Remains of 147 South Korean Soldiers From the Korean War Will Return Home

June 23, 2020 | BY Terri Moon Cronk , DOD News

In the largest repatriation of South Korean soldiers' remains from the Korean War, 147 such remains will be returned to South Korea following an honor ceremony today at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.

Defense Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency public affairs official Lee Tucker emphasized that South Korean soldiers fought alongside U.S. troops during that war against North Korea. The war lasted from 1950 to 1953. The remains are returning to South Korea after 67 years, he noted.

"This, like the past repatriation, is due to the strong and long standing partnership between the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and [South Korea's] Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification," Tucker said. "It is the incredible improvements in technology, advancements in forensic science and the strong partnership between DPAA and MAKRI which led to these identifications."

MAKRI and DPAA scientists have conducted joint forensic reviews and validated 147 remains as being of South Korean origin. Gleaned from advanced DNA and other forensic analyses, 77 of them are from the remains North Korea turned over in 55 boxes in July 2018, and the others are from remains repatriated in the early 1990s, he said. 

The Pearl Harbor-Hickam ceremony will be followed by a June 25 repatriation ceremony in South Korea's capital of Seoul, hosted by President Moon Jae-in. June 25 coincides with the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, Tucker noted.  

Seven South Korean family members have been identified as having DNA matches to seven of the 147 remains, and they will be present at the ceremony in Seoul.  

South Korea also will turn over to the United Nations Command six sets of U.S. remains that South Korean teams have recovered. The seven South Korean soldiers, who have been identified, and the six U.S. service members will be at the forefront of the ceremony in Seoul, Tucker said.  

The United Nations Command will conduct a dignified transfer of remains aboard a U.S. aircraft at Osan Air Base on June 26 or 27 for transport to Hawaii, he said.

Fuji Viper

A Marine fires an M240B machine gun during mixed weapons range training at Combined Arms Training Center Fuji, Japan, June 19, 2020. The Marines were participating in Fuji Viper, an annual exercise focused on sustaining individual and small unit proficiency and decision making.

New Recruits

Recruits assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, are issued gear upon arrival at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif., June 22, 2020. In the future, as recruits arrive at the depot, they will enter a 14-day staging period during which they will be medically screened and tested for COVID-19, monitored and provided classes to prepare them to begin training. All of this occurs before they step onto the iconic yellow footprints and make that memorable move toward earning the title Marine. Although current planning and execution remain fluid as the response to the pandemic evolves, one thing remains constant: the health and well-being of the recruits, the recruiting and training personnel, and their families remain the primary concerns.

Joint Statement: Five Eyes Defense Ministers’ Meeting

June 22, 2020

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The defense ministers/secretaries from the Five Eyes nations (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States) met via videoconference on 22 / 23 June.

Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advance defense and security cooperation on matters of common interest to support and defend a stable, rules-based, global order that is increasingly being challenged.

Ministers recognized the role of regional partners and institutions in shaping globally and across the Indo-Pacific a stable and secure, economically resilient community, where the sovereign rights of all states are respected.

Ministers discussed new opportunities for Five Eyes partners to further strengthen their relationship, build resilience, address challenges to international rules and norms and advance cooperation across key lines of effort in an increasingly complex and challenging geostrategic environment.

Ministers committed to meet regularly as part of efforts to address existing and emerging security challenges, and to advance their shared values of democracy, freedom and respect for human rights.

Drive-Thru Screening, Testing Ensures Airmen Are Ready to Deploy

June 23, 2020 | BY Cynthia Griggs

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the military continues to successfully execute its mission by finding innovative ways to accomplish it during a new normal.

The 75th Medical Group at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, recently established a COVID-19 drive-thru screening and testing line for airmen with the 421st Fighter Squadron to get them out the door healthy and safe for deployment.

Prior to the pandemic, airmen would congregate at a building and be processed one by one through a line, stopping at different stations to ensure their immunizations, public health and other records were in order before they deployed.

To maximize social distancing due to COVID-19, the 75th Medical Group scheduled airmen to go through its medical predeployment screening and testing line while remaining in their personal vehicles.

The line consisted of three stations. At station one, airmen received a temperature check and all medical documents necessary for the upcoming deployment were verified. At the next station, medics performed a nasopharyngeal swab to test for COVID-19. At the third station, airmen with any outstanding requirements were directed to park and go into the clinic to complete them. Those who didn't require additional actions were given further predeployment quarantine instructions and exited the line.

Air Force Capt. Pedro Rivera, the laboratory and radiology flight commander for the 75th Medical Group, said the drive-thru line was practiced three times before it was executed. The practice, along with local hospital and laboratory coordination, helped ensure the line was safely and efficiently handled, he said.

"Collaboration with all sections was imperative," he added. "Medics were trained prior to collection to ensure safety for patients and medics, while the laboratory staff made sure to meet specimen and collection requirements and coordinated with the reference laboratory for quick processing."

Rivera said each airman spent only six to 10 minutes in the line, and the entire process was completed in less than five hours.

"The ingenuity of our personnel is outstanding," Air Force Col. Mark Cleveland, the 75th Medical Group commander, said. "When you can just provide the vision and then get out of their way and watch what happens, you usually find yourself amazed at the results."

