Chairman's Wife Vows Support for Military Families

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 15, 2009 - Deborah Mullen, wife of the nation's most senior military officer, had a message for military families while on the Sesame Street TV set here today: servicemembers and their families have a wealth of support behind them. "I just would like to assure people that there are folks who care, who are working diligently to try and make it better," Mullen said as she sat at the counter in Mr. Hooper's Store on Sesame Street. "I think we can't exactly understand what they're going through, but we all want to make sure that we provide whatever it is they need, whether it's resources, [or] education."

One resource the military has had a hand in providing since the initiative began in 2006 is the Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect." The multi-media campaign includes two videos, which the Defense Department and other experts consulted on, that address ways for military children to handle separation, reintegration and changes in parents who return from deployment.

The third video, the taping of which Mullen, wife of Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was on set to observe, deals with the death of a loved one.

"I can only think that, given the trust that children have with the Sesame Street characters, that this will be a benefit that we will see ... make a difference," Mullen said. "Hopefully we will help children be able to address grief in whatever way that's right for them.

"Families deal with things in different ways," she added. "I think it's difficult to say what works for one family is going to work for another."

Keeping families connected with other families or to military installation programs is key to helping them deal with difficult times, Mullen said.

"I think that the more isolated a family is when they're dealing with ... the separations [and] these issues of reintegration, I think it's more difficult on families," she added. "I think it's important for, particularly National Guard [and reserve] families, that they are connected to the school where their children attend."

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is looking at developing training to help civilian counselors and teachers understand problems military children face, Mullen said.

Adding these types of resources are important as the military continues to look for ways to help its children, she said.

Some programs include a recently expanded YMCA child care program and the nonprofit National Military Family Association's Operation Purple Camps, which are being expanded to include family retreats as well.

"When I speak with families, particularly families whose loved one has returned from a deployment, they really talk in positive terms about family retreats, how important it is to bring the family back together to try and regain some normalcy, with the understanding [that] everyone will have changed," Mullen said. "It doesn't matter where the deployment is, how long it is, whether or not it was in a war zone."

Mullen also noted the new Military Child and Adolescent Center of Excellence at Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Wash., is available for military families. The center focuses specifically on families of servicemembers with multiple deployments and those who come home wounded, she said.

"They're working very hard to try and help and also to let the families of those who have lost someone, the surviving families [know] that we will never forget, that we will always be there, and that we will work diligently to make sure that they're OK," she said.

MILITARY CONTRACTS October 15, 2009

AIR FORCE
Lapoint-Blasé Industries, Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri was awarded a $34,649,163 contract which will provide approximately 54 worldwide deployable portable Doppler radars to provide responsive, reliable, and accurate weather information to standard weather systems. At this time, $1,797,550 has been obligated. 651 ESS/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts is the contracting activity (FA8723-10-D-0001).

MacAulay-Brown, Inc., of Dayton, Ohio was awarded a $24,354,000 contract which will provide for characterization, archival, and distribution of data for image exploitation system. At this time, $67,862 has been obligated. AFRL/PKSR, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8650-10-D-1751, Task Oder: 0001).

Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., of McLean, Va., was awarded a $10,951,533 contract which will provide systems engineering and integration support to the military satellite communications wing, space and terminal engineering office through Oct. 21, 2010. At this time, $663,946 has been obligated. SMC/PK, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-08-F-0003,P00022).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
AM General LLC, Mishawaka, Ind., is being awarded a maximum $26,234,409 firm fixed price, sole source contract for the integrated logistics partnership contract in support of HMMWV requirements. Other locations of performance are Chambersburg, Penn., and Texarkana, Texas. Using service is Army. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This requirements type contract is for one base year and four possible one-year options periods. The date of performance completion is Jan. 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Columbus, Columbus, Ohio (SPM7LX-09-D-9001).

ARMY
King Fisher Marine Service, LP., Port Lavaca, Texas, was awarded on Oct. 14, 2009 a $10,487,500 firm-fixed-price contract. The work consist of maintenance dredging consisting of 5,600,000 cubic yards of the mud flats to Port Isabel and channel to Port Mansfield, restoration and incidental reconstruction or maintenance of existing submerged levees at placement area nos. 7,220 and 221A and of levee at placement area nos. 222 and 226. Work is to be performed in Kennedy, Willacy and Cameroon Countries, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Mar. 15, 2010. Five bids solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District, Galveston, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-10-C-0001).

Lockheed Martin Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, Niagara Falls, N.Y., was awarded on Oct. 13, 2009 a $6,180,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the development of a full tensor gravity gradiometer. Work is to be performed in Niagara Falls, N.Y., with an estimated completion date of July, 15, 2012. One bid was solicited with one bid received. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Reston, Va., is the contracting activity (HM1582-10-C-0001).

By Army Lt. Col. David Konop
Special to American Forces Press Service

Oct. 15, 2009 - When Staff Sgt. John Okumu joined the Army five years ago, he never dreamed he would one day deploy to Africa, the continent he once called home. Okumu, originally from Kenya, was among the first U.S. soldiers setting up operations for Natural Fire 10, a multinational exercise set to begin tomorrow in northern Uganda with more than 1,000 servicemembers from the United States and five East African
nations.

During a recent visit to Kitgum High school, Okumu, a logistics noncommissioned officer, found himself surrounded by curious teens eager to learn more about the American sergeant who speaks their language.

Okumu welcomed such an ambush, responding to a barrage of questions from the students. Within minutes, a circle of a dozen students grew into a crowd of 60 or more.

"How can I go to the United States and become a soldier like you?" one teen asked.

What began as an impromptu discussion grew into a huddle of dozens hanging onto Okumu's every word. He told them how important it is for them to do well in school and reach for their goals.

"Education in the key," he said. "Everyone has a talent. You just need to find out what yours is."

The students paid close attention and asked many questions. At one point, they broke into laughter after a student asked a question the others thought was silly. Okumu was quick to jump in, telling the students never to be afraid to learn by asking.

"There's no such thing as a stupid question, except to the question that's never asked," he said.

The conversation went on in English, which the teens learn in their classes. But they initially were drawn to Okumu when they heard him speak Luo, the language spoken in northern Uganda, which Okumu learned as a child in Kenya. He emigrated from Kenya to the United States in 2000, settling in Missouri.

Okumu is assigned to a group of 21st Theater Sustainment Command soldiers tasked with constructing a base camp in Kitgum and providing logistical support for Natural Fire 10, an exercise co-led by U.S. Army Africa, a component of U.S. Africa Command, and the East
African Community Armed Forces.

Hundreds of soldiers from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will join U.S. troops for the 10-day exercise, which has been held in East Africa every two years for the past decade. The exercise includes training in humanitarian missions, natural disasters, convoy operations, crowd
control, weapons handling and vehicle checkpoints.

U.S. and East African troops also will provide medical, dental and engineering support to local communities. Engineer projects will be conducted at the Kitgum High School, Mucwini Primary School and Kitgum Government Hospital -- where students anxiously anticipate more interaction with Okumu and his fellow Americans.

Okumu looks forward to seeing them again soon. During their recent chat, he made sure they understood the importance of education to their future success.

"Good grades and test scores may qualify you for scholarships to the U.S.," Okumu said. "Do your best."

(Lt. Col. David Konop serves with U.S. Army Africa public affairs.)

