DoD Disability Awards Celebration Reflects Progress, Official Says

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2017 — The Pentagon’s annual awards ceremony that highlights the achievements of department employees with disabilities reflects the progress that’s been achieved, and also serves as a reminder that more remains to be done, Anthony M. Kurta, performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said here today.

In the 37th Annual Secretary of Defense Disability Awards ceremony held in the Pentagon Auditorium today, 21 DoD service members and civilians with disabilities were recognized for their outstanding contributions supporting DoD’s mission.

DoD components and military departments also were recognized for their exemplary efforts to adopt and put in place promising programs and practices to advance a diverse and inclusive total force.

“I commend you all on the phenomenal strides you’ve made to improve the state of disability employment,” Kurta said. “The mission of personnel and readiness is to enhance the readiness of the all-volunteer force. And one of our key strengths in that all-volunteer force is our diversity.”

‘Inclusion Drives Innovation’

In his remarks, Kurta kicked off National Disability Employment Awareness Month at DoD with a 2017 theme of “Inclusion Drives Innovation.”

 “This theme underscores the value of inclusion of different perspectives and diverse abilities in the success of the total workforce,” he said. “Our service members and civilians with disabilities have driven DoD innovation in every capacity to include science, technology, medicine, readiness and much more.”

The awardees are integral to mission success and their perspectives and abilities are essential to the modernization of the total force, Kurta said.

The five components and military departments were recognized for increasing the employment of individuals with disabilities.

“The department applauds your efforts and encourages your continued progress in advancing opportunity in the DoD workforce, particularly for individuals with significant disabilities and our wounded warriors,” he said.

Inherent Dignity

In the words of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Kurta quoted, “‘We, in the Department of Defense acknowledge the inherent dignity of every human life. This dignity is bound by nothing beyond the simple fact of our common humanity. It belongs to us all. Nothing may add or subtract from it; no distinction may mar its inestimable value -- not color, creed, or any other category. No level of capability -- physical, mental or otherwise, whether the result of chance or design -- may alter it. The universal dignity of the human person persists.’”

In DoD’s celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the department reaffirms its commitment that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to maintaining a strong Total Force, he said.

 “Strengthening our efforts to increase the employment of individuals with disabilities will ensure that DoD remains a model employer in promoting and maintaining equal opportunity,” Kurta said, noting its high priority for DoD and the federal government.

“So, today, let us renew our commitment to increase the employment of individuals with disabilities,” he said, “and pledge to continue to make our department increasingly more open and accessible to all.”

Face of Defense: Recruiter Enlists American Airmen in Japan

By Air Force Staff Sgt. David Owsianka 374th Airlift Wing

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan, Oct. 6, 2017 — Only 1 percent of the U.S. population qualifies for Air Force service. For Air Force recruiters, finding that 1 percent can be a grueling task -- especially when they are searching in Japan.

At an Air Force recruiting office here, Tech. Sgt. Angelo Barcelona, the 369th Recruiting Squadron's Pacific operations program manager and recruiter, helps civilians become airmen.

"There is a great need for an Air Force recruiter here in Japan, and I am able to help enlist some great individuals," Barcelona said. "We offer people the opportunity to become an airman as enlisted or officer."

The mission of the Air Force Recruiting Service is to inspire, engage and recruit future airmen to deliver airpower for America. The emphasis is on recruiting intelligent young men and women who can be trained to handle the sophisticated systems and equipment of today's highly technical Air Force.

Barcelona is not just the Air Force recruiter for Yokota. He helps recruits enlist from Misawa Air Base, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Camp Zama and other military installations throughout mainland Japan. He performs two additional tasks to help civilians become airmen: he is in charge of the Delayed Entry Program and the Military Entrance Processing Station.

He meets with the individuals once a month in person or on the phone, and he schedules applicants to meet with local doctors and complete medical checks to make sure they are medically qualified to join.

"Being the recruiter for the entire island of Japan; communication by email and phone is essential because of the amount of money and time it saves," Barcelona said. "Applicants are only required to meet when we absolutely have to, whether it's signing documents or leaving for basic military training. "The conversations are used to touch base with the individuals joining and ease their transition into the Air Force."

Joining the military may be challenging, Barcelona said, and is here to help in setting up future airmen for success.

"I want people to know that it is a great opportunity, and everyone's experience is going to be different no matter what job they get or where they are stationed," he said. "I think that the breakdown of [basic training] will instill that independence and confidence in you. It really helps an individual grow. And it's amazing for a young person to get their footing and go out into the world to start their life."

Face of Defense: Soldier Claims Multiple Marksmanship Titles

By Army Maj. Michelle Lunato, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga., Oct. 5, 2017 — The definition of success is the accomplishment of one's goals. For the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit based here, Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Green was the embodiment of that definition over the summer.

In less than three months, the Service Rifle Team soldier claimed 14 individual championship titles and contributed to six team championship trophy wins. Out of those 20 top finishes, Green broke eight national records -- six individual and two team.

