U.S., Japan Move Forward With Futenma Replacement Initiative

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 22, 2013 – Japan’s government has moved forward with the submission of a landfill request permit to the Okinawa prefectural government in the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today. “This is a key milestone that comes after many years of hard work between the United States and Japan,” Little said. “It marks a significant step toward realizing the vision of the 2006 Realignment Roadmap and toward achieving a sustainable U.S. military presence with less impact on the Okinawan people.” The U.S. and Japanese governments agreed to relocate the air station, currently in Okinawa’s Ginowan City, to a more remote area of the island. The plan also would move about 8,000 Marines now based on Okinawa to Guam, in line with U.S. defense priorities in the Asia-Pacific region. “In the April 2012 2+2 Joint Statement, the United States and Japan reconfirmed the view that the current Futenma replacement facility plan at Camp Schwab-Henoko Bay remains the only viable alternative to the continued use of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma,” Little said. This effort, he added, is critical to the Defense Department’s ongoing rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region and its ability to maintain a well-distributed and politically sustainable force throughout Asia. Little said that along with the relocation of Marines to Guam and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma will reduce the U.S. footprint in the most populated part of Okinawa. It will also enable the return of significant land south of Kadena Air Base while sustaining U.S. military capabilities vital to the peace and security of the region, he added. “We will be working with the Japanese government to jointly release these plans for land returns soon,” Little said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Japanese government on these issues and to moving ahead with the relocation of Marines to Guam.”

Red Flag 13-3 puts 55th ECG to the test

by Senior Airman Timothy Moore
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/22/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Airmen from the 55th Electronic Combat Group from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., participated in Red Flag 13-3 at Nellis AFB, Nev., Feb. 25 - March 15.

Red Flag 13-3 was a three-week joint and coalition exercise in which aircrews from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as several foreign militaries' air forces, train and maintain their combat readiness in a peacetime "battlefield."

Operating two EC-130H Compass Calls, the 55th ECG played a unique role in the exercise flying on both the blue-air (friendly) and red-air (enemy) side of the exercise.

On the blue-air side, the crews from the 55th ECG practiced their combat roles: mission planning, integrating with other friendly weapons and jamming systems, striking targets in the enemy battle space and defending friendly assets.

On the red-air side, they acted as enemy communication jammers in accordance with Air Combat Command's idea of contested, degraded operations, providing training friendly forces do not usually receive.

"In reality, the enemy always has a say in the outcome of a conflict," said Lt. Col. Chris Kirschman, 55th ECG deputy commander and deployed commander for the exercise. "In the past, many non-kinetic effects, such as radar and communication jamming, have not been incorporated into large force exercises. A major objective for this Red Flag was to provide our forces with a contested and degraded operational environment."

As the opposition, the 55th ECG took away capabilities from blue-side forces, compelling them to react and operate at a reduced capacity.

Ninety-four Airmen from the 55th ECG went to the Red Flag 13-3. Nine of those Airmen were recognized as superior performers.

"Our maintenance troops were especially effective," Kirschman said. "They had better than a 92-percent mission capable rate of getting us in the air, which is well of above the standard."

Kirschman said that the pace at which they worked was equivalent to being in a deployed location, and all the troops were very flexible and hit the ground running to complete a mission that they have not focused on in a while.

Due to continuous deployment orders, the 55th ECG has only been able to participate in three Red Flag exercises since 2002.

"Red Flag has given us an opportunity to get back to focusing on our traditional mission set," Kirschman said. "For the last 12 years, with the exception of just a few months, we've been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan performing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism missions. This exercise has been a great chance to get back to basics and execute our primary mission."

Grand Forks Airman named 2012 USAF Expeditionary Center Honor Guard Member of the Year

by Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- One Warrior of the North was recently named as the best ceremonial guardsman for the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center.

Staff Sgt. Alexandra Crawley, Grand Forks AFB Honor Guard NCO in charge, was selected as the 2012 U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Honor Guard Member of the Year. The news of her selection was delivered by an unexpected source.

She said she hadn't given the award much thought because she was busy preparing for a visit by Maj. Gen. William Bender, Expeditionary Center commander.

Crawley said that Bender coined all the other Honor Guard team members, but skipped her and Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Rose, Honor Guard program manager. The general explained that he would come back to them later, Crawley said.

Finally, the two-star asked her to step forward, and in front of her fellow team members and a number of base senior leaders, announced her award and said she's now competing at the Air Mobility Command-level.

"I have to be honest, my face got extremely red, and my mouth dropped open in disbelief," exclaimed the Cleveland native. "I never in a million years thought that they would choose me."

Although Crawley is humble about her accomplishment, Rose, her supervisor, strongly believed she had all the qualities necessary to earn such a prestigious award.

"Crawley started base Honor Guard as a senior airman less than eight months ago and was later promoted to staff sergeant near the end of her team's rotation, so I got to witness first-hand her growth into a phenomenal leader," said Rose.

"During that time, she consistently went above and beyond in all aspects of what it means to be a ceremonial guardsman, and an Airman in today's Air Force. Our philosophy in Honor Guard is, 'It's not about us, it's about everyone else,' so I knew she would be humbled by the recognition," Rose said. "She has earned every bit of the recognition, and I was proud and honored to submit her for the award. She deserves the credit and I was confident about her chances of being selected."

Aside from her outstanding Honor Guard performance, the 5-year Air Force veteran has been lauded for promoting physical fitness and professional development by taking part in marathons, 5K runs and attending college classes.

She's also found time to volunteer at the rehabilitation center at a local hospital and currently supports the Honor Guard's continual charitable program, Blessings in a Backpack, which helps fight child hunger by delivering healthy food to underprivileged students.

"When an opportunity comes along I just take it because I know it will help someone later down the road, and it provides a wonderful experience knowing I helped make a positive difference," said the graduate of James Ford Rhodes High School.

Although Crawley's selection is considered an individual award, the 25-year-old was quick to recognize several people for helping her obtain the recent accomplishment.

"When I was deployed, there was Master Sgt. Jeff Martin, who mentored me and to this day I still go to him for advice," said Crawley. "He keeps things positive for me even when I can't see the light and he is someone I definitely couldn't have gotten this far in my career without."

She also expressed her appreciation for the 319th Mission Support Group commander, Col. Joe Lindsey, who she said gave her a second chance in her military career. She also showed her appreciation for fellow Honor Guard NCO and teammate, Tech. Sgt. Rose.

"She's dedicated time to me and she is always there when I need her," she said.

The biggest thanks appeared to be reserved for her husband, Senior Airman Benjamin Crawley, who is currently deployed.