Coast Guard Cutter Helps Navy on African Coast

By Christen N. McCluney
Special to American Forces Press Service

Oct. 15, 2009 - The Coast Guard cutter Legare recently returned from a 120-day mission in support of the Navy's 6th Fleet along Africa's west coast. Coast Guard Cmdr. Scott Bauby, commanding officer of the Legare, discussed the cutter's role working with African coastal nations in real-time law enforcement missions during a "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable Oct. 13.

During the mission, the Legare visited four countries -- Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde -- to conduct maritime law-enforcement operations and to support regional maritime safety and security. The African mission focuses on building relationships and sharing tactics and procedures.

"Our area of operations ranged from the northwest coast of Morocco, right at the entrance to the Straits of Gibraltar, all the way down to the entrance to the Gulf of Guinea down by Sierra Leone," Bauby said.

The Legare crew was involved in several law enforcement activities, including seizing an illegal fishing boat off the coast of Sierra Leone.

"Once we approached and boarded the vessel, we confirmed it had been fishing in that area," he said, noting the boat was within an exclusive economic zone of Sierra Leone. "So the government of Sierra Leone directed us to seize the vessel and persons aboard and then escort the vessel back to their capital city of Freetown."

Because of a lack of resources, Bauby said, the partners in Sierra Leone have been unable to frequently patrol their own waters, causing the United States to step in and handle things that may not have been an option before.

The Legare crew also assisted in building maritime domain awareness by discerning traffic patterns, identifying specific areas where vessels were fishing, and showing areas where foreign-flagged vessels were operating to help the partners know where to focus their patrols.

Illegal fishing is an issue, Bauby said. "Based on my limited experience, which is three months operating over there," he said, "I would say it's a problem throughout the coast of Africa, just based on the scarce resources they have to patrol their own waters."

Cape Verde has a specific process for enforcing fishing laws, he said, but Sierra Leone and Senegal still are developing a system, so they have a problem controlling fishing vessels that are permitted to fish while preventing unauthorized vessels from fishing in their waters, he said.

The four countries have worked with the United States in developing their domain awareness, either by working in small training engagements or directly with U.S. agencies, Bauby said. The work is an ongoing effort of U.S. Africa Command, which stood up in the fall of 2008 to forge a relationship with African nations.

"Understanding Africom's intentions and the Navy 6th Fleet, they definitely intend to establish a long-term relationship with all of these countries along the African coast to help them develop their domain awareness."

The Legare returned Oct. 1 to its homeport of Portsmouth, Va.

(Christen N. McCluney works in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media directorate.)

Global Commitments Stretch Army

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 15, 2009 - With more than 1.1 million active and reserve-component soldiers in the U.S. Army, some may wonder how the service could be stressed, as is commonly discussed and reported. The answer lies in the number of deployments soldiers have around the world -- known as operations tempo -- and the "dwell time" needed for them to spend at home between deployments, officials say.

The following is a look at where soldiers are based as of Oct. 6.

The Army has 552,400 active-component soldiers, who are called upon most for operations and exercises. Of the Army's 207,400 reservists, 21,700 are mobilized. The Army National Guard has 362,000 soldiers, with 58,100 activated. Once Guard and Army Reserve soldiers come on active duty, there is no difference between them and active-component soldiers. Reservists can be called up for one-year tours, including training.

According to Army statistics, 102,400 active-component soldiers are based overseas, and 450,000 are in the continental United States. About 21,200 soldiers are in Hawaii, and 13,200 are in Alaska. Soldiers deploy to contingencies around the world. Some 38,200 soldiers are based with U.S. Army Europe, and 17,300 serve with U.S. Forces Korea.

The two largest contingencies for the Army are Iraq and Afghanistan, with 98,025 soldiers operating in Iraq and 43,800 in Afghanistan. Another 12,700 soldiers based in Kuwait provide assistance to both theaters in U.S. Central Command, and 1,050 soldiers work in Qatar.

But those aren't the only areas of operations. NATO's Kosovo Force in the Balkans has 1,525 U.S. soldiers – most from the Army National Guard. Ten soldiers based in Bosnia work with the European Union effort in that country.

Another 700 soldiers are part of the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai desert. Since 1981, a battalion of American soldiers has been in the area to ensure peace between Israel and Egypt.

Some 1,200 soldiers are based with Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. They're based mainly in Djibouti, but also work in Ethiopia and other areas of the region.

Another 600 soldiers are part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, helping to run the detention center at the Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba, and in Honduras, 325 soldiers are part of Joint Task Force Bravo, which works at improving military-to-military ties with Central American countries. In place since the mid-1980s, the command has used civil-military operations to connect with the people of the region.

There are 225 soldiers in the Philippines, working to develop the capabilities of the Philippine armed forces, and another 3,440 soldiers are deployed around the world in "other operations and exercises," officials said.

Added to these numbers are soldiers going through various levels of training, sick or injured, on recruiting duty or involved in other aspects of maintaining the base.

The bottom line is that there are more than 266,000 soldiers deployed or forward stationed in almost 80 countries around the world.

Commentary: Dealing With Loss on Sesame Street

By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 15, 2009 - To the envy of all the neighborhood kids, I was invited to New York yesterday to attend the taping of a special Sesame Workshop production aimed at helping military children. I was in awe when I walked down the real-world Sesame Street. As I passed the laundromat and Mr. Hooper's famous storefront, the years slid away with each step until, once again, I was a 5-year-old glued to an episode of "Sesame Street" on my early 1970s TV set.

I was transported back to the present when down the hall I heard the familiar, high-pitched tones of that furry red Muppet who has gained superstar-like status in recent years. Elmo and his good friend, Rosita, were rehearsing a scene on a brightly lit park set.

Used to more lighthearted shows punctuated with lessons of letters and numbers, it took me a while to adjust to the serious topic Sesame now was tackling: coping with the loss of a loved one.

The video is the latest offering from Sesame's Talk, Listen, Connect initiative, a multimedia project that helps to guide military families through multiple challenges. The first two productions, developed with help from the Defense Department, dealt with deployments and the visible and invisible wounds of war.

"The next endeavor was how do we support families of the fallen," said Barbara Thompson, director of the Defense Department's office of family policy and children and youth. "That is the ultimate, supreme sacrifice that a family has to endure; and what would be a comfort not only to the child, but also to the parent who is also grieving? The result is going to be a real contribution to any family who has lost a loved one."

As with its other military-related projects, Sesame worked closely with the department, enlisting the help of military advisors. A few of those defense experts were on the set yesterday, including Thompson and Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree Sutton, a psychiatrist who heads the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Also there to support the project were Becky Gates, wife of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, and Deborah Mullen, wife of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen.

Sesame consulted with the department on a script that involves Elmo and his family dealing with the loss of Elmo's Uncle Jack. Wanting to reach a broad audience, Sesame avoids mention of combat or war in hopes that the messages of hope and healing will transcend the military and reach all children.

Emotions ran high on the set as the cast and crew filmed the scenes. I saw a few teary eyes, and just reading the script brought tears to my own. Many on the set had suffered losses too and connected deeply with the script; others simply empathized with the emotions of others and the day's purpose.

