By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - Civilian business and community leaders got firsthand and sometimes hands-on exposure yesterday to U.S. Air Forces in Europe's multiple missions of supporting warfighters, building partnerships and strengthening its historic NATO ties.
U.S. Air Forces, Europe, or USAFE, is as critical to U.S. national defense today as when it was established as the 8th Air Force in 1942 and flew heavy bombardment missions over the European continent during World War II, Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hunt, its director of air and space operations, told 47 participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference.
"For 66 years, U.S. Air Forces, Europe, has provided responsive forward presence, humanitarian and peacekeeping support and decisive airpower to the United States and its allies," Hunt told the group.
U.S. European Command's air component is far different from the organization that stood up during World War II, then went on to play a key role in the Berlin Airlift and as an important deterrent to a large-scale conflict across the Fulda Gap. "This is not the organization of the Cold War," Hunt said.
Today a streamlined USAFE organization – five bases and nine forward operating bases, 250 aircraft and about 25,000 airmen – directs air operations in a theater spanning 20 million square miles, 91 countries and covering a quarter of the world's population, he told the group.
While that's down from 25 bases, 750 aircraft and more than 65,000 airmen in 1990, he said it's no indication of a lesser role. "The mission for USAFE is bigger than ever," Hunt said, citing its transformation into an expeditionary force and the breadth of the missions it now conducts.
Hunt called support to warfighters -- airlift, refueling, close-air support and casualty evacuation – a top USAFE priority. "Our job is to make sure the force on the ground gets what they need," he said.
But USAFE's mission goes beyond the current fight, he said. Its focus extends to security cooperation throughout the region – not just with traditional NATO allies, but also with new NATO members and partners. During fiscal year 2007, USAFE had more than 900 engagements in Europe and Asia, all aimed at improving mutual cooperation and helping nations that seek to build capability in their air forces.
Capt. Curt Dougherty, a Strike Eagle pilot, described a recent cross-training exercise in Eastern Europe, calling it as valuable for him and his squadron as for the Bulgarian and Romanian pilots they were training. "It's a great opportunity because you get to train against aircraft you wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to train with," he said. "You really do take a lot of concepts out of the experience."
The JCOC participants kicked off their visit yesterday at nearby at RAF Mildenhall, where they got a demonstration of some of the capabilities USAFE brings to the fight.
Five 321st Special Tactics Squadron combat controllers conducted a high-altitude, low-opening jump, dropping from an MC-130H aircraft at 10,000 feet and waiting until 3,500 to open their parachutes to land on an "enemy airfield" without detection.
F-15C Eagles and F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft roared overhead followed with explosions on the ground simulating the precise firepower they would deliver to take out enemy elements. Once the targets were eliminated, an MC-130 aircraft delivered more paratroopers to secure the airfield.
"What you saw out there is an example of what airpower is today, and it's not Goose or Maverick," Col. Lawrence Reed, vice commander of the 48th Fighter Wing, told the visitors, referring to the lead characters in the movie, Top Gun. "It's a very precise and very disciplined operation to put things on bad guys and protect the good guys."
At RAF Lakenheath, the JCOC participants got more hands-on exposure to USAFE's weapons systems and equipment and the opportunity to meet the airmen who operate them.
The group watched weapons teams go through the step-by-step process required to load munitions aboard F-15s for close-air-support missions. "When you are on alert and you get a call, the jet has to be loaded as fast and as safely as possible," Senior Airman David Ross told the visitors. "You need to be fast because of the tempo downrange."
The civilians climbed into the cockpits of F-15 aircraft, quizzing the pilots about the controls and their combat experience. Capt. Curt Dougherty, a Strike Eagle pilot who's deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and is preparing to return for an upcoming deployment, described what his squadron and other Air Force assets bring to the fight.
"We are the on-call close air support, supporting the commanders in the theater," Dougherty said. "What we do supports the guys on the ground and helps to keep them safe."
The group moved from station to station, learning about the workings of the F-15 engine and the KC-135 Stratotanker, talking with special operators about their equipment and tactics watching a working-dog demonstration.
At one station, Airman Jason Jeffers demonstrated how he and his fellow "battlefield airmen" use robots to disable and destroy improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan. "A lot of people don't know that we're out there on the ground," said Jeffers, who is preparing for an upcoming deployment to the combat zone. "What we are doing allows forces to get through roads to complete their mission. We are going down there and we are saving lives."
A highlight for many was taking the controls of an F-15 simulator to experience the kind of training pilots go through to prepare for real-life missions. "We had them flying two F-15s side-by-side, running an intercept and trying to conduct an air-to-air engagement," explained site manger Spike Hafermann. "They're having a lot of fun," he said. "But they are also getting to see the realism of the training device and the type of technology we use to prepare our combat flyers before they go downrange."
As they compared stories about how well they'd done, or how quickly they'd "crashed," the JCOC participants shared impressions of what they'd witnessed during their USAFE visit.
"It was just fabulous," said Darrel Flanel, managing director for Merill Lynch Global Markets in New York. "I come away from this really impressed with extensive knowledge. The depth of intellect and the enthusiasm I saw, it's pretty amazing."
Reed said he welcomed the opportunity to show the civilian leaders what he called "the heart of who we are, our enlisted force," and the responsibility they carry in supporting the mission and U.S. national defense. "We're making demands on them every day, and every day, they are exceeding everything we asked of them," he said.
Brad Bulkley, president of Bulkley Capital in Dallas, said his experience at USAFE confirms the deep appreciation for the men and women in uniform he has developed this week as the JCOC group visited USS Iwo Jima near Crete and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas in Rota, Spain.
"A glaring irony strikes me as we go from location to location on this trip," Bulkley said. "It is the fact that as we greet the troops and they act impressed with our group's corporate credentials. What they don't realize is that we are the ones who truly in awe of them.
"Our men and women of the armed forces are very impressive, from their leadership [and] teamwork, to their visible, unbreakable spirit, even in the face of danger You can read about them in books or the press, but I've now seen the real armed forces and met the best of the best. They are our enlisted."
The JCOC group is continuing its visit to military activities throughout U.S. European Command.
The first U.S. defense secretary, James V. Forrestal, created the JCOC program in 1948 to introduce civilian "movers and shakers" with little or no military exposure to the workings of the armed forces. Nearly six decades later, it remains DoD's premier civic leader program.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
America Supports You: Camps Have Chance to Support Military Kids
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - As mathematical formulas and reading lists overtake kids' memories of laughing with friends at summer camp, the National Military Family Association is already gearing up to rekindle those memories for next year. The group is accepting applications from established, accredited camps willing to host its popular Operation Purple Camp program, said Michelle Joyner, director of communication for NMFA.
The program aims to help Military kids enjoy a carefree week while learning to deal with war-related stress and fostering relationships with others who know what they are going through.
"This past summer we had 100 weeks of camp ... in 62 locations in 36 states," Joyner said. "That's what we're looking for again [next] year.
"We'd like to have camps in the most heavily impacted Military communities. We've been fortunate to have a lot of camps in North Carolina, which can also serve its neighboring states."
NMFA especially would like to see Operation Purple camps in states with large National Guard communities including Texas, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Oregon. In addition, Joyner said she'd like to see camp opportunities expand in Southern California, like they have in Virginia.
"We know that, definitely, the families need this type of a resource," she said. "We're hearing from parents, kids, [and] parents that are stationed overseas, thanking us for providing the opportunity for their kids to be with other children who understand them."
Nearly 10,000 children attended Operation Purple camps this year. That's up from a little more than 4,000 last year. Joyner attributes the jump in participants, in large part, to a partnership with the Sierra Club Foundation. The partnership, a year-to-year initiative, provided necessary funding to cover campers' costs.
Camps interested in hosting an Operation Purple camp must submit proposals no later than Nov. 7. Information on the application process and what is expected of the camps selected is available from NMFA.
"We provide the curriculum. We provide the funding to cover the cost of the campers to attend [and] we also provide mental health counselors through the Family Life program," Joyner said. "This is one way that communities can help Military families and the kids."
The National Military Family Association is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - As mathematical formulas and reading lists overtake kids' memories of laughing with friends at summer camp, the National Military Family Association is already gearing up to rekindle those memories for next year. The group is accepting applications from established, accredited camps willing to host its popular Operation Purple Camp program, said Michelle Joyner, director of communication for NMFA.
The program aims to help Military kids enjoy a carefree week while learning to deal with war-related stress and fostering relationships with others who know what they are going through.
"This past summer we had 100 weeks of camp ... in 62 locations in 36 states," Joyner said. "That's what we're looking for again [next] year.
"We'd like to have camps in the most heavily impacted Military communities. We've been fortunate to have a lot of camps in North Carolina, which can also serve its neighboring states."
NMFA especially would like to see Operation Purple camps in states with large National Guard communities including Texas, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Oregon. In addition, Joyner said she'd like to see camp opportunities expand in Southern California, like they have in Virginia.
"We know that, definitely, the families need this type of a resource," she said. "We're hearing from parents, kids, [and] parents that are stationed overseas, thanking us for providing the opportunity for their kids to be with other children who understand them."
Nearly 10,000 children attended Operation Purple camps this year. That's up from a little more than 4,000 last year. Joyner attributes the jump in participants, in large part, to a partnership with the Sierra Club Foundation. The partnership, a year-to-year initiative, provided necessary funding to cover campers' costs.
Camps interested in hosting an Operation Purple camp must submit proposals no later than Nov. 7. Information on the application process and what is expected of the camps selected is available from NMFA.
"We provide the curriculum. We provide the funding to cover the cost of the campers to attend [and] we also provide mental health counselors through the Family Life program," Joyner said. "This is one way that communities can help Military families and the kids."
The National Military Family Association is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Face of Defense: Marine Links Up Via Satellite to Witness Childbirth
By Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - Like most soon-to-be first-time fathers, Marine Lance Cpl. Jovan Rodriguez anxiously awaited the birth of his child and looked forward to being by his wife's bedside. But Rodriguez, 20, is deployed here as a warehouse clerk with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5. As often happens to deployed servicemembers, operational commitments made it impossible for him to return to New Jersey for the birth.
As Rodriguez found, numerous options, such as Internet service and phones, are available to Marines to ensure they have the opportunity to keep in touch regularly with their families. However, personally experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event alongside their loved ones is not a frequent occurrence.
Undeterred, Rodriguez sought – and found -- an alternative solution.
"When we found out I couldn't go home, we did some research and found out we could do it by Web cam," Rodriguez said. He and his wife explained their situation and worked out the details with the hospital staff at Underwood Memorial Hospital, Franklinville, N.J. The staff agreed to allow a video teleconference for them during the birth of their baby girl.
Rodriguez flew from Camp Al Qa'im to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to be with his wife for the birth, and spent several days and nights waiting for the baby to arrive.
When the day finally came, Rodriguez spent hours at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center at Al Asad, joining his wife through a two-way audio and video connection.
"If something went wrong, they would have cut off the video and I would have been scared because it's my first time," said Rodriguez. As it turned out, the birth of Liliana Rodriguez went smoothly.
"I could see my wife and listen to her the whole time, and the labor went very smoothly," he said. "I consider myself one of the luckiest men in the world. I know a lot of (servicemembers) don't get to see the birth of their child, and I was blessed to be able to."
The Rodriguez's experience has given hope that more servicemembers will be able to witness major life events with their loved ones. Other Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, say they want to make the trip to Al Asad for the births of their children. Working with hospitals and the MWR centers, Marines may be able to interact with their loved ones during significant events like childbirth through a simple Internet connection.
(Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray is a public affairs officer with Regimental Combat Team 5.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - Like most soon-to-be first-time fathers, Marine Lance Cpl. Jovan Rodriguez anxiously awaited the birth of his child and looked forward to being by his wife's bedside. But Rodriguez, 20, is deployed here as a warehouse clerk with Task Force 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, Regimental Combat Team 5. As often happens to deployed servicemembers, operational commitments made it impossible for him to return to New Jersey for the birth.
As Rodriguez found, numerous options, such as Internet service and phones, are available to Marines to ensure they have the opportunity to keep in touch regularly with their families. However, personally experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event alongside their loved ones is not a frequent occurrence.
Undeterred, Rodriguez sought – and found -- an alternative solution.
"When we found out I couldn't go home, we did some research and found out we could do it by Web cam," Rodriguez said. He and his wife explained their situation and worked out the details with the hospital staff at Underwood Memorial Hospital, Franklinville, N.J. The staff agreed to allow a video teleconference for them during the birth of their baby girl.
Rodriguez flew from Camp Al Qa'im to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to be with his wife for the birth, and spent several days and nights waiting for the baby to arrive.
When the day finally came, Rodriguez spent hours at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center at Al Asad, joining his wife through a two-way audio and video connection.
"If something went wrong, they would have cut off the video and I would have been scared because it's my first time," said Rodriguez. As it turned out, the birth of Liliana Rodriguez went smoothly.
"I could see my wife and listen to her the whole time, and the labor went very smoothly," he said. "I consider myself one of the luckiest men in the world. I know a lot of (servicemembers) don't get to see the birth of their child, and I was blessed to be able to."
The Rodriguez's experience has given hope that more servicemembers will be able to witness major life events with their loved ones. Other Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, say they want to make the trip to Al Asad for the births of their children. Working with hospitals and the MWR centers, Marines may be able to interact with their loved ones during significant events like childbirth through a simple Internet connection.
(Lance Cpl. Joshua Murray is a public affairs officer with Regimental Combat Team 5.)
Civilian Leaders See Army Prepare Troops for Combat, Leadership
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - Civilian leaders from throughout the United States got insight today into how the U.S. Army in Europe prepares troops for combat and grooms soldiers in leadership skills. Participants in the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference visited the Headquarters Joint Multinational Training Command here at the U.S. European Command's largest military training center.
Col. Timothy Touzinsky, chief of staff, emphasized the importance of training for U.S. Army Europe's 45,000 soldiers, about 35 percent of whom are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
"Our focus is on training and preparing units for operations ongoing now, but they also have to be capable of conducting the full spectrum of conflict so they are prepared for future contingencies as well," Touzinsky said.