Cleveland noted that the medical group's people are doing everything they can to lower the virus risk to their patient population and personnel, and that every procedure that can be done safely is still being accomplished at the clinic.

"It may take an extra minute to get in the doors, but once inside, you can expect the same great service from the professionals as you did prior to COVID-19," Cleveland said.

(Cynthia Griggs is assigned to the 75th Air Base Wing.)

Dodgers Farmhands Served in Vietnam

June 23, 2020 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

Almost every sporting event in the United States has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an absence noted by the many service members who are ardent sports fans and enjoy playing sports. Because the games are mostly on hold, here's a look at two sports legends who also served in the military.

Roy Gleason and Donny Tidwell both have ties to Los Angeles Dodgers baseball and to military service in Vietnam. The difference is that one came home alive. One didn't.

Roy Gleason

Outfielder and switch-hitter Roy Gleason played just eight major league games for the Dodgers in 1963, though he had been with the Dodgers organization in the minor leagues since 1961. But 1963 was the year that the Dodgers swept the World Series over the New York Yankees, 4-0, making Gleason part of the team's legacy.In 1967, Gleason was drafted into the Army. He completed basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Shortly after completing his training, he was deployed to South Vietnam with the 39th Infantry Regiment and then the 9th Infantry Regiment. He was stationed at the old French fort called Fort Courage, near Saigon, beside the South China Sea.

Gleason had many close calls with death, which he recounted in his collaborative biography, "Lost in the Sun."

Fort Courage got mortared regularly, Gleason wrote, once taking a direct hit which killed five soldiers and took the leg off his company commander.

In March 1968, Gleason's platoon came under heavy fire in the Mekong Delta as they were crossing a rice paddy. Two soldiers were hit by enemy fire, and Gleason carried each to safety as incoming fire continued. As a result, Gleason was meritoriously promoted to sergeant in June, thereby making him the platoon sergeant.

Shortly after his promotion, on July 24, 1968, while walking point, he and his men walked into an ambush. Almost immediately, he was wounded in the wrist and lower leg. After fashioning a tourniquet, he returned fire. Many of his buddies were wounded or killed that day. Eventually, they were evacuated by helicopter, and that ended Gleason's tour in Vietnam.

After his tour of duty, Gleason played in the Dodgers' farm system in 1969 and 1970, but his war wounds prevented him from returning to the major leagues. He went on to have a career in television and films, including starring in the TV series "Branded" alongside actor Chuck Connors, and portraying a race car driver in a "Batman" episode. 

He makes his home in Melrose Park, Illinois. His father, Richard Roy Gleason, served as a Seabee during World War II.

Donny Tidwell

Just about every rookie who gets drafted into the big leagues dreams of hometown glory. Donny Tidwell, most likely, had dreams, too. 

His decision to enter the Army took courage as he set aside his dream of playing baseball to serve his country."

Tommy Lasorda, Baseball Hall of Fame coach

The Dodgers selected pitcher Donny Tidwell in the 42nd round of the 1966 first-year player draft. In his only professional season at rookie-league level with the Ogden Dodgers, Tidwell went 4–3, with a 4.01 earned run average in 19 games, according to Mark Langill, L.A. Dodgers team historian and author of five Dodger-related books. Based in Ogden, Utah, The Ogden Dodgers were a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League from 1966 to 1973.

It was future Baseball Hall of Fame coach Tommy Lasorda's second season as a minor league manager, and Ogden won the Pioneer League title with a 39–27 record, Langill said. Future major league players on that 1966 Ogden squad included then-outfielder Bill Russell and pitcher Charlie Hough. Tidwell's roommate at Ogden was infielder Justin Dedeaux, son of longtime University of Southern California baseball coach and former Brooklyn Dodgers shortstop Rod Dedeaux.

Tidwell, sensing a call to duty, enlisted in the Army in November 1966 for an expected three-year tour. He had been in Vietnam for only two months and 12 days when he was killed, at age 21, on April 12, 1968. Tidwell was a member of Bravo Company, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Langill said.

Lasorda, who later managed the major league Dodgers for 20 seasons and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997, sent a message to the Tidwell family in 2018, when Tidwell's high school in Diana, Texas, renamed its baseball field in his honor. Hometown glory was just as sweet 50-plus years after that rookie season.

"I began my managerial career in the rookie leagues. It was an incredibly good feeling to take young, inexperienced players and mold them, build them into good players and winners," Lasorda wrote to Tidwell's family. "Throughout my playing career, I knew there was only a small difference between the mediocre ballplayer and the very good ballplayer on the team, and that distance could be narrowed through hard work and determination.

"My first championship team was the 1966 Ogden Dodgers," he continued. "I'll always look at that roster and think of Donny Tidwell. Every player who starts out in pro ball has a dream of playing in the Majors. While several of his teammates eventually played in the Majors, Donny decided there was something bigger than baseball. His decision to enter the Army took courage as he set aside his dream of playing baseball to serve his country. The image of Donny eagerly taking the ball and pitching in a Dodger uniform during that summer of 1966 is something I've carried with me for more than 50 years. I am thankful the community of Diana, Texas, continues to honor a true hero and role model."

