NHB Staff Recognized for Supporting Kitsap Veterans 2012 Fall Stand Down

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The Kitsap County commissioner chair presented certificates of appreciation Jan. 18 to Naval Hospital Bremerton staff members for their volunteer efforts at the Kitsap Veterans 2012 Fall Stand Down.

"On behalf of the Kitsap County commissioners and the Kitsap County Veterans Advisory Board, I thank those who provided support with their time and effort," said Rob Gelder, Kitsap County District 1 commissioner, who represented Commissioner Charlotte Garrido, District 2 and Commissioner Josh Brown, District 3, in the presentation ceremony. "We don't say 'thank you' enough and we could not do the Veterans Stand Down without the volunteers supporting those who went before them."

"It was a great experience to be able to pay back to those who have served," Veteran Stand Down volunteer Chief Hospital Corpsman Brian Dike. "It gave us the opportunity to share what we do, as well as spend quality time to hear what they did during their time on active duty. I learned a lot, not only about them, but also about ourselves. Helping out that day meant just as much to us as it did to them."

The Kitsap Veterans Fall Stand Down was held Sept. 22, 2012. Joining Dike as volunteers were Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Tom Countryman, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Michael Hess, Chief Hospital Corpsman Noel Gravina, Chief Hospital Corpsman Farrah Ocasio, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Dana Therkildsen, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Rejoy Sison, and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Brownfield.

"Supporting operational readiness missions is what we do," said Capt. Christopher Culp, NHB commanding officer. "One of the ways we do that is giving back to the community. Our command has always been actively involved in providing support to civic projects throughout our area. Its part of who we are and what we do."

The Veterans 2012 Fall Stand down, coordinated by Kitsap County Veterans Program, city of Bremerton, Kitsap SUN and Kitsap Area Veterans Alliance, provided an estimated several hundred veterans and family members a host of services and information, such as legal assistance; guidance on how to change child support payments; women, men and children clothing; hot meals; advice on dealing with foreclosure; hygiene items and shaving gear; groceries; haircuts; VA health benefits and VA claim information; employment referrals; dental screenings; vision screenings; financial assistance; sleeping bag and camping gear; housing options; Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom benefits information; free voice main and mail address, and other services such as free shuttle services to the event by Suquamish Warriors, Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Building 9.

Truman AIMD Achieves "Unprecedented" Perfect Score in Aviation Maintenance Inspection

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor M. DiMartino, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the aircraft intermediate maintenance department (AIMD) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) surpassed all others in the fleet in their Aviation Maintenance Inspection (AMI), Jan. 14.

During the biannual, one-day inspection, 10 individuals from the Aviation Maintenance Management Team (AMMT), representing Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR), graded individual aircraft maintenance programs aboard Truman on a scale ranging from 'on-track', 'needs more attention' to 'off-track' (when significant issues are present within a program).
All 44 programs within Truman's AIMD received a grade of 'on-track' in a showing considered "unprecedented and unbelievable" by the AMMT's lead inspector, Lt. Cmdr. Don Moore.

Truman's maintenance officer, Cmdr. Art Harvey, said the AMI is designed to inspect a variety of AIMD's processes to determine whether or not Sailors are working in line with current Navy directives and policies.

According to AIMD's quality assurance officer, Lt. Rick Boswell, these directives included proper maintenance, safety, and standardization within AIMD's multiple divisions.

"It all boils down to whether or not we are fixing aircraft systems properly, by the book," said Boswell. "Aviation is inherently dangerous, and everything that we do has some sort of safety contingency and procedure. But it's not just about fixing parts, it's also about the safety of our Sailors who conduct the maintenance."

Harvey attributed careful execution and planning by AIMD's leadership, hard work and preparation from all Sailors within the department as key factors that contributed to the success of the inspection.

"The inspectors recognized our Sailors' good work and the amount of time put in to get the department ready for the inspection," said Harvey. "From processes to material conditions, practical assessments that tested the Sailors, to emergency maintenance procedures and all of the administration work involved in AIMD, Truman reset the bar as the top carrier for this inspection and reestablished our excellent record from two-and-a-half years ago."

Though certain AMMT members have conducted more than 100 inspections in their careers, Harvey said Truman's AMI was the first perfect audit any had ever conducted.
"Of course there are always things that we will have to work on, but the inspection team recognized that all of our programs were on track," said Harvey. "The average across the Navy is six 'needs more attention' grades and six 'off-track' scores. We had 44 out of 44 programs labeled satisfactory, truly a perfect score across the board."

AIMD's leading chief petty officer, Master Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman (AW/SW) Martin Snowden, said that in his 29 years of service, he never expected to achieve a perfect AMI.

"Though we had very little time to prepare between the end of Truman's shipyard period and all of the preparations that were being made for Truman's upcoming deployment, our Sailors provided incredible effort to get our programs up to standards," said Snowden. "I'm not sure if our senior leaders will ever see a result like this again. It is truly historic."

Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class (AW/SW) Eddie Coley, leading petty officer for AIMD's IM4 division aviation support equipment logs and records, said excelling in the inspection of life-critical maintenance and procedures within AIMD was his personal "high-point" during the AMI.

"Squadron and ship Sailors trust their lives to our critical equipment, and they need to have peace of mind that it is all being properly maintained," said Coley. "I take pride in my Sailors and I will keep pushing for great work like this as we continue moving toward deployment."

