By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Defense Department officials have provided everything that California officials have asked for and are "leaning forward" to anticipate what they might need next, the department's assistant secretary for homeland defense and American security affairs said here today. California officials have ordered more than 500,000 people from their homes as the fast-burning wildfires continue their course of destruction.
President Bush has declared seven counties to be disaster areas, as more than 270,000 acres have burned. "All of us across this nation are concerned for the families who have lost their homes, and the many families who have been evacuated from their homes," Bush said during a speech at the National Defense University here today. "We send our prayers and thoughts with those who've been affected, and we send the help of the federal government, as well."
McHale said California officials have been pleased by the quickness of the federal response. He said all government agencies have a "sense of urgency and a recognition that lives are at stake" and are working together harmoniously.
The Defense Department has been providing support to state and local departments as the fire has progressed. "In this case, California needs help and DoD is prepared to provide assistance," McHale said.
Defense personnel have been tracking the danger the fires present for several days. As the Santa Ana winds began blowing local fires into tempests, Defense officials began speaking regularly with California officials and with officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, McHale said.
Defense support falls into two areas: fighting the fire and humanitarian relief. About 100 Defense civilians and active duty military personnel are engaged in firefighting.
"We have 12 teams and equipment actively engaged," McHale said. "There are 550 Marines who are preparing for possible deployment ... to be engaged in firefighting activities."
There has been no determination to put the Marines into the fight yet, and officials are using this time to train the Marines in firefighting techniques.
More than 17,000 California National Guardsmen also can aid in firefighting, McHale said.
In addition, six C-130 Hercules aircraft have modular air firefighting systems installed and will begin flying missions tomorrow morning, said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. Four of the aircraft are from the Montana and North Carolina Air National Guard and two are Air Force Reserve aircraft out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. All will drop fire retardant or water on the blazes.
National Guard, Navy and Marine Corps helicopters also are dropping water on the fire in an effort to contain the blazes.
Commanders of bases in the area have worked with local communities to provide cots, bedding, command and control and medical support to evacuation centers in the area. California National Guardsmen are working to ease the lives of about 10,000 Californians who are taking shelter in San Diego's QualComm Stadium.
The department's marching orders from Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England are to aggressively anticipate the missions that might be assigned to the Department of Defense and to begin preparing rapidly to respond without hesitation, McHale said.
An example of this forward-leaning approach was with the six C-130s fitted with modular air firefighting systems. "Lieutenant General Blum coordinated the training movements of the four MAFFs in the Air National Guard from Wyoming and North Carolina to train by flying to California so that if an operational mission materialized, those 'training' aircraft could quickly be converted to an operational aircraft," McHale said. "We have used our authorities under law, and pushed our authorities to the limit in order to enhance our readiness to respond."
McHale said he expects continued requirements for logistics support, transportation and perhaps additional requests for humanitarian relief.
Blum said that from his viewpoint, the effort against the California wildfires has been the "most proactive I have seen in my 40 years in the military."
Military bases themselves also are threatened from the fires. The Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton has two fires on base. Neither is considered an immediate threat, base officials said. "We continue to watch these fires closely and advise residents to maintain awareness of the current fire condition and exercise caution," said Marine Col. James B. Seaton III, the base commander.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
THE MILITARY POLICE IN DESERT STORM
October 23, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing servicemembers who have authored books. The website added a free, completely downloadable, novella on Sergeant Jim Heitmeyer’s experiences as a Military Police Officer in Desert Storm.
According to Jim Heitmeyer, “Trucks and equipment were loaded quickly for deployment and all soldiers received their necessary overseas vaccines. Large musters were formed to insure all soldiers were present as activated. All soldiers’ 201 files were checked for updated information. New dog tags were issued with name, religion and blood type.
Some troops were transported by buses to their assigned duty bases for the necessary training in NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare and tactics. Everyone was present and accounted for and ready for transport to their newly assigned staging point.
Some members of the 745 Military Police Company were activated in October of 1990. At 0400 hours on 28 November 1990 I was called to report to the capital hill armory off 44th and Pennsylvania Street. The remainder of our unit had been activated. We were told to report to the armory with all our gear. Being activated must have affected Vietnam vets in a similar manner when they were called to war.”
Later, after the war had begun, Jim Heitmeyer writes, “Then it dawned on me. I didn’t have any aerial markings on my vehicle and that was a serious problem right now. The gunship continued to track me for a mile before banking off. I thought, “Ok Jim, you have nearly been killed four times already on this trip and only GOD could have saved you.” I was shaking like a naked man in a snowstorm from fear. Just about the time when getting my senses back two F-16s scraped me, flew in front of me and turned back my way. They lowered their altitude to about tree level headed directly at me. “I am definitely toast and dead now!” I thought.”
Jim Heitmeyer was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Paradise Valley. Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and completed his service to our country. Jim later joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 745 Military Police Company. Jim served during the “Just Cause” war in Panama and Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Jim Heitmeyer attained the rank of sergeant (E5).
Jim Hietmeyer is a retired lieutenant from the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma). After his retirement from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office he worked as a police officer for the Arcadia Police Department from 2001 through 2004. During his career, he worked as a jailer, deputy sheriff, CLEET instructor, American Red Cross Instructor, and biohazards instructor. He is the author of two books under the pen name of Jim Daly: Lockdown Madness and Behind Steel Doors.
Military-Writers.com currently lists 52 current or former military servicemembers and their 132 books.
According to Jim Heitmeyer, “Trucks and equipment were loaded quickly for deployment and all soldiers received their necessary overseas vaccines. Large musters were formed to insure all soldiers were present as activated. All soldiers’ 201 files were checked for updated information. New dog tags were issued with name, religion and blood type.
Some troops were transported by buses to their assigned duty bases for the necessary training in NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare and tactics. Everyone was present and accounted for and ready for transport to their newly assigned staging point.
Some members of the 745 Military Police Company were activated in October of 1990. At 0400 hours on 28 November 1990 I was called to report to the capital hill armory off 44th and Pennsylvania Street. The remainder of our unit had been activated. We were told to report to the armory with all our gear. Being activated must have affected Vietnam vets in a similar manner when they were called to war.”
Later, after the war had begun, Jim Heitmeyer writes, “Then it dawned on me. I didn’t have any aerial markings on my vehicle and that was a serious problem right now. The gunship continued to track me for a mile before banking off. I thought, “Ok Jim, you have nearly been killed four times already on this trip and only GOD could have saved you.” I was shaking like a naked man in a snowstorm from fear. Just about the time when getting my senses back two F-16s scraped me, flew in front of me and turned back my way. They lowered their altitude to about tree level headed directly at me. “I am definitely toast and dead now!” I thought.”
Jim Heitmeyer was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Paradise Valley. Jim joined the United States Marine Corps and completed his service to our country. Jim later joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 745 Military Police Company. Jim served during the “Just Cause” war in Panama and Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm. Jim Heitmeyer attained the rank of sergeant (E5).
Jim Hietmeyer is a retired lieutenant from the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma). After his retirement from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office he worked as a police officer for the Arcadia Police Department from 2001 through 2004. During his career, he worked as a jailer, deputy sheriff, CLEET instructor, American Red Cross Instructor, and biohazards instructor. He is the author of two books under the pen name of Jim Daly: Lockdown Madness and Behind Steel Doors.
Military-Writers.com currently lists 52 current or former military servicemembers and their 132 books.
Army Makes Progress on Warrior Transition Units
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - The Army is working quickly to field and fully staff new warrior transition units, which provide critical support to wounded soldiers and their families, the general in charge of the Army Medical Action Plan said. The Army has created 35 warrior transition units, which consist of 58 companies of about 200 soldiers each, Army Brig. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, deputy commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, said at a media roundtable Oct. 19. These units are designed to fill a gap in support personnel for wounded troops that the Army identified after media reports in February revealed problems with care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
After these problems came to light, representatives from about 40 government agencies did an analysis of the situation and discovered that the Army did not have adequate support personnel for wounded soldiers, which diminished the quality of care soldiers and their families were receiving, Tucker said. "We actually had about 200 cadre (soldiers) in the entire Army to take care of medical hold," he said. "Our mission analysis told us we needed 2,400, and the Army's answering that bill right now."
The cadre, or training staff, being recruited to join these warrior transition units consists of civilians and active-duty, reserve and National Guard soldiers, Tucker said. The units have physicians, nurses, squad leaders, platoon sergeants, and mental health professionals. These leaders are responsible for making sure wounded troops' needs are met, their care is coordinated, and their families are taken care of, he said.
"The soldier's job is to heal, ... so what does that mean? That means that going to their appointments, taking their therapy, doing their treatments as prescribed, taking their medication as prescribed is their job," Tucker said. "The cadre, the squad leader, the platoon sergeant's job is to ensure that they have set the conditions for the soldier to do their job. We hold them accountable to do their job."
In crafting these units, Army leaders have made sure that the ratio of support personnel to soldiers stays low, Tucker said. Each squad leader has 12 soldiers to take care of, whereas in the past he could have as many as 50. The platoon sergeants each have about 36 soldiers under them, and the commanders have 200. The units also include case managers at a ratio of 1 to 18, which is a vast improvement over the past, when they could have as many as 80 soldiers they were responsible for, he said.
The Army has hired about 65 percent of the cadre for the warrior transition units and should be at full strength by January, Tucker said. These personnel are hand-selected by the unit commanders, who are looking for strong leaders who understand what wounded troops go through and can be sensitive to their needs, he said.
"They need a special leader who understands (and) is compassionate, is firm but caring," Tucker said, noting that those who are selected go through medical and sensitivity training before reporting for duty.
In conjunction with the warrior transition units, the Army also is setting up soldier family assistance centers, which provide administrative and social work services for family members staying with wounded troops, Tucker said. These will especially help families that aren't familiar with the military become oriented with installations and find lodging and other services, he said.
The overall approach by the Army medical system is to promote not only physical healing in wounded warriors, but also encourage their ambitions and goals, whether they be to stay in the military or transition into the civilian world, Tucker said. Army medical providers cannot allow wounded soldiers to become lazy or complacent while undergoing care, he said, but should help them learn and hone skills that they can use if they decide to leave the military.
"We want to allow these soldiers to be everything they want to be in life, and not allow them just to focus on the 'bad leg,' so to speak, but let's focus on them going back out into the civilian world and being a productive citizen in society," he said.
Army leaders are holding a conference this week in Lansdowne, Va., with 300 people from 60 different government agencies to assess the Army Medical Action Plan's progress and goals for the future, Tucker said.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - The Army is working quickly to field and fully staff new warrior transition units, which provide critical support to wounded soldiers and their families, the general in charge of the Army Medical Action Plan said. The Army has created 35 warrior transition units, which consist of 58 companies of about 200 soldiers each, Army Brig. Gen. Michael S. Tucker, deputy commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, said at a media roundtable Oct. 19. These units are designed to fill a gap in support personnel for wounded troops that the Army identified after media reports in February revealed problems with care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
After these problems came to light, representatives from about 40 government agencies did an analysis of the situation and discovered that the Army did not have adequate support personnel for wounded soldiers, which diminished the quality of care soldiers and their families were receiving, Tucker said. "We actually had about 200 cadre (soldiers) in the entire Army to take care of medical hold," he said. "Our mission analysis told us we needed 2,400, and the Army's answering that bill right now."
The cadre, or training staff, being recruited to join these warrior transition units consists of civilians and active-duty, reserve and National Guard soldiers, Tucker said. The units have physicians, nurses, squad leaders, platoon sergeants, and mental health professionals. These leaders are responsible for making sure wounded troops' needs are met, their care is coordinated, and their families are taken care of, he said.
"The soldier's job is to heal, ... so what does that mean? That means that going to their appointments, taking their therapy, doing their treatments as prescribed, taking their medication as prescribed is their job," Tucker said. "The cadre, the squad leader, the platoon sergeant's job is to ensure that they have set the conditions for the soldier to do their job. We hold them accountable to do their job."
In crafting these units, Army leaders have made sure that the ratio of support personnel to soldiers stays low, Tucker said. Each squad leader has 12 soldiers to take care of, whereas in the past he could have as many as 50. The platoon sergeants each have about 36 soldiers under them, and the commanders have 200. The units also include case managers at a ratio of 1 to 18, which is a vast improvement over the past, when they could have as many as 80 soldiers they were responsible for, he said.
The Army has hired about 65 percent of the cadre for the warrior transition units and should be at full strength by January, Tucker said. These personnel are hand-selected by the unit commanders, who are looking for strong leaders who understand what wounded troops go through and can be sensitive to their needs, he said.