"Ben was super excited (about the good news)," she said. "He is my everything, my rock and I really wish he could be here to celebrate this huge accomplishment."

Airmen, Japanese remember the past, honor the present

by Senior Airman Cody H. Ramirez
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - GUNMAN PREFERENCE, Japan -- Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, joined local Japanese citizens March 20, 2013, in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, to remember American B-29 flight crews who lost their lives during a World War II raid over the city and unveil a memorial monument in their honor.

Since 1971, Yokota members have traveled to prefectures throughout the area to participate in annual ceremonies honoring fallen B-29s aircrew members. This year marked the first in Gunma.

The monument dedication reminded both countries of the past, while strengthening their partnership bond in the future. The words inscribed on the monument read, "We wish to commemorate the 23 brave souls and offer a wish for world peace and friendship between Japan and America."

"I'm glad I had the opportunity to be a representative for those families remembering their loved ones who lost their lives for their country," said Lt. Col. Mark Allen, the 459th Airlift Squadron commander. "Many young Japanese and Americans sacrificed their lives during World War II, but the sacrifice they gave is now the lasting friendship between our great nations."

Feb. 10, 1945, the U.S. planned a massive air strike on Nakajima Aircraft Ota Factory to disrupt Japan's combat capabilities and destroy the factory's aircraft and buildings. The night of the operation, one of the B-29s shot by Japanese defense forces crashed into another B-29, sending both crashing into Gunma.

The 23 service members on board the aircraft died. Upon seeing the wreckage, Gunma citizens buried the bodies, showing them proper respect despite their current enemy status.
American family members and friends of some of the crew members flew across the world to join in the ceremony.

Nancy Samp, who is a family member and historian for the 505th Bomb Group (one of the units associated with the crashed B-29s) was glad to see the aircrew members remembered for their sacrifice and dedication to the nation.

"My family would be so proud to know this crew and the lives were lost are being honored in Japan so many years after the mission," she said. "My father was on the same mission, so it is very important and memorable date to me also."

She expressed the importance her family kept in remembering their father's name and honoring the past. With this, she said she was grateful to the local community and everyone involved for keeping the fallen aircrews' memories alive.

The American service members' families aren't the only ones who remember the tragic event.

One local Japanese citizen said most people in the area remember the B-29 crash and how the story was passed down and retold through the generations.

Shinyu Kizaka, the priest of the temple hosting the monument, was just 12 years old when the crash occurred and still recalls the event.

"I just remember being very frightened," he said. "Pilots are bright and honorable people, and I am sorry for all the members who died."

He said, although American and Japan were once enemies, much of Japan's post war rebuilding was due to America, which led to the honor and respect shared between the two cultures today.

Eyes On: Parachutes Get Close Attention From Flight Equipment Airmen

by By Dan Heaton
127th Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. -- A couple of words keep being repeated as two Michigan Air National Guard Airmen work around a parachute table in a long, narrow back room of the new fighter squadron building at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: every, eyes and detail .

They show up in phrases like "every detail must be perfect," "two sets of eyes on everything," and "we put eyes on every detail."

Parachutes represent the last line of defense if everything else on an aircraft has gone wrong.

"It is the very last thing that can save a pilot's life," said Master Sgt. Ed Stone, an aircrew flight equipment specialist with the 127th Operations Support Flight, which supports the A-10 Thunderbolt II at Selfridge. "Every piece of the parachute has to function properly. That's why you need multiple eyes looking at it."

As he says that, Stone finishes putting a stitch in a piece of parachute cord on the 40-foot long table and somewhat dramatically throws an excess piece of cord on the floor.

"If I throw it on the floor, I know it is not on the table, where it can get caught up in my parachute," Stone said.

This is the ACES (advanced concept ejection seat) II C-9 Canopy parachute. As the name implies, it works in conjunction with the ACES II seat, which is used on all high-performance Air Force fighter aircraft, including the A-10s stationed at Selfridge. The main C-9 parachute is actually part of a series of 4 parachutes which could deploy in a bail-out situation. The ACES II seat is equipped with several pitot tubes which, when the ejection process is initiated, determine the air speed and altitude of the aircraft and determine which of three modes to operate in, known simply as Modes 1, 2 and 3.

A small parachute, known as the drogue chute, deploys first, launched by a very small explosive charge. The drogue chute then pulls out the main parachute. Drogue and main chutes exist for both the pilot and the ejection seat itself. How long the pilot remains attached to the seat after ejection and the time between each parachute deploying depends on the mode the system is operating in, due to speed and altitude.

No matter the mode, everything happens very quickly in the ejection process. Depending on the mode, the main C-9 canopy, which opens to a 28-foot diameter, is fully deployed somewhere between 2.5 and 4 seconds after the pilot first pulls the ejection handles.

While Stone and the other dozen or so Citizen-Airmen assigned to the aircrew flight equipment shop take care of the parachutes, maintaining the seat and the related explosive charges which rocket it out of a disabled aircraft is the responsibility of group of Airmen in the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In addition to working on parachutes, the aircrew flight equipment Airmen are responsible for maintaining pilot helmets, oxygen masks, providing rescue gear and the training to use that gear. Essentially, flight equipment Airmen ensure the pilot has all he or she needs to be ready to fly a mission and return.

The parachute on the table today is among the first being inspected and packed since the unit celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late February on their new "Ops" Building, a $6.6 million reconstructed building at Selfridge. Every parachute must be opened, inspected and repaired, as needed, on an annual basis. Various parts of the parachute assembly have different shelf lives and any parts that need replacement are exchanged during the inspection process. The main canopy has a shelf life of 13 years.

The nylon parachute has a multi-colored canopy, white, green, tan and day-glo orange. The idea is that a downed pilot could use the appropriate color to help camouflage him or herself in a snowy or other environment in a hostile area, or use the orange to help signal rescuers in a friendly area.

Typically, the parachute-packing process involves one Airman doing the initial inspection and swapping out of any needed parts and a second Airman who performs a series of IPIs, or in-process inspections, as the work is being done. On this day, Stone is being assisted by Master Sgt. Kathy Smith, who is relatively new to parachute packing. Technical Sgt. Glenn Hardy is performing the IPIs, which involves him inspecting the parachute and the work performed by Stone and Smith about a half-dozen times at key junctures in the process.

"We help the pilots be at ease when they are up in the cockpit, performing their mission," Smith said. "We take pride in our work and we don't want the pilots to have to think even for a minute about their parachute - unless they need it.

"Hopefully, they never need it, but the reality is, they might," she said. "That's why we pack every parachute we do like it is the most important one we'll ever do, because a life may depend on it."