The Grafenwoehr Training Area in eastern Bavaria offers the broadest training opportunities within JMTC, enabling soldiers to live-fire every weapon from small arms to Bradley fighting vehicles, M1A2 Abrams tanks and artillery, Touzinsky said.
In addition, specialized training areas and simulation centers bring realism to training to prepare troops for what they are likely to encounter in the combat theater.
While ensuring U.S. soldiers' combat readiness, headquarters command also trains international partners who operate with U.S. forces. "This is the only place where the Army routinely trains with multinational and coalition partners," Touzinsky said. He noted that 86 percent of the coalition in Afghanistan and 73 percent of the coalition in Iraq come from the EuCom area of responsibility.
The JCOC group visited the small arms master marksmanship course, where they got to fire the M4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 squad automatic weapon, and 240B and M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
"It gives me a new respect for the firepower at the disposal of our young men and women," said Jon Wolfshal, senior fellow for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Later in the day, Sgt. 1st Class Humberto Figuero, non-commissioned officer in charge of the medical simulation training center, described the combat lifesaving training all soldiers receive before they deploy. The training uses realistic mannequins that duplicate human vital signs and medical simulators.
Ensuring all soldiers know how to administer this first-level care is reducing the three leading causes of battlefield deaths -- blood loss, collapsed lungs and obstructed airways – and saving lives, Figuero said.
Staff Sgt. Eric Jackson, an instructor in the Warrior Leader Course here, is proof of the training's effectiveness. When he took a sniper's bullet just below his body armor during his second deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, his team leader was the first to provide life-saving aid until the medic could treat him.
"Your medic can't always get to you right away, so you need to be able to rely on your buddy to be there for you," he said. "And when I went down, he knew what to do even before I knew I'd been hit."
Jackson called the training critical to providing soldiers the skills they need to lead in combat. "Learning on a combat field is the wrong place to learn," he said.
"We are injecting all the different kinds of scenarios they could run into so that when they encounter something while they're deployed, it's not the first time, or at least it's similar to something they've already experienced," Jackson said.
"The Army is focused on teaching its soldiers to adapt, so they are ready for whatever they come up against," he said. "The training we offer here builds up their confidence and gives them the tools they need so they can adapt to any situation."
Darrel Flanel, managing director for Merill Lynch Global Markets, said seeing the training U.S. Army Europe offers its soldiers dovetails with Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard activities the JCOC group observed earlier this week to show the full spectrum of EuCom operations. "It puts perspective to all the high-tech operations we saw, and what it's all about supporting," he said.
Allen Joines, mayor of Winston-Salem, N.C., said the visit to Grafenwoehr reaffirmed the deep appreciation he's gained this week for the U.S. military.
"I have been extraordinarily impressed with the level of technology being used by our armed forces," Joines said. "I am even more impressed by the men and women who serve us. They are talented, well educated and committed to service. We should all be proud of them."
Participants in the JCOC conference are business, civic, academic and community leaders, selected from hundreds of candidates nominated by military commands worldwide.
JCOC was initiated in 1948 by Defense Secretary James V. Forrestal and is the Department's premier civic leader program. This was the 76th conference since its inception.
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - Civilian leaders from throughout the United States got insight today into how the U.S. Army in Europe prepares troops for combat and grooms soldiers in leadership skills. Participants in the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference visited the Headquarters Joint Multinational Training Command here at the U.S. European Command's largest military training center.
Col. Timothy Touzinsky, chief of staff, emphasized the importance of training for U.S. Army Europe's 45,000 soldiers, about 35 percent of whom are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
"Our focus is on training and preparing units for operations ongoing now, but they also have to be capable of conducting the full spectrum of conflict so they are prepared for future contingencies as well," Touzinsky said.
The Grafenwoehr Training Area in eastern Bavaria offers the broadest training opportunities within JMTC, enabling soldiers to live-fire every weapon from small arms to Bradley fighting vehicles, M1A2 Abrams tanks and artillery, Touzinsky said.
In addition, specialized training areas and simulation centers bring realism to training to prepare troops for what they are likely to encounter in the combat theater.
While ensuring U.S. soldiers' combat readiness, headquarters command also trains international partners who operate with U.S. forces. "This is the only place where the Army routinely trains with multinational and coalition partners," Touzinsky said. He noted that 86 percent of the coalition in Afghanistan and 73 percent of the coalition in Iraq come from the EuCom area of responsibility.
The JCOC group visited the small arms master marksmanship course, where they got to fire the M4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 squad automatic weapon, and 240B and M2 .50-caliber machine gun.
"It gives me a new respect for the firepower at the disposal of our young men and women," said Jon Wolfshal, senior fellow for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Later in the day, Sgt. 1st Class Humberto Figuero, non-commissioned officer in charge of the medical simulation training center, described the combat lifesaving training all soldiers receive before they deploy. The training uses realistic mannequins that duplicate human vital signs and medical simulators.
Ensuring all soldiers know how to administer this first-level care is reducing the three leading causes of battlefield deaths -- blood loss, collapsed lungs and obstructed airways – and saving lives, Figuero said.
Staff Sgt. Eric Jackson, an instructor in the Warrior Leader Course here, is proof of the training's effectiveness. When he took a sniper's bullet just below his body armor during his second deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, his team leader was the first to provide life-saving aid until the medic could treat him.
"Your medic can't always get to you right away, so you need to be able to rely on your buddy to be there for you," he said. "And when I went down, he knew what to do even before I knew I'd been hit."
Jackson called the training critical to providing soldiers the skills they need to lead in combat. "Learning on a combat field is the wrong place to learn," he said.
"We are injecting all the different kinds of scenarios they could run into so that when they encounter something while they're deployed, it's not the first time, or at least it's similar to something they've already experienced," Jackson said.
"The Army is focused on teaching its soldiers to adapt, so they are ready for whatever they come up against," he said. "The training we offer here builds up their confidence and gives them the tools they need so they can adapt to any situation."
Darrel Flanel, managing director for Merill Lynch Global Markets, said seeing the training U.S. Army Europe offers its soldiers dovetails with Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard activities the JCOC group observed earlier this week to show the full spectrum of EuCom operations. "It puts perspective to all the high-tech operations we saw, and what it's all about supporting," he said.
Allen Joines, mayor of Winston-Salem, N.C., said the visit to Grafenwoehr reaffirmed the deep appreciation he's gained this week for the U.S. military.
"I have been extraordinarily impressed with the level of technology being used by our armed forces," Joines said. "I am even more impressed by the men and women who serve us. They are talented, well educated and committed to service. We should all be proud of them."
Participants in the JCOC conference are business, civic, academic and community leaders, selected from hundreds of candidates nominated by military commands worldwide.
JCOC was initiated in 1948 by Defense Secretary James V. Forrestal and is the Department's premier civic leader program. This was the 76th conference since its inception.
MILITARY CONTRACTS September 24, 2008
Navy
Barnhart, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $54,191,991 firm fixed price contract for the design and construction of a weapons and armament Technology center, to serve the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division at the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake. The work to be performed provides for technical and management support offices, general engineering laboratories and Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) spaces and conference facilities. The contract contains options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $61,642,262. Work will be performed in China Lake, Calif., and is expected to be completed by July 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-08-C-2210).
Shock Tube Systems, Inc.*, Sterling, Conn., is being awarded a firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a maximum value of $44,896,786 for MK 150, MK 151, MK 152, MK 153, MK 154 and MK 155 MOD 0 Delay Detonators with an in-line initiator. The MK 150 – MK 155 MOD 0 Delay Detonators will be used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, Navy SEALS and Marines as initiating agents for a variety of blasting applications. These units are used in weapon systems for general demolition, disposal of unexploded ordnance and/or breeching operations. Work will be performed in Sterling, Conn., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $545,817 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the World Wide Web, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N000164-08-D-JN28).
Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded a $41,790,575 firm fixed priced modification to delivery order #0003 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5031) for the purchase of 90-day consumables; Prescribed Load List (PLL); labor support and Authorized Stockage List (ASL). Work will be performed in, Ladson, S.C., and work is expected to be completed no later than Oct. 29, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Federal Cartridge Company, Anoka, Minn., is being awarded a maximum value $39,155,975 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for 7.62 mm special long range ammunition. This procurement is for 7.62mm special long range ammunition, which will be used by the United States Navy as operational and training rounds. Work will be performed in Anoka, Minn., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $819,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with three offers received via the World-Wide Web. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N000164-08-D-JM15).
EJB Facilities Services, Arlington, Va., is being awarded $38,895,798 which provides for exercise of the third option period under a previously awarded combination firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (N44255-05-D-5103) with award options for Base Operations Support (BOS) services in the Navy Region Northwest, West Sound area. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, all management and administration, public safety, supply, housing, facilities support (excluding grounds and janitorial services), utilities, base support vehicles and equipment, and environmental services to provide base operations and support services. The current total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $223,842,047. Work will be performed at various installations in the Navy Region Northwest area of responsibility, and work is expected to be completed Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity.
Watts Constructors, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $32,680,286 firm fixed price contract for the USS Arizona Memorial replacement. The work to be performed provides for the construction of new buildings to support security, restroom, sale, education, offices, exhibits, and resting areas. Renovation of the existing theater and demolition of the existing facility shall follow after the majority of these buildings are completed. The work includes pile foundations, reinforced concrete floor slabs, steel joist, steel decking, flashing and sheet metal work, concrete masonry unit and exterior walls, exterior insulation and finish system, doors, photo-voltaic panels, shade structure, roofing, windows, architectural finishes, plumbing, air conditioning and ventilation, fire protection, access control system, electrical work, and incidental related work. Supporting facilities include landscaping, asphalt concrete pavements, connecting utilities, electrical and communication ducts, fencing, and site improvements. Work will be performed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website,with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-08-C-1325).
Walton Construction Co., LLC, Harahan, La., is being awarded a $25,260,000 firm fixed price contract for design and construction of a barracks complex at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The work to be performed provides for one barrack, a headquarters building, and utility infrastructure. The contract also contains two options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $77,980,000. Work will be performed in Beaufort, S.C., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-08-C-1759).
ITT Corporation, Systems Division, Colorado Springs, Colo., is being awarded a $13,084,214 firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee contract for continuation of range operations support and base operations support services at Pacific Missle Range Facility, Island of Kauai, Hawaii. Work will be performed at Kauai, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed by December 2008. The contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded $12,603,692 for firm fixed price task order #0004 under a previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity environmental multiple award contract (N62473-08-D-8824) for remedial action sediment removal at Installation Restoration Site 17, Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point. The work to be performed provides for the preparation of the draft and final remedial action work plan and finalizing miscellaneous planning documents; project management; project meetings; laboratory support; remedial action fieldwork; data evaluation, and preparation of a remedial action closeout report. Work also includes excavation and disposal of sediment containing contaminants that exceed the remedial action cleanup goals. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $14,575,671. Work will be performed in Alameda, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four (4) proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Nammo-Talley, Inc., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a maximum value $11,500,000 firm fixed-price, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract for the acquisition of shoulder-fired, Lightweight Assault Weapon (LAW) in two combat configurations, M72A7 and M72A9, along with training support items. Training items procured under this contract include the M72AS Training Launchers and the M72AS Training Rockets. The M72 LAW is a 66mm man-portable, lightweight, direct shoulder fired weapon that consists of an in-tube burning, free flight rocket prepackaged in a disposable launcher. The launcher is a lightweight, telescoping, single shot, throw away item consisting of an aluminum inner tube, an outer tube, a tube detonation device, a mechanical sight system, a firing mechanism, safety interlocks, an integral rear cover and shoulder rest and carry sling with front cover. The main difference between the two tactical configurations to be procured is the warhead. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N000164-08-D-JN03).
Pro Construction, Inc., Jacksonville, N.C., is being awarded $9,740,981 for firm fixed price task order #0032 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-07-D-1911) for construction of squadron facilities at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The work to be performed provides for site improvements and foundations for eight modular buildings for administrative space and an addition to an existing pre-engineered building for warehouse use and shop/supply support for the Marine Tactical Air Control Group; site improvements and foundations for a modular building and one pre-engineered building to support multiple vehicles and communication gear for the Marine Wing Communication Squadron including one (government furnished) pre-engineered building, two 50,000 gallon water storage tanks and fire pump house; site improvements and a brick veneer building to include a motor transport area with three equipment service bays for the Marine Air Control Squadron including an operational pad for airfield operations adjacent to Runway 23R and incidental related work. Work will be performed in Cherry Point, N.C., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.
Broadmoor LLC., Metairie, La., is being awarded $9,699,786 for firm fixed price task order #0001 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for design and construction of a special operations forces riverine and combatant craft operations facility, at Stennis Space Center. The work to be performed provides for all design and construction work for the operations building, boat maintenance building, and boat storage building. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request to proposal. The task order also contains eight options, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $12,390,734. Work will be performed in Stennis, Miss., and is expected to be completed by April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N62467-05-D-0096).
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded an $8,820,000 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded firm fixed price delivery order contract (N00383-06-D-001J) for in-service engineering and logistics services in support of the Royal Australian Air force F/A-18F aircraft. In addition, this modification provides for the design, development, fabrication, qualification, and delivery of the Logistics Support Analysis Records (LSAR) and the Automated Maintenance Environment (AME). Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (75 percent); Amberley, Australia (10 percent); Brisbane, Australia (10 percent); and Patuxent River, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2010. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.
Soltek Pacific Construction Company, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $8,445,856 for firm fixed task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-06-D-1058) for repair of Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) Building 14031 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for the repair and renovation of the existing four-story BEQ and associated site work in the 14 Area, Mainside Headquarters. The task order also contains one option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $9,963,575. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Straub Construction, Inc., Bonsall, Calif., is being awarded $7,627,000 for firm fixed price task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-08-D-8616) for design and construction of Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Battle Courses at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of Battle Courses. This project will provide counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training facilities by additions to the training areas and ranges. The project will include training lanes, a range support facility, information systems, electrical utilities, paving and site improvements, site preparations, a mock pedestrian overpass, tunnel, and range safety features. The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $8,069,800. Work will be performed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Notkin Mechanical Engineers, Inc.*, Seattle Wash., is being awarded a maximum amount $7,500,000 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity architect/engineering contract for mechanical/electrical projects in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for new designs, evaluations, studies for maintenance, construction, equipment installation, repair and replacement of a wide range of facilities and structures, with an emphasis on aircraft runways and facilities, air traffic control towers, aircraft runway projects including combat loading area, direct refueling facilities, runway lighting, and structural designs for new and existing facilities. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Northwest AOR including, but not limited to Wash. (92 percent); Ore. (2 percent); Idaho (2 percent); Alaska (2 percent); Mont. (1 percent); Wyo. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $10,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity (N44255-08-D-3009).
General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,498,742 cost plus fixed fee, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for operations, management and maintenance of assigned DOD satellites and network systems. This contract consists of one base year, and six one-year options, which if exercised, bring the total estimated value of the contract to $56,981,670. Work will be performed at Point Mugu, Calif. Work is to be completed by Sept. 2014. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with two offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego, Calif. is the contracting activity.
Bell Boeing Tiltrotor Team, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $6,500,744 ceiling priced order contract for spare components for the MV-22 aircraft. Work will be performed at Hurst, Texas, and work is expected to be completed by July 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract not was competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $6,369,901 cost plus incentive fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-07-G-0008) for the continued development for a Comprehensive Automated Maintenance Environment (CAMEO) technical capabilities system for the V-22 Osprey. The CAMEO will provide an adaptable joint service technical capability that supports continuous integration of technical data and automation of operational, maintenance and logistical processes to improve aircraft readiness and reduce sustainment costs for the war fighter community. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pa. (50 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (45 percent); and San Diego, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Company, McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $6,100,000 firm fixed price job order against basic ordering agreement (N00164-08-G-WT32) for spares to the SeaVue System. SeaVue is a high-performance maritime and overland radar system that provides cost-effective surveillance for fixed-wing, helicopter, ship and land-based applications. This contract will expedite repairs to the SeaVue System. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $6,100,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
SatCon Applied Technology, Inc., Boston Mass., is being awarded a $5,985,574 cost plus fixed fee contract for development of a 500kW prototype subset of a large Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Class of Ships. Under this effort SatCon Applied Technology will design, develop, build and test a large UPS that when used in total can support the shipboard distribution system at 2.5 MW for 10 minutes. This contract contains an option, which if exercised, would bring the value of the contract to $6,352,707. Work will be performed in Linthicum Md (56 percent); Plano, Texas (31 percent); Wilmington, Del. (8 percent); and Thorofare, N.J. (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed Sept 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under ONR Broad Agency Announcement BAA 107-029. Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00014-08-C-0609).
Air force
The Air force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract by exercising an option with Space Coast launch Services (SCLS) of Patrick AFB, Fla., for $40,169,397. This action provides for launch operations support. The mission of the launch operations support program is to provide operations maintenance and engineering support to critical launch, spacecraft and ordnance facilities and support systems owned by the 45th Space Wing. These facilities and systems are vital to the support of Department of Defense, civil and commercial space launch processing at Cape Canaveral Air force Station, Florida. The launch operations support contractor (LOSC) is responsible for planning and executing all preventive and corrective maintenance and performing configuration changes to LOSC facilities and systems necessary to achieve the greatest operational availability for mission support. This action awards the FY08 option for launch support, the third of ten contract options. At this time no funds have been obligated. 45th Contracting Squadron (LGCZL), Patrick AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2521-05-C-0008, Modification P00063).
Reliance Steel and Aluminum Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah; TW Metals of Carol Stream, Ill.; and Western States Metals of Salt Lake City, Utah, are being awarded a firm fixed price contract for a maximum of $15 million. The Metals Strategic Sourcing contract will support quarterly forecasts buys, the just-in-time busing workloads, local manufacture support, and other metal needs to the 309th MXW. Each delivery order will specify the metal types and quantities needed. At this time $39.651.84 has been obligated. OO-ALC/PKESA, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8224-08-D-0014-0001, FA8224-08-D-0015-0001, FA8224-08-D-0016-0001).
Army
Kinsley Construction Company Inc, York, Pa., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $26,757,786 firm/fixed/price contract for a followon Project167 th Airlift Wing Base conversion from C-130 to C-5 Aircrafts. Work will be performed in Martinsburg, W.Va., with an estimated completion date of April, 2010. Proposals solicited were two-phase design build source selections, and three proposals were received. National Guard Bureau, Buckhannon, W. Va., is the contracting activity (W912L8-08-C-0016).
R. C. Construction Company Inc, Greenwood, Miss., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2008, a $21,555,595 firm/fixed/fee price contract to construct a permanent general purpose warehouse approximately 165,000 square feet, with 20-foot clear stacking height, weather sealed truck doors, loading/unloading docks with dock levelers, connection to all utilities and paved roadways and hard stand aprons. Work will be performed in Robins Air force Base, Ga., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 20, 2010. Proposals solicited were sixty-two and five proposals were received. US Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0058).
L-3 services Inc, Reston, Va., was awarded on Sept. 21, 2008, a $15,986,165 labor/hour contract. The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide the Joint Staff with It systems integration services in order to support its current transformation to a network-centric environment on the Secure Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNET) infrastructure. Work will be performed in Wash ., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2009. Bids were solicited via FedBizOpps Synopsis and Sol and one bid was received. W91WAW Contracting center of Excellence is the contracting activity (W91WAW-08-C-0102).
Tunista Inc, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $11,969,314 firm fixed fee price contract for design /construct unit operations facilities (PN68853) Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Work will be performed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited via the Web and two bids were received. US Army Engineer District, Elmendorf, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-08-C-0025).
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Inc, Burlington, Vt., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2008, a $9,952,145 firm fixed fee price contract for procuring 829 each M2 machine guns. Work will be performed in Saco, Maine, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009. One was solicited and one bid was received. TACOM LCMC, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-07-C-0125).
Cycle Construction, Kenner, La., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $9,737,000 firm fixed price contract for SCADA-Remote Automation of 2 new pump stations and 5 existing pump stations at various locations in the New Orleans vicinity. Work will be performed in Jefferson and other parishes, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 15, 2009. Bids were solicited via Matoc-Hubzone Small Business Firm and three bids were received. US Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-D-0065).
ECC International LLC, Burlingame, Calif., was awarded on Sept. 20, 2009, a $9,130,978 firm fixed price contract for design and construction of facilities to support the Counter Narcotic Police Headquarters Compound, Kabul, Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Kabul, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 20, 2009. Bids were solicited via the Web and three bids were received. US Army Engineer District, Afghanistan, is the contracting activity (W917PM-07-D-0015).
OCCI Inc, Fulton, Mo., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $7,996,741 firm fixed price contract. The work consists of the rehabilitation of sector gates for the Colorado River Locks, East and West Locks. Work will be performed in Matagorda County, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2009. Bids were solicited via Unrestricted Procurement and two bids were received. USA Engineer District, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-08-C-0032).
General Dynamics Land Systems Inc, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2008, a $6,500,000 firm fixed price contract for system technical support (STS) for the Abrams tank program to include support to previously produced vehicles, specifically, conversion of M1A1 technical manuals and backlog data to two-level maintenance. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0046).
LUHR Bros., Inc, Columbia, Ill., was awarded on Sept. 19, 2008, a $6,220,000 firm fixed price contract. The work consists of dredging approximately 2,000,000 cubic yards of material to be used for placement area levee rehabilitation and construction. Work will be performed in Galveston County, Texas with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2009. Bids were solicited via Unrestricted Procurement and six bids were received. US Engineer District, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912H-08-C-0029).
Barnhart, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $54,191,991 firm fixed price contract for the design and construction of a weapons and armament Technology center, to serve the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division at the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake. The work to be performed provides for technical and management support offices, general engineering laboratories and Secure Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) spaces and conference facilities. The contract contains options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $61,642,262. Work will be performed in China Lake, Calif., and is expected to be completed by July 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Naval Facilities Engineering Command e-solicitation website with three proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-08-C-2210).
Shock Tube Systems, Inc.*, Sterling, Conn., is being awarded a firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with a maximum value of $44,896,786 for MK 150, MK 151, MK 152, MK 153, MK 154 and MK 155 MOD 0 Delay Detonators with an in-line initiator. The MK 150 – MK 155 MOD 0 Delay Detonators will be used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, Navy SEALS and Marines as initiating agents for a variety of blasting applications. These units are used in weapon systems for general demolition, disposal of unexploded ordnance and/or breeching operations. Work will be performed in Sterling, Conn., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $545,817 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the World Wide Web, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N000164-08-D-JN28).
Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded a $41,790,575 firm fixed priced modification to delivery order #0003 under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5031) for the purchase of 90-day consumables; Prescribed Load List (PLL); labor support and Authorized Stockage List (ASL). Work will be performed in, Ladson, S.C., and work is expected to be completed no later than Oct. 29, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Federal Cartridge Company, Anoka, Minn., is being awarded a maximum value $39,155,975 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for 7.62 mm special long range ammunition. This procurement is for 7.62mm special long range ammunition, which will be used by the United States Navy as operational and training rounds. Work will be performed in Anoka, Minn., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $819,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with three offers received via the World-Wide Web. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N000164-08-D-JM15).
EJB Facilities Services, Arlington, Va., is being awarded $38,895,798 which provides for exercise of the third option period under a previously awarded combination firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract (N44255-05-D-5103) with award options for Base Operations Support (BOS) services in the Navy Region Northwest, West Sound area. The work to be performed provides for, but is not limited to, all management and administration, public safety, supply, housing, facilities support (excluding grounds and janitorial services), utilities, base support vehicles and equipment, and environmental services to provide base operations and support services. The current total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $223,842,047. Work will be performed at various installations in the Navy Region Northwest area of responsibility, and work is expected to be completed Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity.
Watts Constructors, LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii, is being awarded a $32,680,286 firm fixed price contract for the USS Arizona Memorial replacement. The work to be performed provides for the construction of new buildings to support security, restroom, sale, education, offices, exhibits, and resting areas. Renovation of the existing theater and demolition of the existing facility shall follow after the majority of these buildings are completed. The work includes pile foundations, reinforced concrete floor slabs, steel joist, steel decking, flashing and sheet metal work, concrete masonry unit and exterior walls, exterior insulation and finish system, doors, photo-voltaic panels, shade structure, roofing, windows, architectural finishes, plumbing, air conditioning and ventilation, fire protection, access control system, electrical work, and incidental related work. Supporting facilities include landscaping, asphalt concrete pavements, connecting utilities, electrical and communication ducts, fencing, and site improvements. Work will be performed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website,with seven proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62742-08-C-1325).
Walton Construction Co., LLC, Harahan, La., is being awarded a $25,260,000 firm fixed price contract for design and construction of a barracks complex at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. The work to be performed provides for one barrack, a headquarters building, and utility infrastructure. The contract also contains two options, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $77,980,000. Work will be performed in Beaufort, S.C., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N69450-08-C-1759).
ITT Corporation, Systems Division, Colorado Springs, Colo., is being awarded a $13,084,214 firm fixed price, cost plus fixed fee contract for continuation of range operations support and base operations support services at Pacific Missle Range Facility, Island of Kauai, Hawaii. Work will be performed at Kauai, Hawaii, and work is expected to be completed by December 2008. The contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity.
Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio, is being awarded $12,603,692 for firm fixed price task order #0004 under a previously awarded indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity environmental multiple award contract (N62473-08-D-8824) for remedial action sediment removal at Installation Restoration Site 17, Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point. The work to be performed provides for the preparation of the draft and final remedial action work plan and finalizing miscellaneous planning documents; project management; project meetings; laboratory support; remedial action fieldwork; data evaluation, and preparation of a remedial action closeout report. Work also includes excavation and disposal of sediment containing contaminants that exceed the remedial action cleanup goals. The task order also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $14,575,671. Work will be performed in Alameda, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four (4) proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Nammo-Talley, Inc., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a maximum value $11,500,000 firm fixed-price, indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract for the acquisition of shoulder-fired, Lightweight Assault Weapon (LAW) in two combat configurations, M72A7 and M72A9, along with training support items. Training items procured under this contract include the M72AS Training Launchers and the M72AS Training Rockets. The M72 LAW is a 66mm man-portable, lightweight, direct shoulder fired weapon that consists of an in-tube burning, free flight rocket prepackaged in a disposable launcher. The launcher is a lightweight, telescoping, single shot, throw away item consisting of an aluminum inner tube, an outer tube, a tube detonation device, a mechanical sight system, a firing mechanism, safety interlocks, an integral rear cover and shoulder rest and carry sling with front cover. The main difference between the two tactical configurations to be procured is the warhead. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N000164-08-D-JN03).
Pro Construction, Inc., Jacksonville, N.C., is being awarded $9,740,981 for firm fixed price task order #0032 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N40085-07-D-1911) for construction of squadron facilities at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. The work to be performed provides for site improvements and foundations for eight modular buildings for administrative space and an addition to an existing pre-engineered building for warehouse use and shop/supply support for the Marine Tactical Air Control Group; site improvements and foundations for a modular building and one pre-engineered building to support multiple vehicles and communication gear for the Marine Wing Communication Squadron including one (government furnished) pre-engineered building, two 50,000 gallon water storage tanks and fire pump house; site improvements and a brick veneer building to include a motor transport area with three equipment service bays for the Marine Air Control Squadron including an operational pad for airfield operations adjacent to Runway 23R and incidental related work. Work will be performed in Cherry Point, N.C., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity.
Broadmoor LLC., Metairie, La., is being awarded $9,699,786 for firm fixed price task order #0001 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract for design and construction of a special operations forces riverine and combatant craft operations facility, at Stennis Space Center. The work to be performed provides for all design and construction work for the operations building, boat maintenance building, and boat storage building. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, engineering, materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies and transportation to perform all work described in the request to proposal. The task order also contains eight options, which if exercised would increase cumulative task order value to $12,390,734. Work will be performed in Stennis, Miss., and is expected to be completed by April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Five proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (N62467-05-D-0096).
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded an $8,820,000 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded firm fixed price delivery order contract (N00383-06-D-001J) for in-service engineering and logistics services in support of the Royal Australian Air force F/A-18F aircraft. In addition, this modification provides for the design, development, fabrication, qualification, and delivery of the Logistics Support Analysis Records (LSAR) and the Automated Maintenance Environment (AME). Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (75 percent); Amberley, Australia (10 percent); Brisbane, Australia (10 percent); and Patuxent River, Md. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2010. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting activity.
Soltek Pacific Construction Company, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $8,445,856 for firm fixed task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-06-D-1058) for repair of Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) Building 14031 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The work to be performed provides for the repair and renovation of the existing four-story BEQ and associated site work in the 14 Area, Mainside Headquarters. The task order also contains one option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $9,963,575. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by April 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Straub Construction, Inc., Bonsall, Calif., is being awarded $7,627,000 for firm fixed price task order #0002 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-08-D-8616) for design and construction of Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Battle Courses at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of Battle Courses. This project will provide counter Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training facilities by additions to the training areas and ranges. The project will include training lanes, a range support facility, information systems, electrical utilities, paving and site improvements, site preparations, a mock pedestrian overpass, tunnel, and range safety features. The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to $8,069,800. Work will be performed in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and is expected to be completed by August 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Four proposals were received for this task order. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity.
Notkin Mechanical Engineers, Inc.*, Seattle Wash., is being awarded a maximum amount $7,500,000 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity architect/engineering contract for mechanical/electrical projects in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for new designs, evaluations, studies for maintenance, construction, equipment installation, repair and replacement of a wide range of facilities and structures, with an emphasis on aircraft runways and facilities, air traffic control towers, aircraft runway projects including combat loading area, direct refueling facilities, runway lighting, and structural designs for new and existing facilities. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Northwest AOR including, but not limited to Wash. (92 percent); Ore. (2 percent); Idaho (2 percent); Alaska (2 percent); Mont. (1 percent); Wyo. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $10,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the NAVFAC e-solicitation website with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Northwest, Silverdale, Wash., is the contracting activity (N44255-08-D-3009).
General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., is being awarded a $7,498,742 cost plus fixed fee, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for operations, management and maintenance of assigned DOD satellites and network systems. This contract consists of one base year, and six one-year options, which if exercised, bring the total estimated value of the contract to $56,981,670. Work will be performed at Point Mugu, Calif. Work is to be completed by Sept. 2014. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with two offers received. The Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego, Calif. is the contracting activity.
Bell Boeing Tiltrotor Team, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $6,500,744 ceiling priced order contract for spare components for the MV-22 aircraft. Work will be performed at Hurst, Texas, and work is expected to be completed by July 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract not was competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.
Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $6,369,901 cost plus incentive fee delivery order against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-07-G-0008) for the continued development for a Comprehensive Automated Maintenance Environment (CAMEO) technical capabilities system for the V-22 Osprey. The CAMEO will provide an adaptable joint service technical capability that supports continuous integration of technical data and automation of operational, maintenance and logistical processes to improve aircraft readiness and reduce sustainment costs for the war fighter community. Work will be performed in Ridley Park, Pa. (50 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (45 percent); and San Diego, Calif. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Company, McKinney, Texas, is being awarded a $6,100,000 firm fixed price job order against basic ordering agreement (N00164-08-G-WT32) for spares to the SeaVue System. SeaVue is a high-performance maritime and overland radar system that provides cost-effective surveillance for fixed-wing, helicopter, ship and land-based applications. This contract will expedite repairs to the SeaVue System. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Jan. 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $6,100,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity.
SatCon Applied Technology, Inc., Boston Mass., is being awarded a $5,985,574 cost plus fixed fee contract for development of a 500kW prototype subset of a large Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Class of Ships. Under this effort SatCon Applied Technology will design, develop, build and test a large UPS that when used in total can support the shipboard distribution system at 2.5 MW for 10 minutes. This contract contains an option, which if exercised, would bring the value of the contract to $6,352,707. Work will be performed in Linthicum Md (56 percent); Plano, Texas (31 percent); Wilmington, Del. (8 percent); and Thorofare, N.J. (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed Sept 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under ONR Broad Agency Announcement BAA 107-029. Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00014-08-C-0609).
Air force
The Air force is modifying a cost plus award fee contract by exercising an option with Space Coast launch Services (SCLS) of Patrick AFB, Fla., for $40,169,397. This action provides for launch operations support. The mission of the launch operations support program is to provide operations maintenance and engineering support to critical launch, spacecraft and ordnance facilities and support systems owned by the 45th Space Wing. These facilities and systems are vital to the support of Department of Defense, civil and commercial space launch processing at Cape Canaveral Air force Station, Florida. The launch operations support contractor (LOSC) is responsible for planning and executing all preventive and corrective maintenance and performing configuration changes to LOSC facilities and systems necessary to achieve the greatest operational availability for mission support. This action awards the FY08 option for launch support, the third of ten contract options. At this time no funds have been obligated. 45th Contracting Squadron (LGCZL), Patrick AFB, Fla., is the contracting activity (FA2521-05-C-0008, Modification P00063).
Reliance Steel and Aluminum Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah; TW Metals of Carol Stream, Ill.; and Western States Metals of Salt Lake City, Utah, are being awarded a firm fixed price contract for a maximum of $15 million. The Metals Strategic Sourcing contract will support quarterly forecasts buys, the just-in-time busing workloads, local manufacture support, and other metal needs to the 309th MXW. Each delivery order will specify the metal types and quantities needed. At this time $39.651.84 has been obligated. OO-ALC/PKESA, Hill AFB, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8224-08-D-0014-0001, FA8224-08-D-0015-0001, FA8224-08-D-0016-0001).
Army
Kinsley Construction Company Inc, York, Pa., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $26,757,786 firm/fixed/price contract for a followon Project167 th Airlift Wing Base conversion from C-130 to C-5 Aircrafts. Work will be performed in Martinsburg, W.Va., with an estimated completion date of April, 2010. Proposals solicited were two-phase design build source selections, and three proposals were received. National Guard Bureau, Buckhannon, W. Va., is the contracting activity (W912L8-08-C-0016).
R. C. Construction Company Inc, Greenwood, Miss., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2008, a $21,555,595 firm/fixed/fee price contract to construct a permanent general purpose warehouse approximately 165,000 square feet, with 20-foot clear stacking height, weather sealed truck doors, loading/unloading docks with dock levelers, connection to all utilities and paved roadways and hard stand aprons. Work will be performed in Robins Air force Base, Ga., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 20, 2010. Proposals solicited were sixty-two and five proposals were received. US Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-C-0058).
L-3 services Inc, Reston, Va., was awarded on Sept. 21, 2008, a $15,986,165 labor/hour contract. The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to provide the Joint Staff with It systems integration services in order to support its current transformation to a network-centric environment on the Secure Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNET) infrastructure. Work will be performed in Wash ., with an estimated completion date of April 30, 2009. Bids were solicited via FedBizOpps Synopsis and Sol and one bid was received. W91WAW Contracting center of Excellence is the contracting activity (W91WAW-08-C-0102).
Tunista Inc, Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $11,969,314 firm fixed fee price contract for design /construct unit operations facilities (PN68853) Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Work will be performed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2010. Bids were solicited via the Web and two bids were received. US Army Engineer District, Elmendorf, Alaska, is the contracting activity (W911KB-08-C-0025).
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Inc, Burlington, Vt., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2008, a $9,952,145 firm fixed fee price contract for procuring 829 each M2 machine guns. Work will be performed in Saco, Maine, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2009. One was solicited and one bid was received. TACOM LCMC, Rock Island, Ill., is the contracting activity (W52H09-07-C-0125).
Cycle Construction, Kenner, La., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $9,737,000 firm fixed price contract for SCADA-Remote Automation of 2 new pump stations and 5 existing pump stations at various locations in the New Orleans vicinity. Work will be performed in Jefferson and other parishes, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 15, 2009. Bids were solicited via Matoc-Hubzone Small Business Firm and three bids were received. US Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, La., is the contracting activity (W912P8-08-D-0065).
ECC International LLC, Burlingame, Calif., was awarded on Sept. 20, 2009, a $9,130,978 firm fixed price contract for design and construction of facilities to support the Counter Narcotic Police Headquarters Compound, Kabul, Afghanistan. Work will be performed in Kabul, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 20, 2009. Bids were solicited via the Web and three bids were received. US Army Engineer District, Afghanistan, is the contracting activity (W917PM-07-D-0015).
OCCI Inc, Fulton, Mo., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2008, a $7,996,741 firm fixed price contract. The work consists of the rehabilitation of sector gates for the Colorado River Locks, East and West Locks. Work will be performed in Matagorda County, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2009. Bids were solicited via Unrestricted Procurement and two bids were received. USA Engineer District, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912HY-08-C-0032).
General Dynamics Land Systems Inc, Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Sept. 23, 2008, a $6,500,000 firm fixed price contract for system technical support (STS) for the Abrams tank program to include support to previously produced vehicles, specifically, conversion of M1A1 technical manuals and backlog data to two-level maintenance. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011. One bid was solicited and one bid was received. TACOM, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-07-C-0046).
LUHR Bros., Inc, Columbia, Ill., was awarded on Sept. 19, 2008, a $6,220,000 firm fixed price contract. The work consists of dredging approximately 2,000,000 cubic yards of material to be used for placement area levee rehabilitation and construction. Work will be performed in Galveston County, Texas with an estimated completion date of Sept. 15, 2009. Bids were solicited via Unrestricted Procurement and six bids were received. US Engineer District, Galveston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W912H-08-C-0029).
U.S. Troops Help Build Afghan Air Corps
By Navy Seaman William Selby
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - A team of 170 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been tasked with recruiting, training and equipping the Afghan National Army Air Corps. "Our goal is to develop this Air Corps to be fully independent and fully operational, capable to meet (the) security requirements of Afghanistan," Air Force Maj. Gen. Jay H. Lindell told bloggers during a teleconference yesterday from Afghanistan. Lindell is commander of Combined Air Transition Force, Combined Security Transition Command.
The air transition force is is developing mobility missions including presidential airlift, medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, and a general battlefield and logistical support capability, Lindell said.
The force is insisting on qualified recruits to populate the Air Corps, and only the top 20 percent that come through the Kabul Military Training Center are selected, he said.
New recruits tapped to be airmen or technicians must be literate, with at least an eighth grade education, he said.
While most of the Afghan airmen lack additional formal education, they are motivated and eager to learn, Lindell said.
"Their motivation and their willingness and desire to learn, and desire to be part of this National Army Air Corps, makes up for maybe their lack of education," he said.
Even among those selected for the overall Air Corps, pilot selection requires another layer of filtering. Out of the 105 pilot candidates, Lindell said only the 48 most qualified will attend training in the United States next year.
"All have university degrees, and all are recommended by commanders, and all have passed an initial medical screening exam," he said.
Further tests will include a flight aptitude exam and a board selection process to see who is the most qualified.
The transition force also has helped supply newer aircraft, which was an area of concern for the Afghans.
"Currently, we have 27 total aircraft with the National Army Air Corps, and we do have a campaign plan that builds this Air Corps over the next eight years," Lindell said. "We will build it to roughly 125 aircraft throughout our campaign plan."
The number of aircraft already has tripled since September 2007, with planes coming from the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine, Lindell said. The aircraft from the Slovak Republic, Czech Republic and Ukraine were refurbished and financed through the Afghan Security Forces Fund, while the others were donated by the United Arab Emirates, he said.
(Navy Seaman William Selby works for the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 24, 2008 - A team of 170 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have been tasked with recruiting, training and equipping the Afghan National Army Air Corps. "Our goal is to develop this Air Corps to be fully independent and fully operational, capable to meet (the) security requirements of Afghanistan," Air Force Maj. Gen. Jay H. Lindell told bloggers during a teleconference yesterday from Afghanistan. Lindell is commander of Combined Air Transition Force, Combined Security Transition Command.
The air transition force is is developing mobility missions including presidential airlift, medical evacuation, casualty evacuation, and a general battlefield and logistical support capability, Lindell said.
The force is insisting on qualified recruits to populate the Air Corps, and only the top 20 percent that come through the Kabul Military Training Center are selected, he said.
New recruits tapped to be airmen or technicians must be literate, with at least an eighth grade education, he said.
While most of the Afghan airmen lack additional formal education, they are motivated and eager to learn, Lindell said.
"Their motivation and their willingness and desire to learn, and desire to be part of this National Army Air Corps, makes up for maybe their lack of education," he said.
Even among those selected for the overall Air Corps, pilot selection requires another layer of filtering. Out of the 105 pilot candidates, Lindell said only the 48 most qualified will attend training in the United States next year.
"All have university degrees, and all are recommended by commanders, and all have passed an initial medical screening exam," he said.
Further tests will include a flight aptitude exam and a board selection process to see who is the most qualified.
The transition force also has helped supply newer aircraft, which was an area of concern for the Afghans.
"Currently, we have 27 total aircraft with the National Army Air Corps, and we do have a campaign plan that builds this Air Corps over the next eight years," Lindell said. "We will build it to roughly 125 aircraft throughout our campaign plan."
The number of aircraft already has tripled since September 2007, with planes coming from the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine, Lindell said. The aircraft from the Slovak Republic, Czech Republic and Ukraine were refurbished and financed through the Afghan Security Forces Fund, while the others were donated by the United Arab Emirates, he said.
(Navy Seaman William Selby works for the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Face of Defense: Soldier Leads by Being Part of Team
By Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - During a World War II battle in Holtzwihr, France, a wounded U.S. soldier climbed into a burning tank, took a spot behind a .50-caliber machine gun and fired until the enemy was vanquished. At the age of 19, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, and to this day, he inspires military leaders and soldiers – especially Army Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Oberst.
"As a kid, I used to watch the Audie Murphy biography 'To Hell and Back' on TV, and I wanted to be a soldier. He was my hero," Oberst said.
Oberst joined the Army three months after graduating from high school in Gladstone, Mich.