"They need a special leader who understands (and) is compassionate, is firm but caring," Tucker said, noting that those who are selected go through medical and sensitivity training before reporting for duty.
In conjunction with the warrior transition units, the Army also is setting up soldier family assistance centers, which provide administrative and social work services for family members staying with wounded troops, Tucker said. These will especially help families that aren't familiar with the military become oriented with installations and find lodging and other services, he said.
The overall approach by the Army medical system is to promote not only physical healing in wounded warriors, but also encourage their ambitions and goals, whether they be to stay in the military or transition into the civilian world, Tucker said. Army medical providers cannot allow wounded soldiers to become lazy or complacent while undergoing care, he said, but should help them learn and hone skills that they can use if they decide to leave the military.
"We want to allow these soldiers to be everything they want to be in life, and not allow them just to focus on the 'bad leg,' so to speak, but let's focus on them going back out into the civilian world and being a productive citizen in society," he said.
Army leaders are holding a conference this week in Lansdowne, Va., with 300 people from 60 different government agencies to assess the Army Medical Action Plan's progress and goals for the future, Tucker said.
Chairman Starts Two-Day Trip to Visit Army Posts
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff today set off on a two-day trip to visit three Army installations, where he plans to talk to soldiers and gauge the stress levels caused by the service's high operational tempo since the beginning of the war on terror. This is Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's first trip as chairman to Army posts within the United States, and a handful of informal question-and-answer sessions are planned with soldiers of all ranks here and at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, both in Kansas.
Mullen also will stop at an Army recruiting conference in Denver, Colo. His wife, Deborah, is with him on the trip and will meet with soldiers' families concurrently.
Second only to the war, the chairman said, his priority is resetting the force. This trip will allow him to personally hear concerns of the soldiers, he added.
The admiral's first stop was here in southwest Oklahoma's home of the Field Artillery, where he fielded questions from the Army and Marine students in the Captains Career Course and met with the branch chief, Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Vangjel.
The chairman told them that the ground forces are the "center of gravity." He promised no immediate answers, but took names and e-mail addresses and promised more detailed answers later.
Mullen fielded questions ranging from individual concerns, such as problems with local hospitals, to big-picture queries such as the long-term plans for a military presence in Iraq, but most were somehow related to quality of life.
The chairman conceded at the start of the session that ground forces, primarily provided by the Army, are tired.
"It's very fragile ground right now that we're on," he said, made so as soldiers and leaders try to balance the demands of mission and training with those of the soldiers' families.
"We've got to make sure we get it right for our people," the chairman said.
This afternoon, Mullen will travel to Fort Leavenworth to talk with students in the Command and General Staff College, a graduate school for Army leaders, and then it's on to Denver this evening for a reception with recruiters. Fort Leavenworth is home to the Army's Combined Arms Center, a major subordinate headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, charged with directing leader development, professional military and civilian education and training, as well as preparing the service for transformation.
Tomorrow, Mullen will visit Fort Riley, where he will view military transition team training, have lunch with troops and visit soldier-patients at the post hospital. Fort Riley is home to the 1st Infantry Division, the Army's oldest continuously serving division.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff today set off on a two-day trip to visit three Army installations, where he plans to talk to soldiers and gauge the stress levels caused by the service's high operational tempo since the beginning of the war on terror. This is Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's first trip as chairman to Army posts within the United States, and a handful of informal question-and-answer sessions are planned with soldiers of all ranks here and at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, both in Kansas.
Mullen also will stop at an Army recruiting conference in Denver, Colo. His wife, Deborah, is with him on the trip and will meet with soldiers' families concurrently.
Second only to the war, the chairman said, his priority is resetting the force. This trip will allow him to personally hear concerns of the soldiers, he added.
The admiral's first stop was here in southwest Oklahoma's home of the Field Artillery, where he fielded questions from the Army and Marine students in the Captains Career Course and met with the branch chief, Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Vangjel.
The chairman told them that the ground forces are the "center of gravity." He promised no immediate answers, but took names and e-mail addresses and promised more detailed answers later.
Mullen fielded questions ranging from individual concerns, such as problems with local hospitals, to big-picture queries such as the long-term plans for a military presence in Iraq, but most were somehow related to quality of life.
The chairman conceded at the start of the session that ground forces, primarily provided by the Army, are tired.
"It's very fragile ground right now that we're on," he said, made so as soldiers and leaders try to balance the demands of mission and training with those of the soldiers' families.
"We've got to make sure we get it right for our people," the chairman said.
This afternoon, Mullen will travel to Fort Leavenworth to talk with students in the Command and General Staff College, a graduate school for Army leaders, and then it's on to Denver this evening for a reception with recruiters. Fort Leavenworth is home to the Army's Combined Arms Center, a major subordinate headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, charged with directing leader development, professional military and civilian education and training, as well as preparing the service for transformation.
Tomorrow, Mullen will visit Fort Riley, where he will view military transition team training, have lunch with troops and visit soldier-patients at the post hospital. Fort Riley is home to the 1st Infantry Division, the Army's oldest continuously serving division.
Vice Chairman Talks Intelligence at Geospatial Conference
By Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Intelligence sharing betwen nations needs to be re-examined and improved, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright gave the keynote address to more than 2,600 in attendance at the Geospatial Intelligence 2007 Conference. The audience included people from the Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service, along with people from 17 foreign countries.
After his speech, the general took questions from the audience. One question concerned classification being a barrier to international intelligence collaboration.
"If you're a parent, explain this one to your kids: It's OK to share a foxhole with an Aussie, have him die for you, but we can't tell him which way the threat's coming from," Cartwright said. "It's just ludicrous." He said collaborating with other nations while protecting classified information is imperative.
"We have to be able to start to differentiate between what it is we really want to keep secret," the general said.
The challenge of intelligence sharing was recently displayed during a national-level exercise, Cartwright told the audience. American and Australian officials tried to get into each other's computer systems to share intelligence, which proved difficult.
"Not sharing is unacceptable," he bluntly said.
During the question-and-answer session, Cartwright also said developing and expanding a common program to gather intelligence information is important to the future of intelligence capabilities. A current system operates like commercial search engines, he explained. "The customer decides what it is they want to know," he said. "It's more akin to My Yahoo! or Google."
That system has limitations, he said. The way ahead, he told the group, is to let the user tell the search engines what to search for as well as what not to search for. However, Cartwright said, fielding intelligence capabilities shouldn't always involve throwing money at the problem to solve it, likening that challenge to the one posed by improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It's akin to IEDs," the general said. "We can't afford the solution, but we're going to keep trying to spend the money to do it in some technical way instead of stepping out of the architectures and stovepipes," he added, referring to developing an "outside the box" way of solving the problem.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff public affairs office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Intelligence sharing betwen nations needs to be re-examined and improved, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright gave the keynote address to more than 2,600 in attendance at the Geospatial Intelligence 2007 Conference. The audience included people from the Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service, along with people from 17 foreign countries.
After his speech, the general took questions from the audience. One question concerned classification being a barrier to international intelligence collaboration.
"If you're a parent, explain this one to your kids: It's OK to share a foxhole with an Aussie, have him die for you, but we can't tell him which way the threat's coming from," Cartwright said. "It's just ludicrous." He said collaborating with other nations while protecting classified information is imperative.
"We have to be able to start to differentiate between what it is we really want to keep secret," the general said.
The challenge of intelligence sharing was recently displayed during a national-level exercise, Cartwright told the audience. American and Australian officials tried to get into each other's computer systems to share intelligence, which proved difficult.
"Not sharing is unacceptable," he bluntly said.
During the question-and-answer session, Cartwright also said developing and expanding a common program to gather intelligence information is important to the future of intelligence capabilities. A current system operates like commercial search engines, he explained. "The customer decides what it is they want to know," he said. "It's more akin to My Yahoo! or Google."
That system has limitations, he said. The way ahead, he told the group, is to let the user tell the search engines what to search for as well as what not to search for. However, Cartwright said, fielding intelligence capabilities shouldn't always involve throwing money at the problem to solve it, likening that challenge to the one posed by improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It's akin to IEDs," the general said. "We can't afford the solution, but we're going to keep trying to spend the money to do it in some technical way instead of stepping out of the architectures and stovepipes," he added, referring to developing an "outside the box" way of solving the problem.
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff public affairs office.)
Down and Dirty: The Life of an Airborne Ranger
By Spc. Micah E. Clare, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Army Sgt. Jim McKinzie has always made a living out of getting dirty. Judging from his smiling face and his combat uniform -- soiled and stained with dirt, oil and gasoline -- it looks like he's not planning to change that any time soon. McKinzie, a 35-year-old generator mechanic, squad leader and truck commander in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is known for being one of the hardest-working noncommissioned officers in his unit, as well as the only Ranger-qualified NCO in the battalion.
"He's a down and dirty guy," said Spc. Evan Grabenstein, a communications operator from Houston. "He's always the last one to be working."
McKinzie said he doesn't find his work in the Army to be nearly as hard as the staggering number of civilian jobs he has worked.
"I've done air conditioner and heater repair, carpentry, auto mechanics, iron-working, filling fuel tanks and construction, to name a few," McKinzie said as he hooked up chains from a crane to emplace a trailer-sized refrigerator at an isolated outpost in Afghanistan's Paktika Province.
Even though he loves his work and may not show any signs of slowing down, he admitted there are some days when he can feel the strain.
"I've done a lot of manual-labor jobs," said the Fort Worth, Texas, native. "But at my age, it's starting to wear on me a little. I try taking a supervisory role more often." His soldiers would disagree with him on that note, though.
"He's still the first one to volunteer for work," exclaimed Spc. Cara Allen, a driver in the 782nd BSB from Trenton, N.J. "Then he'll make you do it with him!"
"I couldn't ask for a better squad leader," said Army Staff Sgt. Gerald Mickelson, McKinzie's platoon sergeant. Mickelson chuckled as he watched McKinzie still working on a truck after dark, when everyone else had gone to dinner.
"He's not afraid of getting as dirty as possible to get the job done," said Mickelson, who's from Monroe, Ga.
McKinzie attributes his attitude about work to a strong desire to put his whole heart into a job.
"It's not about pleasing anyone; it's about making it happen, regardless of what kind of job it is," he said in his Texas accent. "Therefore, get in there, get in dirty, and knock it out. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can get back to chilling out and relaxing."
Even though McKinzie has never minded the sweat, dust, dirt or grease required to complete a mission, he loves to get cleaned up at the end of one.
"I'm no prima donna," he said. "I don't need a shower every night, but there is nothing better than having one at the end of a long, dirty mission."
There was a time though, when McKinzie's whole life was less than cleaned up. McKinzie, his wife, Angela, and daughter, Brianna, were living in the projects and were very poor, he explained. However, just like in his work, all McKinzie needed was a good cleaning up to get back up on his feet and start over.
"God really delivered me and cleaned me up from the inside out," he said excitedly. After a few years of straightening up, he decided to volunteer for the military. While he was in the recruiter's office, something really caught his eye.
"I saw this poster showing the "double A's" (the 82nd Airborne Division patch) with the Airborne and Ranger tab above it. I thought that had to be pretty high-speed," McKinzie said. Shortly after, he graduated from basic training and went to his advanced individual training to become a generator mechanic. There he was given an opportunity to fulfill his dream of earning Airborne wings.
"I always wanted to go, even though I figured I would barely make it through," he said. "Even in basic (training), I prayed that God would give me a love for running just so I could pass the (physical fitness) test." He did pass Airborne Basic Course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
Once at his unit, it wasn't long before another exciting challenge presented itself, when his battalion commander told him that Ranger school had opened to all military occupational specialties. "Go get your tab and we'll make you an NCO," he recalled his commander telling him.
"Even though I was an old man, I knew I was going to jump on that," McKinzie said, laughing.
Despite a lot of discouragement, McKinzie said he knew nothing was going to stand in his way of that tab. Preparing mentally and physically for success, he trained hard for six months before going to Ranger school, even when there wasn't an established training program for him, he said.
Just as he had been used to his whole life, Ranger school was no walk in the park.
"You get dirty, all the time," he said. "We got messed up there. It took a lot of self-discipline." Not until he finally graduated did he learn why he had been sent there in the first place.
"You don't go to Ranger school to become a leader," he said. "You go because you are a leader. You accept the challenge and make it happen. You have to get it without having your hand held."
Now, more than a year after graduating, McKinzie employs his leadership skills as a squad leader and truck commander in the 782nd BSB's "Market Garden" Combat Logistics Patrol, running supplies to far-reaching outposts in southeastern Afghanistan.