The 127th OSF is a component of the 127th Wing. Comprised of approximately 1,600 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operations Command by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which is also home to units of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection.

Yokota partners with local community during EME

by Staff Sgt. Chad Strohmeyer
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/22/2013 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Yokota first responders joined North Kanto Defense Bureau liaisons as part of a joint emergency management exercise March 21, 2013. The exercise is the first of many that will partner the two organizations together for faster, more comprehensive emergency response.

In the exercise scenario, the North Kanto Defense Bureau liaisons observed how 374th Airlift Wing emergency responders would react to an on-base aircraft accident.

"It's very important to watch how different agencies work together," said Hiroki Takaoka, NKDB liaison section chief. "If an incident were to happen off base, Yokota and local Japanese responders would be able to work together efficiently."
Providing well-organized response during urgent situations is the focus.

"Our goal in working with the NKDB is to increase bilateral interoperability as it pertains to emergency response, said Maj. E. Yancey Walker, 374th Airlift Wing exercises and Inspections chief.  "By showing them, first-hand, our tactics, techniques and procedures for responding to a major aircraft accident, we took a crucial step in that direction."

According to Walker, exercises such as this are critical to keep Yokota personnel prepared and ready for real-world situations and to successfully collaborate with local emergency response teams. Seeing the exercise play out also adds an extra degree of learning for responders that they would not get from a classroom.

Yokota's Exercise and Evaluation Team and the NKDB are currently in the planning stages for a bi-lateral exercise later this year to keep inter-agency operability and maintain a strong working relationship.

"In times of crisis, we will have to work together to overcome emergency situations," said Col. Chip Brown, 374th Airlift Wing vice commander. "We hope to continue this type of training to further strengthen our friendship and bilateral capability."

Country Music Artist, Mark Chesnutt, to Headline Greater Dallas Military Ball

Singer slated to entertain military supporters next month at black-tie fundraiser 

DALLAS (March 22, 2013) –  Country music superstar Mark Chesnutt is “Goin’ Through the Big D” once again, this time as the featured live entertainment for the 2013 Greater Dallas Military Ball. Known for such hits as, “Bubba Shot the Jukebox” and “It’s a Little Too Late,” Chesnutt is a Texas native and avid military supporter. He spent much of 2010 touring with Stars for Stripes for troops stationed throughout the Middle East. 

The Greater Dallas Military Ball, held at the InterContinental Hotel in Dallas on April 20, 2013, is a black-tie affair, complete with military pageantry, live entertainment and a strong military presence that includes several high-ranking officers. Military and non-military members of the Greater Dallas and Fort Worth communities come together to salute the troops and their service to our country. Underwritten by North Texas citizens and business organizations, net proceeds from the ball are distributed to military relief agencies.

“Mark Chesnutt is a familiar face in the military community,” said Rear Admiral Jim Eckelberger, USN (Ret.) and 2013 Military Ball President. “Throughout his career, he has shown a high level of commitment to our troops and their families, and we’re honored to have him on board as our live entertainment for the evening,”

For more information or to make reservations to attend the 2013 Greater Dallas Military Ball, visit http://dallasmilitaryball.org/event/2013ball.html.  For overnight stays, call InterContinental Hotel directly at 972-386-6000. Be sure to mention the Greater Dallas Military Ball to receive a special rate.

About The Greater Dallas Military Ball:

The Greater Dallas Military Ball is dedicated to honoring active and retired military personnel as well as members of the National Guard, Coast Guard and Reserve forces. It offers a unique opportunity for all citizens and businesses in the area to salute those who are serving, thank those who served and pay tribute to those who make the ultimate sacrifice. In all its activities the organization seeks to promote honor, awareness, and respect for the military community. For more information, visit www.DallasMilitaryBall.org.  

Combat Hammer sharpens aim while saving dollars

by Staff Sgt. Lou Burton
482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Keeping accountability for dollars spent when discussing topics like freedom can be difficult to assess, but for 160 Airmen from the 482nd Fighter Wing deployed to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., they are playing a part in doing just that.

The Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., are supporting Combat Hammer, a weapons system evaluation program used to determine the validity of munitions products and processes, March 18-22.

"The weapons system evaluation program tests the processes and equipment for building, loading, and delivering air-to-ground munitions on targets," said Maj. Mark Van Brunt, 93rd Operations Squadron Chief of Weapons.

The Air Force has been evaluating storage-to-impact of precise kinetics since 1985. The data collected from this test program gives the Air Force a better understanding on what is and is not working.

"From the information collected here, the Air Force can change products and processes to ensure we are getting the best results for our efforts," said Master Sgt. James Graham, 86th Fighter Weapon Squadron weapon system inspector.

While the actual test takes one week to commence, planning and coordination starts much earlier.

"Planning for this event started back in December," said Van Brunt. "One of our advanced teams arrived March 6 to help with the logistics of our operation."

The group of Airmen deployed encompasses a wide range of support staff from mechanical experts to munitions staff.

"Without our support staff, these jets wouldn't be getting in the air," said Lt. Col Scott Briese, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, .

The deployment also highlights success of Homestead ARB's Total Force Integration.

"This is the first time an active duty unit has deployed in Air Force Reserve Command," said Briese.

Airmen of the 495th Fighter Group, Detachment 93, formerly known as 20th Operations Group, Detachment 2, assigned Homestead ARB are an active duty component utilizing the Air Reserve Base for conducting their mission.

"Our ability to have reservist, Air Reserve Technicians, and active duty Airmen here working together to accomplish the mission has been a great success," said Briese.

Mustangs augment Airmen for defend base

by Senior Airman Alexis Siekert
51st Fight Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- In times of heightened security, Airmen from all units of the 51st Fighter Wing take on an extremely important role--air base defense. There are more than 200 augmentees assigned across the wing who, whenever activated, are responsible base security.

Many of these augmentees work directly with the 51st Security Forces Squadron, while others provide protection for their specific units.

"Our augmentees are very important," said Staff Sgt. David Wessell, 51st SFS war time planning base defense NCO in charge. "They are a crucial piece of base security. Our job as security forces is hard and we can only be in so many places, so having them as our eyes and ears across Osan is a great help."

To become an augmentee, Airmen must go through a two-day qualification course which covers recognizing the enemy, using radios and tactical movements among other things. They are then required to keep their training up to date with guidance from security forces.

The augmentees perform sweeps, respond to threats and maintain security of their assigned area.

"With everyone as an air base defender working together, we can keep Osan safe," he said.