In one park scene, Elmo, his parents and Rosita are having a picnic with Elmo's Aunt Jill and cousin Jessie. Forgetting momentarily about the recent loss, Elmo innocently asks, "Where's Uncle Jack?" The set was so quiet at that moment you could've heard a pin drop. Then Elmo's mom reminds him that Jack died. Unable to vocalize the depth of her emotions regarding her dad, Jessie asks to go play.

As the script unfolds, Elmo's dad, Louie, finds time to talk with Jessie and encourages her to talk about her feelings. "It helps to talk to someone about the way we feel, like we're talking now. Sometimes it feels better than keeping it all inside," he tells her.

He also explains to her that by remembering Jack, they can continue to celebrate his life.

"It's important to be able to have words that parents and kids can use around death," said Jeanette Betancourt, Sesame Workshop's vice president of outreach and educational practices. "There's a variety of feelings involving death, often conflicting, with sad moments and guilt surrounding happy moments. We want to offer families a way to move forward, the reassurance to move forward."

I had a chance to speak briefly with the actors who play Rosita and Jessie. They clearly were passionate about their work, and both said they felt honored to be a part of the production.

It's a privilege "to meet military families and get to know them and realize how incredible and strong and amazing group of people they are," said Carmen Osbahr, who plays Rosita. "Something that started as an amazing project is now a mission. It's an amazing honor to be a part of it."

"We always connect with our characters. It's fun what we do, but we take our work very seriously," added Leslie Carerra, who plays Jessie. "I certainly relate to the loss of my brother and what it did to my family. In order to connect, you go back. You want it to be light, but when that moment comes ... to be able to share is a great gift. We're offering tools and celebrating life and being strong."

These are the exact messages Sesame Workshop hopes to impart to children using the familiar Sesame pals.

"It's really important for us to recognize that for a child, coming from Elmo, it's much more meaningful than coming from any other counselor or even a significant adult in their life," Thompson said. "Because children naturally respond to Elmo, and that's why these scripts are so important."

The finished product will be integrated into a documentary scheduled to air on PBS in April, which also happens to be the Month of the Military Child. The documentary will include the Elmo story, along with footage of four families, two military and two civilian, who've suffered a loss.

Sesame will follow up the special with the distribution of a military-specific kit. The kit will include print and DVD materials, and will be available on Military OneSource and through family-support centers throughout the services.

I started the day in star-struck awe and finished it in pretty much the same way. I was really amazed by the cast and crew's passion, caring and sensitivity and their close relationships with the military visitors. I'm excited to see the finished product and really believe it has the potential to help countless military families deal with loss.

Stay tuned for more about my day on Sesame Street, including an interview with Deborah Mullen, who gives her perspective of the Sesame production, and some experts' tips for dealing with loss.

(Elaine Wilson, a writer and editor for American Forces Press Service, writes the "Family Matters" blog.)

Shinseki Pledges Better Support for Veterans

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 14, 2009 - The Veterans Affairs Department continues its efforts to provide the best support possible to the nation's military veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a House committee here today. "We have been busy putting into place the foundation for our pursuit of the president's two goals for this department: transform VA into a 21st-century organization, and ensure that we provide timely access to benefits and high quality care to our veterans over their lifetimes -- from the day they first take their oaths of allegiance until the day they are laid to rest," Shinseki said in his written statement provided to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Shinseki's previous "State of the VA" report to Congress was in February. Today, Shinseki pledged he would "continue working to craft a shared vision for the department, one that will be enduring."

"We remain guided by our determination to be people-centric – veterans and the work force count in this department; results-driven – we will not be graded on our promises, but by our accomplishments; and forward-looking – we strive to be the model for governance in the 21st century," the secretary said.

The VA's nearly 300,000 employees all share one mission, Shinseki said, which is "to care for our nation's veterans, wherever they live, by providing them the highest quality benefits and services possible."

Among the nation's 23.4 million living veterans, nearly 8 million choose to access Veterans Affairs-provided services and benefits, the secretary said. The department, he added, will work diligently every day to provide those services "faster, better, and more equitably."

The nation's veterans "put themselves at risk to assure our safety as a people and the preservation of our way of life," Shinseki said. Not all are combat veterans, he said, but all were prepared to be.

VA's mission, Shinseki said, is to care for veterans who endure physical and mental hardships acquired during their military duty. He cited the "cruel misfortunes that often accompany difficult operational missions, and the reality of what risk taking really means to people in the operational environment."

VA health care, services and benefits are in great demand, Shinseki said, noting that demand increases each year. More than 4 million new veterans have been added to the VA's health care rolls since 2001, he said.

Some of today's youngest veterans are dealing with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other multiple-trauma injuries from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.

"We will provide them the care they deserve," the secretary pledged. He also promised to improve the quality of care delivered to veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Desert Storm and other operational deployments.

A 2003 policy change that's based on where a veteran lives and relaxed income thresholds has enabled many more veterans to access VA care, Shinseki reported, but it also has increased VA's workload. Still, he said, VA is prepared to accommodate up to 500,000 new enrollees, to be phased in over the next four years.

Expanded benefits have increased VA's workload in other areas as well. While the post 9/11 GI Bill expanded educational opportunities, Shinseki noted, it also has challenged paper-bound processes. Therefore, he said, aggressive efforts are under way to transfer paper documents to computers to provide more, better and faster decisions in disability claims and educational benefits.

Additionally, "the honor of providing final resting places for our veterans remains a source of immense professional pride for the National Cemeteries Administration, and indeed, the rest of VA," Shinseki stated. The NCA, he wrote, consistently meets the demographic standards associated with veteran burials and exceeds expectations with regard to care and compassion for heroes' families.

The NCA over the past year has interred about 107,000 veterans at 130 national cemeteries, Shinseki said. Five new national cemeteries have been opened, he added, and 16 cemetery projects have been funded for expansion.

"Our veterans have earned and deserve our respect and appreciation for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families," Shinseki wrote, adding that VA is "privileged to have the mission of demonstrating the thanks of a grateful nation."

Marines, Sailors Join Coalition in Exercise

By Marine Corps Capt. Clark D. Carpenter
Special to American Forces Press Service

Oct. 14, 2009 - U.S. Marines and sailors were part of a four-nation coalition that stormed the beaches near here during a major amphibious assault demonstration Oct. 12. "This was a team effort," said Marine Corps Col. Gareth F. Brandl, the 22nd MEU's commander. "Conducting operations like this with our partner nations now will help ensure we can conduct future missions in a proficient and professional manner."

As part of the simulation, Egyptian special operations forces conducted beach reconnaissance prior to the assault. U.S. Marines followed with four AV-88 Harriers. Then amphibious assault vehicles, Humvees and landing craft came ashore.

The Marines have been planning for the exercise since June, said Marine Corps Lt. Col. David Owen, the 22nd MEU's operations officer.

"There was a significant amount of detailed planning that went into this event to ensure success," Owen said. "This is a great example of how we can work together with our partner nations in this region, regardless of any language barrier, and plan and execute very complex mission sets like the amphibious assault demonstration today."

Troops from the various nations, along with 30 vehicles including aircraft, landing craft, amphibious assault vehicles and amphibious tracked vehicles, participated.