Now a platoon sergeant in Multinational Division Baghdad with 1st Platoon, Company B, 52nd Infantry Regiment, attached to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Oberst is responsible for the 33 soldiers in his platoon. He takes care of administrative paperwork, leads patrols, makes sure each soldier has the right equipment and takes care of any issues that may arise, whether personal or work related.
"I do anything a mom or dad does," he said jokingly.
Oberst has served in the Army for 14 years, and said he believes the best way to lead his soldiers is by setting an example for them and sharing the load.
"You can't just supervise; you have to be a part of the team," he said. "If my soldiers are out digging for caches, you won't find me sitting in the truck. I'm an able body that can work, and I'll be out there digging with them."
His soldiers describe him as a well-rounded leader who maintains discipline and has the ability of doing the right thing at the right time, every time.
"No matter what the mission is, Oberst is the first one on the ground and the last one back in the vehicle. That's just his style," Army Cpl. Zachary Manuel said. Sgt. Lucas Collins said Oberst will give any soldier a chance to succeed.
"When I came into this unit, I had two blown-out knees," said Collins, a team leader. "In the infantry, you are looked at as done. I was going to be chaptered out, but he gave me the chance to get better."
Three years later, Collins is awaiting promotion to staff sergeant and said a great amount of what he's learned is attributable to Oberst.
"He has shown me that taking care of my soldiers is No. 1," he said. "And if something needs to be done, make sure it gets done." Oberst not only makes sure the job gets done, but also ensures the job gets done right the first time, Collins added.
"He requires the best out of his men and expects nothing less," Manuel said. "For that reason, he gets the best."
(Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - During a World War II battle in Holtzwihr, France, a wounded U.S. soldier climbed into a burning tank, took a spot behind a .50-caliber machine gun and fired until the enemy was vanquished. At the age of 19, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, and to this day, he inspires military leaders and soldiers – especially Army Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Oberst.
"As a kid, I used to watch the Audie Murphy biography 'To Hell and Back' on TV, and I wanted to be a soldier. He was my hero," Oberst said.
Oberst joined the Army three months after graduating from high school in Gladstone, Mich.
Now a platoon sergeant in Multinational Division Baghdad with 1st Platoon, Company B, 52nd Infantry Regiment, attached to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Oberst is responsible for the 33 soldiers in his platoon. He takes care of administrative paperwork, leads patrols, makes sure each soldier has the right equipment and takes care of any issues that may arise, whether personal or work related.
"I do anything a mom or dad does," he said jokingly.
Oberst has served in the Army for 14 years, and said he believes the best way to lead his soldiers is by setting an example for them and sharing the load.
"You can't just supervise; you have to be a part of the team," he said. "If my soldiers are out digging for caches, you won't find me sitting in the truck. I'm an able body that can work, and I'll be out there digging with them."
His soldiers describe him as a well-rounded leader who maintains discipline and has the ability of doing the right thing at the right time, every time.
"No matter what the mission is, Oberst is the first one on the ground and the last one back in the vehicle. That's just his style," Army Cpl. Zachary Manuel said. Sgt. Lucas Collins said Oberst will give any soldier a chance to succeed.
"When I came into this unit, I had two blown-out knees," said Collins, a team leader. "In the infantry, you are looked at as done. I was going to be chaptered out, but he gave me the chance to get better."
Three years later, Collins is awaiting promotion to staff sergeant and said a great amount of what he's learned is attributable to Oberst.
"He has shown me that taking care of my soldiers is No. 1," he said. "And if something needs to be done, make sure it gets done." Oberst not only makes sure the job gets done, but also ensures the job gets done right the first time, Collins added.
"He requires the best out of his men and expects nothing less," Manuel said. "For that reason, he gets the best."
(Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.)
America Supports You: President Honors Guardsman's Volunteerism
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - Just before heading overseas for his third tour in Iraq, an Oklahoma Air National Guardsman found himself standing in the limelight with the president. Air Force Maj. Dan Rooney received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Bush when the president arrived at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., Sept. 12. Since March 2002, Bush has been personally thanking volunteers for their service during his travels.
The award presented to Rooney is a reflection on his work starting and running the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational assistance for fallen or disabled servicemembers' spouses or dependents.
"The Folds of Honor Foundation is honored and fortunate to be led by such an outstanding American patriot [as] Major Dan Rooney," said Josh Miller, the organization's vice president for program coordination and compliance.
Rooney's receipt of the award is a tribute to his outstanding efforts and is a sign that Folds of Honor has made at least a minor impact on the military community, Miller said. "More importantly though, Dan's receipt of the award is an encouragement to continue on our mission to ensure every last eligible spouse and dependent receives a scholarship," he added.
As of last month, Folds of Honor had presented some 200 scholarships totaling $1.1 million. The organization has even higher hopes this year, as the organization's annual fundraiser, Patriot Golf Day, held at about 3,800 PGA golf courses on Labor Day, is estimated to have generated more than $3 million toward more scholarships.
With about 1,250 golf courses tallied so far, Patriot Golf Day has raised about $830,000, Miller said.
The President's Volunteer Service Award developed out of Bush's call during his 2002 State of the Union address for Americans to make a difference by volunteering in their communities. Three months later, the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the award.
The awards are available to individuals 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of service. Those 15 and older must have completed 100 or more hours, and families or groups can be recognized for pitching in for 200 or more hours or volunteering in the community.
Miller said he's not sure how many hours Rooney has put in since starting the Fold of Honor Foundation.
"I couldn't even begin to estimate, but essentially in 2007, just getting the foundation up and running was pretty much a second full-time job for Dan," Miller said. "I can say with confidence that he far exceeded the 100-hour volunteer requirement."
The Folds of Honor Foundation is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - Just before heading overseas for his third tour in Iraq, an Oklahoma Air National Guardsman found himself standing in the limelight with the president. Air Force Maj. Dan Rooney received the President's Volunteer Service Award from President Bush when the president arrived at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., Sept. 12. Since March 2002, Bush has been personally thanking volunteers for their service during his travels.
The award presented to Rooney is a reflection on his work starting and running the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational assistance for fallen or disabled servicemembers' spouses or dependents.
"The Folds of Honor Foundation is honored and fortunate to be led by such an outstanding American patriot [as] Major Dan Rooney," said Josh Miller, the organization's vice president for program coordination and compliance.
Rooney's receipt of the award is a tribute to his outstanding efforts and is a sign that Folds of Honor has made at least a minor impact on the military community, Miller said. "More importantly though, Dan's receipt of the award is an encouragement to continue on our mission to ensure every last eligible spouse and dependent receives a scholarship," he added.
As of last month, Folds of Honor had presented some 200 scholarships totaling $1.1 million. The organization has even higher hopes this year, as the organization's annual fundraiser, Patriot Golf Day, held at about 3,800 PGA golf courses on Labor Day, is estimated to have generated more than $3 million toward more scholarships.
With about 1,250 golf courses tallied so far, Patriot Golf Day has raised about $830,000, Miller said.
The President's Volunteer Service Award developed out of Bush's call during his 2002 State of the Union address for Americans to make a difference by volunteering in their communities. Three months later, the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the award.
The awards are available to individuals 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of service. Those 15 and older must have completed 100 or more hours, and families or groups can be recognized for pitching in for 200 or more hours or volunteering in the community.
Miller said he's not sure how many hours Rooney has put in since starting the Fold of Honor Foundation.
"I couldn't even begin to estimate, but essentially in 2007, just getting the foundation up and running was pretty much a second full-time job for Dan," Miller said. "I can say with confidence that he far exceeded the 100-hour volunteer requirement."
The Folds of Honor Foundation is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Coast Guard Embraces 'Social Media' to Tell Its Story
By Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - The Coast Guard's top officer discussed plans to adopt social-media practices to modernize the Coast Guard and increase the organization's transparency in a teleconference yesterday with bloggers and online journalists. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen spoke about ways the Coast Guard plans to use social-media tools to get the broadest representation of the Coast Guard to the public.
"We're going to be moving from (Web) 1.0 to 1.2 to 2.0 to 2.5, and ... the challenge and the problem is we shouldn't take the status quo as an acceptable position," Allen said. "We need to keep improving wherever we can, whether it's my presence inside or outside the Coast Guard, how we deal with the American public, but more importantly, how we deal with the folks in the Coast Guard."
Making the organization more transparent comes at a crucial time, especially during hurricane season, when communication is extremely vital.
"If you look at the recent coordination in our response to Hurricane Ike, I knew from my own experience as the principal federal official in Hurricane Katrina that we can only be effective to the extent that we empower our leaders on scene and make what they are doing visible to senior leaders without endless routing of information through echelons," Allen said. "[And] what they are doing has to be visible to us, and using things like chat rooms among senior leaders at the same time we're using conference calls, to using all the modern [information technology] tools we have within the Coast Guard suite to simultaneously make all senior leaders aware of the situation and the operational picture down there is what we've got to do."
While the Coast Guard won't constrain itself to any particular social media platform, Allen said, officials initially will use one tool he has been experimenting with personally for the past few months.
"We will be standing up what I would call a semi-official Facebook site for me to be able to communicate and make available content to the folks that are working online," Allen said. "I have been working a personal Facebook account for a couple of months just to experiment myself with the dynamics associated with dealing with the Facebook community. It's been a very rich and rewarding experience for me."
Allen added that the need for institutionalizing this tool and others is important to allow for equal access for everybody. While the Coast Guard's current push is to become more intertwined in the social-media realm, Allen said, this initiative isn't about recruiting, but rather providing new recruits access to the tools they already are using.
"Young kids coming into the Coast Guard today demand parity with what they've been using all their lives and growing up with," he said. "And to the extent they enter an organization that's not evolving and upgrading the technology and the access and the social networks that they're used to, there's no incentive for them to join."
Allen said he encourages everyone in the Coast Guard community who is interested in blogging to remember that interacting in the blogosphere should be seen as no different from operating on a Coast Guard base.
"Whether you're a civilian, auxilarist, reservist, active duty, contractor or retiree, to understand that when you're blogging, that's no different than operating in a social environment on a Coast Guard base or anyplace else," he said. "We have a duty to the American public; we have a duty to each other to be guardians of each other. And to the extent that we have core values, I think we need to demonstrate that as we operate on a daily basis in the blogosphere."
(Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - The Coast Guard's top officer discussed plans to adopt social-media practices to modernize the Coast Guard and increase the organization's transparency in a teleconference yesterday with bloggers and online journalists. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen spoke about ways the Coast Guard plans to use social-media tools to get the broadest representation of the Coast Guard to the public.
"We're going to be moving from (Web) 1.0 to 1.2 to 2.0 to 2.5, and ... the challenge and the problem is we shouldn't take the status quo as an acceptable position," Allen said. "We need to keep improving wherever we can, whether it's my presence inside or outside the Coast Guard, how we deal with the American public, but more importantly, how we deal with the folks in the Coast Guard."
Making the organization more transparent comes at a crucial time, especially during hurricane season, when communication is extremely vital.
"If you look at the recent coordination in our response to Hurricane Ike, I knew from my own experience as the principal federal official in Hurricane Katrina that we can only be effective to the extent that we empower our leaders on scene and make what they are doing visible to senior leaders without endless routing of information through echelons," Allen said. "[And] what they are doing has to be visible to us, and using things like chat rooms among senior leaders at the same time we're using conference calls, to using all the modern [information technology] tools we have within the Coast Guard suite to simultaneously make all senior leaders aware of the situation and the operational picture down there is what we've got to do."
While the Coast Guard won't constrain itself to any particular social media platform, Allen said, officials initially will use one tool he has been experimenting with personally for the past few months.
"We will be standing up what I would call a semi-official Facebook site for me to be able to communicate and make available content to the folks that are working online," Allen said. "I have been working a personal Facebook account for a couple of months just to experiment myself with the dynamics associated with dealing with the Facebook community. It's been a very rich and rewarding experience for me."
Allen added that the need for institutionalizing this tool and others is important to allow for equal access for everybody. While the Coast Guard's current push is to become more intertwined in the social-media realm, Allen said, this initiative isn't about recruiting, but rather providing new recruits access to the tools they already are using.
"Young kids coming into the Coast Guard today demand parity with what they've been using all their lives and growing up with," he said. "And to the extent they enter an organization that's not evolving and upgrading the technology and the access and the social networks that they're used to, there's no incentive for them to join."
Allen said he encourages everyone in the Coast Guard community who is interested in blogging to remember that interacting in the blogosphere should be seen as no different from operating on a Coast Guard base.
"Whether you're a civilian, auxilarist, reservist, active duty, contractor or retiree, to understand that when you're blogging, that's no different than operating in a social environment on a Coast Guard base or anyplace else," he said. "We have a duty to the American public; we have a duty to each other to be guardians of each other. And to the extent that we have core values, I think we need to demonstrate that as we operate on a daily basis in the blogosphere."
(Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Defense Department, Services Launch New 'e-Library'
By Barbara A. Goodno
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - Who goes to the library at 2 a.m.? Anyone can now, thanks to an initiative that makes Defense Department library materials available online.
The new initiative, soft-launched in July and formally announced Sept. 18, expands DoD's library program beyond the 197 libraries located on military installations. Officials said the new endeavor will bring library materials to military members and their families, including those in the National Guard and Reserve, wherever they live and whenever they want -- at no charge.
"Libraries have long been considered mission-essential, supporting recreation pursuits, off-duty education, spouse careers and education and life-long learning," said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy. "For quite some time now, we in the Department of Defense have been looking for effective ways to deliver services to all our servicemembers and their families, regardless of location, service or component. This is a huge step in the right direction."
The new library initiative is the result of a Lean Six Sigma study that showed DoD could provide more high-quality library materials with joint procurement, Arsht said. Lean Six Sigma is a widely used business management strategy.
"We were able to not only enhance the services' online library portals, but also to create an entirely new resource on Military OneSource," Arsht said. Military OneSource is a DoD initiative that provides a consolidated starting point for a wide variety of life issues for servicemembers and their families.