Carlsbad WAC continues to support female veterans

by Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
Air Force News Service

3/23/2013 - FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- In the 1940s, women's roles in the military were much different than they are today. Women's auxiliary units had just begun to integrate with the service branches and people were concerned about how females serving would affect the nation. One southern congressman even addressed the House saying, "Who will then do the cooking, the washing, the mending, the humble homely tasks to which every woman has devoted herself; who will nurture the children?"

Prior to World War II, women serving in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, and similar organizations, did not receive comparable benefits and compensation to their male counterparts. In 1943, the War Department created the Women's Army Corps as an official branch of the Army to help bridge those gaps.

Since then, women's roles in the military have expanded and women have been accepted as valuable and equal members of the services. But one thing has remained the same: some female veterans don't identify as being veterans.

In an interview with NBC News, John E. Pickens III, the executive director of VeteransPlus, said women veterans "are misunderstood and challenged in a number of ways. Typically, folks look at male veterans returning as warriors who we need to honor and say we need to do what we can for these warriors. Women, unfortunately, don't carry home that same mantel as a warrior. But they certainly have served beside the men and, in many cases, have done a lot of things that put themselves as risk."

Dr. Lynn Ashley, who served as a WAC in Carlsbad, N.M., encourages her fellow female veterans to stand up and be recognized for their service to their country.

Ashley, a Chicago native, joined the WAC because she wanted to do something to serve her country. Her brother was serving overseas in the war and she wanted to do her part to support him. She went to basic training in Oglethorpe, Ga., and after being trained as a clerical typist, she was one of about 45 WACs stationed at Carlsbad. She served there for two years, until the war was over and then returned to civilian life.

She went back home and got married and began having a family. Ashley said she became engrossed in family life and began thinking about her time as a WAC less and less. But After about 30 years of being out of the service, the spark in her was reignited.  She began attending national WAC conventions, but that didn't satisfy her need to support female veterans, so she and a fellow WAC reached out to the governor of their state, Ohio.

Originally, their goal was to get money from the state for the Women's Memorial in Washington. They didn't get the funds they had hoped for, but instead the governor appointed them to the Department of Veterans Services' Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.

"One of the things we did is a study on women veterans in the state of Ohio," Ashley said. "It found the same issues going on then that veterans are dealing with now - lack of recognition, lack of support, low income, finding a job, getting housing. There were women who had master's degrees who couldn't find work. That's why I've continued to support women veterans."

Through her local American Legion chapter, also she helped lobby to open up combat positions to women. This year, to Ashley's satisfaction, the Defense Department officially did just that.

Nearly 70 years after her own service in the military, Ashley continues to encourage, support and educate female veterans.

"You're not a half a Soldier, you're not a half a person," Ashley said. "You have the same rights as anyone else has, no matter what gender. You've served your country."

Austin Takes Central Command Flag From Mattis

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., March 22, 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel presided over the change of command of U.S. Central Command from Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis to Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III here today. Hagel said the transfer occurs at a time of great change in the Central Command area of responsibility. It is a time of great risk and challenges, the secretary said, and a time of great opportunities. Mattis and Austin have a long history together, Hagel said. At the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mattis and Austin led the first American troops to cross the berm into Iraq. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Mattis was not daunted by the task he faced as Centcom commander. “The challenges the volatile Centcom region presents can sometimes seem almost insolvable, yet Jim looked beyond the risks and sought to understand and to consider what was possible,” Dempsey said. “Jim looked beyond the risks we’ve sought to understand to consider the possible. He looked beyond the threats that we’ve labored to confront to face down aggression in all its forms.” Dempsey noted that on his way here, he had stopped yesterday at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C. “Even a young sergeant and staff sergeant knew I was on the way down here for the Central Command change of command,” the chairman said. “And to a man and woman, they knew the name of Jim Mattis. If you can leave the service with such an imprint on it that any young sergeant knows your name and had respect for the leadership you’ve provided, that’s a legacy I think we would all aspire to and be very proud of.” Hagel listed Mattis’ achievements over a 40-year career. “He led Marines as a battalion commander during Operation Desert Storm back in 1991,” Hagel said. “He commanded the longest assault from the sea in modern history, leading Task Force 58 more than 400 miles inland into Afghanistan after the attacks of Sept. 11.” During the invasion of Iraq, Mattis commanded the 1st Marine Division on the drive into Baghdad. “He again led Marines into battle during the fight for the city of Fallujah,” Hagel said. The general also is noted for his care for Marines, the secretary said. Hagel noted that when Mattis was a brigadier general based at Quantico, Va., he took the staff duty so a young officer could spend the day at home. That side of the general is part and parcel of the statement that “there truly is no worse enemy, and no better friend, than a United States Marine,” Hagel said. Austin comes to the command after serving as Army vice chief of staff, and he has spent his career concerned with the developments, problems, threats and risks in the Central Command area. He commanded the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division and 18th Airborne Corps, and was the last multinational force commander in Iraq. The general also has served as the Centcom chief of staff. Dempsey said Austin “has done some incredibly heavy lifting for our nation over the last decade.” “He’s returning to the Centcom family with an extraordinary breadth of experience in command and joint roles,” he added. The chairman also praised Austin’s ability to examine situations and come up with solutions. “We’ll lean on Lloyd and his team to anchor relationships and trust across and outside the region,” he said. Dempsey added that he also will rely on the new Central Command commander to balance fiscal realities with strategies.

D.C. National Guard celebrates Joint Prayer Breakfast

by Senior Airman Jennifer Hotte
113th Wing Public Affairs

3/20/2013 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- The Army and Air National Guard came together on Mar. 17 at the 113th Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., for an annual prayer breakfast.

The District of Columbia's National Guard annual prayer breakfast is an event that allows Air and Army National Guard members to gather in prayer. This year the event featured guest keynote speaker Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Alphonse Stephenson, Air National Guard Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains, United States Air Force at the Pentagon and the 257th Army Band District of Colombia Army National Guard and the Barack Dancing Ministry.

Chaplain Stephenson spoke to a crowd of more than 400 Airmen and Soldiers at the 113th Wing, on the importance of "Resilient Guard Families Supporting Mission Success." This sermon addressed how events throughout people's lives often influence where they wind up and where they belong. He discussed how his learning to play the piano in elementary school led to other events in his life that allowed him to find his love in God.

After playing a song on the piano he said, "It was graceful, it was elastic, it was resilient and one note led to the next. This is what we're about. Grace is the music of God."

Medical Technician Staff Sgt. Angel Holt attended the prayer breakfast and felt that "it was very inspirational. I enjoyed the guest speaker and thought his words were encouraging. I thought the band was awesome and [Chaplain] Capt. Cooper sounded amazing."