"This type of training is important, because it shows us what we can accomplish working with other forces from around the world," said Marine Corps Cpl. Gabriel T. Church, a vehicle commander with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU. "As the theater reserve force, there are endless possibilities of what we may be asked to do -- noncombatant evacuations, humanitarian relief or combat operations. This training helps keep our edge sharpened if the situation calls for it."
Established in 1981 as a result of the Camp David Peace Accords between Egypt and Israel, Bright Star is U.S. Central Command's longest-running exercise. Co-sponsored by Centcom and its Egyptian counterpart, it's designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships and improve readiness and interoperability among the United States, Egypt and coalition forces.

Highlights of this year's exercise include a naval exercise, a multinational amphibious assault demonstration, a multinational paratrooper jump involving 600 troops and a combined arms live fire exercise.

(Marine Corps Capt. Clark D. Carpenter serves with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit public affairs office.)

Congress Finishes Work on Authorization Bill

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 14, 2009 - Congress has reached agreement on a $680.2 billion National Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal 2010. The bill authorizes a 3.4 percent military pay increase and full funding for the Defense Health Program, and it caps F-22 Raptor production at 187 aircraft. For civilian workers, it ends the National Security Personnel System. It includes a base budget of $550.2 billion and $130 billion for overseas contingency operations.

Congress released the conference report Oct. 7. The full Senate and House must pass the conference report before the bill goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The bill includes $560 million to continue development and initial procurement of the alternate F136 engine for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recommended that the funding be struck, arguing development of the F135 engine – the main engine for the F-35 – is proceeding well and that any money spent of the F136 would be wasteful. House and Senate conferees still included the engine in the fiscal 2010 budget authorization. White House officials said it is up to the president whether to veto the legislation over the inclusion.

The bill authorizes payment of hostile fire pay, imminent danger pay, hazardous duty pay, assignment pay and skill incentive pay to be prorated to reflect actual qualifying service performed during the month.

The authorization bill is one of two bills needed for the Defense Department to spend money – the other being the appropriations bill, which is still in a Senate-House committee to resolve differences between the two chambers' versions.

The authorization bill includes end strengths of 562,000 for the Army,; 202,100 for the Marine Corps, 331,700 for the Air Force, and 328,000 for the Navy. The legislation authorizes an increase in active-duty Army end-strength of 30,000 in fiscal 2011 and 2012.

The bill authorizes $6.7 billion for all-terrain mine-resistant, ambushed protected vehicles, known as M-ATVs. The first of these vehicles have arrived in Afghanistan, with thousands more to be delivered under the new budget.

The authorization bill conference report has full funding for the Navy's Carrier Replacement Program, a Virginia-class submarine, a littoral combat ship, a DDG-1000 destroyer and the DDG-51 program. The bill includes $512 million for 18 more F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft and approves the full request for 22 EA-18G aircraft – an advanced electronic warfare plane named the Growler.

The bill authorizes $7.5 billion to train and equip the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, and provides oversight of the $700 million dedicated to building Pakistan's military, police and frontier corps, which guards Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The authorization also allows for the transfer of defense property in Iraq to Iraqi security forces or Afghan security forces.

The bill kills the Multiple Kill Vehicle program and the second Airborne Laser platform. It applies savings from terminations in the Army's Future Combat System to other promising technologies and ensures these will spin out to Army brigades quickly.

The conference report repeals the authority for the National Security Personnel System and requires that affected employees transition to previously existing personnel systems. The authorization will provide new personnel flexibilities that include hiring, firing, assigning personnel and appraisals. The authorization also allows the secretary to propose other personnel flexibilities.

Gates to Welcome Chinese General

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 14, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will welcome China's second-ranking military officer to the nation's capital Oct. 24, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell announced here today. Gen. Xu Caihou will visit Washington and posts and bases throughout the United States during his trip, which will end Oct. 31, Morrell said.

Gates has been trying to foster a strategic dialogue between the two countries since visiting China two years ago. He especially wants military-to-military contacts to establish better trust and transparency, Morrell said.

Xu is to visit a number of U.S. military installations and organizations including the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; Fort Benning, Ga.; U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.; Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego; and U.S. Pacific Command in Honolulu.

"It's been two years since the secretary visited China, and we have yet to have a reciprocal visit from what would essentially be his Chinese counterpart," Morrell said. "We are finally getting that with the arrival of General Xu later this month, and we are very much looking forward to that."

Better transparency and a more open dialogue leads to better understanding, Morrell said, and officials hope the visit will encourage China to be more transparent about its military spending.

"The more transparency there is, the more dialogue that goes on, the less chance there is for a misunderstanding between two very formidable powers on the world stage," he said.

MILITARY CONTRACTS October 14, 2009

NAVY
Pond-TranSystems LLC, Norcross, Ga., is being awarded a maximum $30,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architect/engineering contract for preparation of design-build request for proposals and 100 percent design services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for architectural programming, geotechnical investigation, surveying, cost estimating and DD 1391 preparation. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southeast AOR including, but not limited to, Ga., (20 percent), S.C., (20 percent), Texas, (15 percent), La., (15 percent), Miss., (15 percent), and Ala., (15 percent), and is expected to be completed by Oct. 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with 12 proposals received. The Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-10-D-0001).

Lockheed Martin Services, Inc., Greenville, S.C., is being awarded a $6,770,916 cost-plus fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00019-05-D-0013) for the procurement of lower wing Zone 5 material structures replacement for two P-3C aircraft. Work will be performed in Greenville, S.C., and is expected to be completed in June 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE
ACE Engineering, Co., of La Verne, Calif., was awarded a $49,000,000 contract which will provide for multiple paving projects at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases, and Tonapah Test Range in Nevada. At this time, $100,000 has been obligated. 99 CONS/LGCA, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada is the contracting activity (FA4861-09-D-A010).

Boeing Launch Services of Huntington Beach, Calif., was awarded a $21,849,961 contract which will provide engineering development models for a family of advanced beyond-line-of sight terminals to allow for operational testing with production representative terminals. At this time, $1,310,821has been obligated. 653 ESW/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-02-C-0048, P00171).

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Sysco Nashville, LLC, Nashville, Tenn., is being awarded a maximum $17,546,917 fixed price with economic price adjustment, prime vendor contract for food and beverage support. Other locations of performance are the same. Using service is Army. This proposal was originally Web solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the first option year period. The date of performance completion is Apr. 13, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM300-08-D-3227).

VA to Short-cut Some Agent Orange Rulings

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 13, 2009 - A new Department of Veterans Affairs ruling will soon relieve Vietnam veterans suffering from three specific illnesses from the burden of proving their ailments are linked to Agent Orange exposure to receive VA health care and disability payments. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki's decision, announced today, establishes a service connection for Vietnam vets stricken with hairy-cell leukemia and other B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease, VA chief of staff John Gingrich told American Forces Press Service.

Shinseki made the decision based on a recent report by the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine. The report cited new scientific studies pointing to a strong connection between the illnesses and Agent Orange exposure.

Shinseki determined that evidence was compelling enough to establish a presumption that affected veterans' illnesses are service-related, Gingrich said.

This determination will short-cut the process for them to receive services through what Shinseki called "a world-class health care system," as well as monthly disability payments.

But before the ruling takes effect, it must be published in the Federal Register and opened for final comment, Gingrich explained. He predicted that the process would be completed early next year.

It's unclear exactly how many of the 2.1 million Vietnam veterans the ruling will affect, Gingrich said. If 10 percent have the presumed illnesses, that could result in some 200,000 new VA claims.