Deployed Soldiers Graduate From Basic Leaders Course

June 22, 2020 | BY ARMY SGT. ANDREW WINCHELL , Task Force Spartan

Even a pandemic like COVID-19 cannot stop the Army from developing and training its future enlisted leaders, and the Emergency Basic Leaders Course in Kuwait made sure of that.

Deployed soldiers in the next generation of Army enlisted leaders were able to complete the Basic Leaders Course in Kuwait without having to go back to the United States for classes or delay their promotion eligibility.

What you must do in order to become successful in this military is you must be a leader of character, competence and commitment."

Army Maj. Gen. Steven Ferrari, commander, Task Force Spartan Shield and the 42nd Infantry Division

The newest graduating class included more than 40 soldiers from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, with about 120 more from throughout the U.S. Army Central Command area of responsibility.

"This is your first developmental class; hopefully, you'll have plenty more," Army Maj. Gen. Steven Ferrari, the commander of Task Force Spartan Shield and the Infantry Division, told the latest graduates.

Enlisted soldiers must take many courses as they progress through the Army's ranks. Completing the Basic Leaders Course is the first step in that progression, and it gives future enlisted leaders a glimpse at what it takes to become a noncommissioned officer and what it takes to lead other soldiers properly.

"As you progress through your career, you will go to many courses, but none will be as unique as this one," Ferrari said. "It gives you an overview on how to lead, but everyone will develop their own style in how to lead. What you must do in order to become successful in this military is you must be a leader of character, competence and commitment."

North Carolina National Guard Distributes Food to Local Community

June 23, 2020 | BY Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly

As the coronavirus swept through the nation, schools once bustling with the sounds of children became ghost towns, school buses stopped in their tracks, and classrooms once filled with life went vacant.

The pandemic left families in Bladen County, North Carolina, in a dire situation. Unemployment skyrocketed, and families struggled more to feed their children.

Amy Stanley, the director of school nutrition for Bladen County Schools, said 76% of students attending Elizabethtown Middle School would typically receive free or reduced meals during the school year, and that most of the meals the children ate on weekdays, came from the school meal programs.

"On a daily basis, typically, students are here at school and they're able to get those lunches....But COVID-19 has impacted our society so much," said Jamal Dunham, the principal of Elizabethtown Middle School. “We transitioned to virtual schooling, but kids still need to eat.”

With parents out of work and students without a meal plan, the uncertainty of when their next meal would come became a mystery and a gut-wrenching horror.

"Without those meals, they're not going to have the nutrition that they need," Stanley said. "When we get out of school on Friday and come back on Monday, there are many children that do not eat during that weekend. So to go three or four months without the children eating would be devastating to the families and to the children."

Schools were no longer in session, but their desire to help remained strong. County leaders called on the North Carolina Army National Guard to help with their mission to provide school breakfast and lunches to students.

"The National Guard has stepped in and provided our district the opportunity to support children through natural and healthy eating habits," Dunham said. "We would not have been able to make the impact we're making without the help of the National Guard."

Fifty-five soldiers from guard units across North Carolina —  including the 1131st Charlie Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 449th Theatre Aviation Brigade, Alpha and Bravo Battery, 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, and the 1454th Transportation Company — arrived in Bladen County.

"It was just amazing to see how quickly they were able to come in, integrate into the system, and just hit the ground running," said Robert Taylor, the superintendent at Elizabethtown Middle School.

The guardsmen provided assistance to seven different schools throughout the county, including Elizabethtown Middle School. Their collaborative mission to help the hungry began early in the morning, as soldiers put on their uniforms and worked long hours with the school staff to make and prepare meals. Finally, the meals were loaded onto school buses and were off to their usual routes.

"The teamwork is just phenomenal," said Army Maj. Ashley Perdue, the officer in charge at Elizabethtown Middle School. "Working with the cafeteria staff, we all just melded. … It's been a really great experience."

The guard played a key role in helping Bladen County's limited workforce to produce and distribute mass quantities of food on a daily basis. The guard helped the county provide about 45,000 meals a week that were distributed daily along 26 bus routes.

"The feeding of the children during this COVID crisis has been a really tremendous effort," Taylor said. "Having the National Guard here has made a tremendous difference in terms of how we serve people."

During a time of social distancing, school buses were as rare a sight as an ice cream truck in the dead of winter. Nonetheless, children of Bladen County were once again able to hear the sweet sound of the roaring engine as their yellow beacon of hope approached their bus stop. Their unexpected guardian angel had arrived. However, the last thing the kids expected to see were boots emerging from the bus as the doors opened.

"At first they were kind of standoffish and scared, not used to seeing the uniform," said Army Spc. Amber Cohen, assigned to the 449th TAB. "Now they're running up to me like I'm family...and giving me hugs on my leg."

The experience ended up being more than just a duty and a job especially to Cohen. The word "family" was used to describe the relationship the staff and soldiers developed while working for the same cause. It brought new perspectives and grateful hearts as these heroes in green served their community.

"Their people of our own," Cohen said. "It feels like it's a family. You get to see the smiles on their faces, and you know that when you hand them that food, they're going to be eating for lunch and breakfast the next day at the very least."

An unlikely hero quickly became a friendly face that the children greeted with warm hugs and bright smiles.