The service also featured prayers from several individuals focused on specific spiritual topics. The speakers and topics included, Chaplain Capt. Countess Cooper on our nation, Chaplain Candidate Edward Lartey on the military, Alicia Hinds Ward focusing on families, and Rhonda Lartey on children.

"The primary focus of the prayer breakfast was resiliency," said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Myrtle Bowen. "We were striving to accentuate families that fuel us to meet our mission...we really wanted to emphasis where our support comes from."

Carter: Asian Defense Leaders Will Feel U.S. Rebalance to Region

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 22, 2013 – Asian defense leaders are eager for U.S. presence and involvement in the region and will “very palpably” feel the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said yesterday after a week of meetings there.

Carter visited Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia; participated in the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue; and in Jakarta held bilateral meetings with defense officials from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

“I wanted to make two main points to the audience of Asian defense leaders who are eager for U.S. presence and eager for U.S. involvement and commitment,” Carter told American Forces Press Service aboard an Air Force aircraft during his return flight.

The first is that defense leaders there will feel the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific because “it is large, it is multidimensional, [and] it is part of the political and economic rebalance that President [Barack] Obama has emphasized.”

The second point, he said, is that the rebalance is not a zero-sum game with China.

“China is a beneficiary of the U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region extending over seven decades. … China’s dynamic and unfettered opportunity to develop itself on its own terms would not have happened without the U.S. presence,” the deputy secretary said.

Carter’s trip occurred during a particularly difficult time with North Korea, as that nation hurled threats at the United States and its allies after the United Nations imposed new sanctions after a Feb. 12 North Korean nuclear test.

During his visit, the deputy secretary said he wanted North Korea to see an alliance whose capabilities continue to grow -- “a circle of allies that is being brought closer together in opposition to them, and stronger American defenses, particularly the missile defense enhancement that Secretary [Chuck] Hagel announced last week.”

“That’s what they get for their behavior,” he added.

The Chinese are seeing more concern in the international community, and more countries in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world turning to the United States in concern, Carter said. And they’re wondering why China, “a country that has more influence over North Korea than any other, can’t or won’t do more to stop the North Koreans,” he said.

Carter stopped first in Japan to meet with senior defense officials and discuss actions both nations are taking to strengthen their alliance, he said. These include Japan’s progress in reviewing its National Defense Program Guidelines so its Self-Defense Forces can work more closely with U.S. forces as their presence in the region increases. Other topics included missile defense integration and Japan’s consideration of buying the F-35 joint strike fighter.

“The Japanese are making very good progress,” Carter said.

In discussions about Japan’s concern over tension with China in the Senkaku Islands, the deputy secretary reiterated that the islands fall under U.S. treaty protection and that the United States seeks to make sure that those involved in such disputes behave calmly and solve problems through dialogue, not violence.

In South Korea, Carter visited the Key Resolve military exercise at Command Post TANGO -- for theater air naval ground operations -- a high-tech bunker that serves as the Korean theater’s main warfighting headquarters, led by Army Gen. James D. Thurman.

The Combined Forces Command there includes U.S. and South Korean forces, along with troops from the United Kingdom, Australia and other nations.

In the Philippines, Carter said, he had much to discuss with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and the Philippine president’s executive secretary, Paquito Ochoa.

“The foreign minister will be in Washington next week, so this gave us the opportunity to discuss the things he’ll be discussing with Secretary of State [John F.] Kerry,” Carter said. “He was the Philippine ambassador to the United States [from 2001 to 2006], so he knows the United States well.”

Del Rosario was interested and seemed pleased to hear about the momentum the U.S. rebalance has, and that it will not be affected in any material way by the budget turmoil in Washington. “It has that much priority,” Carter said.

The deputy secretary said they also talked about the strength of and deepening involvement between the Philippines and the United States in the military-to-military sphere. For the Defense Department, he added, this means working with the Philippine military as it approaches its military reform effort, discussing with them the rotational presence of U.S. forces, and making sure that any areas of concern they have are being addressed.

One area of concern involves the USS Guardian, which ran aground Jan. 17 on Tubbataha Reef, about 70 nautical miles southeast of Palawan in the Philippines.

“The USS Guardian is successfully being removed without any spillage,” Carter said. “The investigation … is under way, and the results of that investigation are being fully shared with the Philippine government.”

In Indonesia, the deputy secretary met Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and discussed what has become a burgeoning military-to-military relationship with that nation.

“We are doing more and more [with Indonesia], and that has been enabled by their successful effort to make sure their special forces are reformed and operate in a way that is fully respectful of human rights,” Carter said. In the past when the Indonesian army was involved in maintaining domestic order, there were instances of human rights violations by military units, he explained.

“Resolving them is, appropriately for the United States, necessary for us to have a military-to-military relationship with them, and I’m pleased that they and we are doing our parts to make that happen,” the deputy secretary added.

In the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Carter held a bilateral meeting with Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen of Singapore, whom he called and old and close friend of the United States. Singapore is involved in much of the U.S. rebalance, he noted.

“For example, four littoral combat ships are beginning rotational deployments to Singapore in early April,” Carter said. “Secretary of the Navy [Ray] Mabus will be out there to be part of the welcoming ceremony. And the Singaporeans made a forceful case for continuing U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.”

Carter also met with Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid. “We continue to do a lot with Malaysia,” he said, adding that in Afghanistan, Malaysia specializes in providing medical services to women.
 
“Because they are a Muslim country and they have Muslim women on staff, they are particularly able to do things that Americans would never be able to do for Afghan women in the medical sphere,” the deputy secretary said. The United States and Malaysia also are engaged in military reform efforts and arms sales.

One issue of concern to the Malaysians, Carter said, is a dispute between Malaysia and the Philippines over a Malaysian member state called Sabah, on the northern part of the island of Borneo.

“I expressed the appreciation and admiration of the United States for the mature way that the Filipino and Malaysian governments have together dealt with this situation,” he added, “to try and minimize the regretful loss of life and calm down this situation.

“It’s a great example of countries coming together to deal with these complex political situations that could easily have led to more loss of life and terrorism,” he said.

Also in Jakarta, and a main reason for his visit, Carter participated in the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue, a large meeting presided over by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono.

“I talked about the rebalancing there, but I emphasized, being in Southeast Asia, that as part of the rebalance the United States is putting special effort into Southeast and South Asia. … We need to be where our friends and allies are all over Asia,” Carter said.

At the Jakarta residence of David Carden, U.S. ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the deputy secretary met with members of the ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives, the association’s highest permanent governmental body. The committee consists of ambassadors from each of the 10 ASEAN member states posted to the ASEAN Secretariat. One important ASEAN initiatives is formulating a code of conduct in the South China Sea as a way to peacefully handle disputes, the deputy secretary said.

