key successes of the exercise included such efforts as the integration of cyber intelligence analysts proving invaluable to the mission planning cell, ultimately enhancing the defensive posture and virtually eliminating stovepipe efforts. Additionally, the collaboration between teams detecting cyber intrusions and first responders leveraged tactical insights and skill sets yielding greater synergy and mission effectiveness. Finally, the exercise partnered service teams with coalition partners highlighting the global nature of the cyber domain.

"Through the use of a virtual network environment, individuals supporting Cyber Flag benefited by gaining exposure to problem sets they may not normally experience in their day-to-day jobs. Furthermore the event affords the opportunity to work in concerted effort with their sister-service counterparts to operate and defend DOD networks across the full spectrum of operations against a realistic adversary," Mapp explained.

Cyber security continues to be a priority across the government. The DOD has a critical role in developing and supporting the nation's cyber security efforts.

"Cyber Flag highlights the interconnected nature of the DOD information infrastructure, making the key takeaway from Air Force Cyber Command's participation in Cyber Flag the necessity to demonstrate a holistic approach for clearing the net and securing the high ground," said Mapp.

Battaglia Discusses Resilience Program at Air Force Event

By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 – The senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed his approach to health, mission and morale during the Air Force Reserve Wingman Day here yesterday.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia explained how Total Force Fitness, the profession of arms and “bridging the basics” have been the cornerstones of the Defense Department’s overall resilience program.
The sergeant major related his enthusiasm about the “simplistic definition” of Wingman Day, which, he said, provides skills and strategy related to health, mission performance and unit cohesion.

“Fitness is more than running, pull-ups and push-ups [and the] Wingman Day concept is more than an event -- it’s a culture of airmen taking care of airmen, 24-7, 365 days a year,” Battaglia said.

Battaglia described the Total Force Fitness concept, a holistic approach to mental and physical health intended to build resiliency. The program divides major aspects of the military member’s life into eight “wedges,” he said, including social, emotional, psychological, spiritual, environmental, physical, behavioral and medical and dental facets.

Described in Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3405.01, the Total Force Fitness program is a plan for understanding, assessing and maintaining service members' well-being and sustaining their ability to carry out missions.

Battaglia credited his upbringing as a Marine to his ongoing investment in the profession of arms.

“It doesn’t matter what rank or specialty you are … we’re going through some challenges with transformation and understanding in defining our profession,” Battaglia said. “The oath is a stepping stone; it’s the basic training syllabus that really makes an enlisted member become a member of the profession.”
The oath, according to Battaglia, is the tie that binds the military.

“From the most-senior [noncommissioned officer] in the armed forces to the most-junior E-1 who just graduated, the oath is identical,” Battaglia said of the vow to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. “For the most part, the message remains the same.”

Battaglia also focused on another enduring military theme, going “back to basics” by preparing service members for a home-station-based military with a lower operations tempo as the wars abroad draw down.
Service members who joined the military in the years following 9/11 can learn from those who experienced a peacetime military, he said.

“Growing up in a period that was so heavily garrisoned during the late ’70s, ’80s and even some of the ’90s … being molded and developed … we cracked the code on how to live and survive in that world,” the sergeant major said.

He shared an anecdote about trying to explain to a young soldier that the military would go “back to basics,” to which the soldier replied, “Whose basics, yours, sergeant major? I don’t know what those are; I’ve never been there.”

Battaglia said he soon realized the value in both the operational and administrative basics of new and older generations.

“It’s not like we can completely return to these basics and disregard the technologies and methods of operating that our generation now has … we wouldn’t be able to keep pace,” Battaglia said. “We can bridge both technologies and both methods of

Winnefeld Discusses Defense Strategy, Budget Link

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 – The fiscal 2014 defense budget request will be a chance for the department to adjust funding to support the defense strategic guidance issued in January this year, Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said here yesterday.
The admiral spoke at the Atlantic Council’s Commanders Series.

“We are continuing to filter and refine the decisions we made … last year,” Winnefeld said. “It is going on now and it is going on pretty well.”

Winnefeld took office the same day that Congress passed the Budget Control Act -- Aug. 4, 2011. “I arrived in this job at the high-water mark of the defense budget for the last 20 years,” he said.

Defense leaders had already termed the national deficit as a threat to national security, he said, noting that DOD will do its part to reduce it. “We would forcefully state that we are not necessarily the cause of this problem, but we all need to pitch in,” he said.

Since 9/11, the department had virtually unlimited resources, the admiral said.

