By Army Spc. George Welcome
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Though decades separate the Vietnam War and the war on terrorism, a common denominator in the two conflicts has been the bravery and sacrifice of the American servicemember.
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Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Harris received the Silver Star Medal here Nov. 28 while his father, former Army Staff Sgt. Gary Harris, simultaneously was decorated for his valor in Vietnam during a joint long-distance ceremony.
The Harris family watched from a conference room at Fort Campbell, Ky., as the younger Harris received the Silver Star here from Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser, commander of Combined Joint Task Force 101. Meanwhile, soldiers here watched a video screen as the elder Harris was pinned with the Silver Star and a Bronze Star he earned serving in Vietnam. Neither medal had been formally presented to him before.
"It's very rare that we present the Silver Star," Schloesser said. "We have a very high standard, and we make sure that the few who do earn it have done so through selfless sacrifice. It's clear that Mr. Harris did that, and it is also clear that the nation owes a debt to [former] Staff Sgt. Gary Harris. It was almost 40 years ago that he earned it, and I hope in some small way that we can pay back that debt by presenting him his award with his son's today."
Personal courage and selfless service could be said to run in the Harris family bloodline, as both father and son reacted similarly in their encounters with enemy forces. Both risked their lives to ensure the safety of their comrades.
The elder Harris displayed this courage Aug. 15, 1969, as a squad leader in Vietnam. He and his company were patrolling a perimeter near Gol Ree and were attacked with mortars and rocket fire. He quickly directed the members of his squad to return fire on the enemy.
As the attack died down, he moved his squad closer to the perimeter, which had been weakened during the barrage. As the enemy resumed its assault, he again directed his squad to return fire, breaking the enemy attack. During the engagement, he risked his life by helping medics to aid wounded Marines and helping to bring them to safety.
The younger Harris also displayed bravery in the face of danger. On July 2, Harris, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot assigned to Company C, 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, landed his helicopter at a landing zone near Gardez, Afghanistan, to pick up soldiers for transport when his aircraft came under attack by enemies using rocket-propelled grenades, a heavy machine gun and various assault rifles.
With the aircraft on fire, Harris and crew managed to fly it a short distance before putting it down again. After safely exiting the burning helicopter, the entire crew took up a defensive position. They managed to contact a CH-47 Chinook that was in the area to help extract them from the battlefield. As the Chinook landed, the enemy resumed fire.
It was then that Harris, who was helping one of his wounded crew chiefs to the helicopter, exposed himself to fire by engaging and killing an approaching enemy combatant. He entered the helicopter only after ensuring that the members of his crew, the ground forces and the quick-reaction force were safely aboard.
"Mr. Harris has been great since the incident," said Army Sgt. DeeJay Norby, a crew chief who was also involved in the action at Gardez. "He didn't get down or anything afterward; he went right back to business doing his job. It's really awesome getting to fly with a great group of pilots and crew chiefs."
This was not the first award that Harris has received during this deployment. He also earned the Air Medal with valor device.
In his short address, Harris thanked his flight crew and the crew of the Chinook that performed the rescue operation.
"I'm so lucky to serve with so many great heroes," he said. "Without them, the outcome might not have been so good."
He also gave a heartfelt thank you to his father, whose life and service, he said, set the example for him.
"Every time people thank us for our service, I tell them to thank a Vietnam vet," he said. "So Dad, I want to thank you today."
(Army Spc. George Welcome serves with the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Office.)
Monday, December 01, 2008
U.S. Forces Help Lebanese Military Assert Control
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - The U.S. military is helping the Lebanese military establish itself as the sole arm of the democratically elected Lebanese government, a senior Pentagon official said in a recent interview. "The Lebanese armed forces has a unique role," Chris Straub, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Near East and South Asian affairs, said. "It's one of the strongest national institutions in Lebanon. All Lebanese look up to it as a symbol of their state."
That is an important fact, given the recent history of the country. The Lebanese civil war lasted from 1975 to 1990. Beirut – once considered the Paris of the East – was in ruins, and the country seemed hopelessly divided between Muslim and Christian sects. Roughly 60 percent of the population is Muslim, and 40 percent is Christian, but the country has 18 different officially recognized sects.
The United States and Lebanon signed a military cooperation agreement in October, establishing the U.S.-Lebanese Joint Military Commission to provide an official framework for the bilateral U.S.-Lebanese military relationship.
The U.S. and Lebanese militaries have worked together since 2006. The joint commission will provide a yearly opportunity for both sides to examine military cooperation and the goals for the coming year, Straub said, and much needs to be done.
"The Lebanese military was weakened not only by the civil war, but by the Syrian occupation," Straub said. Twice since Syrian troops left Lebanon in 2005, he added, U.S. Central Command officials have surveyed the Lebanese military and presented findings and recommendations.
"The most important one was that the Lebanese military needed a lot of help in the military basics, which are not always the most glamorous," Straub, a retired Army officer, said. "They needed trucks, Humvees, parts and ammunition more than they needed high-end, expensive weaponry."
They also need training, he added. The 72,000-member Lebanese military needs basic help with training in marksmanship, urban combat, logistics and maintenance, and staff functions. Lebanese officers are attending several U.S. military colleges, and the International Military Education and Training fund for Lebanon has grown from $1.4 million in fiscal 2008 to $2.1 million this year.
In 2006, the United States renewed its security relationship with Lebanon, and since then has funneled more than $400 million in foreign military sales money.
"It is national policy that Lebanon be sovereign, that Lebanon be independent," Straub said. "Our part of that is to help build up the Lebanese armed forces so the Lebanese government can be sovereign in all its territory."
In the past, each sect and group in Lebanon has had a militia. The largest and best-equipped militia belongs to Hezbollah, which rules in the Shiia areas of southern Lebanon bordering Israel. The CIA World Factbook says the Lebanese army and police have control of about two-thirds of the country. Hezbollah – which the United States says is a terrorist organization – and its allies control the rest.
The U.S. goal is for [the army and police] working for the democratically elected Lebanese government to exercise power throughout the country, Straub said. "That's not going to happen tomorrow, or perhaps next year," he said. "But that is our goal."
The United States has sent 285 Humvees to Lebanon, and another 312 will arrive by March. The United States has sent 200 trucks to the Lebanese and 41 M-198 155 mm artillery pieces. The Lebanese army also will get night-vision equipment and some tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.
"Behind it is all basics – 12 million rounds of ammo, spare helicopter parts, shoulder-fired rockets," Straub said. "We want them to play their role in controlling Lebanese territory. We also want them to deter the terrorist threat."
The United States is committed to getting Lebanon more modern tanks, and the U.S. military is working on delivering M-60A3 tanks. "We're not trying to build up some juggernaut that could be threatening to anyone in the region, but to make the Lebanese armed forces capable in their own country," Straub said.
Lebanese take care of their equipment, he noted, "because it has been hard to come by for them." He also said the Lebanese record on safeguarding American equipment "is impeccable."
None of this is done in a vacuum, Straub said.
"We don't have a conversation on these matters without considering the concerns of Israel and Israel's qualitative military edge," he said. "That's a U.S. commitment that we take very seriously." For example, the Lebanese army M-60 tanks are no match for Israel's Mekava 4 main battle tanks.
"We think we are helping make the region more peaceful – at least more possibility for peace in the region – by giving the Lebanese government the ability to control the events in its territory – whether it be terrorism or militias," Straub said. "Either way, we think this is good for everybody's security in the region, or we wouldn't be doing it."
The way forward will take time, Straub said. In fighting against terror groups holed up in a refugee camp, for example, the Lebanese military rigged a Huey helicopter to drop bombs.
"It's important to do this at the level the Lebanese military can absorb," Straub said. "The next step is more capability for the air, thinking in terms of not only being able to transport things via air, but have a precise close-air support [capability]."
U.S. military cooperation with the Lebanese also sends a political message, Straub said. "The United States cares about Lebanon's independence and sovereignty," he said. "The people know that and appreciate it."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - The U.S. military is helping the Lebanese military establish itself as the sole arm of the democratically elected Lebanese government, a senior Pentagon official said in a recent interview. "The Lebanese armed forces has a unique role," Chris Straub, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Near East and South Asian affairs, said. "It's one of the strongest national institutions in Lebanon. All Lebanese look up to it as a symbol of their state."
That is an important fact, given the recent history of the country. The Lebanese civil war lasted from 1975 to 1990. Beirut – once considered the Paris of the East – was in ruins, and the country seemed hopelessly divided between Muslim and Christian sects. Roughly 60 percent of the population is Muslim, and 40 percent is Christian, but the country has 18 different officially recognized sects.
The United States and Lebanon signed a military cooperation agreement in October, establishing the U.S.-Lebanese Joint Military Commission to provide an official framework for the bilateral U.S.-Lebanese military relationship.
The U.S. and Lebanese militaries have worked together since 2006. The joint commission will provide a yearly opportunity for both sides to examine military cooperation and the goals for the coming year, Straub said, and much needs to be done.
"The Lebanese military was weakened not only by the civil war, but by the Syrian occupation," Straub said. Twice since Syrian troops left Lebanon in 2005, he added, U.S. Central Command officials have surveyed the Lebanese military and presented findings and recommendations.
"The most important one was that the Lebanese military needed a lot of help in the military basics, which are not always the most glamorous," Straub, a retired Army officer, said. "They needed trucks, Humvees, parts and ammunition more than they needed high-end, expensive weaponry."
They also need training, he added. The 72,000-member Lebanese military needs basic help with training in marksmanship, urban combat, logistics and maintenance, and staff functions. Lebanese officers are attending several U.S. military colleges, and the International Military Education and Training fund for Lebanon has grown from $1.4 million in fiscal 2008 to $2.1 million this year.
In 2006, the United States renewed its security relationship with Lebanon, and since then has funneled more than $400 million in foreign military sales money.
"It is national policy that Lebanon be sovereign, that Lebanon be independent," Straub said. "Our part of that is to help build up the Lebanese armed forces so the Lebanese government can be sovereign in all its territory."
In the past, each sect and group in Lebanon has had a militia. The largest and best-equipped militia belongs to Hezbollah, which rules in the Shiia areas of southern Lebanon bordering Israel. The CIA World Factbook says the Lebanese army and police have control of about two-thirds of the country. Hezbollah – which the United States says is a terrorist organization – and its allies control the rest.
The U.S. goal is for [the army and police] working for the democratically elected Lebanese government to exercise power throughout the country, Straub said. "That's not going to happen tomorrow, or perhaps next year," he said. "But that is our goal."
The United States has sent 285 Humvees to Lebanon, and another 312 will arrive by March. The United States has sent 200 trucks to the Lebanese and 41 M-198 155 mm artillery pieces. The Lebanese army also will get night-vision equipment and some tactical unmanned aerial vehicles.
"Behind it is all basics – 12 million rounds of ammo, spare helicopter parts, shoulder-fired rockets," Straub said. "We want them to play their role in controlling Lebanese territory. We also want them to deter the terrorist threat."
The United States is committed to getting Lebanon more modern tanks, and the U.S. military is working on delivering M-60A3 tanks. "We're not trying to build up some juggernaut that could be threatening to anyone in the region, but to make the Lebanese armed forces capable in their own country," Straub said.
Lebanese take care of their equipment, he noted, "because it has been hard to come by for them." He also said the Lebanese record on safeguarding American equipment "is impeccable."
None of this is done in a vacuum, Straub said.
"We don't have a conversation on these matters without considering the concerns of Israel and Israel's qualitative military edge," he said. "That's a U.S. commitment that we take very seriously." For example, the Lebanese army M-60 tanks are no match for Israel's Mekava 4 main battle tanks.
"We think we are helping make the region more peaceful – at least more possibility for peace in the region – by giving the Lebanese government the ability to control the events in its territory – whether it be terrorism or militias," Straub said. "Either way, we think this is good for everybody's security in the region, or we wouldn't be doing it."
The way forward will take time, Straub said. In fighting against terror groups holed up in a refugee camp, for example, the Lebanese military rigged a Huey helicopter to drop bombs.
"It's important to do this at the level the Lebanese military can absorb," Straub said. "The next step is more capability for the air, thinking in terms of not only being able to transport things via air, but have a precise close-air support [capability]."
U.S. military cooperation with the Lebanese also sends a political message, Straub said. "The United States cares about Lebanon's independence and sovereignty," he said. "The people know that and appreciate it."
Sailor Missing from WWII is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
He is Ensign Robert G. Tills, U.S. Navy, of Manitowoc, Wis. He will be buried on March 23, 2009, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Navy's Mortuary Office met with Tills' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.
On Dec. 8, 1941, two PBY-4 Catalina Flying Boats moored in Malalag Bay, in eastern Mindanao, Philippine Commonwealth, were strafed and sunk by Japanese aircraft. All of the crew on board the PBYs escaped the aircraft with the exception of Tills, who was seen by another crewman to have been hit and killed by machine gun bullets. Tills was the first Navy officer to be lost in defense of the Philippine Islands. His body was not recovered.