“We are supportive of that, and we think it’s a good thing helping to keep South China Sea islands issues in the peaceful, nonmilitarized, multilateral channel that the United States favors,” Carter said. “We think is the right way to deal with these issues.”

The defense secretary emphasized while in Asia that the defense ministers there have in Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel someone who knows the region very well.

“Many of them appreciated that, because Hagel was one of the founders of another important dialogue out there -- the Shangri-La Dialogue,” Carter added.

“For 10 years, he’s been going to Shangri-La as a senator,” he said, “so … he’s not starting from zero, he’s starting from 99 miles an hour in terms of being able to deal with this region as a central commitment of the Department of Defense in this era.”

After leaving Jakarta, Carter’s first stop in the United States was Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to thank the airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and DOD civilians there for their service.

“I thought it was fitting that we ended up at Elmendorf-Richardson, because [the troops there] are at the center of the rebalance,” he said. “They have been heavily deployed -- both air units and the Army -- from chilly Alaska to the hot Middle East for the better part of a decade now -- first Iraq and then Afghanistan,” he added. “Now we are asking them to return to full-spectrum operations from a counterinsurgency focus and to rebalance their efforts to the Asia-Pacific.”

Leaders Must Prepare Troops for Society, Battaglia Says

By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 22, 2013 – The military and its leaders have a responsibility to prepare service members to become productive members of society, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told enlisted sailors and Marines here today.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to sailors and Marines at Naval Support Activity Annapolis, Md., March 22, 2013. DOD photo by Claudette Roulo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Leading troops into battle is only part of the job for officers and senior enlisted service members, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia said. Troops eventually become civilians again, he noted, and when that time comes, it would be a disservice to send them out into the world without preparing them for the new challenges they will face.

"If we're not doing that, shame on us," Battaglia said.
In the past, the Defense Department didn't do a very good job of that, he acknowledged, but he said that's changing. The new transition assistance program called Transition Goals Plans Success, or Transition GPS, has made a big difference in the way service members are prepared for civilian life, he said.

Another facet of leadership is developing the ability to handle change and adversity, Battaglia said. Like physical and operational fitness, he told the sailors and Marines, resilience is a skill that has to be developed and maintained through hard work and with the help of others. Family members, fellow service members and military leaders are all part of maintaining the fitness of the total force, and resilience is the cornerstone of that effort, he said.

Resilience also is part of the Defense Department's response to fiscal uncertainty, Battaglia said. The department will "have to be innovative and be creative to find other ways to train … until we come out of this fiscal cellar," he told the service members. For example, he said, rather than shutting down a service-specific professional school, schools that teach similar skills could combine and conduct cross-service training.
This isn't the first time the Defense Department has gone through a period of fiscal austerity, the sergeant major said, adding that the department will endure.

Battaglia also noted that part of the call to service members to renew their commitment to the profession of arms by Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey is reviewing the deeper meaning of that commitment.

"The profession you're in is more than just a job," Battaglia said, noting that every service member, officer or enlisted, is linked by the oath to protect and defend the United States. "That's the beauty of it," he added.

Uniformed Services University Ranks Among Top Medical Schools

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2013 – The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. -- the only university of its kind dedicated to educating military doctors, graduate nurses and other specialized health-care professionals -- has earned distinction as one of the top-ranked U.S. graduate schools.

U.S. News & World Report identified the university’s F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine as a top-tier medical school in its “Best Graduate Schools 2014” rankings released last week.

USU’s primary-care program ranked 39th among 126 medical schools, and its research programs ranked 55th.

In addition, the university’s nurse anesthesia master’s degree program ranked fifth in the nation. Its partner program, run by the Army in San Antonio, maintained the No. 1 ranking it has held for the past several years.

Dr. Brian V. Reamy, USU’s associate dean of faculty and family medicine professor, said during a telephone interview that the medical school’s first appearance on the respected graduate-school rankings list is further affirmation of its accomplishments over the 40 years since its founding.

The American Academy of Family Physicians, the largest U.S. physician specialty society, has recognized the university’s family medicine department has one of the nation’s top 10 for the past three years, he reported.

USU is unique among medical schools, as it produces highly trained medical professionals for both the military and the Public Health Service, Reamy said. Students arrive with a commitment to military or federal service and the men and women in uniform they will care for, often in harm’s way.
About 40 percent of USU’s graduates go into primary care, about twice the percentage of those at other medical schools, Reamy said. “From its founding, the Uniformed Services University has really had a focus and attention to excellence in primary care – family medicine, pediatrics and general international medicine,” he said. “Over the years, that focus has not changed, but it has become a little more publicly known.”

In addition, the university distinguishes itself with a heavy emphasis on preventive medicine and research directly relevant to the military: traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, emerging infectious diseases and combat casualty care, he said.

The National Science Foundation recognized USU as one of the nation’s top medical schools to receive federal research funding over the past 10 years. Reamy called that a testament to the quality of its programs. “You get federal research funding because you are doing excellent research,” he said.

The U.S. News and World Report ranking, he said, “recognizes the unique role that USU is playing in terms of providing research in areas that directly affect the health and welfare of the military, but also have secondary benefits across medicine in the United States.”

Navy Cmdr. Robert Hawkins, director of the nurse anesthesia program within the Graduate School of Nursing, also spoke by telephone with American Forces Press Service and said the program’s high rankings in the new report recognize the quality of the professionals it produces.

A demanding curriculum that combines scientific concepts and extensive clinical practice prepares students to operate as independent practitioners. That will be critical, he said, particularly because most students deploy within nine months of graduation.

While savoring recognition for its masters-degree-level nurse anesthesia program, USU is preparing to transition to a doctoral program this spring, Hawkins reported. That transition, based on American Association of Colleges of Nursing recommendations, will extend the program from 30 to 36 months.

The first doctoral-level class will arrive at USU in May and graduate two years later.
Hawkins said he’s optimistic this next step in the program will further enhance the bedside care military nurse anesthetists provide – whatever care their patients need, and wherever that care is provided.

One individual at a time, he said, they will have a profound impact on military medicine.
“When you have practitioners with the best skill sets, trained in the best way in the best environment, the chances of changing the health-care system one patient at a time will have a profound impact overall,” he said.

B-52 gets new Sniper Pod

by Staff Sgt. Jason McCasland
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  -- The 2nd Bomb Wing made its first live run with a new addition to the aging bomber.

With constant upgrades bringing the more than 60-year-old bomber into the 21st century, the addition of the sniper pod gives the B-52H Stratofortress better integration with ground forces and laser guided bombs for precision strike capability.

