First Lady to Urge Military Family Support at World Series

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2011 – First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will bring their message of military family and veteran support to a vast audience tomorrow as they attend the first game of the World Series in St. Louis.

Major League Baseball officials have dedicated the game, which pits the Texas Rangers against the St. Louis Cardinals, to veterans and their families, according to an MLB news release. The game will be aired live on the Fox TV network starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Obama and Biden’s aim is to encourage Americans to support and honor veterans, service members and their families through initiatives such as the Joining Forces campaign and Major League Baseball’s Welcome Back Veterans program. Both initiatives support and honor military families and veterans.

"We are honored to have First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden join us for the 2011 Fall Classic to recognize the courageous men and women who serve the country as well as their families," Baseball Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig said in an MLB news release.

"Major League Baseball has raised more than $11 million over the past several years through our Welcome Back Veterans program to help support veterans and their families,” he added. “The World Series gives us the perfect opportunity to build on this ongoing commitment."

During the day, Obama and Biden will join representatives from MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals, including Hall of Famer and Army veteran Red Schoendienst, at a military family appreciation event at the St. Louis Veterans Center, a White House news release said.

Families attending the event will get a sneak peek at the new Joining Forces and MLB public service announcement slated to premiere during the game. The message features the first lady as well as New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Johnny Damon, both of whom come from military families.

Obama and Biden also will participate in a special pregame ceremony with veterans and military families at Busch Stadium.

Additionally, prior to the game, Obama and Biden will answer questions about the Joining Forces campaign submitted by MLB fans through Facebook and Twitter. People around the country can submit questions through MLB’s Facebook page or on Twitter with the hashtag #AskMichelle.

Abraham Lincoln Returns Home to Everett for the Last Time

From USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pulled into her homeport of Everett, Wash., for the last time, Oct. 18.

Lincoln will depart Everett in December for a change-of-homeport deployment that will take the ship to its new homeport in Norfolk, Va. Lincoln is relocating to conduct a scheduled four-year refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) in-port maintenance period, which will refurbish the ship for another 25 years of service.

Lincoln Commanding Officer Capt. John D. Alexander said the ship's crew and their families will be sad to leave so many friends and Navy supporters behind when Lincoln departs Washington later this year.

"Abraham Lincoln will forever be tied to Everett and the Pacific Northwest," Alexander said. "The city has been home for the ship and our families for some 15 years. We cannot begin to express our appreciation for the support this community has provided."

The Navy announced in December 2010 that USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will replace Lincoln in Everett upon completion of a docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance at Bremerton, Wash., in December.

Lincoln has been based out of Naval Station Everett since January 1997.

"I wish to thank all the people of Washington and the Everett area for their enormous efforts on our behalf throughout the years," Alexander said. "They are all great Americans and are to be congratulated on their undying contributions to the Navy."

Lincoln departed Everett, Sept. 15, for several weeks of training in preparation for the upcoming deployment, including a three-week composite training unit exercise off the coast of California. Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group 9, Carrier Air Wing 2, Destroyer Squadron 9 and guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) participated in the exercise.

U.S., Italian Defense Leaders Reaffirm Partnership

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta met today with Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa to further their relationship as NATO partners while discussing important issues both countries face.

“It was my honor to be able to welcome Minister La Russa from Italy here,” Panetta said to the Pentagon reporters and Italian media. “As a fellow Italian, it’s nice to have another Italian visit in that capacity.”

The secretary noted he met with La Russa in Brussels at a recent NATO defense ministers conference. “I think we enjoy a very warm friendship,” he added, calling Italy one of the United States’ most important partners and allies.

“I think it’s obvious by virtue of the missions that they’ve helped us with time and time again,” Panetta noted. “They have a large presence in [Regional Command West] in Afghanistan. They’ve done a remarkable job there. They continue to provide security and training in that part of Afghanistan, and we view them as one of our NATO partners that has really assumed responsibility, hopefully, for ensuring that Afghanistan heads in the right direction.”

The defense secretary also expressed his gratitude to Italy for the sacrifices it has made.

“We know that lives have been lost, and we share in the agony of those lost lives,” he said.

La Russa, speaking through an interpreter, shared his appreciation for the defense secretary and his efforts to continue building their partnership.

“My most heartfelt thanks to Secretary Panetta,” he said. “We have confirmed how close our relationship is also in several other fields. We want to strengthen this collaboration in both the political and military field, and, if possible, … we want to take a positive approach to several problems on the table – namely Libya and Afghanistan.”

Panetta cited Italy’s support to NATO missions in Libya.

“We really appreciate the mission that they’re conducting in Libya,” he said. “Frankly, if it were not for the Italians, we really don’t feel that we could have completed this mission. They provided important bases – Aviano, Sigonella, and Naples and elsewhere. As a result of that, NATO was able to conduct important missions into Libya.

“So Italy has been, again, a very good partner with regards to that effort as well,” he added.

La Russa said another issue he and Panetta discussed was the mission in Afghanistan.

“We have considered putting an end to our military operations in Afghanistan by 2014, also, based on the conditions in the field,” he said. “But we’ve [also] examined the possibility to continue our presence in the area under other forms – namely training and other forms of nonmilitary support.”

Panetta said he expressed his “greatest thanks” to Italy for the support it provided during a recent visit to the country.

“Bottom line here is Italy is a good partner, good friend and a good ally,” he said. “We continue to work together to try to make sure that we can advance the common causes that we’re involved with.”

Wounded Warrior ‘Dances With the Stars’ for Troops

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By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2011 – At 28, J.R. Martinez already has experienced life as a soldier wounded in combat, as a motivational speaker and as a soap opera actor.

This season, he added another entry to his resume as a contestant in the hit ABC television series “Dancing with the Stars.”

Martinez dances on the show to call attention to the work of U.S. service members and veterans to keep alive their sacrifices, he said in a recent Pentagon Channel interview.

“I was injured, but able to turn it around into something positive to use as a voice for our service members and veterans,” he said.

Whether Martinez and his partner dance a lively jive number or a passionate rumba, he said, he keeps one thought in mind. “Because I want to inspire and move people, I want to do it in such a big way,” he said. “I have to make that impact.”

And to deliver that impact, Martinez gives audiences everything he’s got.

“I have to expose myself and be willing to share who I am -- my struggles and not just the joys, the laughter and the jokes,” he said.

Television appearances and a career as a motivational speaker likely weren’t on his mind when Martinez enlisted in the Army in 2002 and joined the 101st Airborne Division’s “Strike” brigade at Fort Campbell, Ky.

He was deployed to Iraq in 2003 when the left front tire of the Humvee he was driving hit a landmine. Three soldiers were thrown from the burning vehicle, but Martinez was trapped inside. With severe burns over 40 percent of his body, Martinez spent the next 34 months recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he endured more than 33 skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries.

During his hospital recovery, Martinez had a chance conversation that would change the course of his life. A hospital staff member asked Martinez to share some of his experience to help another service member who had been admitted with burn injuries.

“I didn’t know what I was going to say to the young man,” Martinez said. “I was somewhat intimidated, but after talking to him about 45 minutes, I realized I was able to help him -- give him insight and hope -- which is something we all want in life.”

That conversation left Martinez wanting to help other people, and he became a motivational speaker in 2004. Fluent in Spanish and English, he traveled the country, sharing his experiences and encouraging resilience and optimism to audiences as varied as veterans’ groups, schools and corporations.

Martinez also became active in a variety of nonprofit veterans organizations. He serves as national spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, which promotes and supports programs for wounded warriors. News of his work spread quickly, leading to appearances on “Oprah,” “60 Minutes” and CNN.

His career was progressing rapidly, and in 2008, he landed an acting role on the daytime drama “All My Children” playing combat veteran Brot Monroe after a nationwide search to find a real-life soldier to play the part. After Martinez was hired, the character’s injuries were created to match his own.

Martinez continues to balance motivational speaking, charity work and acting, and has begun writing his memoir, according to ABC.

“I think the courage is within me,” Martinez said of his experiences and his successes. “It’s no different than the men and women who go into the military and choose that life. It’s just something that’s instilled in us, and we just do it.”

The “Dancing the Stars” celebrity competition continues for Martinez and dance partner Karina Smirnoff tonight and tomorrow on ABC.

NEXCOM Further Commits to Military Spouse Employment

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By Kathleen Martin, Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs Officer

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (NNS) -- Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) become one of the newest partners in the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), officials announced Oct. 17.

Since the program launched in June with 24 partners, it has now grown to include 96 partners, all pledging support to provide career opportunities for military spouses.

"NEXCOM is proud to be part of this program, which matches qualified military spouses with meaningful employment opportunities," said Michael Good, NEXCOM chief operating officer. "We have both Navy Exchanges and Navy Lodges around the world, and we are committed to providing jobs for spouses as they move with their military spouse."

NEXCOM joins a group of corporate partners including Microsoft, Starbucks, Armed Forces Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, EURPAC Services, H&R Block as well as other military resale organizations such as AAFES and Defense Commissary Agency, all committed to assisting military spouses. Pledging support to spouses through this program further solidifies NEXCOM's commitment to military spouses.

"Assisting military spouses and families with employment opportunities has always been a priority for NEXCOM," said Good. "Twenty-seven percent of our associates are military family members. We value their service and are committed to providing career opportunities through our Continuity of Employment Program."

NEXCOM's Continuity of Employment Program helps ease the stress of a military move by taking the worry out of finding a new job when they are relocated by the military. Since the program's inception in 1998, over 1,300 associates in Navy Exchange System have been placed in positions at the associates' new duty station.

Face of Defense: Airman Earns $10,000 With Simple ‘IDEA’

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By David Bedard
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska, Oct. 17, 2011 – While performing a routine test procedure, a 90th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons expediter's heart sunk when he heard a sound no maintainer ever wants to hear: “Crunch.”

The airman had accidentally damaged an F-22 Raptor configurable rail launcher that mounts the fighter's AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles. He reported the incident to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Lopez, the senior 90th AMU weapons expediter. Upon closer inspection, Lopez verified the airman had followed the technical order data to the letter.

The process Lopez then initiated would quickly earn him $10,000 through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness, or IDEA, program.

Lopez said he determined the order of steps outlined in the technical order data exposed the launcher detent assembly, which is responsible for weapons release, to damage during testing procedures. The quarterly check ensured the rail would successfully function when the pilot needed it in combat.

Lopez said he spoke to another technical sergeant who recently relocated from another F-22 base to see if the issue was widespread. It was. Though Lopez said he could have told his airmen to perform a workaround, which contravened the established order, he instead decided to follow the official technical order data change request procedure to ensure weapons expediters here and at other installations were within published guidance.

"[Weapons expediters] knew it wasn't right, and the way they would train the guys was a workaround, and I submitted the change request because workarounds are not how we operate," Lopez explained. "We have to follow our tech order line by line."

Lopez said the technical order data steps were accurate, but were out of order. In his request, he suggested the steps be reordered to ensure the $13,980 detent assemblies wouldn't be damaged during testing. The maintainer said order data changes can be quite common, especially for relatively new equipment such as the F-22.

"It's still a new jet, even though it's been here for four years," he said. "There are still things that can be improved."

After an hour's work, Lopez said, he submitted the change request through the proper channels, and the change was promptly evaluated and approved by officials at Headquarters Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Lopez then initiated the IDEA process with help from Lisandra Ortiz, the 673rd Air Base Wing IDEA coordinator.

"An IDEA is the submitter's own thought or a new application of an old principle," Ortiz said. "Good ideas are those that are submitted in writing and include the current method, procedure, task, directive or policy affected. The IDEA also includes the proposed method, change or idea, and why the change would be beneficial to the Air Force and [Defense Department]."

Ortiz said an IDEA must be submitted using the IDEA Web link at https://ipds.randolph.af.mil, where a submitter creates a user profile. If the IDEA requires a separate improvement process, such as a technical order data change request, as in Lopez' case, the approved forms must be submitted as confirmatory or after-the-fact separate improvement process IDEAs.

Less than six months after submitting his initial paperwork, Lopez was presented with a $10,000 check.

"All these guys out there, when they submit a [technical order data change request], they can get paid for it," Lopez said. "As long as they include what it's going to save the Air Force."

The airman said his initial reasoning for submitting the change request was twofold.

"The most important consideration was maintaining the aircraft -- making sure the reliability and safety is there when the pilot needs it," Lopez said. "No. 2 is saving the Air Force money. It's something so simple in the long run that can cost the Air Force a lot of money."

Though he has been working with fighters for years, Lopez said, he encourages an innovative mindset for younger airmen when they encounter a problem or an area that can benefit by greater efficiency.

"We live and die by our tech data," he said. "However, we have to have our guys thinking outside the box -- ways to improve stuff. They have to think for themselves and not get in the mindset of being a robot, because we don't want that."

USS Philippine Sea Visits Georgia

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By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary A. Prill, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Sigonella

BATUMI, Georgia (NNS) -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) pulled into Batumi, Georgia, Oct. 17, and was welcomed by traditional Georgian dancers, local media, and military and civilian leaders.

"This is a great partnership building opportunity for our crew," said Capt. Herbert Hadley, commanding officer of Philippine Sea. "The crew will be given a chance to interact with the host nation on a personal level through military-to-military training courses and community service projects. This is a great way to strengthen the friendship between our countries."

While in port, the crew will participate in basic boat maintenance; electronics; damage control evolutions and boarding operations.

"These training opportunities are a huge benefit to not only the students but also the instructors," said Philippine Sea Command Master Chief Scott Kircher. "It will truly be a learning environment for everyone involved. We encourage the students to share their experiences so that the instructors can benefit and get a better idea of what areas are in need of improvement."

The crew will also hold a reception and conduct a beach clean-up with local residents.

"Community service projects show a true form of goodwill that Sailors can offer to the countries that open their ports and allow us to enjoy their beautiful culture," said Lt. Jonathan Black, Philippine Sea's command chaplain.

Philippine Sea is on a regularly scheduled deployment in the Black Sea and serves to promote peace and security in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility

The OSS Society Unveils Design for National Museum of American Intelligence & Special Operations

Museum will tell one of America’s greatest untold stories

WASHINGTON D.C. –  Created practically overnight, in the depths of World War II, men and women from all parts of American society created the most dynamic and unique organization in United States history: the Office of Strategic Services, predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, U.S. Special Operations Forces, and the U.S. intelligence community.

Today, nearly seventy years later, The OSS Society has embarked on its latest mission, though not nearly so clandestine as those of its youth: to tell the great, largely unknown story of the OSS and its lasting effect on U.S. national security through the creation of a National OSS Museum of American Intelligence & Special Operations™.

On October 15, The OSS Society unveiled plans for this new museum, designed by Fentress Architects, which will tell the story of the men and women who served in the OSS between June 13, 1942 and October 1, 1945. The landmark building and its three-quarter acre of exhibits will jointly remind the world of their efforts, achievements and sacrifice. The architectural design expresses the spirit of resistance, and eventual triumph against the forces of oppression and terror, in stone, glass and steel.

 “It is a great honor to roll out plans for the National OSS Museum of American Intelligence & Special Operations. It will tell a monumental story, made up of over 70 years of history about the country’s very first strategic missions to preserve our freedoms during times of war. This is the story of the OSS, a story that has not been heard before,” said Curtis Fentress, Founder & Chief Designer at Fentress Architects. “This museum will be a national tribute to all former members of the OSS, their families, and the American people.”

The design of the National OSS Museum™ was inspired by emblems symbolic to the organization: the wingspan of the American Bald Eagle, represented by the twisting gesture of the dramatic roof line, and the spearhead of the official OSS seal, which inspired the museum’s site plan. These symbols connect the past to the present-day Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Special Operations Forces, which were born from the OSS and carry on its legacy today.

 “The concepts pioneered by General Donovan and the OSS continue to guide those in the contemporary intelligence and special operations fields.”  --David Petraeus, Director of the CIA.

Visitors arriving by vehicle will see a breathtaking structure rise above the tree line. The museum’s 11 angular forms will create a powerful gesture of the OSS’s rise to prominence amidst global conflict and unrest. Enlivened by light entering through glass walls and clerestories, the lyrical composition speaks to how the 11 divisions of the OSS worked together on daring missions to preserve the country’s freedoms. Day and night, the museum will be a beacon on the horizon.

Upon entering, visitors experience a soaring space with a 500-foot-long by 80-foot-tall curved Remembrance Wall engraved with the names of the OSS members killed in action during World War II, poignantly recalling each life. Epic scenes from OSS training and operations films are projected on this wall, and immerse the visitor in history. Audio of direct voices and sounds will add to the immersive experience.

The facing Reflection Walls create interactive multi-media zones that provide private areas for personal contemplation. Visitors from throughout the world can access wartime stories of these clandestine heroes, share their thoughts, or further immerse themselves in the experience through these touch-screen walls. The use of monumental digital media allows these walls to function as additional exhibit spaces and to position the museum in the 21st century. The complex will also serve as a center of research. To reduce operations and maintenance costs, the museum will be sustainable, designed to meet LEED Gold certification standards.

“Today, our Central Intelligence Agency, U.S. Special Operations Forces, and the entire intelligence community are as critical to protecting the United States as they have ever been in our nation’s history,” said Charles Pinck, President of the OSS Society. “I am very excited about and proud of this museum design honoring the OSS, as it will give us the chance to tell America’s greatest untold story.”

The National OSS Museum of American Intelligence and Special Operations™ will celebrate the historic accomplishments of the OSS, America’s first strategic intelligence agency. It will be a monument to those who served in the OSS and those today who are inspired by its legacy.

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Society celebrates the historic accomplishments of the OSS during World War II—the first organized effort by the United States to implement a centralized system of strategic intelligence and the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Special Operations Forces—and educates the American public regarding the continuing importance of strategic intelligence and special operations to the preservation of freedom in this country and around the world. Its Board of Directors includes two former commanders of the U.S. Special Operations Command, President George H. W. Bush, five former Directors of Central Intelligence, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Ross Perot. The OSS Society is comprised of OSS veterans, their descendants, and members of the U.S. intelligence community and U.S. Special Operations Forces. It traces its beginnings to 1947 when its predecessor, the Veterans OSS, was founded. The OSS Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

 For more information on The OSS Society, please visit www.osssociety.org or email oss@osssociety.org

For more information on the National OSS Museum of American Intelligence & Special Operations™, please visit www.nationalossmuseum.org.

Fentress Architects is a nationally-known design firm that passionately pursues the creation of sustainable and iconic architecture. Together with their clients, Fentress creates inspired design to improve the human environment. Founded by Curtis Fentress in 1980, the firm has designed US$26 billion of architectural projects worldwide, visited by over 300 million people each year. Fentress is a dynamic learning organization, driven to grow its ability to design, innovate and exceed client expectations. The firm has been honored with more than 360 distinctions for design excellence and innovation, and in 2010, Curtis Fentress was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the most prestigious award for public architecture, the Thomas Jefferson Award. Fentress has studios in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; and London, U.K. www.fentressarchitects.com

Please contact Angela Potrykus at 303.282.6192 or potrykus@fentressarchitects.com for more information or images.

Battaglia Ready to Assist in Shaping Total Force

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By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department’s top enlisted service member said he is ready to help DOD’s leaders address challenges and shape the military for 2020.

As the senior enlisted advisor to Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and to Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia already has begun to tackle issues that are affecting enlisted forces across the Defense Department.

“General Dempsey is going to shape the force for 2020, and I’m certainly going to assist in that, with the cooperation of, and in concert with, the services’ senior enlisted advisors and all the combatant commands’ senior enlisted leadership,” Battaglia said in an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

The senior enlisted advisor emphasized the team approach in resolving issues.

“I certainly can’t do it alone,” Battaglia said. “We all know there’s no ‘I’ in team, so I have to rely [on other enlisted leaders] -- as, hopefully, they’ll rely on me -- [so that] we bring various issues, challenges and recommended solutions to the chairman and other decision-makers in our national leadership as kind of a unified force.”

Battaglia cited suicide and divorce rates among service members as two of his top concerns, outside of budgetary challenges.

“Suicide – that’s a lingering issue that we’ve just not been able to crack the code on yet,” he said. “And unfortunately, and sadly enough, statistics across the force continue to rise.

“Divorce is another one,” he added. “Over the course of time, hopefully, I can have a significant and positive impact with how our young military couples – and not always young -- form that bond as husband and wife and work through marriages via [resilience].”

Battaglia said he also has high interest in the use of modeling and simulation in the training of armed forces.

“I just like more involvement in that, because that’s the training of our force,” he said. “When it comes to airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, training him or her to a level where they’re able to confidently and efficiently accomplish their mission prevents putting a high-school performance in an NFL matchup.”

In his early days on the job, Battaglia has become involved in an initiative known as Total Force Fitness that Navy Adm. Mike Mullen – Dempsey’s predecessor as chairman -- signed into policy through a Joint Staff instruction. “That’s one family program that I hope really takes off,” he said. The program is a series of best practices to help families build resilience, he said, and has gained momentum over the past few years.

The Defense Department faces many issues, Battaglia said, especially looming budget cuts, and needs to address them together as a “total force.”

“Everyone knows that we have some challenges ahead … with our budgetary deficit that we have found ourselves in with the cost of war over the period of the last 10 years,” he said. “I just want to project to the enlisted force that we’re going to get through this.

It may be challenging, Battaglia said, but Dempsey and other leaders are up to it.

“We’re going to do it together, and we’re going to do it as a total force,” he said.

USS Theodore Roosevelt Wins Community Service, Environmental Awards

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyrell Morris, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) outperformed all other large sea-based commands in the mid-Atlantic region for the second consecutive year earning two ship awards for their community relations projects (COMRELs) Oct 6.

The Environmental Stewardship Flagship award and the Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship award were presented to TR for its exemplary voluntary community service activities the crew participated in during the last fiscal year. More than 659 Sailors have volunteered 2,445 man-hours of their personal time to more than 100 COMRELs within the local community.

"The goal of TR's community relations (COMREL) program is to allow Sailors to put the Navy core values into action through service to others," said Lt. Cmdr. Allen, TR's Chaplain.

The Environmental Stewardship Flagship recognizes the best year-round volunteer supported program or special project that promotes education and good stewardship of environmental resources. Among the community service initiatives undertaken by the participating commands were clean-up events, recycling initiatives, tree plantings, and educational courses to promote environmental awareness.

TR Sailors participated in "Clean the Station Day." This semi-annual event is an effort in support of Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic's vision of "Clean it up, green it up and keep it up." They spent hours raking, sweeping, collecting debris and beautifying the base. Sailors also showed their strong spirit of service on a weekly basis by volunteering at the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Foundation and assisting the Norfolk Zoological Society.

The Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship award recognizes commands that excel in the project's goal of improving scholastic achievements, social and life skills and providing vocational guidance.

Throughout the year, many Sailors donated time at the USO concession stands in Hampton Coliseum for events such as Disney on Ice, USO Holiday Party, Eagle Winter Fest Concert, WWE Wrestling, and Jazz Festival. TR Sailors also partnered with BC Charles Elementary School, Jenkins Elementary School, Stanford Elementary School, and Sewells Point Elementary School. Sailors helped with field days, book fairs, career days, reading to the students, cleaning and painting.

"It is very important that we continue to extend our time and talent in supporting the surrounding community through community relations projects and represent the Navy in a positive light," said Allen.

PCU Minnesota Sailors Conduct Second Namesake Visit

From Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs

MINNEAPOLIS (NNS) -- Five Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Minnesota (SSN 783) Sailors are visiting their namesake state to bring awareness about the Navy, and its newest Virginia-class submarine, Oct. 12 - 15.

During their four-day visit to the land of 10,000 lakes, the Sailors will participate in myriad events around the state.

"The crew is excited to be back in Minnesota raising awareness about the Virginia Class Submarine, PCU Minnesota, which is now under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries - Newport News," said Cmdr. John Fancher, commanding officer, PCU Minnesota.

In August 2011, Fancher and several crew members visited Minnesota to officially kick off a contest for students to design a logo for the boat.

"This visit allows the crew to continue to pitch the State's high school and college students to submit an entry to the ship's logo contest, sponsored by the Twin Cities Council, Navy League of the United States. The deadline for submitting an entry is November 1 and the winner is expected to be announced in December," said Fancher.

During their visit the Sailors will meet with 50 students from Olson Middle School who are developing a logo for the contest.

"The Sailors will also visit Bloomington Jefferson High School to meet with students taking history, science and math classes," said Fancher.

Other students from Coon Rapids High School will meet Sailors who will review their completed entries for the PCU Minnesota logo contest.

Sailors will also man the rails at the St. Michael's Albertville High School football game and participating in a local 5k race. They will cap off their trip at the Navy League's Navy Birthday ball.

The logo contest will provide an opportunity for students, ages 16-22, to win a college scholarship, if their logo is selected. The winning logo, selected by the submarine's crewmembers, will be used as the primary insignia for the submarine.

Under construction and planned for delivery in 2013, Minnesota will be the 10th of a projected class of 30 Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

In 2008, the Navy announced it would name this 10th submarine for the state of Minnesota. The selection of Minnesota honors the state's citizens and their continued support to the nation's military.

McNabb Passes Transcom Command to Fraser

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2011 – Presiding today at the change of command at U.S. Transportation Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey hailed a logistics enterprise Panetta called the backbone of the U.S. military.

Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb passed command to Air Force Gen. William M. Fraser III during the ceremony at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Panetta praised McNabb for his military leadership of a support structure upon which he said every other military operation depends.

“Very simply, … we could not do our missions and defend America without you,” he said. “No one goes anywhere, no one fights anywhere, no one stays anywhere without your support.”

The secretary cited the scope of that support last year alone. Transcom conducted more than 37,000 airlift missions, transported more than 2.3 million passengers by air and 29 million short tons of cargo by air and sea. Meanwhile, it kept combat units in both Afghanistan and Iraq supplied with food, fuel and spare parts, moved troops into the combat zone and evacuated the wounded.

Troops in the field “don’t ever need to worry about whether or not they have what they need, because you never stop delivering,” Panetta said.

He praised McNabb’s vision in establishing the northern distribution network through which nearly half all ground cargo now flows into Afghanistan.

Dempsey recalled that during his tenure as acting commander of U.S. Central Command, he saw McNabb’s efficiency in setting up the network to better support the Afghanistan mission. McNabb also introduced innovative air-dropping procedures to ensure troops in remote sites had all they needed while reducing the risks associated with ground convoys.

“We really are the only military in the world where, if we call for something, if we ask for something, if we need something on the battlefield, we are going to get it,” the chairman said. “And about nine times out of 10, it will get there because of Transcom.

“We consider you the strength of our forces,” he said of the Transcom team. “We couldn’t be the armed forces we are without them.”

Panetta noted that while Transcom provided “truly extraordinary and unceasing” support to these and other military operations, its members jumped into high gear whenever disasters struck around the world. The secretary rattled off examples of humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts made possible by Transcom: the Haiti earthquake; the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan; floods in Pakistan and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, among them.

“This command, under their great leader, stepped up and delivered,” Panetta said.

Panetta called Fraser a “proven and effective leader” who brings a wealth of experience to the job as he follows in McNabb’s footsteps.

McNabb, who is slated to retire Nov. 30, told Fraser he is taking command of “the best of the best.”

“You are being entrusted with one of our nation’s greatest asymmetric advantages: the strategic ability to move,” he said. “You have a championship team behind you, and I know you will be great.”

Fraser said he hopes to build on McNabb’s momentum as takes command at a challenging time – with continued high operational demands as well as new fiscal ones. Living up to them, he said, will require the entire Transcom team that has earned a reputation for getting the job done.

“Transcom, you deliver,” Fraser said. “It’s not the planes. It’s not the trains, the ships or the trucks that make amazing things happen. It is the people. You are the lifeline of the warfighter.”

NH Jacksonville Receives World Health Organization, UNICEF 'Baby Friendly' Designation

By Tami Begasse, Naval Hospital Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as one of only 119 baby friendly U.S. medical facilities during a press conference at the hospital Oct. 13 aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

As an officially designated Baby Friendly facility by Baby Friendly USA, a global initiative sponsored by WHO/UNICEF, -NH Jacksonville successfully implemented the recommended ten steps of a comprehensive breastfeeding program according to Baby-Friendly USA Executive Director Trish MacEnroe.

"The administration and staff of Naval Hospital Jacksonville are to be commended for their outstanding work in adopting policies and practices to support better breastfeeding," she said. "Baby-Friendly USA extends our heartiest congratulations as we confer to them the prestigious WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly designation. Hospitals play a vital role in helping mothers and babies successfully establish breastfeeding. Breast milk lays the best possible foundation for a lifetime of good health. It contains substances that cannot be reproduced artificially. As a result, infants who are not breastfed are more likely to incur a multitude of health problems that take a human toll and cost our health care system billions of dollars annually."

The Baby-Friendly designation is given after a rigorous on-site survey is completed. The award is maintained by continuing to practice these 10 steps as demonstrated by quality processes. The comprehensive program includes initiating breastfeeding in the first hour of life, keeping mothers and babies in the same room, and support groups for women who breastfeed.

On average, 80 percent of mothers who delivered at NH Jacksonville were exclusively breastfeeding their babies when they left the hospital, something NH Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Lynn Welling said is vital to ensuring the health of its patients-from birth to retirement.

"We want to do all we can to improve the health of our youngest heroes and encourage the use of mother's milk for the more than 1,000 babies born in our hospital each year," he said. "This prestigious international recognition, illustrates our commitment to supporting a mother's decision to breast feed and ultimately helping reduce the risks of common childhood infections, asthma and diabetes."

While more than 20,000 facilities have received the Baby Friendly designation worldwide, only 119 facilities (including NH Jacksonville) have been certified in the United States. Along with being the first hospital in Northeast Florida, NH Jacksonville is the third military facility and the fourth hospital in Florida, which is something Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll recognized.

"Thank you for answering U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin's 'call-to-action' to health care professionals, communities, families and employers," she said. "Your commitment to this designation will ensure a healthier population of women and children, and will better prepare even the youngest Floridians with the best start possible."

Benjamin included UNICEF/WHO's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in her national prevention strategy rolled out earlier this year at the Health and Human Services Consumer Health IT Summit.

The importance of following Baby Friendly steps is echoed by Heather Huffman, chair of the Northeast Florida Breastfeeding Collaborative.

"As the First Coast's first hospital to receive this prestigious international recognition, Naval Hospital Jacksonville has again demonstrated its commitment to providing our nation's heroes and their family members with the best possible care," Benjamin said. "Whether a health care professional, member of the community, employer or family member, I would encourage and challenge us as a community to strive to improve breastfeeding rates and increase our support for breastfeeding. I congratulate Naval Hospital Jacksonville on its efforts to support new mothers and provide babies with the best possible start in life."

According the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of an infant's life can offer many health benefits for babies and mothers, including a reduction in infectious diseases and mortality during infancy, improved bonding and increased postpartum weight loss. Breastfeeding also helps reduce the risks of common childhood infections, asthma, diabetes and other conditions that children who get mother's milk are less likely to develop. It saves time and money for families in both baby formula and medical costs. Low rates of breastfeeding cost an estimated $2.2 billion dollars in medical costs.

NH Jacksonville's priority since its founding in 1941 is to heal the nation's heroes and their families. The command is comprised of the hospital, located aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and five branch health clinics in Florida (Jacksonville, Key West and Mayport) and Georgia (Albany and Kings Bay). Of its patient population-215,000 active and retired Sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen, National Guard members and their families-more than 57,000 are enrolled with a primary care manager at one of its facilities. Each and every day, a dedicated team of 2,500 military and civilian personnel sees 1,500 outpatients, admits 12 inpatients, cares for 125 people in the ER, performs 19 same-day surgeries, fills 3,600 prescriptions, conducts 3,000 lab tests and delivers two to three babies. Additionally, up to 15 percent of its active duty staff is deployed around the globe providing combat, humanitarian and disaster care.

Spray-on Protective Coating Wins "R&D 100" Award

By Katherine H. Crawford, Office of Naval Research Corporate Strategic Communications Office

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- R&D Magazine honored an Office of Naval Research (ONR) scientist with a 2011 "R&D 100" award Oct. 13 for the development of a revolutionary coating material that is blast-and fire-resistant.

The special high-tech surface technology, HybridSil Fire/Blast, acts like a force field that surrounds and protects any type of surface, making it blast-, ballistic- and fire-resistant.

"You can take an existing material and change it completely to make it more useful for the warfighter," said award recipient Dr. Roshdy George S. Barsoum, ONR's manager, Explosion-Resistant Coating, Ships and Engineering Systems Division. "Receiving this award is recognition that we are developing something that the warfighter can really use and exploit."

The coating is sprayed onto surfaces just like paint, with minimal surface preparation. It is applied in variable thicknesses: less for fireproofing and more for blast-resistance. But the tricky part is that the law of diminishing returns is at work; at some point, the more you apply, the less effective it becomes. Determining the appropriate amount for each surface and user need is complex, Barsoum said.

The Navy is particularly interested in the material's fire-resistant properties, since fires, along with floods, present the greatest threats on a ship or submarine. The Army and Air Force have also been investigating its use to protect buildings against vehicle-borne explosive devices.

The coating was developed with industry partner NanoSonic Inc, and the cost per gallon is equivalent to premium house paint. It can be used on new and old materials alike, making it easy to apply to existing ships or vehicles.

The research into this coating began after the bombing of USS Cole (DDG 67) Oct. 12, 2000. The Navy wanted to find new ways of protecting ships, including coatings and polymers that could shield against explosions and fire. The research took off after 9/11, and the new defensive coating was applied to the rebuilt sections of the Pentagon.

According to R&D Magazine's website, the R&D 100 awards identify and celebrate the top high-technology products of the year, spanning industry, academia and government-sponsored research. Winning products include sophisticated testing equipment, innovative new materials, chemistry breakthroughs, biomedical products, consumer items and high-energy physics.

ONR provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

Campaign Wants ‘Veteran’ Put Back in Veterans Day

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2011 – A new campaign is working to put the “veteran” back into Veterans Day and to rally public awareness of the sacrifices made by injured veterans and their caregivers.

The Wounded Warrior Project, which focuses primarily on wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and their caregivers, kicked off “Believe in Heroes” on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The campaign will continue through Nov. 11, Veterans Day, said Jonathan Sullivan, executive vice president of the nonprofit organization.

“Veterans Day has become a national holiday that most Americans give a cursory moment of thought to before going on with their day,” said Steve Nardizzi, the Wounded Warrior Project’s executive director.

Veterans will be recognized at NASCAR races, NCAA and NFL games as part of the campaign, Sullivan said. Two recent 8-kilometer events sponsored through the campaign drew 1,245 people in Jacksonville, Fla., and 65 in Seattle, he added, and the next 8k walk or run will take place Oct. 15 in Charlotte, N.C.

Regardless of how people show support, he added, the intent of the campaign is clear. “Believe in Heroes is a call to action,” he said, to recognize the meaning of Veterans Day, and to support the needs of wounded warriors and their caregivers.

From the earliest stages of the Wounded Warrior Project, Sullivan said, there was concern about the sacrifices caregivers would make to care for their wounded warriors. “Once the most traumatic of injured warriors are out of the hospital and back home,” he added, “the caregiver can be in for a long road ahead.”

Engaging families and caregivers is essential to helping warriors make the transition back to life after they’re injured, Sullivan said, noting that combat injuries affect both the warrior and the family.

The idea for the campaign stemmed from what Sullivan said seemed to be dwindling public interest in the significance of Veterans Day. “Very few people pause Nov. 11 and reflect on the sacrifices our vets made on behalf of us,” he said, and he expressed the hope that the two-month campaign to raise support and awareness of the wounded, their caregivers and all U.S. veterans would create a groundswell of interest that will repeat year after year, every Veterans Day.

But Sullivan said he won’t stop there. Like the year-round campaign for breast cancer awareness that intensifies with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Sullivan said, he envisions year-round “Believe in Heroes” awareness that culminates in a campaign from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11 each year.

“The public would be reminded of how much our wounded warriors sacrificed on the battlefield for us,” he said.

Sailors Promote Drug-Free Living at Guam School

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Jeremy M. Starr, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

MAGNILAO, Guam (NNS) -- Sailors from the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) helped to educate students about the dangers of substance abuse at Henry B. Price Elementary School, Oct. 11.

Sailors assisted the Guam National Guard, Department of Education teachers and local law enforcement in celebrating Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign that educates and encourages youth to live a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.

"One of the things that Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen have in common is that we are drug-free," said Lt. Alan Fleming, Frank Cable chaplain, to 1st and 2nd grade students. "All services wear different uniforms, but we all believe abstaining from drugs is honorable in serving our country."

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Jerome Claybron, assigned to the Frank Cable, shared his story about living a life free of drugs.

"Many people say I am strong and tall," said Claybron to the students. "The reason I am this way is because I have never taken drugs in my life. Drugs damage the body, making you weak, tired and lazy, so don't use drugs."

The Guam National Guard Counter Drug Program extended the Red Ribbon Week to a full month to teach 50-plus schools about the message of living without drugs. Soldiers have visited nine schools so far and are on a fast pace schedule until Halloween.

"We want Guam to be entirely free from drugs," said Army 1st Sgt. John Pangelinan. "We want Guam to stay beautiful, and the Red Ribbon Month is lined up with activities such as poetry, rap, school gate decorating contests, and information tables located inside several malls on the island to support this mission."

Fleming also emphasized the importance of Sailors being role models to the younger generation.

"This was a good opportunity to give the students a picture of good role models," said Fleming. "The Sailors did that today by sharing their jobs on the submarines and ship, which I believe influenced the young minds in a positive way to help shape their future."

"We ask you here to pledge more than a week to being drug-free; we want you to pledge being drug-free your entire life," added Pangelinan.

Red Ribbon Week takes its name from the red campaign ribbons that honor Enrique Camarena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was kidnapped and killed in Mexico City while investigating drug traffickers in 1985.

Frank Cable conducts maintenance and support of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.