Though his Sailors have set the bar for excellence throughout the fleet, Coley emphasizes humility to his Sailors after such an accomplishment.

"We can all feel happy about this result, but it can't get to a point where we feel we are so good we don't need to double check ourselves, or become complacent," said Coley. "This inspection was a great opportunity to maintain our excellence and continue to train to keep the standard up."

Snowden provided similar wisdom to AIMD as a whole.

"We've won the Superbowl, but now we have to get to work for the next season," he said.

Seabee Battalion Battle 'E' Awards Announced

By Daryl Smith, Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Commander First Naval Construction Division (1NCD) recently announced the winners of the Naval Construction Force Battle "E" award, which recognizes outstanding operational performance of its Naval Mobile Construction Battalions.

Atlantic Fleet winners are Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 (Active) and NMCB 27 (Reserve). Winners from the Pacific Fleet are NMCB 4 (Active) and NMCB 25 (Reserve).

While supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, NMCB 11 supported engineering operations for three supported commands operating in 77 dispersed locations throughout six regional commands. Based in Gulfport, Miss., the battalion completed more than 70 projects and 46,000 mandays of construction, counter-insurgency operations and training support to Afghan engineer forces.

"Your efforts improved force protection, enhanced freedom of movement, and improved quality of life for U.S. and coalition forces, and set the stage for the surge drawdown of U.S. and coalition forces and the eventual transfer of the mission to the Afghan forces," wrote Rear Adm. Mark Handley, Commander 1NCD.

Headquartered in Brunswick, Maine, NMCB 27 was commended for accomplishments in preparation for and during its deployment to U.S. Southern Command.

"The 'Skibees' have clearly demonstrated that you are deserving of selection as 'Best of Type,' and I congratulate you on a job well done," Rear Adm. Handley wrote.

Its unit level training included two command post exercises, embark training exercises, a communications exercise and a field training exercise involving 376 battalion personnel. They completed more than 31,000 mandays of training and 19,000 mandays of homeport and contingency construction. They deployed an 85-person Air Detachment to Guantanamo Bay and completed projects there as well as El Salvador and Peru.

"Throughout a challenging year, NMCB 4 has consistently and unequivocally proven their commitment to excellence and an uncompromising 'can-do' attitude," wrote Rear Adm. Handley.

During its fourth consecutive CENTCOM deployment, NMCB 4 worked at 72 sites across all six regional commands in Afghanistan. It provided mobility support by establishing and improving low-water crossing sites, emplacing bridges and building roads. The battalion completed 72 projects consisting of more than 42,000 mandays of tasking. Returning to homeport in Port Hueneme, Calif., it executed a solid homeport training plan for preparation for the next deployment to Europe and Africa.

NMCB 25 ramped up its training schedule to account for a six-month acceleration of its deployment timeline. Headquartered at Fort McCoy, Wis., the battalion completed 20,000 mandays of construction support and training and attained more than 790 new technical skills. They maintained 100-percent accountability in their supply outlets.

"Through commitment and focus on personnel programs you have been successful in dramatically improving metrics in all program areas and setting the mark for foundation training," Rear Adm. Handley wrote.

"My congratulations to the Seabees of NMCB 4, NMCB 11, NMCB 25 and NMCB 27. Your efforts in helping our supported commanders achieve their desired effects were truly inspirational and exemplified the Seabee can-do motto."

Sailor to Run in Armed Forces Cross Country Championships

By Seaman Recruit Ellen Long, Center for Service Support

FORT MEADE, Md. (NNS) -- A Basic Mass Communication Specialist Course student at the Center for Service Support (CSS) Detachment, Defense Information School, Fort Meade, Md., will represent the Navy in the 2013 Armed Forces Cross Country Championships, Feb. 2.

Seaman Paul Coover recently qualified to take on the top armed forces cross country runners in Clayton, Mo.

Coover said he will be racing against the best cross-country runners the military has to offer.
"The top seven runners from each [military] branch race in what is called the Armed Forces Cross Country Championships," he said. "You're racing against the best guys in the U.S. and the best guys in the armed forces."

To prepare himself, Coover said he runs at least 10 miles a day and finishes long runs of up to 15 miles.

"When preparing for a race like this, you have to have a very specific way of training, said Coover. "As much as I would love to do weight training, Olympic lifts, biking and swimming, it's just not possible if I want to win."

Coover said he would like to run for the team full time, but understands he would have to balance running with his Navy career as a mass communication specialist. He said it is not difficult to balance his current military training schedule with his physical training.

"If you make up your mind to get it done, you'll do it," said Coover, who also serves as a section leader and fitness leader for the student detachment. "It's just a matter of priorities." Coover also serves as a section leader and a student fitness leader for the detachment.

"He wants to make other people better, he's not just there for himself," said Petty Officer First Class Barry Abbott, CSS Detachment's leading petty officer.
"I think people are inspired differently and I don't think I go out trying to inspire people," said Coover. "But if somebody follows my example by going out and working out then I think that will do some good."

An alumni runner of Indiana University, Coover said he placed 25th in the 2012 New Orleans Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon and was a San Diego section champion while on his high school's cross country team. He has participated in a number of local races including a five mile marathon in Washington.