"This flight was the first time that the 2nd Bomb Wing has used the sniper pod with live ordinance like the LGB," said Capt. Ryan Allen, 20th Bomb Squadron radar navigation instructor. "This pod gives a faster response time to our targets. What would normally take me 30 to 40 button presses in five minutes now only takes me a few seconds to actually target and drop munitions."

This new capability also allows the aircrew to coordinate with ground forces in a new way that is beneficial to their safety and planning.

"With the pod we can integrate with the guys on the ground and let them see what we see. This way we are on the same page," said Allen. "It also gives us a greater visibility range over that of the previous one."

With technology constantly moving forward this new pod gives its own set of challenges to the B-52.

"The way the pod can interact with our avionics system is state of the art," said Allen. "Most of the systems had to be radically improved to give us total interaction between the new and old."

With constant improvements on the aging plane, the 2nd Bomb Wing can complete its mission of providing global deterrence anywhere and anytime.

Cody testifies to quality of life in the Air Force

by Master Sgt. Jess D. Harvey
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

3/21/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody testified on quality-of-life issues in the Air Force before House Appropriations Committee members March 19.

The biggest challenge currently facing the Air Force is the nation's fiscal situation, Cody said, citing the looming furlough of 180,000 civilian Airmen due to sequestration as a threat to the service's readiness and the overall quality of life of our Airmen and their families.

"There is no question our Airmen are nervous and concerned with the current fiscal environment that affects our nation and Air Force," Cody said.

"The impacts of sequestration and the past six months of operating under a continuing resolution authority are significant and detrimental to our Air Force and for all those serving," he said. "Our Airmen remain dedicated and committed to completing the mission around the world and ask for your leadership to ensure they're able to do so."

During his testimony, Cody also addressed several other matters affecting Airmen ranging from building resiliency to education and taking care of families.

"As we move forward and our force changes, we must adapt our programs and services to ensure we meet the needs of today's Airmen and their families," Cody said. One of the first topics on Cody's agenda was building the resiliency of Airmen.

"We believe an Airman's personal and professional successes depend on this resiliency, and feel it is our responsibility to provide the education and resources to help them and their families build it," Cody said. "To that end, we have created Comprehensive Airman Fitness, a construct built on four pillars or core tenets."

The tenets he addressed are mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness, which most Airmen are introduced to early on and the Air Force aims to reinforce throughout their career. Inherent to the tenets and resilience is fostering a stronger culture of mutual respect and trust, Cody said.

It is not enough for Airmen to be resilient; they must also treat one another with the dignity and respect each of us deserves," Cody said. "Every Airman must be respectful of those working with and around them, every Airman must be alert and able to recognize signs of distress, and every Airman must intervene in situations that could turn negative."

With that, he addressed the ongoing issue of sexual assault within the force and efforts to eliminate it.

"We understand the impact of this crime on the individual, their families, their friends, and other people in the units are tremendous and unacceptable," Cody said.

He emphasized that Air Force leaders have emboldened every supervisor and commander to be actively involved in eliminating this horrible crime from our ranks by highlighting the recent Air Force-wide health and wellness inspection, the establishment of a Recruiting Education and Training Council set up to eliminate sexual assault and that senior leaders are undertaking a more focused, direct communication with Airmen about this issue.

Cody also reaffirmed the Air Force's dedication to the education of Airmen before the committee.

"The Air Force has the most educated enlisted force in the world," Cody said. "Every Airman entering service is automatically enrolled in an associate of applied science degree program through the Community College of the Air Force."

Since April 25, 1977, CCAF has awarded more than 408,000 degrees that correspond to each member's career field. Additionally, more than 21,000 enlisted Airmen have bachelor's degrees or higher and 23 have earned a doctorate degree.

He pointed out that the CCAF program is currently engaged in developing credentialing pilot programs and policies that support the White House Veteran Employment and Credentialing Initiative and the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, Section 558 mandate.

"We are convinced that opportunities like these directly increase Air Force recruitment and retention as well as enhance our Airmen's professional capabilities," Cody said.

Cody also addressed the needs of military families, to include senior leaders' dedication to providing quality housing to Airmen, because "quality housing ensures our Airmen and families have a strong supporting foundation."

Key to this are the military's ongoing privatization efforts.

"As we progress through 2013, we look forward to completing privatization of all housing in the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii," Cody said. "Housing privatization allows us to deliver high quality homes to our members more quickly than ever before and at significant savings to the taxpayer."

He said senior leaders are also deeply committed to providing quality dormitories for our unaccompanied Airmen.

"Our focus remains on providing an environment of care, development, and mentorship for our Airmen," Cody said. "Our dormitory campuses are not just a place to sleep; they are a place for young Airmen to adjust to military life and build a strong sense of community."

Overall, he pointed out, Airmen are doing truly amazing work around the world every day, but it's not possible without the dedication Air Force senior leaders have for taking care of Airmen and their families.

"These men and women take care of the home front while our Airmen are employing and enabling airpower around the world; families stand strong while loved ones deploy to war zones in foreign countries," Cody said. "Their faith and support is critical to our Airmen and enable the focus and dedication our complex missions require."

Dempsey Speaks on What Nation Expects from Marine Corps

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C., March 21, 2013 – What does the United States expect from its Marine Corps?

A young Marine asked the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that question during a town hall meeting here today.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said that he has asked himself that basic question about all U.S. armed services.

“We need you to be exactly who you are,” the chairman told the theater full of Marines and family members.

He said the service is the “rock upon which this great military of ours rests.”

This consistency is needed as the fiscal situation becomes more confusing and uncertain, he said. The resources devoted to the military will go up and down – but the military and especially the Marines must be constant, the chairman said.

Dempsey said the Marine Corps is known as the nation’s ready force: Ready to go where the country needs them, via sea or air. But the service also has another image equally important to Americans – that of a new Marine receiving the eagle, globe and anchor in his or her grimy hands having just finished the final recruit test known as the Crucible. “You have to be that young man or woman walking through the airport who just looks like a Marine,” Dempsey said.

But it is more than looks; it is character, he said. The Marines’ Hymn is the only service song that specifically mentions a value. “I find that to be the most important thing about the United States Marine Corps, that you take it upon yourselves to commit to keep your honor clean,” the chairman said.

“What do I expect of the Marine Corps? I expect you to be Marines.”

The town hall was last event of the chairman’s visit to the air base and nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He visited with Lt. Col. Gabrielle Hermes, the commander of the 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds, the commander of the depot, drill instructors, support personnel and many others at the gateway to the Corps.

At the air base, he toured the F-35 pilot training facility that is nearing completion, as well as the new hangar complex for the aircraft.