"The National Guard in Bladen County will be a lasting memory for everyone," Taylor said. "The guard is actually helping out communities in ways that they have never imagined."

The dedication and perseverance of the Elizabethtown Middle School staff and soldiers served food and hope to many children. A time of tragedy evolved into an unexpected experience of unity and camaraderie.

"The National Guard has made an impact here at Elizabethtown Middle School and is touching the lives of the students here in Bladen County," Dunham said. "The National Guard has done some phenomenal work. We are blessed to have you on our side."

(Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly is assigned to the 382nd Public Affairs Detachment)

Elephant Walk

Twelve Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcons, two Air Force MC-130J Commando II aircraft, two Navy EA-18G Growlers, a Navy C-12 Huron, a Navy P-8 Poseidon and 12 Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft participate in an "Elephant Walk” at Misawa Air Base, Japan, June 22, 2020. The event showcased the base’s collective readiness and ability to generate combat airpower at a moment's notice.

Tactical Training

Marines exercise during the High Intensity Tactical Training competition at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., June 18, 2020. The Marines showcased their fitness after having to social distance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven New Members Appointed to the DACOWITS

June 23, 2020

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The Department of Defense announced today the induction of seven new members to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. DACOWITS provides the Secretary of Defense with advice and recommendations on matters and policies relating to the recruitment, retention, employment, integration, well-being, and treatment of women in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The committee is comprised of up to 20 members, who include prominent civilian women and men from academia, industry, public service, and other professions. Selection is on the basis of experience in the military or with women-related workforce issues. Members are selected for a 4-year term and perform a variety of duties, to include visiting military installations annually, conducting a review and evaluation of current research on military women, and developing an annual report with recommendations on these issues for the secretary of defense.

New committee appointments include:

• Retired Maj. Gen. George A. Alexander, M.D., U.S. Army National Guard
• Retired Vice Adm. Robin R. Braun, U.S. Navy
• Retired Col. Many-Bears Grinder, U.S. Army National Guard
• Retired Command Master Chief Octavia D. Harris, U.S. Navy
• Retired Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson, U.S. Army
• Ms. Robin Kelleher
• Retired Fleet Master Chief Susan A. Whitman, U.S. Navy

Current committee members:

• Retired Capt. Kenneth J. Barrett, U.S. Navy
• Retired Lt. Gen. Judith A. Fedder, U.S. Air Force
• Ms. Therese A. Hughes
• Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Michele S. Jones, U.S. Army
• Retired Maj. Priscilla W. Locke, U.S. Army
• Retired Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum, U.S. Army
• Ms. Janie L. Mines, U.S. Navy Veteran
• Retired Fleet Master Chief JoAnn M. Ortloff, U.S. Navy
• Retired Brig. Gen. Jarisse J. Sanborn, U.S. Air Force
• Retired Brig. Gen. Allyson R. Solomon, U.S. Air National Guard
• Retired Rear Adm. Cari B. Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard
• Retired Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger, U.S. Air Force

To learn more about DACOWITS visit https://dacowits.defense.gov/.

Trio Travel

From left: the USNS William McLean, the USS Bataan and the USS Oak Hill travel through the Suez Canal, June 15, 2020.

Fort Indiantown Gap Increases Operations During COVID-19

June 19, 2020 | BY Brad Rhen , Pennsylvania National Guard

Now that Pennsylvania has begun a phased reopening from the COVID-19 crisis, Fort Indiantown Gap has begun gradually increasing operations.

Several facilities and recreation areas had closed, some training and events were cancelled, and some employees worked from home, but the installation still remained open.

"Although operations were reduced and some things were canceled, Fort Indiantown Gap never closed," said Army Col. Lane Marshall, the garrison commander. "The primary focus shifted from training to supporting our soldiers and airmen who were serving the citizens of the commonwealth in the fight against the spread of COVID-19."

The 17,000-plus-acre installation, which is home to the headquarters of both the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, is one of the busiest National Guard training sites in the country, with more than 120,000 service members training there annually. The fort also hosts training for law enforcement and other state and federal agencies.

While some training was canceled, training didn't completely cease. For example, the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade completed predeployment training at the fort for a previously scheduled rotation to the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

Training in weapons qualifications, grenade training and land-navigation training was done while taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing and wearing facemasks, to the extent practical.

Additionally, Pennsylvania National Guardsmen who were activated for COVID-19 support missions received various types of medical training at the installation's Medical Battalion Training Site and Medical Simulation Training Center.

Now that operations are beginning to ramp up, the training center is anticipating an influx of training requests from units attempting to salvage their training year, and the range scheduling section has already started receiving training requests.

The directorate of plans, training, mobilization and security, under the guidance of the garrison commander, has been developing courses of action aimed at maximizing use of the fort's training assets while incorporating measures to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19 among the training population and the installation's permanent party service members and employees.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure units can train in a safe manner so they can maintain readiness and they are able to complete their missions when called upon," Marshall said.

Kentucky National Guard to Assist With Primary Election

June 19, 2020 | BY ARMY CAPT. CASSANDRA MULLINS

More than 200 Kentucky National Guardsmen will assist local officials at polling locations around the state for Kentucky's June 23 primary election as part of the state's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guardsmen — who will serve out of uniform — will perform nonelection officer duties, such as setting up and cleaning poll locations and assisting with traffic, parking and crowd control in a non-law-enforcement capacity under the direction of election officers, officials said. The guard will not perform duties reserved for trained election officials, such as handling ballots or screening voters to determine who can vote.

