Pace Lauds Rumsfeld; Rumsfeld Expresses Confidence in Gates

By Donna Miles

Dec. 8, 2006 – Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took today's Pentagon town hall meeting as an opportunity to praise the drive, energy, courage and loyalty Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld brought to his position. Pace shared his thoughts just before Rumsfeld told Pentagon employees he has "every confidence" in incoming Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.

The chairman, speaking at Rumsfeld's 42nd and last town hall meeting as defense secretary, called Rumsfeld's work ethic incredible.

"Is he demanding?" Pace said. "You bet. If you haven't done your homework when you walk into the secretary's office, you're not going to have a good day."

But Rumsfeld is more demanding on himself than anyone else, the chairman said. "And we have benefited enormously from the drive and energy that he has instilled in this organization from top to bottom, starting with his own daily work ethic and how he does his job," Pace said.

After almost 40 years in uniform, the chairman said he's come to appreciate two kinds of courage. In addition to the concept of courage in combat that military members exhibit, "there's also the courage it takes to speak one's mind", he said.

In meetings that Rumsfeld participates in -- forums in which "there are no shrinking violets" -- the secretary has demonstrated the courage to disagree with how others think and to explain his reasons, Pace told the audience. These insights have sometimes changed, not just the course of a conversation, but "quite literally, the course that our country has taken," he said.

"That kind of courage is rare," the chairman said. "And we who serve in the military and in this department have benefited enormously through the courage that our secretary has shown in those meetings."

Pace also praised Rumsfeld's sense of loyalty -- not just up the chain of command, but also down the chain, to the 2.4 million U.S. servicemembers on active duty and in the reserves and National Guard.

Even in those rare occasions when servicemembers step out of line or do "something stupid," Rumsfeld never tries to dodge blame, Pace said.

"Not once," he said -- repeating "not once" for emphasis - "when folks have laid at the feet of our secretary the blame for something that has gone wrong, not once has he done anything other than accept the responsibility," Pace said. "He has never tried to deflect that to any subordinate, even though it was a subordinate's responsibility."

Pace told today's audience he's come to admire Rumsfeld's integrity and his willingness to share other people's opinions, even if they differed from his own.

"It takes enormous integrity to have the kind of strength of conviction that the secretary has to drive to the conclusion that he believes is correct and, at the same time, ensure that the decision maker has in front of him or her all of the information and all of the various ideas," the chairman said.

Rumsfeld, when asked at about incoming Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, said he believes Gates will bring solid leadership to DoD. "I've had two meetings with him, and we've had a good discussion on a variety of things," Rumsfeld said. "The senior folks in the department have been briefing him."

Rumsfeld noted that everyone has different qualities and leadership styles.

"He'll do a good job," he said of Gates. "He'll come in and he'll find a way to begin the process of serving as secretary of defense in a way that fits his background and the needs of the current time. And I've got every confidence that he'll do a terrific job."

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Milestone Card Presented in Baghdad

By Samantha L. Quigley

Dec. 8, 2006 – World Wrestling Entertainment personalities delivered a milestone "thank you" message to a U.S. servicemember in Baghdad today. Army 1st Lt. Shannon Terry accepted the 2.6 millionth message generated by "A Million Thanks," a troop-support effort that's the brainchild of Orange, Calif., teenager Shauna Fleming.

A Million Thanks and the WWE are members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector are supporting the nation's servicemembers. WWE personalities are visiting deployed servicemembers on a tour sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment.

Fleming started A Million Thanks with the goal of gathering a million notes of gratitude for servicemembers fighting in the global war on terrorism. When she reached that goal, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers challenged her to go for 2.6 million, which symbolically gives each servicemember in the nation's active and reserve components a letter.

That 2.6 millionth letter was delivered today in front of a cheering crowd of about 1,000 servicemembers.

"I have always wanted to go to Iraq to personally hand out the letters I have received from Americans," Fleming said. "But since I can't be there, I know a huge piece of what I do will be there instead."

On her behalf, the WWE presented the framed letter to Terry with a letter of appreciation from Fleming. The soldier knew she was receiving it, but was a bit shocked by the letter carriers. "I was very pleasantly surprised," the WWE fan said.

It was a job the WWE personalities were happy to have. "Being a part of the WWE, along with Armed Forces Entertainment, and being able to come over here to do what we do is a blessing," John Cena said. "But being able to bring a good word of support and good will from home is absolutely fantastic."

Perhaps even more special to Terry than the method of delivery was who made the card -- Amber and Sean Siegfried of Easton, Pa., for whom she had a special message.

"Continue with your positive attitude, and being an inspiration to us over here," she told the siblings. "You probably don't realize this now, being so young, but you really do make an impact with that kind of attitude, and we really appreciate it."

Amber and Sean said they created the card because servicemembers protect America. "I wanted to thank them because they protect me and my family every day, and protect our rights and freedoms," Amber, 12, said.

It was Sean who first learned of A Million Thanks at school. However, the duo teamed up to decide what it should look like, and they decided that depicting a servicemember holding a child's hand would best symbolize their sentiment. "Showing a servicemember holding a child's hand is a symbol of us caring for what they do in Iraq," Sean said.

Fleming said children have been the biggest contributors to her campaign, so she's pleased that Sean and Amber's letter arrived when it did. "I think it's wonderful that the 2.6 millionth letter we opened was from two wonderful kids from ... Pennsylvania," she said.

While the Siegfried siblings were excited that their card was the 2.6 millionth card A Million Thanks received, Sean was even more excited about who delivered it to Terry. "I was very excited to hear the WWE wrestlers were handing the letter to the soldier," he said. "I am a huge WWE fan."

Fleming said she now knows mountain climbers feel when they reach the summit. "Hitting 2.6 (million letters) was the top of the mountain," she said.

But having reached that goal does not mean Fleming's job supporting the troops is complete. She will continue to collect and distribute letters of support for the troops, and next year brings a new venture as well, she said.

Fleming said visits to wounded troops recovering from their injuries in the United States made her want to do more.

"For 2007, we will be working on fundraising to provide assistance to wounded soldiers and their families," she said. "I saw that there is going to be a huge need for helping soldiers with getting their homes set up to handle wheelchairs and other special needs."

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Cold War Leaders Learn About Transformation, Role in Terror War

By Sgt. Aimee Millham, USA

Dec. 7, 2006 – In today's global political environment, when something goes awry, the United States - rightly or wrongly -- can often get the brunt of the blame. This was the blunt assessment of retired German army Gen. Leopold Chalupa as he explained why it is so important for he and other former European leaders to tell the story of U.S. Army, Europe. Chalupa's words came during the USAREUR-sponsored Legion of Merit conference Dec. 5, where about 60 recipients of the medal received briefings on the transformation of U.S. forces in Europe and their leading role in the global war on terrorism.

Having attended every LOM conference since the inaugural one in 1980, Chalupa said he appreciates gaining insight on the actions of the U.S. military in Europe, so that he is well informed when explaining to his countrymen the importance of supporting the U.S. military's involvement in the war on terror.

"I tell (German citizens), 'If you had been in the Empire State Building (on Sept. 11, 2001), the impact of what happened would have been far different than when you sit and watch, like we did, on TV,'" Chalupa said.

He and the other non-U.S. conference attendees all hold the LOM, which is awarded to U.S. servicemembers and to foreign governments' military and political figures for exceptionally meritorious conduct - giving validity to the insights and thought-provoking questions these former senior Cold War leaders offered at the meeting.

"Sitting down with former German corps commanders and former chiefs of staff of NATO organizations was absolutely invaluable," said Brig. Gen. James Boozer, USAREUR deputy chief of staff, adding that the views of these former leaders are priceless assets to a command that is simultaneously transforming and at war.

