By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 17, 2010 - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III's meetings with Australian leaders over the last several days have helped to set the stage for new levels of cooperation between the long-time allies. "I think we were able to establish a foundation that we will be able to build on for the rest of the year," Lynn said.
During the six-day trip, Lynn met with business and civic leaders in Sydney and with Australian government and defense leaders in Adelaide and Canberra. He also visited with Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, during a stopover in Honolulu.
Lynn discussed Afghanistan and Australia's contribution to the effort against al-Qaida with government and defense leaders.
"I expressed our gratitude for all their efforts, both in terms of the direct military efforts and the training they are doing of the Afghan security forces," Lynn said. Australia has about 1,550 servicemembers in Afghanistan, most of them based in Oruzgan province in Regional Command South.
Lynn also spoke to Australian leaders about the F-35 joint strike fighter program and hopes for U.S. Senate ratification of the Defense Trade Cooperation.
"We were also able to exchange ideas on acquisition reform and budget reform, just to improve both our prospects in that regard," Lynn said.
But most important, he said, are the new doors opened especially in cyber and space operations in the alliance.
"I think we're going to be able to build our cooperation by building on the foundation of this decades-long alliance," the deputy said. "As these new threats emerge, I feel that we'll be able to rely on our oldest allies to aggressively go after them."
In space operations, Australia and the United States share common interests. "We're putting in place mechanisms to explore them jointly," he said. "Technology cooperation is one element, joint policy exploration is another, and how we integrate our assets with their assets is another."
The two nations also have mutual interests in cybersecurity. "We can develop shared awareness of the threat, we can cooperate on technologies, and we can collaborate as we work our way through the conception and development that needs to take place in this new domain," Lynn said.
The domain is new; just over 20 years old; but the pace of cyber operations; and threats against the cyber infrastructure will continue to increase, he warned.
"I don't think we have any choice but to keep pace with the technology," Lynn said. "The technology is going to drive us to develop doctrinal concepts, legal concepts and they are going to allow us to protect this critical area."
In Honolulu, Lynn briefed U.S. Pacific Command officials on the trip and had a chance to discuss with commanders their issues and concerns.
Officials briefed Lynn on the realignment of U.S. forces in the Pacific – the Marines moving from Futenma, Japan, to Guam; and other challenges, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Willard and Pacom's service-component commanders spoke about humanitarian and disaster operations, maritime security, weapons proliferation and combating terrorism and extremism.
"The deputy commented on the broad nature of their work and that the command is leaning forward on missions that go beyond the traditional sphere," Whitman said. "They held good discussions on cybersecurity."
Willard hosted Lynn and his party for a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. "It was a very moving experience, and a reminder of the sacrifices made," Whitman said.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Former U.S. Military Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Related to Defense Department Contracts in Support of Iraqi War
Defendant to Forfeit $15,757,000 to the U.S. Government
February 17, 2010 - WASHINGTON—Former military contractor Terry Hall, 43, of Snellville, Ga., pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to pay more than $3 million in bribes to U.S. Army contracting officials stationed at Camp Arifjan, an Army base in Kuwait, and to money laundering conspiracy, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.
Terry Hall was indicted on May 6, 2009, along with U.S. Army Major Eddie Pressley, 39, and his wife, Eurica Pressley, 37, both of Harvest, Ala.According to court documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Hall’s companies received approximately $21 million between 2005 and 2007 in connection with contracts his companies received.To obtain the contracting business and facilitate unlawful payments by other contractors, Hall admitted he made more than $3 million in unlawful payments and provided other valuable items and services to U.S. Army contracting officials stationed at Camp Arifjan, including U.S. Army Major Eddie Pressley, and former Majors John Cockerham, James Momon and Christopher Murray, among others.
According to court documents, Hall owned and operated several companies, including Freedom Consulting and Catering Co., (FCC) and Total Government Allegiance (TGA), which provided goods and services to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom.Hall’s companies received a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to deliver bottled water in Iraq and a contract to construct a security fence in Kuwait.
A BPA is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract by which the DoD agrees to pay a contractor a specified price for a particular good or service. ased on a BPA, the DoD is permitted to order the supplies on an as-needed basis, and the contractor is bound by the price agreed upon in the BPA.The term for this type of order by the DoD is a “call.”
The case against Hall arose out of a wide-ranging investigation of corruption at the Camp Arifjan contracting office.To date, eight individuals including Hall have pleaded guilty for their roles in the bribery scheme.
On Dec. 2, 2009, former Cockerham was sentenced to 210 months in prison and ordered to pay $9.6 million in restitution. According to court documents, Cockerham arranged for Hall’s companies to receive bottled water calls worth more than $2.6 million, as a result of which Hall paid Cockerham approximately $800,000.
According to court documents, Momon arranged for Hall’s companies to receive bottled water calls worth approximately $6.4 million, as a result of which Hall paid Momon more than $300,000.Momon pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2008, to receiving bribes from various contractors at Camp Arifjan, including Hall, and is awaiting sentencing.
Also according to court documents, Murray arranged for Hall to receive contracts to construct security fences at Camp Arifjan, as a result of which Hall paid Murray approximately $30,000.Murray pleaded guilty to receiving bribes from various contractors at Camp Arifjan, including Hall, and making a false statement.He was sentenced on Jan. 8, 2009, to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $245,000 in restitution.
The case against Eddie Pressley and his wife, Eurica Pressley, is scheduled for trial on April 5, 2010.The indictment alleges that the Pressleys received more than $2.8 million in money and other valuable items from Hall, in exchange for Eddie Pressley’s agreement to take official actions to benefit Hall.Eurica Pressley, at her husband’s request, allegedly arranged for an entity named EGP Business Solutions Inc., (EGP) to be incorporated, opened a bank account in the name of EGP, and opened bank accounts in her name in the United States, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Cayman Islands, all in order to receive the bribe payments.
The charge of bribery conspiracy carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine.The money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.According to the court documents, Hall will forfeit $15,757,000 to the U.S. government.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Peter C. Sprung and Edward J. Loya Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.The case is being investigated by special agents of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, and the FBI.
The National Procurement Fraud Task Force, created in October 2006 by the Department of Justice, was designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention, and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs.
February 17, 2010 - WASHINGTON—Former military contractor Terry Hall, 43, of Snellville, Ga., pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to pay more than $3 million in bribes to U.S. Army contracting officials stationed at Camp Arifjan, an Army base in Kuwait, and to money laundering conspiracy, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.
Terry Hall was indicted on May 6, 2009, along with U.S. Army Major Eddie Pressley, 39, and his wife, Eurica Pressley, 37, both of Harvest, Ala.According to court documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Hall’s companies received approximately $21 million between 2005 and 2007 in connection with contracts his companies received.To obtain the contracting business and facilitate unlawful payments by other contractors, Hall admitted he made more than $3 million in unlawful payments and provided other valuable items and services to U.S. Army contracting officials stationed at Camp Arifjan, including U.S. Army Major Eddie Pressley, and former Majors John Cockerham, James Momon and Christopher Murray, among others.
According to court documents, Hall owned and operated several companies, including Freedom Consulting and Catering Co., (FCC) and Total Government Allegiance (TGA), which provided goods and services to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom.Hall’s companies received a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to deliver bottled water in Iraq and a contract to construct a security fence in Kuwait.
A BPA is an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract by which the DoD agrees to pay a contractor a specified price for a particular good or service. ased on a BPA, the DoD is permitted to order the supplies on an as-needed basis, and the contractor is bound by the price agreed upon in the BPA.The term for this type of order by the DoD is a “call.”
The case against Hall arose out of a wide-ranging investigation of corruption at the Camp Arifjan contracting office.To date, eight individuals including Hall have pleaded guilty for their roles in the bribery scheme.
On Dec. 2, 2009, former Cockerham was sentenced to 210 months in prison and ordered to pay $9.6 million in restitution. According to court documents, Cockerham arranged for Hall’s companies to receive bottled water calls worth more than $2.6 million, as a result of which Hall paid Cockerham approximately $800,000.
According to court documents, Momon arranged for Hall’s companies to receive bottled water calls worth approximately $6.4 million, as a result of which Hall paid Momon more than $300,000.Momon pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2008, to receiving bribes from various contractors at Camp Arifjan, including Hall, and is awaiting sentencing.
Also according to court documents, Murray arranged for Hall to receive contracts to construct security fences at Camp Arifjan, as a result of which Hall paid Murray approximately $30,000.Murray pleaded guilty to receiving bribes from various contractors at Camp Arifjan, including Hall, and making a false statement.He was sentenced on Jan. 8, 2009, to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay $245,000 in restitution.
The case against Eddie Pressley and his wife, Eurica Pressley, is scheduled for trial on April 5, 2010.The indictment alleges that the Pressleys received more than $2.8 million in money and other valuable items from Hall, in exchange for Eddie Pressley’s agreement to take official actions to benefit Hall.Eurica Pressley, at her husband’s request, allegedly arranged for an entity named EGP Business Solutions Inc., (EGP) to be incorporated, opened a bank account in the name of EGP, and opened bank accounts in her name in the United States, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Cayman Islands, all in order to receive the bribe payments.
The charge of bribery conspiracy carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine.The money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.According to the court documents, Hall will forfeit $15,757,000 to the U.S. government.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Peter C. Sprung and Edward J. Loya Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.The case is being investigated by special agents of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, and the FBI.
The National Procurement Fraud Task Force, created in October 2006 by the Department of Justice, was designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention, and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs.
National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of February 16, 2010
This week all five services announced a decrease in activated reservists. The net collective result is 1,049 fewer reservists activated than last week.
At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 110,935; Navy Reserve, 6,627; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,729; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,403; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 774. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 141,468, including both units and individual augmentees.
A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/Feb2010/d20100216ngr.pdf.
At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 110,935; Navy Reserve, 6,627; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 16,729; Marine Corps Reserve, 6,403; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 774. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 141,468, including both units and individual augmentees.
A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/Feb2010/d20100216ngr.pdf.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Military Olympians: Soldier Takes 9th in Biathlon Sprint
By Tim Hipps
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program biathlete Sgt. Jeremy Teela had the best American performance at the Winter Olympics in biathlon history here Feb. 14. Teela, a member of the Vermont National Guard, led four Team USA competitors with a ninth-place finish in the men's 10-kilometer sprint race at Whistler Olympic Park.
France's Vincent Jay, 24, won the gold medal with a time of 24 minutes, 7.8 seconds. Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen, 24, a four-time winner this season on the World Cup circuit, battled illness and took the silver in 24:20. Croatia's Jakov Fak, 22, who is ranked 64th in the World Cup standings, claimed the bronze with a time of 24:21.8.
Teela, 33, of Heber City, Utah, missed one of five shots from both the prone and standing positions that forced him to ski two 150-meter penalty loops. He finished just over a minute behind the winner with a time of 25 minutes, 21.7 seconds. Had he hit either of the two missed targets, Teela likely would have medaled.
"I would say normally this would be a decent race with the amount of penalties that I had, but definitely not a medal race," Teela said after the race. "It was an OK race, but as far as trying to get on the podium, it was a little disappointing.
"I don't think anyone's going to land on the podium with two penalties," he added. "I missed one or two too many (targets) – however you want to look at it."
Teela, however, was relieved to put the first of a potential five Olympic races behind him.
"The nerves and the jitters you get from racing your first Olympics in the quad, having your parents here, and having kind of a home-course-advantage feeling, it was a little stress for a little bit," he said. "It's good to get this one out of the way."
Teela, who started 13th in the staggered start, led all Team USA competitors. Lowell Bailey, who cleanly shot his 10 targets, finished 36th in 26:26.6. Tim Burke was 47th in 26:54.8. Jay Hakkinen also shot perfectly and finished 54th in 27:17.4.