Many of Kentucky's poll workers are older and have to self-quarantine because of high risk factors for COVID-19, creating a need for extra help at the polls, said Army Col. Andrew Bates, the deputy chief of staff for the Kentucky National Guard. This partnership will help protect those who are most vulnerable and allow them to remain healthy at home, he added.

''The National Guard has been asked to help in many different ways around the commonwealth, as we stand together against the COVID pandemic,'' Bates said. ''This is just another way the Kentucky Guard is making a difference in their neighbor's lives in times of crisis.''

Army Lt. Col. Andrew Caldwell, the director of military support for the Kentucky National Guard, said this is the first time, to his knowledge, that the Kentucky Guard has been asked to assist in an election. He said the guardsmen who are assisting volunteered to do so.

''We are here to support the commonwealth,'' Caldwell said. ''At a time when most of the volunteers at the polling stations are in the high-risk category for the coronavirus, we are here to step into that role and protect our state and our citizens.''

In addition, Caldwell said, guardsmen will serve only at locations in the 44 counties for which election officials requested the guard's assistance. Richard Vowels, director of the Jefferson County election center, said guardsmen were invaluable in assisting with setting up poll stations in his county ahead of the election. Vowels said because of social distancing requirements, his center has never had to set up polling locations this large.

''Our office does not have many employees in it,'' Vowels said. ''We could not have made this happen without [the guard],'' he continued. ''The help has really been tremendous.''

In Anderson County, where residents can vote early using drive-thru or walk-in stations, County Clerk Jason Denny said the guard's assistance has been a great benefit.

''The soldiers have been helping us with traffic control and doing things like sanitizing voting stations to help prevent the spread of the virus,'' he said. ''It's been very beneficial. We appreciate the guard being able to do this for us.''

On June 12, Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Cureton, with the Kentucky National Guard, received a thumbs-up from a voter as he directed traffic through a drive-thru voting station at the Anthony Stratton Building in Lawrenceburg.

''I'm just doing my part to help provide support during COVID-19,'' Cureton said.

The Kentucky National Guard has found itself serving in multiple capacities during the pandemic, such as assisting with food banks and turning an exhibit hall at the state fairgrounds into a field hospital. This year has presented several missions that require skill sets that are not often required to be used outside of the training environment, said Army Maj. John Kwiek, the special project officer with the Kentucky National Guard.

''Our Kentucky National Guard soldiers have excelled at every task placed in front of them,'' Kwiek said. ''Our soldiers have shown the commonwealth and their communities that we have been trained to provide assistance in many capacities, both home and abroad.''

With this most recent assignment, Kentucky joins other states who have also recently used guardsmen in elections, including Nebraska and Wisconsin. While preparing to assist at polls, Kentucky National Guard leaders said they studied best practices from the Wisconsin National Guard, which reported a successful election-support mission.

(Army Capt. Cassandra Mullins is assigned to the 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)

Red Zone

A Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter sits on the flightline before a simulated casualty evacuation exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 13, 2020.

DOD Announces $187 Million in Defense Production Act Title III COVID-19 Actions

June 19, 2020

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Statement attributed to Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, Department of Defense spokesman:

Today the Department is announcing five Defense Production Act Title III actions to help sustain and strengthen essential domestic industrial base capabilities and defense-critical workforce in shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and clothing and textiles.  These actions will help to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore some jobs lost because of the pandemic. The Department remains closely partnered with FEMA and HHS, providing almost $2.9 billion in life-saving medical services, supplies and equipment to service members and federal agencies in the nation's whole-of-government approach to the coronavirus pandemic.

DoD announces $50 million Defense Production Act Title III Agreement with Austal USA to Strengthen Domestic Shipbuilding Industrial Base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, the Department of Defense entered into a $50 million agreement with Austal USA to maintain, protect, and expand critical domestic shipbuilding and maintenance capacity. These investments will have long-term benefits for U.S. Navy shipbuilding while accelerating pandemic recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region.

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this DPA Title III investment will protect jobs and bolster the local economy in a region hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure critical capabilities are retained in support of U.S. Navy operational readiness.

Austal USA is based in Mobile, Alabama, which is the principal place of performance.

DoD announces $55 million Defense Production Act Title III Agreement with W International to Strengthen Domestic Shipbuilding Industrial Base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, the Department of Defense entered into a $55 million agreement with W International to maintain, protect, and expand critical domestic industrial base capability for the U.S. Navy nuclear shipbuilding industry. These investments will have long-term benefits for Navy shipbuilding while accelerating pandemic recovery efforts in the South East region of the United States.

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this DPA Title III investment will support capital projects to maintain and support capacity, workflow improvements, and workforce development. These investments will protect jobs in a region hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure critical capabilities are retained in support of U.S. Navy operational readiness.

W International is located in Goose Creek, South Carolina, which is the principal place of performance.