Such interaction with foreign military leaders remains a central reason for continuing to hold the annual conference, especially with the role allied forces continue to play in U.S. operations worldwide.

"The U.S. is a key player, but we can't do this by ourselves," said Col. Lew Boone, USAREUR's public affairs officer. "One of the main tenets of the USAREUR commanding general's strategy map clearly states: 'Building coalition partners and allies,' and that's what we're about."

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Trees for Troops Brings Christmas to Ike

By Seaman Shanika Futrell, USN

Dec. 7, 2006 – Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower have received eight natural Christmas trees from "Trees for Troops." Trees for Troops started in Columbus, Ohio, when Federal Express joined forces with the Ohio Christmas Tree Association's "Operation Evergreen" to donate more than 200 Christmas trees to deployed servicemembers.

"I received an e-mail from 5th Fleet's chaplain that said there were 20 trees donated from Trees for Troops," Cmdr. John Maurice, Ike's command chaplain, said. "I then contacted the supply officer and Sara Dowell, the 'fun boss,' so we could decide on the amount of trees we would like to request."

Maurice then coordinated the delivery. The Christmas trees were set up on the mess decks and decorated by ship crewmembers to bring a sense of home to Ike. "Having the trees and being able to decorate them reminds us all of home and being around the people we love," Maurice said.

While decorating the Christmas trees, sailors shared holiday spirit with shipmates. "I helped decorate one of the trees, and I think the spirit of the holidays brings out the best of us," Seaman Abel Jimenez said. "No matter how far away from family we are, our love is still the same."

Celebrating holidays is important to deployed sailors because it brings back memories of holidays spent with their families. "It is important to celebrate the holidays on the ship because the crew needs to break up monotony," Dowell said. "It's a good break from the regular day-to-day work schedule."

Christmas is traditionally one of the most cherished holidays of the year, and while out to sea, some sailors dedicated their time to help lift others' spirits.

"Christmas is the time of the year where we can lift our spirits, where most people can hum and sing different carols and songs," Maurice said. "It's also the time of the year to reminisce on the happy times, eat different foods, have parties and give gifts."

The trees bring back the memories for many sailors on the Ike. "Natural trees have a nice cedar scent," Dowell said. "It gives a sense of being at home for the holidays, and the trees alone make the mess decks look festive.

"Sailors aboard Ike had fun, especially the ones who helped decorate. It's nice to see people caring about us by sending the trees to the ship."

Maurice said he plans to thank Trees for Troops for their support and generosity during the holiday season. "We will send a letter to Trees for Troops to show who benefited and extend our gratitude," he said. "Somebody somewhere sacrificed their time and income for our morale, which is certainly along the lines of the Christmas holidays, the time for giving and sharing."

Ike departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., on Oct. 3, with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations. Ike and embarked Carrier Air Wing 7 have been flying missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom over Afghanistan since Nov. 6.

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Spectrum Summit Focuses on Current, Future Warfighter Needs

By Donna Miles

Dec. 7, 2006 – Servicemembers on patrols and convoy missions in Iraq and Afghanistan sometimes have to decide if they would rather have access to their radios to call in close-air support if they need it or jammers to disable improvised explosive devices they encounter along the route. That's a decision troops shouldn't have to make, Paige Atkins, director of the Defense Spectrum Organization, told reporters attending the Annual Defense Spectrum Summit 2006 here yesterday. The Defense Spectrum Organization was established as part of the Defense Information Systems Agency in April as DoD's focal point for radio frequency spectrum analysis, planning and support.

Both tactical radios and electronic countermeasures operate through the electromagnetic spectrum, so they can sometimes interfere with one another, Atkins explained. "It may boil down to an operator making a choice (about which system to use)," she said. "And we want to prevent them from having to make a choice between critical functions and protecting lives."

Atkins and her staff are part of a sweeping transformation under way to ensure that troops have access to the information and communications they need without having to worry about other systems degrading them. "And that is what we are trying to ensure: that they have the right capabilities in place to do their mission," Atkins said.

Electromagnetic interference doesn't come just from other U.S. military systems, Atkins explained. Sometimes it comes from systems used by coalition partners or the host nation where U.S. forces are operating. It can come from an enemy who intentionally jams a "friendly" system.

It can also come from a commercial system, Atkins said, noting that the demand for "spectrum-dependent systems" and the band width they need to operate is skyrocketing in the commercial sector.

"We're under a lot of pressure to share our large inventory of spectrum," John Grimes, assistant secretary of defense for networks and information and integration, told participants at the weeklong Defense Spectrum Summit. "A lot of people have a need for it and want it."

DoD and other federal agencies recently auctioned off spectrum from 1710 to 1755 megahertz to the private sector. The auction yielded a whopping $14 billion, much of which will go toward migrating military and government systems to other electromagnetic frequencies.

The government is more likely to share rather than give up additional band width, Atkins said. She noted that officials working on the Presidential Spectrum Reform Initiative are looking into ways to promote sharing between military, federal and commercial entities in a way that doesn't compromise security or access for military users.

"We need to look at the way we manage spectrum from a national perspective and ensure we have the right mechanisms in place to enable economic prosperity and innovation while protecting federal government interests and the national security," she said.

Grimes urged participants at the Defense Spectrum Summit to try to come up with ways to achieve that balance. At the same time, he urged them to help work toward DoD's goal of net-centric operations and warfare in which troops can tap into all the information they need through a secure global network.

"The most important thing is to understand the warfighter issues we have to satisfy," Grimes said.

As DoD builds the foundation for its future network, referred to as the Global Information Grid, Atkins said, it's also working to protect troops in the field today. That includes ensuring that U.S. military systems don't interfere with each other and aren't degraded by allied, host-country or civilian systems, while blocking as much "intentional inference" from an enemy as possible.

Among the immediate issues addressed by the network is the problem with some electronic countermeasures and communication systems.

An analysis cell within the Defense Spectrum Organization operates around the clock, evaluating different systems to determine what, if any, interference they'll cause. Once its staffers identify that, they offer tactics, techniques and procedures warfighters can use to reduce or eliminate the problem.

But the office's focus extends far beyond "deconflicting" U.S. electronic warfare systems and communications systems, Atkins said. It extends to the full range of systems and devices the military uses that operate over electromagnetic waves: from tactical radios and cell phones to radar systems to wireless computers and other wireless systems.

As part of that effort, DoD is working to keep closer tabs on what spectrum-dependent systems it has in the combat zone, where specifically they're operating, and what frequencies and domains they're using. The Global Electromagnetic Spectrum Information System, a new high-tech database, will go a long way toward getting the most out of the military's band width, Atkins said.

"As the environment gets much more crowded from a spectrum-use perspective, we have to find new ways of sharing and ... perhaps reassigning or understanding when systems are not using pieces of the spectrum, to be able to more efficiently use them," she said.

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Marvel, AAFES Offer New Military-Only Comic

Dec. 6, 2006 – Just in time for the holiday season, Marvel Comics' "The New Avengers" and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service have teamed up to bring troops stationed around the world another free, military-exclusive comic book. Marvel Comics and the Army Air Force Exchange Service have joined forces to bring servicemembers around the world the fourth installment in the "The New Avengers" military-only comic book series. "The New Avengers: Letters Home" is scheduled to arrive in U.S. exchanges around Dec. 20 and overseas, including 53 facilities throughout operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, shortly thereafter. Courtesy photo '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marvel Comics, a division of Marvel Enterprises, Inc., is a member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers.

"The New Avengers: Letters Home" is scheduled to arrive in U.S. exchanges around Dec. 20 and overseas, including the 53 BX/PX facilities throughout operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, shortly thereafter. It's the fourth installment of the military-only comic book series.