The new online library will offer resources and services in electronic and hard-copy versions. The Military OneSource Online Library Resources are links to electronic databases, e-books and audio books, including:
-- EBSCO's Do-it-Yourself guides for auto repair, which feature more than 31,600 vehicles from 1945 to the present with more than 205,000 drawings, step-by-step photographs and 130,000 wiring diagrams, specifications, maintenance schedules and labor time guides, as well as a labor estimator and quick tips;
-- EBSCO's home improvement reference center, with 26 full-text major reference works and full-text magazines such as "This Old House." Materials offer assistance with maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing decorating, and home and garden needs;
-- Peterson's Educational Life Long Learning Resource, in which service and family members can practice Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery tests and tests used for college entrance and course credits, and search through a list of nearly 4,200 two- and four-year accredited schools;
-- Career Library access for comprehensive information for career and college research;
-- NetLibrary, with more than 2,650 full-text electronic versions of published books such as the "ASVAB Core Review," computer books, resume books and 213 CliffsNotes;
-- MyILibrary, which includes more than 400 e-books, including Encyclopedia Britannica, 95 books covering legal issues, 24 foreign language guides and 169 "For Dummies" books;
-- Safari Books Online, an e-reference library that allows access to books from O'Reilly, Addison-Wesley, Cisco Press, MicroSoft Press and more for users who register;
-- EBSCO's small engine repair reference center, with 410 full-text reference books with original photos and illustrations for small-engine repair assistance for all-terrain vehicles, commercial mowers, generators, motorcycles, marine and outdoor power equipment, personal watercraft, snow blowers, tillers, and other items with small engines;
-- A teacher reference library with index and abstracts for more than 270 of the most popular teacher and administrator journals and magazines to assist educators;
-- Tumblebook Library e-books for children ages 4 to 12, Tumblebook Readables with adjustable online text and complete audio narration, Tumble Talking Books, which are unabridged, high-quality audio versions of classic literature, nonfiction fiction books and books for children and teens; and
-- Playaway talking books, which are pocket-sized current and popular titles in audio book format, complete with head-set and battery, and paperback books, both of which soon will be available upon request from Military OneSource.
Program managers said that even though they haven't been advertised, the new resources already have been popular. Since the soft launch in July, Military OneSource has distributed 8,723 e-books and 1,860 audio books. New accounts through Military OneSource and the service library portals show a 68-percent increase in new accounts with Peterson's Lifelong Learning Database, a 33-percent increase in the number of online CLEP tests taken, and a 115-percent increase in the number of practice ASVAB tests taken.
Arsht said that beginning this summer, a variety of Playaways have been sent each month to troops deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other remote locations. They are especially popular in remote locations, where access to electricity may be limited, she noted. A variety of paperback books also are distributed each month.
"This is a wonderful example of what joint collaboration can do as we strive to improve the quality of life for all our servicemembers and their families," she added.
Service librarians agree. They say that military libraries are some of the busiest places on their installations, and that expanding the reach of these resources to those with limited library access because of duty requirements, who are far from home, or are assigned away from an installation is the right thing to do. They see libraries as a key link in today's networked world.
"Some books in our installation libraries are in such high demand – especially the CLEP materials," Army librarian Barbara Christine said. "We are pleased and excited to be able to offer all these resource materials when people need them."
(Barbara A. Goodno works in the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy and Office of Children and Youth.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - Who goes to the library at 2 a.m.? Anyone can now, thanks to an initiative that makes Defense Department library materials available online.
The new initiative, soft-launched in July and formally announced Sept. 18, expands DoD's library program beyond the 197 libraries located on military installations. Officials said the new endeavor will bring library materials to military members and their families, including those in the National Guard and Reserve, wherever they live and whenever they want -- at no charge.
"Libraries have long been considered mission-essential, supporting recreation pursuits, off-duty education, spouse careers and education and life-long learning," said Leslye A. Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy. "For quite some time now, we in the Department of Defense have been looking for effective ways to deliver services to all our servicemembers and their families, regardless of location, service or component. This is a huge step in the right direction."
The new library initiative is the result of a Lean Six Sigma study that showed DoD could provide more high-quality library materials with joint procurement, Arsht said. Lean Six Sigma is a widely used business management strategy.
"We were able to not only enhance the services' online library portals, but also to create an entirely new resource on Military OneSource," Arsht said. Military OneSource is a DoD initiative that provides a consolidated starting point for a wide variety of life issues for servicemembers and their families.
The new online library will offer resources and services in electronic and hard-copy versions. The Military OneSource Online Library Resources are links to electronic databases, e-books and audio books, including:
-- EBSCO's Do-it-Yourself guides for auto repair, which feature more than 31,600 vehicles from 1945 to the present with more than 205,000 drawings, step-by-step photographs and 130,000 wiring diagrams, specifications, maintenance schedules and labor time guides, as well as a labor estimator and quick tips;
-- EBSCO's home improvement reference center, with 26 full-text major reference works and full-text magazines such as "This Old House." Materials offer assistance with maintenance, remodeling, electrical work, plumbing decorating, and home and garden needs;
-- Peterson's Educational Life Long Learning Resource, in which service and family members can practice Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery tests and tests used for college entrance and course credits, and search through a list of nearly 4,200 two- and four-year accredited schools;
-- Career Library access for comprehensive information for career and college research;
-- NetLibrary, with more than 2,650 full-text electronic versions of published books such as the "ASVAB Core Review," computer books, resume books and 213 CliffsNotes;
-- MyILibrary, which includes more than 400 e-books, including Encyclopedia Britannica, 95 books covering legal issues, 24 foreign language guides and 169 "For Dummies" books;
-- Safari Books Online, an e-reference library that allows access to books from O'Reilly, Addison-Wesley, Cisco Press, MicroSoft Press and more for users who register;
-- EBSCO's small engine repair reference center, with 410 full-text reference books with original photos and illustrations for small-engine repair assistance for all-terrain vehicles, commercial mowers, generators, motorcycles, marine and outdoor power equipment, personal watercraft, snow blowers, tillers, and other items with small engines;
-- A teacher reference library with index and abstracts for more than 270 of the most popular teacher and administrator journals and magazines to assist educators;
-- Tumblebook Library e-books for children ages 4 to 12, Tumblebook Readables with adjustable online text and complete audio narration, Tumble Talking Books, which are unabridged, high-quality audio versions of classic literature, nonfiction fiction books and books for children and teens; and
-- Playaway talking books, which are pocket-sized current and popular titles in audio book format, complete with head-set and battery, and paperback books, both of which soon will be available upon request from Military OneSource.
Program managers said that even though they haven't been advertised, the new resources already have been popular. Since the soft launch in July, Military OneSource has distributed 8,723 e-books and 1,860 audio books. New accounts through Military OneSource and the service library portals show a 68-percent increase in new accounts with Peterson's Lifelong Learning Database, a 33-percent increase in the number of online CLEP tests taken, and a 115-percent increase in the number of practice ASVAB tests taken.
Arsht said that beginning this summer, a variety of Playaways have been sent each month to troops deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other remote locations. They are especially popular in remote locations, where access to electricity may be limited, she noted. A variety of paperback books also are distributed each month.
"This is a wonderful example of what joint collaboration can do as we strive to improve the quality of life for all our servicemembers and their families," she added.
Service librarians agree. They say that military libraries are some of the busiest places on their installations, and that expanding the reach of these resources to those with limited library access because of duty requirements, who are far from home, or are assigned away from an installation is the right thing to do. They see libraries as a key link in today's networked world.
"Some books in our installation libraries are in such high demand – especially the CLEP materials," Army librarian Barbara Christine said. "We are pleased and excited to be able to offer all these resource materials when people need them."
(Barbara A. Goodno works in the Defense Department's Office of Family Policy and Office of Children and Youth.)
Mullen Praises Recruiters for Success in Challenging Environment
By Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told more than 100 military recruiters here yesterday that their work is vital to mission accomplishment, especially in an environment in which people who influence potential recruits are reluctant to steer them toward service in uniform. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke to the recruiters at the University of Southern California.
"We just cannot be a military without successful recruiters," Mullen said. "Recruiting is as important a duty assignment as any, and we need good people from every branch of service to recruit young people into the military."
The military is busier than at any other time in the nation's history, Mullen said. The past six-plus years of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the frequency of deployments, the lack of time at home stations between deployments and the expectations for success have made serving in today's armed forces more challenging than ever, he added.
"The environment you're recruiting in is the toughest we've ever known, and it's a tough world to be engaged in," he said. "We recognize there are challenges, but we just can't move forward without what you're doing and how you're doing it."
The fact that the military has sustained such a high tempo as an all-volunteer force makes it the best military the United States has ever had, the admiral said. Recruiting has been surprisingly successful in recent years, he added, but he noted that the characteristics that make the current generation of servicemembers so great are the same ones that make the recruiters' jobs more difficult.
Today's generation lives in a time of persistent conflict, he said, and a great many young people feel a responsibility to serve the nation in a time of need. But parents, teachers and other mentors are more reluctant to support the military, knowing that if their young people join, they're likely going to war.
The stress of two wars is straining on the military, as thousands of soldiers and Marines have deployed to combat three or four times since 2002. Mullen said increasing time between deployments, thus reducing the number of deployments by individuals, will be helpful when it can happen, but as long as the military needs to sustain its current high-tempo pace, recruiters are going to be among the Defense Department's top priorities.
"Your avocation to recruit young people into the military is as vital as any part of our profession," he said. "I depend on you as great leaders, and there's no success that gets generated more quickly and can be sustained more readily than that which occurs through great leadership."
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 23, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told more than 100 military recruiters here yesterday that their work is vital to mission accomplishment, especially in an environment in which people who influence potential recruits are reluctant to steer them toward service in uniform. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke to the recruiters at the University of Southern California.
"We just cannot be a military without successful recruiters," Mullen said. "Recruiting is as important a duty assignment as any, and we need good people from every branch of service to recruit young people into the military."
The military is busier than at any other time in the nation's history, Mullen said. The past six-plus years of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the frequency of deployments, the lack of time at home stations between deployments and the expectations for success have made serving in today's armed forces more challenging than ever, he added.
"The environment you're recruiting in is the toughest we've ever known, and it's a tough world to be engaged in," he said. "We recognize there are challenges, but we just can't move forward without what you're doing and how you're doing it."
The fact that the military has sustained such a high tempo as an all-volunteer force makes it the best military the United States has ever had, the admiral said. Recruiting has been surprisingly successful in recent years, he added, but he noted that the characteristics that make the current generation of servicemembers so great are the same ones that make the recruiters' jobs more difficult.
Today's generation lives in a time of persistent conflict, he said, and a great many young people feel a responsibility to serve the nation in a time of need. But parents, teachers and other mentors are more reluctant to support the military, knowing that if their young people join, they're likely going to war.
The stress of two wars is straining on the military, as thousands of soldiers and Marines have deployed to combat three or four times since 2002. Mullen said increasing time between deployments, thus reducing the number of deployments by individuals, will be helpful when it can happen, but as long as the military needs to sustain its current high-tempo pace, recruiters are going to be among the Defense Department's top priorities.
"Your avocation to recruit young people into the military is as vital as any part of our profession," he said. "I depend on you as great leaders, and there's no success that gets generated more quickly and can be sustained more readily than that which occurs through great leadership."
National Guard Aids Stranded Livestock in Louisiana
By Army Staff Sgt. Stephanie J. Cross
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 22, 2008 - National Guard soldiers teamed up with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to airlift food and water to thousands of cattle isolated by the flood waters of Hurricane Ike. Trapped in remote areas south of Vinton, La., in Calcasieu Parish, more than 3,000 cattle were at risk of starvation and kidney failure due to the lack of feed and the high percentage of salt in the surrounding flood waters.
Two National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters distributed more than 52,000 pounds of hay to the livestock and worked vigorously to provide fresh water, dropping more than 13,500 gallons to the different locations.
"It was pretty sad that the cattle were stranded out there with no food or water, but the ranchers had grid coordinates for us to drop the hay and water, [which] made it easier for us to conduct a successful mission quickly," said Army Spc. Michael Nolan of Metairie, La., who assisted with the mission.
"Without the help from the National Guard and the donated hay from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture, these cattle could not have survived," said a tearful Kent LeDoux, manager of Gray Ranch in Vinton, La. "They are isolated into small areas and need the fresh water and hay desperately." LeDoux said he was impressed by the speed of the National Guard's response, which he said was "much quicker than we expected."
Bill Bruce, another local rancher, of Gum Cove, La., went out by air-boat to check on his livestock Sept. 14, the day after Hurricane Ike struck, and already had lost about 100 cattle. He was especially grateful that the Guard delivered fresh water to the livestock. "Water is even more critical than food at this point, because they have been ingesting a lot of salt water," he said.
"This is their life; they depend on their cattle," said Army Sgt. Joshua Davis, a volunteer with 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion who is home on leave from Iraq. "As soldiers, it's our duty and an honor to help them."
Davis added that in addition to the good feeling he got from helping, he was able to enhance his skills. "This was a good experience for me," he said. "Not only was I able to make a difference, I also got a chance to familiarize myself with the Bambi buckets during a real-world mission." A Bambi bucket is a collapsible container that enables helicopters to lift and transport water or fire retardant.
With more than 52,000 pounds of hay and 13,500 gallons of water distributed to the cattle so desperately in need, the National Guard will continue to provide as much assistance as resources will allow to help the cattle ranchers affected by Ike, Louisiana National Guard officials said.
(Army Staff Sgt. Stephanie J. Cross serves with the Louisiana State Aviation Command.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Sept. 22, 2008 - National Guard soldiers teamed up with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to airlift food and water to thousands of cattle isolated by the flood waters of Hurricane Ike. Trapped in remote areas south of Vinton, La., in Calcasieu Parish, more than 3,000 cattle were at risk of starvation and kidney failure due to the lack of feed and the high percentage of salt in the surrounding flood waters.
Two National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters distributed more than 52,000 pounds of hay to the livestock and worked vigorously to provide fresh water, dropping more than 13,500 gallons to the different locations.
"It was pretty sad that the cattle were stranded out there with no food or water, but the ranchers had grid coordinates for us to drop the hay and water, [which] made it easier for us to conduct a successful mission quickly," said Army Spc. Michael Nolan of Metairie, La., who assisted with the mission.