DoD announces $25 million Defense Production Act Title III Agreement to Strengthen Domestic Aviation Defense Industrial Base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, the Department of Defense (DoD) entered into a $25 million agreement with Weber Metals Inc. to sustain critical domestic industrial base capability and capacity for making of large, open and closed die forgings used in many DoD weapons systems. 

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this DPA Title III investment will expand production capability and capacity to meet vitally important DoD demand and improve associated processes including conversion and core processing in their supply chain. These investments will enable Weber Metals Inc to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore jobs lost due to the pandemic.

Weber Inc. is headquartered in Paramount, CA, which is the principal place of performance.

DoD announces $55 million Defense Production Act Title III Agreement to strengthen Domestic Aviation Defense Industrial Base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, the Department of Defense entered a $55 million agreement with GE Aviation to sustain essential aircraft engine component manufacturing capabilities. The purpose of this investment is for the remanufacture of selected critical engine components used on the F110-100/-129 turbofan jet engine and the F118-101 turbofan jet engine.  These engines power the F-16 and the U-2 aircraft respectfully.

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this DPA Title III investment will enable GE and their sub-tier suppliers, including small business, minority owned, women owned and veteran owned businesses to retain/reinstate more than 225 American jobs.  It is critical to national defense that GE and their affiliated companies remain viable and working.

Additionally, both the F-16 and the U-2 propulsion systems have future forecasted readiness challenges and the injection of these Title III funds will enable the USAF to avoid that projected shortfall. 

GE is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft.  GE Aviation has a global service network to support the aviation industry with extensive repair capabilities and experienced technicians, which provides the highest level of customer service and world-class performance.

Besides GE some of the affected sub-tier companies and vendors are located in: Grand Prairie, TX;  East Granby, CT;  Rochester, NY;  Cincinnati OH;  Bloomfield, CT;  Brazil, IN;  Asheville, NC; and Ithaca, MI, to name a few locations.

The Department is confident that this effort not only sustains the viability and readiness of current propulsion systems but will also continue to advance leading edge propulsion technologies.

DoD Announces $2 Million Defense Production Act Title III Agreement to Sustain U.S. Domestic Production of Fabric for Army Dress Uniforms

As part of the national response to COVID-19, the Department of Defense entered a $2 million agreement with American Woolen Company to sustain domestic production of poly/wool blend fabric for U.S. Army dress uniforms.

Using funds authorized and appropriated under the CARES Act, this DPA Title III investment will sustain the domestic production capability and capacity of poly/wool blend fabric for Army dress uniforms. The sustainment of this production capability will ensure the U.S. Government gets dedicated long term industrial capacity to meet the needs of the nation.

This investment will leverage American Woolen Company’s manufacturing capabilities to commercialize the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) fabrics, enabling the government to diversify the supply chain and add a second source of innovation to the market.

American Woolen Company is a small, women-owned manufacturer of wool and wool/blend fabrics based in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, which is the principal place of performance.

Website resources:

DoD Coronavirus update: https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Coronavirus/    

DoD Industrial Policy: https://www.businessdefense.gov/coronavirus/

Joint Acquisition Task Force: https://www.acq.osd.mil/jatf.html  

Defense Production Act Title III: https://www.businessdefense.gov/Programs/DPA-Title-III/

All Aboard

U.S. airmen and Canadian soldiers prepare to board a C-17 Globemaster III during aerial medical evacuation training at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, June 17, 2020.

Green Ops

An Air Force C-130J Super Hercules waits for passengers to board during loading and unloading operations in Kenya, June 15, 2020.

Smoky Scene

A soldier participates in the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year Competition at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, June 17, 2020.

Rocket Ready

Marines conduct simulated fire missions with an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during an exercise at San Clemente Island, Calif., May 2, 2020. The rocket system, which is intended to engage and destroy artillery, air defense concentrations, light armor and fortified stationary targets, is capable of firing GPS-guided munitions.

Guard Faces Pivotal Time, Nominee Says

June 18, 2020 | BY Terri Moon Cronk , DOD News

Today is an important and pivotal time in the history of the National Guard, the president's nominee to be the next chief of the National Guard Bureau told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

''We've placed complex dynamic missions overseas and here at home,'' Army Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson said at today's confirmation hearing. ''The next chief of the National Guard Bureau must continue to effectively navigate this unprecedented landscape and work closely with stakeholders at the international, federal, state and local levels.''

If confirmed by the Senate, Hokanson will be promoted to the rank of general to head up the bureau, where he is now vice chief.

If he is confirmed, he told the Senate panel, he will work with the committee to ensure the National Guard is manned, trained, equipped and ready, whenever and wherever it's needed. 

In recent months, the National Guard has been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic response in every state, territory and the District of Columbia, where guard members are helping communities fight the invisible enemy. 

''[Guard members] are supporting key functions in their communities [for] testing sites, long-term care facilities, hospitals and food banks. We have delivered personal protective equipment, sewn face masks, turned convention centers into alternate-care facilities and so much more,'' Hokanson said.

The National Guard also has responded to civil unrest in several states and Washington, D.C., as part of a national call for justice and racial equality, he said. ''Our soldiers and airmen were there to protect our First Amendment rights and preserve public safety in the communities where we live,'' the general added.