In October 2007, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) was notified by U.S. authorities in the Philippines that aircraft wreckage had been discovered in Malalag Bay. A fragment of the wreckage bore the markings "PBY-4."
In November 2007, a JPAC team, along with the Joint U.S. military Assistance Group-Philippines and the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG), surveyed the site and recovered human remains and non-biological evidence. Later that month, the PCG recovered additional remains from the site.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of Tills' remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.
He is Ensign Robert G. Tills, U.S. Navy, of Manitowoc, Wis. He will be buried on March 23, 2009, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.
Representatives from the Navy's Mortuary Office met with Tills' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy.
On Dec. 8, 1941, two PBY-4 Catalina Flying Boats moored in Malalag Bay, in eastern Mindanao, Philippine Commonwealth, were strafed and sunk by Japanese aircraft. All of the crew on board the PBYs escaped the aircraft with the exception of Tills, who was seen by another crewman to have been hit and killed by machine gun bullets. Tills was the first Navy officer to be lost in defense of the Philippine Islands. His body was not recovered.
In October 2007, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) was notified by U.S. authorities in the Philippines that aircraft wreckage had been discovered in Malalag Bay. A fragment of the wreckage bore the markings "PBY-4."
In November 2007, a JPAC team, along with the Joint U.S. military Assistance Group-Philippines and the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG), surveyed the site and recovered human remains and non-biological evidence. Later that month, the PCG recovered additional remains from the site.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of Tills' remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.
Gates Provides Continuity as Nation Fights Two Wars, Obama Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - President-elect Barack Obama today cited the need for continuity as the United States fights two wars in announcing that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will remain at the Pentagon when his administration takes over next month. "At a time when we face an unprecedented transition amidst two wars, I have asked Robert Gates to continue as secretary of defense, and I'm pleased that he's accepted," Obama said at a news conference in Chicago.
"He restored accountability. He won the confidence of military commanders, and the trust of our brave men and women in uniform and their families," he said. "He earned the respect of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for his pragmatism and competence. He knows that we need a sustainable national security strategy, and that includes a bipartisan consensus at home."
The president-elect said he will tell the secretary to end the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control.
"We will also ensure that we have the strategy -- and resources -- to succeed against al-Qaida and the Taliban," he said. "As Bob said not too long ago, Afghanistan is where the war on terror began, and it is where it must end."
Gates thanked the president-elect for his confidence.
"I am deeply honored that the president-elect has asked me to continue as secretary of defense," Gates said in Chicago. "Mindful that we are engaged in two wars and face other serious challenges at home and around the world, and with a profound sense of personal responsibility to and for our men and women in uniform and their families, I must do my duty as they do theirs. How could I do otherwise?
"Serving in this position for nearly two years, and especially the opportunity to lead our brave and dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Defense civilians, has been the most gratifying experience of my life," the secretary continued. "I am honored to continue to serve them and our country, and I will be honored to serve President-elect Obama."
Obama said the national security challenges facing the country are as grave and urgent as the economic crisis.
"We are fighting two wars," he said. "Old conflicts remain unresolved, and newly assertive powers have put strains on the international system. The spread of nuclear weapons raises the peril that the world's deadliest technology could fall into dangerous hands. Our dependence on foreign oil empowers authoritarian governments and endangers our planet."
The United States must be as strong at home as it is overseas, and American economic power must sustain military strength, diplomatic leverage and global leadership, he said.
"The common thread linking these challenges is the fundamental reality that in the 21st century, our destiny is shared with the world's," Obama said. "From our markets to our security; from our public health to our climate - we must act with the understanding that, now more than ever, we have a stake in what happens across the globe.
"And as we learned so painfully on 9/11, terror cannot be contained by borders, nor safety provided by oceans alone," he said.
Obama called for a new dawn of American leadership to face and master the challenges of the 21st century.
"We will strengthen our capacity to defeat our enemies and support our friends," he said. "We will renew old alliances and forge new and enduring partnerships. We will show the world once more that America is relentless in defense of our people, steady in advancing our interests and committed to the ideals that shine as a beacon to the world -- democracy and justice, opportunity and unyielding hope -- because American values are America's greatest export to the world."
The president-elect also announced his choices for other posts: New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, Eric Holder as attorney general, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security, retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones Jr. as national security advisor and Susan Rice as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - President-elect Barack Obama today cited the need for continuity as the United States fights two wars in announcing that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will remain at the Pentagon when his administration takes over next month. "At a time when we face an unprecedented transition amidst two wars, I have asked Robert Gates to continue as secretary of defense, and I'm pleased that he's accepted," Obama said at a news conference in Chicago.
"He restored accountability. He won the confidence of military commanders, and the trust of our brave men and women in uniform and their families," he said. "He earned the respect of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for his pragmatism and competence. He knows that we need a sustainable national security strategy, and that includes a bipartisan consensus at home."
The president-elect said he will tell the secretary to end the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control.
"We will also ensure that we have the strategy -- and resources -- to succeed against al-Qaida and the Taliban," he said. "As Bob said not too long ago, Afghanistan is where the war on terror began, and it is where it must end."
Gates thanked the president-elect for his confidence.
"I am deeply honored that the president-elect has asked me to continue as secretary of defense," Gates said in Chicago. "Mindful that we are engaged in two wars and face other serious challenges at home and around the world, and with a profound sense of personal responsibility to and for our men and women in uniform and their families, I must do my duty as they do theirs. How could I do otherwise?
"Serving in this position for nearly two years, and especially the opportunity to lead our brave and dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Defense civilians, has been the most gratifying experience of my life," the secretary continued. "I am honored to continue to serve them and our country, and I will be honored to serve President-elect Obama."
Obama said the national security challenges facing the country are as grave and urgent as the economic crisis.
"We are fighting two wars," he said. "Old conflicts remain unresolved, and newly assertive powers have put strains on the international system. The spread of nuclear weapons raises the peril that the world's deadliest technology could fall into dangerous hands. Our dependence on foreign oil empowers authoritarian governments and endangers our planet."
The United States must be as strong at home as it is overseas, and American economic power must sustain military strength, diplomatic leverage and global leadership, he said.
"The common thread linking these challenges is the fundamental reality that in the 21st century, our destiny is shared with the world's," Obama said. "From our markets to our security; from our public health to our climate - we must act with the understanding that, now more than ever, we have a stake in what happens across the globe.
"And as we learned so painfully on 9/11, terror cannot be contained by borders, nor safety provided by oceans alone," he said.
Obama called for a new dawn of American leadership to face and master the challenges of the 21st century.
"We will strengthen our capacity to defeat our enemies and support our friends," he said. "We will renew old alliances and forge new and enduring partnerships. We will show the world once more that America is relentless in defense of our people, steady in advancing our interests and committed to the ideals that shine as a beacon to the world -- democracy and justice, opportunity and unyielding hope -- because American values are America's greatest export to the world."
The president-elect also announced his choices for other posts: New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, Eric Holder as attorney general, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security, retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones Jr. as national security advisor and Susan Rice as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
MILITARY CONTRACTS December 1, 2008
Navy
The Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Space and Strategic Missiles, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded $720,086,268 modification (PZ0001) to previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-08-C-0100) to provide TRIDENT II (D5) and TRIDENT I (C4) missile subsystem. Specific tasks may include: Missile body, re-entry body, D5 instrumentation systems and support equipment production (D5 only); D5 Production Continuity Hardware (D5 only); Procurement of components and requalification activities in support of D5 life extension requirements; Critical components in support of D5 life extension requirements; Field Processing; Engineering and operational support services; Training material development and maintenance; Trainer design and operational support; Spares and integrated logistics support; Flight Test Analysis and Range Support; Safety Assurance including Nuclear Weapon Security (NWS); Missile and support equipment repair; Flight Test Planning and Flight Test Data Acquisition and Processing (D5 only); Development, production and installation of SPALTs/PADs/Sers [Special Projects Alterations, POMF (POLARIS Missile Facility) Alteration Documents, and Support Equipment Requirements]; Develop and produce an Alteration Release Assembly; Develop an Enhanced Telemetry System; Technical services in support of the C4/D5 Ballast System and Test Instrumentation Mast program; Technical services in support of all requirements associated with TRIDENT I(C4) related to asset dispositions and disposal. In addition to TRIDENT II (D5), and TRIDENT I (C4) missile subsystem requirements, there is also a requirement to: Provide storage and maintenance for the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, Nuclear (TLAM-N) at the Strategic Weapons Facilities; Perform processing and provide technical services in support of the SSGN Attack Weapon System (AWS) at SWFLANT; Provide TRIDENT SWS Missile Training; Develop technology applicable to global strike objectives that integrates with existing TRIDENT missile and/or the platform, and the missile processing and TRIDENT operations infrastructure; Provide Options for Flight Test Data Acquisition and Analysis for the Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency. Work will be performed in California (42 percent); Georgia (11 percent); Utah (16 percent); Florida (9 percent); Washington (8 percent); Virginia (3 percent); Tennessee (2 percent); New Jersey (1 percent); Massachusetts (1 percent); Illinois (1 percent); Maryland (1 percent); other (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed September 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $285,470,128 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. (LMSSC), Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $98,635,593 cost-plus-incentive-fee and award fee not-to exceed contract modification to develop, integrate and test the red side components of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Common Air Interface (CAI) waveform application to form a fully functional Joint Tactical Radio System compliant waveform application, version 3.x. Under contract N00039-04-C-2009, LMSSC is responsible for the development and production of the MUOS networked constellation, and the current MUOS CAI waveform effort, without the red side components, is being performed by LMSSC and its subcontractor General Dynamics, Scottsdale, Ariz. This additional capability is required to provide a complete set of radio functions and to eliminate the requirement for external cryptographic equipment for secure MUOS communications. This effort is expected to be completed in 2011. This award is made on a sole source basis. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-04-C-2009).
McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $95,000,000 delivery order under a previously awarded Performance Based Logistics contract for spares in support of the E/A-18 G Growler. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (40 percent), and El Segundo, Calif. (60 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity (N00383-06-D-001J-TH00).
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems-Marine Systems (NGES-MS), Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $67,687,769 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract to provide for the acquisition of the TRIDENT II (D-5) deployed SSBN and the SSGN Underwater Launcher Systems (ULS), Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) shipyard support, gas generator production, TRIDENT II (D-5) missile tube closure production restart, US and UK launcher trainer support, underwater launcher technology sustainment (ULTS), SSGN Ancillary Hardware, Underwater Launcher System Ancillary Hardware, Launcher Initiation System Ancillary Hardware, Underwater Launcher Subsystem technology Support, Vertical Support Group-E mount advance procurement and US and UK SSP Alterations (SPALT) and non-compliance report (NCR) projects. This contract contains options, which if exercised, would increase the total contract value $156,196,862. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif. (86 percent); Bangor, Wash. (7 percent); Kings Bay, Ga. (7 percent), and work is expected to be completed September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $35,529,097 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-09-C-0004).
Bath Iron Works Corp. (a General Dynamics Co.), Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $45,800,301 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-2303) to exercise an option for services associated with the detail design and construction of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by November 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., was awarded a $19,222,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-03-C-5102) on Nov. 26, 2008, for Aegis Weapon System Inter Site Data Link (ISDL) integration efforts. The contractor shall provide program management, system engineering and computer program development, ship integration and test, and technical manual services required for the development, integration, test, and delivery of the Baseline K1.1 Aegis Weapon System computer programs integrating the ISDL capability into the Sejong the Great class destroyers, also known as KDX III. This contract involves purchases for the Republic of Korea under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J. (90 percent) and Ulsan, South Korea (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by November 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.
Seaward Services, Inc., Dania Beach, Fla., is being awarded a $14,020,675 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for operational and logistics support for ocean testing and related at-sea projects. The contractor will provide operational support personnel and specialized equipment such as remotely operated vehicles, diving services, aircraft support, specialized mobilization equipment and vessels with crews and provisioning in support of open ocean sea tests. Work will be performed in Dania Beach, Fla. (1 percent); Newport, R.I. (1 percent); and various oceans worldwide (98 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities and on the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division (NUWC), Newport contracts Web site, and one offer was received. NUWC, Newport, R.I., is the contracting activity (N66604-09-D-0182).
Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $10,779,079 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-05-C-0026) to exercise an option for technical, engineering, and program services in support of the Tomahawk-All-Up-Round Missile Program for the U.S. Navy ($9,701,171; 90 percent) and the United Kingdom ($1,077,908; 10 percent). Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md., (85 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (10 percent); and other locations within the United States (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $479,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
SeeByte, LTD., Scotland, was awarded a ceiling amount $10,400,259 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract on Nov. 26, 2008, to perform software engineering, technical support, and training of the SeeTrack Military software component of the Common Operator Interface for Navy (COIN) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) system. The U.S. Navy is engaged in an application developmental effort involving command and control software called COIN being operated at various U.S. Navy activities by U.S. Naval EOD Mobile Units, Mobile Diving and Salvage Units, and research and development activities. This software application is used for mission planning, equipment data transfer, mission execution tracking, post mission analysis, and data reporting. Work will be performed in Scotland, and is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity (N000174-09-D-0001).
McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $10,297,568 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0014) to provide funding for non-recurring hardware and administrative and engineering services in support of U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $10,297,568 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AT&T Government Solutions, Vienna, Va., is being awarded a $6,027,838 task order #0025 under previously awarded contract (M67854-03-A-5154). The scope of this effort is for Information technology (IT) support services to both local and external customers at Headquarters Marine Corps Logistics Command, Command, Control, Communications and Computers (HQ MARCORLOGCOM, C4), ESD and LSD. This support includes: (1) providing IT customer support and performing Incident Management (i.e. "Service Desk") outlined in the Information technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) best business practices as adopted by C4 Director; (2) providing IT database management, applications management, web and OS support, SAN and RAC management, Information assurance, mainframe support, enterprise backup and recovery, and system architecture support; and (3) providing IT project management (software development related) and application software support (analytical, testing and programming). Work will be performed in Albany, Ga., and work is expected to be completed in December 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
EG&G, Dumfries, Va., is being awarded $5,193,076 for task order #0070 under a previously awarded contract (M67854-02-A-9011) for Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) support services, a key element of the Marine Corps Systems Command PM Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA). Technical support under this effort includes the support services to advance the use of technology to improve system performance and operations, achieve design-to-unit production cost objectives, and to define mature production and manufacturing processes. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va., and work is expected to be completed in December 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Air Force
The Air Force is awarding a cost reimbursable contact to Mitre Corp., Bedford, Mass. for $350,326,484. This effort will provide System Engineering and Integration Support for Air Force Ceiling Programs and Air Force Non-Ceiling Programs for fiscal year 2009. At this time, $22,048,674 has been obligated. ESC/PKE, Hanscom AFB, Mass. is the contracting activity (FA8721-09-C-0002),
The Air Force is modifying a firm-fixed-price contract with time and material and cost reimbursement to Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., for an amount not-to-exceed $74,900,000. This effort is for an Engineering Change Proposal against the five-year option contract for non-recurring efforts to incorporate Special Operations Forces-unique modifications on the MC-130J configuration. At this time $19,634,000 has been obligated. 657 AESS, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8625-06-C-6456).
The Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Space and Strategic Missiles, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded $720,086,268 modification (PZ0001) to previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00030-08-C-0100) to provide TRIDENT II (D5) and TRIDENT I (C4) missile subsystem. Specific tasks may include: Missile body, re-entry body, D5 instrumentation systems and support equipment production (D5 only); D5 Production Continuity Hardware (D5 only); Procurement of components and requalification activities in support of D5 life extension requirements; Critical components in support of D5 life extension requirements; Field Processing; Engineering and operational support services; Training material development and maintenance; Trainer design and operational support; Spares and integrated logistics support; Flight Test Analysis and Range Support; Safety Assurance including Nuclear Weapon Security (NWS); Missile and support equipment repair; Flight Test Planning and Flight Test Data Acquisition and Processing (D5 only); Development, production and installation of SPALTs/PADs/Sers [Special Projects Alterations, POMF (POLARIS Missile Facility) Alteration Documents, and Support Equipment Requirements]; Develop and produce an Alteration Release Assembly; Develop an Enhanced Telemetry System; Technical services in support of the C4/D5 Ballast System and Test Instrumentation Mast program; Technical services in support of all requirements associated with TRIDENT I(C4) related to asset dispositions and disposal. In addition to TRIDENT II (D5), and TRIDENT I (C4) missile subsystem requirements, there is also a requirement to: Provide storage and maintenance for the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, Nuclear (TLAM-N) at the Strategic Weapons Facilities; Perform processing and provide technical services in support of the SSGN Attack Weapon System (AWS) at SWFLANT; Provide TRIDENT SWS Missile Training; Develop technology applicable to global strike objectives that integrates with existing TRIDENT missile and/or the platform, and the missile processing and TRIDENT operations infrastructure; Provide Options for Flight Test Data Acquisition and Analysis for the Air Force and the Missile Defense Agency. Work will be performed in California (42 percent); Georgia (11 percent); Utah (16 percent); Florida (9 percent); Washington (8 percent); Virginia (3 percent); Tennessee (2 percent); New Jersey (1 percent); Massachusetts (1 percent); Illinois (1 percent); Maryland (1 percent); other (5 percent), and work is expected to be completed September 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $285,470,128 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. (LMSSC), Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $98,635,593 cost-plus-incentive-fee and award fee not-to exceed contract modification to develop, integrate and test the red side components of the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) Common Air Interface (CAI) waveform application to form a fully functional Joint Tactical Radio System compliant waveform application, version 3.x. Under contract N00039-04-C-2009, LMSSC is responsible for the development and production of the MUOS networked constellation, and the current MUOS CAI waveform effort, without the red side components, is being performed by LMSSC and its subcontractor General Dynamics, Scottsdale, Ariz. This additional capability is required to provide a complete set of radio functions and to eliminate the requirement for external cryptographic equipment for secure MUOS communications. This effort is expected to be completed in 2011. This award is made on a sole source basis. The synopsis was released via the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N00039-04-C-2009).
McDonnell Douglas Corp., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $95,000,000 delivery order under a previously awarded Performance Based Logistics contract for spares in support of the E/A-18 G Growler. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (40 percent), and El Segundo, Calif. (60 percent), and work is expected to be completed by September 2011. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity (N00383-06-D-001J-TH00).
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems-Marine Systems (NGES-MS), Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a $67,687,769 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, cost-plus-fixed-fee completion contract to provide for the acquisition of the TRIDENT II (D-5) deployed SSBN and the SSGN Underwater Launcher Systems (ULS), Engineering Refueling Overhaul (ERO) shipyard support, gas generator production, TRIDENT II (D-5) missile tube closure production restart, US and UK launcher trainer support, underwater launcher technology sustainment (ULTS), SSGN Ancillary Hardware, Underwater Launcher System Ancillary Hardware, Launcher Initiation System Ancillary Hardware, Underwater Launcher Subsystem technology Support, Vertical Support Group-E mount advance procurement and US and UK SSP Alterations (SPALT) and non-compliance report (NCR) projects. This contract contains options, which if exercised, would increase the total contract value $156,196,862. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, Calif. (86 percent); Bangor, Wash. (7 percent); Kings Bay, Ga. (7 percent), and work is expected to be completed September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $35,529,097 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Navy's Strategic Systems Programs, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00030-09-C-0004).
Bath Iron Works Corp. (a General Dynamics Co.), Bath, Maine, is being awarded a $45,800,301 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-06-C-2303) to exercise an option for services associated with the detail design and construction of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer. Work will be performed in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be completed by November 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.
Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., was awarded a $19,222,000 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-03-C-5102) on Nov. 26, 2008, for Aegis Weapon System Inter Site Data Link (ISDL) integration efforts. The contractor shall provide program management, system engineering and computer program development, ship integration and test, and technical manual services required for the development, integration, test, and delivery of the Baseline K1.1 Aegis Weapon System computer programs integrating the ISDL capability into the Sejong the Great class destroyers, also known as KDX III. This contract involves purchases for the Republic of Korea under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Moorestown, N.J. (90 percent) and Ulsan, South Korea (10 percent), and is expected to be completed by November 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington D.C., is the contracting activity.
Seaward Services, Inc., Dania Beach, Fla., is being awarded a $14,020,675 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for operational and logistics support for ocean testing and related at-sea projects. The contractor will provide operational support personnel and specialized equipment such as remotely operated vehicles, diving services, aircraft support, specialized mobilization equipment and vessels with crews and provisioning in support of open ocean sea tests. Work will be performed in Dania Beach, Fla. (1 percent); Newport, R.I. (1 percent); and various oceans worldwide (98 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via Federal Business Opportunities and on the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division (NUWC), Newport contracts Web site, and one offer was received. NUWC, Newport, R.I., is the contracting activity (N66604-09-D-0182).
Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $10,779,079 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-05-C-0026) to exercise an option for technical, engineering, and program services in support of the Tomahawk-All-Up-Round Missile Program for the U.S. Navy ($9,701,171; 90 percent) and the United Kingdom ($1,077,908; 10 percent). Work will be performed in Lexington Park, Md., (85 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (10 percent); and other locations within the United States (5 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $479,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
SeeByte, LTD., Scotland, was awarded a ceiling amount $10,400,259 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract on Nov. 26, 2008, to perform software engineering, technical support, and training of the SeeTrack Military software component of the Common Operator Interface for Navy (COIN) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) system. The U.S. Navy is engaged in an application developmental effort involving command and control software called COIN being operated at various U.S. Navy activities by U.S. Naval EOD Mobile Units, Mobile Diving and Salvage Units, and research and development activities. This software application is used for mission planning, equipment data transfer, mission execution tracking, post mission analysis, and data reporting. Work will be performed in Scotland, and is expected to be completed by December 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Md., is the contracting activity (N000174-09-D-0001).
McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $10,297,568 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-04-C-0014) to provide funding for non-recurring hardware and administrative and engineering services in support of U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo., and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $10,297,568 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
AT&T Government Solutions, Vienna, Va., is being awarded a $6,027,838 task order #0025 under previously awarded contract (M67854-03-A-5154). The scope of this effort is for Information technology (IT) support services to both local and external customers at Headquarters Marine Corps Logistics Command, Command, Control, Communications and Computers (HQ MARCORLOGCOM, C4), ESD and LSD. This support includes: (1) providing IT customer support and performing Incident Management (i.e. "Service Desk") outlined in the Information technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) best business practices as adopted by C4 Director; (2) providing IT database management, applications management, web and OS support, SAN and RAC management, Information assurance, mainframe support, enterprise backup and recovery, and system architecture support; and (3) providing IT project management (software development related) and application software support (analytical, testing and programming). Work will be performed in Albany, Ga., and work is expected to be completed in December 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
EG&G, Dumfries, Va., is being awarded $5,193,076 for task order #0070 under a previously awarded contract (M67854-02-A-9011) for Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) support services, a key element of the Marine Corps Systems Command PM Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA). Technical support under this effort includes the support services to advance the use of technology to improve system performance and operations, achieve design-to-unit production cost objectives, and to define mature production and manufacturing processes. Work will be performed in Quantico, Va., and work is expected to be completed in December 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
Air Force
The Air Force is awarding a cost reimbursable contact to Mitre Corp., Bedford, Mass. for $350,326,484. This effort will provide System Engineering and Integration Support for Air Force Ceiling Programs and Air Force Non-Ceiling Programs for fiscal year 2009. At this time, $22,048,674 has been obligated. ESC/PKE, Hanscom AFB, Mass. is the contracting activity (FA8721-09-C-0002),
The Air Force is modifying a firm-fixed-price contract with time and material and cost reimbursement to Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., for an amount not-to-exceed $74,900,000. This effort is for an Engineering Change Proposal against the five-year option contract for non-recurring efforts to incorporate Special Operations Forces-unique modifications on the MC-130J configuration. At this time $19,634,000 has been obligated. 657 AESS, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8625-06-C-6456).
Military Books
Military-Writers.com is pleased to announce the addition of these servicemembers to the website:
Lieutenant General Edward M. Flanagan Jr., USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Buster C. Glosson, USAF (ret.)
Colonel Jon L. Allen, USAF (ret.)
Colonel John Harlan Buzby, USA (ret.)
Colonel Henry G. Gole, USA (ret.)
Colonel Ed Krekorian, USA (ret.)
Colonel Allan R. Millett, USMC (ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cervantes, USAF (ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel William E. Winterstein
Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Patterson Jr., USAF (ret.)
Major Den E. Slattery, USAR (ret.)
Captain Nelson A. Blish, USN (ret.)
Captain T. Bradley Hamlett, USAF (ret.)
Second Lieutenant Donn W. Fletcher, USA
Chief Warrant Officer Three Ed Raciborski, USA (ret.)
Chief Warrant Officer Two Earl W. Thompson
Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch, USMC (ret.)
MORE INFORMATION
Military Books
Lieutenant General Edward M. Flanagan Jr., USA (ret.)
Lieutenant General Buster C. Glosson, USAF (ret.)
Colonel Jon L. Allen, USAF (ret.)
Colonel John Harlan Buzby, USA (ret.)
Colonel Henry G. Gole, USA (ret.)
Colonel Ed Krekorian, USA (ret.)
Colonel Allan R. Millett, USMC (ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Cervantes, USAF (ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel William E. Winterstein
Lieutenant Colonel Robert B. Patterson Jr., USAF (ret.)
Major Den E. Slattery, USAR (ret.)
Captain Nelson A. Blish, USN (ret.)