Agent Orange, named for the orange-colored barrels in which it was stored, was sprayed widely during the Vietnam War to defoliate trees and remove concealment for the enemy. Veterans have long blamed the herbicide for causing a variety of illnesses, but until now, there's been no official recognition of a link. That put the burden on veterans to prove an association - a process Shinseki conceded too often has created an adversarial relationship between the VA and veterans.

Shinseki, a retired Army general and a Vietnam veteran himself, lamented this situation this summer at
a medical symposium in San Antonio.

"I have asked why, 40 years after Agent Orange was last used in Vietnam, this secretary is still adjudicating claims for presumption of service-connected disabilities tied to its toxic effects," he told attendees at the Association of the U.S. Army's Institute of Land Warfare Army Medical Symposium.

Shinseki also questioned why the debilitating effects of Gulf War illnesses still are being debated 20 years after Operation Desert Storm.

"Why weren't conclusive studies conducted by [the Department of Defense] and VA to render presumption of service-connected disability resulting from exposure to toxic environments associated with these operations?" Shinseki asked. "Such findings would have facilitated VA's settling of service-connected disability claims in far less time. The scientific method, and the failure to advocate for the veteran, got in the way of our processes."

Veterans deserve better, he said.

"We must do better reviews of illnesses that may be connected to service, and we will," he said. "Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence."

Shinseki's decision brings to 15 the number of presumed illnesses VA recognizes. Others are:

-- Acute and subacute transient peripheral neuropathy;

-- AL amyloidosis;

-- Chloracne;

-- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia;

-- Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2);

-- Hodgkin's disease;

-- Multiple myeloma;

-- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;

-- Porphyria cutanea tarda;

-- Prostate cancer;

-- Respiratory cancers; and

-- Soft-tissue sarcoma other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or mesothelioma.

Military Records Banner Recruiting Year

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 13, 2009 - The military services' active and reserve components notched record recruiting numbers and signed up the highest-quality recruits ever in fiscal 2009, senior defense officials said today. It is the first time that all active services and reserve components met or exceeded their numerical recruiting goals and exceeded their recruit-quality benchmarks since the start of the all-volunteer force in 1973, Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, told Pentagon reporters.

While Carr acknowledged that the current economic downturn probably is having a positive effect on recruiting, he also pointed to the sterling efforts of military recruiters for the superb results and noted the military deployed a robust bonus program in which 40 percent of recruits received an average bonus of $14,000.

The recruiting success achieved in fiscal 2009 is even more impressive, Carr said, considering that 70 percent of today's high school graduates – the military's target recruiting pool – go on to college upon graduation. In the 1980s, he noted, only about half of American high school students went on to college.

A rising propensity for young people age 17 to 24 to be obese, Carr said, also complicates the military's recruiting mission.

"If we look back to the 1980s, one in 20 young people were obese," Carr said, as compared to today's ratio of 1 in 4 young people being categorized as obese. "And, that creates a tighter constraint as you seek to find fully qualified recruits," he added.

However, he said, the number of waivers issued to recruits with medical or conduct issues is trending downward.

Here are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force recruiting results for fiscal 2009:

-- The Army had 70,045 accessions, making 108 percent of its 65,000 goal.

-- The Navy had 35,527 accessions, making 100 percent of its 35,500 goal.

-- The Marine Corps had 31,413 accessions, making 100 percent of its 31,400 goal.

-- The Air Force had 31,983 accessions, making 100 percent of its 31,980 goal.

Reserve-component recruiting results for fiscal 2009:

-- The Army National Guard had 56,071 accessions, making 100 percent of its 56,000 goal.

-- The Army Reserve had 36,189 accessions, making 105 percent of its 34,598 goal.

-- The Navy Reserve had 7,793 accessions, making 101 percent of its 7,743 goal.

-- The Marine Corps Reserve had 8,805 accessions, making 122 percent of its 7,194 goal.

-- The Air National Guard had 10,075 accessions, making 106 percent of its 9,500 goal.

-- The Air Force Reserve had 8,604 accessions, making 109 percent of its 7,863 goal.

Attrition losses in all reserve components are among the best in recent years, officials said.

Carr also attributed current recruiting success to the "Millennial" demographic of young people that includes those born between 1978 and 1996. Generational studies show, he said, that these young people – who've lived during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States – are more inclined to perform public service.

Additionally, Carr said, Congress continues to provide the Defense Department with sufficient funding to sustain the all-volunteer force.

Studies also show that young people can make a good living in the military, Carr said, as compared to their civilian peers with equitable workplace experience and education qualifications. Generous pay raises provided to junior officers and mid-level noncommissioned officers in recent years, he noted, have boosted those servicemembers' earning capacity.

"It has been a banner year for recruiting," Curtis L. Gilroy, director of accession policy, told American Forces Press Service and Pentagon Channel reporters during an Oct. 9 interview at the Pentagon.

Gilroy, too, saluted the "outstanding" performance of the services' military recruiters. His directorate is a component of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Fiscal 2009's crop of recruits also represents the best quality ever, Gilroy said, noting 96 percent of active-duty recruits and 95 percent of reserve-component recruits possessed a high school diploma. The Defense Department benchmark for recruits with high school diplomas is 90 percent. Studies show, he added, that 80 percent of servicemembers with high school diplomas complete their initial term of service.

Gilroy said 73 percent of active recruits and 72 percent of reserve-component recruits scored average or above average on the Armed Forces Qualification Test. The AFQT measures an individual's math and verbal ability, which indicates aptitude for military service. The department sets a benchmark of 60 percent of all recruits scoring at or above the 50th percentile on the AFQT.

"As you can see from these numbers," Gilroy said, "the services have far exceeded those benchmarks" in fiscal 2009 for signing up recruits with high school diplomas and those with average or better AFQT scores. Increased capabilities demonstrated by the majority of the nearly 300,000 active and reserve component recruits signed up in fiscal 2009, he added, will result in higher performance in the field and will enhance readiness.

Army, Air Guard Reach Recruiting Goals

By Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith
Special to American Forces Press Service

Oct. 13, 2009 - Both components of the National Guard reached their end-strength goals for fiscal 2009, officials announced today. The Army National Guard closed its books for 2009 with 358,391 soldiers, or 100.1 percent of its fiscal year end-strength goal of 358,200 soldiers. It also met its retention goal by retaining 36,672 soldiers, or 106 percent of its goal of 34,593.

The Air National Guard surpassed its 2009 end-strength goal with 109,196 airmen, or 102.3 percent of its goal of 106,756 airmen. The Air Guard also retained 17,904 airmen, or 120.1 percent of its goal of 14,904.

Success for the Army Guard, officials noted, meant reducing its end strength rather than gaining servicemembers. The Army Guard had 368,727 soldiers in March, and it needed to reduce that to a congressionally mandated end strength of 358,200 soldiers by September.

"Never before has the Army Guard been challenged to reduce its end strength by more than 11,000 soldiers within six months," said Army Lt. Col. Ron Walls, chief of the strength and maintenance division at the National Guard Bureau. The Army Guard reduced end strength while meeting accession and retention goals. Its 56,000-soldier accession mission was met with 56,071 soldiers, and 36,672 soldiers were retained to meet the 34,593-soldier retention mission.

"We had to do a 'full-court press' with the 54 states and territories in order to ensure we were successful," Walls said. "We ensured each state could reach their end strength while maintaining retention."