Carter Quantifies Shift of DOD Resources to Asia-Pacific

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 21, 2013 – The Defense Department has begun to shift its intellectual and physical weight to the Asia-Pacific to reinforce longstanding military commitments to the region, Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter said here yesterday.

Jakarta was the final stop of the deputy defense secretary’s weeklong trip to Asia, which included visits to defense and government officials in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Speaking as part of an international panel at the third Jakarta International Defense Dialogue, or JIDD, Carter said the United States is serious about its commitment to the region and detailed elements now in motion of a rebalance called for in the department’s 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance.

Despite U.S. spending cuts and ongoing budget debates in Congress, the deputy defense secretary said, DOD is using whatever flexibility it has in managing its budget to favor and protect the rebalance.

“The rebalance will continue and in fact gain momentum for two reasons. First, U.S. interests here are enduring and so also will be its political and economic presence,” Carter told an audience of nearly 1,500 defense, government and security officials from around the world.

“This presence is accompanied by values -- democracy, freedom, human rights, civilian control of the military, and respect for the sovereignty of nations -- that America has long stood for and that human beings welcome and I think relate to,” he added, “So our interest in the region will be both believed and reciprocated.”

Former Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and President Barack Obama have made recent visits to the region, he said, as have former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon.

Secretary of State John Kerry will make his first trip here next month, Carter said, “ … and Secretary [Chuck] Hagel, who as a senator led the first U.S. congressional delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, is staunchly committed to this region as well, [and] will be attending Shangri-La.”

Carter said each U.S. leader visiting the region, in his or her own way, emphasized the central importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the United States, “and our commitment to making sure that this region remains safe, secure and prosperous.”

He said the rebalance means that a higher proportion of defense assets will move to the region.
“Secretary Panetta announced last year that 60 percent of our naval assets will be assigned to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020,” Carter noted, “a substantial and historical shift.”

The Air Force, he noted, will increase its presence in the region with tactical aircraft like the F-22 stealth fighter; space, cyber and bomber forces; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets like the MQ-9 Reaper, the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft; and the Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.

“We will be able to leverage more capacity from our ground forces, including the Army, Marines and special operations forces, now that they are coming home to the Pacific from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Carter said, adding, “Also we are modernizing and enhancing our forward presence across the region in cooperation with our allies and partners.”

Beginning with Northeast Asia, Carter said DOD is modernizing and updating alliances with Japan and South Korea.

“In Japan we’ve added aviation capability, we are in the process of realigning the Marine Corps presence in Okinawa, and we are upgrading our missile defense posture,” he told the audience. The department is also working to revise defense guidelines there to meet 21st century challenges, he said.

On the Korean Peninsula, DOD is implementing the Strategic Alliance 2015 agreement and taking steps to advance the alliance’s military capabilities to meet the North Korean threat.

Under the SA 2015 roadmap, wartime operational control of Korean forces will transition from the U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command to the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff in December 2015, according to a January statement by U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim.

U.S. Forces Korea will become the U.S. Korea Command, or Korcom, and provide manpower for a supporting relationship with the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff. The United States will continue to back the defense of the Republic of Korea with the full might of the U.S. military, Kim added.
The Defense Department also is enhancing its presence in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, Carter said.

“We are not only rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific but also within the Asia-Pacific, in recognition of the growing importance of Southeast Asia to the region as a whole [and] emphasizing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, capacity building and multilateral exercises,” the deputy secretary added.

In Australia last year, the initial company of Marines rotated through Darwin in the first step toward using this presence to engage in bilateral and multilateral exercises with regional partners.
In the Philippines, the department is working to enhance the capacity of the Philippines Armed Forces and increase DOD rotational presence and partnerships with that key treaty ally, Carter explained.

In Singapore, the first of four littoral combat ships will arrive early next month, providing a key capability to work bilaterally and multilaterally with partners in the region, he added.

“Next, while we will preserve and integrate the counter-insurgency capabilities that we have worked so hard to develop over the last decade in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Carter said, “we are giving priority in our … budget to development platforms and capabilities that have direct applicability and use in this region.”

Such investments include the Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine, the fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighter, the P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, the Broad Area Maritime Sensor, a new stealth bomber, the KC-46 tanker replacement, cruise missiles and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, the deputy secretary said.

“We are also protecting our investments in future-focused capabilities that are so important to this region,” he added, “such as cyber, science and technology investments, and space.”

DOD is also investing in its people, Carter said, in language and cultural skills and regional and strategic affairs to ensure that the department can cultivate the intellectual capital that will be required to make good the rebalance.

The United States is also making critical investments in training ranges and bases such as Guam, which the department is developing as a strategic hub for the Western Pacific, he said.

“Fourth, finally and most importantly,” the deputy secretary noted, “we are revitalizing and expanding our partnerships across the region. That’s the key. I’ve mentioned the work we are doing with Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore and the Philippines, but we’re doing many other things in other parts of the region as well.”

- Last November DOD worked with treaty ally Thailand to update the U.S.-Thailand Joint Vision Statement for the first time in 50 years.

- With New Zealand, signing the Washington Declaration and related policy changes opened new avenues for defense cooperation in maritime security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peacekeeping support.

- In Burma DOD has resumed limited military-to-military relations and is working to ensure that the Burmese military supports Burma’s ongoing reforms.

- With the Vietnamese, through a new memorandum of understanding, DOD is expanding cooperation in maritime security, search and rescue, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

- In Malaysia and Indonesia, the department is working to build partner capacity and conduct maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

China and India also are a critical part of the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, Carter said.

DOD has invited China to participate in the U.S.-hosted RIMPAC exercise, the world’s largest multinational maritime exercise, involving 22 nations during its most recent iteration in 2012.

“We are delighted to have their participation in what will be a strengthening and growing military-to-military relationship with China, which matches and follows our growing political and economic relationship with China,” the deputy secretary said.

Carter called India “a key part of our rebalance and, more broadly, an emerging power that we believe will help determine the broader security and prosperity of the 21st century.”

U.S. security interests with India converge on maritime security and broader regional issues, he said, “including India’s ‘Look East’ policy, an attempt to forge closer and deeper economic integration with its eastern neighbors.

With India, Carter said, the department is also working to deepen defense cooperation, moving beyond defense trade to technology sharing and coproduction.

Multilaterally, he added, the department recognizes the importance of strengthening regional institutions like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, which plays what the deputy secretary called “an indispensable role in maintaining regional stability and resolving disputes through diplomacy.”

The United States can and will succeed in rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific in the years to come, Carter told the audience.

“As we succeed in this,” he added, “we look forward to doing it with all of you represented in this room.”