Captain T. Bradley Hamlett, USAF (ret.)
Second Lieutenant Donn W. Fletcher, USA
Chief Warrant Officer Three Ed Raciborski, USA (ret.)
Chief Warrant Officer Two Earl W. Thompson
Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch, USMC (ret.)
MORE INFORMATION
Military Books
Staying Power: Air Force Family Liaisons Help Wounded Warriors, Families
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Air Force family liaison officers have an important role in assisting wounded warriors and their families, a San Antonio-based Air Force senior noncommissioned officer said. The Air Force's family liaison officer program "truly is the lifeblood of taking care of our war wounded," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen B. Page, assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Page has assisted in the selection of family liaison officers that serve in his area.
Family liaison officers, or as FLOs, are appointed by local commanders, according to the Air Force's survivor assistance Web site. They provide assistance to surviving family members of deceased servicemembers and also render aid and support to injured military members and their families.
"Our ability to take care of our people is paramount," Page, a 30-year Air Force veteran, said. "This program is so vitally important for us to ensure that we rehabilitate and put our airmen back on to their feet to the best ability that we can -- not just for them, but [also] to take care of their families."
Four family liaison officers operating in his area serve seven military families, Page said, noting that such assignments can last for years. FLOs support injured warrior families, he said, by attending to tasks such as medical appointments, housing, transportation, financial issues, daycare and more.
"I'm looking for the absolute best" people to serve as family liaison officers, Page said. "The second thing is I'm looking for a person who can be and remain committed, because this is a long-term process."
Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Acosta, 24, has served as a family liaison officer at Randolph for about a year now. Acosta himself is a wounded warrior, having lost his left arm to amputation due to a roadside bomb in Baghdad in December 2005.
Acosta assists Air Force Staff Sgt. Matt Flaydon and his wife, Annette. The injured staff sergeant is receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. A bomb blinded Flaydon near Baghdad, and he also lost his left arm to amputation, Acosta said.
"The purpose of the family liaison program is to basically take all the stress off the family member so that they can focus on their loved one who is recovering," Acosta explained.
Acosta said he does "everything and anything" to assist Flaydon's wife, Annette, including running errands and scheduling appointments.
"This program is great," Acosta said. Family liaison officers, he added, can be especially helpful to spouses with limited knowledge of the military.
"That family liaison officer is that person who helps, who closes that gap and answers all those questions that the spouse cannot answer," Acosta said.
The Air Force is totally dedicated to taking care of its wounded warriors and their families, said John Beckett, the Washington-based program manager for the Air Force's Wounded Warrior and Survivor Care programs.
It takes teamwork to support wounded warriors, Beckett said, citing the "fantastic" quality of today's military medical care.
"People are surviving that would have never survived in previous wars," Beckett said.
Determined, resilient airmen, Beckett said, are working to recover from very serious wounds, some of which required amputation of limbs. Some severely injured warriors, he said, participate in marathon races.
"It is unbelievable to watch these folks," Beckett said. "They're just pushing and moving forward."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Air Force family liaison officers have an important role in assisting wounded warriors and their families, a San Antonio-based Air Force senior noncommissioned officer said. The Air Force's family liaison officer program "truly is the lifeblood of taking care of our war wounded," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen B. Page, assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Page has assisted in the selection of family liaison officers that serve in his area.
Family liaison officers, or as FLOs, are appointed by local commanders, according to the Air Force's survivor assistance Web site. They provide assistance to surviving family members of deceased servicemembers and also render aid and support to injured military members and their families.
"Our ability to take care of our people is paramount," Page, a 30-year Air Force veteran, said. "This program is so vitally important for us to ensure that we rehabilitate and put our airmen back on to their feet to the best ability that we can -- not just for them, but [also] to take care of their families."
Four family liaison officers operating in his area serve seven military families, Page said, noting that such assignments can last for years. FLOs support injured warrior families, he said, by attending to tasks such as medical appointments, housing, transportation, financial issues, daycare and more.
"I'm looking for the absolute best" people to serve as family liaison officers, Page said. "The second thing is I'm looking for a person who can be and remain committed, because this is a long-term process."
Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Acosta, 24, has served as a family liaison officer at Randolph for about a year now. Acosta himself is a wounded warrior, having lost his left arm to amputation due to a roadside bomb in Baghdad in December 2005.
Acosta assists Air Force Staff Sgt. Matt Flaydon and his wife, Annette. The injured staff sergeant is receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. A bomb blinded Flaydon near Baghdad, and he also lost his left arm to amputation, Acosta said.
"The purpose of the family liaison program is to basically take all the stress off the family member so that they can focus on their loved one who is recovering," Acosta explained.
Acosta said he does "everything and anything" to assist Flaydon's wife, Annette, including running errands and scheduling appointments.
"This program is great," Acosta said. Family liaison officers, he added, can be especially helpful to spouses with limited knowledge of the military.
"That family liaison officer is that person who helps, who closes that gap and answers all those questions that the spouse cannot answer," Acosta said.
The Air Force is totally dedicated to taking care of its wounded warriors and their families, said John Beckett, the Washington-based program manager for the Air Force's Wounded Warrior and Survivor Care programs.
It takes teamwork to support wounded warriors, Beckett said, citing the "fantastic" quality of today's military medical care.
"People are surviving that would have never survived in previous wars," Beckett said.
Determined, resilient airmen, Beckett said, are working to recover from very serious wounds, some of which required amputation of limbs. Some severely injured warriors, he said, participate in marathon races.
"It is unbelievable to watch these folks," Beckett said. "They're just pushing and moving forward."
Nuclear Mission Vital to U.S. Security, Gates Tells Minot Airmen
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled here today to emphasize the importance of the Air Force's nuclear mission -- and in maintaining its long tradition of excellence -- to the men and women entrusted with carrying it out. Gates became the first defense secretary in memory to visit the home of the 91st Missile Wing, one of the Air Force's three operational intercontinental units, and the 5th Bomb Wing, which flies the aging B-52 aircraft he said remain critical to the nuclear deterrent.
"As stewards of America's nuclear arsenal, your work is vital to the security of our nation," Gates told the airmen.
"Handling nuclear weapons -- the most powerful and destructive instruments in the arsenal of freedom -- is a tremendous responsibility," he continued. "We owe you the attention, the people and the resources to do your job right."
Gates reminded the airmen that their job is the most sensitive in the entire U.S. military, demanding constant vigilance and leaving no room for error.
America's security depends on a reliable and credible nuclear deterrent, Gates said, even as the country continues to reduce its nuclear arsenal. While few argue that abolishing nuclear weapons is a worthy long-term goal, he said, the grim reality is that day hasn't yet come.
"As long as others have nuclear weapons, we must maintain some level of these weapons ourselves to deter potential adversaries and to reassure over two dozen allies and partners who rely on our nuclear umbrella for their own security, making it unnecessary for them to develop their own," he said.
Gates cited threats posed by rising and resurgent powers, rogue nations pursuing nuclear weapons, proliferation and international terrorism. These challenges make it necessary for the United States to maintain a hedge that makes clear its ability to provide an "overwhelming, devastating" response to attack, if necessary.
"Try as we might, and hope as we will, the power of nuclear weapons and their strategic impact is a genie that cannot be put back in the bottle, at least for a long time," Gates said.
But possessing nuclear weapons means accepting the responsibilities involved, he said citing "serious lapses of last year" over the Air Force's handling of nuclear weapons and related material.
Those involved a mistaken shipment of sensitive missile parts to Taiwan in 2006, and -- even more troublesome to airmen here -- an unauthorized transfer of munitions from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., in August 2007.
Severe consequences followed, starting at the unit level and reaching into the highest levels of the Air Force. Gates ordered the resignations of then-Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and then-Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. Another 15 officers, including six generals, received disciplinary action in connection with the nose-cone shipment.
The problems, an investigation determined, resulted from "a long-standing slide in the service's nuclear stewardship, where this critical mission -- and the career field associated with it -- did not receive the attention, funding or personnel it deserved," Gates said.
But Gates told the Minot airmen he's confident the Air Force is now on the right track.
"Based on everything I have seen, heard and learned in recent months, I strongly believe that the Air Force is now moving in the right direction to reclaim the standards of excellence for which it was known throughout the Cold War," Gates told the Minot airmen.
Gates cited initiatives in place or under way:
-- A new office within the Air Staff that focuses exclusively on nuclear policy and oversight and reports directly to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz;
-- A new Global Strike Command to be stood up that will bring the nuclear-capable bombers and intercontinental ballistic missile under one entity;
-- Revitalization and expansion of the Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.;
-- A top-to-bottom review that is determining which nuclear components need to be taken out of the supply chain and placed under control of the Nuclear Weapons Center; and
-- The Air Force's development of a stronger, more centralized inspection process to ensure that nuclear material is handled properly.
In addition, Gates noted that he awaits recommendations from a task force he formed to review nuclear enterprise oversight within the Air Force and Defense Department overall. Former Energy and Defense Secretary James Schlesinger is heading that effort.
Gates closed by reminding the airmen of his own Air Force background, when he served as a second lieutenant at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as part of Strategic Air Command.
"Your mission at Minot Air Force Base is as important as ever in the demanding security environment that our nation faces today – and will undoubtedly face tomorrow," he told them. "I have every confidence in you and in the Air Force that has served this nation so well for over six decades."
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled here today to emphasize the importance of the Air Force's nuclear mission -- and in maintaining its long tradition of excellence -- to the men and women entrusted with carrying it out. Gates became the first defense secretary in memory to visit the home of the 91st Missile Wing, one of the Air Force's three operational intercontinental units, and the 5th Bomb Wing, which flies the aging B-52 aircraft he said remain critical to the nuclear deterrent.
"As stewards of America's nuclear arsenal, your work is vital to the security of our nation," Gates told the airmen.
"Handling nuclear weapons -- the most powerful and destructive instruments in the arsenal of freedom -- is a tremendous responsibility," he continued. "We owe you the attention, the people and the resources to do your job right."
Gates reminded the airmen that their job is the most sensitive in the entire U.S. military, demanding constant vigilance and leaving no room for error.
America's security depends on a reliable and credible nuclear deterrent, Gates said, even as the country continues to reduce its nuclear arsenal. While few argue that abolishing nuclear weapons is a worthy long-term goal, he said, the grim reality is that day hasn't yet come.
"As long as others have nuclear weapons, we must maintain some level of these weapons ourselves to deter potential adversaries and to reassure over two dozen allies and partners who rely on our nuclear umbrella for their own security, making it unnecessary for them to develop their own," he said.
Gates cited threats posed by rising and resurgent powers, rogue nations pursuing nuclear weapons, proliferation and international terrorism. These challenges make it necessary for the United States to maintain a hedge that makes clear its ability to provide an "overwhelming, devastating" response to attack, if necessary.
"Try as we might, and hope as we will, the power of nuclear weapons and their strategic impact is a genie that cannot be put back in the bottle, at least for a long time," Gates said.
But possessing nuclear weapons means accepting the responsibilities involved, he said citing "serious lapses of last year" over the Air Force's handling of nuclear weapons and related material.
Those involved a mistaken shipment of sensitive missile parts to Taiwan in 2006, and -- even more troublesome to airmen here -- an unauthorized transfer of munitions from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., in August 2007.
Severe consequences followed, starting at the unit level and reaching into the highest levels of the Air Force. Gates ordered the resignations of then-Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and then-Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. Another 15 officers, including six generals, received disciplinary action in connection with the nose-cone shipment.
The problems, an investigation determined, resulted from "a long-standing slide in the service's nuclear stewardship, where this critical mission -- and the career field associated with it -- did not receive the attention, funding or personnel it deserved," Gates said.
But Gates told the Minot airmen he's confident the Air Force is now on the right track.
"Based on everything I have seen, heard and learned in recent months, I strongly believe that the Air Force is now moving in the right direction to reclaim the standards of excellence for which it was known throughout the Cold War," Gates told the Minot airmen.
Gates cited initiatives in place or under way:
-- A new office within the Air Staff that focuses exclusively on nuclear policy and oversight and reports directly to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz;
-- A new Global Strike Command to be stood up that will bring the nuclear-capable bombers and intercontinental ballistic missile under one entity;
-- Revitalization and expansion of the Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.;
-- A top-to-bottom review that is determining which nuclear components need to be taken out of the supply chain and placed under control of the Nuclear Weapons Center; and
-- The Air Force's development of a stronger, more centralized inspection process to ensure that nuclear material is handled properly.
In addition, Gates noted that he awaits recommendations from a task force he formed to review nuclear enterprise oversight within the Air Force and Defense Department overall. Former Energy and Defense Secretary James Schlesinger is heading that effort.
Gates closed by reminding the airmen of his own Air Force background, when he served as a second lieutenant at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as part of Strategic Air Command.