Success came down to "driven, focused leadership and a committed recruiting and retention force," he said.

Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, made it clear that the Army Guard's end strength of 358,200 soldiers would be met and that it would align with the states' force structure, Walls said. A series of restrictions was placed on the recruiting and retention force before the summer, increasing the Army Guard's quality marks to "unprecedented levels," he added.

The Army Guard also suspended many recruiting waivers or options, and it restricted incentive programs.

State leaders focused on end strength by placing some soldiers into duty statuses that better described them, including those enlisted soldiers with expired terms of service, nonvalidated pay or no training seat reservations.

"To me, that's the best success story," Walls said. "Never before has the Army Guard had such pure, ready formations prepared to meet combatant commanders' needs."

For fiscal 2010, Walls said, the big challenge is constrained resources. Providing the ability to tailor the force to meet mission requirements will help the state adjutants general and their recruiting and retention commanders stay competitive for recruits, he noted. "They will successfully reach non-prior-service and prior-service soldiers," he said.

In the states, some 3,700 Army Guard recruiters will face 2010's recruiting challenges with fewer resources to draw applicants in the door. Though direct mail, radio and television, local advertising and sales brochures, giveaway items, and posters will continue, Walls said, few, if any, new recruiting programs will be offered.

Case-by-case funding will take into account operation tempos, requirements for certain specialties and parts of the country facing extraordinary challenges, he said.

The Army Guard will enhance its social media programs and integrate them with other marketing, Walls said. Depending on actual budgets, tentative plans are to expand marketing to outdoor enthusiasts, because research shows outdoor activities rate high among recruits.

Walls said recruiters must accomplish the same mission with significantly fewer leads, which in the past were generated through campaigns, but he expressed confidence that they'll succeed. "The recruiting force is highly trained and motivated," he said. "They will continue to meet challenges this country places on them.

"The greatest take-away from our success is not the numbers or the mission, but it's the commitment," he continued. "We continue to have a long line of individuals who are willing to serve their country."

Air Force Col. Mary Salcido, director of recruiting and retention for the Air National Guard, said her recruiters made "target recruiting" for specific jobs their top goal in 2009. The result was that the Air Guard surpassed its end-strength goal, while adjusting manpower and reducing shortfalls in specific skills.

Fiscal 2008 was the first time in several years that the Air Guard had met its end-strength goal. Salcido said in 2009 the Air Guard adjusted its synergy and efforts to put manpower exactly where it was needed. She said the recruiting teams quickly created goals and programs to "precision recruit."

"Recruiting the right people in the right place at the right time: That's our theme, and that's what we did all year long," she said.

Salcido said advertising, operations, bonuses and incentives were focused on critical Air Force specialties such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, health professions, civil engineer specialties, security forces, special tactics and the newest total-force-initiative missions.

"When you have missions that require a lot of physical as well as tactical skills -- such as the tactical air control party members -- those are more difficult to recruit," she said. "Your cyber missions now require higher test scores with a lot of technology and longer schools; those are tougher to recruit. The bonuses and the incentives are going that way."

Planning ahead for new missions, Salcido said, Air Guard officials have reached out to help prepare the states for the future. "We are trying a little different mindset; we are in full coordination with the [Air National Guard] functional organizations," she said.

The Air Guard Readiness Center recruiters reached out to the states to evaluate recruiting programs. She said they "wanted to increase their return on those investments."

"We put the focus where it should be: that's recruiters and accountability," she said. "They are doing a phenomenal job. We also involved wing-level and headquarters-level management."

Like the Army Guard, the Air Guard's budget for advertising and recruiting programs was cut, so the Air Guard asked state recruiters what programs should be kept. "We have found it very successful, and I think the field is very happy," she said about the outcome.

The Guard Recruiting Assistant Program was extremely successful, she said, bringing in at least 30 percent of Air Guard's new recruits. And recruiting programs in general initiated considerable interest in the Air Guard, she said, especially through social networking.

On the advertising side, Salcido said, a "more bang for the buck" approach helps to ensure that the Air Guard remains known.

Coordination with the Army Guard at events and at recruiting centers also helps, the colonel noted. "It's a hometown team, and that's what we are doing," she said.

The Air Guard has about 650 recruiters and retainers across the nation and at the National Guard Bureau. She called those recruiters a "furious force" who operate in a high-burnout career field.

(Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith serves at the National Guard Bureau.)

MILITARY CONTRACTS October 12, 2009

ARMY
Airborne Systems North America, Santa Ana, Calif., was awarded on Oct. 9, 2009 a $13,996,042 firm-fixed-price, 5 year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity production with multiple awarded contracts. This contract is for the procurement of T-11 Personnel Parachute Systems with a minimum contract value of $200,000 and a maximum combined contract value (among three awardees) of 220,000,000. Quantity anticipated is approximately 45,000-50,000. Work is to be performed in Santa Ana, Calif., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 5, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with seven bids received. Research, Development, & Engineering Command, Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-10-D-0003).

Aerostar International, Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D., was awarded on Oct. 9, 2009 a $12,243,600 firm-fixed-price, 5 year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity production with multiple awarded contracts. This contract is for the procurement of T-11 Personnel Parachute Systems with a minimum contract value of $200,000 and a maximum combined contract value (among three awardees) of 220,000,000. Quantity anticipated is approximately 45,000-50,000. Work is to be performed in Huron, S.D., (95 percent) and Madison, S.D., (5 percent), with an estimated completion date of Oct. 5, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with seven bids received. Research, Development, & Engineering Command, Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-09-D-0036).

Leo A. Daly/ RLF, Inc., Omaha, Neb., was awarded on Oct. 9, 2009 a $9,052,788 firm-fixed-price contract for the architect-engineering services in support of the Fort Riley, Kansas hospital replacement project. Work is to be performed in Fort Riley, Kansas, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 14 bids received. U.S. Corps of Engineers, CECT-NWK-M, Kansas City, Mo., is the contracting activity (W912DQ-09-C-4003).

BAE Systems, Phoenix, Ariz., was awarded on Oct. 9, 2009 a $8,746,475 firm-fixed-price, 5 year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity production with multiple awarded contract. This contract is for the procurement of T-11 Personnel Parachute Systems with a minimum contract value of $200,000 and a maximum combined contract value (among three awardees) of 220,000,000. Quantity anticipated is approximately 45,000-50,000. Work is to be performed in Phoenix, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of Oct. 5, 2014. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with seven bids received. Research, Development, & Engineering Command, Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, Mass., is the contracting activity (W911QY-10-D-0001).

The Nutmeg Companies, Inc., Norwich, Conn., was awarded on Oct. 9, 2009 a $6,490,520 firm-fixed-price contract for the restoration of the existing Esek Hopkins Armed Forces Reserve Center. Work is to be performed in Cranston, R.I., with an estimated completion date of Mar. 1, 2011. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with six bids received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-10-C-0002).