All four Americans qualified for the 12.5-kilometer pursuit race on Tuesday. Teela's ninth-place finish, much better than the "top-20 or top-25" he had anticipated before the results were announced, places him in a much stronger position to medal. He will lead Team USA's parade by starting ninth, 1:14 behind Jay.
On Valentine's Day, Teela was the biathlon heartthrob not only for Team USA but the U.S. Army, as well.
"It's an honor to be able to represent the United States, but I get the special privilege to also represent the United States Army," he said. "I'm just trying to do something here to make them proud and give them something to cheer."
Teela said he needed this race to get his legs into competitive rhythm for the upcoming Olympic contests.
"I was a little tired, actually, a little lethargic," he said. "I think I needed this to get it into the legs. The last two weeks I've just been resting and prepping but really not pushing it to the extreme during my prep... I think this will be good for the rest of the week to have one hard race in."
Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, the 36-year-old sentimental favorite who holds five Olympic and 13 World Championship gold medals, finished 17th with a time of 25:48.9. He missed three shots from the prone position and another while standing.
All in all, Teela accepted his performance as a starting point for the Vancouver Games.
"It's an OK race to start," he said. "Obviously, you want to start out swinging. It would be nice to land on the podium first run at it. We have a race on Tuesday. On Thursday, we have the mass start, and we've got the relay. We've got five chances, four guys, so I think it's looking pretty good for us to medal."
(Tim Hipps works with the U.S. Army's Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command public affairs.)
Mullen: Iran's Goal to Further Enrich Uranium 'Destabilizing'
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - The top U.S. military officer criticized Iran's recent announcement that it would increase levels of uranium enrichment to 20 percent, saying the move further destabilizes the Middle East. The remarks by Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came after the government in Tehran reportedly vowed on Feb. 9 to produce uranium at higher levels, fueling fears it would move Iran a step closer to obtaining nuclear weaponry. "The Iranian announcement a couple of days ago is of concern to all of us," Mullen told reporters on Feb. 14 in Tel Aviv, Israel. "I think Iran needs to make strategic moves which help stabilize the region, and in fact, they continue to make moves which further destabilize the region, which is what happened the other day with this announcement."
Tehran has stated its nuclear pursuit is toward peaceful ends, saying the more highly enriched uranium would produce fuel to power medical equipment. But many international observers believe that Iran wants to obtain a nuclear weapon.
President Barack Obama has repeatedly called on Tehran to provide assurances to the international community that its nuclear program is peaceful and transparent, a request backed by the five permanent U.N. Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany. But Iran continues to ignore demands by these so-called P5-plus-1 nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog organization.
"An awful lot of people [are focused] on Iran and the announcement the other day that they've increased the level of enrichment in what I would call a pretty public and defiant way," Mullen said in a Feb. 14 interview with McClatchy Newspapers.
Mullen, during a trip through the Middle East, said the Iranian government's announcement presented an opportunity to reinforce engagement with Iran. He characterized the U.S. as working from "the diplomatic and engagement and sanctions point of view," and added that tougher sanctions were being discussed.
Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Mullen declined to identify at what point Tehran's nuclear ambitions might prompt military action. But he warned against the prospect of war with Iran.
"I think them getting a weapon and/or the outbreak of a conflict would be a big, big problem for all of us," he said, "and I worry a great deal about the unintended consequences of a strike."
But the chairman repeatedly has refused to rule out any options in dealing with Iran, which appears to be extending its reach in the Middle East.
Mullen said Iranian influence appears to be growing in Yemen, where Tehran reportedly is backing the Shiite Houthi clan engaged in a civil war against the Saudi-backed Sunni government in Yemen. Iran also reportedly has contacts with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"Their reach into Lebanon, their reach into Gaza and throughout the region; their reach into Yemen," he told reporters in Cairo, "I think all those things may continue to foment a lot of instability, which is very dangerous for all of us."
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - The top U.S. military officer criticized Iran's recent announcement that it would increase levels of uranium enrichment to 20 percent, saying the move further destabilizes the Middle East. The remarks by Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, came after the government in Tehran reportedly vowed on Feb. 9 to produce uranium at higher levels, fueling fears it would move Iran a step closer to obtaining nuclear weaponry. "The Iranian announcement a couple of days ago is of concern to all of us," Mullen told reporters on Feb. 14 in Tel Aviv, Israel. "I think Iran needs to make strategic moves which help stabilize the region, and in fact, they continue to make moves which further destabilize the region, which is what happened the other day with this announcement."
Tehran has stated its nuclear pursuit is toward peaceful ends, saying the more highly enriched uranium would produce fuel to power medical equipment. But many international observers believe that Iran wants to obtain a nuclear weapon.
President Barack Obama has repeatedly called on Tehran to provide assurances to the international community that its nuclear program is peaceful and transparent, a request backed by the five permanent U.N. Security Council members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany. But Iran continues to ignore demands by these so-called P5-plus-1 nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog organization.
"An awful lot of people [are focused] on Iran and the announcement the other day that they've increased the level of enrichment in what I would call a pretty public and defiant way," Mullen said in a Feb. 14 interview with McClatchy Newspapers.
Mullen, during a trip through the Middle East, said the Iranian government's announcement presented an opportunity to reinforce engagement with Iran. He characterized the U.S. as working from "the diplomatic and engagement and sanctions point of view," and added that tougher sanctions were being discussed.
Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv, Mullen declined to identify at what point Tehran's nuclear ambitions might prompt military action. But he warned against the prospect of war with Iran.
"I think them getting a weapon and/or the outbreak of a conflict would be a big, big problem for all of us," he said, "and I worry a great deal about the unintended consequences of a strike."
But the chairman repeatedly has refused to rule out any options in dealing with Iran, which appears to be extending its reach in the Middle East.
Mullen said Iranian influence appears to be growing in Yemen, where Tehran reportedly is backing the Shiite Houthi clan engaged in a civil war against the Saudi-backed Sunni government in Yemen. Iran also reportedly has contacts with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"Their reach into Lebanon, their reach into Gaza and throughout the region; their reach into Yemen," he told reporters in Cairo, "I think all those things may continue to foment a lot of instability, which is very dangerous for all of us."
MILITARY CONTRACTS February 16, 2010
NAVY
Navistar Defense, LLC, Warrenville, Ill., was awarded on Feb. 12 a $751,514,198 firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0014 for the procurement of Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) low rate initial production vehicles with engineering change proposal upgrades for enhanced maneuverability. This order will also be used for the procurement of Category I MRAP vehicles which provide protection of U.S. military personnel supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Work will be performed in WestPoint, Miss. and the period of performance is expected to be completed by the end of August 2010. Procurement funds in the amount of $751,514,198 will expire on Sept. 30, 2012. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5032 / D.O.0009).
CACI, Inc., Chantilly, Va. (N00039-10-D-0005); Computer Sciences Corp., San Diego (N00039-10-D-0006); G2 Software Systems, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif. (N00039-10-D-0007); Northrop Grumman, Herndon, Va. (N00039-10-D-0008); and Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif. (N00039-10-D-0009), were each awarded on Feb. 11, 2010, an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for Department of Defense command and control (C2) software development, as well as modification and enhancement of existing C2 systems. Services that may be ordered under these contracts include software design, development, and modification; software integration at the unit- and system-level; related test and evaluation support; software systems engineering support; and support functions including integrated logistics support, configuration and program management support. Each contractor will be awarded a $5,000 task order at the time of contract award. These contracts include a three-year base period and two one-year award terms, making the potential period of performance five years. The five-year estimated amounts of each of these contracts range from $493 million to $648 million. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. Work will be performed in the contractors' facilities and is expected to be completed by January 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This requirement was solicited using full and open competition via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-commerce Web site and the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, with 13 offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare System Command, San Diego, Calif., awarded the contracts on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence.
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, London, Ontario, was awarded on Feb. 12, 2010, a $227,380,750 firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0007. The procurement is for 250 MRAP RG-31A2 vehicles and associated engineering change proposal upgrades to include an independent suspension system. The work is expected to be completed no later than Oct. 30, 2010. The major production and assembly work will be performed in South Africa. Major subassemblies will be purchased from companies in Fairfield, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Ogdensburg, N.Y. This contract delivery order was sole source procurement. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5028).
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded on Feb. 9 a $143,882,042 modification to previously awarded contract for the FY10 STANDARD Missile II option for production of all-up-round missiles, missiles serviced under the service life extension program, section level spares, post production spares, shipping containers, and associated data. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (74 percent); Andover, Mass. (18 percent); Camden, Ark. (5 percent); and Farmington, N.M. (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-5301).
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Feb. 12 a $90,561,200.00 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order #0012 for the purchase of 58 U.S. Special Operations Command Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category I vehicles including independent suspension systems, engineering change proposals and integrated logistics support sustainment. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by March 2011. Contract funds of $44,820,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5025).
ITT Electronic Systems, Clifton, N.J., is being awarded a $44,703,060 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the full rate production Lot 7 of 17 AN/ALQ-214(V)2 on-board jammers, a component of the F/A-18 E/F Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasure for the Navy and the government of Australia. In addition, this option provides for spare AN/ALQ-214(V)3 weapons replacement assemblies for installation on F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Clifton, N.J. (34.4 percent); East Syracuse, N.Y. (8.8 percent); San Diego, Calif. (8.3 percent); Rancho Cordova, Calif. (5 percent); and at various locations throughout the United States (43.5 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($35,566,060; 79.57 percent) and the government of Australia ($9,137,000; 20.43 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-05-C-0054).
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded on Feb. 10 a $41,288,005 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for life cycle engineering and support services on the LPD 17 class amphibious transport dock ship program. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be completed by December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $186,963 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-2203).
BAE Systems, Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Nashua, N.H., was awarded on Feb. 9 a firm-fixed-price requirements performance-based logistics contract in the amount of $31,215,444 for support of the AN/ALQ-12B electronic countermeasures system used in support of the F/A-18A-D and AV-8B aircraft. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla. (55 percent), Nashua, N.H. (33 percent), and Crane, Ind. (12 percent). Work is to be completed by February 2015. Funding is provided by Navy Working Capital Fund. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This announcement does not include foreign military sales. This contract was not competitively awarded. One company was solicited and one offer was received. The Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00383-10-D-027G).
Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $26,310,047 modification to previously awarded contract for continued procurement of common missile compartment prototype material, manufacturing and test. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn., and is expected to be completed by January 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-2100).
Pacific Science and Engineering Group, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $23,674,727, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation and implementation. Work will support C2 net-centric operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and the Air Force, and their interfacing with civil and non-government components and capabilities. This contract is one of five total contracts awarded; all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This five-year contract does not include any options. Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area. The period of performance of the contract is from Feb. 16, 2010, through Feb. 15, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central Web site. Five viable offers were received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0018).
BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $21,853,550 modification to previously awarded contract for the USS Bataan (LHD-5) FY10 phased maintenance availability. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Va., and is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $20,454,853 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Norfolk Ship Support Activity, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N00024-05-C-4403).
ISPA Technology, LLC, Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $17,681,498 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation and implementation. Work will support C2 net-centric operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and the Air Force, and their interfacing with civil and non-government components and capabilities. This contract is one of five total contracts awarded; all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This five-year contract does not include any options. Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area. The period of performance of the contract is from Feb. 16, 2010, through Feb. 15, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central Web site. Five viable offers were received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0017).
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo, was awarded an $11,392,787 firm-fixed-price contract for the production acceptance test and evaluation of the direct attack moving target capability. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in February 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via electronic request for proposal and one offer was received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0030).