"Due to their limited availability, collectors have historically shown great interest in these special AAFES/Marvel Comics editions," Army Col. Max Baker, AAFES chief of staff, said. "If the past is any indicator, 'The New Avenger: Letters Home' issue should go quickly."

Available exclusively at AAFES stores, the newest issue once again features Marvel's superhero Captain America, who, because his regular supporting cast is away for the holidays, is joined by Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider and special guest, The Punisher. When Hydra takes over a military communications satellite, the superheroes spring into action to ensure troops' e-mail messages to loved ones make their way home.

Because of the highly collectible nature and the anticipated demand for the 36-page comic, AAFES officials advise that "The New Avengers: Letters Home" is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Safety Committee Promotes Holiday Hazard Awareness

By Kim Sears

Dec. 6, 2006 – Increased alcohol consumption and dangerous road conditions are two of many holiday hazards a Defense Department safety committee is working to remind servicemembers about this season. The Defense Safety Oversight Council is using a series of holiday messages from top DoD officials and Service Safety Center activities to promote awareness and the importance of safe and responsible behavior through the holidays.

The holidays account for an increased amount of safety mishaps DoD-wide, officials said. From drinking and driving to leaving holiday candles unattended, the potential for injury and loss goes up dramatically during this time.

The committee is putting particular emphasis on safe driving, using a series of leadership messages focused on accountability by individuals and the chain of command and the importance of defensive driving.

The council also is directing servicemembers to Service Safety Center Web sites, which have online tools to help local commanders and individuals reduce risks. Online resources include tips, presentations and articles on topics including fireplace safety, suicide prevention, and carbon monoxide poisoning, among others.

In a June 22 memorandum, the Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld reiterated his directive to reduce all safety mishaps within DoD by 75 percent by the end of fiscal 2008. The Defense Safety Oversight Council was created to find ways to meet that goal. David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, is chairman of the council.

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Fort Bliss Offers Example, Lessons for BRAC Gaining Posts

By Donna Miles

Dec. 6, 2006 – Bases slated to grow as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure process need look no farther for lessons learned than this sprawling post that's tripling its population and transforming from an air-defense center to an armor center. Even before the ink had dried on the BRAC 2005 recommendations, Fort Bliss was already preparing to welcome about 20,000 1st Armored Division soldiers and 27,000 family members relocating from Germany, Clark McChesney, director of the post's Transformation Office, told American Forces Press Service.

That plan, part of the Defense Department's global reposturing strategy and the Army's modularization effort, calls for the 1st Armored Division headquarters, four brigade combat teams and a combat aviation brigade from Fort Hood, Texas, to move to Fort Bliss within the next five years. Meanwhile, the Air Defense Artillery Center and School is slated to move from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill, Okla., during the next four years.

Post planners anticipated big growth for the post long before they were formally announced and began laying the initial groundwork for it more than 20 years ago, said Jean Offutt, the post's public affairs officer.

As a result, she said, Fort Bliss is at the leading edge of the sweeping changes under way at other posts around the country and is being looked to by many as a model for growth.

"I was told by the people in Washington that whenever anybody wants to know anything about how to do something or they need a briefing about it, they call Fort Bliss to come and tell them," Offutt said.

McChesney compared planning to boost the post's soldier population from 10,000 to about 30,000 to putting together a puzzle in which all the pieces are the same size and color. "We're trying to figure out how to put the puzzle together here at Fort Bliss," he said. "And I expect that a lot of our other sister installations around the United States are doing the same thing."

Complicating the process, he said, is the fact that the Army is at war, and changeable deployment schedules leave big question marks as to exactly what units will be moving both to and from the post and when.

"I like to talk about this like it's dominoes," he said. "Somebody has to be the first domino to fall. And that first domino has to fall because someone has to move off of Fort Bliss in order to create a vacancy in facilities so that there is a place for that next person to move in."

Some of the first units slated to leave Fort Bliss departed this summer, opening up space for the first incoming units, including the new, high-tech Future Force Integration Directorate.

But even as post officials tweak their planning, the first of the incoming soldiers, the 1st Cavalry Division's 4th Brigade, began arriving in October 2005. The brigade moved into temporary modular facilities but will relocate to permanent facilities when $2.5 billion in construction at Fort Bliss wraps up in 2014, McChesney said.

Post officials broke ground Oct. 23, beginning a six-year construction boom that will transform stretches of mesquite brush and sand dunes on the post's eastern side into state-of-the-art living and training facilities. "We're basically building an entire new city," McChesney said.

Ultimately, the expansion will include new headquarters and administrative spaces, aircraft hangars, arms rooms, unit storage facilities, barracks, dining facilities, fitness centers, medical and dental facilities, motor pool areas, maintenance facilities and wash racks.

Plans also call for $180 million in construction to expand the range complexes, which now serve air defense units, so they're suitable for mounted maneuvers. The expansion plans will tap into the space and capabilities at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., collectively offering 800,000 acres of on- and off-road maneuver area, McChesney said.

"We are going to end up with three major range complexes when this is all done," he said, allowing four combat brigades and a division to conduct everything from individual-soldier training to brigade-level operations.

These new range facilities will enable soldiers "to go out and conduct realistic training that meets their requirements so that they are prepared when they go into combat with the best training facilities that we have to give them," McChesney said.

The Fort Bliss expansion plan also includes a full range of quality-of-life and family-support facilities and programs, too. That includes about 600 new homes, a number McChesney said could increase to about 1,700 depending on results of a local housing analysis. "What the housing market analysis is going to try to do is ... determine what is the capability of El Paso to absorb this growth, and then how much does the Army have to make up?" he said.

Plans also call for new child-care facilities, shopping areas and other quality-of-life activities. "All of those things have to grow to keep up with the population," McChesney said. "You can't just build facilities for soldiers to live in. You also have to be concerned about their quality of life."

Because the post is smack in the middle of El Paso, one of Texas' biggest cities, which is experiencing its own population boom, Fort Bliss planners are working closely with state and local officials to ensure it's the base's growth is a success. "This has really been a huge partnership. ... And one of the real significant lessons learned is that you have to be partners with the folks downtown," McChesney said.

That includes not just the city and county government, but also five local school systems expected to absorb about 9,600 school-age children from Fort Bliss, business developers, homebuilders, realtor associations and transportation officials, among others.

The Texas Department of Transportation is looking at building a $300 million high-speed "inner loop" roadway to support Fort Bliss, and local officials are considering building a community college on the installation, McChesney said.

When the expansion is completed and all the new units have arrived, Fort Bliss will transform back to its historical cavalry roots. The post was originally established to protect the Butterfield Trail and other trade routes, and the 1st Cavalry Division stood up here in 1921, Offutt said. When it relocated here in 2005, the 1st Armored Division's 4th Brigade was returning to its birthplace, she said.

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DoD Civilians Prove Disability Is No Handicap

By Gerry J. Gilmore

Dec. 6, 2006 – Lisa Marie Waugh offers tried-and-true advice to people with disabilities who want to get ahead in life: "You should let nothing stop you." Waugh, an intelligence research specialist with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, at Fort Belvoir, Va., has successfully dealt with Stargardt's disease, a malady that has compromised her vision.

"I'm just thankful for what I have," Waugh said.

Waugh was among 14 Defense Department employees honored at the 26th Annual DoD Disability Awards held yesterday in Bethesda, Md.

David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, hosted the event and presented awards to outstanding DoD civilian employees with disabilities. The award ceremony was followed by the start of a federal disability forum that's held each year.

"This is the only annual training conference that focuses exclusively on federal employment of individuals with disabilities," Chu said, noting President Bush is dedicated to help disabled Americans reach their full potential.