"Your mission at Minot Air Force Base is as important as ever in the demanding security environment that our nation faces today – and will undoubtedly face tomorrow," he told them. "I have every confidence in you and in the Air Force that has served this nation so well for over six decades."
Obama Taps Gates to Keep Serving as Defense Secretary
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will remain in the Pentagon's top post when President-elect Barack Obama's administration takes office. Obama, who also announced his other nominees for top national security posts today, cited the necessity of continuity as the United States fights wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as his rationale for asking Gates to stay.
In a statement, Gates said he is "deeply honored" that the president-elect asked him to continue serving.
"Mindful that we are engaged in two wars and face other serious challenges at home and around the world, and with a profound sense of personal responsibility to and for our men and women in uniform and their families, I must do my duty -- as they do theirs," Gates said in his statement. "How could I do otherwise?
"Serving in this position for nearly two years -- and especially the opportunity to lead our brave and dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and defense civilians -- has been the most gratifying experience of my life. I am honored to continue to serve them and our country, and I will be honored to serve President-elect Obama," Gates said.
Obama also announced his intent to nominate the following people to serve in his administration:
-- New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of state;
-- Retired Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones Jr. to be national security advisor;
-- Eric H. Holder to be attorney general;
-- Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to be secretary of homeland security; and
-- Susan Rice to hold Cabinet rank as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Gates will not have to go through the Senate confirmation process. President George W. Bush nominated Gates as defense secretary in November 2006. The Senate approved the nomination, and he was sworn into office in December 2006 to succeed Donald H. Rumsfeld. Gates will be the first Cabinet officer to continue serving in an administration from a different political party.
Clinton has represented New York since her election in 2000 and has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She served as the chairwoman of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform in 1993. She has supported military action in Afghanistan, and has opposed recent actions in Iraq. In the Senate, she sponsored legislation to increase the size of the Army and has consistently worked to help military families. If confirmed, she will replace Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Jones retired in 2007 after serving as NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. European Command. Before that assignment, he was the Marine Corps commandant. Jones received his commission through Georgetown University in Washington in 1967 and served in Vietnam. He received the Silver Star for his actions there. As NATO commander, he led the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. As national security advisor, he will help to coordinate all aspects of U.S. power in the war on terror. He is currently chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States. If approved, he would replace Stephen Hadley.
Holder served as deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration. He also has served as a judge, a prosecutor and as a front-line lawyer in the Justice Department. A native New Yorker, Holder received his law degree from Columbia University. If confirmed, he would succeed Michael Mukasey.
If confirmed, Napolitano would be responsible for the Coast Guard as part of her portfolio as homeland security secretary. A lawyer, she served as Arizona's attorney general before being elected as governor in 2002. Napolitano would replace Michael B. Chertoff.
Rice served on the National Security Council in the Clinton administration as assistant secretary of state for African affairs. She will replace Zalmay Khalilzad in the U.N. post.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will remain in the Pentagon's top post when President-elect Barack Obama's administration takes office. Obama, who also announced his other nominees for top national security posts today, cited the necessity of continuity as the United States fights wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as his rationale for asking Gates to stay.
In a statement, Gates said he is "deeply honored" that the president-elect asked him to continue serving.
"Mindful that we are engaged in two wars and face other serious challenges at home and around the world, and with a profound sense of personal responsibility to and for our men and women in uniform and their families, I must do my duty -- as they do theirs," Gates said in his statement. "How could I do otherwise?
"Serving in this position for nearly two years -- and especially the opportunity to lead our brave and dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and defense civilians -- has been the most gratifying experience of my life. I am honored to continue to serve them and our country, and I will be honored to serve President-elect Obama," Gates said.
Obama also announced his intent to nominate the following people to serve in his administration:
-- New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of state;
-- Retired Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones Jr. to be national security advisor;
-- Eric H. Holder to be attorney general;
-- Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano to be secretary of homeland security; and
-- Susan Rice to hold Cabinet rank as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Gates will not have to go through the Senate confirmation process. President George W. Bush nominated Gates as defense secretary in November 2006. The Senate approved the nomination, and he was sworn into office in December 2006 to succeed Donald H. Rumsfeld. Gates will be the first Cabinet officer to continue serving in an administration from a different political party.
Clinton has represented New York since her election in 2000 and has served on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She served as the chairwoman of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform in 1993. She has supported military action in Afghanistan, and has opposed recent actions in Iraq. In the Senate, she sponsored legislation to increase the size of the Army and has consistently worked to help military families. If confirmed, she will replace Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Jones retired in 2007 after serving as NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of U.S. European Command. Before that assignment, he was the Marine Corps commandant. Jones received his commission through Georgetown University in Washington in 1967 and served in Vietnam. He received the Silver Star for his actions there. As NATO commander, he led the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. As national security advisor, he will help to coordinate all aspects of U.S. power in the war on terror. He is currently chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States. If approved, he would replace Stephen Hadley.
Holder served as deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration. He also has served as a judge, a prosecutor and as a front-line lawyer in the Justice Department. A native New Yorker, Holder received his law degree from Columbia University. If confirmed, he would succeed Michael Mukasey.
If confirmed, Napolitano would be responsible for the Coast Guard as part of her portfolio as homeland security secretary. A lawyer, she served as Arizona's attorney general before being elected as governor in 2002. Napolitano would replace Michael B. Chertoff.
Rice served on the National Security Council in the Clinton administration as assistant secretary of state for African affairs. She will replace Zalmay Khalilzad in the U.N. post.
Medic Earns Three Purple Hearts During One Deployment to Iraq
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - If Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sims was a cat, he'd have only six lives left after his yearlong deployment to Iraq with the 1st Armored Division's Company B, 270th Armor Battalion, out of Fort Riley, Kan. "I was wounded three times in Iraq the last time I was there," Sims said of the deployment that began in January 2005.
Sims, a medic, was riding in a tracked ambulance between two M1-A1 Abrams tanks when a roadside bomb detonated. Shrapnel pierced the vehicle and penetrated his flak vest, puncturing his left lung.
He was evacuated to the hospital in Balad. He spent about three weeks recovering before returning to his unit, but it was only the first of three stays at the hospital.
"They know me there," he said with a chuckle.
Three months after he'd returned to duty, his unit was on a foot patrol when it started taking enemy mortar fire. One mortar landed near Sims.
"Shrapnel hit near my lower left leg, penetrating through the front lower part and coming out the back," he said. "[I] almost, almost lost that limb in that incident, but everything's fine now."
Again, Sims was transported to Balad, where he spent another four weeks recovering from his injuries before rejoining his unit to finish his tour.
Unfortunately, he would endure one more interruption before rotating back home.
It was about 4 a.m., and Company B was patrolling Main Supply Route Tampa, one of the main roads in Iraq, when Sims, who was riding in an Abrams tank, started seeing flashes in the distance. He doesn't remember anything after calling in the attack, however.
"I took a sniper bullet – 7.62 mm – to the front of the helmet -- straight in front, almost right between the eyes," Sims said. The bullet fractured his neck and skull and knocked him unconscious.
"I fell into the turret of the tank," he said, "and when ... [it] turned to fire at the enemy, it broke my right femur."
That earned him a two-month stay in the Balad hospital. He said the care he received there was excellent, and he gave the men in his unit kudos for their part in his survival and recovery.
"I attribute a lot of my speedy recovery ... [to] the care that I received actually on site at the point of injury -- quick response from all the people that were there," he said, referring to the soldiers he'd trained in the new Combat Life Saver program. "The people that were actually treating me were people that I had trained. By the time I got to Balad, I was pretty much good to go. They just had to kind of patch me up."
Sims' last tour in Iraq may have resulted in three Purple Hearts, but he said he's not hesitant about returning.
"No, not at all," he said. "I think that it's a lot safer than when I was there. I think the time that I was there, it was right around the national election time, [and] it was really the peak of all the main [bomb] attacks.
"I think now, it's almost 100 percent turnaround," he added.
It's good he's not timid about returning. His current unit, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 15th Engineer Battalion based out of Schweinfurt, Germany, is certain to deploy at some time.
"We're trying to get all the equipment in and get this unit stood up, because it's the only construction battalion in Europe right now," Sims said. "So, we don't know exactly where we're going yet, but we know we're going to go somewhere."
Sims, who has served 10 years since enlisting right out of high school, recently re-enlisted indefinitely. He hopes to become a doctor or a physician assistant, he said, but he has his sights on one of the Army's top spots if he remains in the Army as an enlisted soldier. He said he'd like to be the first medic to serve as sergeant major of the Army.
"As a medic, you get a broad spectrum of everything that's in the Army," he added. "You can go to any type of unit, so you're more well-rounded, I think."
Sims and his wife call St. Charles, Mo., home.
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 1, 2008 - If Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sims was a cat, he'd have only six lives left after his yearlong deployment to Iraq with the 1st Armored Division's Company B, 270th Armor Battalion, out of Fort Riley, Kan. "I was wounded three times in Iraq the last time I was there," Sims said of the deployment that began in January 2005.
Sims, a medic, was riding in a tracked ambulance between two M1-A1 Abrams tanks when a roadside bomb detonated. Shrapnel pierced the vehicle and penetrated his flak vest, puncturing his left lung.
He was evacuated to the hospital in Balad. He spent about three weeks recovering before returning to his unit, but it was only the first of three stays at the hospital.
"They know me there," he said with a chuckle.
Three months after he'd returned to duty, his unit was on a foot patrol when it started taking enemy mortar fire. One mortar landed near Sims.
"Shrapnel hit near my lower left leg, penetrating through the front lower part and coming out the back," he said. "[I] almost, almost lost that limb in that incident, but everything's fine now."
Again, Sims was transported to Balad, where he spent another four weeks recovering from his injuries before rejoining his unit to finish his tour.
Unfortunately, he would endure one more interruption before rotating back home.
It was about 4 a.m., and Company B was patrolling Main Supply Route Tampa, one of the main roads in Iraq, when Sims, who was riding in an Abrams tank, started seeing flashes in the distance. He doesn't remember anything after calling in the attack, however.
"I took a sniper bullet – 7.62 mm – to the front of the helmet -- straight in front, almost right between the eyes," Sims said. The bullet fractured his neck and skull and knocked him unconscious.
"I fell into the turret of the tank," he said, "and when ... [it] turned to fire at the enemy, it broke my right femur."
That earned him a two-month stay in the Balad hospital. He said the care he received there was excellent, and he gave the men in his unit kudos for their part in his survival and recovery.
"I attribute a lot of my speedy recovery ... [to] the care that I received actually on site at the point of injury -- quick response from all the people that were there," he said, referring to the soldiers he'd trained in the new Combat Life Saver program. "The people that were actually treating me were people that I had trained. By the time I got to Balad, I was pretty much good to go. They just had to kind of patch me up."
Sims' last tour in Iraq may have resulted in three Purple Hearts, but he said he's not hesitant about returning.
"No, not at all," he said. "I think that it's a lot safer than when I was there. I think the time that I was there, it was right around the national election time, [and] it was really the peak of all the main [bomb] attacks.
"I think now, it's almost 100 percent turnaround," he added.
It's good he's not timid about returning. His current unit, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 15th Engineer Battalion based out of Schweinfurt, Germany, is certain to deploy at some time.
"We're trying to get all the equipment in and get this unit stood up, because it's the only construction battalion in Europe right now," Sims said. "So, we don't know exactly where we're going yet, but we know we're going to go somewhere."
Sims, who has served 10 years since enlisting right out of high school, recently re-enlisted indefinitely. He hopes to become a doctor or a physician assistant, he said, but he has his sights on one of the Army's top spots if he remains in the Army as an enlisted soldier. He said he'd like to be the first medic to serve as sergeant major of the Army.
"As a medic, you get a broad spectrum of everything that's in the Army," he added. "You can go to any type of unit, so you're more well-rounded, I think."
Sims and his wife call St. Charles, Mo., home.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Military Books
Military-Writers.com is pleased to announce the addition of these servicemembers to the website:
Colonel Russell O. Fudge, USA (ret.).
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Stockdell, USAF (ret.)
Major Robert V. Thompson, USAF (ret.)
Major Raymond C. Heimbuch, USAF (ret.)
Colonel R. L. Upchurch, USMC (ret.)
Major Robert Taubert, USMC (ret.)
Captain William Burgett, USN (ret.)
Captain A. Jay Cristol, USN (ret.)
Commander Michael K. Bohn, USN (ret.)
Colonel Robert G. Certain, USAF (ret.)
Colonel William A. Verkest, USAF (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Henry Krawiec, USAF (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Hugo W. Matson, USA (ret.)
Colonel Harold B. Birch, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Michael Wayne Hall, USA (ret.)
MORE INFORMATION
Military Books
Colonel Russell O. Fudge, USA (ret.).
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Stockdell, USAF (ret.)
Major Robert V. Thompson, USAF (ret.)
Major Raymond C. Heimbuch, USAF (ret.)
Colonel R. L. Upchurch, USMC (ret.)