The citizen-soldiers and -airmen responded to those events and others in the homeland while simultaneously meeting all overseas deployment requirements to support combatant commands and the National Defense Strategy, Hokanson noted.

''As a result, we reached a new peak earlier this month of over 120,000 citizen-soldiers and -airmen mobilized worldwide. What makes this possible has not changed since the founding of our National Guard in 1636,'' he told committee members. 

Hokanson called National Guardsmen and women ''incredible.''

''They have [been] and will always be my highest priority,'' he said. ''They balance their military careers, civilian careers, their families and all the sacrifices they must make so we can live true to our motto, 'Always Ready, Always There.'''

Related Video: Senate Considers Nominations for Top National Guard, Project Warp Speed Positions

Marines Deploy to Norway for Exercise Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

June 18, 2020 | BY Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chase Drayer

Whether in the face of the enemy or a deadly global pandemic, the Marine Corps not only stays ahead of the curve, but also flattens it.

World War I showed the world the destruction and devastation that a man could do to another man, but the deaths caused by man paled in comparison to the destructive force that a simple virus can bring to the table. The 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic, which is known as one of the world's deadliest pandemics, affected about a third of the world's population at the time, and it resulted in the deaths of millions due, in part, to countries not following proper health protocols.

A century later, the Marine Corps has learned from the past, and the Marines and sailors with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force deployed to Norway in May as part of Marine Rotational Force Europe 20.2, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, which focuses on cold-weather and mountain-warfare training and military-to military engagements to enhance interoperability with allies and partners.

"COVID-19 was certainly a challenge to readiness," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Brian Donlon, the battalion commander of MRF-E. "It imposed conditions on the battalion's ability to train that were new and challenging, but COVID did not erase the requirement to be ready to deploy, to be expeditionary, and be prepared to execute our mission-essential tasks."

During the deployment process, the battalion mandated strict social distancing, hygiene protocol and mask donning, and Navy corpsmen continuously screened Marines and sailors for any symptoms of the virus. Once in Norway, a 14-day quarantine was executed.

"We treated quarantine a lot like being on ship, and when we were in quarantine, we did our prep for combat in the limited spaces available to us, and we created a battle rhythm that was essentially shipboard living," Donlon added.

After a successful 14-day quarantine where the battalion saw zero COVID-19 cases, the Marines and sailors immediately transitioned into the annual interoperability exercise, Thunder Reindeer, located inside the Arctic Circle. The exercise included opportunities to practice live-fire and combined arms training, as well as air integration.

On the ground, the Marines found themselves setting up camp in snowy, rocky terrain, much different from the humid, swampland they were used to at their home station in North Carolina. In the morning, the Marines tactically integrated with the Norwegians to provide support by fire.

Marine scout snipers maneuvered through forests across mountainous terrain to practice stealthy link up procedures with their Norwegian counterparts without giving away their position.

"This shows the flexibility of each country and our ability to quickly integrate after coming out of quarantine," said Marine Corps Sgt. Stephen Michaels, a scout sniper.

Marines also integrated with a Norwegian artillery battalion and learned how their NATO counterpart conducts a call for fire. The Norwegians were able to integrate air, land, and naval assets, including F-35 fighter jets, in a joint setting at the battalion level for the first time.

The Norwegian government announced its support for purchasing F-35s in 2008, and the first round of jets became operational in late 2019. According to Norway's chief of defense, bringing the capability to communicate with the jets is still a work in progress for the different Norwegian army, navy and air force units.

During Thunder Reindeer, the Marines stepped in to assist with the progress by simulating air support in conjunction with Norway's 2nd Army Battalion and Marine forward air controllers.

While out in northern Norway's arctic climate and mountainous terrain, contact with participating F-35 jets was reached, a milestone previously unattained by the 2nd Battalion. As a result, troops on the ground received the simulated support needed.

"It's a personal feat for the Norwegians as they continue to progress with that sort of technology and being able to use them not only as air assets, but air-to-ground," said Marine Corps Capt. Sage Santangelo, a Marine forward air controller.

Lt. Col. Erling Nervik, the commander of Norway's 2nd Battalion, said making contact and having air support was an important asset to bring into the training and that he was very satisfied with his experience with the Marines.

"We are in many ways like-minded, and we have been good allies for many years and working together with the USMC is always a pleasure," Nervik said. "After being at Quantico in America for a year at the Command and Staff College, I know the Marines — know the attitude, the mentality. I'm looking forward to the cooperation between two good allies."

The Marines are expected to operate in Norway until the fall, and they and the Norwegians plan to hold various exercises during that time for continued interoperability and arctic training.

(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Chase Drayer is assigned to Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa.)

Deployed Airmen Find Hope, Resilience Through Wingmen

June 18, 2020 | BY AIR FORCE AIRMAN NATALIE RUBENAK

As COVID-19 continued to affect deployments around the world, airmen downrange found hope in their wingmen and showed true resilience when challenges were thrown their way.

Due to the unforeseen mission impacts due to COVID-19, the 729th Air Control Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was unable to replace members of the 726th Air Control Squadron on time. This pushed back the 726th ACS airmen's redeployment to their home station at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, by almost a month.

As COVID-19 began to ramp up, Air Force Airman 1st Class Barbara Miller, a surveillance technician with the 726th ACS, knew her homecoming would not be the same.