"Without the help from the National Guard and the donated hay from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture, these cattle could not have survived," said a tearful Kent LeDoux, manager of Gray Ranch in Vinton, La. "They are isolated into small areas and need the fresh water and hay desperately." LeDoux said he was impressed by the speed of the National Guard's response, which he said was "much quicker than we expected."
Bill Bruce, another local rancher, of Gum Cove, La., went out by air-boat to check on his livestock Sept. 14, the day after Hurricane Ike struck, and already had lost about 100 cattle. He was especially grateful that the Guard delivered fresh water to the livestock. "Water is even more critical than food at this point, because they have been ingesting a lot of salt water," he said.
"This is their life; they depend on their cattle," said Army Sgt. Joshua Davis, a volunteer with 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion who is home on leave from Iraq. "As soldiers, it's our duty and an honor to help them."
Davis added that in addition to the good feeling he got from helping, he was able to enhance his skills. "This was a good experience for me," he said. "Not only was I able to make a difference, I also got a chance to familiarize myself with the Bambi buckets during a real-world mission." A Bambi bucket is a collapsible container that enables helicopters to lift and transport water or fire retardant.
With more than 52,000 pounds of hay and 13,500 gallons of water distributed to the cattle so desperately in need, the National Guard will continue to provide as much assistance as resources will allow to help the cattle ranchers affected by Ike, Louisiana National Guard officials said.
(Army Staff Sgt. Stephanie J. Cross serves with the Louisiana State Aviation Command.)
Remembrance Ceremony Honors Fallen Servicemembers, Military Families
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 21, 2008 - Hundreds of relatives celebrated the lives of departed loved ones lost in the war on terrorism during a national remembrance ceremony on the grounds of the Washington Monument yesterday. The third annual "A Time of Remembrance" honored military members who died during the nation's wars, as well as their families and veterans. It is sponsored by the White House Commission on Remembrance, established by Congress in 2000.
Carmella LaSpada, chairman of the "A Time of Remembrance" program, saluted the military families who attended the event.
"You, the families of the men and women who fought and died to preserve our precious land of hopes and dreams, I ache for your loss," LaSpada said. "Your wounds are deep, and you are all bonded by a shared pain.
"Though your grief is overwhelming, we hope you'll be consoled in the knowledge that others remember that you are not forgotten and never will be," LaSpada said.
A number of distinguished civilian and military officials ascended the stage to praise the sacrifices of fallen military members and those of their families. About 200 children of military members who died during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom received the commission's Gold Medal of Remembrance at the ceremony.
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright greeted the children of fallen military members on the stage during the presentation of the gold medals.
America has always been fortunate to have those willing to serve the nation in uniform, acting Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said. To date, he said, more than 4,000 U.S. servicemembers have died during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"To the families, and especially to the children who will receive the Gold Medal of Remembrance today, those of us who lead this nation's military, both in a civilian capacity and in uniform, are incredibly honored and humbled to be in your presence," Donley said to gathered family members. "Please note that our nation will be forever grateful and indebted for your sacrifice."
Donley introduced the event's keynote speaker, businessman and military veteran Ross Perot, to the audience. Perot served as a Navy officer and is a strong supporter of the White House Commission on Remembrance and its "A Time of Remembrance" program.
"It's an honor and privilege to be with you on this special day to honor our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us in our great country, and they also made the ultimate sacrifice for you, their families, because they loved you," Perot said.
The Texas entrepreneur and former Reform Party presidential candidate quoted Abraham Lincoln's statement that any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.
Perot saluted Army Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, a Special Forces noncommissioned officer from San Antonio, who died in Afghanistan in early 2002. The fallen soldier, Perot said, was the son of one of his former employees.
"His parents gave me a small bronze statute of Nathan in his combat uniform that I placed in the entrance of my office," Perot said. "I walk by it many times every day and think of him and all the great troops that sacrificed their lives to give us the freedom in this country."
ABC News White House correspondent Martha Raddatz served as master of ceremonies. "All around us are the hallowed memories of America's heroes, the evidence that America remembers and cherishes its fallen," she said. "We gather not to mourn or grieve, but to call attention to the fact that all of America's fallen have collectively brought us to this place, to this time."
Raddatz then read a message from President Bush:
"Today, the volunteers of our military are completing difficult missions in some of the most dangerous and desolate parts of the world with skill and honor. We are grateful to our men and women in uniform and their families for their courage and sacrifice during these historic times. Their service and dedication make every American proud. I appreciate those who support the members of our military and their families. Your efforts reflect the compassionate spirit of our nation. Laura and I send our best wishes on this special occasion. May God bless you and may God bless America."
The remembrance ceremony also featured two foreign-born soldiers taking the oath of U.S. citizenship. Spc. Nakisha Trisca Simon was born on Dominica, an island country in the Caribbean Sea. Spc. Morgan Fuentes Facundo was born in Mexico. Both soldiers have served in Iraq.
Raddatz also introduced recent Iraqi immigrant Nazar Joodi and his family. In 1994, during Saddam Hussein's regime, Joodi was been accused of exchanging foreign currency. The Iraqi's right hand was cut off during his imprisonment. After Saddam's fall, benefactors brought Joodi to America to have nerves damaged by the amputation of his hand repaired. He soon returned to Iraq.
About two years ago, insurgents accused Joodi of being an American sympathizer and threatened his life. Joodi, his wife and four children arrived in the United States in March.
In broken English, Joodi expressed gratitude to the audience for helping to bring freedom to his country.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the son of a fallen warrior, noted the high cost of freedom. Casey's father, Army Maj. Gen. George W. Casey Sr., commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, died in a helicopter crash in the Vietnam's central highlands on July 7, 1970.
"Throughout our history, our freedom and the freedom of others has been bought by the sacrifice and selfless service of men and women like those we honor today and whose memories are enshrined in the memorials that surround us," Casey said. "I know that you will never forget the loss of your parent, but know that we share your grief and I share your perspective. And I pray that you will remember that your parent died in the service of this great country, doing what they believed in to maintain your ability to live, grow and prosper in freedom."
Retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey remarked that such ceremonies help comfort surviving spouses and other family members who must continue with their lives after a military parent dies.
"These ceremonies are here for memories, for remembrances, for celebration; we don't get over the loss of these loved ones," McCaffrey said.
The event was "a wonderful honor for the children of our fallen heroes and we're proud to be here today," said Virginia resident Maggie McCloud, the widow of Marine Lt. Col. Joseph T. McCloud of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. McCloud's husband died at age 39 in a helicopter crash in Iraq's Anbar province on Dec. 3, 2006. The McCloud family includes a son, Hayden, and daughters Grace and Meghan.
Kenny V. Butler and his wife, Laura, traveled from Liverpool, Ohio, to attend the ceremony. They are mourning the loss of their 21-year-old son, Army Cpl. Kenneth Tyler Butler, who died in Baghdad on Feb. 1, 2007, when the military vehicle he was riding in accidently flipped over into a water-filled canal.
Butler said his military policeman son "stepped up and did what he wanted to do" upon joining the Army in March 2006.
"I think it's nice that they do this to recognize the fallen soldiers," Laura Butler said. Her son, she said, was determined to become a police officer, and he told his parents the Army offered the best training to realize his dream.
Austin Tyler Butler, the Butlers' year-and-a-half-old grandson who lives in Michigan, will receive the gold medal of remembrance in memory of his father.
A replica of the Liberty Bell was rung five times during the program to commemorate fallen servicemembers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Korean War combat veteran Alfred Ortiz, 80, and his wife, Val, from Vienna, Va., were in front-row seats to observe the ceremony. Ortiz, a former Army master sergeant, served in the infantry in Korea from 1951 to 1952. Ortiz' service in Korea was cut short when he suffered a severe wound to his left arm.
"I wish there weren't any wars, because they're all so bad," Ortiz said. "But it's something we have to do at times. It's the high price we have to pay for freedom, but we're proud to do it."
Garry M. Green Sr. and his wife, Yvonne, came from Rosedale, Md., to celebrate the memory of their daughter, Army Spc. Toccara R. Green, who died at age 23 on Aug. 14, 2005, when her convoy encountered roadside bombs in Asad, Iraq. To date, 114 military women have died during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Greens have attended all three "A Time of Remembrance" events in Washington.
"It gets bigger and better every year. It's wonderful. I just wish more families came out to partake of it. I think it would make a difference in their lives," Yvonne Green said.
Toccara, the Greens said, was proud of her military service and aware of the dangers.
"Sitting behind a desk was not something she wanted to do. She had to be out there getting into the midst of it," the fallen soldier's father said. The couple's son, Gary Green Jr., is a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps.
Amanda Doster from Manhattan, Kan., adjusted the bow in the hair of her 4-year-old daughter, Grace Anne, as she described her feelings about the loss of her husband, Army Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster of Pine Bluff, Ark., who died at age 37 during an insurgent attack on his patrol in Baghdad on Sept. 29, 2007.
"The children are the ones that suffer the most" after the death of a military parent, Doster said. James, she said, had completed more than 17 years of Army service at the time of his death.
"He loved it, every minute of it, and he never complained," Doster said of her late husband. "I am an Army wife, and I suck it up and drive on."
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 21, 2008 - Hundreds of relatives celebrated the lives of departed loved ones lost in the war on terrorism during a national remembrance ceremony on the grounds of the Washington Monument yesterday. The third annual "A Time of Remembrance" honored military members who died during the nation's wars, as well as their families and veterans. It is sponsored by the White House Commission on Remembrance, established by Congress in 2000.
Carmella LaSpada, chairman of the "A Time of Remembrance" program, saluted the military families who attended the event.
"You, the families of the men and women who fought and died to preserve our precious land of hopes and dreams, I ache for your loss," LaSpada said. "Your wounds are deep, and you are all bonded by a shared pain.
"Though your grief is overwhelming, we hope you'll be consoled in the knowledge that others remember that you are not forgotten and never will be," LaSpada said.
A number of distinguished civilian and military officials ascended the stage to praise the sacrifices of fallen military members and those of their families. About 200 children of military members who died during operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom received the commission's Gold Medal of Remembrance at the ceremony.
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright greeted the children of fallen military members on the stage during the presentation of the gold medals.
America has always been fortunate to have those willing to serve the nation in uniform, acting Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said. To date, he said, more than 4,000 U.S. servicemembers have died during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"To the families, and especially to the children who will receive the Gold Medal of Remembrance today, those of us who lead this nation's military, both in a civilian capacity and in uniform, are incredibly honored and humbled to be in your presence," Donley said to gathered family members. "Please note that our nation will be forever grateful and indebted for your sacrifice."
Donley introduced the event's keynote speaker, businessman and military veteran Ross Perot, to the audience. Perot served as a Navy officer and is a strong supporter of the White House Commission on Remembrance and its "A Time of Remembrance" program.
"It's an honor and privilege to be with you on this special day to honor our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us in our great country, and they also made the ultimate sacrifice for you, their families, because they loved you," Perot said.
The Texas entrepreneur and former Reform Party presidential candidate quoted Abraham Lincoln's statement that any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.
Perot saluted Army Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, a Special Forces noncommissioned officer from San Antonio, who died in Afghanistan in early 2002. The fallen soldier, Perot said, was the son of one of his former employees.
"His parents gave me a small bronze statute of Nathan in his combat uniform that I placed in the entrance of my office," Perot said. "I walk by it many times every day and think of him and all the great troops that sacrificed their lives to give us the freedom in this country."
ABC News White House correspondent Martha Raddatz served as master of ceremonies. "All around us are the hallowed memories of America's heroes, the evidence that America remembers and cherishes its fallen," she said. "We gather not to mourn or grieve, but to call attention to the fact that all of America's fallen have collectively brought us to this place, to this time."
Raddatz then read a message from President Bush:
"Today, the volunteers of our military are completing difficult missions in some of the most dangerous and desolate parts of the world with skill and honor. We are grateful to our men and women in uniform and their families for their courage and sacrifice during these historic times. Their service and dedication make every American proud. I appreciate those who support the members of our military and their families. Your efforts reflect the compassionate spirit of our nation. Laura and I send our best wishes on this special occasion. May God bless you and may God bless America."
The remembrance ceremony also featured two foreign-born soldiers taking the oath of U.S. citizenship. Spc. Nakisha Trisca Simon was born on Dominica, an island country in the Caribbean Sea. Spc. Morgan Fuentes Facundo was born in Mexico. Both soldiers have served in Iraq.
Raddatz also introduced recent Iraqi immigrant Nazar Joodi and his family. In 1994, during Saddam Hussein's regime, Joodi was been accused of exchanging foreign currency. The Iraqi's right hand was cut off during his imprisonment. After Saddam's fall, benefactors brought Joodi to America to have nerves damaged by the amputation of his hand repaired. He soon returned to Iraq.
About two years ago, insurgents accused Joodi of being an American sympathizer and threatened his life. Joodi, his wife and four children arrived in the United States in March.
In broken English, Joodi expressed gratitude to the audience for helping to bring freedom to his country.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the son of a fallen warrior, noted the high cost of freedom. Casey's father, Army Maj. Gen. George W. Casey Sr., commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, died in a helicopter crash in the Vietnam's central highlands on July 7, 1970.
"Throughout our history, our freedom and the freedom of others has been bought by the sacrifice and selfless service of men and women like those we honor today and whose memories are enshrined in the memorials that surround us," Casey said. "I know that you will never forget the loss of your parent, but know that we share your grief and I share your perspective. And I pray that you will remember that your parent died in the service of this great country, doing what they believed in to maintain your ability to live, grow and prosper in freedom."
Retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey remarked that such ceremonies help comfort surviving spouses and other family members who must continue with their lives after a military parent dies.
"These ceremonies are here for memories, for remembrances, for celebration; we don't get over the loss of these loved ones," McCaffrey said.
The event was "a wonderful honor for the children of our fallen heroes and we're proud to be here today," said Virginia resident Maggie McCloud, the widow of Marine Lt. Col. Joseph T. McCloud of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. McCloud's husband died at age 39 in a helicopter crash in Iraq's Anbar province on Dec. 3, 2006. The McCloud family includes a son, Hayden, and daughters Grace and Meghan.