Major Robert Taubert, USMC (ret.)
Captain William Burgett, USN (ret.)
Captain A. Jay Cristol, USN (ret.)
Commander Michael K. Bohn, USN (ret.)
Colonel Robert G. Certain, USAF (ret.)
Colonel William A. Verkest, USAF (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Henry Krawiec, USAF (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Hugo W. Matson, USA (ret.)
Colonel Harold B. Birch, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Michael Wayne Hall, USA (ret.)
MORE INFORMATION
Military Books
Friday, November 28, 2008
MILITARY CONTRACTS November 28, 2008
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY CONTRACT AWARD
Raytheon Technical Services Co., LLC, Mass., is being awarded a $13,907,542 modification to continue the effort to transition the Wide-body Airborne Sensor Platform from Initial Operating Capability to Full Operating Capability. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility and its subcontractor, Aeroframe Services LLC facility in Lake Charles, La. The contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This is a sole source contract modification. The Missile Defense Agency, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity (HQ0006-08-C-0009). The period of performance is from November 2008 through December 2009. The contract will be incrementally funded with $1,550,000 at time of award. Both FY08 and FY09 research, development, test and evaluation funds will be used.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
East Coast Fruit Co.*, Savannah, Ga., is being awarded a maximum $7,200,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, total set aside contract for full-line fresh fruit and vegetable support. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is May 29, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM300-08-D-P003).
Raytheon Technical Services Co., LLC, Mass., is being awarded a $13,907,542 modification to continue the effort to transition the Wide-body Airborne Sensor Platform from Initial Operating Capability to Full Operating Capability. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility and its subcontractor, Aeroframe Services LLC facility in Lake Charles, La. The contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This is a sole source contract modification. The Missile Defense Agency, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity (HQ0006-08-C-0009). The period of performance is from November 2008 through December 2009. The contract will be incrementally funded with $1,550,000 at time of award. Both FY08 and FY09 research, development, test and evaluation funds will be used.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
East Coast Fruit Co.*, Savannah, Ga., is being awarded a maximum $7,200,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, total set aside contract for full-line fresh fruit and vegetable support. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. This proposal was originally Web solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is May 29, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM300-08-D-P003).
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Nominations Open for Outstanding Employers of Guardsmen, Reservists
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has opened nominations for its 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guardsmen, reservists and their families have until Jan. 19 to nominate employers they believe have gone above and beyond requirements in their support of military employees.
"In the past, recipients of the Freedom Award have provided full salary, continuation of benefits, or care packages -- even family support -- to employees fulfilling their military obligation," said Beth Sherman, an ESGR spokeswoman.
Sherman noted that while some past Freedom Award winners have been large corporations, even small companies have proven to be especially supportive of their reserve-component employees.
"This year for example, we had Robinson Transport, ... a small, family-owned business out of Utah," she said. "They had, out of their 150 employees, five deployed."
The company purchased each of the deployed employees a laptop computer for use while they were gone and contributed $5,000 so they could upgrade their Internet connections at home. They even provided $1,000 a month to supplement their deployed employees' household incomes for the duration of their deployments.
"They also provided full life, health, and dental insurance benefits and kept everything going for them to be able to go out and do their job without having to worry about their family or their bills back home," Sherman said. "That's kind of above and beyond ... what is required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act."
Robinson Transport was one of 2,199 employers nominated for the 2008 awards. That number represents a 97 percent increase over the number of nominations in 2007, Sherman said. Since nominations for the 2009 awards opened Nov. 3, 628 nominations have come in, putting ESGR on track to surpass last year's record number.
Recipients of the 2009 award will be announced in the spring and honored during the 14th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony Sept. 17 in Washington.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was established in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional employer support.
ESGR, a Defense Department agency, was established in 1972 with a mission of gaining and maintaining support for Guardsmen and reservists by recognizing outstanding support, increasing the awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through media.
More information about the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, as well as nomination forms, can be found at http://www.FreedomAward.mil.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has opened nominations for its 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. National Guardsmen, reservists and their families have until Jan. 19 to nominate employers they believe have gone above and beyond requirements in their support of military employees.
"In the past, recipients of the Freedom Award have provided full salary, continuation of benefits, or care packages -- even family support -- to employees fulfilling their military obligation," said Beth Sherman, an ESGR spokeswoman.
Sherman noted that while some past Freedom Award winners have been large corporations, even small companies have proven to be especially supportive of their reserve-component employees.
"This year for example, we had Robinson Transport, ... a small, family-owned business out of Utah," she said. "They had, out of their 150 employees, five deployed."
The company purchased each of the deployed employees a laptop computer for use while they were gone and contributed $5,000 so they could upgrade their Internet connections at home. They even provided $1,000 a month to supplement their deployed employees' household incomes for the duration of their deployments.
"They also provided full life, health, and dental insurance benefits and kept everything going for them to be able to go out and do their job without having to worry about their family or their bills back home," Sherman said. "That's kind of above and beyond ... what is required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act."
Robinson Transport was one of 2,199 employers nominated for the 2008 awards. That number represents a 97 percent increase over the number of nominations in 2007, Sherman said. Since nominations for the 2009 awards opened Nov. 3, 628 nominations have come in, putting ESGR on track to surpass last year's record number.
Recipients of the 2009 award will be announced in the spring and honored during the 14th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony Sept. 17 in Washington.
The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was established in 1996 under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to recognize exceptional employer support.
ESGR, a Defense Department agency, was established in 1972 with a mission of gaining and maintaining support for Guardsmen and reservists by recognizing outstanding support, increasing the awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through media.
More information about the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, as well as nomination forms, can be found at http://www.FreedomAward.mil.
National Resource Directory Helps Wounded Warriors
By Jamie Findlater
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - A Web-based network of support for wounded warriors, veterans and their families, as well as the families of the fallen, has sprung from a collaborative effort by the departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. The National Resource Directory will include information on care coordinators, health care providers and support partners, Dr. Linda Davis, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said during an "ASY Live" interview today on BlogTalkRadio.com.
"Working with wounded ill and injured servicemembers and their families, there [are] many resources and individuals available to help them," Davis said. "We needed one source that can tell us where everyone in the country is who wants to help our wounded warriors and their families."
The directory is part of a larger effort by the departments to improve wounded warrior care. Davis said research showed that in the military hospital alone, servicemembers received offers from 35 people for 38 types of support.
"While the families did appreciate that, they also found it confusing," she said. "They didn't know who to call at the right time in the right place for the right service. The family oftentimes becomes the primary caregiver 24/7/365, and that is extremely stressful, both physically and emotionally."
To help them navigate the system, servicemembers and their families are assigned a care coordinator who ensures the recovery team works together jointly and collaboratively. Each recovering servicemember has an individualized recovery plan with personal and professional goals.
Previously, Davis said, emphasis had been placed on recovery in the hospital. These plans focus more on what happens after they leave, she explained.
"Our challenge was to get people to not only survive, but to thrive in their new conditions that will be facing them for the rest of their lives," she said. "We wanted to focus more on community reintegration, and to do that, we needed even more partners to be engaged."
To facilitate the coordination of these plans and ensure a smooth community reintegration, the directory is inter-linked to these personalized online plans to facilitate accessibility to available resources.
"Say you are populating the plan and the servicemember is talking about returning to Aurora, Kan., and needs housing adaptation and special tutoring for their autistic special needs child," Davis said. "You can go into the directory and contact both the governmental and nongovernmental organizations in and around Aurora and line up appointments and personnel to be of support way before the servicemember goes back to Aurora."
Davis noted that while the federal government has a lot of benefits and services available to servicemembers, it also is important to take state, county and locality benefits into consideration.
"If you are choosing where to relocate your family, you may be interested to know that a certain township has a benefit for veterans," she said.
The relevance of information in the National Resource Directory goes far beyond solely wounded illness, injury, and recovery services, Davis said. Many of the sections are very useful to any servicemember and their family, she noted.
"We have already had several other programs wanting to connect and use the directory, especially in the area of benefits and compensation," Davis said. "Here, you will find not only what's available through the DoD Disability Evaluation System and the VA disability compensation programs, but things like Social Security benefits, life insurance and video libraries. ... We have sections on how to file claims, on unemployment benefits, and benefits for retirees."
In addition to the directory's Web site -- http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.org -- a toll-free phone number, 800-342-9647, is available.
The Web site is expanding, Davis said, and visitors can suggest additional programs by clicking on "Suggest a Resource."
Launched Nov. 17, the site already has received a lot of positive feedback, she said.
"We had a very enthusiastic response in San Diego when we started the site," Davis said. "We found that a lot of organizations feel the need for this, and they have been trying to develop one on their own. In fact, we were excited today to find that there was a story of the directory being covered in the Netherlands.
"We have servicemembers throughout the nation and around the world and we hope that this directory can serve as a global tool for anyone supporting wounded servicemembers and their families."
(Jamie Findlater works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - A Web-based network of support for wounded warriors, veterans and their families, as well as the families of the fallen, has sprung from a collaborative effort by the departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs. The National Resource Directory will include information on care coordinators, health care providers and support partners, Dr. Linda Davis, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said during an "ASY Live" interview today on BlogTalkRadio.com.
"Working with wounded ill and injured servicemembers and their families, there [are] many resources and individuals available to help them," Davis said. "We needed one source that can tell us where everyone in the country is who wants to help our wounded warriors and their families."
The directory is part of a larger effort by the departments to improve wounded warrior care. Davis said research showed that in the military hospital alone, servicemembers received offers from 35 people for 38 types of support.
"While the families did appreciate that, they also found it confusing," she said. "They didn't know who to call at the right time in the right place for the right service. The family oftentimes becomes the primary caregiver 24/7/365, and that is extremely stressful, both physically and emotionally."
To help them navigate the system, servicemembers and their families are assigned a care coordinator who ensures the recovery team works together jointly and collaboratively. Each recovering servicemember has an individualized recovery plan with personal and professional goals.
Previously, Davis said, emphasis had been placed on recovery in the hospital. These plans focus more on what happens after they leave, she explained.
"Our challenge was to get people to not only survive, but to thrive in their new conditions that will be facing them for the rest of their lives," she said. "We wanted to focus more on community reintegration, and to do that, we needed even more partners to be engaged."
To facilitate the coordination of these plans and ensure a smooth community reintegration, the directory is inter-linked to these personalized online plans to facilitate accessibility to available resources.
"Say you are populating the plan and the servicemember is talking about returning to Aurora, Kan., and needs housing adaptation and special tutoring for their autistic special needs child," Davis said. "You can go into the directory and contact both the governmental and nongovernmental organizations in and around Aurora and line up appointments and personnel to be of support way before the servicemember goes back to Aurora."
Davis noted that while the federal government has a lot of benefits and services available to servicemembers, it also is important to take state, county and locality benefits into consideration.
"If you are choosing where to relocate your family, you may be interested to know that a certain township has a benefit for veterans," she said.
The relevance of information in the National Resource Directory goes far beyond solely wounded illness, injury, and recovery services, Davis said. Many of the sections are very useful to any servicemember and their family, she noted.
"We have already had several other programs wanting to connect and use the directory, especially in the area of benefits and compensation," Davis said. "Here, you will find not only what's available through the DoD Disability Evaluation System and the VA disability compensation programs, but things like Social Security benefits, life insurance and video libraries. ... We have sections on how to file claims, on unemployment benefits, and benefits for retirees."
In addition to the directory's Web site -- http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.org -- a toll-free phone number, 800-342-9647, is available.
The Web site is expanding, Davis said, and visitors can suggest additional programs by clicking on "Suggest a Resource."
Launched Nov. 17, the site already has received a lot of positive feedback, she said.
"We had a very enthusiastic response in San Diego when we started the site," Davis said. "We found that a lot of organizations feel the need for this, and they have been trying to develop one on their own. In fact, we were excited today to find that there was a story of the directory being covered in the Netherlands.
"We have servicemembers throughout the nation and around the world and we hope that this directory can serve as a global tool for anyone supporting wounded servicemembers and their families."
(Jamie Findlater works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)
Department of Defense Information Assurance Leader Wins Prestigious Executive Alliance Award
On Nov. 17, 2008, the Executive Alliance awarded Robert Lentz, deputy assistant secretary of defense for information and identity assurance (DASD-IIA) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Networks and Information Integration /Chief Information Office, its "Government Information Security Executive of the Year" award for North America. In addition, the DoD Data At Rest Tiger Team (DARTT), an intergovernmental program management office within the Defense-wide Information Assurance Program, that reports to the DASD-IIA, was one of three finalists for the "Government Information Security Project of the Year" award for North America. The winner in the government category was the Office of Management and Budget.
"I am honored to receive this prestigious award," said Lentz. "The competition was intense and included many of the community's most senior and highly qualified information assurance and computer network defense professionals. I am particularly proud of the DASD-IIA organization and the DARTT and appreciate the attention Executive Alliance pays to information security programs, initiatives and leaders across government, commercial and academic organizations."