''During month seven, we still didn't know when we were coming home,'' said Miller, a first-time deployer. ''Our leadership was transparent, and they were doing what they could to get us back.''

Despite their best efforts, the delay was still disheartening to many. But Miller said she found ways to stay positive and keep pushing forward.

''We got to work with our coalition partners and the Marines,'' she said. ''I couldn't have asked for a better support system; they make the job easier. We knew there would be a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere.''

Positivity in the midst of hardship can be difficult, but as it took root in the squadron, people began to notice, including Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Barber, 726th ACS commander.

''There were many mental and physical challenges that they had to go through with this deployment,'' Barber said. ''These airmen adapted so well with the changes that were thrown their way.''

The airmen came together during their time of uncertainty, and so did their families back home.

''We definitely saw a mutually beneficial camaraderie with families and spouses of the deployed airmen,'' Barber said. ''They were hosting virtual coffee hours or virtual trivia nights to break away from the monotony and maintain a social life while physically distancing.''

Airmen and their families proved to be prioritizing their mental health during trying times, Barber said. ''Thankfully, that keeps their minds sharp so they can take care of each other and the mission,'' he added.

''The airmen that deploy from the 726th ACS and all the ACSs from across the Air Force are the theater air control for the entire theater,'' Barber said. ''They have a large weight of responsibility, and their ability to be resilient with the changes and the daily missions was incredible.''

The airmen of the 726th Air Control Squadron were faced with the uncertainty of the current times and met it with resilience and camaraderie. ''It was a crazy, eye-opening and exciting seven months,'' Miller said. ''I learned a lot about myself and my job, and I would do it all over again.''

(Air Force Airman Natalie Rubenak is assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing.)

Indiana National Guard Medics Maintain Readiness Amid COVID-19

June 18, 2020 | BY Army Cpl. Hannah Clifton , Indiana National Guard

Indiana National Guardsmen have been serving Hoosier citizens throughout the COVID-19 response. Despite rigorous missions across the state, these guardsmen continued to maintain combat readiness by practicing combat-related medical care.

"Training and rehearsals facilitate an efficient, robust and reproducible delivery of services," said Army 1st Sgt. Ryan A. Richmond, the medical branch noncommissioned officer in charge of the Indiana Medical Detachment. "Empowered health care professionals are force multipliers, and they have consistently shown how they are able to turn theory into practice with tailored training over accelerated timelines without losing quality of instruction and patient care."

Between tasks in assisting the community through various missions, the guardsmen completed training on combat-related care at the Medical Simulation Training Center at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The advanced training facility is one of 22 MSTC sites in the world.

Serving during this pandemic has changed the way people look at how we are serving and has forced us to be flexible and tactical in everything we do."

Army Capt. Jessica Philbin, 219th Engineer Brigade

Training began in a lecture format, followed by IV practice. Finally, medics ran through a realistic, hands-on medical training in a combat scenario using cutting-edge patient simulators. Instructors remotely controlled the simulators to display symptoms that included blinking, breathing, increasing or decreasing heart rate, bleeding and more.

The patient simulators were placed in a low-lit room filled with smoke, flashing lights and loud noises to simulate a combat environment. This tested the medics' knowledge and ability to administer care in the battlefield while learning and developing muscle memory.

Having high-quality equipment and experienced trainers provided guardsmen the opportunity to increase combat readiness through intensive, realistic training that many leaders hope to continue for guardsmen serving in a traditional status.

The guardsmen also participated in other training, such as running through a litter course, loading and unloading patients on military vehicles, search and rescue training in a rubble pile, suturing practice on pig skin and learning how to provide medical care while in a helicopter.

When the guardsmen weren't training, they served to accomplish their designated COVID-19 response missions. These guardsmen helped thousands of Hoosiers at mobile testing centers across the state while providing relief to multiple civilian agencies and organizations.

"Serving during this pandemic has changed the way people look at how we are serving and has forced us to be flexible and tactical in everything we do," said Army Capt. Jessica Philbin, the medical operations officer for the 219th Engineer Brigade. "It is critical as citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen to be able to come together in an unfortunate situation to help Hoosiers. We are here fighting the pandemic all together, but we are also able to get some training experience out of it as well."

The training also provided an outlet to relieve stress from working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and an opportunity to build relationships across branches. While the operational tempo was rigorous during the statewide response, these guardsmen were proud to be serving their communities while developing themselves as medics, soldiers and airmen.

"These are two different types of scenarios," said Army Cpl. Kaley Beckham, a medic with the 738th Area Medical Support Company. "Working with this pandemic is definitely not the same as this training, but they are equally as important. I hope that I have the opportunity to do this training again."

Their effectiveness in accomplishing missions while simultaneously honing their combat-care skills, speaks to the Indiana National Guard's overall commitment to the readiness to fight any enemy — foreign or domestic — that may threaten the state or nation.

"Our health care professionals within the Indiana National Guard are catalysts in the delivery of care while assigned to missions during the state response," Richmond said. "Ensuring each and every one of them have the fundamental knowledge, skills and most up-to-date information facilitates mission readiness, their safety and their success."

(Army Cpl. Hannah Clifton is assigned to the Indiana National Guard.)