Stauder Technologies*, St. Peters, Mo., is being awarded a $9,256,117 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for nine lab prototype and engineering development StrikeLink/airborne units and the associated data package, to provide a prototype communications capability for use in the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Peters, Mo. (95 percent), and China Lake, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-07-C-0004).
General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $7,340,382 modification to a previously issued order under basic ordering agreement. This contract action provides additional funding for the demonstration of new technologies, with the goal of reducing the specific fuel consumption of the F414-GE-400 engine by three percent. The F414-GE-400 engine powers the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G Navy aircraft. This effort is in support of the Near Term Energy Efficiency Technology Demonstration and Research Project, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass. (89 percent), and Evendale, Ohio (11 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $7,340,382 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-G-0009).
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $7,323,056 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 208 ARC-210 radio high power amplifiers and LNA diplexers for the Air Force F-16 Block 40/50 aircraft. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in July 2011. 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 (N00019-09-C-0069).
AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif., was awarded on Feb. 11 a firm-fixed-price task order 0002 modification at $6,930,966 for the pre-design sampling and analysis plan and expansion of Area 1a; remedial action for Area 6; and full time radiological health and safety support to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract task order for the remedial design and remedial action installation Restoration Site 1, 1943-1956 disposal area at Alameda Point. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $21,563,531. Work will be performed in Alameda, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-08-D-8816).
Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., is being awarded a $5,698,440 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 60 AN/APN-245 radio beacon sets in support of the AN/SON46 automatic carrier landing system capability and the F/A-18-E/F/G series aircraft. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nev., and is expected to be completed in February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-08-D-0032).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Thermo Pac, LLC, Stone Mountain, Ga., is being awarded a maximum $22,735,230 firm-fixed-price contract for various food items. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 30 proposals solicited with three responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Feb. 13, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM3S1-06-D-Z135).
AIR FORCE
Boeing Co., Newark, Ohio, was awarded a $15,533,727 contract which will provide incremental funding for the ICBM Minuteman III missile system guidance repair. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 526 ICBMSG/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-99-D-0006).
Navistar Defense, LLC, Warrenville, Ill., was awarded on Feb. 12 a $751,514,198 firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0014 for the procurement of Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) low rate initial production vehicles with engineering change proposal upgrades for enhanced maneuverability. This order will also be used for the procurement of Category I MRAP vehicles which provide protection of U.S. military personnel supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Work will be performed in WestPoint, Miss. and the period of performance is expected to be completed by the end of August 2010. Procurement funds in the amount of $751,514,198 will expire on Sept. 30, 2012. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5032 / D.O.0009).
CACI, Inc., Chantilly, Va. (N00039-10-D-0005); Computer Sciences Corp., San Diego (N00039-10-D-0006); G2 Software Systems, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif. (N00039-10-D-0007); Northrop Grumman, Herndon, Va. (N00039-10-D-0008); and Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif. (N00039-10-D-0009), were each awarded on Feb. 11, 2010, an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract for Department of Defense command and control (C2) software development, as well as modification and enhancement of existing C2 systems. Services that may be ordered under these contracts include software design, development, and modification; software integration at the unit- and system-level; related test and evaluation support; software systems engineering support; and support functions including integrated logistics support, configuration and program management support. Each contractor will be awarded a $5,000 task order at the time of contract award. These contracts include a three-year base period and two one-year award terms, making the potential period of performance five years. The five-year estimated amounts of each of these contracts range from $493 million to $648 million. These five contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. Work will be performed in the contractors' facilities and is expected to be completed by January 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This requirement was solicited using full and open competition via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-commerce Web site and the Federal Business Opportunities Web site, with 13 offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare System Command, San Diego, Calif., awarded the contracts on behalf of its organizational partner, the Navy's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence.
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, London, Ontario, was awarded on Feb. 12, 2010, a $227,380,750 firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0007. The procurement is for 250 MRAP RG-31A2 vehicles and associated engineering change proposal upgrades to include an independent suspension system. The work is expected to be completed no later than Oct. 30, 2010. The major production and assembly work will be performed in South Africa. Major subassemblies will be purchased from companies in Fairfield, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y.; and Ogdensburg, N.Y. This contract delivery order was sole source procurement. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5028).
Raytheon Co., Tucson, Ariz., was awarded on Feb. 9 a $143,882,042 modification to previously awarded contract for the FY10 STANDARD Missile II option for production of all-up-round missiles, missiles serviced under the service life extension program, section level spares, post production spares, shipping containers, and associated data. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. (74 percent); Andover, Mass. (18 percent); Camden, Ark. (5 percent); and Farmington, N.M. (3 percent). Work is expected to be completed by December 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-5301).
BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Ground Systems Division, York, Pa., was awarded on Feb. 12 a $90,561,200.00 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order #0012 for the purchase of 58 U.S. Special Operations Command Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Category I vehicles including independent suspension systems, engineering change proposals and integrated logistics support sustainment. Work will be performed in York, Pa., and is expected to be completed by March 2011. Contract funds of $44,820,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-07-D-5025).
ITT Electronic Systems, Clifton, N.J., is being awarded a $44,703,060 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract to exercise an option for the full rate production Lot 7 of 17 AN/ALQ-214(V)2 on-board jammers, a component of the F/A-18 E/F Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasure for the Navy and the government of Australia. In addition, this option provides for spare AN/ALQ-214(V)3 weapons replacement assemblies for installation on F/A-18E/F aircraft. Work will be performed in Clifton, N.J. (34.4 percent); East Syracuse, N.Y. (8.8 percent); San Diego, Calif. (8.3 percent); Rancho Cordova, Calif. (5 percent); and at various locations throughout the United States (43.5 percent). Work is expected to be completed in October 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($35,566,060; 79.57 percent) and the government of Australia ($9,137,000; 20.43 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-05-C-0054).
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., was awarded on Feb. 10 a $41,288,005 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for life cycle engineering and support services on the LPD 17 class amphibious transport dock ship program. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be completed by December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $186,963 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-2203).
BAE Systems, Information and Electronics Systems Integration, Nashua, N.H., was awarded on Feb. 9 a firm-fixed-price requirements performance-based logistics contract in the amount of $31,215,444 for support of the AN/ALQ-12B electronic countermeasures system used in support of the F/A-18A-D and AV-8B aircraft. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, Fla. (55 percent), Nashua, N.H. (33 percent), and Crane, Ind. (12 percent). Work is to be completed by February 2015. Funding is provided by Navy Working Capital Fund. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the fiscal year. This announcement does not include foreign military sales. This contract was not competitively awarded. One company was solicited and one offer was received. The Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00383-10-D-027G).
Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $26,310,047 modification to previously awarded contract for continued procurement of common missile compartment prototype material, manufacturing and test. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn., and is expected to be completed by January 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-09-C-2100).
Pacific Science and Engineering Group, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $23,674,727, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation and implementation. Work will support C2 net-centric operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and the Air Force, and their interfacing with civil and non-government components and capabilities. This contract is one of five total contracts awarded; all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This five-year contract does not include any options. Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area. The period of performance of the contract is from Feb. 16, 2010, through Feb. 15, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central Web site. Five viable offers were received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0018).
BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $21,853,550 modification to previously awarded contract for the USS Bataan (LHD-5) FY10 phased maintenance availability. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Va., and is expected to be completed by August 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $20,454,853 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Norfolk Ship Support Activity, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (N00024-05-C-4403).
ISPA Technology, LLC, Alexandria, Va., is being awarded a $17,681,498 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies and capabilities and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation and implementation. Work will support C2 net-centric operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and the Air Force, and their interfacing with civil and non-government components and capabilities. This contract is one of five total contracts awarded; all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This five-year contract does not include any options. Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area. The period of performance of the contract is from Feb. 16, 2010, through Feb. 15, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central Web site. Five viable offers were received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0017).
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo, was awarded an $11,392,787 firm-fixed-price contract for the production acceptance test and evaluation of the direct attack moving target capability. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in February 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via electronic request for proposal and one offer was received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-10-C-0030).
Stauder Technologies*, St. Peters, Mo., is being awarded a $9,256,117 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for nine lab prototype and engineering development StrikeLink/airborne units and the associated data package, to provide a prototype communications capability for use in the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Peters, Mo. (95 percent), and China Lake, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in July 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-07-C-0004).
General Electric Aircraft Engines, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $7,340,382 modification to a previously issued order under basic ordering agreement. This contract action provides additional funding for the demonstration of new technologies, with the goal of reducing the specific fuel consumption of the F414-GE-400 engine by three percent. The F414-GE-400 engine powers the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G Navy aircraft. This effort is in support of the Near Term Energy Efficiency Technology Demonstration and Research Project, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass. (89 percent), and Evendale, Ohio (11 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $7,340,382 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-09-G-0009).
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is being awarded a $7,323,056 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-priced contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 208 ARC-210 radio high power amplifiers and LNA diplexers for the Air Force F-16 Block 40/50 aircraft. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in July 2011. 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 (N00019-09-C-0069).
AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif., was awarded on Feb. 11 a firm-fixed-price task order 0002 modification at $6,930,966 for the pre-design sampling and analysis plan and expansion of Area 1a; remedial action for Area 6; and full time radiological health and safety support to increase the maximum dollar value of an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract task order for the remedial design and remedial action installation Restoration Site 1, 1943-1956 disposal area at Alameda Point. After award of this modification, the total cumulative contract value will be $21,563,531. Work will be performed in Alameda, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-08-D-8816).
Sierra Nevada Corp., Sparks, Nev., is being awarded a $5,698,440 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to exercise an option for the procurement of 60 AN/APN-245 radio beacon sets in support of the AN/SON46 automatic carrier landing system capability and the F/A-18-E/F/G series aircraft. Work will be performed in Sparks, Nev., and is expected to be completed in February 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-08-D-0032).
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Thermo Pac, LLC, Stone Mountain, Ga., is being awarded a maximum $22,735,230 firm-fixed-price contract for various food items. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 30 proposals solicited with three responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Feb. 13, 2011. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM3S1-06-D-Z135).
AIR FORCE
Boeing Co., Newark, Ohio, was awarded a $15,533,727 contract which will provide incremental funding for the ICBM Minuteman III missile system guidance repair. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 526 ICBMSG/PKE, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (F42610-99-D-0006).
U.S. Donates Boats, Military Equipment to Pakistan
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American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - The United States recently donated a number of water trucks, field artillery cannon and patrol boats to the Pakistani government, according to U.S. State Department news releases. Four water trucks were provided to the Pakistani Army's special services group Feb. 12. The next day, Pakistan's maritime security agency obtained five American fast-patrol boats, while the Pakistani army received 48 self-propelled field artillery cannon.
The water trucks will be employed in humanitarian relief missions in Pakistan's South Waziristan region. The boats will enhance Pakistan's coastal interdiction and patrol capabilities. And, the cannon will be used by Pakistani government forces to combat terrorists that operate in its homeland.
"These field artillery cannons are an important part of enhancing the capabilities of Pakistan's army as it continues to wage its courageous fight against terrorists who seek to destroy Pakistan's people and way of life," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, U.S. Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan deputy commander, as he officially handed over the M1095A5 howitzers to Pakistani Army Brig. Gen. Farrukh Saeed, commander of the 25th Mechanized Artillery Division.
Nagata also participated in ceremonies featuring the turning over of the water trucks and fast boats to Pakistani senior military officials.
Pakistan is slated to receive another four fast-patrol boats later this year.
"Whether it's search-and-rescue, combating smugglers, preventing crime or protecting Pakistan's coastal areas, we hope the increased capabilities these boats provide greatly enhance the MSA's ability to conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations," Nagata said during the handover ceremony in Karachi Feb. 13.
During the past three years, U.S. civilian and military assistance to Pakistan has totaled more than $4 billion. Assistance provided and delivered has included support for medical aid, school refurbishment, bridge and well reconstruction, food distribution, agricultural and education projects, 14 F-16 fighter aircraft, 10 Mi-17 helicopters, more than 450 vehicles for Pakistan's Frontier Corps, hundreds of night-vision goggles, day/night scopes, radios, and thousands of protective vests and first-aid items for Pakistan's security forces.
In addition, the United States has funded and provided training for more than 370 Pakistani military officers in a wide range of leadership and development programs, covering topics such as counterterrorism, intelligence, logistics, medical operations, flight safety and military law.
(Compiled from U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan, news releases.)
Guardsmen Rescue Mom, Baby
By Army Staff Sgt. Sherree Grebenstein
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - Necessity has often been called the mother of invention. Just ask two West Virginia National Guard soldiers who found themselves attempting to rescue a mother and her four-week-old premature baby stranded at their home in Morgan County.
The mother and her baby became isolated thanks to back-to-back blizzards that socked the region with more than three feet of snow in some areas.
To reach the pair in the early morning hours of Feb. 10, Staff Sgt. Harry F. Accor III and Spc. Derek C. Folk, two medics with the 201st Field Artillery Battalion based in Fairmont, W.Va., fashioned two pairs of snowshoes from pine tree branches and clothes lines.
What makes the feat perhaps even more amazing is that Folk performed the rescue with three bones broken in his right hand. He sustained the injury earlier in the week while helping to evacuate a bi-lateral amputee with diabetes from his home here.
Both soldiers were innovative in their efforts to rescue the trapped mother and baby, said Maj. Chris Nasser, assigned from the West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing as a military liaison officer at the Morgan County emergency services complex.
"They made their own handmade snowshoes to evacuate them," Nasser said. "They were really prepared for whatever they faced."
A concerned neighbor alerted officials to help the mother and baby who were living in an area that had been without power for two days, Accor said.
Because the snow was so deep - up to eight-foot snow drifts in some places - the soldiers were forced to hike about three miles up a ridge to the home. The only way they could maneuver though the snow without sinking was on the snowshoes.
Getting the mother and baby back down the ridge to a waiting Humvee was just as tricky.
"The child was already wrapped," Accor recalled. Both men said they never stopped to learn the woman's name or even the sex of the baby as they were on a mission.
"We just wanted to get them out of there to safety," Accor said, noting after he got hold of the baby, he wrapped it in more blankets and tucked it into his rucksack. After the baby was nestled in the bag, he placed heated hand warmers around the blankets to keep it warm.
The woman was placed on a 6 feet by 3 feet sked, known as an emergency medical extraction device. Folk said he acted as a sled dog by putting the sked's rope around his waist and pulling it to the waiting Humvee down the ridge.
"The whole time I was walking through the snow I was happy that the snowshoes didn't break," Accor said. As the soldiers made their way back down the ridge, Folk would look in on the baby who was snuggled in the rucksack on Accor's back.
Once back at the Humvee, the soldiers transported the mother and baby to a nearby relative's home. "They made arrangements to go to another state to be with family members," Accor said.
Sgt. 1st Class David Hoffman, a fellow member of the 201st Field Artillery Battalion who lives in Falling Waters, praised his comrades for their successful rescue effort. "They did a really great job," Hoffman said.
"It's our job," Accor said. "That's what we are here for."
And what about the now famous snowshoes?
Both pairs are expected to be put on display in the battalion's headquarters ... after the two soldiers are finished using them.
(Army Staff Sgt. Sherree Grebenstein is assigned to the West Virginia National Guard.)
General Officer Assignments
February 16, 2010 - The chief of staff, Air Force announced today the following assignments: Brig. Gen. Michael A. Keltz, vice commander, 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, and chief of staff, Air Component Command, Republic of Korea, Osan Air Base, South Korea, to assistant director of operations, plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
Brig. Gen. Robert P. Otto, commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Air Combat Command, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., to director, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, deputy chief of staff, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Brig. Gen. Robert P. Otto, commander, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Air Combat Command, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., to director, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, deputy chief of staff, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Former Navy Sailor Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Fraud Schemes
February 16, 2010 - Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS, 38, of Hamden, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. On October 15, 2008, WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of making a false statement in a health care matter.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from October 1988 until his discharge on approximately August 14, 2003, WILLIAMS was a member of the United States Navy/United States Naval Reserve. Beginning on approximately April 18, 2003 and continuing until approximately August 14, 2003, WILLIAMS was assigned to the Transient Personnel Unit (TPU), Norfolk Naval Station. A Transient Personnel Unit serves as a temporary or transient residence for service personnel awaiting assignment to a permanent duty station, or for service personnel moving between duty stations. WILLIAMS has admitted that, during his assignment to TPU, Norfolk, and for a period of time thereafter, he participated in a scheme to defraud USAA Federal Savings Bank.
As part of the scheme, WILLIAMS fraudulently opened bank accounts and then withdrew funds from those accounts before USAA Bank discovered the fraud. WILLIAMS also used at the identities of 10 U.S. Naval service members to open the bank accounts. When the bank accounts were opened, WILLIAMS received debit cards at various addresses in Virginia and Connecticut, and then used the debit cards associated with the fraudulently opened accounts. Through this scheme, USAA Bank was defrauded of approximately $69,000.
After WILLIAMS’ discharge from the U.S. Navy, he sought medical treatment on several occasions at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) facilities in Connecticut, and at other locations. On several occasions, WILLIAMS stated that he had recently suffered seizures and, as a result of his complaints, he received treatment, including prescription medications, from VA facilities and other providers. On approximately October 20, 2003, WILLIAMS filed a claim with the VA seeking compensation benefits for a service connected disability. As part of his claim, he stated that he suffered from a service connected disability arising from seizures.
On approximately October 30, 2006, WILLIAMS provided the VA with a letter from “Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology” dated March 10, 2006 wherein it stated that a physician had examined an MRI of the defendant’s and found that he had a “cyst/tumor mass” located in his “front temporal lobe.” As a result of receiving this letter, the provider at the VA changed her determination and found that it is as likely as not that WILLIAMS’ seizure disorder is related to his active duty in the U.S. Navy. However, WILLIAMS admitted that the March 10 letter was fraudulent in that the purported author was not a medical doctor as described in the letter, the author of the letter never met or examined WILLIAMS, and no provider at Yale had ever diagnosed the condition as described in the letter.
As a result of the fraudulent letter and other false statements by the defendant, the VA increased WILLIAMS’ service-related pension. Also, when WILLIAMS applied for Social Security disability payments, the false records were considered by the Social Security Administration, which granted WILLIAMS disability payments for himself and his minor daughter.
Judge Droney has scheduled a restitution hearing for April 16 to resolve a dispute between the parties concerning the amount of restitution WILLIAMS must make to the VA and the Social Security Administration arising from the false documents, which the Government will argue is approximately $120,000.
WILLIAMS has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 16, 2008.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police, Naval Criminal Investigative Services, and Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Sheldon and Brian P. Leaming.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from October 1988 until his discharge on approximately August 14, 2003, WILLIAMS was a member of the United States Navy/United States Naval Reserve. Beginning on approximately April 18, 2003 and continuing until approximately August 14, 2003, WILLIAMS was assigned to the Transient Personnel Unit (TPU), Norfolk Naval Station. A Transient Personnel Unit serves as a temporary or transient residence for service personnel awaiting assignment to a permanent duty station, or for service personnel moving between duty stations. WILLIAMS has admitted that, during his assignment to TPU, Norfolk, and for a period of time thereafter, he participated in a scheme to defraud USAA Federal Savings Bank.
As part of the scheme, WILLIAMS fraudulently opened bank accounts and then withdrew funds from those accounts before USAA Bank discovered the fraud. WILLIAMS also used at the identities of 10 U.S. Naval service members to open the bank accounts. When the bank accounts were opened, WILLIAMS received debit cards at various addresses in Virginia and Connecticut, and then used the debit cards associated with the fraudulently opened accounts. Through this scheme, USAA Bank was defrauded of approximately $69,000.
After WILLIAMS’ discharge from the U.S. Navy, he sought medical treatment on several occasions at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) facilities in Connecticut, and at other locations. On several occasions, WILLIAMS stated that he had recently suffered seizures and, as a result of his complaints, he received treatment, including prescription medications, from VA facilities and other providers. On approximately October 20, 2003, WILLIAMS filed a claim with the VA seeking compensation benefits for a service connected disability. As part of his claim, he stated that he suffered from a service connected disability arising from seizures.
On approximately October 30, 2006, WILLIAMS provided the VA with a letter from “Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology” dated March 10, 2006 wherein it stated that a physician had examined an MRI of the defendant’s and found that he had a “cyst/tumor mass” located in his “front temporal lobe.” As a result of receiving this letter, the provider at the VA changed her determination and found that it is as likely as not that WILLIAMS’ seizure disorder is related to his active duty in the U.S. Navy. However, WILLIAMS admitted that the March 10 letter was fraudulent in that the purported author was not a medical doctor as described in the letter, the author of the letter never met or examined WILLIAMS, and no provider at Yale had ever diagnosed the condition as described in the letter.
As a result of the fraudulent letter and other false statements by the defendant, the VA increased WILLIAMS’ service-related pension. Also, when WILLIAMS applied for Social Security disability payments, the false records were considered by the Social Security Administration, which granted WILLIAMS disability payments for himself and his minor daughter.
Judge Droney has scheduled a restitution hearing for April 16 to resolve a dispute between the parties concerning the amount of restitution WILLIAMS must make to the VA and the Social Security Administration arising from the false documents, which the Government will argue is approximately $120,000.
WILLIAMS has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on July 16, 2008.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police, Naval Criminal Investigative Services, and Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Sheldon and Brian P. Leaming.
Lynn Honors Australia's War Dead
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III concluded his visit to Australia today by paying tribute to Australian servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Lynn attended the daily closing ceremony at the Australian War Memorial here. He and his wife, Mary, then placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier.
The ceremony was dignified and sad and is the way Australians close the memorial at 5 p.m. each day. A lone bagpiper marched slowly out playing the Scottish lament, "Flowers of the Forest." The piper's song signifies to servicemembers that "the duty day is over and they can now rest in peace."
"The whole ceremony was very moving and a fitting tribute to the sacrifice Australians have made," Lynn said during an interview. "Australia has fought alongside us in every conflict from World War I to Afghanistan. I thought it was important to recognize the sacrifices they've made as part of that partnership."
The war memorial was built to honor the dead of World War I. Designed in the 1920s, construction of the memorial was slowed by the Great Depression. It was dedicated on November 11, 1941.
"Of course, by then we were two years into World War II," said Gerard Pratt, a memorial official. The memorial is co-located with the Australian War Museum.
The memorial features an open area with a rectangular, reflecting pool at its center. The bottom of the pool is layered with coins that people have thrown in. On either side of the pool are steps leading up to covered hallways. Lining those walls are bronze tablets featuring the names of fallen servicemembers. On one side of the memorial are inscribed the dates "1914-1918" and 60,000 names are listed.
"It was an incredible sacrifice for a nation of at the time about 4.5 million people," Gerard said of Australia's military war dead of World War I.
On the other side of the courtyard is another hall featuring the names of Australia's war dead from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. All names are presented alphabetically by unit. There are no ranks or awards.
"The number of the names on those walls and the sacrifices Australians have made is quite staggering," Lynn said.
Alongside the thousands of names are small paper poppies put there by people remembering departed loved ones. Poppies symbolize World War I sacrifice and paper poppies have been a way to pay tribute since the publication of the poem, "In Flanders Fields" in 1915.
In all, the names of 102,000 Australian men and women are listed at the memorial.
At the end of the memorial's courtyard is a chapel housing the Unknown. The Australian government brought the Unknown to the site from a World War I battle cemetery in 1993. The soldier represents the sacrifices of all Australian servicemembers. Lynn placed a wreath at the tomb and then walked back toward the entrance looking at the names as he went along.
At the end of the row, there is a new plaque and on it are the dead from more recent operations in Somalia, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. Two Australian servicemembers were killed in Iraq, and 11 have died in Afghanistan.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 16, 2010 - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III concluded his visit to Australia today by paying tribute to Australian servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Lynn attended the daily closing ceremony at the Australian War Memorial here. He and his wife, Mary, then placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier.
The ceremony was dignified and sad and is the way Australians close the memorial at 5 p.m. each day. A lone bagpiper marched slowly out playing the Scottish lament, "Flowers of the Forest." The piper's song signifies to servicemembers that "the duty day is over and they can now rest in peace."
"The whole ceremony was very moving and a fitting tribute to the sacrifice Australians have made," Lynn said during an interview. "Australia has fought alongside us in every conflict from World War I to Afghanistan. I thought it was important to recognize the sacrifices they've made as part of that partnership."
The war memorial was built to honor the dead of World War I. Designed in the 1920s, construction of the memorial was slowed by the Great Depression. It was dedicated on November 11, 1941.
"Of course, by then we were two years into World War II," said Gerard Pratt, a memorial official. The memorial is co-located with the Australian War Museum.
The memorial features an open area with a rectangular, reflecting pool at its center. The bottom of the pool is layered with coins that people have thrown in. On either side of the pool are steps leading up to covered hallways. Lining those walls are bronze tablets featuring the names of fallen servicemembers. On one side of the memorial are inscribed the dates "1914-1918" and 60,000 names are listed.
"It was an incredible sacrifice for a nation of at the time about 4.5 million people," Gerard said of Australia's military war dead of World War I.
On the other side of the courtyard is another hall featuring the names of Australia's war dead from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. All names are presented alphabetically by unit. There are no ranks or awards.
"The number of the names on those walls and the sacrifices Australians have made is quite staggering," Lynn said.
Alongside the thousands of names are small paper poppies put there by people remembering departed loved ones. Poppies symbolize World War I sacrifice and paper poppies have been a way to pay tribute since the publication of the poem, "In Flanders Fields" in 1915.
In all, the names of 102,000 Australian men and women are listed at the memorial.
At the end of the memorial's courtyard is a chapel housing the Unknown. The Australian government brought the Unknown to the site from a World War I battle cemetery in 1993. The soldier represents the sacrifices of all Australian servicemembers. Lynn placed a wreath at the tomb and then walked back toward the entrance looking at the names as he went along.
At the end of the row, there is a new plaque and on it are the dead from more recent operations in Somalia, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. Two Australian servicemembers were killed in Iraq, and 11 have died in Afghanistan.
Monday, February 15, 2010
New DoD/VA Center to Improve Eye Care
By Matt Pueschel
FHP&R Staff Writer
February 15, 2010 - The new Vision Center of Excellence (VCE) is beginning to take flight since it was formed at the behest of Congress to track eye injuries emanating from the war theater and improve treatment outcomes across the services and VA.
“It’s important to look at how injuries are occurring, what can we do to mitigate the extent of morbidity when doing treatment, and how can we enhance treatment and research and improve the rehabilitation process to bring better functioning in life to patients,” said Col. Donald A. Gagliano, M.D., M.H.A., DoD principal advisor for vision and VCE’s executive director, during a presentation in January before a group of military and veterans service organizations at the FHP&R offices in Falls Church, Va.
VCE was formed after the fiscal year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act directed DoD and VA to establish a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of military eye injuries, and to better coordinate visual rehabilitative care and benefits for service members’ continuum of care between the agencies.
The need for the VCE is evidenced in the variety of injuries that impact soldiers’ vision, from traumatic eye injury as a result of explosive devices and projectiles, to vision disorders associated with TBI, and eye injury caused by exposure to chemicals, biohazards, lasers or extreme environmental conditions. VCE is facilitating collaborative efforts that support optimal DoD/VA vision care transition, such as a process developed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for blind rehabilitation care.
Gagliano said there are increasing numbers of eye injuries occurring among service members from OEF/OIF compared with previous conflicts. According to the November 2008 Medical Surveillance Monthly Report of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, more than 1,000 ocular injuries caused by war, guns and explosives were treated in fixed hospitals from 2003 to 2007.
“We’re also starting to see visual disorders with TBI, so we’re looking at that,” he said. “Part of the problem is that patients are moving back and forth between VA and DoD [and] there is a very broad care and recovery program instituted. VA has visual impairment support teams [and] there are vision care capabilities in DoD and VA that I can influence, advocate for, integrate and collaborate with [toward] a purpose of trying to find ways to bring some answers.”
About 60-70 percent of severe and moderate TBI cases and 40 percent of mild TBI cases include some form of visual impairment, such as nerve damage from concussive events. VCE is looking at capturing reports from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, which collects intake information on visual issues caused by mild TBI.
“Mild TBI is still an enigma,” Gagliano said. “We’re looking at clinical symptoms and maybe some cognitive testing. Some of the blast exposure injuries are injuries to the globe. When a blast wave hits your eye, it causes tissue, retinal, nerve, and zonular injury and we don’t understand it well. It’s like two times the force of being punched. The eye is compressible, so we’re looking at how to mitigate it.”
Better Tracking
VCE is spearheading development of a new database to track eye injuries across the DoD and VA systems of care and to integrate pertinent information from all of the services. The new Defense and Veterans Eye Injury Registry (DVEIR) will record and follow the occurrence, treatment and outcomes of all eye injuries experienced by active duty service members since 9/11.
Gagliano said this will show how patients with the same types of injuries were treated and allow the VCE to focus research more effectively, evaluate DoD and VA health care processes and establish treatment guidelines. “It will allow us to manage both individuals and cohorts of patients and analyze outcomes and improve care and enact change,” he said.
A key goal with the database is to develop a common documentation strategy for vision care among DoD’s and VA’s varying health records. “We spent two years developing the database and getting the DoD electronic health records from nine different systems to talk to each other,” Gagliano said. “We want to track outcomes, but we need incidence data in order to get to outcomes. We think we’re getting closer [with] VA and DoD sharing information. When we first started, there were two separate registry projects, and now there is one joint registry.”
Gagliano said VA and DoD are working on ways to share more patient information, and DoD is looking at redesigning an electronic health record to make its records more user friendly. “If you don’t fix these technical issues you won’t have the ability to impact patient care,” he said. “If we make more information available to providers, we think we’ll be able to improve care.”
The aim is to follow service members from the point of injury in theater through joint medical and patient tracking systems until they get to the U.S. Because of the little information that is available on eye injuries in theater, VCE is also developing an eye module for trauma wounds.
“We have a lot of ophthalmologists in theater who worked on [recording eye injuries in] spreadsheets, so we’re bringing that information in,” Gagliano said. “My goal is to gather all information [on eye injuries and care] back to ’01. In another couple months, we’ll be able to collect [and input] databases from theater and combat registries into our registry on incidents and identification of casualties that have occurred in theater. After that, we’ll go back to the first Gulf War.”
The joint registry will also provide a synergy with other centers of excellence being developed for service members exposed to blasts, such as one on hearing issues. Blast injuries can cause hearing and vision problems, as well as limited sense of smell and taste.
“This is why Congress put together this grouping of registries [to look at] how do we bring people with sensory deficits to function better in life, so it’s an excellent idea [to bring all the pieces together],” Gagliano said. “There will be some cross communication between registries. The vision registry will be for performance improvement with patient tracking and vision research, which will pool information from other databases, such as on TBI.”
Looking Ahead
Another component of the VCE is to focus vision research on eye trauma, TBI post-traumatic visual syndrome, refractive surgery, and degenerative eye diseases. Gagliano sits on a joint committee that establishes priorities for the new Vision Research Program.
With a limited amount of funds ($3.75 million this year) and many research proposals to consider, the program has a focus on five topic areas: developing treatments for TBI-associated visual dysfunction; treatments to slow or stop vision loss in traumatic optic neuropathies; computational models of mechanisms of primary blast injury to the eye and vision system; methods to test visual dysfunction in the presence of cognitive impairment; and treatments for blast and burn injury to ocular structures.
“Our real priority is the blast model and how we mitigate that and direct research efforts towards fixing that problem,” Gagliano said.
VA only funds intramural vision research, but has special centers focused on TBI-related vision disorders, researching the use of implants and artificial mechanical means to restore some vision, and developing new techniques for visual rehabilitation. Meanwhile DoD jointly funds other vision research projects with the National Eye Institute, and is also working with the Food and Drug Administration to examine refractive surgery outcomes and set a baseline standard.
“We do more refractive surgery in DoD than any other entity in the country,” Gagliano said. “Our outcomes and satisfaction are very high, but DoD requirements are different. It’s an operational requirement, so I want to capture that information on refractive surgery outcomes and track them through to VA.”
Gagliano said that combat eye care education should be enhanced. “We have a lot of eye care providers with no trauma experience,” he said. “We want to build simulation models for trauma training. There is no recognized capability in DoD for blind rehab specialists, so we’re trying to get that as a recognized specialty.”
Furthermore, through development of combat protective eyewear, the line has reduced the amount of eye injuries in the field, Gagliano said. “That has really impacted on ballistics protection, but not blast protection,” he advised. “We’ll have to redesign facial protection.”
VCE is in the process of building its staff and spaces and will have a deputy director from the VA as part of an organizational office scheduled to open in Crystal City, Va., in a few months. Eventually there will be a mix of optometrists, ophthalmologists and vision rehabilitation specialists as part of a 25-member staff based in a clinical component that will serve as VCE’s headquarters at the new Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda in 2011.
The VCE received $4 million from Congress to carry out the needed renovations for the space over the next 12-18 months. “We’ll be opening the new VCE at the new hospital and it will be co-located with an optometry and ophthalmology and refractive surgery center, and we’ll build a space for outreach, [including] computer stations for visually impaired service members and veterans so they can use it as a resource for information,” Gagliano said, adding that VCE will have six cells with nurse vision care coordinators and capabilities that support MTFs throughout the country.
VA has further agreed to fund several VA visual clinical care and policy positions in the VCE, but both the DoD and VA positions for the VCE are being filled deliberately, pending funding. “We’ve been excited to get going,” Gagliano said. “We are making progress where we can.”
For more information, please visit http://www.visioncenterofexcellence/
FHP&R Staff Writer
February 15, 2010 - The new Vision Center of Excellence (VCE) is beginning to take flight since it was formed at the behest of Congress to track eye injuries emanating from the war theater and improve treatment outcomes across the services and VA.
“It’s important to look at how injuries are occurring, what can we do to mitigate the extent of morbidity when doing treatment, and how can we enhance treatment and research and improve the rehabilitation process to bring better functioning in life to patients,” said Col. Donald A. Gagliano, M.D., M.H.A., DoD principal advisor for vision and VCE’s executive director, during a presentation in January before a group of military and veterans service organizations at the FHP&R offices in Falls Church, Va.
VCE was formed after the fiscal year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act directed DoD and VA to establish a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of military eye injuries, and to better coordinate visual rehabilitative care and benefits for service members’ continuum of care between the agencies.
The need for the VCE is evidenced in the variety of injuries that impact soldiers’ vision, from traumatic eye injury as a result of explosive devices and projectiles, to vision disorders associated with TBI, and eye injury caused by exposure to chemicals, biohazards, lasers or extreme environmental conditions. VCE is facilitating collaborative efforts that support optimal DoD/VA vision care transition, such as a process developed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for blind rehabilitation care.
Gagliano said there are increasing numbers of eye injuries occurring among service members from OEF/OIF compared with previous conflicts. According to the November 2008 Medical Surveillance Monthly Report of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, more than 1,000 ocular injuries caused by war, guns and explosives were treated in fixed hospitals from 2003 to 2007.
“We’re also starting to see visual disorders with TBI, so we’re looking at that,” he said. “Part of the problem is that patients are moving back and forth between VA and DoD [and] there is a very broad care and recovery program instituted. VA has visual impairment support teams [and] there are vision care capabilities in DoD and VA that I can influence, advocate for, integrate and collaborate with [toward] a purpose of trying to find ways to bring some answers.”
About 60-70 percent of severe and moderate TBI cases and 40 percent of mild TBI cases include some form of visual impairment, such as nerve damage from concussive events. VCE is looking at capturing reports from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, which collects intake information on visual issues caused by mild TBI.
“Mild TBI is still an enigma,” Gagliano said. “We’re looking at clinical symptoms and maybe some cognitive testing. Some of the blast exposure injuries are injuries to the globe. When a blast wave hits your eye, it causes tissue, retinal, nerve, and zonular injury and we don’t understand it well. It’s like two times the force of being punched. The eye is compressible, so we’re looking at how to mitigate it.”
Better Tracking
VCE is spearheading development of a new database to track eye injuries across the DoD and VA systems of care and to integrate pertinent information from all of the services. The new Defense and Veterans Eye Injury Registry (DVEIR) will record and follow the occurrence, treatment and outcomes of all eye injuries experienced by active duty service members since 9/11.
Gagliano said this will show how patients with the same types of injuries were treated and allow the VCE to focus research more effectively, evaluate DoD and VA health care processes and establish treatment guidelines. “It will allow us to manage both individuals and cohorts of patients and analyze outcomes and improve care and enact change,” he said.
A key goal with the database is to develop a common documentation strategy for vision care among DoD’s and VA’s varying health records. “We spent two years developing the database and getting the DoD electronic health records from nine different systems to talk to each other,” Gagliano said. “We want to track outcomes, but we need incidence data in order to get to outcomes. We think we’re getting closer [with] VA and DoD sharing information. When we first started, there were two separate registry projects, and now there is one joint registry.”
Gagliano said VA and DoD are working on ways to share more patient information, and DoD is looking at redesigning an electronic health record to make its records more user friendly. “If you don’t fix these technical issues you won’t have the ability to impact patient care,” he said. “If we make more information available to providers, we think we’ll be able to improve care.”
The aim is to follow service members from the point of injury in theater through joint medical and patient tracking systems until they get to the U.S. Because of the little information that is available on eye injuries in theater, VCE is also developing an eye module for trauma wounds.
“We have a lot of ophthalmologists in theater who worked on [recording eye injuries in] spreadsheets, so we’re bringing that information in,” Gagliano said. “My goal is to gather all information [on eye injuries and care] back to ’01. In another couple months, we’ll be able to collect [and input] databases from theater and combat registries into our registry on incidents and identification of casualties that have occurred in theater. After that, we’ll go back to the first Gulf War.”
The joint registry will also provide a synergy with other centers of excellence being developed for service members exposed to blasts, such as one on hearing issues. Blast injuries can cause hearing and vision problems, as well as limited sense of smell and taste.
“This is why Congress put together this grouping of registries [to look at] how do we bring people with sensory deficits to function better in life, so it’s an excellent idea [to bring all the pieces together],” Gagliano said. “There will be some cross communication between registries. The vision registry will be for performance improvement with patient tracking and vision research, which will pool information from other databases, such as on TBI.”
Looking Ahead
Another component of the VCE is to focus vision research on eye trauma, TBI post-traumatic visual syndrome, refractive surgery, and degenerative eye diseases. Gagliano sits on a joint committee that establishes priorities for the new Vision Research Program.
With a limited amount of funds ($3.75 million this year) and many research proposals to consider, the program has a focus on five topic areas: developing treatments for TBI-associated visual dysfunction; treatments to slow or stop vision loss in traumatic optic neuropathies; computational models of mechanisms of primary blast injury to the eye and vision system; methods to test visual dysfunction in the presence of cognitive impairment; and treatments for blast and burn injury to ocular structures.
“Our real priority is the blast model and how we mitigate that and direct research efforts towards fixing that problem,” Gagliano said.
VA only funds intramural vision research, but has special centers focused on TBI-related vision disorders, researching the use of implants and artificial mechanical means to restore some vision, and developing new techniques for visual rehabilitation. Meanwhile DoD jointly funds other vision research projects with the National Eye Institute, and is also working with the Food and Drug Administration to examine refractive surgery outcomes and set a baseline standard.
“We do more refractive surgery in DoD than any other entity in the country,” Gagliano said. “Our outcomes and satisfaction are very high, but DoD requirements are different. It’s an operational requirement, so I want to capture that information on refractive surgery outcomes and track them through to VA.”
Gagliano said that combat eye care education should be enhanced. “We have a lot of eye care providers with no trauma experience,” he said. “We want to build simulation models for trauma training. There is no recognized capability in DoD for blind rehab specialists, so we’re trying to get that as a recognized specialty.”
Furthermore, through development of combat protective eyewear, the line has reduced the amount of eye injuries in the field, Gagliano said. “That has really impacted on ballistics protection, but not blast protection,” he advised. “We’ll have to redesign facial protection.”
VCE is in the process of building its staff and spaces and will have a deputy director from the VA as part of an organizational office scheduled to open in Crystal City, Va., in a few months. Eventually there will be a mix of optometrists, ophthalmologists and vision rehabilitation specialists as part of a 25-member staff based in a clinical component that will serve as VCE’s headquarters at the new Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda in 2011.
The VCE received $4 million from Congress to carry out the needed renovations for the space over the next 12-18 months. “We’ll be opening the new VCE at the new hospital and it will be co-located with an optometry and ophthalmology and refractive surgery center, and we’ll build a space for outreach, [including] computer stations for visually impaired service members and veterans so they can use it as a resource for information,” Gagliano said, adding that VCE will have six cells with nurse vision care coordinators and capabilities that support MTFs throughout the country.
VA has further agreed to fund several VA visual clinical care and policy positions in the VCE, but both the DoD and VA positions for the VCE are being filled deliberately, pending funding. “We’ve been excited to get going,” Gagliano said. “We are making progress where we can.”
For more information, please visit http://www.visioncenterofexcellence/
Australia's 'Shipyard of Future'
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 15, 2010 - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III observed the opening of the heart of one of the most modern shipbuilding plants in the world here today.
Techport is a $300 million investment in Australia's defense. The shipyard is where the nation of 22 million people will build the country's next class of air warfare destroyers and its next-generation submarine fleet.
The shipyard; on the banks of the Port River; is a state-of-the-art facility. Lynn observed the opening of Techport's common-user facility; a huge expanse that includes a wharf, a ship runway, a dry berth, a transfer system and the largest shiplift in the Southern Hemisphere.
To symbolize the opening of the facility, South Australia Premier Mike Rann pushed a button starting the shiplift. A klaxon sounded, and the more-than-500-foot lift began descending into the water. The lift has a capacity of 9,300 tons, and may in years to come expand to nearly 700 feet with a lift capacity of 22,000 tons, officials said.
"Great to see such a fabulous facility and see the enormous capability that you have here in an area so important to your security," Lynn said during a short media availability following the opening. "It's very hopeful that our closest allies are moving in such strength in the naval area. We're just glad to be a part of it."
Lynn put on a hard hat and a yellow reflective vest to tour the facility. He saw buildings and shops where plates of steel will turn into the hulls of new ships. He saw where skilled workers will put together the modules of Australia's next-generation warships.
Everything was new and gleaming. There wasn't a speck of rust or misplaced brick in the whole shipyard, and the Australian workers in the area obviously are proud of what they have built.
The plan to build three destroyers is part of an Australian push to replace about 80 percent of the equipment in its military forces that stems from the Australian Defense White Paper published in May.
"They've got a financial plan that matches their strategy," Lynn said during a later interview. "It's got 3 percent real growth. Even with that kind of growth, it's an aggressive plan, but they have thought it through."
Techport; and many other decisions; backs up the defense White Paper, Lynn said. Techport is part of "a really strong industrial foundation that supports the maritime emphasis in the strategy," he said.
While the shipyard is an Australian capability, it integrates U.S. defense industry partners. Bath Iron Works and Lockheed are working with the Australians, "and I'm sure if the U.S. Navy needed it to support our operations, it would be available, and it's an option for the Pacific Command to examine," Lynn said.
Australian reporters asked Lynn about the U.S. program to build the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter for use by its Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and its allies. "We've taken some steps to strengthen the program," Lynn said. "We took a look at it when we came into office last year. We thought the costs were underestimated in terms of production, and we thought the development was going to last longer than originally projected."
The U.S. Defense Department "re-costed" the production to a better estimate, Lynn said. Officials also strengthened the aircraft's development with additional test aircraft.
"With those steps, the F-35 will continue on the path to be the backbone of tactical aviation for both the United States and Australia," he said.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 15, 2010 - Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III observed the opening of the heart of one of the most modern shipbuilding plants in the world here today.
Techport is a $300 million investment in Australia's defense. The shipyard is where the nation of 22 million people will build the country's next class of air warfare destroyers and its next-generation submarine fleet.
The shipyard; on the banks of the Port River; is a state-of-the-art facility. Lynn observed the opening of Techport's common-user facility; a huge expanse that includes a wharf, a ship runway, a dry berth, a transfer system and the largest shiplift in the Southern Hemisphere.
To symbolize the opening of the facility, South Australia Premier Mike Rann pushed a button starting the shiplift. A klaxon sounded, and the more-than-500-foot lift began descending into the water. The lift has a capacity of 9,300 tons, and may in years to come expand to nearly 700 feet with a lift capacity of 22,000 tons, officials said.
"Great to see such a fabulous facility and see the enormous capability that you have here in an area so important to your security," Lynn said during a short media availability following the opening. "It's very hopeful that our closest allies are moving in such strength in the naval area. We're just glad to be a part of it."
Lynn put on a hard hat and a yellow reflective vest to tour the facility. He saw buildings and shops where plates of steel will turn into the hulls of new ships. He saw where skilled workers will put together the modules of Australia's next-generation warships.
Everything was new and gleaming. There wasn't a speck of rust or misplaced brick in the whole shipyard, and the Australian workers in the area obviously are proud of what they have built.
The plan to build three destroyers is part of an Australian push to replace about 80 percent of the equipment in its military forces that stems from the Australian Defense White Paper published in May.
"They've got a financial plan that matches their strategy," Lynn said during a later interview. "It's got 3 percent real growth. Even with that kind of growth, it's an aggressive plan, but they have thought it through."
Techport; and many other decisions; backs up the defense White Paper, Lynn said. Techport is part of "a really strong industrial foundation that supports the maritime emphasis in the strategy," he said.
While the shipyard is an Australian capability, it integrates U.S. defense industry partners. Bath Iron Works and Lockheed are working with the Australians, "and I'm sure if the U.S. Navy needed it to support our operations, it would be available, and it's an option for the Pacific Command to examine," Lynn said.
Australian reporters asked Lynn about the U.S. program to build the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter for use by its Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and its allies. "We've taken some steps to strengthen the program," Lynn said. "We took a look at it when we came into office last year. We thought the costs were underestimated in terms of production, and we thought the development was going to last longer than originally projected."
The U.S. Defense Department "re-costed" the production to a better estimate, Lynn said. Officials also strengthened the aircraft's development with additional test aircraft.
"With those steps, the F-35 will continue on the path to be the backbone of tactical aviation for both the United States and Australia," he said.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Guardsman Posts Best U.S. Finish in Olympic Biathlon
By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 14, 2010 - A Utah National Guard soldier today posted the best American finish ever in the biathlon at the Winter Olympics. Army Sgt. Jeremy Teela, a three-time Olympian, finished ninth in the men's 10-kilometer sprint on the first day of competition in the biathlon in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The previous best finish was recorded by Teela's teammate, Jay Hakkinen, who was 10th in the Torino Olympics in 2006.
Despite missing two targets, Teela's strong skiing pushed him five seconds ahead of one of Russia's top skiers.
"That's good for the ski form of Jeremy Teela," said Chad Salmela, a commentator for NBC Sports.
With this finish, Teela will start ninth in the men's 12.5-kilometer pursuit Feb. 16. He also will compete in the 20-kilometer event Feb. 18, the 15-kilometer mass start Feb. 21, and the 4x7 five-kilometer relay Feb. 26.
Earlier this season, Teela finished third in the men's 20-kilometer event in the World Cup, also held in Whistler. He was the first American biathlete to win a World Cup medal since 1992.
His U.S. teammates include Tim Burke, who finished 47th today, but medaled twice on the 2009-2010 World Cup circuit; four-time Olympian Hakkinen, 32, of Kasilof, Alaska, who finished 54th today; Lowell Bailey, 28, of Lake Placid, N.Y., who was 36th today; and first-timer Wynn Roberts, 21, of Battle Creek, Mich.
The biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
(Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Deputy Secretary Discusses U.S.-Australia Alliance
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 13, 2010 - U.S. officials are "very satisfied" with the contributions Australia is making in Afghanistan and will not ask the nation for more troops in the country, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said during an interview here. Lynn is visiting Australia to meet with government, civic and business leaders about expanding the U.S.–Australia alliance to face new threats.
Australia has 1,550 troops committed to the battle in Afghanistan – mostly in Oruzgan province in Regional Command South. The province is thought to be the birthplace of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Australia has lost 11 servicemembers in the fighting in Afghanistan.
Even though a surge of new troops is moving into Afghanistan, the United States has no intention of asking Australia for more forces, the deputy secretary told Annabel McGilvray of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
He said the alliance with Australia is critical to the United States. President Barack Obama's planned visit to Australia next month points to the significance of the alliance to the United States and will serve to re-affirm America's commitment to it, the deputy secretary added.
Lynn praised the adaptability of the U.S.-Australia alliance.
"We've fought together side by side in all of the major wars in the last century, and now we're fighting side by side in Afghanistan in a very different war, but a very important one," Lynn said. "One of the reasons I'm here this week is to talk about collaboration in a new area; cybersecurity; where we have a common understanding of the threats and can work together to meet those threats."
Lynn noted that the Internet itself is only 20 years old, and that governments around the world still are trying to develop appropriate doctrines. In the United States, these doctrines proceed on at least three levels, he said.
"We need at the individual user level good hygiene – you just need to download all of the appropriate patches and make sure your security is up to speed," he explained. "You also need a second layer which is a string of firewalls and intrusion-detection devices. And then you need a layer that I call more active defenses, which is an ability for governments to understand and then counter the kinds of more malicious threats that might be out there against both government and critical private-sector computers."
In January, Google officials came forward about sophisticated cyber attacks aimed at the firm's source code and Gmail accounts of Chinese human-rights activists around the world. While Google officials couldn't say the Chinese government was behind the attacks, they did say other American firms were the victims of such attacks in the past.
"One of the things about that threat is people have often focused on the immediate damage that a cyber attack or intrusion might do – that it might bring down a power grid or do damage to a financial network or something like that," Lynn said. "And those are things we need to worry about. But the Google threat is much more the theft of intellectual property.
"The U.S. and Australian economies thrive on the strength of the kinds of intellectual developments our societies have made," he continued, "and we need to be able to protect those from theft on the Internet and elsewhere. That's one of the new avenues that the cyber threat poses."
Governments need to collaborate against the threat, Lynn said, because the Internet knows no national boundaries, and what is a threat against Google in the United States now could be threat to international companies elsewhere within nanoseconds.
"As we see the kinds of threats and develop the means to address them, we can share that warning, we can share technology, we can share approaches," Lynn said. "We need a broad set of collaborative international agreements to address the nature of that threat."
The idea is moving forward. Last year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia signed an agreement of principle on the cyber threat, and the countries are looking to expand the collaboration.
The U.S.-Australian alliance began more than 100 years ago, and now it needs to move into more current areas – Afghanistan, cybersecurity and counterpiracy, Lynn said, adding that U.S. and Australian leaders must be open to new ideas and practices for the future.
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 13, 2010 - U.S. officials are "very satisfied" with the contributions Australia is making in Afghanistan and will not ask the nation for more troops in the country, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said during an interview here. Lynn is visiting Australia to meet with government, civic and business leaders about expanding the U.S.–Australia alliance to face new threats.
Australia has 1,550 troops committed to the battle in Afghanistan – mostly in Oruzgan province in Regional Command South. The province is thought to be the birthplace of Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Australia has lost 11 servicemembers in the fighting in Afghanistan.
Even though a surge of new troops is moving into Afghanistan, the United States has no intention of asking Australia for more forces, the deputy secretary told Annabel McGilvray of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
He said the alliance with Australia is critical to the United States. President Barack Obama's planned visit to Australia next month points to the significance of the alliance to the United States and will serve to re-affirm America's commitment to it, the deputy secretary added.
Lynn praised the adaptability of the U.S.-Australia alliance.
"We've fought together side by side in all of the major wars in the last century, and now we're fighting side by side in Afghanistan in a very different war, but a very important one," Lynn said. "One of the reasons I'm here this week is to talk about collaboration in a new area; cybersecurity; where we have a common understanding of the threats and can work together to meet those threats."
Lynn noted that the Internet itself is only 20 years old, and that governments around the world still are trying to develop appropriate doctrines. In the United States, these doctrines proceed on at least three levels, he said.
"We need at the individual user level good hygiene – you just need to download all of the appropriate patches and make sure your security is up to speed," he explained. "You also need a second layer which is a string of firewalls and intrusion-detection devices. And then you need a layer that I call more active defenses, which is an ability for governments to understand and then counter the kinds of more malicious threats that might be out there against both government and critical private-sector computers."
In January, Google officials came forward about sophisticated cyber attacks aimed at the firm's source code and Gmail accounts of Chinese human-rights activists around the world. While Google officials couldn't say the Chinese government was behind the attacks, they did say other American firms were the victims of such attacks in the past.
"One of the things about that threat is people have often focused on the immediate damage that a cyber attack or intrusion might do – that it might bring down a power grid or do damage to a financial network or something like that," Lynn said. "And those are things we need to worry about. But the Google threat is much more the theft of intellectual property.
"The U.S. and Australian economies thrive on the strength of the kinds of intellectual developments our societies have made," he continued, "and we need to be able to protect those from theft on the Internet and elsewhere. That's one of the new avenues that the cyber threat poses."
Governments need to collaborate against the threat, Lynn said, because the Internet knows no national boundaries, and what is a threat against Google in the United States now could be threat to international companies elsewhere within nanoseconds.
"As we see the kinds of threats and develop the means to address them, we can share that warning, we can share technology, we can share approaches," Lynn said. "We need a broad set of collaborative international agreements to address the nature of that threat."
The idea is moving forward. Last year, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia signed an agreement of principle on the cyber threat, and the countries are looking to expand the collaboration.
The U.S.-Australian alliance began more than 100 years ago, and now it needs to move into more current areas – Afghanistan, cybersecurity and counterpiracy, Lynn said, adding that U.S. and Australian leaders must be open to new ideas and practices for the future.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Micronesian Blues
On April 1, 2010, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature with former Marine and deputy sheriff Bryan Vila, Ph.D. on his experiences as an international police trainer.
Program Date: April 1, 2010
Program Time: 1700 hours Pacific
Topic: Micronesian Blues
Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/micronesian_blues.html
About the Guest
Bryan Vila was a member of the United States Marine Corps from 1964 to 1967. His military service included a tour in Vietnam. In 1969, Bryan Vila joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. By the time he left the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 1978, he had attained the rank of sergeant. He continued this law enforcement career for “six years as a police chief helping the emerging nations of Micronesia develop innovative law enforcement strategies, and two years in Washington, D.C., as a federal law enforcement officer.” Currently, “Bryan Vila, PhD, is a professor of criminal justice at WSU Spokane. Prior to joining WSU in July of 2005, he directed the Division of Crime Control and Prevention Research at the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice.”
Bryan Vila is the co-author of three books: Capital Punishment in the United States: A Documentary History; The Role of Police in American Society: A Documentary History; and, Micronesian Blues: The Adventures of an American Cop in Paradise. And, the author of Tired Cops: The Importance of Managing Police Fatigue.
According to the book description of Micronesian Blues: The Adventures of an American Cop in Paradise, “Training competent, independent police forces in developing nations is critical to U.S. efforts to promote democracy and stability worldwide. Yet all too often we simply take American cops or military troops, drop them into the middle of a foreign land, and leave them to figure out the enormous challenges of cross-cultural police training on their own.
Three decades ago, in the tropical island setting of Micronesia, Bryan Vila was one of these trainers. After serving as a Marine in Vietnam and then working as a street cop in the ghettos and barrios of Los Angeles for nine years, he expected the job to be a paid vacation in paradise. He couldn't have been more wrong.
Micronesian Blues tells the true story of Bryan's six years directing the development of law enforcement in Micronesia during the tumultuous period when this former U.S. Trust Territory was making the transition to independence. Through lively narrative laced with wry humor, it chronicles his adventures and misadventures as he discovers the do's and don'ts of cross-cultural policing through trial and error on Saipan, Ponape, Truk, Palau, Yap, Kosrae, and Kwajalein.
An instructive postscript details the ten most important lessons Bryan learned during his time in Micronesia and how they apply to any cross-cultural police training situation, including today's global hot spots. These lessons make Micronesian Blues more than just an entertaining collection of true adventures—it's an eye-opening read for cops, military personnel of all ranks, public policy-makers, academics, and general audiences alike.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hole, where it is Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole: www.americanheroesradio.com/micronesian_blues.html
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Greatest War Stories Never Told: 100 Tales from Military History to Astonish, Bewilder, and Stupefy
Search the annals of military history and you will discover no end of quirky characters and surprising true stories: The topless dancer who saved the Byzantine Empire. The World War I battle that was halted so a soccer game could be played. The scientist who invented a pigeon-guided missile in 1943. And don't forget the elderly pig whose death triggered an international crisis between the United States and Great Britain.
This is the kind of history you'll find in The Greatest War Stories Never Told. One hundred fascinating stories drawn from two thousand years of military history, accompanied by a wealth of photographs, maps, drawings, and documents that help bring each story to life. Little-known tales told with a one-two punch of history and humor that will make you shake your head in disbelief -- but they're all true!
This is the kind of history you'll find in The Greatest War Stories Never Told. One hundred fascinating stories drawn from two thousand years of military history, accompanied by a wealth of photographs, maps, drawings, and documents that help bring each story to life. Little-known tales told with a one-two punch of history and humor that will make you shake your head in disbelief -- but they're all true!
Army Makes FMTV Competitive Re-buy Contract Award Decision
February 12, 2010 - The Department of the Army announced today that it has re-evaluated the contract award decision for its Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) originally made on Aug. 26, 2009. This change was based on Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recommendations. Accordingly, Oshkosh Corp. has been awarded a competitive, five-year requirements contract for production of up to 12,415 trucks, 10,926 trailers, and associated support and engineering services. The total estimated contract value at award was $3.023 billion.
The Army originally awarded the contract to Oshkosh, but BAE Systems, Tactical Vehicles LP and Navistar, LLC filed GAO protests against the contract award to Oshkosh.
GAO sustained portions of the Navistar and BAE protests on Dec. 14, 2009. The GAO recommended that the Army re-evaluate the offerors' proposals under the Key Tooling and Equipment Element and conduct a new evaluation of Navistar's past performance that adequately documented the agency's judgments, and make a new source selection decision.
The Army notified the GAO on Dec. 28, 2009, that it would comply with its recommendations to re-evaluate the proposals and make a new source selection decision. From Dec. 21, 2009, to Jan. 22, 2010, the Army re-evaluated the proposals in accordance with the GAO's recommendation. Subsequently, there was an Office of the Secretary of Defense peer review affirming the Army's reevaluation process.
For more information contact Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, Army Public Affairs at 703-697-7591, or at jimmie.cummings@us.army.mil.
The Army originally awarded the contract to Oshkosh, but BAE Systems, Tactical Vehicles LP and Navistar, LLC filed GAO protests against the contract award to Oshkosh.
GAO sustained portions of the Navistar and BAE protests on Dec. 14, 2009. The GAO recommended that the Army re-evaluate the offerors' proposals under the Key Tooling and Equipment Element and conduct a new evaluation of Navistar's past performance that adequately documented the agency's judgments, and make a new source selection decision.
The Army notified the GAO on Dec. 28, 2009, that it would comply with its recommendations to re-evaluate the proposals and make a new source selection decision. From Dec. 21, 2009, to Jan. 22, 2010, the Army re-evaluated the proposals in accordance with the GAO's recommendation. Subsequently, there was an Office of the Secretary of Defense peer review affirming the Army's reevaluation process.
For more information contact Lt. Col. Jimmie Cummings, Army Public Affairs at 703-697-7591, or at jimmie.cummings@us.army.mil.
Guard Brushes Off From 'Blizzard' of Callouts
Special to American Forces Press Service
Feb. 12, 2010 - More than 3,000 National Guard members in eight states continue to assist in the massive recovery efforts after back-to-back, history-making winter storms crippled the mid-Atlantic region this week. Thousands of government workers were off for almost five days during the closure of federal offices in the national capital region, but the Guard members have been on continuous duty since before the first storm's arrival Feb. 5.
In the nation's capital, about 150 soldiers and airmen from the District of Columbia National Guard continue to transport essential government personnel and support D.C. police officers, firefighters and other emergency responders.
"We have completed more than 500 missions over the course of these two storms," said Army Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, commanding general of the D.C. National Guard. "We've been operating 12 Humvees stationed at all seven metro police precincts throughout the city, fire stations and the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. The missions have been nonstop."
In addition to transportation, the D.C. Guard's mission includes logistics, communications, administrative, maintenance and operational support. Guard personnel have operated around the clock in 12-hour shifts.
With a possible third storm in the forecast, the D.C. Guard is prepared to continue its mission into next week.
"As long as the district requests our support, we will be there to do our job," Schwartz said. "This is what we do. I'm very proud of our men and women who volunteered to come in and help the District despite the severe conditions, the danger of driving and in lieu of even taking care of their own circumstances."
Surrounding the District, Virginia and Maryland had about 1,300 soldiers and airmen combined helping their states recover from crippling snowfall amounts of more than three feet in some areas, trapping residents in their homes and shutting out emergency access.
Maryland
Maryland reported that more than 700 Guard members were assisting civilian responders in snow removal, health and wellness checks and transportation.
A team of Maryland soldiers also rescued a stranded motorist this week. They came upon David Page's vehicle and found the Baltimore resident had been stuck in his car for hours, said Army Lt. Col. Charles Kohler. Plows had piled snow around his car on both sides, making it almost impossible for him to get out.
"There were several vehicles which were abandoned on the roads, and we were checking them all to make sure that everybody was OK," Kohler said.
The Guardsmen gave Page food and water and transported him to a warm location, where he was able to call family members to let them know he was safe.
At one time, more than 150,000 residents were without power in Maryland, including three Guard armories. The soldiers and airmen will continue to assist stranded motorists, provide generator power to key areas and deliver fuel and water until these missions are complete, Guard officials said.
Eight Maryland Guardsmen were awarded state medals for storm assistance, which included delivering a baby, giving cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a heart attack victim and assisting a trauma patient.
Virginia
The Virginia Guard reported this morning that 500 Guardsmen were on state active duty supporting a variety of storm-response missions, including transporting emergency responders to medical callouts, shelters and stuck vehicles.
Soldiers from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team, and volunteer firefighters from the Luray, Va., volunteer fire department were dispatched Feb. 6 to aid a family in Rileyville who were stranded in their home without power.
Soldiers from Company G, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team, based in Norfolk, Va., conducted a patient transport mission Feb. 8 in Fairfax County.
County resident Olive Lewis was not able to make a needed medical appointment for kidney dialysis, so the Fairfax County Emergency Operations Center dispatched the Virginia National Guard to transport her.
"I appreciate the help of the Virginia Guard so much," said Glenda Lewis, Olive's daughter. "We would have ended up in the emergency room without this help."
Army 1st Lt. David Mummert of Yorktown, Spc. Jeremy Anderson of Virginia Beach, and Spc. Christopher Albertson of King William took part in the mission.
"This is why I joined the Guard," Mummert said. "I served on active duty and we had important missions, but the Guard is more in touch with people around you. You are getting the chance to make a contribution to your community."
Current Guard missions from the state's department of emergency management include transportation assistance, vehicle recovery and door-to-door health and wellness checks.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell said yesterday that his state's National Guard has teamed up with the department of transportation and local authorities, who are continuing to respond to the storms, which "hammered the state over the past week."
"The most serious problems we face continue to be in the southeastern region," Rendell said.
Pennsylvania had 1,500 soldiers and airmen on duty today conducting similar missions in their state. Their Humvees were seen in major cities, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and on snow-bound country roads conducting wellness checks on stranded residents.
Delaware
More than 300 soldiers and airmen from the Delaware National Guard were activated and have conducted nearly 700 missions since Feb. 5, according to their Web site.
Guard officials said a state of emergency is still in effect today and task forces remain on state active duty. Their missions include transporting medical patients, assisting stranded motorists and helping the state's transportation agency clear the roads.
West Virginia
In West Virginia, Guard members were credited with saving lives by local law enforcement officials for their assistance in transporting responders to medical emergencies. They used four-wheel-drive Humvees with high ground clearances to plow through snow-covered roadways, which were under more than three feet of snow.
The state still had about 570 soldiers and airmen on duty today, manning emergency operations centers and supporting civil authorities.
Other states
In other parts of the country affected by winter weather, 15 Oklahoma Guardsmen are providing generators, food, water and cots to shelters in the state, and seven soldiers in South Dakota are helping local authorities in the Aberdeen area with re-establishing roads and utilities as well as conducting search and rescue missions.
In Arkansas, eight Guardsmen have completed their missions. They provided four-wheel drive ambulance support to Pulaski and Faulkner counties due to severe winter weather this week. The soldiers were responsible for vehicle operations and transportation of Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services personnel and civilian patients.
The missions were approved by Gov. Mike Beebe and tasked to the Guard by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. The 87th Troop Command, with headquarters at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., was tasked to support MEMS in Pulaski County with three of the ambulances, 12 stretchers and six soldiers. The Faulkner County mission was tasked to the Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, with a fourth ambulance with four stretchers and two soldiers.
(Air Force Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith serves at the National Guard Bureau.)
Dr. Bud Mayer, Former ASD/HA, Dies
February 12, 2010 - A committed public servant, veteran of the Korean War, and an outstanding physician and psychiatrist, Dr. William “Bud” Mayer passed away this week, on the evening of Feb. 11. Mayer, who served as the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs from Nov. 18, 1983, to Apr. 21, 1989, was one of the Military Health System’s greatest leaders and made exceptional contributions to military medicine – always keeping the best interests of service members at heart.
What was probably Mayer’s earliest contribution to military medicine took place during the Korean War when, as a young major attached to Brooke Army Medical Center, he studied the records of more than 4,000 returning prisoners of war to analyze Russia’s “new weapon of control” – brainwashing. His groundbreaking lecture, delivered in October of 1956 to a group of his peers and supervisors at the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory in San Francisco, began his career in military medicine.
He was later recruited by former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger to improve the military’s medical system. He did that with great success and restored the vitality of DoD’s medical readiness for combat operations, which suffered greatly after the Vietnam War. In doing so, he completely changed the motto of military health care.
“Our primary mission,” said Mayer in December of 1986, “is to answer the question: Are we ready to go to war?”
During a time when the military medical system preferred recruiting family practitioners to physicians ready for combat medicine – in order to fill the peacetime needs of treating service members and their dependents – Mayer successfully redirected the goal of military medicine. As a result, he began shifting the responsibility of military family care and peacetime burden to civilian facilities and doctors. This initiative inevitably resulted in a complete revamping of what was formerly known as the CHAMPUS program into today’s military managed health care program, TRICARE.
Mayer made many great strides in making the Military Health System what it is today. In addition to giving the DoD a medical force ready for war, he began to address ways the Reserves could recruit doctors, he fought to change archaic ideas and medical practices concerning alcoholism, and even worked with then-Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, to eliminate the military discount on tobacco purchases.
Mayer made improving military medicine his life’s work. He lived it every day, he fought for it in uniform and in politics, and he wrote about it in his books “Beyond the Call” and “Memoirs of a Medical Icon.” He was an amazing man, a brilliant doctor, and a beloved leader.
What was probably Mayer’s earliest contribution to military medicine took place during the Korean War when, as a young major attached to Brooke Army Medical Center, he studied the records of more than 4,000 returning prisoners of war to analyze Russia’s “new weapon of control” – brainwashing. His groundbreaking lecture, delivered in October of 1956 to a group of his peers and supervisors at the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory in San Francisco, began his career in military medicine.
He was later recruited by former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger to improve the military’s medical system. He did that with great success and restored the vitality of DoD’s medical readiness for combat operations, which suffered greatly after the Vietnam War. In doing so, he completely changed the motto of military health care.
“Our primary mission,” said Mayer in December of 1986, “is to answer the question: Are we ready to go to war?”
During a time when the military medical system preferred recruiting family practitioners to physicians ready for combat medicine – in order to fill the peacetime needs of treating service members and their dependents – Mayer successfully redirected the goal of military medicine. As a result, he began shifting the responsibility of military family care and peacetime burden to civilian facilities and doctors. This initiative inevitably resulted in a complete revamping of what was formerly known as the CHAMPUS program into today’s military managed health care program, TRICARE.
Mayer made many great strides in making the Military Health System what it is today. In addition to giving the DoD a medical force ready for war, he began to address ways the Reserves could recruit doctors, he fought to change archaic ideas and medical practices concerning alcoholism, and even worked with then-Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, to eliminate the military discount on tobacco purchases.
Mayer made improving military medicine his life’s work. He lived it every day, he fought for it in uniform and in politics, and he wrote about it in his books “Beyond the Call” and “Memoirs of a Medical Icon.” He was an amazing man, a brilliant doctor, and a beloved leader.
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