He enjoys his work, and most of all is glad for the support he gets from his wife and daughter while he does what he loves best: getting dirty.
"I do spend most of my time getting dirty," McKinzie said. "But I'm very blessed to be where I'm at."
With an Army combat uniform as badly ruined as his, stained again from a recent hydraulics fluid eruption, most people would probably be complaining. But for a man who has made a living out of getting dirty, McKinzie just jokes, "That's one more set of ACUs I'm down. The Army better be supplying me with more."
(Army Spc. Micah E. Clare is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Army Sgt. Jim McKinzie has always made a living out of getting dirty. Judging from his smiling face and his combat uniform -- soiled and stained with dirt, oil and gasoline -- it looks like he's not planning to change that any time soon. McKinzie, a 35-year-old generator mechanic, squad leader and truck commander in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, is known for being one of the hardest-working noncommissioned officers in his unit, as well as the only Ranger-qualified NCO in the battalion.
"He's a down and dirty guy," said Spc. Evan Grabenstein, a communications operator from Houston. "He's always the last one to be working."
McKinzie said he doesn't find his work in the Army to be nearly as hard as the staggering number of civilian jobs he has worked.
"I've done air conditioner and heater repair, carpentry, auto mechanics, iron-working, filling fuel tanks and construction, to name a few," McKinzie said as he hooked up chains from a crane to emplace a trailer-sized refrigerator at an isolated outpost in Afghanistan's Paktika Province.
Even though he loves his work and may not show any signs of slowing down, he admitted there are some days when he can feel the strain.
"I've done a lot of manual-labor jobs," said the Fort Worth, Texas, native. "But at my age, it's starting to wear on me a little. I try taking a supervisory role more often." His soldiers would disagree with him on that note, though.
"He's still the first one to volunteer for work," exclaimed Spc. Cara Allen, a driver in the 782nd BSB from Trenton, N.J. "Then he'll make you do it with him!"
"I couldn't ask for a better squad leader," said Army Staff Sgt. Gerald Mickelson, McKinzie's platoon sergeant. Mickelson chuckled as he watched McKinzie still working on a truck after dark, when everyone else had gone to dinner.
"He's not afraid of getting as dirty as possible to get the job done," said Mickelson, who's from Monroe, Ga.
McKinzie attributes his attitude about work to a strong desire to put his whole heart into a job.
"It's not about pleasing anyone; it's about making it happen, regardless of what kind of job it is," he said in his Texas accent. "Therefore, get in there, get in dirty, and knock it out. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can get back to chilling out and relaxing."
Even though McKinzie has never minded the sweat, dust, dirt or grease required to complete a mission, he loves to get cleaned up at the end of one.
"I'm no prima donna," he said. "I don't need a shower every night, but there is nothing better than having one at the end of a long, dirty mission."
There was a time though, when McKinzie's whole life was less than cleaned up. McKinzie, his wife, Angela, and daughter, Brianna, were living in the projects and were very poor, he explained. However, just like in his work, all McKinzie needed was a good cleaning up to get back up on his feet and start over.
"God really delivered me and cleaned me up from the inside out," he said excitedly. After a few years of straightening up, he decided to volunteer for the military. While he was in the recruiter's office, something really caught his eye.
"I saw this poster showing the "double A's" (the 82nd Airborne Division patch) with the Airborne and Ranger tab above it. I thought that had to be pretty high-speed," McKinzie said. Shortly after, he graduated from basic training and went to his advanced individual training to become a generator mechanic. There he was given an opportunity to fulfill his dream of earning Airborne wings.
"I always wanted to go, even though I figured I would barely make it through," he said. "Even in basic (training), I prayed that God would give me a love for running just so I could pass the (physical fitness) test." He did pass Airborne Basic Course and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.
Once at his unit, it wasn't long before another exciting challenge presented itself, when his battalion commander told him that Ranger school had opened to all military occupational specialties. "Go get your tab and we'll make you an NCO," he recalled his commander telling him.
"Even though I was an old man, I knew I was going to jump on that," McKinzie said, laughing.
Despite a lot of discouragement, McKinzie said he knew nothing was going to stand in his way of that tab. Preparing mentally and physically for success, he trained hard for six months before going to Ranger school, even when there wasn't an established training program for him, he said.
Just as he had been used to his whole life, Ranger school was no walk in the park.
"You get dirty, all the time," he said. "We got messed up there. It took a lot of self-discipline." Not until he finally graduated did he learn why he had been sent there in the first place.
"You don't go to Ranger school to become a leader," he said. "You go because you are a leader. You accept the challenge and make it happen. You have to get it without having your hand held."
Now, more than a year after graduating, McKinzie employs his leadership skills as a squad leader and truck commander in the 782nd BSB's "Market Garden" Combat Logistics Patrol, running supplies to far-reaching outposts in southeastern Afghanistan.
He enjoys his work, and most of all is glad for the support he gets from his wife and daughter while he does what he loves best: getting dirty.
"I do spend most of my time getting dirty," McKinzie said. "But I'm very blessed to be where I'm at."
With an Army combat uniform as badly ruined as his, stained again from a recent hydraulics fluid eruption, most people would probably be complaining. But for a man who has made a living out of getting dirty, McKinzie just jokes, "That's one more set of ACUs I'm down. The Army better be supplying me with more."
(Army Spc. Micah E. Clare is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Microsoft, USO Open 'Above and Beyond' Voting
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Americans can now visit an online ballot to cast their vote for five people whose extraordinary contributions to the U.S. military go above and beyond the call of duty.
With the first "Above and Beyond Awards," Microsoft Corp. and the United Service Organizations, or USO, will publicly honor the outstanding commitment, exceptional service, sacrifice and achievements of individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to brightening servicemembers' lives over the past year, according to the awards' Web site. From hundreds of promising nominees, officials have narrowed the field to 14 finalists in the following five categories:
-- The Effort Award: Presented for providing outstanding support and comfort to troops, and enhancing their morale and personal welfare. The recipient inspires other groups or individuals to create new and unique ways to show their support of the troops through widely influential guidance or mentorship.
-- Medical Attention Award: Presented for providing superior medical attention to the wounded and injured. The recipient makes a broad impact across multiple communities, providing guidance, mentorship and resources to better the lives of the wounded. He or she inspires others to enhance their own support.
-- Promotion and Success Award: Presented for outstanding impact and success in generating promotional support for the USO. The recipient provides selfless commitment to promote and create awareness of the USO, and helps enhance the morale and personal welfare of troops.
-- Every Day Difference Award: Presented to someone who makes a difference in a seemingly small, but significant way to improve servicemembers' quality of life. The recipient is an unsung hero who makes the most of personal (non-financial) resources to positively affect servicemembers' basic needs or way of life.
-- Youth Leadership Award: Presented to a youth leader -- age 17 or younger -- who champions and represents outstanding troop support. The recipient organizes self-generated or motivated individuals or groups that provide genuine support to the troops, and shows his or her troop support through innovative and unique ways.
Additional information about the 14 finalists can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/federal/AboveandBeyondAwards.mspx. The awards will be presented at a Nov. 12 ceremony in New York City.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - Americans can now visit an online ballot to cast their vote for five people whose extraordinary contributions to the U.S. military go above and beyond the call of duty.
With the first "Above and Beyond Awards," Microsoft Corp. and the United Service Organizations, or USO, will publicly honor the outstanding commitment, exceptional service, sacrifice and achievements of individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to brightening servicemembers' lives over the past year, according to the awards' Web site. From hundreds of promising nominees, officials have narrowed the field to 14 finalists in the following five categories:
-- The Effort Award: Presented for providing outstanding support and comfort to troops, and enhancing their morale and personal welfare. The recipient inspires other groups or individuals to create new and unique ways to show their support of the troops through widely influential guidance or mentorship.
-- Medical Attention Award: Presented for providing superior medical attention to the wounded and injured. The recipient makes a broad impact across multiple communities, providing guidance, mentorship and resources to better the lives of the wounded. He or she inspires others to enhance their own support.
-- Promotion and Success Award: Presented for outstanding impact and success in generating promotional support for the USO. The recipient provides selfless commitment to promote and create awareness of the USO, and helps enhance the morale and personal welfare of troops.
-- Every Day Difference Award: Presented to someone who makes a difference in a seemingly small, but significant way to improve servicemembers' quality of life. The recipient is an unsung hero who makes the most of personal (non-financial) resources to positively affect servicemembers' basic needs or way of life.
-- Youth Leadership Award: Presented to a youth leader -- age 17 or younger -- who champions and represents outstanding troop support. The recipient organizes self-generated or motivated individuals or groups that provide genuine support to the troops, and shows his or her troop support through innovative and unique ways.
Additional information about the 14 finalists can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/industry/government/federal/AboveandBeyondAwards.mspx. The awards will be presented at a Nov. 12 ceremony in New York City.
Program Encourages Scientific Collaborations
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - As panel members convene for the organization's 50th annual meeting, a five-nation program geared toward collaboration in defense science and technology is looking at its past and charting its future, a senior Defense Department official said. Andre van Tilborg, deputy undersecretary of defense for science and technology, is hosting the Technical Cooperation Program's meeting here this week. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are the group's member nations.
The Canadian embassy will host a banquet for the members on Oct. 25 – the date that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan signed the memorandum to create the group in 1957. Van Tilborg said the science group is as relevant today as it was when it was founded.
"The world in which we live requires us to cooperate," he said. When Eisenhower and MacMillan created the program, it was to increase cooperation in the face of a challenge from the Soviet Union. Both men realized that "none of the nations involved have a monopoly on smart people, resources, facilities and experimental assets," van Tilborg said. "So there is a great benefit to sharing the knowledge of people and the availability of experimental assets."
Though it spends many times the amount of money the group's other nations spend on military research, the United States is getting value from the alliance, van Tilborg said. "There are many examples of important research programs that have reached fruition because of the combined efforts of U.S. and partner scientists, engineers and technologists," he said.
Much of the cooperation among the nations is motivated by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the overall war on terror. "One of the best examples I've seen ... is regarding helicopter flight," he said.
Chopper pilots in Iraq and Afghanistan face bad weather, sandstorms and flying at night. He said that many aircraft crashes are caused by the loss of situational awareness – not knowing how close the aircraft is to the ground or to objects.
"Eight years ago, a (Technical Cooperation Program) project started to develop new hardware, software and techniques that actually resulted in a helmet-mounted display that fuses information from all types of sensors," he said. The sensors measure how far the chopper is from the ground and how close objects are and can display that for the pilots.
What's more, these sensors operate in the dark, in poor weather and in sandstorms, he said. "They integrate all this information, and allow the pilot to have a much better grasp of the relative position of the rotorcraft," the scientist said. "There's an enormous impact on our operations, because our warfighters prefer to fight at night – it's less risky. And they prefer to operate in bad weather because the adversary prefers not to operate in bad weather. So this technology developed jointly shows the potential for enormous impact for operators."
Another project involved a joint research development effort to help cut civilian deaths and damage. The program helps planners estimate what collateral damage a bomb or missile would cause to a target.
"If we're intending to blow up a tank, we fire the missile at the tank and we don't want it to adversely affect any nearby buildings or the civilian population," he said. "Our nations have worked for five years to develop extremely sophisticated software tools and techniques that allow operators to understand, before they shoot the weapon, how they can absolutely minimize the impact of collateral damage – so that it's not a guessing game."
These tools wouldn't have been developed by one of the partners working in isolation, and certainly not as rapidly as they have been developed, van Tilborg said.
The program host said he sees the basic collaboration among the nations continuing.
"The threats are different in today's world, but that underlying motivation is unchanged," he said. "Although we're at the 50-year mark for the (Technical Cooperation Program), it's as fresh as ever, because the work that needs to be done to make our nations safer, to develop the technologies that make our nations safer, is still required."
Van Tilborg said he sees the program moving toward more net-centric research. "Each of our nations intends to network the weapons and the sensors and the weapons and the people and the platforms into an Internet kind of structure," he said. "I think we all believe that kind of a network is the best way to defend against the kind of threats we will face currently and in the future."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 23, 2007 - As panel members convene for the organization's 50th annual meeting, a five-nation program geared toward collaboration in defense science and technology is looking at its past and charting its future, a senior Defense Department official said. Andre van Tilborg, deputy undersecretary of defense for science and technology, is hosting the Technical Cooperation Program's meeting here this week. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are the group's member nations.