The Defense Department is a recognized leader in assisting disabled persons to have full and productive lives, Chu said, noting DoD hired 206 disabled students for permanent and summer jobs this year. Some occupations filled under the program included aerospace engineer, accounting clerk, park ranger, archeologist, cartographic aide, and store worker.

"The program, I believe, has proven to be an excellent pipeline to careers in the (DoD) civilian workforce for those with disabilities," Chu said.

DoD now employs more than 5,000 people with severe disabilities targeted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chu said. "That is almost 1 percent of our civilian workforce. While that percentage is higher than in some other agencies, we do know that it should be higher still," he said.

The theme for this year's National Disability Employment Awareness Month held in October, "Americans with Disabilities: Ready for the Global Workforce," is very fitting, Chu said.

"It's a most appropriate theme, particularly when I think about how much defense has been able to do to improve job opportunities for those with disabilities, including military personnel who've been wounded in combat," Chu said.

The Defense Department is committed to its programs that prepare wounded servicemembers for their futures, he said. The Military Severely Injured Center program serves as a coordinating mechanism and umbrella organization for similar programs managed by each military branch.

New technology and shifting attitudes have enabled many wounded servicemembers to opt to stay on military duty, Chu said. The federal government-wide Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program started by DoD in 1990 helps eliminate barriers in the workplace and assists disabled persons to achieve their full potential. Recent federal legislation has given CAP the authority to serve wounded servicemembers, as well as disabled government civilians, Chu said.

Keynote speaker John R. Vaughn, chairman of the National Council on Disability, urged DoD, other federal agencies and private-sector employers not to forget that disabled people make excellent, productive employees.

Vaughn, a retired businessman who as a young man lost his sight to a degenerative eye disease, said there should be a national campaign with the slogan, "Don't Count Me Out," that highlights the advantages of hiring disabled people.

"We've got to believe in giving everybody a chance to be whatever they can," Vaughn said, noting disabled people meld well with today's fluid, global business environment.

"I don't know of anybody else who is a better champion for change and dealing with change than a person with a disability where their whole life has been turned upside down," Vaughn said.

Chu also presented awards to:

-- Leslie Eden Bell, an attorney with the National Security Agency, at Fort Meade, Md.;

-- Chester Bogart III, a materials handler at Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pa.;

-- Deirdre J. Carter, a copier and duplicating equipment operator at the Defense Logistics Agency, in Whitehall, Ohio;

-- Paul Robert Gabriel, an electronics engineer at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas;

-- Jerome Anthony Knight, a laborer with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, at Fort Eustis, Va.;

-- Derek Alan Lee, a commissary support clerk at the Defense Commissary Agency, at Fort Lee, Va.;

-- Carlene J. Miles, a digital production system assistant with the National Guard Bureau, in Blackstone, Va.;

-- Vicki D. Morgan, an accounting technician with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, in Rome, N.Y.;

-- Christine Rose Murphy, an information technology specialist with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, in Washington, D.C.;

-- Judy C. Spain, a management analyst with the Defense Contract Management Agency, in Indianapolis;

-- Gregory Paul Springer, a systems engineer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, in Bethesda, Md.; and

-- Dr. James Nelson Templeman, a computer engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, D.C.

Chu also honored three DoD components for their outstanding accomplishments in their affirmative action programs for people with disabilities. The awards are brass cups that are passed on from the previous year's winners.

The Best Military Department award went to the Department of the Army, and the Defense Logistics Agency earned Best Mid-Size Component honors. The Defense Security Service took the Best Small Component award.

The Army and DLA also won last year in their respective categories.

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Officials Weigh Need for Africa Command

By Jim Garamone

Dec. 6, 2006 – Defense Department officials continue to examine the idea of establishing a U.S. Africa Command, a top DoD official said here this week. A team of DoD officials is looking at all options in examining the need for a new combatant command, Theresa Whelan, deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs, said in an interview.

Responsibility for U.S. military operations in Africa is currently divided among three combatant commands. The area from Kenya to Egypt is part of U.S. Central Command. The rest of the continent falls under the auspices of U.S. European Command. The eastern island nations are in U.S. Pacific Command's area of operations.

"We are looking at different ways of organizing DoD for doing business in Africa," Whelan said. "The different circumstances and threats have caused us to take a step back and look at the way we're doing business."

There is no set date for a decision on establishing a new command or finding another means for handling operations in Africa, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said today. Officials are working to decide on the best course of action: to stick with the status quo, to establish a subordinate command, or to stand up a full out combatant command, on par with European Command and Central Command.

The group will make its recommendations through the Joint Chiefs of Staff before presenting them to the chairman and the secretary for a decision.

Whelan said the security environment in Africa has changed fundamentally in the last decade. "You have a situation where the threats are not confined to state actors or geographically confined," she said. "You don't have to look to a state that has a large military to find an entity that can threaten U.S. security in a serious way."

She said the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, brought that home in a very stark and tragic manner. "Africa is an environment that has the potential to be used by these non-state actors to achieve or at least move closer to their ends," she said.

Africa has seen its own attacks. Al Qaeda attacked the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, killing hundreds of innocent people, most of them local citizens. Other terrorist organizations have been regionally focused in the past, but now are expanding their interests and jumping on the al Qaeda bandwagon, Whelan said.

The United States military always has paid attention to the continent. In the past, the U.S. military has had bases in Ethiopia, Libya, Liberia and Morocco.

Poor governance, wars and population pressures are some of the human-caused problems on the continent, but natural threats need to be dealt with as well, Whelan said. "There are clearly challenges in terms of disease -- AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis -- are major threats," she said. "Your issue is you have these major demographic changes caused by disease and the untimely death of the working-age population. The African population in many countries is now very young or very old, Whelan said.

A U.S. Africa Command would work at "preventing problems from becoming crises and crises from becoming catastrophes," Whelan said. "Instead of the United States being reactive, ... we want to be more proactive in promoting security, to build African capacity to build their own environments and not be subject to the instability that has toppled governments and caused so much pain on the continent."

She likened it to a fire department. Instead of waiting until a fire breaks out, U.S. Africa Command would be like firefighters who work with the community to promote fire safety or help businesses install sprinklers. "It may prevent a fire or lessen the magnitude of damage," she said.

If officials decide to go ahead with a U.S. Africa Command, "you would clearly want to have it based on that continent." But, she said, there are a lot of ways to "skin that cat."

The command may have its main headquarters in the United States, but forward operating bases in Africa.

The command would not necessarily have a large number of people. The needs are so great in Africa that a little can go a long way, she said. The command would coordinate training teams, advisory teams, civil affairs teams, medical and veterinary aid to the continent. It would also help interface with other government agencies and non-governmental aid groups in efforts on the continent.

In short, it would not look like other U.S. combatant commands. "Africa Command will not be a cookie-cutter organization," Whelan said. "If we go this way, it will be something different."

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Navy to Christen USNS Alan Shepard

The Navy will christen the USNS Alan Shepard, the newest ship in the Lewis and Clark class of underway replenishment ships, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, during an 8 a.m. PST launching at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), San Diego, Calif.

The ship honors the first American in space, Rear Adm. Alan B. Shepard Jr. Like the legendary explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, for whom the first ship of the class was named, Shepard bravely volunteered to explore the unknown and became the first American in space. Thus began one of the most challenging endeavors in human history: the manned exploration of space.

Shepard graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1944. He served aboard destroyers in the Pacific during World War II and later entered flight training, receiving his designation as a naval aviator in 1947. Shepard served several tours in fleet squadrons and was selected to attend the Navy Test Pilot School in 1950. He logged more than 8,000 hours of flying time.