Though Army Marksmanship Unit soldiers are known for their success, Green's accomplishments exceed the "home of champions" moniker, said Army Sgt. 1st Class Shane Barnhart, a shooter/instructor on the Service Rifle Team and Ashley, Ohio, native.

"He shot amazing this summer -- probably the best anyone has ever performed in the history of the USAMU Service Rifle Team, … at least since I've have been here the last 18 years," Barnhart said.

Green, from Bogalusa, Louisiana, has been a winning member of the team since 2004. He has repeatedly won notable honors such as three Interservice Overall Champion titles, five Interservice Long-Range Champion titles and two National High-Power Champion titles. Even with all this success, Green's competitive nature forces him to consistently find ways to improve upon his skills. This year, he said, his adjustments paid big dividends.

Clear Plan of Action

"I changed my mental game up a little bit this year, kind of approaching each and every shot with a clear plan of action," he said. "And, it's really paid off."

This change involved taking notes on how he felt, what results he achieved and what techniques he used in various situations, Green explained. As he prepared for the summer series of competitions, he said, referred back to those notes and adjusted again, and then again. "When I got off track, I went back and read my notes and really got back into it. I focused on the shot and the rifle, not the outcome," he added. "I think that's what really helped me out this year."

Green said keeping a clear focus can be difficult, but it's critical for competitive shooters looking for an edge.

"Anytime you step onto a rifle range, you are going to focus on something," he said. "You are either going to worry about your gear, the weather, or this or that. I tried to take myself out of that completely. I didn't worry about anything. I simply focused on breaking the best shots I could -- each and every shot. That was my main focus."

Trust Breeds Success

Staying focused on one shot at a time allowed the Service Rifle Team soldier to trust his gear, trust his experience and trust his skill, and that trust freed him up for even more success.

"When you take away a lot of the worries that you have, it really opens your path up to do the right thing at the right time."

With advanced technology improving the gear and the rules changing to allow optics in some matches, finding that self-control has become the key to continued success in the high-power sport, Green said. "We have the best equipment, best rifles, best ammunition, and best glass (optics)," he added. "We have all the equipment. So the shooter is the weak link."

Coping with that reality and finding out what it takes to continuously improve is what the soldiers do at USAMU. It is also what serious high-power sportsmen need to do, Green said after competing in the 56th Annual Interservice Championships in Quantico, Virginia, where he claimed his fourth Interservice Overall Champion title. His winning score of 998-52X broke the 1994 record of 995-50X that was set by retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Don Heuman, who later became a coach for the USAMU Service Rifle Team.

Staying in the Game

"The equipment is very, very good these days, so it's every man for himself up there," Green said. "You are shoulder to shoulder with the best there are in your particular discipline. So it's all about how you can drive the rifle and mentally stay in the game."

For those who debate the recent use of optics in some competitive matches, the 13-year-veteran of the Service Rifle Team agrees that it is "a different game now."

"It takes a lot more to break good shots with iron sights," Green said. "It just does. There is no question about it. But optics are the new norm. They are not going away."

The use of optics though, is not a bad thing to Green. He explained that iron sights lead to more eye fatigue, which caused a number of people to leave the sport. Allowing optics into some of the matches brings those people back, he said.

"It brought back people who just couldn't see the sights anymore," Green said. "It opened it back up for those guys."

Handling the Pressure

When everyone has the same gear, the bottom line still comes down to the shooter and the shooter's skills. And in the end, the best shooter is the one who hits the most targets, said Green, who just spent the summer competing in several matches against hundreds of civilians, veterans and other current service members across the Department of Defense.

Being a soldier definitely aided with the knowing-what-to-do and how-to-handle-pressure elements of competition, because through all the training, you learn things about yourself when you develop as a soldier, Green said. "It gives you a whole different perspective on the things you are doing," he added. "It really helps narrow your intent and helps you focus on what matters."

Discipline and Structure

The discipline and structure the Army provides makes the team stronger and communicate better, said Green, who occasionally shoots with various civilian teams for fun. "Just being in the Army in general has made me a much better shooter for sure, and I feel very fortunate," he said. "I would have never imagined that I could do something I love so much for a living, especially for the military."

USAMU soldiers train for hours and focus on little details. All that time together makes the team a family, and when it comes to family, team matches are even more important, Green said. "You don't want to let anybody down," he added. "You don't want to let your teammates down for sure."

But that doesn't mean the soldiers are not competitive with each other. They all want to win. That is what they train for, after all.

"All of us are competitive," Green said. "Everyone out here on this firing line today is a competitive person, whether or not they want to admit it."

That internal competition makes the USAMU soldiers better as they vie for top honors. Then after the season, they compile their notes as a team in efforts to improve marksmanship techniques across the Army. While an improved force is a long-term goal of the USAMU, the short-term goal is to win competitions. And with a team of competitive experts on the range, Green said his adjustments to improve can never stop.

"You can't let your guard down for a second," he said. "They will pass you up."