Kenny V. Butler and his wife, Laura, traveled from Liverpool, Ohio, to attend the ceremony. They are mourning the loss of their 21-year-old son, Army Cpl. Kenneth Tyler Butler, who died in Baghdad on Feb. 1, 2007, when the military vehicle he was riding in accidently flipped over into a water-filled canal.
Butler said his military policeman son "stepped up and did what he wanted to do" upon joining the Army in March 2006.
"I think it's nice that they do this to recognize the fallen soldiers," Laura Butler said. Her son, she said, was determined to become a police officer, and he told his parents the Army offered the best training to realize his dream.
Austin Tyler Butler, the Butlers' year-and-a-half-old grandson who lives in Michigan, will receive the gold medal of remembrance in memory of his father.
A replica of the Liberty Bell was rung five times during the program to commemorate fallen servicemembers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Korean War combat veteran Alfred Ortiz, 80, and his wife, Val, from Vienna, Va., were in front-row seats to observe the ceremony. Ortiz, a former Army master sergeant, served in the infantry in Korea from 1951 to 1952. Ortiz' service in Korea was cut short when he suffered a severe wound to his left arm.
"I wish there weren't any wars, because they're all so bad," Ortiz said. "But it's something we have to do at times. It's the high price we have to pay for freedom, but we're proud to do it."
Garry M. Green Sr. and his wife, Yvonne, came from Rosedale, Md., to celebrate the memory of their daughter, Army Spc. Toccara R. Green, who died at age 23 on Aug. 14, 2005, when her convoy encountered roadside bombs in Asad, Iraq. To date, 114 military women have died during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Greens have attended all three "A Time of Remembrance" events in Washington.
"It gets bigger and better every year. It's wonderful. I just wish more families came out to partake of it. I think it would make a difference in their lives," Yvonne Green said.
Toccara, the Greens said, was proud of her military service and aware of the dangers.
"Sitting behind a desk was not something she wanted to do. She had to be out there getting into the midst of it," the fallen soldier's father said. The couple's son, Gary Green Jr., is a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps.
Amanda Doster from Manhattan, Kan., adjusted the bow in the hair of her 4-year-old daughter, Grace Anne, as she described her feelings about the loss of her husband, Army Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster of Pine Bluff, Ark., who died at age 37 during an insurgent attack on his patrol in Baghdad on Sept. 29, 2007.
"The children are the ones that suffer the most" after the death of a military parent, Doster said. James, she said, had completed more than 17 years of Army service at the time of his death.
"He loved it, every minute of it, and he never complained," Doster said of her late husband. "I am an Army wife, and I suck it up and drive on."
USS Iwo Jima Crew, Technology Wow Civilian Leaders
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 21, 2008 - Loaded bow to stern with 26 combat aircraft and ready to deliver up to 1,800 Marines ashore on demand, USS Iwo Jima has a lot to bowl over a first-time visitor. But Navy Capt. Robert M. Irelan, Iwo Jima's commanding officer, said he has little doubt the civilian leaders who visited today were as wowed by the ship's crewmembers as by its technology and combat power.
"It's not the steel," Irelan told participants in the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference of Iwo Jima, one of the Navy's largest amphibious assault ships that honors the 6,000 Marines and sailors killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
"It's the flesh and blood. It's the sailors and Marines who really are the Iwo Jima," he said. "They are a national treasure, and the reason they are out here is they are committed to what they do. They are proud of what they do, and they want to show off what they do."
The crew had a captive – and captivated – audience today as 47 business, civic and local government leaders boarded CH-46E Sea Hawk helicopters at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay and flew 15 miles off the coast of Crete to spend the day on Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima left its homeport of Norfolk, Va., in late August and is in the Mediterranean Sea with five other ships and a fast-attack submarine that make up the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Group. In the days ahead, the group will begin its scheduled transit to the 5th Fleet area of operation in the Middle East.
"This is going to be a fascinating deployment," Navy Capt. Brian T. Smith, the strike group commodore, told the JCOC group. "There are a lot of interesting events taking place in the world, and we have several 'firsts' for this strike group."
One of its ships, USS San Antonio, is on the first operational deployment for its class of warship that brings advanced communications, targeting and force protection capabilities to the strike group. "It's performing extremely well, beyond our wildest expectations," Smith said. "It's having a very successful first deployment."
In addition, the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage is the first ship from the East Coast to deploy with a ballistic missile defense system.
The JCOC group got a glimpse at the strike group's capabilities as they toured Iwo Jima, the centerpiece of the group, which stretches three football fields long.
Iwo Jima carries 26 aircraft, including Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers that provide air defense and close-ground support, CH-53 Super Stallions and CH-46E Sea Knights that ferry troops and supplies, and AH-1W Super Cobras that provide close-in air support.
But much of the ship's power rests below deck, where landing craft air cushions stand ready to deliver the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with its vehicles and equipment for an amphibious assault. With some of the MEU forward deployed for a mission in the U.S. Central Command area, Iwo Jima has 1,100 Marines aboard, ready to respond to any contingency in the region.
"We are the strategic reserve for CentCom," said Marine Corps Col. Mark Desens, the 26th MEU commander. "So we are part of the Johnny-on-the-spot guys. ... We're thrilled to be here, and we're ready."
Desens called the mission an important way to reacquaint his Marines with their amphibious roots. Although about 65 percent have deployed to Iraq, 85 percent are serving their first deployment aboard a ship, he said.
With so much of the world population in littoral areas, Desens said, it's important that the United States maintain its amphibious capabilities.
"We are carrying the torch for the rest of the Marine Corps right now. We are keeping that flame alive and building to the future," he said. "It's a critical capability to the nation, not just for down the road, but for today, too."
The JCOC group observed those capabilities as they watched an LCAC zip by at speeds hitting 45 knots, and saw Harrier aircraft demonstrate their vertical takeoff and landing capabilities from Iwo Jima's flight deck.
They also saw how, in addition to its combat capability, Iwo Jima contributes to the U.S. maritime mission in a way a traditional carrier simply can't.
Iwo Jima can support humanitarian and disaster relief missions by transporting people, delivering food, making drinkable water and providing medical care in an onboard facility that includes operating rooms, X-ray rooms, a blood bank, laboratories and patient wards. In a catastrophic situation, most of the ship's hangar bay and flight deck would provide an overflow triage area.
Iwo Jima served as a command and control platform off New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 aided in an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon in 2006.
"This is not just a combat force but it is also a force for good in the world," Smith said. "We have a tremendous span of capability as an expeditionary strike group, with an ability to provide humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and a great deal of assistance when it's needed."
That's a big source of pride for the Iwo Jima strike group, but it also sends an important message, he said. "It's a way of showing the world the type of people Americans are – good citizens who care about helping other people."
As they toured the ship, the JCOC members chatted with the ships' crew, asking about their jobs, why they joined the military and what keeps them motivated.
The participants walked away from the experience raving about what they saw and heard.
"There wasn't one crewmember who wasn't extremely enthusiastic, and they all seemed duty-bound to what they were doing," said Brad Howell, chief executive officer of Lodestar Logistics Corp. in Houston. "Getting the opportunity to visit with them was truly inspirational."
Admitting to a penchant for all things high-tech, Mona Bonaci, Microsoft Corp.'s senior director for strategic partnerships, said she was wowed by Iwo Jima's technology. But what stood out most from her visit, she said, were the people.
"It's just amazing to get to talk with these people who are giving their lives to serve," she said. "This sounds corny, but I felt proud just to be in their company. The technology here is great, but it just doesn't compare to seeing these men and women."
"You look at the equipment and it's pretty impressive," agreed Brad Bulkley, president of Bulkley Capital in Dallas. "There's a lot of the 'awe factor' here. But the bigger piece is meeting the sailors and Marines."
Bulkey said he was particularly impressed by the leadership they demonstrate at such a young age. "It's obviously instilled in them by the Corps and the Navy," he said. "To see how this is all organized, and how well it all comes together, all I can say is that corporate America has a lot to learn from the armed forces."
The JCOC group visited Naval Support Activity Souda Bay and USS Iwo Jima as the first leg of a week-long trip through the U.S. European Command area of operations.
The JCOC program has been introducing civilian "movers and shakers" to the military since 1948 by showing them military operations and giving them an opportunity to see men and women in uniform on the job. The first U.S. defense secretary, James V. Forrestal, created the program that remains DoD's premier civic leader program.
American Forces Press Service
Sept. 21, 2008 - Loaded bow to stern with 26 combat aircraft and ready to deliver up to 1,800 Marines ashore on demand, USS Iwo Jima has a lot to bowl over a first-time visitor. But Navy Capt. Robert M. Irelan, Iwo Jima's commanding officer, said he has little doubt the civilian leaders who visited today were as wowed by the ship's crewmembers as by its technology and combat power.
"It's not the steel," Irelan told participants in the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference of Iwo Jima, one of the Navy's largest amphibious assault ships that honors the 6,000 Marines and sailors killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
"It's the flesh and blood. It's the sailors and Marines who really are the Iwo Jima," he said. "They are a national treasure, and the reason they are out here is they are committed to what they do. They are proud of what they do, and they want to show off what they do."
The crew had a captive – and captivated – audience today as 47 business, civic and local government leaders boarded CH-46E Sea Hawk helicopters at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay and flew 15 miles off the coast of Crete to spend the day on Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima left its homeport of Norfolk, Va., in late August and is in the Mediterranean Sea with five other ships and a fast-attack submarine that make up the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Group. In the days ahead, the group will begin its scheduled transit to the 5th Fleet area of operation in the Middle East.
"This is going to be a fascinating deployment," Navy Capt. Brian T. Smith, the strike group commodore, told the JCOC group. "There are a lot of interesting events taking place in the world, and we have several 'firsts' for this strike group."
One of its ships, USS San Antonio, is on the first operational deployment for its class of warship that brings advanced communications, targeting and force protection capabilities to the strike group. "It's performing extremely well, beyond our wildest expectations," Smith said. "It's having a very successful first deployment."
In addition, the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage is the first ship from the East Coast to deploy with a ballistic missile defense system.
The JCOC group got a glimpse at the strike group's capabilities as they toured Iwo Jima, the centerpiece of the group, which stretches three football fields long.
Iwo Jima carries 26 aircraft, including Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers that provide air defense and close-ground support, CH-53 Super Stallions and CH-46E Sea Knights that ferry troops and supplies, and AH-1W Super Cobras that provide close-in air support.
But much of the ship's power rests below deck, where landing craft air cushions stand ready to deliver the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit with its vehicles and equipment for an amphibious assault. With some of the MEU forward deployed for a mission in the U.S. Central Command area, Iwo Jima has 1,100 Marines aboard, ready to respond to any contingency in the region.
"We are the strategic reserve for CentCom," said Marine Corps Col. Mark Desens, the 26th MEU commander. "So we are part of the Johnny-on-the-spot guys. ... We're thrilled to be here, and we're ready."
Desens called the mission an important way to reacquaint his Marines with their amphibious roots. Although about 65 percent have deployed to Iraq, 85 percent are serving their first deployment aboard a ship, he said.
With so much of the world population in littoral areas, Desens said, it's important that the United States maintain its amphibious capabilities.
"We are carrying the torch for the rest of the Marine Corps right now. We are keeping that flame alive and building to the future," he said. "It's a critical capability to the nation, not just for down the road, but for today, too."
The JCOC group observed those capabilities as they watched an LCAC zip by at speeds hitting 45 knots, and saw Harrier aircraft demonstrate their vertical takeoff and landing capabilities from Iwo Jima's flight deck.
They also saw how, in addition to its combat capability, Iwo Jima contributes to the U.S. maritime mission in a way a traditional carrier simply can't.
Iwo Jima can support humanitarian and disaster relief missions by transporting people, delivering food, making drinkable water and providing medical care in an onboard facility that includes operating rooms, X-ray rooms, a blood bank, laboratories and patient wards. In a catastrophic situation, most of the ship's hangar bay and flight deck would provide an overflow triage area.
Iwo Jima served as a command and control platform off New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 aided in an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon in 2006.
"This is not just a combat force but it is also a force for good in the world," Smith said. "We have a tremendous span of capability as an expeditionary strike group, with an ability to provide humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and a great deal of assistance when it's needed."
That's a big source of pride for the Iwo Jima strike group, but it also sends an important message, he said. "It's a way of showing the world the type of people Americans are – good citizens who care about helping other people."
As they toured the ship, the JCOC members chatted with the ships' crew, asking about their jobs, why they joined the military and what keeps them motivated.
The participants walked away from the experience raving about what they saw and heard.
"There wasn't one crewmember who wasn't extremely enthusiastic, and they all seemed duty-bound to what they were doing," said Brad Howell, chief executive officer of Lodestar Logistics Corp. in Houston. "Getting the opportunity to visit with them was truly inspirational."
Admitting to a penchant for all things high-tech, Mona Bonaci, Microsoft Corp.'s senior director for strategic partnerships, said she was wowed by Iwo Jima's technology. But what stood out most from her visit, she said, were the people.
"It's just amazing to get to talk with these people who are giving their lives to serve," she said. "This sounds corny, but I felt proud just to be in their company. The technology here is great, but it just doesn't compare to seeing these men and women."
"You look at the equipment and it's pretty impressive," agreed Brad Bulkley, president of Bulkley Capital in Dallas. "There's a lot of the 'awe factor' here. But the bigger piece is meeting the sailors and Marines."
Bulkey said he was particularly impressed by the leadership they demonstrate at such a young age. "It's obviously instilled in them by the Corps and the Navy," he said. "To see how this is all organized, and how well it all comes together, all I can say is that corporate America has a lot to learn from the armed forces."
The JCOC group visited Naval Support Activity Souda Bay and USS Iwo Jima as the first leg of a week-long trip through the U.S. European Command area of operations.
The JCOC program has been introducing civilian "movers and shakers" to the military since 1948 by showing them military operations and giving them an opportunity to see men and women in uniform on the job. The first U.S. defense secretary, James V. Forrestal, created the program that remains DoD's premier civic leader program.
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