In 1959, Shepard was one of seven men chosen by NASA for the Mercury manned space flight program. Two years later, he became the first American to journey into space in the Freedom 7 spacecraft launched by a Redstone rocket on a suborbital flight. He reached an altitude of 116 miles.

In 1963, he was designated chief of the Astronaut Office with responsibility for monitoring the coordination, scheduling and control of all activities involving NASA astronauts. Shepard made his second space flight as spacecraft commander on Apollo 14 in 1971. He was accompanied on the third U.S. lunar landing mission by Stuart A. Roosa, command module pilot, and Edgar D. Mitchell, lunar module pilot. Shepard logged 216 hours and 57 minutes in space, of which 9 hours and 17 minutes were spent in lunar surface extravehicular activity. He resumed his duties as chief of the Astronaut Office in June 1971 and served in this capacity until he retired from NASA and the Navy on Aug. 1, 1974.

After his Navy and NASA careers, he entered private business in Houston and served as the president of the Mercury Seven Foundation, a non-profit organization now known as the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation that provides college science scholarships for deserving students. Shepard died July 21, 1998, at the age of 74.

John H. Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Laura Churchley will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her father. The launching ceremony will be highlighted in the time-honored Navy tradition when the sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "Alan Shepard."

The USNS Alan Shepard is the third ship in the Navy's new 11-ship T-AKE 1 Class. T-AKE is a combat logistics force vessel intended to replace the current capability of the T-AE 26 Kilauea-Class ammunition ships, T-AFS 1 Mars-Class combat stores ships and, when operating with T-AO 187 Henry J. Kaiser-Class oiler ships, the AOE 1 Sacramento-Class fast combat support ships. To conduct vertical replenishment, the ship will support two military logistics helicopters.

Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, the USNS Alan Shepard will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. Ships such as Alan Shepard provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships. The ship will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) to ships and other naval warfare forces at sea.

The USNS Alan Shepard is 689 feet in length, has an overall beam of 106 feet, a navigational draft of 30 feet, and displaces approximately 42,000 tons. Powered by a single-shaft diesel-electric propulsion system, the ship can reach a speed of 20 knots. As part of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, the ship will be designated USNS. The term stands for United States Naval Ship. Unlike their United States Ship (USS) counterparts, USNS vessels are manned primarily by civil service and civilian mariners working for the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C.

Additional information about this class of ship is available on line at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4400&tid=500&ct=4 .

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Report: Iraq Situation Serious, But Not Lost

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA

Dec. 6, 2006 – The Iraq Study Group released its findings today in a report made available this morning to President Bush and Congress, and later to the general public.
"We believe that the situation in Iraq today is very, very serious," former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, co-chair of the bipartisan panel commissioned by Congress to examine the way ahead in Iraq, said at a news conference following the report's release.

"We do not know if it can be turned around, but we think we have an obligation to try, and if the recommendations that we have made are effectively implemented, there is at least a chance that you can see established a stable government in Iraq and stability in the region," Hamilton said. "The task ahead of us is daunting -- very, very difficult -- and we recognize that, but it is not by any means lost."

Members of the study group agree with the administration's goal in Iraq: to create a country that can govern, sustain and defend itself, former Secretary of State James Baker, co-chair of the group, said at the news conference. However, the group believes a new approach is needed in Iraq, he said.

"As a matter of humanitarian concern, as a matter of national interest, and as a matter of practical necessity, it is time to find a new way forward, a new approach," Baker said.

The report recommends a five-fold increase in the number of U.S. forces training Iraqi troops, he said, but does not endorse a large-scale increase in U.S. forces overall, a "stay the course" solution, or a division of Iraq into three autonomous regions.
The Iraq Study Group included a total of 79 recommendations in its report, Baker said. These recommendations cover military, political and diplomatic issues, as well as criminal justice, oil, reconstruction, the U.S. budget process, the training of U.S. government personnel, and U.S. intelligence, he said.

The group's three most important recommendations are equally important and reinforce each other, Baker said. The first is a change in the primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq that will enable the U.S. to move its combat forces out of Iraq responsibly. The second recommendation is prompt action by the Iraqi government to achieve milestones, particularly on national reconciliation. The third is a new and enhanced diplomatic and political effort in Iraq and in the region.

"The primary mission of U.S. forces in Iraq should evolve to one of supporting the Iraqi army, which would take over primary responsibility for combat operations," the group's report states. "By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq.

"At that time, U.S. combat forces in Iraq could be deployed only in units embedded with Iraqi forces, in rapid-reaction and special operations teams, and in training, equipping, advising, force protection, and search and rescue," the report states. "Intelligence and support efforts would continue. A vital mission of those rapid reaction and special operations forces would be to undertake strikes against al Qaeda in Iraq."

It is clear that the Iraqi government will need assistance from the United States for some time to come, especially in carrying out security responsibilities, according to the report.

"Yet the United States must make it clear to the Iraqi government that the United States could carry out its plans, including planned redeployments, even if the Iraqi government did not implement their planned changes," it states. "The United States must not make an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq."

"Our group offers and supports each and every one of our recommendations unanimously," Baker said. "We of course recognize that some people will differ with some of these recommendations; we nevertheless hope very much that in moving forward, others will wish to continue to broaden and deepen the bipartisan spirit that has helped us to come together."

Hamilton and Baker both said that if the group's recommendations are effectively implemented, the chances for success in Iraq will be greatly improved.

After receiving the report this morning, President Bush pledged to take the recommendations seriously and act in a timely fashion. "This report gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq," Bush said. "It is a report that brings some really very interesting proposals, and we will take every proposal seriously, and we will act in a timely fashion."

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Gates Vows to Focus on Iraq, Troop Welfare if Confirmed

By Donna Miles

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2006 – Defense secretary nominee Robert M. Gates told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing today that if he's confirmed to the top Pentagon post, his highest calling will be to ensure success in Iraq and look out for the men and women in uniform. Gates told committee members during his opening statement that he's "under no illusion why I am sitting before you today: the war in Iraq." He said he recognizes the importance of improving the situation there.

During a questioning period, Gates said he doesn't believe the coalition is currently winning in Iraq. But, he added, he also agrees with Marine Gen. Peter Pace's assessment, offered Nov. 29 during a Pentagon news conference, that the coalition is not losing, either.

The period ahead is critical in tipping that scale, Gates said.

"Developments in Iraq over the next year or two will, I believe, shape the entire Middle East and greatly influence global geopolitics for many years to come," he said. "Our course over the next year or two will determine whether the American and Iraqi people and the next president of the United States will face a slowly but steadily improving situation in Iraq and in the region or will face the very real risk of a possible reality of a regional conflagration."

Achieving victory will require cooperation and close coordination by the many players involved. "We need to work together to develop a strategy that does not leave Iraq in chaos, and that protects our long-term interests in and hopes for the region," he said.

Gates said he's open to alternative strategies and tactics for operations in Iraq, including those expected soon from the Iraq Study Group, which he was involved with until President Bush nominated him as defense secretary Nov. 8.

He told the committee he also will consult with military leaders and combatant commanders in the field and "will give most serious consideration to the views of those who lead our men and women in uniform."

Gates said he also will consult with leaders in the executive branch and Congress and share that input with the president and National Security Council. "Of course, it is the president who will decide what, if any, changes are made in our approach," he said.

He told committee members the "most humbling" part of his job, if confirmed as defense secretary, will be making decisions that will have life-and-death consequences. "Our country is at war, and if confirmed, I will be charged with leading the men and women who are fighting it," he said.

Gates offered high praise to the U.S. armed forces and said they proudly carry on the tradition of their predecessors, who have fought the country's wars for the past 230 years.