“Now we’re in a different place, and as Winston Churchill said, ‘Gentlemen, we’re out of money, and now we have to think,’” he added.

Under the old strategy, cutting $489 billion out of the department over 10 years increased the risk to the nation, Winnefeld said. DOD leaders needed to work together to examine the department’s core missions, he said, and how to accomplish those missions with declining resources..

“We knew we had to link strategy with the budget-making process,” the admiral said.

At the same time, leaders had to account for changes in warfare, he said. This included changes across the range of combat bred by the efficacy of networks to speed awareness. It also included understanding the benefits interagency partners provide to the military and the importance of cross-service cooperation at all levels.

On the equipment side, the strategy had to consider the effect of unmanned vehicles, cyber capabilities, stealth technology and the contributions of “the best people we have ever had in the U.S. military,” Winnefeld said. The talent that young people bring to the military was actually folded into the new strategy, he said.
The plan made a number of changes in a shift to the Pacific, the emphasis on cyber operations, being able to project power and increased emphasis on efficiency in the department, he said. The strategy keeps the counterterrorism force robust and retains the nuclear deterrent, Winnefeld noted.

The strategy calls for less emphasis on long-term stability operations, the admiral said.

“The way President [Barack] Obama has put it was, ‘Give me fewer Iraqi Freedoms and more Desert Storms,’” Winnefeld said. “The point was, go in, do the ‘defeat,’ and get the job done. Don’t end up there for 10 years trying to do nation building. We’re just not going to be allowed to do that. We can’t afford it.”

The guidance took three months to publish, and then leaders used this guidance to build the fiscal 2013 DOD budget request. “It was the first time in my career that I have seen such a tight connection between the strategy document … to ‘means’ decisions -- the things we were going to buy or not buy,” the admiral said.
The bottom line, he said, is that the strategy covers national interests -- the security of the United States and its citizens; a strong U.S. economy; respect for universal values; and an international order that promotes peace, stability and security through stronger cooperation.

Senior leaders measure their decisions against this strategy, Winnefeld said, and will continue to do so with the new budget.

Winnefeld said he’s optimistic that Congress will avoid sequestration, but if it takes place and the department has to cut another $500 billion from the budget, then the strategic guidance could be made moot. A new plan would have to be drawn up, increasing the risk to the nation, the admiral said.
 

Panetta Honors Vets at ‘Wall’ Education Center Groundbreaking

By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2012 – The education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “Wall” will be a place to join the past to the future, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at the center's groundbreaking ceremony today. Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and retired Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “Wall” in Washington, D.C., Nov. 28, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. By telling the stories of service members whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country will not be forgotten, he said.   Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined Panetta at the ceremony, held near the memorial on the National Mall here. The groundbreaking included a large delegation of congressional and military leaders and members of Gold Star Families -- an organization for families that have lost loved ones in military service. "It will be a site for future generations of Americans to learn, think and reflect on our nation's wars and those who fought them," Panetta said of the education center. "This is a very poignant moment, for a very special place in my heart for [Vietnam veterans]." The center, which will honor veterans from several U.S. wars, will bring to life the stories of the more than 58,000 U.S. service members who were lost during the Vietnam War. Stories and photos of the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan also will be featured until those veterans have their own national place of honor, event officials said. "As I travel across the country and the world, I am always inspired by the strength and the resilience of our military families," Biden, also a military mom, told the audience. "But there are many Americans who don't know anyone in the military," she added. "As a life-long educator, that's why the education center is so important. It will help ensure our veterans will always be remembered -- not just in name, by but by their actions. Those actions will become part of the lessons that educate and inspire us for years to come." This year begins the 50th anniversary commemoration of the United States' participation in the Vietnam War, Panetta told the audience. "We remember their bravery and heroism and we will never forget their sacrifices during that conflict," he said of U.S. service members who fought in Vietnam. Panetta spoke of his recent travels to Vietnam, noting that Defense Department officials were working diligently in Hanoi to find and identify remains of U.S. service members who are missing in action there and throughout the region. "It is our sacred duty to leave no one behind," Panetta said. "We will not rest until every MIA is brought home. I assure you that your government is committed to the fullest possible accounting of our missing service members from the Vietnam War." Panetta said Americans failed to acknowledge the sacrifices of the nation's service members when they returned home after the war. "America's recognition came too late," he said. "The Vietnam generation is graying now. Preserving stories requires more than a place of remembrance. It needs a place of education. [These veterans] must never be forgotten." The center will focus on a divisive time in the nation's history from which it learned meaningful lessons, the secretary said. "That war is always a last resort, that we must have a clear mission [to fight], that people can oppose a war and still support the troops, and that we should always cherish the legacy of valor and self-sacrifice our veterans represent and make America strong," he said. Panetta said the center will honor the nation’s military heroes "by telling the stories of brave American warriors, past and present, we help ensure we'll never forget the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price for their country.” “The torch of freedom these heroes carried into battle must be passed from generation to generation, so we never stop fighting for a better future for our children," the secretary said.

Army Guard senior leaders impressed by Soldiers' Hurricane Sandy response

By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. (11/28/12) - It's a scene that is perhaps as old as the U.S. military itself –Soldiers gathered around a cot or makeshift table, playing cards during downtime.

The Soldiers relax and joke while Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk W. Conley uses each card game as a perfect opportunity to talk with them.

"I could sit and talk with young privates and specialists all day long," said
Conley, the sergeant major of the Army National Guard.  "I'm a high school physics and chemistry teacher. I like being around the kids. It keeps you young. They keep you engaged and realize what makes this country great."

As part of his visit to New York to get a feel for National Guard response to the disaster, Conley not only spent time talking with Soldiers during downtime, but also spent time with them as they took part in debris removal and cleanup operations in Queens, water and food distribution in Brooklyn, and various other points along the way.

Conley said he was impressed by the Soldiers, the work they were doing and the dedicated response they had to simply "help out."

"I think that's universal throughout the Guard," Conley said. "Those are your neighbors. That's your state. That's part of what you signed up for."

The response, Conley said, was no different than when Guard members helped in 2005 when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated New Orleans.

"The spirit of the Soldier and the Airmen was the same," he said. "There was no difference. I'm here to help my neighbors."

The difference, however, was in the geography of the affected area.

 "I think we were able to downsize-right size-a lot quicker here," he said, in reference to the Guard response.

"They weren't dealing with floodwaters here," said Conley, who served as part of the response to Katrina.

"They were dealing with the initial storm surge and the damage from that, which was just as devastating as Katrina, but they didn't have the standing water to have to deal with over time."

Responding to incidents such as Sandy is one of the reasons many Soldiers who took part in relief operations enlisted in the Army Guard, said Conley.

"I would ask each group how many of them joined to do this and 75 percent of the hands would go up," said Conley. "They joined because they wanted to be a part of things. They wanted to be engaged in missions at home and overseas, but they also wanted to stay in their communities and help their state."

And at the peak of operations, more than 12,000 Guard members responded from
21 states and the District of Columbia.

"These young kids, these young Americans, are the true epitome of the Citizen-Soldier," Conley said, adding that speaks volumes about the future.

"The future is solidified by those great privates and specialists out there over these last three weeks of Hurricane Sandy (relief operations) showing, demonstrating to America what we're capable of doing," he said.

The trip itself was planned weeks before Sandy made landfall as a way for Conley to get a sense of issues affecting the enlisted members of the Army Guard.

But, with Guard members responding in the aftermath of the storm, Conley said it provided an opportunity to meet with Soldiers "as they were doing their mission and talk with them about what motivates them and what they're doing (as part of response efforts)."

And for Conley, it comes back to spending time listening to Soldiers and hearing their concerns, which he said is one of the things he enjoys most.

"I hit the lottery," he said. "I can't believe they're paying me to do this stuff."

Face of Defense: NCO Provides Holiday Mail Deadline

By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Scott Whiting Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Nov. 28, 2012 – Christmas is right around the corner, and with the holidays comes an influx of mail sent to service members stationed overseas. Marines unload packages during daily mail call at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan, Oct. 9, 2011. Mail is collected and delivered at the base seven days a week. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Katherine Solano   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The United States Postal Service recently released their deadlines for ensuring mail sent overseas arrives in time for the busy holiday season.   “These dates are recommended since Christmas gets so busy, especially when sending out mail,” said Marine Corps Sgt. Guadalupe Nicks, an assistant postal finance officer with the post office here. The fastest way to send mail is through Express Mail. In order to take advantage of this service, the mail must be sent by Dec. 17 for it to arrive on time when sending to a military installation overseas. First-class mail, which includes letters, cards and parcels 13 ounces or lighter, should be mailed no later than Dec. 10. Priority mail is first-class mail weighing more than 13 ounces, and it should also be sent by Dec. 10. Parcel airlift mail needs to be mailed by Dec. 3. As of Nov. 15, the U.S. Postal Service is able to once again ship lithium batteries to international locations, including Army, Fleet and Diplomatic Post Offices overseas. “They are now able to be mailed, but there are specific requirements for them in order to be sent,” Nicks said. The lithium batteries must already be installed in the device requiring the battery by the time they are mailed, or packaged alone. If they are being sent alone, they must be in their originally sealed packaging. Multiple batteries must be separated and cushioned within the parcel to prevent short-circuiting, movement or damage. The package itself cannot exceed five pounds.

Tomodachi Registry Monitors Japan-posted Troops, Families

U.S. Army Public Health Command Public Affairs Office

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Nov. 28, 2012 – U.S. Army Public Health Command headquartered here played a significant public health role in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011, Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

The command’s responders monitored radiation levels from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, checked the safety of water and food and assessed search-and-rescue dogs coming into the country to assist in finding the missing.

A year-and-a-half later, it looks as though USAPHC will have a decades-long role to play through the creation and maintenance of the Operation Tomodachi Registry.

Launched Sept. 5, 2012, the registry’s purpose is to provide general information about the incident including location-based, estimated radiation dose levels for the DOD-affiliated population, and a way for registry users to contact the registry staff. The registry currently includes estimated radiation exposure information for 13 mainland Japan locations where most of the approximately 70,000 DOD-affiliated personnel were during the incident.

“We used this opportunity to build a model for future exposure registries, one that’s flexible enough to manage a wide range of potential environmental exposures,” said Brad Hutchens, an environmental engineer whose program led the creation of the registry, which will be managed as part of the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System.

“Development of this registry is unique, because DOD has not previously taken such a proactive approach,” Hutchens said.

One significant reason for DOD’s approach was its concern of the health its service members and their families stationed in Japan.

“People are generally concerned about radiation,” Hutchens said. “They wanted to make sure it was properly monitored and documented.”

Jerry Falo, a USAPHC radiation safety expert who holds a doctorate in health physics, agrees.
“We’ve all seen the images portrayed in movies and on TV -- they reinforce people’s fear of radiation,” Falo said.

Scientists know what can occur at high levels of radiation exposure -- much higher than those seen from the Fukushima Daiichi reactors, he said.

“But at the levels seen in the DOD-affiliated population, the Health Physics Society’s position statement says it best: ‘Risks of [adverse] health effects are either too small to be observed or are nonexistent,’” Falo said.
Falo was part of a working group of DOD scientists charged with estimating radiation doses in locations where DOD-affiliated personnel were present. Health effects from radiation exposure are not expected in the DOD-affiliated population.

The working group included experts in health physics, nuclear engineering, radiological health sciences and medical physics from the three U.S. military services, the Armed Forces Radiobiological Research Institute, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. They analyzed the radiation levels in mainland Japan from March 12 to May 11, 2011, applying U.S. standards to data gathered by multiple agencies from multiple sources.

“We looked at DOD, Department of Energy and Japanese government environmental data on air, water, soil and external [monitoring] measurements. We looked at breathing rates, ingestion rates and time spent outdoors,” Falo said. “We took high-side EPA estimates and assumed no time indoors for 60 days -- it’s unlikely that a person’s actual radiation doses would be higher than the levels described in the registry.”
Registry dose estimates currently include adults and children, broken down by age. In the future, dose estimates for embryos, fetuses and nursing infants will be included.

This documentation can be used by medical providers to discuss patient concerns about potential radiation exposures they may have received during the March 12 to May 11, 2011, timeframe.

“Much is done at the time [an incident occurs] to reduce risk, take care of people and address the situation, but we haven’t always created documentation for the long term,” Hutchens said.

By the end of the calendar year, the nearly 70,000 identified people will be entered into DOEHRS and associated to the location-based estimates.

USAPHC was selected to create the registry because of its experience in managing DOEHRS and because of its experience in creating and managing the Operation Desert Storm Kuwait Oil Fires project, Hutchens said. DOEHRS manages industrial hygiene, environmental health, radiation and incident reporting data for the DOD.

In addition to its technical and scientific expertise, the USAPHC contributed risk communication expertise to the development of the registry.

“I help the subject-matter experts take that incredible amount of data and translate it to what it means to service members, families and DOD-affiliated people who were on the island or in the other designated areas at the time the registry covers,” Bethney Davidson, senior USAPHC risk communicator, said.

As the registry was planned, transparency of communication and the provision of usable information “for years to come” were key communication goals, Davidson said.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Force Health Protection and Readiness is the sponsoring agency, and experts from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Naval Health Research Center and others contributed to the registry content.