With his eyes set on the finish line, Coover's passion for running and intense training regimen help him take on his goals one mile at a time.

"What keeps me going in training is that I am motivated by competition," said Coover.

MSC Ships Underway in Support of Annual Operation Deep Freeze Antarctica Resupply Mission

By Sarah E. Burford, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command-chartered container ship MV Ocean Giant departed Port Hueneme, Calif., loaded with nearly seven million pounds of supplies such as frozen and dry food stores, building supplies, vehicles and electronic equipment and parts, Jan. 17.

MSC-chartered tanker ship MT Maersk Peary departed the European area of operations in December, with over six million gallons of diesel fuel, jet fuel and gasoline.
Both ships are currently underway en route to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, marking the start of MSC's resupply efforts in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the annual Joint Task Force Support for Antarctica mission to resupply the remote scientific outpost.

During this single mission, MSC-chartered ships will deliver 100 percent of the fuel and about 80 percent of the supplies that researchers and support personnel in Antarctica need to survive and work over the course of a year.

Maersk Peary will arrive in Antarctica first and discharge its fuel cargo, followed by Ocean Giant in mid-February. Ocean Giant is scheduled to off-load its cargo at a 500-foot ice pier that juts out from the Antarctic coast. The cargo will be off-loaded by members of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One working around-the-clock for eight days. Following the off-load, the ship will be loaded with retrograde cargo for transportation off the continent, including ice core samples carried back to the United States in sub-zero freezer containers, as well as trash and recyclable materials for disposal and equipment no longer required on station.

In 2012, unfavorable weather conditions made the ice pier at McMurdo unusable for dry cargo operations. Members of the Army's 331st Transportation Company constructed a floating dock to ensure cargo operations could be conducted.

"Even though we've been conducting ODF missions for many years, every year we have challenges to face," said Tom Brown, MSC Pacific Sealift Prepositioning and Special Mission Team Lead.

"We try to address as much as possible in the planning phase, but because we are working with Mother Nature, we can't always know what will happen. Because of this, we really have to function as a team, not just within the Navy, but with all the other organizations who participate in this mission, to ensure that we get the critical cargo onto the ice, and on time, to support the people who live and work there," he said.

Due to adverse winter conditions in Antarctica, the ODF mission must take place during a small window of opportunity in the Antarctic summer months of January to March. This can mean tight schedules for everyone involved in the mission, from the ship's crew, to the cargo handlers on the ice, to the mission schedulers in the United States.

"Operation Deep Freeze is a very critical mission for the people who live and work in Antarctica," said Capt. Sylvester Moore, commander MSC Pacific. "Without this resupply mission, all operations in Antarctica would end, and the scientific community would lose the opportunity to conduct research and study not only the continent of Antarctica, but its impact on our global climate."

An MSC-chartered cargo ship and tanker have made the challenging voyage to Antarctica, which includes passage through a 15-mile ice channel, in places more than 13 feet thick, every year since the station was established in 1955.

MSC operates approximately 110 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Visits USS Theodore Roosevelt

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Brian G. Reynolds, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va (NNS) -- Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Ashton Carter visited the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as a part of a scheduled tour of the ship Jan. 17.

TR Sailors took the opportunity to welcome Carter as the carrier finishes its final year of Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

Capt. William Hart, the commanding officer aboard TR, and Capt. Mark Colombo, the executive officer aboard TR greeted Carter on the pier.

During the visit, Carter took the opportunity to address the Sailors and employees of Newport News Shipbuilding aboard TR in the ship's hangar bay.

"The first thing that I would like to say to you on my behalf and on behalf of Secretary [Leon] Panetta is each of you go home tonight to your loved ones and say that you were thanked for your service to our country's defense," said Carter. "You are not thanked enough, and we appreciate all that you do."

Carter also said that the U.S. is now in the midst of a transitional period in terms of foreign policy and its use of the military across the globe.

"We are embarking in our nation's defense on a great transition," said Carter. "[It is] a great transition from the era of Iraq, Afghanistan, and the first post-9/11 decade to the world to come and to the security challenges that are going to determine our future. For two large counterinsurgency campaigns, you can see that era coming successfully to an end."

After the speech, Carter presented several select Sailors and shipyard workers with his personal challenge coin and posed for photos. Later, Carter embarked on a 45-minute tour of TR that included the ship's Combat Direction Center and the flight deck.

More National Guard Troops Arrive to Support Inauguration

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2013 – Nearly 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen have begun arriving here today to support the 57th Presidential Inauguration, said the commanding general for the District of Columbia National Guard.

Army Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, far right, commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, Army Brig. Gen. Arthur W. Hinaman, center, commander of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia, and Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Bowie, a logistical officer, discuss the beginning stages of 6,000 National Guard troops arriving during a news conference at the District of Colombia Armory in Washington D.C., Jan. 18, 2013. The additional troops will augment the D.C. National Guard for the 57th Presidential Inauguration. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

At a press conference at the D.C. Armory, Army Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz explained how the troops will be used to augment his local National Guard troops.

“We’re getting 32 states and territories coming in to support the District of Columbia National Guard [as we] prepare for this inauguration,” he said. “Most of these Guardsmen have been here before so they’re well familiar with the city and the support that is needed.”

Schwartz said while 7,000 troops were on the ground for the last inauguration, there are only 6,000 troops arriving “with the capability of bringing more troops into the district if required.”

“There are 54 National Guard entities around the country and they’re well versed with working with the local population,” he said. “And I think that will be very, very helpful as we engage the crowd here for this presidential inauguration.”

Army Brig. Gen. Arthur W. Hinaman, commander of Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, provided additional information about the National Guard’s support to the presidential inauguration.

“The D.C. National Guard has participated in every inauguration since the 1861 Abraham Lincoln inauguration where President Lincoln received his first salute from a D.C. Guardsman,” Hinaman said.
“More than 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen from 32 states and territories will become part of the 224-year history this weekend ensuring a consolidated, coordinated and effective approach for professional and timely presidential inauguration support,” he said.

Hinaman said the troops will be a “force multiplier” as the National Guard supports seven agencies for the inauguration -- the U.S. Secret Service, D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Metropolitan Police Department, U.S Park Police, D.C. Department of Transportation, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.

“In a short, 36-hour period, approximately 6,000 national guard soldiers and airmen will be welcomed to Washington D.C., at one of our three reception locations -- Fort Belvoir, [Va.]; [Joint Base] Andrews, [in Maryland] and right here at the D.C. Armory,” Hinaman said.

These troops will become integrated into the biggest event the district holds on a reoccurring basis, he said, performing critical missions such as traffic control and crowd management.

“The National Guard will [also] be providing … communications, logistical, medical, public affairs and ceremonial support, among other functions,” Hinaman added.

Following the press conference, soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard, which provided the largest contingency of troops, began arriving for in-processing and swearing-in to augment the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

“Our soldiers and airmen are prepared for this mission,” Hinaman said, “just as we were in 2009 during the largest inauguration in history. The National Guard is [multipurpose] much like a Swiss Army knife, performing missions like the inauguration for our nation.”

Regardless of whether they are tasked with providing support for community events or securing the safety of Americans through homeland security, Hinaman said the National Guard is prepared.
“We’re ready, reliable, essential and accessible,” he said.

New Orleans Works to End Veteran Homelessness

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 18, 2013 – In 2009, the same year the Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans Veteran’s Transitional Facility opened, President Barack Obama and the Veterans Affairs Department set a goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015.

Lisa Battaglia, wife of the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the facility here yesterday and spoke to American Forces Press Service after visiting with residents and staff.
“As a woman veteran myself, finding ways in getting our veterans off the streets remains a priority for my husband and me,” she said.

The facility arose out of a need for ways to assist homeless veterans transition out of homelessness, said Melissa Haley, director of supportive services for veteran families for Volunteers of America.

Its existence is a sign that people in the greater New Orleans area, as in cities across the country, have taken the president’s call to action to heart, Battaglia said.

Around 400 veterans have come through the transition program since the facility opened, said Gerald Rooks, the program director. About 88 percent successfully completed it, meaning they are permanently off the streets, he said. “We try every day to increase that number,” he added.

Veterans arrive at the facility in a number of ways, Rooks said. The staff seeks out veterans at places where the homeless gather, he said, but veterans can either self-refer or be referred by the VA.

Norman Adams, a Navy veteran residing at the facility, said he found the transitional facility through the staff’s outreach program.

“I retired from nursing after 45 years,” Adams said. “I lived a pretty good life until it just went off the road.”
After several months of homelessness -- during which he made his way to New Orleans -- outreach personnel told him about the transitional facility.

“This is where I belong right now. … I’m going to move on,” he said, “but I want to be right when I move on.”

The main facility has space to house up to 40 male veterans, while two other locations can house a total of 16 men. Currently, residents range in age from 34 to 68, Rooks said.

“We’re starting to see younger vets,” he added, noting that four homeless veterans in their 20’s have sought assistance from the program in the past 12 months.

Rooks said he’s also seen an increase in female veterans with children seeking assistance through the facility’s non-resident programs. He added that there are only 5 beds in all of New Orleans available to female veterans, and they don’t accept children.

The term “homeless veteran” should be an oxymoron, Haley said.

“When you’re a veteran, you have a home,” she said. “This is America, this is your community.” Her goal, she said, is to ensure veterans are homeless for as short a period of time as possible.

The organization works closely with the city of New Orleans and the New Orleans regional Veterans Affairs office to find funding, educational opportunities, employment and housing for veterans, Rooks said.

Programs for residents include life skills classes like resume writing and money management, peer and group counseling and assistance with obtaining benefits from the VA, he said.

“I get to help fallen heroes get back on their feet,” he said.

“We are committed to working with people who hire veterans,” Haley said, “because we know that [veterans] have transferrable skill sets.”

“I’d hate to see what it would be like if the program wasn’t here for others,” said Wayne Duvall, an Army veteran residing at the transitional facility. “I’m prepared to make that transition … and get out.”

“When I first came here, it was just a hideout … I’d just get lost in the background,” said Adams. But the staff helped him get on track, he said, and he has reconnected with his family and found a place to volunteer his time.

“Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope,” VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said when he announced an initiative in 2011 highlighting local services for homeless veterans, their families and those at risk of becoming homeless.
VA offers a 24-hour toll-free telephone number, staffed by trained professionals, to help homeless veterans, their families and at-risk people. The number is 877-4AID-VET, or 877-424-3838.

Suicide Prevention ‘Our Problem,’ Battaglia Says

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss., Jan. 17, 2013 – Suicide prevention is not a new problem, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday, “but it’s our problem.”
Building resilience into the force is essential to preventing suicides, Marine Corps Sgt. Major Bryan B. Battaglia said during one of several enlisted calls. The military, he said, doesn’t teach turning around and running away from problems.

Total Force Fitness, a holistic approach to mental and physical health intended to build resilience, will help service members and their families deal with challenges, the sergeant major said.

The concept, developed by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the Joint Chiefs chairman, consists of eight wedges, each with a particular influence on mental and physical health.

“You hit adversity every day,” Battaglia told the service members here. The military teaches service members to assess a problem and develop courses of action, the sergeant major said, adding that service members should take that same approach to their personal lives.

“Be in a preventive posture,” he said.

Building resilience is both an art and a science, Battaglia said.

“This isn’t all about medicine,” he said. “It’s not strictly, ‘The answer is some sort of medication.’”

Part of the art of resilience hinges on leader engagement, he said. He called on enlisted leaders to help in preparing service members accustomed to a warfighting setting to serve in a garrison-focused environment.
Total Force Fitness plans will differ from person to person, he said, as each tailors it to meet their own needs to improve and stay resilient.

Battaglia: Leaders Will Keep Faith With Troops, Families

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION CENTER GULFPORT, Miss., Jan. 17, 2013 – Service members should know that, despite ongoing fiscal challenges, their families are cared for, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told an audience of soldiers, sailors and airmen here today.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia said Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey’s promise to keep faith with the military family gives him confidence that his family is taken care of, even while he is away from home.

Speaking at the home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees and more than 45 tenant units, including several service schools, the sergeant major said taking care of families is just one part of the chairman’s promise.

“There’s another side to that as well -- keeping faith with you, his uniformed family,” he said. That includes making sure service members are properly trained and educated, he explained.

In return, Battaglia said, service members should periodically renew their commitment to the military profession, noting that he uses the oath of enlistment to remind himself of his military obligations.

“[It’s] such a powerful paragraph,” he said. “I’m so passionate about the oath of enlistment that I think every enlisted service member in the entire military should know the enlistment oath by heart.”

Service members already have demonstrated the quality of their character by enlisting while the country was engaged in armed conflict, Battaglia said. They each may have joined for different reasons, but the oath serves as a common thread linking enlisted service members, regardless of branch, he added.

Linking services and their capabilities helps to make the joint force a multiplier, he said, adding that he includes coalition forces as part of the joint force.

“I don’t think we’ll ever fight a solely conventional war again,” Battaglia said. The first goal of the military is to prevent and deter, he added, and one way to do that is to build capacity in partner nations.

“We can expect to see … continued joint training, from the combatant command level down to the individual service school level,” he said.

The service branches are stronger when they work together, the sergeant major said. “The last thing we ever need to do is return to our four corners,” he said. “That would be a setback to our military after all these years working together.”

After Long Deployment, Leaders Praise Navy-Marine Team

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17, 2013 – The commanding officers of a team of 2,000 sailors and 2,300 Marines sat down yesterday with reporters from the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service to discuss the challenges and successes of their extended nine-month deployment.

A Navy landing craft air cushion hovercraft, or LCAC, lands at Onslow Beach in Camp Lejeune, N.C., carrying Marines and equipment of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Dec. 18, 2012. About 2,300 Marines and sailors returned to the United States after being deployed for nine months as an expeditionary crisis response force with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Navy Capt. Arturo Garcia is commodore of the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, and Marine Corps Col. Frank Donovan commands the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

 

The 24th MEU is one of seven Marine units that deploy around the world with Navy amphibious ready groups. Operations for the unit include everything from embassy evacuations, humanitarian relief and disaster response to maritime security missions and amphibious raids.

The Navy-Marine team deployed in March for eight months, but the deployment was extended into late December after an outbreak of violence in November between Israel and Palestinian militants.

The team is distributed across three ships of the amphibious ready group that together occupy what some like to call “7 square acres of U.S. soil anywhere in the world.” The latest deployment took them to Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle East, the Arabian Gulf and Southwest Asia.
“When we’re off the coast, you’re not just looking at three ships,” Garcia said. The team’s capabilities are equal to a garrison with Marines, an airfield with tactical aircraft, a hospital and an ammunition depot, he added.

“We bring everything we need to support the mission ashore, and we don’t have to rely on permissions from anybody, because we’re operating in international waters,” the commodore said.
The Iwo Jima amphibious ready group includes the amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, Amphibious Squadron 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Fleet Surgical Team 4, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, and Naval Beach Group, which includes Assault Craft Units 2 and 4 and Beachmaster Unit 2.

The 24th MEU includes a battalion landing team, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; the aviation combat element Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261; and the logistics combat element Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

Highlights of the deployment included participation in exercises with service members from international military services, Garcia noted.

“We got to participate in some interesting exercises with [service members] in Morocco and Jordan,” he said, and had some interaction with “our naval partners in Spain.”

Bilateral exercises and operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility included African Lion 2012 with the Moroccan military, Eager Lion 2012 with the Jordanian navy, and the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2012 with more than 30 international partners.

Another highlight “was to see all these sailors and Marines come together after an entire [six-month] training cycle and perform so well during a deployment,” Garcia added.

“When we got extended, we were concerned that morale was going to go down, and we were really surprised to see how upbeat they all were, because they wanted to do the mission and help Americans,” he said. “And I think that’s key.”

The team demonstrated the American commitment to the region simply by being there, Garcia said.
“Presence is an important mission that the Navy and the Marine Corps do,” he added, “and by having three ships with the combat power that we have, with the flexibility of missions that we can perform, I think it was one of the more important things that we were able to accomplish during those nine months.”

Donovan said the deployment was exciting, especially during September and October -- after the deadly Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya -- when U.S. embassies throughout U.S. Africa Command, Central Command and European Command areas experienced challenges and threats.

“We were lined up and prepared for a number of those contingencies, all with a little different flavor,” the colonel added.

The task force’s capabilities are unique, Donovan pointed out, because “if an embassy is threatened we can go right from our ships to the embassy. Other forces have to go in and secure an airfield or a port and put other things in place -- a heavy logistics footprint.”

But Donovan’s team had to consider assisting Americans at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, 425 nautical miles inland.

“The way we can do that is the ARG-MEU team operating the V-22B [Ospreys] with aerial refueling with our own KC-130J tankers, escorted by our own AVB Harriers [vertical/short takeoff and landing ground-attack aircraft],” Donovan said.

“And waiting for us back on the ship is our Level 2 trauma [center] provided by the commodore and his team, and command and control by his team. No one else can do that,” he said.
For Donovan, one of the team’s success stories occurred in Jordan, a country with severe water scarcity.

“We brought our own water-making capability [and] didn’t buy a single bottle of water on this deployment,” the colonel said. “In Jordan, we made 65,000 gallons of fresh water out of the Gulf of Aqaba -- salt water to fresh water -- for our Marines, without a tie to the host nation.

The capabilities that the ARG-MEU team brings to the fight are in high demand around the world, Donovan added, from U.S. ambassadors, combatant commanders and joint task force commanders.

“They’re looking for a footprint that’s light, that’s flexible, that can go and get the job done and return to the sea and then maneuver to the next spot,” he said. “And I think in the Pacific [region], we are tailor-made for that environment.”

Tinker reservists deploy to Southwest Asia

by Capt. Jon Quinlan
507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

1/17/2013 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Morehtna 130 Reserve Airmen said goodbye to their families, friends and civilian employers here Jan. 7, as they deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Air Refueling Operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The reservists will support a broad spectrum of air refueling missions coming in and out of the area of operations.

"The wing is committed to providing a combat effective force multiplier to support the AEF (Air and Space Expeditionary Force)," said Col. Russell Muncy, 507th Air Refueling Wing commander. "Our men and woman are playing a critical role providing air refueling that affects all Air Force mission sets in Afghanistan and beyond. My hats off to these brave Airmen who sacrifice much to provide the best product possible. Let us not forget the sacrifices that our airman's families and civilian employers are making as well. Without their commitment, the citizen Airman would not be able to perform this vital mission for our country," Muncy said.

Getting these Airmen out the door takes a large amount of preparation that starts nearly seven months out, according to logistics readiness officials.

Work included scheduling and conducting all training, airlift, medical, and legal items before the deploying members leave. It took a team of nearly sixty 507th Air Refueling Wing personnel to support the deployers and get them out the door and into the theatre.

One of the biggest challenges reservists have is juggling deployment readiness items with their civilian jobs and families.

"Finding the right balance can be a challenge but important when facing a deployment," said Senior Master Sgt. Jamie Horn, 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron plans superintendent. "We just have to ensure everyone is ready at any time to go where we are called to."

Citizen Airmen being ready at a moment's notice is what makes the Air Force Reserve play such an important role in the defense of the United States, according to Reserve commanders.

"We consistently have deployment and operations tempos that rival and surpass many other Air Force Reserve and active duty units," Muncy said. "My thoughts are with our Airmen and hope they have a safe and successful deployment."

Children’s Play Area Ribbon Cutting Event to Host Children Of The Fallen™ As Special Guests

New play area at Cross Creek Mall highlights rich history of Cumberland County

Cumberland County, NC – January 17, 2013 –The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, in conjunction with The Army’s Army and Cross Creek Mall, is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the official opening of the new play area at Cross Creek Mall. The event, which takes place on Monday, January 21, 2013 from 10 a.m. - noon, will honor children of fallen soldiers and local military families. 

“Military children are so important to us in Cumberland County. The new play area at Cross Creek Mall is not only an outstanding representation of the rich history our community holds but a fun environment for kids to learn and play. We are pleased to be able to host the official Play Area Grand Opening Celebration, with Children Of The Fallen and their families as our very special guests,” said John Meroski, CEO Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Children Of The Fallen was established as a mentoring program to help children who have lost a parent or guardian in the war,” commented Janine West, Executive Director of the Army’s Army. “Through this program, and the continued support from our partners and members, we are able to host fun, interactive events for surviving families, as well as pair children with supportive mentors.

The ribbon-cutting event will feature a variety of children’s entertainment, crafts, character appearances and door prizes provided by event partners, including the following:

•           Patriotic crafts provided by Cross Creek Mall

•           Chia Pet making provided by Fascinate-U Children's Museum

•           ‘Build An Insect’ by Cape Fear Botanical Garden

•           Children’s activities by Kidsville News

•           United Way of Cumberland County

As special guests of the grand opening event, Children Of The Fallen will receive lunch, courtesy of Chick-fil-A, as well as prize packs featuring a variety of coupons, gift cards and other items. 

The significance of the new play area, with each aspect relating to landmarks and historical sites in Cumberland County, is an optimal way for children to learn while enjoying themselves at the same time.  The FACVB’s efforts to involve military children in as many positive and supportive activities as possible continues to unfold, with the play area being the newest addition to the military community.

If you would like to make a donation to the Army’s Army to help support initiatives like the Children Of The Fallen Mentoring Program, please contact Janine West at (910)709-9671 or jlwest@armysarmy.com

About the FACVB:

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

us.

About The Army’s Army:

The Army’s Army is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization made up of citizens and businesses who have pledged their 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, please visit www.armysarmy.com or www.brieffromthefront.com

City of Coronado Honors Local Sailor for Heroism

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Megan Anuci, Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- A student assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, Calif., was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the City of Coronado Jan. 15 at Coronado City Hall.

The award was presented to Seaman William "Pepper" Lang, a second phase Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) student, and two other lifeguards, Jacob Bender and Blair Geiss, for meritorious service in the line of duty as a lifeguard, Lang's job prior to joining the Navy.

The mayor of Coronado, Casey Tanaka, congratulated the three lifeguards as he bestowed the commendations during a city council meeting.

"We have a beautiful beach and we're very proud of it," said Tanaka. "In the back of our minds, we don't want to think about rip currents, high tides or other possible threats. On behalf of the entire city, we want to thank the three of you for the actions you've taken in saving a precious life. You and your brethren do this every day and you always put your lives on the line for us."

Bender was on duty in Tower 5, April 1, 2012, when he noticed a number of people pointing and yelling near the water at North Beach. After scanning the water, Bender saw a man in distress in the surf, face down. As he made his way toward the victim, the lifeguard called for backup. Upon reaching the victim, Bender suspected life-threatening injuries had been sustained. He performed an inline stabilization, cradling the patient's head and neck in his arms.

Then the lifeguard noticed a large hematoma on the victim's lower back, causing a localized collection of blood about the size of two softballs side-by-side. Although the victim was conscious, he couldn't feel or move his legs and was unable to reach the shore.

Once lifeguards Lang and Geiss arrived, the three worked as a team against the difficult environment of the surf line to reach shore and "log rolled" the patient onto a special rescue board to immobilize his spine. They continued treatment until Coronado firefighters arrived and transported the patient to Scripps Mercy Base Hospital for immediate surgery.

"I'm proud of the actions these men took," said Mike Blood, Coronado fire chief. "I'm proud of the professionalism they demonstrated that made a positive impact in someone's life."

Because of the quick response and attentive care given by Lang and the other two lifeguards, the victim survived a significant injury to the spine and greatly limited damage from the trauma.

"It's humbling and I'm accepting this award on behalf of all the lifeguards," said Lang. "There were those people that were sitting in the dispatch tower and driving the ambulance and I was a very small player in this. I was simply doing what I was trained to do. I feel honored to be awarded this today. I feel like I accept this for those other lifeguards that were on duty that day and the 30 lifeguards who work those beaches year round on Christmas Day and Fourth of July when everyone else is having fun. I'm honored to say I was a part of this rescue."

Mississippi Governor declares 2013 year to 'Hire Mississippi Heroes'

By Mass Communications Speicalist 2nd Class Casey H. Kyhl

JACKSON, Miss. -- (NNS) -- Mississippi is home to more than 28,000 veterans who have served since 9/11, and Gov. Phil Bryant is working to ensure they have access to jobs when they return from service.

The unemployment rate for veterans in the U.S. returning from the Global War on Terrorism was 10.8 percent in December, substantially higher than the national average of 7.8 over the same period.

Capt. Charles C. Moore II, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Meridian, who attended the signing of the proclamation on Wednesday, Jan. 16, along with other local supporters agreed with the governor's ambitions.

"All efforts that enhance the employment opportunities for our nation's veterans are important and help ensure that citizens who have honorably served their country can more easily do the same in the civil sector," Moore said. "Legislation aligned with the Hiring Heroes Act is an excellent step in developing state and military relationships, while removing unnecessary barriers and significantly improving the quality of life for our nation's veterans and active duty military families."

Also attending the event was Staff Sgt. Darryl C. Coleman, an instructor and member of the staff at Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One.

Coleman, a Quentin, Miss., native, said it was an honor for him to attend Wednesday's proclamation signing.

"It made me feel proud to be from Mississippi and honored to know that the state is looking out for military members," he said.

Gov. Bryant signed a proclamation Wednesday declaring 2013 as the year to Hire Mississippi Heroes, which will encourage employers to seek veteran candidates for positions. Bryant is working with two lawmakers to pass legislation that ensures returning veterans have jobs.

"Our many active duty, reserve and retired military members deserve to return to well paying jobs that allow these men and women to use skills learned in the military," Gov. Bryant said.

Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) Executive Director Mark Henry, Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard Agustus L. Collins and numerous representatives from service organizations such as the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars joined Gov. Bryant for the announcement.

This proclamation was coupled with a Pledge to Hire Mississippi Heroes outreach program, in which MDES will assist employers that make the pledge in finding qualified veterans for open positions. MDES offers services for posting jobs, screening applications and sending referrals at no cost to participating Mississippi businesses.

"The Pledge to Hire Mississippi Heroes is a great opportunity for returning veterans and Mississippi businesses," Henry said. "Our WIN Job Centers can assist veterans with reentering the workforce and introduce Mississippi employers to the benefits of hiring veterans."

The governor recommended that licensing agencies grant temporary occupational licenses to qualified military spouses who relocate in Mississippi due to military transfer, so these individuals can find jobs in the state while applying for professional licenses. Rep. Wanda Jennings and Sen. Briggs Hopson will sponsor the legislation.

To further aid returning veterans and their spouses in finding employment, Gov. Bryant will propose legislation requiring state licensing agencies to consider military job training received by returning veterans who apply for professional licenses.

USS Guardian Runs Aground in the Sulu Sea

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- No one was hurt when the mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5) ran aground on Tubbataha Reef at 2:25 a.m. local time, Jan. 17, while transiting the Sulu Sea.

The Avenger-class ship had just completed a port call in Subic Bay, Olongapo City and was en route to her next port of call when the grounding occurred. The ship is currently stuck on the reef, approximately 80 miles east-southeast of Palawan Island. The crew is currently working to determine the best method of safely extracting the ship.

The cause of the grounding is under investigation.

Guardian, forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, was commissioned Dec. 16, 1989, and has a crew of about 80.

Surface Warriors Wrap Up Symposium with Focus on Future

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexandra Snyder, Defense Media Activity-Navy

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The Surface Navy Association wrapped up three days of information sharing and networking when the 25th Annual National Symposium in Arlington, Va., concluded Jan. 17.

Sailors and naval officers visited booths and attended roundtable discussions and briefs centered on the symposium's theme, Answering All Bells: People, Technology, and Innovation.

The final day featured Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus as well as other leaders in the fleet discussing a variety of surface-related issues.

"The symposium is a great opportunity to get together and interact with the fleet and industry and talk about how we can make the surface Navy better," said Capt. Roy Kitchener, chief of staff, Naval Surfaces Forces, who attended the conference.

The symposium also offered a chance for those new to the surface community to gain knowledge about its platforms and leadership.

"I like the seminars," said Lt. Ann Patterson, flag aide. "As a junior officer, just coming off a ship, I like hearing from the four-stars about where the Navy is headed. I think it's beneficial to anyone who is looking to stay in the surface community."

Lt. Alexander Allen, Military Sealift Command, agreed.

"As a junior officer, it's good to attend these sorts of events because you're new in the Navy. Chances are, you've spent the last few years on a ship working with the technology, but your view of the surface Navy is one-dimensional. By coming here, you're offered a new perspective from those who are manufacturing the equipment that you work on every day, and are inventing the next generation. It's also nice to get the higher-up perspective about where the surface community is heading," he said.

The Surface Navy Association was incorporated in 1985 to promote greater coordination and communication among those in the military, business and academic communities who share a common interest in naval surface warfare and to support the activities of Surface Naval Forces.

Navy Celebrates 2012 African American/Black History Month

By Ensign Amber Lynn Daniel, Navy Office of Diversity and Inclusion

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- As announced by NAVADMIN 009/13 released Jan. 16, the Navy joins the nation in celebrating the vibrant history and culture of African American and Black Sailors during African American/Black History Month throughout the month of February.

Established in 1926 as Negro History Week, President Gerald R. Ford expanded the celebration in 1976 to include the entire month of February.

This year Navy commands are encouraged to celebrate and reflect on the theme, "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington."

African American Sailors have a legacy of honorable service in every major armed conflict since the Revolutionary War. African Americans continue to serve with distinction, now comprising more than 17 percent of the active duty Navy total force end-strength.

Striving for equality at home and blazing a trail for future African American Sailors, Wesley A. Brown became the first African American graduate of the United States Naval Academy in 1949, joining the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps and retiring at the rank of lieutenant commander. He died May 22, 2012 after a distinguished career both in the Navy and in the civilian workforce.

Edna Young, the first African American woman to enlist in the regular Navy and later the first African American woman to achieve the rank of chief petty officer also died in 2012. Young was a World War II veteran who joined the Navy after the passage of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act July 7, 1948.

In 2012, Vice Adm. Michelle Janine Howard became the first African-American woman to receive a third star in flag rank within the Department of Defense when she was promoted Aug. 24. Howard is currently serving as deputy commander for U.S. Fleet Forces Command. This was not Howard's first time in the Navy history books, however. In 1999, she became the first African American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy when she took command of USS Rushmore (LSD 47).

Immediately following this year's celebration of African American/Black History Month, Force Master Chief April Beldo, currently the Naval Education and Training Command Force Master Chief, will make history as the Navy's first female African American Fleet Master Chief. Beldo will become the Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E) Fleet Master Chief in March 2013.

Sailors and their commands are encouraged to use this month to celebrate and recognize the exceptional and distinctive contributions and the unique histories and cultures that our African American shipmates bring to our Navy. More information on the many milestones achieved by African American Sailors and the history of the African American Navy experience can be found at the Naval History and Heritage Command at http://www.history.navy.mil/special%20highlights/africanAmerican/African-hist.htm