"The patriots who have volunteered to serve in our armed services today have no equal in the world," he said. "I offer this committee my solemn commitment to keep the welfare of our forces uppermost in my mind."

Gates, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told committee members he did not seek a return to government or the job of defense secretary. "I am here because I love my country and because the president of the United States believes I can help in a difficult time," he said. "I hope you will reach a similar conclusion."

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Gates: Federal Experience Offered Valued Leadership Lessons

By Donna Miles

Dec. 5, 2006 – President Bush's nominee to be the next defense secretary told Congress today that if confirmed, he'll bring important lessons to the job: the importance of working collaboratively with other federal partners and of tapping into the expertise of the professionals who carry out the mission, among them. Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing, Robert M. Gates said his experience at the Central Intelligence Agency and in other capacities "has given me an appreciation of how all the different parts of the government need to work together to get anything done."

Gates recalled the early days of the Iraq Study Group he served on, with some federal agencies and organizations running into difficulties working with one another. "So one of the most significant lessons I've learned is the importance of the entire government pulling together as a team," he said.

It's important for these entities "to remember that we all work for the same boss," Gates told the committee. "And that boss, ultimately, is the people of the United States."

Gates called personal relationships critical to accomplishing what's necessary to serve the American people. He joked that the political science professors at Texas A&M University, where he serves as president, don't allow him in their classrooms "because I tell them to throw away the organization charts (and) that personal relationships matter."

His experience working with Congress reinforced "the importance of consultations, the importance of (a) lack of surprises (and) the importance of treating other people's views with respect," Gates told the committee.

Gates credited former CIA director William Webster, for whom Gates served as deputy, with demonstrating the importance of seeking the counsel of professionals within the organization. Webster "taught me a lot about how to get things done in a big organization," particularly in setting a vision for the organization and relying on professionals there to get things done, Gates said.

"When you treat the professionals in an organization who ... perform the mission of the organization with respect and you listen to them and pay attention to them, I think that everybody is better served," he said. "They were there before you, and they will be there after you leave. And if you don't make them part of the solution, they will become part of the problem."

Gates told committee members during his opening statement that he will seek counsel from military leaders and combatant commanders in the field and "will give most serious consideration to the views of those who lead our men and women in uniform."

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Bodies of Missing Servicemembers Recovered After Helicopter Crash

Dec. 4, 2006 – Coalition forces have recovered the bodies of all three missing servicemembers lost during an emergency water landing by a helicopter yesterday.

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing made an emergency water landing near the shore of Lake Qadisiyah in western Anbar province. Sixteen personnel were on board, including the crew. Thirteen of the individuals on board were accounted for yesterday, including the body of one Marine who was recovered from the water after the emergency landing.

The rescue effort included all available surveillance and rescue capabilities to include air, amphibious and joint pararescue teams, U.S. officials said. "We have recovered all of our comrades," Marine Lt. Col Bryan Salas said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased." Initial reports confirm the helicopter experienced mechanical difficulties and executed an emergency landing.

The incident was not a result of enemy action. The names of the service members who died are being held pending notification of next of kin.

Craddock Takes Reins of U.S. European Command

By Tech. Sgt. Devin L. Fisher, USAF

Dec. 4, 2006 – Army Gen. John Craddock took the reins of U.S. European Command during a change of command ceremony at Patch Barracks here today. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England presided over the ceremony that transferred command to Craddock from Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones, who served as the EUCOM commander since Jan. 16, 2003.

"U.S. European Command remains in strong capable hands. Our nation is blessed to have a person of (Craddock's) caliber and experience to take on this vital mantle of leadership," England said. He added that the general's 13 years of prior assignments in Europe will prove "invaluable" in this position.

The EUCOM commander's responsibility spans 92 nations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and he commands five U.S. components: U.S. Army, Europe; U.S. Navy, Europe; U.S. Air Force in Europe, U.S. Marine Forces, Europe; and Special Operations Command, Europe.

Craddock, who is the 14th EUCOM commander, ensured the European Command staff that their hard work has been noticed. "Your reputation for excellence and your extraordinary competence have been and continue to be an inspiration for all," Craddock said. "Day in and day out you provide an example of sterling professionalism to more than 90 countries."

He said he is honored and humbled to join the European Command team. "My pledge to you is to give you full measure of effort, 100 percent every day, and to lead by example from the front."

Craddock, who previously served as the commander of U.S. Southern Command, with headquarters in Miami, also will serve as the NATO supreme allied commander for Europe following a Dec. 7 change-of-command ceremony in Mons, Belgium.

"I won't forget that European Command and its components have formed the backbone of the North Atlantic Alliance," Craddock said. "Make no mistake, we will continue to work with our partners to protect the United States and our allies in the war on terrorism while at the same time laying the foundation for peace and prosperity."

England said Jones' extraordinary accomplishments and successes throughout his 40-year military career will have a lasting effect and influence on the future of NATO, European Command, the Marine Corps and the countries within the European Command theater.

"Jones is a magnificent leader and a warrior statesman in the mold of the famous George C. Marshall, but most of all he is a Marine's Marine," England said.

"Under his leadership, (European Command) has had extraordinary success in hardcore warfighting, building and strengthening partnerships from the Balkans to the countries of Africa to Iraq and Afghanistan, to the countries of the former Soviet Union, while simultaneously transforming the command itself, moving towards a more expeditionary posture," he continued. "All these efforts directly support the strategic vision of our nation and of our friends and allies for the transformation necessary to meet the security challenges of the 21st century."

The deputy defense secretary also thanked the men and women of European Command for their service. "(You) stand at the front lines of the great struggle for freedom," England said. "Thank you for your dedication, courage, service and sacrifice ... and for everything you do every day to leave a better world for our children and our grandchildren."

Jones echoed the praise. "You have been magnificent," he said. "You have performed during the most difficult and challenging time of change. You have gone through transformation of not only capabilities, but indeed of philosophy -- one that moves towards regional understanding of the 92-country area of responsibility that we've been privileged to participate in."

Jones said that in addition to reaffirming the command's role to fight and win when required, the European Command staff has added equal importance to the value of deterrence and prevention of potential conflict and confirming the command's commitment to help emerging democracies reach their full potential.

The general praised each of European Command's components and the National Guard for their contribution to the "great team effort."

Jones will retire with more than 40 years of military service after he passes his NATO command to Craddock.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff created EUCOM in 1952 to facilitate American NATO obligations by providing U.S. combat forces for the defense of Europe. The European Command's mission is to support and achieve U.S. interests and objectives throughout 92 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and portions of the Middle East. The command performs a variety of functions including planning for and conducting contingency operations such as noncombatant evacuations and humanitarian relief operations; providing combat-ready forces to both Allied Command Europe and other U.S. unified commands, and conducting intelligence activities and security assistance.

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National Guard Responds to Midwest Winter Storms

Dec. 4, 2006 – Hundreds of National Guardsmen responded over the weekend and today to devastating winter storms in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, National Guard officials reported. Missouri has 262 Guardsmen on state active duty, removing debris, providing generator support, health and welfare checks, and transportation support. Highways there are much improved, with a few closed by downed power lines and fallen trees, and 198,800 Missouri residences are still without power, officials said. Missouri has reported seven storm-related fatalities to date.

As of today, Illinois has no Guardsmen on state active duty, officials said. Over the weekend, 73 Army National Guard personnel on drill status provided emergency support coordination and operations.

Four Guardsmen in Kansas are on state active duty today, providing security for an armory that is being used by Fort Scott City Fire Department after the firehouse roof collapsed, officials said. These Guardsmen will continue their operations until tomorrow.