NAVY
General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $43,727,922 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-4005) to exercise an option CLIN 0005 for non-nuclear maintenance and repair support at the Naval Submarine Support Facility, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn. Under the terms of the contract, Electric Boat will continue to provide services required to support planned and emergent non-nuclear maintenance and repair for operational nuclear submarines, floating dry-docks, support & service craft and other platforms and equipment. Work will be performed in New London, Conn., and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $10,391,980 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded an $18,084,018 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-2103) for reactor plant planning yard services for nuclear-powered submarines and support yard services for the Navy's moored training ships. The contractor will furnish, fabricate, or acquire such materials, supplies and services as may be necessary to perform the functions of the planning yard for reactor plants and associated portions of the propulsion plants for nuclear powered submarines. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn., (95 percent), Charleston, S.C., (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $18,084,018 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Newport News Va., is being awarded a $5,967,938 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-2104) for planning and design yard functions for standard navy valves in support of nuclear powered submarines. Work will be performed in Newport News, Va., and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $5,967,938 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Weinbrenner Shoe Co., Merrill, Wis.*, is being awarded a maximum $9,166,331 firm fixed price indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for hot weather boots. Other locations of performance are Marshfield and Saint Nazianz, Wis. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. This proposal was originally Web solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising the second option year period. The date of performance completion is October 13, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1040).

Correction:
Defense Supply Associates, Inc., Fort Atkinson, Wis.*, is being awarded a maximum $18,874,930 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for HMMWV starters. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. This proposal was originally web solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Mar. 8, 2015. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Warren, Warren, Mich., (SPRDL1-10-D-0003). partment of Defense · 408 St. Peter Street Suite 600 · St. Paul, MN 55102 · 1-800-439-1420

USS Freedom To Deploy Early

The Navy announced today the decision to deploy the USS Freedom (LCS 1) in early 2010 to the Southern Command and Pacific Command areas ahead of her originally scheduled 2012 maiden deployment. According to Navy leaders, Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are needed now to close urgent warfighting gaps.

Deploying LCS now is a big step forward in getting this ship where it needs to be – operating in the increasingly important littoral regions," said Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations. "We must deliver this critical capability to the warfighter now."

The USS Freedom will have an immediate impact on fleet readiness and global reach as an asset with unique combat capabilities and the ability to meet littoral tasking not previously seen in the modern cruiser or destroyer fleet.

The Navy plans to build a considerable number of littoral combat ships which will form the backbone of our future fleet," said Adm J. C. Harvey, Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, charged with executing the early deployment. "The sooner we integrate them into our fleet, the sooner we can incorporate them in the order of battle. This deployment offers a golden opportunity to learn by doing. Employing the USS Freedom in theater two years ahead of a normal timeline allows us to incorporate lessons that can only be learned in a deployment setting more quickly and effectively in the LCS fleet integration process."

In evaluating options for deploying the USS Freedom earlier than originally scheduled, the Navy took into consideration several key factors including combat systems testing, shakedown of the ship systems, and overseas sustainment with a new concept of operations and crew training. To facilitate the early deployment, the Navy adjusted the USS Freedom testing schedule, prioritized testing events needed for deployment and deferred others not required for the missions envisioned during this deployment. The USS Freedom recently completed Industrial Post Delivery Availability 2, which also supported an early deployment.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.

Leaders Pledge Support to Guard, Reserve Employers

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 13, 2009 - The Pentagon's top civilian official for Guard and Reserve matters and uniformed reserve-component leaders pledged to support employers of the nation's Guard and Reserve members at a Pentagon ceremony today. Dennis M. McCarthy, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, was the first official to sign the statement of support sponsored by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The ceremony was held in the chief of naval operations' dining room.

ESGR is a Defense Department agency that seeks to foster good communications and working relationships between Guard and Reserve members and their civilian employers. That relationship is delineated by the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act, which, among other things, stipulates that Guard and Reserve members are to be returned to their civilian jobs after being away to perform stints of military service.

Civilian employers sign statements of support to demonstrate their awareness and support of the law and to pledge assistance to employees in the Guard and Reserve and to their families.

"We traditionally ask employers to sign these kinds of certificates, but it's really important that [reserve-component] service chiefs representing the military leadership express their support as well," McCarthy said at the ceremony's conclusion. "It's clearly a mutually supporting relationship that we need, and so this signing reflects that."

Employers of Guard and Reserve servicemembers make significant contributions to reserve-component readiness, recruiting and retention missions, said Pauline K. Brunelli, ESGR's acting executive director.

"We're very pleased to show this statement of support and all the members behind it," Brunelli said. The signing ceremony, she said, featured participation by senior military leaders primarily involved in reserve-component issues.

Navy Vice Adm. Dirk J. Debbink, chief of the Navy Reserve, hosted the ceremony. Gaining employers' understanding and assistance "makes a big difference," he said.

Additionally, Debbink said, reserve-component members should strive to maintain good communications with their civilian employers so that effective arrangements can be made to provide workplace replacements while they are deployed on military duty.

Communication "is absolutely the key," he said. Reserve-component members, he said, should keep employers current on upcoming deployments and other military duties.

Army Secretary, Chief Reaffirm Family Covenant

American Forces Press Service

Oct. 13, 2009 - The Army's top military officer and civilian leader underscored the service's commitment to Army families at last week's annual meeting and exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army. Reaffirmation of the Army Family Covenant by Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Army chief of staff, and Army Secretary John M. McHugh shows that families are taking the forefront in the readiness picture, officials said.

At an Oct. 7 forum sponsored by the Institute of Land Warfare during last week's event, several family advocates outlined how the covenant has affected families and what they can expect in the future.

The Army has doubled its investment in family programs from $750 million to $1.5 billion, said Kathleen Marin, director of installation services for the office of the assistant chief of installation management, who highlighted some programs and initiatives that have evolved since the Army Family Covenant first was signed in 2007. They include:

-- Adding 1,079 readiness support assistant positions;

-- Increasing the number of military family life consultants from 144 to 212;

-- Establishing Army survivor outreach services to improve support for survivors of fallen soldiers;

-- Funding construction of more than 100 child development centers;

-- Gaining support of 39 Fortune 500 companies who have helped to find jobs for more than 41,000 military spouses through the Army Spouse Employment Program;

-- Developing the Warrior Adventure Quest for soldiers to participate in outdoor adventure activities that help them cope with re-integration after the stresses of a combat environment; and

-- Getting 25 states to sign the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children – a change that affects 71 percent of students of servicemembers.

Also, a new program called Comprehensive Soldier Fitness has begun with basic training recruits. Modeled after Army physical training, it is a psychological fitness initiative that will leave soldiers with mental strength and resilience through physical challenges.

"It's not a cure-all, but it helps prevent negative outcomes," said Army Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, the program's director. It's slated to start in the active Army in November, and it will be available to family members in January.

Army Col. David C. Moran from the office of the chief of chaplains told attendees how a 10-year-old program called Strong Bonds has benefited from funding by being placed under the Army Family Covenant. Similar to unit stand-downs, it's a retreat-based program in which family members get away from work and home to build stronger relationships.

The number of participants has doubled every year, and in 2010, it's projected to have 4,000 events totaling more than 365,000 participants.

Army Brig. Gen. Richard W. Thomas, office of the surgeon general, said that while the Army Family Covenant has affected health care programs and initiatives, it's up to leadership and family advocates to keep soldiers and families informed on how to access health services. Over the past 20 years, the number of Army hospitals has shrunk as the growth of Tricare military health plan networks has replaced much of what those facilities had provided.