More than 50 industry and government leaders and project teams were honored in the areas of academic, government and commercial for their achievements in information security. The Information Security Executive and Project of the Year awards are given to deserving candidates for making positive contributions to their organizations through risk management, data asset protection, regulatory compliance, privacy and information security, according to the Executive Alliance. The Executive Alliance is a worldwide organization recognized for creating leadership recognition forums that honor and celebrate outstanding achievements of executives in different industries.
"I am honored to receive this prestigious award," said Lentz. "The competition was intense and included many of the community's most senior and highly qualified information assurance and computer network defense professionals. I am particularly proud of the DASD-IIA organization and the DARTT and appreciate the attention Executive Alliance pays to information security programs, initiatives and leaders across government, commercial and academic organizations."
More than 50 industry and government leaders and project teams were honored in the areas of academic, government and commercial for their achievements in information security. The Information Security Executive and Project of the Year awards are given to deserving candidates for making positive contributions to their organizations through risk management, data asset protection, regulatory compliance, privacy and information security, according to the Executive Alliance. The Executive Alliance is a worldwide organization recognized for creating leadership recognition forums that honor and celebrate outstanding achievements of executives in different industries.
MILITARY CONTRACTS November 26, 2008
NAVY
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $500,000,000 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-05-C-0030) to provide additional funds for engineering development efforts in support of the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md. (28 percent); Owego, N.Y. (26 percent); Yeovil, United Kingdom (20 percent); Cascina Costa, Italy (15 percent); Rolling Meadows, Ill. (3 percent); Lynn, Mass (3 percent); Clifton, N.J. (2 percent); Denton, Texas (1 percent); Grand Rapids, Mich. (1 percent); and Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
BREMCOR (a joint venture), Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $15,054,841 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62470-06-D-4611) to exercise Option 2 for Base Support Services at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $154,335,744. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and this option period is expected to be completed by November 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Impact Technologies LLC*, Rochester, N.Y., is being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract not-to-exceed $9,960,000, for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) effort under Topic N02-167 entitled "Intelligent Embedded Diagnostic System for Future Avionic Systems." The objective of the project is for the continued development of a "System of Systems" approach to effectively provide a continuous and active systems engineering feedback loop capability by integrating a diagnostic capability at the second or off-aircraft level of repair [(e.g. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS)/Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD)]. Work will be performed Rochester, N.Y. (96 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (1 percent); San Diego, Calif. (1 percent); Norfolk, Va. (1 percent); and Jacksonville, Fla. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $1,257,361will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using SBIR program solicitation under Topic N02-167 and 20 offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-09-D-0001).
BAE Systems Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md., is being awarded a $10,803,087 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-07-C-0019) to exercise an option for engineering and technical products and services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems. The estimated level of effort for this option is 130,000 man-hours. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md. (80 percent), San Diego, Calif. (10 percent), and various shipboard locations (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $750,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Inc., Herndon, Va., is being awarded a $9,330,592 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, time and materials contract for an estimated 90,720 man-hours of engineering technical services for the maintenance of the E-2C airframe, the EA-6B airframe, and the Common Automated Test Equipment system, as required by the Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Command (NATEC), San Diego, Calif. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash. (28 percent); NAS Point Mugu, Calif. (28 percent); Naval Air Facility (NAF) Washington, D.C. (21percent); Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, N.C. (16 percent); and NAS Norfolk, Va. (7 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-09-D-0003).
Red Tail Hawk Corp.*, Ithaca, N. Y., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $9,300,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program under Topic N05-095, entitled "Talk Through Audio Technologies for Navy Hearing Protection Devices." The contractor will provide research and development for a hearing protection system for the Department of Defense. This system will be used in high noise environments, such as on flight decks, and will provide the user with increased face-to-face communication intelligibility, improved situational awareness, and a system that will monitor daily noise exposure levels. Work will be performed in Ithaca, N.Y. and is expected to be completed in December 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $496,572 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N05-095 and 20 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J. is the contracting activity (N68335-09-D-0005).
Coffman Specialties, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $7,325,000 for firm-fixed price task order #0008 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N68711-04-D-3036) for repair of the Section 300 Ramp, Phases 9 and 11, at Travis Air Force Base. Work will be performed in Fairfield, Calif., and is expected to be completed by November 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, Calif., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Qatar Fuel (WOQOD), Doha, Qatar, is being awarded a maximum $405,688,867 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for gasoline and diesel fuel. Other locations of performance same. Using service is Air Force. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1033).
Bethel Industries, Inc.*, Jersey City, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $21,467,505 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy Task Force Working/Utility Uniform blouse and trousers. Other locations of performance are in New Jersey, Mississippi and Florida. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 15 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising first option period. The date of performance completion is November 29, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM1C1-08-D-1028).
Crowley Marine Services, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a maximum $15,617,903 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel delivery. Other location of performance is Alaska. Using services are Army, Air Force and Federal Civilian Agencies. There are an unknown number of proposals originally solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-1009).
SNC Telecommunication, LLC**, Comerio, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a maximum $14,968,000 firm fixed price, total set aside contract for duffel bags. Other location of performance is Cidra, Puerto Rico. Using services are Army, Navy and Marine Corps. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is November 26, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-09-D-0014).
Golden Manufacturing Company, Inc.*, Golden, Miss., is being awarded a maximum $12,625,755 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy Task Force Working/Utility Uniform blouse and trousers. Other locations of performance are in Mississippi and Florida. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 17 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is December 3, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1030).
Q.U.I.C.K., Inc.*, Florala, Ala., is being awarded a maximum $7,095,889 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy Task Force Working/Utility Uniform blouse and trousers. Other location of performance is in Taylorsville, Miss. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 17 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is December 3, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-D-1030).
Campbellsville Apparel Co. L.L.C.*, Campbellsville, Ky., is being awarded a maximum $5,700,000 firm fixed price, total set aside contract for men's navy blue undershirts. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Gateway solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is November 25, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1026).
TXU Energy, Irving, Texas is being awarded a maximum $28,176,983 firm fixed price contract for electrical services. Other locations of performance NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas. Using services are Federal Civilian Agencies. There were originally 100 proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is January 31, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-09-D-8010).
Air Force
The Air Force is awarding a firm-fixed contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Ft. Worth, Texas for an estimated amount, Not-to-Exceed $180,000,000. This action will provide for Advance Buy for four (4) Lot 10 F-22 Aircraft with an option for Advance Buy for 16 additional Lot 1- F-22 Aircraft. At this time, $49,000,000 has been obligated. 478 AESW/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8611-09-C-2900).
The Air Force is awarding a Firm-Fixed-Price Contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, Calif. Not-to-Exceed $115,158,656. This effort is for 16 Global War on Terror, MQ-9 Reaper, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. At this time $52,927,284 has been obligated. 703 AESG/SYK, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028).
The Air Force is modifying a Cost-Plus Award Fee contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif. for $70,086,735. This contract modification will provide a one-year contract extension for on-orbit operations and support to the Milstar and Defense Satellite Communications System. At this time, $9,409,096 has been obligated. MILSATCOM Joint Program Contracting Office, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-94-C-0012, Modification P00069).
The Air Force is modifying a Cost-Plus Incentive Fee, Firm Fixed Price contract with Thales-Raytheon Systems Company, Fullerton, Calif. for $58,809,301. This contract will complete development of The Battle Control System Increment 3. At this time $10,369,997 has been obligated. ESC/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. is the contracting activity (FA8722-05-C-0003, Modification P00029).
The Air Force is awarding a firm-fixed price contract to United Technologies Corporation, Pratt and Whitney, East Hartford, Conn. for an amount not to exceed $7,000,000. This action will provide for Advance Buy for eight Lot 10 F119-PW-100 engines. At this time, $1,000,000 has been obligated. 478 AESW/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8611-09-C-2901).
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a $500,000,000 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee contract (N00019-05-C-0030) to provide additional funds for engineering development efforts in support of the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) of the VH-71 Presidential Helicopter. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md. (28 percent); Owego, N.Y. (26 percent); Yeovil, United Kingdom (20 percent); Cascina Costa, Italy (15 percent); Rolling Meadows, Ill. (3 percent); Lynn, Mass (3 percent); Clifton, N.J. (2 percent); Denton, Texas (1 percent); Grand Rapids, Mich. (1 percent); and Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command is the contracting activity.
BREMCOR (a joint venture), Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $15,054,841 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N62470-06-D-4611) to exercise Option 2 for Base Support Services at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The total contract amount after exercise of this option will be $154,335,744. Work will be performed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and this option period is expected to be completed by November 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity.
Impact Technologies LLC*, Rochester, N.Y., is being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract not-to-exceed $9,960,000, for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) effort under Topic N02-167 entitled "Intelligent Embedded Diagnostic System for Future Avionic Systems." The objective of the project is for the continued development of a "System of Systems" approach to effectively provide a continuous and active systems engineering feedback loop capability by integrating a diagnostic capability at the second or off-aircraft level of repair [(e.g. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS)/Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD)]. Work will be performed Rochester, N.Y. (96 percent); Patuxent River, Md. (1 percent); San Diego, Calif. (1 percent); Norfolk, Va. (1 percent); and Jacksonville, Fla. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $1,257,361will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using SBIR program solicitation under Topic N02-167 and 20 offers were received. The Naval Air Systems Command, Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-09-D-0001).
BAE Systems Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md., is being awarded a $10,803,087 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-07-C-0019) to exercise an option for engineering and technical products and services in support of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division's Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems. The estimated level of effort for this option is 130,000 man-hours. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md. (80 percent), San Diego, Calif. (10 percent), and various shipboard locations (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $750,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, St. Inigoes, Md., is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Technical Services, Inc., Herndon, Va., is being awarded a $9,330,592 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, time and materials contract for an estimated 90,720 man-hours of engineering technical services for the maintenance of the E-2C airframe, the EA-6B airframe, and the Common Automated Test Equipment system, as required by the Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Command (NATEC), San Diego, Calif. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash. (28 percent); NAS Point Mugu, Calif. (28 percent); Naval Air Facility (NAF) Washington, D.C. (21percent); Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, N.C. (16 percent); and NAS Norfolk, Va. (7 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-09-D-0003).
Red Tail Hawk Corp.*, Ithaca, N. Y., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $9,300,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program under Topic N05-095, entitled "Talk Through Audio Technologies for Navy Hearing Protection Devices." The contractor will provide research and development for a hearing protection system for the Department of Defense. This system will be used in high noise environments, such as on flight decks, and will provide the user with increased face-to-face communication intelligibility, improved situational awareness, and a system that will monitor daily noise exposure levels. Work will be performed in Ithaca, N.Y. and is expected to be completed in December 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $496,572 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N05-095 and 20 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J. is the contracting activity (N68335-09-D-0005).
Coffman Specialties, Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded $7,325,000 for firm-fixed price task order #0008 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N68711-04-D-3036) for repair of the Section 300 Ramp, Phases 9 and 11, at Travis Air Force Base. Work will be performed in Fairfield, Calif., and is expected to be completed by November 2009. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Two proposals were received for this task order. The Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, Calif., is the contracting activity.
DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
Qatar Fuel (WOQOD), Doha, Qatar, is being awarded a maximum $405,688,867 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for gasoline and diesel fuel. Other locations of performance same. Using service is Air Force. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-1033).
Bethel Industries, Inc.*, Jersey City, N.J., is being awarded a maximum $21,467,505 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy Task Force Working/Utility Uniform blouse and trousers. Other locations of performance are in New Jersey, Mississippi and Florida. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 15 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract is exercising first option period. The date of performance completion is November 29, 2010. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa.
(SPM1C1-08-D-1028).
Crowley Marine Services, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, is being awarded a maximum $15,617,903 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for fuel delivery. Other location of performance is Alaska. Using services are Army, Air Force and Federal Civilian Agencies. There are an unknown number of proposals originally solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-08-D-1009).
SNC Telecommunication, LLC**, Comerio, Puerto Rico, is being awarded a maximum $14,968,000 firm fixed price, total set aside contract for duffel bags. Other location of performance is Cidra, Puerto Rico. Using services are Army, Navy and Marine Corps. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is November 26, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-09-D-0014).
Golden Manufacturing Company, Inc.*, Golden, Miss., is being awarded a maximum $12,625,755 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy Task Force Working/Utility Uniform blouse and trousers. Other locations of performance are in Mississippi and Florida. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 17 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is December 3, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1030).
Q.U.I.C.K., Inc.*, Florala, Ala., is being awarded a maximum $7,095,889 firm fixed price, total set aside, indefinite quantity contract for Navy Task Force Working/Utility Uniform blouse and trousers. Other location of performance is in Taylorsville, Miss. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Web solicited with 17 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is December 3, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-D-1030).
Campbellsville Apparel Co. L.L.C.*, Campbellsville, Ky., is being awarded a maximum $5,700,000 firm fixed price, total set aside contract for men's navy blue undershirts. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. This proposal was originally Gateway solicited with six responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is November 25, 2009. The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-08-D-1026).
TXU Energy, Irving, Texas is being awarded a maximum $28,176,983 firm fixed price contract for electrical services. Other locations of performance NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas. Using services are Federal Civilian Agencies. There were originally 100 proposals solicited with nine responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is January 31, 2011. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-09-D-8010).
Air Force
The Air Force is awarding a firm-fixed contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Ft. Worth, Texas for an estimated amount, Not-to-Exceed $180,000,000. This action will provide for Advance Buy for four (4) Lot 10 F-22 Aircraft with an option for Advance Buy for 16 additional Lot 1- F-22 Aircraft. At this time, $49,000,000 has been obligated. 478 AESW/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8611-09-C-2900).
The Air Force is awarding a Firm-Fixed-Price Contract to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, San Diego, Calif. Not-to-Exceed $115,158,656. This effort is for 16 Global War on Terror, MQ-9 Reaper, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. At this time $52,927,284 has been obligated. 703 AESG/SYK, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, is the contracting activity (FA8620-05-G-3028).
The Air Force is modifying a Cost-Plus Award Fee contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif. for $70,086,735. This contract modification will provide a one-year contract extension for on-orbit operations and support to the Milstar and Defense Satellite Communications System. At this time, $9,409,096 has been obligated. MILSATCOM Joint Program Contracting Office, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8808-94-C-0012, Modification P00069).
The Air Force is modifying a Cost-Plus Incentive Fee, Firm Fixed Price contract with Thales-Raytheon Systems Company, Fullerton, Calif. for $58,809,301. This contract will complete development of The Battle Control System Increment 3. At this time $10,369,997 has been obligated. ESC/PK, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. is the contracting activity (FA8722-05-C-0003, Modification P00029).
The Air Force is awarding a firm-fixed price contract to United Technologies Corporation, Pratt and Whitney, East Hartford, Conn. for an amount not to exceed $7,000,000. This action will provide for Advance Buy for eight Lot 10 F119-PW-100 engines. At this time, $1,000,000 has been obligated. 478 AESW/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (FA8611-09-C-2901).
Staying Power: Marine Corps' Call Center Contacts, Assists Wounded Warriors
y Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - Wounded warriors who call into the Marine Wounded Warrior Call Center near Quantico, Va., find truth in the motto, "once a Marine, always a Marine." That's because their calls are answered by people like Alfredo Soto, who fondly remembers the camaraderie he experienced during his service in the Marine Corps.
"We were always being told to look out for and take care of your buddy," Soto, 36, said. He is one of several veterans and military family members who work the phones at the call center in Dumfries, Va.
"I know I'm out of the Marine Corps, but it doesn't matter; once a Marine always a Marine," said Soto, who hails from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
After he reached sergeant's rank, a bad knee persuaded Soto to obtain an honorable discharge in 2007 after serving more than eight years in the Corps. Soto has worked at the call center for about a year. His fluency in Spanish, he said, helps him connect with veterans with Hispanic roots.
The center's mission is to seek out and assist discharged Marines and sailors injured during service in the global war on terrorism, said director John Chavis, who retired in 2005 as a Marine Corps first sergeant with 24 years of service.
The center has helped more than 9,400 former Marines and sailors since it opened on Nov. 19, 2007, Chavis said. It is a component of the Wounded Warrior Regiment established in April 2007 at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico. The center recently relocated into more spacious quarters just down the street from its original site.
The outreach program, Chavis said, assures discharged Marines and sailors "that the Marine Corps is still with them."
A Proactive Approach to Help
The center's proactive approach pays dividends, especially since Marines tend to be independent-minded, Chavis said. Some former Marines, he said, might be "less apt to ask for help" and would rather try to work out their issues on their own.
The center's customer care representatives make their phone calls from a list of servicemembers known to have been wounded and separated from the military, Chavis said. The representatives also consult a checklist, he said, that contains contact information about available medical care, counseling and other services. The center also provides information to veterans who may want to appeal their service disability ratings, he said, and to help them with job searches.
"Once we make contact with them, if we give them information or something to do, we do a three-day follow-up call," Chavis said. The center also contacts agencies that the veterans have been referred to, he said, to ensure they're being provided the services they've requested.
Many people contacted by the center have suffered significant war-related wounds, Chavis said, including severe burns and brain trauma, as well as injuries that resulted in amputations. Other veterans bear less-visible wounds, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
Call center employees pride themselves on "ensuring that when we find an issue with an injured Marine [or sailor], we resolve his issue," Chavis said. "Our success rate, I'd say, is about 100 percent."
Injured Marines and sailors still on active duty are assisted by two wounded warrior battalions, one at Camp Lejuene, N.C., and the other at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he said.
Mary Duplechain, 36, who has worked as a customer service representative at the center for a year, knows the military's workings and its jargon. Duplechain's Marine husband is a senior noncommissioned officer. Her father, she said, retired from the Navy after 23 years of service.
The call center can help Marine Corps and Navy veterans secure appointments at Veterans Affairs hospitals and other facilities, Duplechain said.
"We have points of contacts, we have numbers [and] names" for available veterans' services and programs, she said.
The center also makes use of the Defense Department's America Supports You Web site, Duplechain said, which lists more than 300 nonprofit groups that assist veterans and servicemembers. The Military OneSource Web site is another good resource tool, she said.
Most veterans are grateful for the help, she added.
"That's the kind of feedback that motivates me to keep on," Duplechain said. "They are grateful and happy; they know that somebody is out there, wanting to listen to what's going on with them."
Jarrett Mattingly, 28, works as one of the call center's four shift supervisors. Like Duplechain, she is married to a Marine, a commissioned officer.
Mattingly is proud of her work in helping former Marines and sailors obtain benefits they've earned through their military service. "I feel that I'm doing something really good," she said. "It's a rewarding thing for the people who work here, and hopefully, we're providing the outcomes that that the people we're trying to help need."
The call center is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, except for federal holidays. Its toll-free phone number is 877-487-6299.
American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - Wounded warriors who call into the Marine Wounded Warrior Call Center near Quantico, Va., find truth in the motto, "once a Marine, always a Marine." That's because their calls are answered by people like Alfredo Soto, who fondly remembers the camaraderie he experienced during his service in the Marine Corps.
"We were always being told to look out for and take care of your buddy," Soto, 36, said. He is one of several veterans and military family members who work the phones at the call center in Dumfries, Va.
"I know I'm out of the Marine Corps, but it doesn't matter; once a Marine always a Marine," said Soto, who hails from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
After he reached sergeant's rank, a bad knee persuaded Soto to obtain an honorable discharge in 2007 after serving more than eight years in the Corps. Soto has worked at the call center for about a year. His fluency in Spanish, he said, helps him connect with veterans with Hispanic roots.
The center's mission is to seek out and assist discharged Marines and sailors injured during service in the global war on terrorism, said director John Chavis, who retired in 2005 as a Marine Corps first sergeant with 24 years of service.
The center has helped more than 9,400 former Marines and sailors since it opened on Nov. 19, 2007, Chavis said. It is a component of the Wounded Warrior Regiment established in April 2007 at the Marine Corps Base at Quantico. The center recently relocated into more spacious quarters just down the street from its original site.
The outreach program, Chavis said, assures discharged Marines and sailors "that the Marine Corps is still with them."
A Proactive Approach to Help
The center's proactive approach pays dividends, especially since Marines tend to be independent-minded, Chavis said. Some former Marines, he said, might be "less apt to ask for help" and would rather try to work out their issues on their own.
The center's customer care representatives make their phone calls from a list of servicemembers known to have been wounded and separated from the military, Chavis said. The representatives also consult a checklist, he said, that contains contact information about available medical care, counseling and other services. The center also provides information to veterans who may want to appeal their service disability ratings, he said, and to help them with job searches.
"Once we make contact with them, if we give them information or something to do, we do a three-day follow-up call," Chavis said. The center also contacts agencies that the veterans have been referred to, he said, to ensure they're being provided the services they've requested.
Many people contacted by the center have suffered significant war-related wounds, Chavis said, including severe burns and brain trauma, as well as injuries that resulted in amputations. Other veterans bear less-visible wounds, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
Call center employees pride themselves on "ensuring that when we find an issue with an injured Marine [or sailor], we resolve his issue," Chavis said. "Our success rate, I'd say, is about 100 percent."
Injured Marines and sailors still on active duty are assisted by two wounded warrior battalions, one at Camp Lejuene, N.C., and the other at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he said.
Mary Duplechain, 36, who has worked as a customer service representative at the center for a year, knows the military's workings and its jargon. Duplechain's Marine husband is a senior noncommissioned officer. Her father, she said, retired from the Navy after 23 years of service.
The call center can help Marine Corps and Navy veterans secure appointments at Veterans Affairs hospitals and other facilities, Duplechain said.
"We have points of contacts, we have numbers [and] names" for available veterans' services and programs, she said.
The center also makes use of the Defense Department's America Supports You Web site, Duplechain said, which lists more than 300 nonprofit groups that assist veterans and servicemembers. The Military OneSource Web site is another good resource tool, she said.
Most veterans are grateful for the help, she added.
"That's the kind of feedback that motivates me to keep on," Duplechain said. "They are grateful and happy; they know that somebody is out there, wanting to listen to what's going on with them."
Jarrett Mattingly, 28, works as one of the call center's four shift supervisors. Like Duplechain, she is married to a Marine, a commissioned officer.
Mattingly is proud of her work in helping former Marines and sailors obtain benefits they've earned through their military service. "I feel that I'm doing something really good," she said. "It's a rewarding thing for the people who work here, and hopefully, we're providing the outcomes that that the people we're trying to help need."
The call center is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, except for federal holidays. Its toll-free phone number is 877-487-6299.
Warrior Care: Army Chief Partners with Civilian Medical Community
By D. Myles Cullen
Special to American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - As part of November's Defense Department focus on warrior care, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and key members of his medical team met this week with independent experts in psychology, mental health and resiliency training. The experts included former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, former President of the American Psychological Association Dr. Marty Seligman, U.S. Military Academy professor Dr. Michael Matthews, and Dr. Larry Dewey, chief of psychiatry at the Boise, Idaho, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Casey told the panel that he invited them to Washington to discuss innovative approaches in support of resilience and comprehensive fitness training for an Army stretched and stressed by the increasing demands of an era of persistent conflict.
Carmona echoed Casey's sense of urgency about health care system sustainability, noting that "it is an unprecedented time, ... and we need to transform."
"If we don't," he said, "the [percentage of our gross national product spent on health care] is going to be as high as 20 percent."
After sharing some of their research findings, the experts engaged the Army team on ways they could work together to complement current approaches to caring for soldiers and their families. Among the ideas discussed was the role of character development in enhancing soldiers' resiliency in the face of adversity.
"We can train our soldiers to be resilient from adversity," said Seligman, who is recognized as a world leader in positive psychology.
The panel also talked about ways to help returning warriors see that they can thrive in civilian life, and they discussed the important role that local communities and individual Americans play in the lives of soldiers and their families.
"I very much appreciated the conversation, and I hope we can continue the dialogue," Casey said, adding that continued engagement with outside experts will broaden the Army's perspective and enable it to build a better warrior health care program that might eventually serve as a model for other institutions.
(D. Myles Cullen works in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Nov. 26, 2008 - As part of November's Defense Department focus on warrior care, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and key members of his medical team met this week with independent experts in psychology, mental health and resiliency training. The experts included former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, former President of the American Psychological Association Dr. Marty Seligman, U.S. Military Academy professor Dr. Michael Matthews, and Dr. Larry Dewey, chief of psychiatry at the Boise, Idaho, Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Casey told the panel that he invited them to Washington to discuss innovative approaches in support of resilience and comprehensive fitness training for an Army stretched and stressed by the increasing demands of an era of persistent conflict.
Carmona echoed Casey's sense of urgency about health care system sustainability, noting that "it is an unprecedented time, ... and we need to transform."
"If we don't," he said, "the [percentage of our gross national product spent on health care] is going to be as high as 20 percent."
After sharing some of their research findings, the experts engaged the Army team on ways they could work together to complement current approaches to caring for soldiers and their families. Among the ideas discussed was the role of character development in enhancing soldiers' resiliency in the face of adversity.
"We can train our soldiers to be resilient from adversity," said Seligman, who is recognized as a world leader in positive psychology.
The panel also talked about ways to help returning warriors see that they can thrive in civilian life, and they discussed the important role that local communities and individual Americans play in the lives of soldiers and their families.
"I very much appreciated the conversation, and I hope we can continue the dialogue," Casey said, adding that continued engagement with outside experts will broaden the Army's perspective and enable it to build a better warrior health care program that might eventually serve as a model for other institutions.
(D. Myles Cullen works in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army.)
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