Winter storms hit the Midwest Nov. 30, dumping large amounts of snow from Texas to Michigan. The National Weather Service was not forecasting additional snow or ice in the affected region today, but temperatures were expected to be around freezing and to drop lower overnight.

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'Nothing Happens Until Something Moves' Illustrates TRANSCOM Mission

By Jim Garamone

Dec. 4, 2006 – A Post-It note over one of the computers in the Deployment and Distribution Operations Center here says, "Nothing happens until something moves." You get a feeling for this saying and the mission of U.S. Transportation Command at the Balad Air Base-Anaconda Logistics Support Area complex in Iraq.

Located northwest of Baghdad, the complex is the heart of logistics for coalition forces in Iraq. In 2003, it was a runway, some bombed buildings and dust. Today, it is a military city, with C-17s offloading cargo, C-130s picking up goods, a full Level-3 trauma hospital and convoys bringing all the "beans and bullets" servicemembers need to operate in a challenging environment.

But scratch the surface and you realize it's more than just the fact that goods are delivered to a combat area. What is the infrastructure behind the move? How do people on the ground know what is on the plane or in the convoy? How do they know where to send the goods once they arrive? How do they even know what is available in-country?

U.S. Transportation Command is a unified command that oversees military transportation around the world. Three service components work through the command: the Navy's Military Sealift Command, the Air Force's Air Mobility Command and the Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. In addition, the command coordinates commercial air and sea missions that help support deployments around the world.

TRANSCOM synchronizes the various means of delivering combat power. For example, an Army brigade moving to Iraq has certain transportation needs. Heavy equipment may leave the base via train. It moves to a port of embarkation and loads aboard a ship. The ship steams to the port of debarkation and off-loads. The equipment may then load aboard a heavy equipment mover for the trip to the staging base.

While this is going on, soldiers load transport containers with supplies, and trucks may haul those to ports for delivery to the staging area.

Finally, the troops themselves must move. Buses may take these soldiers to commercial aircraft that bring them to an aerial port of debarkation where they then marry up with their equipment.

But even this doesn't capture all the complications inherent in moving 3,500 soldiers and all their equipment. Someone in Transportation Command has to assess whether runways are long enough for the transport aircraft and can bear the weight of the delivery, what kind of off-loading equipment is available at the seaport, what kind of diplomatic clearances the ships and aircraft need, what navigation aids are available, and what threats exist in the region.

And the ships and planes need fuel.

All this is with what TRANSCOM officials call a "mature" receiving area, such as Kuwait. And as people and supplies transit those receiving areas on their way to the front lines, usually a unit is redeploying to its home station at the same time.

Just for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, TRANSCOM has moved more than 3.4 million passengers and 8.3 million tons of dry cargo. It has moved more than 4 billion gallons of fuel. This has meant about 2 million truck and 143,000 railcar shipments, about 71,000 airlift missions and 709 shiploads.

And this still doesn't capture the scope of the command, because the military operates in more than just the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Transportation Command has to meet the rest of the military's needs as well.

Nov. 17 was as good a day as any for a snapshot of the command. The Deployment and Distribution Operations Center was tracking 20 ships carrying Defense Department cargo. Another 20 ships carried DoD cargo in addition to commercial freight. This does not include tankers.

On that day, the center tracked more than 300 airlift missions and airlifted 6,880 passengers and 1,368 short tons of cargo around the world.

"We don't ever forget that we're a supporting - with an emphasis on the 'ing' - command," said Air Force Col. Doug Luhrsen, director of the operations center. "We work with the services and the combatant commands to get them what they need, when they need it."

With all the transportation modes at its disposal, the command must make decisions on how best to send things. "It doesn't make sense to ship Abrams tanks on C-17s," said Craig Koontz, a spokesman for the command. "You ship those by sea."

Airlift is the most responsive and flexible transportation medium, Koontz said, and sometimes a mix of modes is needed. When it became apparent that Humvees in Iraq needed to be armored, he explained, the command sent a certain number of sets via air to get the process moving forward. Once those were delivered, TRANSCOM dispatched a ship with hundreds of sets of armor. The airlifted sets allowed the process to start, the sealifted sets allowed the process to continue. There was no pause or hold-up in placing the armor on the vehicles.

"Everyone is intent on providing the best service we can for the men and women in the combat zones," Luhrsen said. "That is our core. That is why we exist."

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Scrapbook Project Helps Students Support Troops

By Samantha L. Quigley

Dec. 4, 2006 – An America Supports You corporate team member is coordinating creation of what it calls the world's largest scrapbook as a way for the nation's students to show their support for America's servicemembers. Connect and Join, an Internet-based communications company that provides a safe, secure way for families and deployed servicemembers to stay in touch, is connecting students across the country with servicemembers fighting overseas through its "Connect With the Troops" program.

The company joined America Supports You -- a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers -- in May.

Connect and Join's program has students creating pages that, once compiled, will create the world's largest scrapbook, Linda Dennis, Connect and Join's founder and president, said. The pages are filled with thanks and appreciation for the troops. "We are overwhelmed by the response from the classrooms of America and from the great teachers who have responded to us," she said.

The project is about 24,000 pages along, and is continuing to grow, Dennis said. Those pages are important because the country needs to keep saying, "Thank you," she added.

But servicemembers aren't the only ones who'll benefit from this project, Dennis said, noting that the students get something from it as well. "I think it gives them a great sense of pride (and) ownership in what they do," she said. "It helps them understand what freedom is and not to take it for granted."

Fifth-grade students at White Oaks Elementary School in Burke, Va., worked today to create more pages to add to the scrapbook. They brainstormed words they could use on their pages -- words like "courage," "bravery," and "freedom." Many students chose a word and broke it down, telling what each letter in the word meant to them.

The pages, a record of the students' appreciation and support of the troops, will be compiled into the "World's Largest, Now Greatest, Scrapbook" and presented to the military during halftime of the Armed Forces Bowl football game in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 23.

The students were proud to have been able to do something for the troops. They also thought the scrapbook would boost the morale of the servicemembers who will see it.

"It feels really good that we're thanking the troops," Emma Puranen, 10, a White Oaks Elementary School fifth grader, said. Her page included sentiments like, "You must be very brave to be in Iraq. People in America are very proud of you and that (servicemembers) should never really forget that," she said.

"It's going to touch their hearts," she added. "They've been away from home for so long and I think it'll (make them) feel really good if they get some messages."

Her beliefs were confirmed when Marine Maj. Matt Morgan surprised the classes by stopping by to collect the pages the students had completed and answer their questions.

"I think any servicemember that's been overseas can tell you that you don't think too much about it," Morgan said. "But then that one day when you're at rock bottom. ... You come back in the squad tent or walk in the chow hall and you see one of these things hanging on the wall, it can mean the world for you."

"It can just turn your whole day around," he said.

Creating the scrapbook was a project that held special meaning to some of the students. Dustin Jutras, 11, lost his brother, a soldier, who died in fighting in Iraq last year. His father and his brother-in-law are both servicemembers.

Dustin he read a letter he'd written to the servicemembers as part of his scrapbook page.

"We are all so proud of you. Only the bravest of our country would fight for freedom and peace, and all of you are heroes," he read. "What you do is wonderful. My brother went to Iraq and was killed doing his job, and I know you are willing to make that sacrifice, and that is brave. Being brave leads you to victory, and I know you'll become victorious."

It was the letters he used to write to his brother that inspired him to write the current one, he said.

One teacher in particular had good reason to be enthusiastic about the project. Marion Fegley, a fifth-grade teacher at White Oaks, comes from a strong military family. One son is a soldier serving in Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division. The other son is at Fort Benning, Ga., going through Officer Candidate School, and her husband is a retired servicemember.