To get the word out on the Army Family Covenant, the Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command has instituted an aggressive marketing campaign that "will highlight the strength of the American soldier and his or her family," James Abney, a command official. At the forefront is the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, with in-store messaging, food court tray liners and 100 fleet trucks carrying the family covenant message.

U.S. Army Accessions Command officials said they will get the message out to recruiting stations to ensure potential recruits know the importance of family members in the Army.

(From an Association of the U.S. Army news release.)

Nuclear Noh Drama: Tokyo, Washington and the Case of the Missing Nuclear Agreements

For more information contact:
Robert Wampler: wampler@gwu.edu

http://www.nsarchive.org

October 13, 2009 - The election of the new Democratic Party government in Japan led by Yukio Hatoyama raises a significant challenge for the Obama administration: the status of secret agreements on nuclear weapons that Tokyo and Washington negotiated in 1960 and 1969. For years, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party claimed that there were no such agreements, denying, for example, allegations that they had allowed U.S. nuclear-armed ships to sail into Japanese ports. Nevertheless, declassified U.S. government documents, interviews with former U.S. Ambassador Edwin O. Reischauer, and memoirs by Japanese diplomats confirm the existence of the secret understandings.

The basic facts about the agreements have been the subject of long-standing controversy in Japan, where a post-Hiroshima, anti-nuclear tradition was at odds with secret understandings crafted to support the operational requirements of America's Cold War nuclear deterrent. The Liberal Democrats might have faced a political disaster if they had acknowledged, as appears to be the case, that the U.S. Navy's nuclear-armed ships had free access to Japanese waters.

Seeking to settle the matter, the new Democratic Party government has launched an internal investigation into the agreements and their negotiating history. To aid this investigation, the National Security Archive today posted on the Web the most important U.S. declassified documents on the issue. Nevertheless, Japan is not likely to act unilaterally to declassify the 1960 and 1969 nuclear agreements. The Obama administration should not only assist Japan so that early declassification of the agreements is possible, but also declassify the remaining still-secret U.S. documents, allowing an old controversy to be settled.

The two secret agreements were negotiated during the Cold War, when the United States Navy routinely transited Pacific waters with nuclear weapons onboard and the possibility of a U.S.-Soviet nuclear war was a matter of routine military planning. One of the agreements was actually a record of discussion that established an agreed and carefully defined interpretation of U.S. commitments regarding nuclear weapons, negotiated in 1960, that allowed transit of nuclear weapons through Japanese territory and waters, relegating the consultation requirement to the introduction and basing of nuclear weapons in Japan.

The other was part of the 1969 agreement reverting Okinawa to Japan: U.S. nuclear weapons on Okinawa would be withdrawn but re-introduction would be possible in an emergency. Even after the end of the Cold War, which brought the worldwide withdrawal of all U.S. theater nuclear weapons, the U.S. government deferred to the Liberal Democrats on the need to keep the agreements secret, but that need is clearly now moot. Declassification is possible and necessary because determining what Tokyo and Washington actually negotiated is a question of significant historical importance and a key missing piece in the nuclear history of the Cold War.

Visit the National Security Archive Web site for more information:

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THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARCHIVE is an independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The Archive collects and publishes declassified documents acquired through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). A tax-exempt public charity, the Archive receives no U.S. government funding; its budget is supported by publication royalties and donations from foundations and individuals.

Mullen Praises 'Powerful Legacy' During Ship Commissioning

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

Oct. 10, 2009 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the man for whom USS Wayne E. Meyer guided-missile destroyer was named during the ship's commissioning into the U.S. Pacific Fleet here today. "I can think of no finer name for a warship than USS Wayne E. Meyer," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said during the 58th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer's commissioning here today. "For it is the name of the chief visionary of the Navy's surface fleet."

The ship's motto is "One Powerful Legacy," and the late retired Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer can be said to have left exactly that in the Navy. Meyer is described as "the father of Aegis," for his role in leading the development of the Aegis Weapons System now used aboard 100 Navy ships.

Meyer abhorred mediocrity as much as he cared for the Navy, and he attended the commissioning of every ship using the Aegis platform in since that of USS Bunker Hill in 1986, Mullen said.

"It is sad, but almost fitting, in a way, that the first commissioning muster Wayne Meyer misses is that of his namesake," he added.

Meyer was 83 when he passed away Sept. 1, 2009.

Originally conceived as a match for the Soviet blue-water navy, Aegis ships have become invaluable for uses beyond deterring Cold War foes.

It was an Aegis ship that recently patrolled at the ready off the coast of North Korea. Another supplied humanitarian aid to the citizens of the former Soviet republic of Georgia during military strife last year, and Aegis ships will continue to provide air defense for expeditionary and carrier strike groups around the world, Mullen said.

"Admiral Wayne Meyer's brainchild has become an enduring staple of our fleet because the system has been able to evolve, to flex to our defense needs as they change over time," Mullen said. "Underpinned by solid systems engineering, ... its enduring capabilities are speed agility and adaptability."

The U.S. shares the Aegis weapons system with the Japanese, Spanish, Norwegian, South Korean and Australian navies.

Mullen said he sees this as immense progress to what he used to call the "1,000-ship navy." This is "a global maritime coalition of good neighbors who use the sea to unite instead of divide," he said.

"Because confronting and overcoming the challenges we face today -- whether piracy, narco-trafficking, weapons of mass destruction or terrorism -- will take all of us: all hands, all services, and all partner nations," the admiral said.

The Aegis ships surely have their virtues, but their true worth always will be in their crews, Mullen said.

"The way that Aegis ships have been conceived, built, tested, and deployed is as much a testament to an engineer's mastery of technology as it is to our sailor's versatility," he said. "The Aegis ships are made to see, control, and defend. Aegis sailors are made to multitask."

Stopping short of offering the Meyer's crew career advice, Mullen chose to share a anecdote from his own career.

"Let me just say that every time we'd meet, Admiral Meyer was fond of telling me that my career peaked, as a captain, the day I left command of [USS] Yorktown," He said. "Now, Yorktown is down the Delaware a bit, in the process of being scrapped.

"[Wayne Meyer's] career, however, is still going strong as we commission this ship today," he added. "Each and every one of you in Meyer's crew has the great honor of getting the chance to live up that name. May you discover and employ the leadership, determination, ingenuity, and perhaps the stubbornness that goes along with it."

Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, also attended the commissioning. He reinforced the importance this crew would have as the USS Wayne E. Meyer's first.

"You will man the most capable warship in the world," Roughead said. "You will sail under the name Wayne E. Meyer. No naval officer in recent history has distinguished himself as a visionary, as an innovator, and as a leader, as did Wayne Meyer.

"Even though he only left us a short time ago, his spirit will live on in this ship and in the spirit of the officers and sailors who will serve for generations to come," Roughead added.

Meyer's wife, Anna Mae, is the ship's sponsor and a Philadelphia native. She christened her husband's namesake from Bath Ironworks Shipyard in Bath, Maine, on Oct. 18, 2008.

Navy Cmdr. Nick A. Sarap will command the ship, which will call San Diego home. It carries a crew of 370, and measures in at 509-feet, 5-inches in length. It carries the 100th Aegis weapons system built and delivered by Lockheed Martin.

The ship incorporates a helicopter hangar facility into the original design and can carry two SH-60B/R Light Airborne Multipurpose System MK III helicopters. Guided-missile destroyers operate independently and in conjunction with carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups.