Live From Kosovo: Watching football overseas a whole ‘nother ballgame

By Sgt. 1st Class Jim Wagner
KFOR15 Public Affairs Office

Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers in Kosovo have been in a funk the past several weeks as we — like most of our state and rational-minded folks everywhere — come to grips with the fact the Green Bay Packers not only did not return to the Super Bowl but were knocked out in the divisional playoff game.

To understand the importance of football games in a deployed environment, you need to understand the conditions we find ourselves in and the logistical and personnel issues we face on a weekly basis. I am admittedly a football junkie in general, and a Packer Backer specifically, so this may or may not apply to your deployed family member or friends.

My Sunday ritual during football season back home goes something like this:

 •wake up late

 •forgo shower, shaving and other hygienic practices

 •promise to feed the kids pizza for lunch if they can just have a bowl of cereal now

 •watch two hours of pre-game shows to get into the proper mindset

 •channel switch from noon to early evening between the AFC and NFC games

 •order pizza for the kids

(Note: If I’m going to a friend’s house or actually lucky enough to get tickets for the game, all but the last two bullets apply.)

On a deployment, the rules change. Instead of a relaxing day at home, most of us are working Sundays so we’re generally up very early to conduct the mission of the day. Our days generally run between eight and 12 hours daily, trying to keep our minds on what we need to accomplish before we can “unplug” and watch football.

Time zones play havoc with football Sunday in Kosovo. Noon games back home are held at a respectable hour of the day … well, noon. Here, we have to wait for the day to end before getting into the football zone — and let me tell you, it’s a little jarring watching a game at 7:30 p.m. and seeing people cheering under the bright afternoon sun.

That’s if you even get to see your game of choice. Overseas, football is broadcast by the Armed Forces Network (AFN), which has the unenviable task of having to pick two games and hope that enough people are interested to watch — and don’t call or e-mail to complain about what’s been picked.

Oh, a note on commercials. In the U.S., commercials are sometimes the best thing about football if your team is tanking badly against their opponent. Super Bowl commercials are sometimes the only reason people tune into the game if they’re not football fans, and are nearly a cultural icon in their own right (I’ll never forget the Bud Light wasabi commercial if I live to be 100).

Overseas, we have the infamous AFN commercials. Created by military members (my career field, in the interests of full disclosure), they are a cross between infomercial and public service announcements ranging from military history to stern reminders of the importance of oral hygiene and to visit your base dentist to keep dental health at its finest.

Now, don’t get me wrong, AFN commercials serve their purpose and are chock-full of Very Useful Information (that capitalization is intentional) — but come on, really, it doesn’t hold a stick to the Mean Joe Green Coca-Cola advertisement, not to mention the EDS Business Associate’s “Cat Herding” spot.

Fortunately, with the Packers’ near-historic run, Wisconsin Soldiers here have been lucky when it comes to watching our games; the Green and Gold was on nearly every week as we got to watch and experience the best team in the NFL romp through the regular season. Unfortunately, with the Packers’ near-historic run, Wisconsin Soldiers here were unlucky enough to watch and experience the same unfathomable performance of the Pack’s one-and-done playoff experience that you did.

Military policies also provide the deployed Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldier with their own little quirks to normal, back-home football Sunday. General Order #1 — specifically the part that prohibits the consumption of alcohol — really interferes with proper tailgating for many a deployed Soldier, while policies also prevent coed get-togethers in any personal living space.

It’s a quandary that we’ve managed to overcome here at Camp Bondsteel. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Hudson, who found himself the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) representative for the brigade — quite by surprise to him — spent hours of his personal time to set up and manage weekly screenings at one of the auditoriums here, giving all Soldiers a common area to watch the games, complete with snacks and refreshments. And regarding alcohol — well, there’s non-alcoholic beer.

Like the Green Bay Packers, you can’t win them all, it seems.

Montel Williams Provides Lunch for Wounded Warriors

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Monique K. Hilley

BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- Montel Williams provided lunch for nearly 100 wounded warriors and their families at the Fisher House in Bethesda, Md., Feb. 13.

Service members and their families were treated to a feast of donated baby back ribs, pulled pork and coleslaw, fried fish cooked by Montel's sister, Marjorie, crab cakes made by his father, Herman, a salad and turkey chili prepared by one of Montel's favorite chefs, Claire Winslow, and green fruit smoothies which Montel prepared himself. Two large patriotic cakes were also donated for dessert.

"This started six trips ago, and now this is trip number seven, and by the time we get done, we'll be at trip number 70 or 80 because I'm going to continue to do this; I think it's just a way for us to give back," said Williams. "Why am I doing this? Because I want to stop people from just paying lip service to 'I support the troops' and understand there is something you can do personally to put a smile on a soldier's face."

The luncheon marked the Williams family's seventh trip to provide lunch at Fisher House for wounded warriors, their family members and the guards on the base.

"These family members come down here and they do what we don't do for those who allow us to live with the dignity we do and the freedom we do," said Williams. "These family members don't ask for anything, they barely even ask for help, they don't even know about Fisher House. Most of the time, Fisher House has to reach out to them and say, look, I have a place for you to stay."

Fisher House has provided help, on average, for 17,000 families a year across the nation at 56 Fisher Houses located nationwide. The houses are located near Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and at all major military medical facilities. The Fisher House in Bethesda has five houses with 72 rooms total.

"We are opening number 57 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska on Friday [Feb. 17], one at the end of the month in Salt Lake City at the VA, and one at Ft. Belvoir on the 22nd of May," said Cindy Campbell, Fisher House Foundation, Inc., vice president for Community Relations and Media Affairs.

"So, we're expanding a great deal. We're also building a Fisher House in Birmingham, England to support British wounded warriors at their hospital. It's our chance to reach out to our allies and thank them for their service, as Americans, and to give back to the British soldiers who have served us so well."

Fisher Houses are free of charge for all family members and caregivers to the wounded warriors, not just spouses, parents or siblings. Family members can stay for any length of time needed, whether that is for a week, six months, or a year. Cindy and all members of the Fisher House Foundation, of which Montel Williams is a trustee, are grateful to have him talking about Fisher House and providing lunches for the families.

"This is a chance for us at Fisher House to thank the families for what they're doing because we all forget that when the military member is wounded, we only tend to think about the price of that injury that has to do with the recovery of the wounded, said Campbell. "The other price is the family because you have the entire family that has now taken on this injury. They're the ones who have to get him through this."

One of the families Fisher House is helping is Deborah Elliott and her husband, Marine Capt. Tommy Elliott, an aviation supply officer assigned to Cherry Point, N.C., who was recently diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The Elliotts, who are expecting their son, Oliver, to be delivered at Bethesda within the next 10 days, have been at Fisher House since Dec. 31, 2011, when Capt. Elliott was admitted to the hospital.

"He was in the hospital for two weeks inpatient care, and he's getting outpatient care, so we've been here for six weeks, said Debbie Elliott. "For the treatment they have my husband on, they're still trying to work everything out because it's such a severe disease. He has to be near the hospital because he's on complete digestive rest, so he can't eat at all and is on a feeding tube and nutrition bag. They said no food for another two to three weeks, but the doctors suggest we are in this area for another six months."

For the Elliotts, charities such as Fisher House can become a long-term solution to what may have quickly become a financial crisis brought on by severe health issues and the expenses that can rack up during those times.

"It has been wonderful that we are here and we've been provided with a place to stay," said Debbie Elliott. "It's really nice to have this facility on base, close to the hospital, where we can come and go as we need to his appointments. It's nice knowing that he's getting treatment, and I'll be getting treatment here shortly for the birth of our son."

Montel Williams providing lunch at Fisher House took some guests by surprise. Montel arrived at nine a.m. to begin preparing and cooking the food, with lunch beginning at noon.

"I didn't expect to wake up and go down to get some breakfast and Montel Williams is in there getting ready for lunch," said Debbie Elliott. "It's just wonderful that he is here and that he supports Fisher House. He's got his own history with the military, so he's very connected to this place."

During the lunch, he chatted with many of the families and let them know how much he appreciated them. As a former enlisted Marine and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with 22 years of service, Montel has a connection to those who are currently serving in the military.

"I spent every single day I could trying my best at the time I was on active duty thinking that I was in every hot spot we had," said Williams. "I have a very strong bond with the guys who still are willing to not have to do so because they were forced by draft, they step up to the plate and volunteer to continue to support and defend my democracy? I mean, come on, what else am I supposed to be doing then what I'm doing here?"

Over the course of the last three years, Williams has been visiting the wounded warriors in Bethesda, Md. almost every month.

"I go and I see them and after about a year, I didn't even know Fisher House existed," said Williams. "I was introduced to one of the board members of Fisher House and was shocked that this is an organization that, number one doesn't have as much media attention as it should because these guys are, in my opinion, the No. 1 wounded warrior charity in the country. They are providing free living space for family members while their loved ones recover in the hospital here and in the course of about nine years now, they've given over 180 million dollars in services just to our fallen Soldiers."

Montel Williams, a former talk show host who has prided himself in leading his life in a way that may serve as an example to others, continues to do that through his work with the Fisher House Foundation.

"I think it's just as important to give lip service to it as it is to give heart to it, to give your personal time to it," said Williams. "I can sit on television and say you need to do this, but unless I bring myself down here and try to show by example and do it again and again and again and again, I don't think it makes sense to people. Then, once they start to see stuff like this, maybe they'll start to realize that 'what did I do last week to say thank you for being free?'"

NAVSUP GLS Supports Shipmates to Workmates Program

By Sam Samuelson, NAVSUP GLS Corporate Communications Director

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Global Logistics Support (GLS) supported more than 300 Sailors exploring government employment during the "Shipmates to Workmates" job fair at Naval Base Coronado Feb. 9.

The job program links Sailors, most of whom are anticipating leaving the Navy due to Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) results, with Department of Navy (DON) agencies seeking the kinds of skills and experiences the Sailors represent.

Record-high retention and low attrition among active duty Sailors for 31 specific ratings, manned at more than 103 percent, prompted the creation of the ERB. The purpose of ERB is to balance the force in terms of seniority, experience and skills, and to improve overall advancement opportunity.

"Shipmates to Workmates" maximizes the skills Sailors have with opportunities and needs that exist throughout the DoN. It's one way the Navy is communicating to Sailors that, force balancing notwithstanding, their skills are still valuable and marketable, according to Joe Bernardo, director, NAVSUP GLS workforce management division.

"There is a lot of skill, talent and enthusiasm in these Sailors and we want them to know that we're interested in exploring a future with them, if we can," Bernardo said.

Sailors attracted by the NAVSUP GLS booth said they were eager to look into alternatives in employment that capitalized on the skills they learned and developed in the Navy.

"I'm just here to see what the Navy is offering in terms of future employment," said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator (Mechanical) 1st Class Josh Glennon. "No one likes to be told it's time to go home, but at least they're offering these opportunities. There has been a lot of assistance to ensure there is a safety net."

Lt. Jasmine Gough sought the NAVSUP GLS booth.

"I just love logistics," Gough said. "I don't know, I think I'm a geek for numbers, supply chain management."

The former supply corps school student said she has always gravitated toward logistics.

"If you know what you like, if you know your calling, then that's what you look for," Gough said.

That's the shared hope of coordinators of "Shipmates to Workmates" and the Sailors seeking employment opportunities.

"It's just another way of looking for opportunities no matter what happens in life," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class Manuel Delgado. "I received word from the ERB around Thanksgiving. About the same time, our extended family experienced a tragedy and that's when I told myself, 'I'm young, healthy and have healthy kids. I have a lot to be thankful for.' I already have a job opportunity, so this is great."

As of Jan. 10, 2012, 2,942 Sailors were in a "not selected for retention" status. These Sailors must separate from the Navy no later than Sept. 1, 2012 unless operational waiver approved for later separation date (up to 90 days later).

Representatives from NAVSUP Global Logistics Support included Joe Bernardo, Chachi Gorman and Anthony Goodwin. From NAVSUP FLC San Diego were Linda Willis, Jeffrey Allen and Margie Hontucan.

Comprised of more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals, NAVSUP GLS operates as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., NAVSUP GLS is part of a worldwide network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.

For more information about transition benefits visit the Transition Assistance Web Page available under the Hot Links section of the Navy Personnel Command at www.npc.navy.mil or contact the NPC customer service center at CSCmailbox@navy.mil or 1-866-U-ASK-NPC.

Face of Defense: Wounded Warrior Focuses on Future

By Ben Sherman
Fort Sill Public Affairs

FORT SILL, Okla., Feb. 14, 2012 – Army Staff Sgt. Louis Thompson remembers the day that he saw the end of his active-duty military career.

"The doctor told me that I couldn't do my military job anymore,” Thompson recalled. “I sat in the doctor's office and cried. Forty-one years old and I'm sitting there crying like a baby because all of a sudden my life is about to change in a way that I wasn't prepared for.

"I felt like my feet had been kicked out from under me and I had no purpose as far as the military was concerned," he added.

Thompson said he went through every stage of grief before he accepted the fact that his military career was over.

"I said to myself, 'Wait a minute, I've got one of two choices. I'm either going to sit here feeling sorry for myself or I can figure out a way to make the most of it,’" Thompson said.

Thompson had been medically evacuated out of Iraq in 2008 and has undergone six operations on his knees and feet since then.

"They've reconstructed both of my knees using my own bone and cartilage,” he said.

When Thompson entered the warrior transition unit here he was looking for a plan for the future. He found it in Operation Warfighter, a temporary assignment internship program developed by the Defense Department for service members recovering at military treatment facilities throughout the United States. The program provides wounded, ill or injured soldiers with meaningful activity outside of the hospital environment.

Stacey Dancy serves as transition coordinator for the Fort Sill WTU. Part of her job is work therapy for wounded warriors, and she extends those efforts into the Operation Warfighter program, where she arranges for soldiers to do internships in federal agencies.

"OWF is for active-duty wounded warriors who have not finished their medical hold or retired,” Dancy explained. “What we are trying to do is get with soldiers who are transitioning out and give them the premium spots by letting them work in an internship that is nonpaid, because they are already getting paid as soldiers.

“It is really a win-win for both parties, because the agency gets someone who is really excited to do the job," she added.

It didn't take Thompson long to see the doors Operation Warfighter could open for him.

"As a soldier I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity that they have to help me because I've got a life after the military to think about,” he said. Thompson told Dancy he wanted to work with the Army Corps of Engineers.

The corps was a perfect fit for Thompson, who owned his own business for 12 years while serving in the Oklahoma National Guard. His company took on construction jobs on military and government installations worldwide under government contracts.

"The majority of the work I did was military contract work and run by the Corps of Engineers, so I am very familiar with them. I felt like I had something to offer again," he said.

Dancy agreed that it was a good fit for Thompson. "A lot of time we associate our value with our job and especially as a soldier, when you can't do your [military occupational specialty] you have a low image of yourself," she said. "So it was great for Sergeant Thompson to get a position working with the Corps of Engineers."

Due to his background in project management and safety, Thompson is working through the corps' quality assurance and project management programs here.

While thrilled at the opportunity, Thompson first had to confront some challenges. "I went around with one of the quality assurance guys for a couple of weeks, and the problem with that was, because of my injuries, being on my feet so much really wore me out, because those guys are on their feet constantly,” he said. “It was tough.”

Challenges aside, Thompson said he’s enjoying the work. "I got to meet with the safety manager and it was a match,” he said. “It was perfect. I can use my experience, my construction background and military background as far as safety management goes. I can go out and do something when I get out of the Army.”

Thompson has been in the program for six months, working with Frank Howe, safety representative for the corps, as they oversee the building of Fort Sill's new barracks for soldiers in training.

"Sergeant Thompson appreciates the role of the safety officer and keeping workers safe,” Howe noted. “He has a good eye for being able to do hazard identification in the field.”

Thompson has received his disability retirement rating and is looking to retire at the end of March. He will finish his degree at Cameron University and complete his safety training and certificates so that he can become a safety manager, preferably with the corps, he said.

"The opportunities are out there, and soldiers who have been in the Army for a while, who are mature and know what they want have to take advantage of them,” Dancy noted.

To increase his job opportunities, Thompson has applied for an internship in Korea.

“They are doing a lot of construction over there, building the new facilities at Camp Humphreys and Camp Carroll,” he said. “And it's a nonpaid internship to where I get the experience of working and doing on-the-job training.”

Thompson encouraged other soldiers to find out about programs and resources available to help them transition to civilian life.

"I know that a lot of soldiers who are coming back are hurting, and the last thing they want to hear about is another program,” he said. “But as they work to get back into a normal routine and be a part of society, there are programs they will be able to look at and take advantage of.

"If I could give one message to every soldier,” he continued, “it would be that nobody is going to give it to you if you don't get out and look for it and take advantage of it yourself."

Navy SEALs, SWCCs Meet Prospective NFL Players

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William S. Parker, Naval Special Warfare Group 2 Public Affairs

BALTIMORE (NNS) -- Members of the East Coast SEAL (sea, air, and land) and SWCC (special warfare combat crewman) scout team met with prospective National Football League players at the Eastern Regional NFL Combine in Baltimore Feb 11.

The Navy has formed a mutual partnership with the NFL to raise career opportunity awareness about the U.S Navy and its special warfare programs for potential non-selected NFL draftees.

"Unfortunately, not all the players will get a chance to enter the 2012 NFL draft," said Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Shawn Johnson. "The SEAL and SWCC programs offer these guys other potential opportunities that they may not have thought about before."

At the conclusion of each of the offensive and defensive tryout sessions, the team of Navy SEALs and SWCCs presented a brief on special warfare programs, and spoke about the linkages between special warfare operators and professional athletes.

"They make sacrifices, they work in a team oriented environment, they know how to push themselves and train towards a goal," said Johnson. "They're characteristics we look for in SEAL and SWCC candidates."

The SEAL and SWCC scout team discussed how a football player's background correlates with the characteristics and values of potential SEAL candidates.

"Our partnership with the SEAL and SWCCs scout team is a great thing," said Stephen Austin, NFL director of operations for the NFL League Office in New York. "It's implanting a thought that may enable these players to commit to an even higher goal"

HSV2 Swift Visits GTMO to Load Project Handclasp Supplies

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Justin Ailes Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV) 2 arrived at Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to receive supplies in support of Project Handclasp, Feb. 14.

NS Guantanamo Bay served as the consolidation point for receiving, storing, and staging more than 160 pallets of donated humanitarian aid products and materials. Before being loaded on the Swift, the goods were prepared for manifest and customs declarations for entry into foreign countries where the cargo will be delivered.

"This operation takes a year of preparation to logistically support these donations," said NS Guantanamo Bay Transportation Officer Candace Keller. "Receiving, storing and coordinating movement to a hub such as GTMO requires a plan involving organizations and American citizens coming together with the U.S. Navy."

Project Handclasp is a joint Department of Defense (DoD) and private sector humanitarian mission to receive, collect, consolidate and store humanitarian, educational and goodwill material for transport by naval vessels. The humanitarian goods are distributed by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel to foreign nation recipients.

"I have been working with this program since 2002 to support the Caribbean deliveries to the southern countries needing humanitarian support," said Keller. "It's about what America represents as a people loving, caring nation that works together with our military, civilians and government contractors to bring aid and assistance to less fortunate people."

The humanitarian materials will be distributed to the still recovering nation of Haiti later this month.

FBI Seeking New Tips in Disappearance of Asha Degree

This story has been moved to the Criminal Justice Online Courses blog.

Official: Budget Request Keeps Navy, Marines ‘Expeditionary’

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – The Navy and Marine Corps will be leaner and smaller, but still rapidly deployable under the fiscal 2013 budget request President Barack Obama sent to Congress today, the Navy’s budget chief said.

Rear Adm. Joseph P. Mulloy, the Navy’s deputy assistant secretary for budget, told Pentagon reporters today the sea service, which also administers the Marine Corps’ budget, will trim spending by $58.1 billion by the end of fiscal 2017. The Navy’s proposed fiscal 2013 budget is down $9.5 billion from fiscal 2012.

“We think all of our investments here are aligned to the strategic priorities and goals as set out by the president,” the admiral said.

As required by the Budget Control Act, the Defense Department budget request includes $487 billion in spending cuts for fiscal years 2013 to 2017.

The budget request sets Navy active and reserve end strength for fiscal 2013 at 385,200 -- 1.7 percent less than fiscal 2012. In fiscal 2017, the end strength will be 376,600, a 3.9 percent reduction from fiscal 2012.

Marine Corps active and reserve end strength in fiscal 2013 is 236,900 under the proposal -- 2 percent less than fiscal 2012. In fiscal 2017 the end strength will be 221,700, an 8.3 percent reduction from fiscal 2012.

“The Navy has come down almost 6,000 people over the last 10 years,” the admiral noted. Marine Corps end-state reductions, like the Army’s, are in line with planned troop reductions in Afghanistan, he added.

Mulloy noted sailors and Marines will lose “not a dollar” under the budget request, though pay increases will slow after 2014.

In force structure changes through fiscal 2017, the Navy will eliminate seven cruisers and two dock landing ships. Next fiscal year, the service is slated to add seven and drop 11 from its list of combat-capable ships.

The Navy will gain a nuclear attack submarine, a transport dock, a dry-cargo ammunition ship, a littoral combat ship, two joint high-speed vessels and one mobile landing platform. The service will retire one aircraft carrier, six frigates and four cruisers.

Mulloy noted Navy officials don’t expect the fleet size to change much over time, though the number of ships will drop slightly for a few years.

“We’re forecasting that in 2017 we’ll have the same number of ships that we have now,” he said.

“We have 37 ships under construction … and nine more ships to award this year,” the admiral added.

The Marine Corps will eliminate an infantry regiment headquarters, five infantry battalions (four active and one reserve), an artillery battalion, four tactical air squadrons (three active and one reserve), and a combat logistics battalion.

Mulloy acknowledged the budget request call for delaying several Navy and Marine Corps programs and postponing some purchases. Operations and maintenance are essential, he said, and too-deep force cuts carry unacceptable risk, so “where do you take the cuts?”

Navy planners and leaders looked at long-term programs as the best source of cost reduction, he said, adding “The real driver here was, ‘What do we need to have?’”

The proposal delays for two years the planned “SSBN-X” ballistic missile submarine program, which will develop a replacement for the Ohio-class submarines.

The Ohio-class subs will begin to reach the end of their service life in 2027, according to Navy officials. A two-year delay in developing the multibillion-dollar replacement, which will form part of the nation’s nuclear triad, represents an “acceptable risk,” officials said.

The Navy also proposes reducing procurement of joint high-speed vessels from 18 ships to 10, and a scheduled MV-22 Osprey purchase by 24 aircraft through 2017.

The Navy will also slow buys of two joint strike fighter variants, deferring until after 2017 purchase of 69 of the aircraft. The service will terminate its Medium-Range Maritime Unmanned Aerial System, as Navy officials said other unmanned systems show demonstrated capability.

Spending for Navy and Marine Corps green energy initiatives will remain fairly steady, Mulloy said, calling them a key component for the department for “tremendous tactical reasons.”

For Marines on the ground and ships and planes afloat, minimizing fuel transport and fueling operations means reducing risk, he noted.

“Everything you can do to [reduce] energy use and drive the same tactical output … is important,” the admiral said.

The Navy and Marine Corps’ emphasis on renewable energy ensures more “safety for personnel and efficiency for our forces,” Mulloy added.

The budget proposal will mean “a leaner, smaller force, but we’re still rapidly deployable and expeditionary, and we’re manned and led with the highest quality of individuals,” he said.

USS Frank Cable Arrives in Portland

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Chris Salisbury, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

PORTLAND, Ore. (NNS) -- Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived in Portland, Ore., for a regular overhaul and dry-docking Feb. 10.

"I'm excited to be back in the States," said Personnel Specialist Seaman Apprentice Deven Gonzales, a Sailor assigned to Frank Cable. "I'm hoping to do a lot of cycling and sightseeing in Oregon."

During their four week passage from Guam to Oregon, Sailors on board the Frank Cable enjoyed a week in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; worked on qualifications; and participated in many fire, flooding, man-overboard and abandoned ship drills.

"The Sailors' primary mission in Portland is to support the shipyard to ensure a smooth yard period, providing force protection for the ship," said Master Chief Hull Technician Kenneth Wagner, repair master chief on board Frank Cable. "Sailors, on their off time, will have opportunities to take in the sites here in the Northwest region."

Wagner said the purpose of the ROH is to conduct engineering repair, hull preservation and provide material upgrades to the ship.

"The dry-docking availability should result in a significant improvement in the material condition of the ship," said Capt. Pete Hildreth, Frank Cable's commanding officer. "As a result of this maintenance period, Frank Cable should not need to go back in dock for scheduled maintenance for eight years. This will allow Frank Cable to focus on its primary mission of conducting submarine repair in the Western Pacific."

Submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) is temporarily relieving Frank Cable from conducting maintenance of submarines and surface vessels deployed in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Following the dry-docking and maintenance, sea trials will be conducted prior to Frank Cable transitioning back to Guam.

Films on famed Tuskegee Airmen prompts diversity discussion

By 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson
Wisconsin National Guard

Lights, camera ... discussion.

While the movie "Red Tails" soars across cinema screens nationwide, an earlier dramatization of the 332nd Fighter Group - the famed Tuskegee Airmen - and its battles in the skies over Europe as well as against discrimination by fellow Americans was viewed by Wisconsin National Guard members and civilian Department of Military Affairs employees Tuesday (Feb. 7). The 1995 movie "The Tuskegee Airmen" was part of a professional development session on diversity, led by Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin.

"It's interesting to see the parallels from back then and today," said Col. Julie Gerety, manpower and personnel director for the Wisconsin National Guard's Joint Staff. "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' - same kind of concept. And females in combat, same thing - let's address it after the war."

Col. Julio Barron, a senior member of the Wisconsin National Guard's staff judge advocate office, agreed.

"What will define our time when history looks back at us?" he said, noting the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s. "I think it's going to be sexual orientation."

Dunbar said the movie stressed the importance of seeing someone from an individual's particular community in a leadership role.

Wisconsin National Guard members and civilian Department of Military Affairs employees watch the 1995 movie "The Tuskegee Airmen" at Joint Force Headquarters' Witmer Hall on Tuesday (Feb. 7) as part of a professional development session on diversity. Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, led a discussion following the movie. Wisconsin National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson

"It wasn't too long ago that we had very few women in the military," Dunbar said. "Now we have [women as] senior leaders in the military, so young women joining the military today can look at an organization and see a senior leader and say, 'Okay, that could be me.'"

Dunbar related a scene from the movie in which Lt. Hannibal Lee informs the cadet pilots that he has numerous combat missions under his belt, and how the cadets suddenly see him not as a black officer and novice instructor, but a combat leader and someone to look up to.

"So when we talk about having someone from a diverse population join our ranks, and we grow from within, the importance of future generations being able to look into the Wisconsin National Guard and not only see the things we stand for, but that piece of you that comes from your community," Dunbar said, "I think that's important."

Barron, now an Air National Guard officer, recalled joining the military as an Army second lieutenant and immediately encountering bigotry with his unit commander.

"He used racial slurs toward me ... because I'm Hispanic," Barron said. "Frankly, it angered me so much that I said, 'After my four-year tour, I'm going to get out of the Army and I really don't want anything more to do with it.' But I didn't get out, and I made a commitment to try and change perceptions from within the organization."

Barron said that today he sees members of underrepresented groups in senior leadership positions.

"I am personally proud that we have made such strides in the armed forces," he said.

Dunbar noted that new people groups in the United States historically met with prejudice and discrimination at first. President Harry Truman overcame his own prejudices to integrate the armed forces, he added.

"[Truman] said, 'There's no way we can treat these Americans that way after they've served our country,'" Dunbar said.

1st Lt. Ron Adams, the Wisconsin National Guard's diversity officer, pointed out that diversity is bigger than race and gender.

"If you noticed throughout the movie, when they started meeting each other, they were all different," Adams said. "That one guy was from the city, and the other guy was from a rural area. You had the two pilots who were on a bomber, from Texas and California. We're all different in some kind of way. We need to be mindful of that."

Gerety said that everyone has some level of prejudice.

"This movie just reinforces that sometime you've got to open your mind and listen to what people have to say," she said. "No matter who it is and what prejudice you have, everybody does bring something to the table."

The first of the Wisconsin National Guard Diversity Council's four tenets is mission readiness. Dunbar asked how diversity applies.

"You have to draw from every age in your ranks, their background - whether they're rural or from the city - and capitalize on their life experiences, the deployments they might have," replied Maj. Max Brosig, executive officer with the Wisconsin Army National Guard's Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation.

"The second [tenet] is change management," Dunbar said. "Our country's changing, there's no doubt about that. Cultural awareness is the third tenet. And then there's respect - everyone has something to offer.

"Things will continue to change and evolve in our country, and that's a good thing," Dunbar continued. "But I believe the foundation remains the same. So no matter who they are or where they come from, if we're not doing our job right, you'll see the breakdown in the National Guard - not because they're not capable, but because we don't lead them well. If we do our job as leaders, we'll always have a great National Guard."

Budget Proposal’s Tough Cuts ‘Absolutely Necessary,’ Obama Says

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

WASHINGTON  – President Barack Obama today called his fiscal 2013 budget proposal a blueprint to an economy built to last that will require tough cuts and shared responsibility.

“The main idea in the budget is … at a time when our economy is growing and creating jobs at a faster clip, we've got to do everything in our power to keep this recovery on track,” Obama said.

Speaking to students at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va., Obama talked about tough choices regarding the budget designed to help in reducing the country’s deficit.

“Part of our job is to bring down our deficit,” he said. “And if Congress adopts this budget, then along with the cuts that we've already made, we'll be able to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion by the year 2022.”

According to documents released today, the details of the president’s budget request reflect the $487 billion in reductions the Budget Control Act set for defense spending over the next 10 years. The president acknowledged he is proposing difficult cuts, and added that he wouldn’t have proposed them if they weren’t “absolutely necessary.”

“But they are, and the truth is we're going to have to make some tough choices in order to put this country back on a more sustainable fiscal path,” he said. “By reducing our deficit on the long term, what that allows us to do is to invest in the things that will help grow our economy right now. We can't cut back on those things that are important for us to grow. We can't just cut our way into growth.”

Obama said the country can cut back on things that it doesn’t need, but everyone has to pay their “fair share.”

Pentagon officials said the Defense Department is on path to save $259 billion over the next five years and $487 billion over the next 10. The Pentagon’s top-line budget request is $525 billion for fiscal 2013, with $88.4 billion more for overseas contingency operations, mostly in Afghanistan. This is down from $531 billion and $115 billion for fiscal 2012.

Obama called the budget request released today a “reflection of shared responsibility.”

“It says that if we're serious about investing in our future and investing in community colleges and investing in new energy technology and investing in basic research, well, we've got to pay for it, and that means we've got to make some choices,” he said.

“And if we work together in common purpose, we will build an economy that lasts, and remind people around the world why America is the greatest country on earth,” Obama said.

USS Carl Vinson Awarded 2011 Battle "E"

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Byron C. Linder, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- Commander, Naval Air Forces awarded the 2011 Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") for West Coast-based aircraft carriers to Sailors of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Feb. 10.

Vinson Commanding Officer Capt. Kent D. Whalen congratulated the Vinson Sailors who made the award possible.

"It is terrific to see this ship and crew receive this kind of recognition. It is a testament to their hard work and dedication and very appropriate for the announcement to come while forward deployed conducting combat operations," he said. "The spirit and enthusiasm on Carl Vinson amazes me every day. I couldn't be prouder of what these Sailors have accomplished."

The annual award was the culmination of 2011's 365 operational days, of which Vinson Sailors spent 235 at sea. This is Vinson's sixth Battle "E" overall, having previously earned the distinction in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2004. This marks the first Battle "E" since returning from a refueling complex overhaul in 2009.

"I am very proud of our crew and honored to be a part of the team. I see their dedication and professionalism every day, and I am thankful they are being recognized for their accomplishments in 2011," said Executive Officer Cmdr. Paul Spedero. "I know our Sailors will wear the Battle "E" with pride and continue to serve our Navy with honor, courage and commitment."

The Battle "E" is designed to measure and recognize a command's sustained superior performance and battle efficiency in an operational environment through the calendar year.

Command Master Chief April Beldo noted the importance of teamwork in the achievement.

"This is something I'll remember the rest of my career and long after. Look back at what this crew has accomplished, and there can be no doubt as to whether they deserved the "E"," she said. "Their spirit has been overwhelming and their will to succeed is the reason we're celebrating this. Individually, these Sailors are outstanding. Collectively, they are unbeatable."

Vinson earned 14 departmental efficiency awards for 2011 as part of the assessment - the Air Department Yellow "E," Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Black "E," Combat Systems Green "CS," Damage Control Red "DC," Deck White Crossed Anchors with Black "D," Engineering Red "E," Medical Blue "M," Navigation White Ship's Wheel, Operations Green "E", Safety Green "S", Security Black "S", Supply Blue "E", Weapons Black "W", and Carrier Maintenance Purple "E".

"Our Sailors answered every bell with enthusiasm, technical expertise, an eye on safety and great pride in service. You don't win a Battle "E" on appearances. You have to excel in every area," said Rear Adm. Thomas K. Shannon, commander, Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG 1). "Carl Vinson Sailors clearly demonstrated sustained superior performance, operational effectiveness and continuous readiness above all others. I couldn't be more proud."

Lt. Cmdr. Amy Hunt, Vinson's training officer, noted despite the different criteria for earning a departmental award, one common factor ran through the individual successes.

"We earned it because the Sailors worked really hard all year long," she said. "There were a lot of competitive exercises the departments had to perform. Whenever we had a graded general quarters drill, those went into the overall ship's grade."

Vinson Sailors were charged with completing 110 graded exercises throughout the year. These evolutions were spread out over nine departments.

"We trained very well and very hard, and our grades for those exercises were very good. We had two back-to-back combat deployments, and we demonstrated we were the go-to ship," Hunt said, citing Vinson's service in the 2011 Quicken Loans Carrier Classic NCAA basketball game. "Any time we were tasked with something, we did it. And we have a very good reputation as a ship because of our hardworking Sailors."

Carl Vinson, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), and guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) comprise CSG 1. CSG 1 is conducting maritime theater security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

The USO Awarded National Medal of Arts for Sharing the Sights and Sounds of Home with Troops Around the Globe

Event Marked the Only Time in the Medal’s 28-Year History the U.S. Government’s Highest Arts Honor Ever Bestowed Upon a Military Charity

USO Extends Gratitude to President Barack Obama, the National Endowment for the Arts, All of its Celebrity Friends and the American Public for Making Honor Possible 

Twitter Pitch: @the_USO thanks @BarackObama, @NEArts, the American public and all its celebrity friends for Natl Medal of Arts in excellence in troop entertainment!

ARLINGTON, Va. (February 13, 2012) – President Barack Obama presented the USO with the National Medal of Arts – the U.S. government’s highest arts honor – for sharing the sights and sounds of home with troops stationed around the world.  The ceremony, which took place in the East Room of the White House this afternoon, is an annual event recognizing exemplary individuals and/or organizations for their encouragement of the arts and delivery of inspirations to others through their achievement, support and patronage.  The USO is the only military charity to receive the National Medal of Arts in the medal’s 28-year history.  To download photos of the event, view USO tour imagery and more, visit https://uso.box.com/s/zz3sljqzmvdax4sejn2n.

Fellow honorees include actor/director Al Pacino; country music singer/songwriter Mel Tillis; poet/author Rita Dove; pianist/teacher Andre Watts; painter, printmaker and teacher Will Barnet; curator, art collector and philanthropist Emily Rauh Pulitzer; and sculptor Martin Puryear.  Established by Congress in 1984 as a way to recognize outstanding contributions to excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the U.S., more than 250 patrons have been presented with this lifetime achievement award with hundreds of nominations being submitted by citizens across the country each year.

“We are humbled by the President’s recognition of our mission to lift the spirits of troops and their families through exceptional entertainment around the world,” said Sloan Gibson, USO President and CEO.  “Most importantly – we have never done this alone.  From our celebrity friends who have worked with us over the years, our military and corporate partners, and our hard working Entertainment staff – we all share in this honor.  We celebrate this award with all of you and with more than 1.4 million service men and women and their families who currently serve our nation.”

Since just before the United States entered World War II, the USO has been the bridge between the American people and our men and women in uniform – extending a much-needed touch of home.  In times of peace and war, the USO’s mission has remained the same - to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families wherever they serve.  USO entertainment remains essential to fulfilling this mission and does so by sending out well known actors, athletes, musicians, comedians and entertainers each year to visit and spend time with America’s armed forces and their families.  Whether performing a USO show in a remote location in the Middle East, visiting a military hospital in Europe, hosting an autograph signing in the Pacific or screening the latest film stateside, the USO has lifted the spirits of millions of service men and women and their families over its 71-year lifetime.

“Throughout our history, the USO has been taking American celebrities we see in our living rooms to entertain live on the battlefield for America’s troops serving around the world,” said General Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the USO Board of Governors and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  “We are truly honored to receive this year’s National Medal of Arts.  We consider it a priviledge to support our nation’s troops and military families, and will continue to serve them as well as educate the American public about the unique issues they face.”

In 2011, the USO deployed 136 celebrity entertainers on 83 tours to 25 countries and 19 states, entertaining more than 296,000 troops and military families.  Nineteen of these tours were to a combat zone in the Middle East.  That same year, the USO delivered more than 500 special entertainment events to include concerts, autograph signings, hospital visits and movie screenings.  Entertainers who recently toured with the USO include Toby Keith, Carlos Mencia, Gary Sinise, Jon Stewart, Babyface, Train, NFL coaches Gary Kubiak, Jim Mora Jr., Jim Mora Sr., Ken Whisenhunt and other NFL greats, NBA legend Karl Malone, Jillian Michaels, Kellie Pickler, NASCAR drivers Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, Anna Kournikova, and Jordin Sparks. In 2012, the USO will again deploy some of our nation’s most beloved entertainers.

Setting the stage for USO entertainment is the legendary Bob Hope, who traveled the globe in times of war and peace entertaining service men and women for nearly six decades.  Nicknamed “America’s No. 1 Soldier in Greasepaint” and “G.I. Bob,” Hope’s early support of the U.S. military led to a formal relationship with the USO during World War II.  Over the course of his career, Hope appeared in or hosted hundreds of USO tours, including 35 consecutive Christmas tours.  Befriended by virtually every U.S. President since Franklin D. Roosevelt, Hope was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1995 for his lifetime achievements as a comedian, actor and fundraiser for the USO, among other charitable causes.

Recipients of the National Medal of Arts are personally selected by the President of the United States.  Each year, the National Endowment for the Arts initiates the selection process by soliciting nominations for the Medal from the public and various arts fields. Nominations are reviewed by the National Council on the Arts, composed of Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed individuals.  The National Council's list of nominees is then forwarded to the President for consideration with candidates of the President's own choosing.  Past honorees include such notable artists as Quincy Jones, Meryl Streep, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Clint Eastwood, Dolly Pardon, George Strait and Smokey Robinson, among others.

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About the USO

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors, military families and the families of the fallen.

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors. In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President’s Circle Partners: American Airlines, Kangaroo Express, Kroger, Northrop Grumman Corporation and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: AT&T, Inc., BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation and Procter & Gamble. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.