The scrapbook pages have not only helped her feel as though she's actively supporting her sons and the other servicemembers, but it's provided her a way to use current events as lessons in her classroom. In fact, on the schedule for language arts today was "Troops Letters."

"My classroom has many children who are connected with the military. So we do a lot of projects, and this one was near and dear to our hearts," she said. "We've asked the children to write letters (and) write poems. So they created these beautiful pages, which are going to be part of the world's largest scrapbook."

The thoughts expressed by the children amazed her, she added. "It's true and honest feelings from their hearts," she said.

It was White Oaks Elementary School's Harmony Program that got the students involved with the scrapbook project, said Robert Young, 10, whose cousin is serving in Iraq. Harmony is a program that brings together a small group of students from each of the fifth-grade classes for community service projects.

"This time is was 'The World's Greatest Scrapbook,'" he said. "I think it's great that we could give back to the soldiers, because they've done so much for us," citing defending the country and giving him someone to look up to as examples of what the troops have done for him.

The scrapbook pages are being scanned and will become a permanent part of history as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project, Dennis said. About 500 schools across the country are participating in the project, she added.

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Insignia: The Way You Tell Who's Who in the Military

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

One big problem throughout military history has been identifying who's in charge. From the earliest days of warfare to the present, special rank badges meant survival. In the heat of battle, knowing who to listen to was as important as the fighting skills soldiers and sailors developed. They had to know at a glance whose shouted orders to obey.

In the earliest times, rank was not an issue. "Do what Grog says" was enough so long as everyone knew Grog. As armies and navies started growing, however, that kind of intimacy wasn't possible. The badge of rank, therefore, became important. Today's Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard rank insignia are the result of thousands of years of tradition.

Through the ages, the badge of ranks have included such symbols as feathers, sashes, stripes and showy uniforms. Even carrying different weapons has signified rank. The badges of rank have been worn on hats, shoulders and around the waist and chest.

The American military adapted most of its rank insignia from the British. Before the Revolutionary War, Americans drilled with militia outfits based on the British tradition. Sailors followed the example of the most successful navy of the time -- the Royal Navy.

So, the Continental Army had privates, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, colonels, generals, and several now-obsolete ranks like coronet, subaltern and ensign. One thing the Army didn’t have was enough money to buy uniforms.

To solve this, Gen. George Washington wrote, "As the Continental Army has unfortunately no uniforms, and consequently many inconveniences must arise from not being able to distinguish the commissioned officers from the privates, it is desired that some badge of distinction be immediately provided; for instance that the field officers may have red or pink colored cockades in their hats, the captains yellow or buff, and the subalterns green."

Even during the war, rank insignia evolved. In 1780, regulations prescribed two stars for major generals and one star for brigadiers worn on shoulder boards, or epaulettes.

The use of most English ranks carried on even after the United States won the war. The Army and Marine Corps used comparable ranks, especially after 1840. The Navy took a different route.

The rank structure and insignia continued to evolve. Second lieutenants replaced the Army's coronets, ensigns and subalterns, but they had no distinctive insignia until Congress gave them "butterbars" in 1917. Colonels received the eagle in 1832. From 1836, majors and lieutenant colonels were denoted by oak leave; captains by double silver bars -- "railroad tracks"; and first lieutenants, single silver bars.

In the Navy, captain was the highest rank until Congress created flag officers in 1857 -- before then, designating someone an admiral in the republic had been deemed too royal for the United States. Until 1857, the Navy had three grades of captain roughly equivalent to the Army's brigadier general, colonel and lieutenant colonel. Adding to the confusion, all Navy ship commanders are called "captain" regardless of rank.

With the onset of the Civil War, the highest grade captains became commodores and rear admirals and wore one-star and two-star epaulettes, respectively. The lowest became commanders with oak leaves while captains in the middle remained equal to Army colonels and wore eagles.

At the same time, the Navy adopted a sleeve-stripe system that became so complex that when David Glasgow Farragut became the service's first full admiral in 1866, the stripes on his sleeves extended from cuff to elbow. The smaller sleeve stripes used today were introduced in 1869. Chevrons are V-shaped stripes whose use in the military go back to at least the 12th century. It was a badge of honor and used in heraldry. The British and French used chevrons -- from the French word for "roof" -- to signify length of service.

Chevrons officially denoted rank in the U.S. military for the first time in 1817, when cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., wore them on their sleeves. From West Point, chevrons spread to the Army and Marine Corps. The difference then was chevrons were worn points down until 1902, when Army and Marine Corps enlisted personnel switched to the present points up configuration.

Navy and Coast Guard petty officers trace their insignia heritage to the British. Petty officers were assistants to the officers aboard ship. The title wasn't a permanent rank and the men served at the captain's pleasure. Petty officers lost their rank when the crew was paid off at the end of a voyage. In 1841, Navy petty officers received their first rank insignia -- an eagle perched on an anchor. Ratings -- job skills -- were incorporated into the insignia in 1866. In 1885, the Navy designated three classes of petty officers -- first, second and third. They added chevrons to designate the new ranks. The rank of chief petty officer was established in 1894.

During World War II, the Army adopted technician grades. Technicians of a given grade earned the same pay and wore the same insignia as equivalent noncommissioned officers except for a small "T" centered under the chevrons. Technicians, despite the stripes, had no command authority over troops. This evolved into the specialist ranks, pay grades E-4 to E-7. The last vestige today survives plainly as "specialist," pay grade E-4. When there were such people as specialists 7, they wore the current eagle symbol surmounted by three curved gold bars -- often called "bird umbrellas."

When the Air Force became a separate service in 1947, it kept the Army officer insignia and names, but adopted different enlisted ranks and insignia.

Warrant officers went through several iterations before the services arrived at today's configuration. The Navy had warrant officers from the start -- they were specialists who saw to the care and running of the ship. The Army and Marines did not have warrants until the 20th century. Rank insignia for warrants last changed with the addition of chief warrant officer 5. The Air Force stopped appointing warrant officers in the 1950s and has none on active duty today.

Other interesting rank tidbits include:

Ensigns started with the Army but ended with the Navy. The rank of Army ensign was long gone by the time the rank of Navy ensign was established in 1862. Ensigns received gold bars in 1922, some five years after equivalent Army second lieutenants received theirs.

“Lieutenant" comes from the French "lieu" meaning "place" and "tenant" meaning "holding." Literally, lieutenants are place holders.

While majors outrank lieutenants, lieutenant generals outrank major generals. This comes from British tradition: Generals were appointed for campaigns and often called "captain generals." Their assistants were, naturally, "lieutenant generals." At the same time, the chief administrative officer was the "sergeant major general." Somewhere along the way, "sergeant" was dropped.

Gold is worth more than silver, but silver outranks gold. This is because the Army decreed in 1832 that infantry colonels would wear gold eagles on an epaulette of silver and all other colonels would wear silver eagles on gold. When majors and lieutenant colonels received the leaves, this tradition could not continue. So silver leaves represented lieutenant colonels and gold, majors. The case of lieutenants is different: First Lieutenants had been wearing silver bars for 80 years before second lieutenants had any bars at all.

Colonel is pronounced "kernal" because the British adopted the French spelling "colonel" but Spanish pronuniciation "coronel" and then corrupted the pronunciation.

While rank insignia are important, sometimes it isn't smart to wear them. When the rifled musket made its appearance in the Civil War, sharpshooters looked for officers. Officers soon learned to take off their rank insignia as they approached the battle line.

The Air Force actually took a vote on their enlisted stripes. In 1948, then-Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg polled NCOs at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington and 55 percent of them chose the basic design still used today.

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Visit the DoD "The United States Military Rank Insignia" web site at www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/people/insignias/index.html