The Canadian embassy will host a banquet for the members on Oct. 25 – the date that President Dwight D. Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan signed the memorandum to create the group in 1957. Van Tilborg said the science group is as relevant today as it was when it was founded.
"The world in which we live requires us to cooperate," he said. When Eisenhower and MacMillan created the program, it was to increase cooperation in the face of a challenge from the Soviet Union. Both men realized that "none of the nations involved have a monopoly on smart people, resources, facilities and experimental assets," van Tilborg said. "So there is a great benefit to sharing the knowledge of people and the availability of experimental assets."
Though it spends many times the amount of money the group's other nations spend on military research, the United States is getting value from the alliance, van Tilborg said. "There are many examples of important research programs that have reached fruition because of the combined efforts of U.S. and partner scientists, engineers and technologists," he said.
Much of the cooperation among the nations is motivated by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the overall war on terror. "One of the best examples I've seen ... is regarding helicopter flight," he said.
Chopper pilots in Iraq and Afghanistan face bad weather, sandstorms and flying at night. He said that many aircraft crashes are caused by the loss of situational awareness – not knowing how close the aircraft is to the ground or to objects.
"Eight years ago, a (Technical Cooperation Program) project started to develop new hardware, software and techniques that actually resulted in a helmet-mounted display that fuses information from all types of sensors," he said. The sensors measure how far the chopper is from the ground and how close objects are and can display that for the pilots.
What's more, these sensors operate in the dark, in poor weather and in sandstorms, he said. "They integrate all this information, and allow the pilot to have a much better grasp of the relative position of the rotorcraft," the scientist said. "There's an enormous impact on our operations, because our warfighters prefer to fight at night – it's less risky. And they prefer to operate in bad weather because the adversary prefers not to operate in bad weather. So this technology developed jointly shows the potential for enormous impact for operators."
Another project involved a joint research development effort to help cut civilian deaths and damage. The program helps planners estimate what collateral damage a bomb or missile would cause to a target.
"If we're intending to blow up a tank, we fire the missile at the tank and we don't want it to adversely affect any nearby buildings or the civilian population," he said. "Our nations have worked for five years to develop extremely sophisticated software tools and techniques that allow operators to understand, before they shoot the weapon, how they can absolutely minimize the impact of collateral damage – so that it's not a guessing game."
These tools wouldn't have been developed by one of the partners working in isolation, and certainly not as rapidly as they have been developed, van Tilborg said.
The program host said he sees the basic collaboration among the nations continuing.
"The threats are different in today's world, but that underlying motivation is unchanged," he said. "Although we're at the 50-year mark for the (Technical Cooperation Program), it's as fresh as ever, because the work that needs to be done to make our nations safer, to develop the technologies that make our nations safer, is still required."
Van Tilborg said he sees the program moving toward more net-centric research. "Each of our nations intends to network the weapons and the sensors and the weapons and the people and the platforms into an Internet kind of structure," he said. "I think we all believe that kind of a network is the best way to defend against the kind of threats we will face currently and in the future."
Gates Expresses Confidence Polish Elections Won't Stop Defense Cooperation
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence today that the reversal of power in Poland following yesterday's elections won't upset U.S.-Polish defense cooperation. Poland's Conservative Civic Platform party won yesterday's general election on a platform that included redeploying the country's 900 troops in Iraq. The election promise, if fulfilled, would reverse strong support Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, have maintained for the Iraq mission since winning the 2005 election.
Gates is attending the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference here.
He pointed to the close, longstanding relationship Poland and the United States have shared and said he doesn't expect the election results to change that. "Regardless of the composition of the government, I expect that cooperation to continue," he told reporters.
"We clearly are hopeful the kind of cooperation we have enjoyed recently in both Iraq and Afghanistan on one hand and in moving toward negotiations and an agreement on missile defense will continue as before," he said.
Poland has been a coalition leader in the war on terror. In addition to its 900 troops in Iraq, about 1,200 Poles serve in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
In addition, the United States has been negotiating with Poland to place interceptors there as part of a missile defense system. The plan also seeks to base a radar station in the Czech Republic to shield the United States and Europe against rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates expressed confidence today that the reversal of power in Poland following yesterday's elections won't upset U.S.-Polish defense cooperation. Poland's Conservative Civic Platform party won yesterday's general election on a platform that included redeploying the country's 900 troops in Iraq. The election promise, if fulfilled, would reverse strong support Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his brother, Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, have maintained for the Iraq mission since winning the 2005 election.
Gates is attending the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference here.
He pointed to the close, longstanding relationship Poland and the United States have shared and said he doesn't expect the election results to change that. "Regardless of the composition of the government, I expect that cooperation to continue," he told reporters.
"We clearly are hopeful the kind of cooperation we have enjoyed recently in both Iraq and Afghanistan on one hand and in moving toward negotiations and an agreement on missile defense will continue as before," he said.
Poland has been a coalition leader in the war on terror. In addition to its 900 troops in Iraq, about 1,200 Poles serve in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
In addition, the United States has been negotiating with Poland to place interceptors there as part of a missile defense system. The plan also seeks to base a radar station in the Czech Republic to shield the United States and Europe against rogue states such as Iran and North Korea.
Two Sailors Dead in Bahrain Barracks Shooting
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Two female U.S. sailors were killed, and a third sailor suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early this morning in Bahrain, military officials reported.
The incident was limited to the three U.S. Navy sailors at Naval Support Activity Bahrain and is not terror-related, officials said. The female sailors were shot at a military barracks at about 5 a.m. and were pronounced dead at the scene. The third sailor was reported to be in critical condition at a Bahrain hospital.
All names are being withheld until next of kin have been notified.
Initial indications are the three sailors were acquainted, but the extent of their relationships and the details of the shootings are still under investigation, officials said. Naval Support Activity Bahrain is the home base for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. (From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command news release.)
Oct. 22, 2007 - Two female U.S. sailors were killed, and a third sailor suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early this morning in Bahrain, military officials reported.
The incident was limited to the three U.S. Navy sailors at Naval Support Activity Bahrain and is not terror-related, officials said. The female sailors were shot at a military barracks at about 5 a.m. and were pronounced dead at the scene. The third sailor was reported to be in critical condition at a Bahrain hospital.
All names are being withheld until next of kin have been notified.
Initial indications are the three sailors were acquainted, but the extent of their relationships and the details of the shootings are still under investigation, officials said. Naval Support Activity Bahrain is the home base for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. (From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command news release.)
Gates Praises Group's Successes, Urges Closer Cooperation
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged participants at the 12th annual meeting of the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial here today to focus on closer cooperation to address the challenges of proliferation, border security and counter-terrorism. The 11-member SEDM alliance includes Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which like Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia had participated as observers, received full SEDM membership today with the signing of a formal accession note.
"Given its recent history, Bosnia's transition from SEDM observer to member is all the more remarkable," Gates said. "Our strong support for Bosnia's SEDM membership reaffirms the United States' long-standing commitment to integrating Southeast Europe into Euro-Atlantic institutions."
The United States helped develop SEDM in 1996 to encourage greater regional security cooperation in the region. Although its original six members focused heavily on the Balkans, today the alliance has grown to become "truly southeastern Europe," as it was intended, a senior defense official traveling with Gates said.
"SEDM has been very successful in achieving its objectives of encouraging or maintaining stability and security in southeastern Europe (and) of encouraging cooperation," the official told reporters.
Gates extended praise today to the organization's far-reaching activities, which include sending the Southeastern European Brigade headquarters last year to the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan and supporting the Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission.
Gates called the Southeastern European Brigade's mission a contribution that "best represents SEDM's achievements." He also called SEDM's efforts in Kosovo another visible element of the alliance's commitment.
Still, Gates said, the United States doesn't want to see the KFOR mandate expanded. The European Union has an important role to play in Kosovo, he pointed out, noting EU efforts to establish a rule-of-law mission there.
Gates urged SEDM members to continue extending the organization's reach, but not at the expense of their own regional priorities, particularly counterproliferation, border security and counterterrorism. "To sustain and increase SEDM's relevance, member nations must be willing to address these crucial issues," Gates told the group.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who opened the two-day meeting this morning, joined Gates in urging greater regional cooperation focused on these issues, as well as SEDM's peacekeeping activities.
Yushchenko told participants his government, still being formed following national elections, is now ready to play a more active role in stabilizing Europe. He also reiterated Ukraine's interest in joining NATO.
Gates urged other SEDM nations to consider similar courses. "The United States strongly encourages SEDM to focus its efforts on activities which best support ongoing integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions such as NATO and increased cooperation and interoperability among SEDM member nations," he told the ministers.
The secretary called efforts by countries in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region to join SEDM "a testament to (the group's) accomplishments and importance." He urged SEDM members to view that growth as an opportunity "to take important steps to assure its ongoing relevance as a vital regional player."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged participants at the 12th annual meeting of the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial here today to focus on closer cooperation to address the challenges of proliferation, border security and counter-terrorism. The 11-member SEDM alliance includes Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which like Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia had participated as observers, received full SEDM membership today with the signing of a formal accession note.
"Given its recent history, Bosnia's transition from SEDM observer to member is all the more remarkable," Gates said. "Our strong support for Bosnia's SEDM membership reaffirms the United States' long-standing commitment to integrating Southeast Europe into Euro-Atlantic institutions."
The United States helped develop SEDM in 1996 to encourage greater regional security cooperation in the region. Although its original six members focused heavily on the Balkans, today the alliance has grown to become "truly southeastern Europe," as it was intended, a senior defense official traveling with Gates said.
"SEDM has been very successful in achieving its objectives of encouraging or maintaining stability and security in southeastern Europe (and) of encouraging cooperation," the official told reporters.
Gates extended praise today to the organization's far-reaching activities, which include sending the Southeastern European Brigade headquarters last year to the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan and supporting the Kosovo Force peacekeeping mission.
Gates called the Southeastern European Brigade's mission a contribution that "best represents SEDM's achievements." He also called SEDM's efforts in Kosovo another visible element of the alliance's commitment.
Still, Gates said, the United States doesn't want to see the KFOR mandate expanded. The European Union has an important role to play in Kosovo, he pointed out, noting EU efforts to establish a rule-of-law mission there.
Gates urged SEDM members to continue extending the organization's reach, but not at the expense of their own regional priorities, particularly counterproliferation, border security and counterterrorism. "To sustain and increase SEDM's relevance, member nations must be willing to address these crucial issues," Gates told the group.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who opened the two-day meeting this morning, joined Gates in urging greater regional cooperation focused on these issues, as well as SEDM's peacekeeping activities.
Yushchenko told participants his government, still being formed following national elections, is now ready to play a more active role in stabilizing Europe. He also reiterated Ukraine's interest in joining NATO.
Gates urged other SEDM nations to consider similar courses. "The United States strongly encourages SEDM to focus its efforts on activities which best support ongoing integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions such as NATO and increased cooperation and interoperability among SEDM member nations," he told the ministers.
The secretary called efforts by countries in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region to join SEDM "a testament to (the group's) accomplishments and importance." He urged SEDM members to view that growth as an opportunity "to take important steps to assure its ongoing relevance as a vital regional player."
Operation Pinecone Shifts Gears for Holidays
By Toni Maltagliati
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - For volunteers with South Riding, Va.-based Operation Pinecone, Halloween is over and the Christmas rush has begun. "We have 25 camps, four hospitals (and) two humanitarian aid contacts," said Mary Hacker, who founded the group two years ago after deciding to super-size a care package originally planned for one family friend deployed to Iraq.
"A neighbor came by, saw what I was doing, and said she had wanted to do something to help the troops but that she didn't have a contact over there," Hacker explained.
Word spread through Hacker's rural Virginia neighborhood and, with the help of a press release in the local paper, the women "were bombarded."
"Everybody wanted to do something, but they didn't know how," she said.
That was November 2005, when Hacker and her husband, John, shipped the group's first care package to a handful of soldiers in Iraq.
Two years later, Hacker's living room, dining room and basement runneth over with donations of Girl Scout cookies, toiletries, movie DVDs, music CDs, T-shirts, puzzle books, hard candy, playing cards, snacks and even blank holiday cards for troops to use. Another board member of Operation Pinecone has put a basement to use as storage space for the group's donations.
The group's name, Operation Pinecone, originated from Mary Hacker's desire to send a memento from home to the troops. She chose a pinecone, because pine trees grow in nearly every state in the United States. One pinecone accompanies each care package, Hacker said.
Operation Pinecone is a supporter of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Hacker said she has found her group's affiliation with America Supports You helpful.
"I think it's great," Hacker said. "It's been very beneficial to me. I can get information from other groups; I have someone to talk to; and I do a lot of referrals to America Supports You."
She explained that Operation Pinecone's aim is to concentrate the group's efforts to help the greatest number of troops overseas. When she gets requests for individual care packages, Hacker refers the individuals to groups who send personalized care packages.
"I would really rather do more for the masses than less for the individuals," Hacker said.
The "masses" include troops and veterans recovering at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta, Ga., and Eisenhower Army Medical Center in nearby Fort Gordon, Ga. Two other military hospitals also receive Operation Pinecone care packages: the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., and Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.
Now that care packages filled with Halloween candy and decorations are making their way to Afghanistan and Iraq, the Virginia group is gearing up for two evening packing parties focused on Christmas care packages, Hacker said.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - For volunteers with South Riding, Va.-based Operation Pinecone, Halloween is over and the Christmas rush has begun. "We have 25 camps, four hospitals (and) two humanitarian aid contacts," said Mary Hacker, who founded the group two years ago after deciding to super-size a care package originally planned for one family friend deployed to Iraq.
"A neighbor came by, saw what I was doing, and said she had wanted to do something to help the troops but that she didn't have a contact over there," Hacker explained.
Word spread through Hacker's rural Virginia neighborhood and, with the help of a press release in the local paper, the women "were bombarded."
"Everybody wanted to do something, but they didn't know how," she said.
That was November 2005, when Hacker and her husband, John, shipped the group's first care package to a handful of soldiers in Iraq.
Two years later, Hacker's living room, dining room and basement runneth over with donations of Girl Scout cookies, toiletries, movie DVDs, music CDs, T-shirts, puzzle books, hard candy, playing cards, snacks and even blank holiday cards for troops to use. Another board member of Operation Pinecone has put a basement to use as storage space for the group's donations.
The group's name, Operation Pinecone, originated from Mary Hacker's desire to send a memento from home to the troops. She chose a pinecone, because pine trees grow in nearly every state in the United States. One pinecone accompanies each care package, Hacker said.
Operation Pinecone is a supporter of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.
Hacker said she has found her group's affiliation with America Supports You helpful.
"I think it's great," Hacker said. "It's been very beneficial to me. I can get information from other groups; I have someone to talk to; and I do a lot of referrals to America Supports You."
She explained that Operation Pinecone's aim is to concentrate the group's efforts to help the greatest number of troops overseas. When she gets requests for individual care packages, Hacker refers the individuals to groups who send personalized care packages.
"I would really rather do more for the masses than less for the individuals," Hacker said.
The "masses" include troops and veterans recovering at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta, Ga., and Eisenhower Army Medical Center in nearby Fort Gordon, Ga. Two other military hospitals also receive Operation Pinecone care packages: the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., and Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.
Now that care packages filled with Halloween candy and decorations are making their way to Afghanistan and Iraq, the Virginia group is gearing up for two evening packing parties focused on Christmas care packages, Hacker said.
Gates Urges More Support in Terror War, Says He Will Press NATO
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked fellow participants in the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference for their support in Iraq and Afghanistan and told the group he plans to press NATO to live up to its commitments in Afghanistan. Gates, speaking with SEDM members at their 12th conference, expressed frustration that some NATO countries still haven't followed through with troop commitments made at the 2006 NATO session in Riga, Latvia.
"I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over 2 million soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen can't find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan," he said during a news conference.
"I intend to pursue this in our meetings in the Netherlands," Gates said, referring to the upcoming NATO informal ministerial conference in Noordwijk, Oct. 24 and 25.
Gates praised members of the SEDM group, some also NATO members, for their support in the Middle East.
"I would especially like to thank Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine for the forces they have contributed in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said in his opening statement to the group.
Gates said several ministers approached him today expressing their countries' intent to increase their troop contributions, mostly in Afghanistan. Some of these countries still "have certain hurdles to clear at home" before they are able to make their additional force contributions public, he told reporters at a news conference.
In addition, Slovakia, which sent a representative to SEDM to observe the proceedings, shared plans to send at least 47 more troops to Afghanistan. The Slovakian representative told Gates these additional forces will serve with Dutch forces in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. This will bring Slovakia's troop contribution in Afghanistan to 125 in 2008.
"I encourage all allies and partners to contribute as much as they can, especially in support of our efforts in Afghanistan," Gates told the ministers.
Particularly needed, he said, are more operational mentoring and liaison teams to help build an effective, self-sustaining Afghan National Army and additional provincial reconstruction teams where none currently exist.
Gates pointed to SEDM's deployment last year of its Southeastern European Brigade, or SEEBRIG, to Afghanistan as an example of the group's important contributions to the terror war. SEDM deployed the 100-troop headquarters element for a six-month rotation with the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan.
"This deployment showed that SEDM can make an important contribution. More importantly, it showed that partners can come together and collectively contribute to help bring stability to a place far from home," Gates said. "More of this should be encouraged."
Gates acknowledged some SEDM members' interest in deploying the brigade again. "It is understandable that SEDM members who have contributed personnel, equipment and funding to SEEBRIG would like to see it deploy again," he said.
However, he urged an assessment of the brigade, which was stood up in 1999. Before another deployment, "we should take an honest look at SEEBRIG's capabilities, shortcomings and requirements, and carefully review the assets SEEBRIG nations contribute to the brigade," he said.
SEEBRIG operates under a Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe agreement that was signed by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey. Ukraine joined the agreement during today's SEDM meeting.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked fellow participants in the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial conference for their support in Iraq and Afghanistan and told the group he plans to press NATO to live up to its commitments in Afghanistan. Gates, speaking with SEDM members at their 12th conference, expressed frustration that some NATO countries still haven't followed through with troop commitments made at the 2006 NATO session in Riga, Latvia.
"I am not satisfied that an alliance whose members have over 2 million soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen can't find the modest additional resources that have been committed for Afghanistan," he said during a news conference.
"I intend to pursue this in our meetings in the Netherlands," Gates said, referring to the upcoming NATO informal ministerial conference in Noordwijk, Oct. 24 and 25.
Gates praised members of the SEDM group, some also NATO members, for their support in the Middle East.
"I would especially like to thank Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine for the forces they have contributed in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said in his opening statement to the group.
Gates said several ministers approached him today expressing their countries' intent to increase their troop contributions, mostly in Afghanistan. Some of these countries still "have certain hurdles to clear at home" before they are able to make their additional force contributions public, he told reporters at a news conference.
In addition, Slovakia, which sent a representative to SEDM to observe the proceedings, shared plans to send at least 47 more troops to Afghanistan. The Slovakian representative told Gates these additional forces will serve with Dutch forces in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. This will bring Slovakia's troop contribution in Afghanistan to 125 in 2008.
"I encourage all allies and partners to contribute as much as they can, especially in support of our efforts in Afghanistan," Gates told the ministers.
Particularly needed, he said, are more operational mentoring and liaison teams to help build an effective, self-sustaining Afghan National Army and additional provincial reconstruction teams where none currently exist.
Gates pointed to SEDM's deployment last year of its Southeastern European Brigade, or SEEBRIG, to Afghanistan as an example of the group's important contributions to the terror war. SEDM deployed the 100-troop headquarters element for a six-month rotation with the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Afghanistan.
"This deployment showed that SEDM can make an important contribution. More importantly, it showed that partners can come together and collectively contribute to help bring stability to a place far from home," Gates said. "More of this should be encouraged."
Gates acknowledged some SEDM members' interest in deploying the brigade again. "It is understandable that SEDM members who have contributed personnel, equipment and funding to SEEBRIG would like to see it deploy again," he said.
However, he urged an assessment of the brigade, which was stood up in 1999. Before another deployment, "we should take an honest look at SEEBRIG's capabilities, shortcomings and requirements, and carefully review the assets SEEBRIG nations contribute to the brigade," he said.
SEEBRIG operates under a Multinational Peace Force Southeastern Europe agreement that was signed by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey. Ukraine joined the agreement during today's SEDM meeting.
Bush Presents Medal of Honor to Parents of Navy SEAL
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy's parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy's is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice," Bush said. "By presenting Michael Murphy's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL."
On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.
Despite intense combat around him, Murphy -- already wounded in the firefight -- moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.
By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting.
As a somber postscript to Murphy's bravery, the helicopter that he requested crashed after being struck by a rocket- propelled grenade, killing everyone on board. In total, 19 Americans died in what Bush referred to as "the deadliest for Navy Special Warfare forces since World War II."
The president characterized Murphy as a born Navy SEAL.
"SEALs get their name from operating by sea, air and land, and even as a toddler, Michael could find his way through any obstacle," Bush said. "When he was just 18 months old, he darted across a neighbor's yard and dove into the swimming pool. By the time his frantic parents reached him, Michael had swum to the other side with a big smile on his face."
In addition to his physical strength, Bush said Murphy's strong moral character also was apparent at an early age.
"One day in school, he got into a scuffle sticking up for a student with a disability. It's the only time his parents ever got a phone call from the principal, and they couldn't have been prouder," Bush said. "Michael's passion for helping others led him to become a caring brother, a tutor, a life guard and eventually a member of the United States armed forces."
The president welcomed Murphy's parents and brother, John, who hail from Patchogue, N.Y., to the White House's East Room, noting that Murphy's decision to join the U.S. military was not easily accepted by his family. "As a Purple Heart recipient during Vietnam, Michael's father understood the sacrifices that accompany a life of service. He also understood that his son was prepared to make these sacrifices," Bush added.
Murphy is remembered by fellow SEALs as a wisecracking friend who went by "Mikey" or "Murph," a patriot who wore a New York City firehouse patch on his uniform in honor of the heroes of 9/11, Bush said.
"And they remember an officer who respected their opinions and led them with an understated yet unmistakable sense of command. Together Michael and his fellow SEALs deployed multiple times around the world in the war against the extremists and radicals," Bush said. "And while their missions were often carried out in secrecy, their love of country and devotion to each other was always clear."
Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The president has presented medals to the families of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died in Iraq.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy's parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy's is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy's name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice," Bush said. "By presenting Michael Murphy's family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL."
On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.
Despite intense combat around him, Murphy -- already wounded in the firefight -- moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.
By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting.
As a somber postscript to Murphy's bravery, the helicopter that he requested crashed after being struck by a rocket- propelled grenade, killing everyone on board. In total, 19 Americans died in what Bush referred to as "the deadliest for Navy Special Warfare forces since World War II."
The president characterized Murphy as a born Navy SEAL.
"SEALs get their name from operating by sea, air and land, and even as a toddler, Michael could find his way through any obstacle," Bush said. "When he was just 18 months old, he darted across a neighbor's yard and dove into the swimming pool. By the time his frantic parents reached him, Michael had swum to the other side with a big smile on his face."
In addition to his physical strength, Bush said Murphy's strong moral character also was apparent at an early age.
"One day in school, he got into a scuffle sticking up for a student with a disability. It's the only time his parents ever got a phone call from the principal, and they couldn't have been prouder," Bush said. "Michael's passion for helping others led him to become a caring brother, a tutor, a life guard and eventually a member of the United States armed forces."
The president welcomed Murphy's parents and brother, John, who hail from Patchogue, N.Y., to the White House's East Room, noting that Murphy's decision to join the U.S. military was not easily accepted by his family. "As a Purple Heart recipient during Vietnam, Michael's father understood the sacrifices that accompany a life of service. He also understood that his son was prepared to make these sacrifices," Bush added.
Murphy is remembered by fellow SEALs as a wisecracking friend who went by "Mikey" or "Murph," a patriot who wore a New York City firehouse patch on his uniform in honor of the heroes of 9/11, Bush said.
"And they remember an officer who respected their opinions and led them with an understated yet unmistakable sense of command. Together Michael and his fellow SEALs deployed multiple times around the world in the war against the extremists and radicals," Bush said. "And while their missions were often carried out in secrecy, their love of country and devotion to each other was always clear."
Murphy is one of three servicemembers to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry in action during the war on terror. The president has presented medals to the families of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith and Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, who died in Iraq.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Former Air Force Pilot Second Woman to Command Shuttle
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Retired Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will become the second woman to command a NASA space shuttle flight when Discovery lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., tomorrow. The STS-120 flight is the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, according NASA's Web site. The mission will launch an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station. The "Harmony" device will provide attachment points for European and Japanese laboratory modules.
Melroy, 46, piloted KC-10 tanker planes and tested prototype C-17 transport aircraft in the Air Force. She retired from the military in February.
In a recent interview, Melroy said she'd always wanted to experience space travel. "That was my dream; even going into the Air Force, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut," said Melroy, who was born in Palo Alto, Calif.
Melroy is leading a crew of six other astronauts, including two military officers, aboard Discovery. She is the second woman to command a shuttle flight. Air Force Col. Eileen M. Collins became the first woman to command a shuttle flight aboard the Columbia during mission STS-93 in July 1999. Collins commanded the Columbia again during shuttle mission STS-114 in July-August 2005. Collins retired from NASA in May 2006.
Other STS-120 crew members are:
-- Marine Col. George D. Zamka, 45, born in Jersey City, N.J.;
-- Scott E. Parazynski, 46, born in Little Rock, Ark.;
-- Army Col. Douglas H. Wheelock, 47, born in Binghamton, N.Y.;
-- Stephanie D. Wilson, 41, born in Boston;
-- Paolo A. Nespoli, 50, a European Space Agency astronaut who was born in Milan, Italy; and
-- Daniel M. Tani, 46, born in Ridley Park, Pa.
Another astronaut, Clayton C. Anderson, 48, will return to earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-120. Tani will replace Anderson aboard the space station. Tani will return to earth on shuttle mission STS-122.
Discovery's STS-120 mission is slated to return to the John F. Kennedy Space Center's shuttle landing site in Florida on Nov. 6.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - Retired Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will become the second woman to command a NASA space shuttle flight when Discovery lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., tomorrow. The STS-120 flight is the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, according NASA's Web site. The mission will launch an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station. The "Harmony" device will provide attachment points for European and Japanese laboratory modules.
Melroy, 46, piloted KC-10 tanker planes and tested prototype C-17 transport aircraft in the Air Force. She retired from the military in February.
In a recent interview, Melroy said she'd always wanted to experience space travel. "That was my dream; even going into the Air Force, I knew I wanted to be an astronaut," said Melroy, who was born in Palo Alto, Calif.
Melroy is leading a crew of six other astronauts, including two military officers, aboard Discovery. She is the second woman to command a shuttle flight. Air Force Col. Eileen M. Collins became the first woman to command a shuttle flight aboard the Columbia during mission STS-93 in July 1999. Collins commanded the Columbia again during shuttle mission STS-114 in July-August 2005. Collins retired from NASA in May 2006.
Other STS-120 crew members are:
-- Marine Col. George D. Zamka, 45, born in Jersey City, N.J.;
-- Scott E. Parazynski, 46, born in Little Rock, Ark.;
-- Army Col. Douglas H. Wheelock, 47, born in Binghamton, N.Y.;
-- Stephanie D. Wilson, 41, born in Boston;
-- Paolo A. Nespoli, 50, a European Space Agency astronaut who was born in Milan, Italy; and
-- Daniel M. Tani, 46, born in Ridley Park, Pa.
Another astronaut, Clayton C. Anderson, 48, will return to earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-120. Tani will replace Anderson aboard the space station. Tani will return to earth on shuttle mission STS-122.
Discovery's STS-120 mission is slated to return to the John F. Kennedy Space Center's shuttle landing site in Florida on Nov. 6.
Bush Delivers Supplemental War Funding Request to Congress
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush has submitted to Congress a request for $42.3 billion in supplemental war funding. The amendment places the total funding for the global war on terrorism at $189.3 billion for fiscal 2008.
"Parts of this war are complicated, but one part is not, and that is, America should do what it takes to support our troops and protect our people," Bush said from the Roosevelt Room at the White House today. "And today I sent Congress an updated supplemental war funding request that will do just that."
Most of the supplemental funding supports day-to-day military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the president said. "The bill provides for basic needs, like bullets and body armor, protection against (improvised explosive devices), and mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles," he said. "It also funds training missions, vital embassy programs, improvements in Iraqi security forces, and intelligence operations that protect our troops."
The request will fund continued operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in other areas of the fight against terror.
"These are urgent military necessities, and the supplemental was prepared in close consultation with our commanders on the ground," Bush said. "This funding is what (Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander) and other military leaders say we need -- and Congress ought to give it to them."
In Afghanistan, Bush said, U.S. troops, NATO allies and Afghan forces are making gains against the Taliban and al Qaeda. In Iraq, though the campaign to provide security for the Iraqi people has been "difficult and dangerous," he said, it's producing results.
"Al Qaeda and other extremists have been driven from strongholds in places like Anbar province and parts of Diyala province," the president said. "In Baghdad, the number of Iraqi civilians murdered by terrorists and death squads is down sharply. Throughout Iraq, the number of American service members killed in September was the lowest since July 2006. And the level of violence during Ramadan was down significantly from last year."
Bush noted that last month, Petraeus said he believes successes in Iraq mean U.S. forces can maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces. "I accepted this recommendation that we not replace about 2,200 Marines who left Anbar last month," the president said. "We expect to bring home another 3,500 soldiers by Christmas. The funds in the supplemental are crucial to continuing this policy of 'return on success.' Every member of Congress who wants to see both success in Iraq and our troops begin to come home should strongly support this bill."
The supplemental spending request also includes emergency funding for other critical national security needs, Bush said. "It includes money to improve medical care for our wounded warriors," he noted. "It funds equipment repair, and upgrades the strategic readiness of the Army. It provides crucial relief for Iraqi refugees. It supports the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations in Darfur. It delivers vital assistance for our partners in Mexico and Central America, who are working to break up drug cartels, and fight organized crime, and stop human trafficking. All of these are urgent priorities of the United States, and the Congress should fund them without delay."
The supplemental request breaks the funding into four major parts: continuing the fight, reconstituting the force, enhancing forces, and emergency requests.
Continuing the fight calls for $23.8 billion. This is on top of $101.9 billion the administration requested in February. The amendment includes $6.3 billion to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the cost of the surge in Iraq.
"When we submitted the budget to Congress, it was based on the presumption of at least 15 (brigade combat teams in Iraq)," said a senior defense official, speaking on background. "Since then, obviously, we surged up an additional five (brigade combat teams). We funded that – the fiscal 2007 costs – through the emergency supplemental. This picks up from 1 October the current force structure, which is 20 (brigade combat teams), but also recognizes the fact that starting in December we will be reducing this force structure by five (brigade combat teams) by July."
It also includes $14.2 billion for force protection and research and acquisition to defeat improvised explosive devices. In this account is $11 billion for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles used by Marines and soldiers.
"This is the next increment for fiscal 2008," the official said. "It represents the entire increment for the year. This is an additional 7,274 vehicles, which will then bring us to a total of 15,274." The entire requirement for the vehicles in fiscal 2008 will be more than $16 billion.
The continuing-the-fight account also includes $1 billion for training and equipping Iraqi security forces, $200 million for commanders' emergency response funds in Afghanistan, $1 billion for military construction, and $1 billion for military intelligence. The last includes the cost of 24 more Predator unmanned aerial vehicles.
The request also asks for $100 million for restarting Iraqi factories. "This will further reindustrialization of the Iraqi economy," the official said. "Investing in textile factories and other commercial enterprises to try and get them up on their feet. We appropriated about $50 million for this in 2007, and it's just a continuation of our efforts."
The next largest bloc of money goes to reconstituting the force. The amendment asks for $8.8 billion on top of $37.6 billion. "This is largely to address the equipment that is lost or damaged in the theater," the official said. "It's also to deal with the wear and tear on a number of our platforms."
These are mostly ground-combat systems, senior defense officials said. "In this amendment alone, we are requesting 383 Strykers, over 4,100 Humvees, over 11,000 of the family of trucks ... and over 72,000 SINCGARS radios," the official said. "This gives you a flavor of the kind of equipment we are talking about."
Enhancing forces gets a big plus-up under the amendment, with $6.4 billion on top of $1.6 billion requested previously.
Another $1 billion goes to strengthening the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. The money funds the 12-month reserve-component deployment policy and allows pre-deployment training at home station rather than at a mobilization station. "About three quarters of this funding is used to buy the training days that these troops will incur," the official said.
A total of $5.4 billion goes to restoring the force. This initiative increases equipment that "next-to-deploy" forces receive and improves military readiness by allowing deploying forces to train at battalion and brigade levels earlier in their training cycles. This account also funds equipment shortfalls in combat vehicles, communications, logistics vehicles and weapons.
Finally, additional emergency funding requests are part of the amendment package. These total $2.5 billion for fiscal 2008. The amendment calls for $800 million to enhance servicemember and family support, with $700 million going to the Army and $100 million to the Marines. "This is to provide additional money for child care centers, additional money for youth programs and to set up Warrior Transition Units and also investing in additional family readiness support assistants," he said.
It also calls for $500 million for programs for wounded, ill and injured troops. This money will improve trauma and rehabilitative care for wounded personnel, senior defense officials said. The money will pay for hiring more case workers, renovating existing facilities and building new facilities.
A total of $400 million accelerates construction of hospitals at Fort Belvoir, Va., and Bethesda, Md. The money also will speed the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center here by about nine months, the official said.
Finally, the request funds $800 million for fuel cost increases.
Senior defense officials urged Congress to act on the requests quickly. "The most critical things in here are for our force protection. Clearly, MRAPs are important, (as well as) the funding for additional reset items. If they delay action, that continues to reduce our readiness posture," another senior defense official said. "We're pushing for (Congress) to get as much done as possible."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 22, 2007 - President Bush has submitted to Congress a request for $42.3 billion in supplemental war funding. The amendment places the total funding for the global war on terrorism at $189.3 billion for fiscal 2008.
"Parts of this war are complicated, but one part is not, and that is, America should do what it takes to support our troops and protect our people," Bush said from the Roosevelt Room at the White House today. "And today I sent Congress an updated supplemental war funding request that will do just that."
Most of the supplemental funding supports day-to-day military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the president said. "The bill provides for basic needs, like bullets and body armor, protection against (improvised explosive devices), and mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles," he said. "It also funds training missions, vital embassy programs, improvements in Iraqi security forces, and intelligence operations that protect our troops."
The request will fund continued operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as in other areas of the fight against terror.
"These are urgent military necessities, and the supplemental was prepared in close consultation with our commanders on the ground," Bush said. "This funding is what (Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, Multinational Force Iraq commander) and other military leaders say we need -- and Congress ought to give it to them."
In Afghanistan, Bush said, U.S. troops, NATO allies and Afghan forces are making gains against the Taliban and al Qaeda. In Iraq, though the campaign to provide security for the Iraqi people has been "difficult and dangerous," he said, it's producing results.
"Al Qaeda and other extremists have been driven from strongholds in places like Anbar province and parts of Diyala province," the president said. "In Baghdad, the number of Iraqi civilians murdered by terrorists and death squads is down sharply. Throughout Iraq, the number of American service members killed in September was the lowest since July 2006. And the level of violence during Ramadan was down significantly from last year."
Bush noted that last month, Petraeus said he believes successes in Iraq mean U.S. forces can maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces. "I accepted this recommendation that we not replace about 2,200 Marines who left Anbar last month," the president said. "We expect to bring home another 3,500 soldiers by Christmas. The funds in the supplemental are crucial to continuing this policy of 'return on success.' Every member of Congress who wants to see both success in Iraq and our troops begin to come home should strongly support this bill."
The supplemental spending request also includes emergency funding for other critical national security needs, Bush said. "It includes money to improve medical care for our wounded warriors," he noted. "It funds equipment repair, and upgrades the strategic readiness of the Army. It provides crucial relief for Iraqi refugees. It supports the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations in Darfur. It delivers vital assistance for our partners in Mexico and Central America, who are working to break up drug cartels, and fight organized crime, and stop human trafficking. All of these are urgent priorities of the United States, and the Congress should fund them without delay."
The supplemental request breaks the funding into four major parts: continuing the fight, reconstituting the force, enhancing forces, and emergency requests.
Continuing the fight calls for $23.8 billion. This is on top of $101.9 billion the administration requested in February. The amendment includes $6.3 billion to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the cost of the surge in Iraq.
"When we submitted the budget to Congress, it was based on the presumption of at least 15 (brigade combat teams in Iraq)," said a senior defense official, speaking on background. "Since then, obviously, we surged up an additional five (brigade combat teams). We funded that – the fiscal 2007 costs – through the emergency supplemental. This picks up from 1 October the current force structure, which is 20 (brigade combat teams), but also recognizes the fact that starting in December we will be reducing this force structure by five (brigade combat teams) by July."
It also includes $14.2 billion for force protection and research and acquisition to defeat improvised explosive devices. In this account is $11 billion for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles used by Marines and soldiers.
"This is the next increment for fiscal 2008," the official said. "It represents the entire increment for the year. This is an additional 7,274 vehicles, which will then bring us to a total of 15,274." The entire requirement for the vehicles in fiscal 2008 will be more than $16 billion.
The continuing-the-fight account also includes $1 billion for training and equipping Iraqi security forces, $200 million for commanders' emergency response funds in Afghanistan, $1 billion for military construction, and $1 billion for military intelligence. The last includes the cost of 24 more Predator unmanned aerial vehicles.
The request also asks for $100 million for restarting Iraqi factories. "This will further reindustrialization of the Iraqi economy," the official said. "Investing in textile factories and other commercial enterprises to try and get them up on their feet. We appropriated about $50 million for this in 2007, and it's just a continuation of our efforts."
The next largest bloc of money goes to reconstituting the force. The amendment asks for $8.8 billion on top of $37.6 billion. "This is largely to address the equipment that is lost or damaged in the theater," the official said. "It's also to deal with the wear and tear on a number of our platforms."
These are mostly ground-combat systems, senior defense officials said. "In this amendment alone, we are requesting 383 Strykers, over 4,100 Humvees, over 11,000 of the family of trucks ... and over 72,000 SINCGARS radios," the official said. "This gives you a flavor of the kind of equipment we are talking about."
Enhancing forces gets a big plus-up under the amendment, with $6.4 billion on top of $1.6 billion requested previously.
Another $1 billion goes to strengthening the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. The money funds the 12-month reserve-component deployment policy and allows pre-deployment training at home station rather than at a mobilization station. "About three quarters of this funding is used to buy the training days that these troops will incur," the official said.
A total of $5.4 billion goes to restoring the force. This initiative increases equipment that "next-to-deploy" forces receive and improves military readiness by allowing deploying forces to train at battalion and brigade levels earlier in their training cycles. This account also funds equipment shortfalls in combat vehicles, communications, logistics vehicles and weapons.
Finally, additional emergency funding requests are part of the amendment package. These total $2.5 billion for fiscal 2008. The amendment calls for $800 million to enhance servicemember and family support, with $700 million going to the Army and $100 million to the Marines. "This is to provide additional money for child care centers, additional money for youth programs and to set up Warrior Transition Units and also investing in additional family readiness support assistants," he said.
It also calls for $500 million for programs for wounded, ill and injured troops. This money will improve trauma and rehabilitative care for wounded personnel, senior defense officials said. The money will pay for hiring more case workers, renovating existing facilities and building new facilities.
A total of $400 million accelerates construction of hospitals at Fort Belvoir, Va., and Bethesda, Md. The money also will speed the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center here by about nine months, the official said.
Finally, the request funds $800 million for fuel cost increases.
Senior defense officials urged Congress to act on the requests quickly. "The most critical things in here are for our force protection. Clearly, MRAPs are important, (as well as) the funding for additional reset items. If they delay action, that continues to reduce our readiness posture," another senior defense official said. "We're pushing for (Congress) to get as much done as possible."
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Gates Arrives in Ukraine to Begin Five-Day European Swing
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 21, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today to meet with Ukrainian leaders as their new government begins to take shape. The five-day trip, which also will include stops in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany, represents a lot of "firsts" for the secretary. It's his first visit to Ukraine as defense secretary, his first-ever visit to Prague, and the first visit by a defense secretary serving in the Bush administration to the Netherlands.
In Ukraine, Gates will meet with Ukrainian President Viktor A. Yushchenko to discuss post-election priorities as the new government forms. He also will meet with Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko to discuss defense reforms the United States is helping bring about.
"We are investing a lot of resources in Ukraine to help it reform its institutions," a senior defense official traveling with Gates told reporters. He called Ukraine's military reforms "a great success story" and Hrytsenko a "fantastic, visionary guy" who has helped move the process forward.
Among topics expected to be discussed are Ukraine's support in Iraq and Kosovo and its consideration of expanding its contributions into Afghanistan, as well. "The Ukrainian government has considered going into Afghanistan for some time," the official said, noting that the country's political upheaval put those discussions "on hold for awhile."
With the likelihood pro-Western Yushchenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will lead the new government, Ukraine will soon be in a better position to look beyond current operations to other missions, the official said.
"Now that there is the potential for a Tymoshenko-Yushchenko government, ... (with) both parties pro-Western, pro-NATO (and) pro-(European Union), ... there could be a restarting of some of the previous traction that the Yushchenko government had," the official said.
Gates' discussions here are likely to include the outcome of his and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent "two-plus-two" meeting with Russian leaders in Moscow. "I can't imagine him sitting down with the Ukrainian leadership, that there won't be a discussion about how the two-plus-two went and how both sides view relationships with Russia," the official said.
The outcome of that meeting and Russian objections to U.S. plans to base missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic are expected to be raised throughout Gates' swing through Europe, particularly when he meets with Czech leaders in Prague later this week, the official said.
Also today, Gates is scheduled to meet with Turkish National Defense Minister Mehmet Vecdi Gonul, followed by bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of three countries seeking NATO membership: Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.
A topic expected to figure largely in the meeting with Gonul -- a topic not anticipated when the meeting was scheduled two weeks ago -- is the Turkish parliament's vote last week authorizing its troops to cross the border into Iraq to confront terrorists launching attacks into Turkey. The one-year authorization gives the green light for Turkey's military to move into the Kurdish region of Iraq to go after members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, who have been launching attacks into Turkey.
Gates has called on Turkey to refrain from military action into Iraq, which he said "would create an international crisis and further undermine stability in Iraq." He told Pentagon reporters at an Oct. 18 news briefing that he intends to reiterate this message in his meeting with Gonul.
"We recognize the harm and heartbreak caused by terrorist attacks across the Iraqi border into Turkey and are working with both governments to rein in the activities of the PKK," he said, vowing to help Turkey counter the threat.
Tomorrow, Gates will attend the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial here before leaving for Prague. Later in the week, he will participate in a NATO informal defense ministerial in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and speak to a U.S. Army Europe-sponsored Conference of European Armies meeting in Germany.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 21, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today to meet with Ukrainian leaders as their new government begins to take shape. The five-day trip, which also will include stops in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany, represents a lot of "firsts" for the secretary. It's his first visit to Ukraine as defense secretary, his first-ever visit to Prague, and the first visit by a defense secretary serving in the Bush administration to the Netherlands.
In Ukraine, Gates will meet with Ukrainian President Viktor A. Yushchenko to discuss post-election priorities as the new government forms. He also will meet with Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko to discuss defense reforms the United States is helping bring about.
"We are investing a lot of resources in Ukraine to help it reform its institutions," a senior defense official traveling with Gates told reporters. He called Ukraine's military reforms "a great success story" and Hrytsenko a "fantastic, visionary guy" who has helped move the process forward.
Among topics expected to be discussed are Ukraine's support in Iraq and Kosovo and its consideration of expanding its contributions into Afghanistan, as well. "The Ukrainian government has considered going into Afghanistan for some time," the official said, noting that the country's political upheaval put those discussions "on hold for awhile."
With the likelihood pro-Western Yushchenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will lead the new government, Ukraine will soon be in a better position to look beyond current operations to other missions, the official said.
"Now that there is the potential for a Tymoshenko-Yushchenko government, ... (with) both parties pro-Western, pro-NATO (and) pro-(European Union), ... there could be a restarting of some of the previous traction that the Yushchenko government had," the official said.
Gates' discussions here are likely to include the outcome of his and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent "two-plus-two" meeting with Russian leaders in Moscow. "I can't imagine him sitting down with the Ukrainian leadership, that there won't be a discussion about how the two-plus-two went and how both sides view relationships with Russia," the official said.
The outcome of that meeting and Russian objections to U.S. plans to base missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic are expected to be raised throughout Gates' swing through Europe, particularly when he meets with Czech leaders in Prague later this week, the official said.
Also today, Gates is scheduled to meet with Turkish National Defense Minister Mehmet Vecdi Gonul, followed by bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of three countries seeking NATO membership: Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.
A topic expected to figure largely in the meeting with Gonul -- a topic not anticipated when the meeting was scheduled two weeks ago -- is the Turkish parliament's vote last week authorizing its troops to cross the border into Iraq to confront terrorists launching attacks into Turkey. The one-year authorization gives the green light for Turkey's military to move into the Kurdish region of Iraq to go after members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, who have been launching attacks into Turkey.
Gates has called on Turkey to refrain from military action into Iraq, which he said "would create an international crisis and further undermine stability in Iraq." He told Pentagon reporters at an Oct. 18 news briefing that he intends to reiterate this message in his meeting with Gonul.
"We recognize the harm and heartbreak caused by terrorist attacks across the Iraqi border into Turkey and are working with both governments to rein in the activities of the PKK," he said, vowing to help Turkey counter the threat.
Tomorrow, Gates will attend the Southeast Europe Defense Ministerial here before leaving for Prague. Later in the week, he will participate in a NATO informal defense ministerial in Noordwijk, Netherlands, and speak to a U.S. Army Europe-sponsored Conference of European Armies meeting in Germany.
Defense Department Contracts for 2,400 More MRAP Vehicles
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 19, 2007 - The Defense Department has let contracts for an additional 2,400 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, bringing the total number of the vehicles ordered to 8,800. "We're going to do everything we can to get as many vehicles in theater as fast as we can," a senior Pentagon official, speaking on background, said yesterday.
The MRAP is designed to survive blasts from improvised explosive devices and armor-piercing IEDs known as improvised explosive projectiles, the main killers of American servicemembers in Iraq. The vehicles have a V-shaped hull that deflects shrapnel, providing more effective protection for servicemembers inside the vehicle. MRAPs are replacing armored Humvees.
"As we go forward, we are seeking constantly to improve the survivability of the MRAP designs," the official said.
Three firms -- International Military and Government LLC, Force Protection Industries Inc., and BAE Systems Land and Armaments LP -- will produce the 2,400 new MRAP vehicles.
The contracts are for both the Category 1 and Category 2 MRAPs. The Category 1 MRAPs are four-wheeled vehicles that carry a crew of two and four passengers. The six-wheeled Category 2 vehicles have a crew of two and can carry eight.
"These are additional orders on existing contracts," the senior official said.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called getting these vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan the department's highest equipment priority.
At a speech before the Center for a New American Security on Oct. 15, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway spoke about the effectiveness of the vehicle. He called it the "gold standard" of force protection. "We had an incident the other day where an MRAP was hit with a 300-pound charge right under the engine," Conway said. "Now, I mention the size of the charge because we were testing them at Aberdeen (Proving Ground, Md.) against 30- and 50-pound charges.
"But a 300-pound charge went off right under the engine," he continued. "It blew the engine about 65 meters away from the vehicle, caused a complete reversal of direction on the part of the MRAP, but of the four Marines inside, the regimental commander put one on light duty for seven days and the other three continued with the patrol. So it's an amazing vehicle in terms of the protection that it gives to our people against these underbody blasts."
The program has hit high gear. Vendors are just ahead of production goals to date, and goals will become more demanding in coming months. In September, vendors produced 309 of the vehicles. This month the goal is for 419 vehicles. In November, the goal is for almost 1,000 vehicles, with December's goal set at 1,200.
In December, the Defense Department will need a further $8.2 billion from Congress to continue MRAP production, the official said. The department will order roughly 6,400 MRAPs in December to meet the current stated requirement of 15,274 MRAPs.
Vehicle production has reached a level where the department will have to manage demand for hardened and ballistic steel between MRAPs and other programs, such as Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, and fragmentary kit enhancements, the official said.
Separate Marine Corps and Army versions of the vehicles mean 16 variants must be equipped, tested and produced. This slows the process down, and experts are working to reduce the number of variants, he said.
Fielding the 16 different vehicle designs also increases the burdens of training, maintenance and spare parts for troops in theater.
Once built, the vehicles then must get radios and other equipment installed at the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, S.C, the official said.
"We have to take them down to South Carolina to be outfitted with all the government equipment and so on, and then we'll get them into the theater," Gates said in a separate Pentagon news briefing yesterday.
The Defense Department is flying the vehicles to Iraq as soon as they are ready. The department can fly 360 MRAPs per month. A joint allocation board sends the vehicles to the areas they are most needed, the senior official explained.
"We are continuing to airlift them as they're produced," Gates said. "At a certain point we'll make a transition and start sending them by sea just because of the numbers that are involved."
"So I would say that the program is pretty much right on track," the secretary added.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 19, 2007 - The Defense Department has let contracts for an additional 2,400 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, bringing the total number of the vehicles ordered to 8,800. "We're going to do everything we can to get as many vehicles in theater as fast as we can," a senior Pentagon official, speaking on background, said yesterday.
The MRAP is designed to survive blasts from improvised explosive devices and armor-piercing IEDs known as improvised explosive projectiles, the main killers of American servicemembers in Iraq. The vehicles have a V-shaped hull that deflects shrapnel, providing more effective protection for servicemembers inside the vehicle. MRAPs are replacing armored Humvees.
"As we go forward, we are seeking constantly to improve the survivability of the MRAP designs," the official said.
Three firms -- International Military and Government LLC, Force Protection Industries Inc., and BAE Systems Land and Armaments LP -- will produce the 2,400 new MRAP vehicles.
The contracts are for both the Category 1 and Category 2 MRAPs. The Category 1 MRAPs are four-wheeled vehicles that carry a crew of two and four passengers. The six-wheeled Category 2 vehicles have a crew of two and can carry eight.
"These are additional orders on existing contracts," the senior official said.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called getting these vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan the department's highest equipment priority.
At a speech before the Center for a New American Security on Oct. 15, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway spoke about the effectiveness of the vehicle. He called it the "gold standard" of force protection. "We had an incident the other day where an MRAP was hit with a 300-pound charge right under the engine," Conway said. "Now, I mention the size of the charge because we were testing them at Aberdeen (Proving Ground, Md.) against 30- and 50-pound charges.
"But a 300-pound charge went off right under the engine," he continued. "It blew the engine about 65 meters away from the vehicle, caused a complete reversal of direction on the part of the MRAP, but of the four Marines inside, the regimental commander put one on light duty for seven days and the other three continued with the patrol. So it's an amazing vehicle in terms of the protection that it gives to our people against these underbody blasts."
The program has hit high gear. Vendors are just ahead of production goals to date, and goals will become more demanding in coming months. In September, vendors produced 309 of the vehicles. This month the goal is for 419 vehicles. In November, the goal is for almost 1,000 vehicles, with December's goal set at 1,200.
In December, the Defense Department will need a further $8.2 billion from Congress to continue MRAP production, the official said. The department will order roughly 6,400 MRAPs in December to meet the current stated requirement of 15,274 MRAPs.
Vehicle production has reached a level where the department will have to manage demand for hardened and ballistic steel between MRAPs and other programs, such as Bradley and Stryker fighting vehicles, and fragmentary kit enhancements, the official said.
Separate Marine Corps and Army versions of the vehicles mean 16 variants must be equipped, tested and produced. This slows the process down, and experts are working to reduce the number of variants, he said.
Fielding the 16 different vehicle designs also increases the burdens of training, maintenance and spare parts for troops in theater.
Once built, the vehicles then must get radios and other equipment installed at the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in Charleston, S.C, the official said.
"We have to take them down to South Carolina to be outfitted with all the government equipment and so on, and then we'll get them into the theater," Gates said in a separate Pentagon news briefing yesterday.
The Defense Department is flying the vehicles to Iraq as soon as they are ready. The department can fly 360 MRAPs per month. A joint allocation board sends the vehicles to the areas they are most needed, the senior official explained.
"We are continuing to airlift them as they're produced," Gates said. "At a certain point we'll make a transition and start sending them by sea just because of the numbers that are involved."
"So I would say that the program is pretty much right on track," the secretary added.
Why We Serve: Sailor Swaps 'Sea Legs' for Afghanistan Duty
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 19, 2007 - Navy Reserve Petty Officer 1st Class Sivenson Guerrier exchanged his "sea legs" and became a "landlubber" during a yearlong duty tour in Afghanistan when he volunteered to participate in a pilot program that provided ground-operations training to sailors. Guerrier underwent three months of Army training at Fort Bragg, N.C., before deploying to Afghanistan in April 2006 to join a provincial reconstruction team operating in the northeastern part of the country.
"Sailors and airmen are out there, too, in Iraq and Afghanistan, on the ground," Guerrier pointed out.
The sailor is no stranger to the sea, as he hails from the island-nation of Haiti. The Port-au-Prince-born servicemember returned to the United States from Afghanistan in April.
Guerrier is among 10 servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to tell the military's story to the American people at community, business, veterans and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
Why We Serve began in fall 2006 and was originally the idea of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Representatives from all the service branches participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments. Guerrier and the other servicemembers in his group constitute the fifth iteration since the program began.
The Why We Serve program is important, Guerrier said, because it enables servicemembers to tell the American public about their experiences in the war against global terrorism.
Guerrier said his PRT worked in Kunar province, where it built schools, roads and hospitals. His job was to keep the trucks, generators and other equipment in top condition.
Army training he received included weapons instruction, and it came in handy in Afghanistan, where he often travelled across dangerous territory to repair or recover vehicles that had broken down, Guerrier said.
Duty in Afghanistan also was personally satisfying, Guerrier pointed out, noting that Afghans living in remote villages were especially appreciative when PRT medics attended to their sick children.
"We are doing awesome work there and are helping out the people tremendously," Guerrier said of his tour in Afghanistan.
Being in the Navy is never boring, Guerrier said, noting he also has served as a security specialist and a military linguist specializing in Creole, the native language of most Haitian residents.
"Where else can you go to experience all those different types of jobs and travel around the world?" Guerrier asked.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 19, 2007 - Navy Reserve Petty Officer 1st Class Sivenson Guerrier exchanged his "sea legs" and became a "landlubber" during a yearlong duty tour in Afghanistan when he volunteered to participate in a pilot program that provided ground-operations training to sailors. Guerrier underwent three months of Army training at Fort Bragg, N.C., before deploying to Afghanistan in April 2006 to join a provincial reconstruction team operating in the northeastern part of the country.
"Sailors and airmen are out there, too, in Iraq and Afghanistan, on the ground," Guerrier pointed out.
The sailor is no stranger to the sea, as he hails from the island-nation of Haiti. The Port-au-Prince-born servicemember returned to the United States from Afghanistan in April.
Guerrier is among 10 servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to tell the military's story to the American people at community, business, veterans and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
Why We Serve began in fall 2006 and was originally the idea of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Representatives from all the service branches participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments. Guerrier and the other servicemembers in his group constitute the fifth iteration since the program began.
The Why We Serve program is important, Guerrier said, because it enables servicemembers to tell the American public about their experiences in the war against global terrorism.
Guerrier said his PRT worked in Kunar province, where it built schools, roads and hospitals. His job was to keep the trucks, generators and other equipment in top condition.
Army training he received included weapons instruction, and it came in handy in Afghanistan, where he often travelled across dangerous territory to repair or recover vehicles that had broken down, Guerrier said.
Duty in Afghanistan also was personally satisfying, Guerrier pointed out, noting that Afghans living in remote villages were especially appreciative when PRT medics attended to their sick children.
"We are doing awesome work there and are helping out the people tremendously," Guerrier said of his tour in Afghanistan.
Being in the Navy is never boring, Guerrier said, noting he also has served as a security specialist and a military linguist specializing in Creole, the native language of most Haitian residents.
"Where else can you go to experience all those different types of jobs and travel around the world?" Guerrier asked.
Possible Changes Eyed for Guard, Reserve Montgomery GI Bill
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 19, 2007 - Defense leaders joined the Minnesota National Guard's adjutant general yesterday in urging Congress to revise the Montgomery GI Bill to improve coverage for reserve-component troops, although they didn't necessarily agree on the best way to accomplish that. Army Maj. Gen. Larry W. Shellito told the House Veterans Affairs Committee that the bill, as currently written, shortchanges National Guard and Reserve troops.
He noted that nearly half the Minnesota National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, found they weren't eligible for full education benefits under the bill, despite being one of the longest-serving units in Iraq. The unit returned home from a 22-month mobilization that included 16 months in combat as part of the surge force in Iraq.
All the returning "Red Bull" troops were eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits, but many fell short of the service time required to receive full benefits.
Among them was Army Sgt. Benjamin Hattan, a two-time Purple Heart recipient who was denied education benefits because his deployment orders were written for up to 729 days. The Montgomery GI Bill requires 730 days of service to quality for full benefits, Hattan explained to the committee.
The Army is working to amend the unit's orders and sent a team to Minnesota to help the Guardsmen wade through paperwork required to apply for benefits. Officials said the Army goal is to complete amendments so the soldiers can receive their benefits for the 2008 spring term.
"The decision to grant these men and women their earned benefits needs to occur quickly in order for them to make important life decisions," Shellito told the committee. "As a key tool in building and maintaining a total Army force, we as well as military leaders also need this to occur, as it is fundamental to sustaining a ready and capable reserve-component force."
Defense Department officials agreed yesterday that changes are needed to the Montgomery GI Bill for the Selected Reserve, as well as the Reserve Educational Assistance Program.
However, both Thomas L. Bush, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, and Curtis L. Gilroy, the Pentagon's director for accession policy, said such a measure doesn't fit the program's purpose: to recruit and retain members.
They said they believe the Defense Department can actually be too generous in granting GI Bill benefits. "We have a delicate balance we have to maintain in order to ensure a strong and ready military for America," Gilroy stated previously. "And it is actually possible to upset that balance and hurt our retention by being too generous with some of our recruiting incentives."
Gilroy and Bush said yesterday they disagree with the idea of consolidating the active- and reserve-component education plans into a single "Total Force GI Bill."
"The calls for a single program simply view military service as the pathway to an education benefit, not a program to retain members," they said in a joint statement released to the committee.
Both praised the Montgomery GI Bill for the support it lends to recruiting and retention efforts. "As we move through the 21st century, we must continue to build upon the remarkable legacy of the visionaries who crafted preceding versions and improvements in the GI Bill," they said.
The original GI Bill was enacted in 1944 to provide education benefits for troops returning from World War II. More than 2 million veterans have attended college using GI Bill benefits.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 19, 2007 - Defense leaders joined the Minnesota National Guard's adjutant general yesterday in urging Congress to revise the Montgomery GI Bill to improve coverage for reserve-component troops, although they didn't necessarily agree on the best way to accomplish that. Army Maj. Gen. Larry W. Shellito told the House Veterans Affairs Committee that the bill, as currently written, shortchanges National Guard and Reserve troops.
He noted that nearly half the Minnesota National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, found they weren't eligible for full education benefits under the bill, despite being one of the longest-serving units in Iraq. The unit returned home from a 22-month mobilization that included 16 months in combat as part of the surge force in Iraq.
All the returning "Red Bull" troops were eligible for Montgomery GI Bill benefits, but many fell short of the service time required to receive full benefits.
Among them was Army Sgt. Benjamin Hattan, a two-time Purple Heart recipient who was denied education benefits because his deployment orders were written for up to 729 days. The Montgomery GI Bill requires 730 days of service to quality for full benefits, Hattan explained to the committee.
The Army is working to amend the unit's orders and sent a team to Minnesota to help the Guardsmen wade through paperwork required to apply for benefits. Officials said the Army goal is to complete amendments so the soldiers can receive their benefits for the 2008 spring term.
"The decision to grant these men and women their earned benefits needs to occur quickly in order for them to make important life decisions," Shellito told the committee. "As a key tool in building and maintaining a total Army force, we as well as military leaders also need this to occur, as it is fundamental to sustaining a ready and capable reserve-component force."
Defense Department officials agreed yesterday that changes are needed to the Montgomery GI Bill for the Selected Reserve, as well as the Reserve Educational Assistance Program.
However, both Thomas L. Bush, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, and Curtis L. Gilroy, the Pentagon's director for accession policy, said such a measure doesn't fit the program's purpose: to recruit and retain members.
They said they believe the Defense Department can actually be too generous in granting GI Bill benefits. "We have a delicate balance we have to maintain in order to ensure a strong and ready military for America," Gilroy stated previously. "And it is actually possible to upset that balance and hurt our retention by being too generous with some of our recruiting incentives."
Gilroy and Bush said yesterday they disagree with the idea of consolidating the active- and reserve-component education plans into a single "Total Force GI Bill."
"The calls for a single program simply view military service as the pathway to an education benefit, not a program to retain members," they said in a joint statement released to the committee.
Both praised the Montgomery GI Bill for the support it lends to recruiting and retention efforts. "As we move through the 21st century, we must continue to build upon the remarkable legacy of the visionaries who crafted preceding versions and improvements in the GI Bill," they said.
The original GI Bill was enacted in 1944 to provide education benefits for troops returning from World War II. More than 2 million veterans have attended college using GI Bill benefits.
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