Float plan helps save six lives

Search and rescue…. one of the Coast Guard’s oldest and most recognizable missions. On an average day, the Coast Guard rescues 13 lives and in 2009 the Coast Guard responded to more than 23,000 SAR cases and saved 4,747 lives.

On Sunday evening, one such SAR case lasted nearly 24 hours, covered about 3,200 square miles, and ended in the successful rescue of six men.

When Sharon McDade called the Coast Guard to report her husband, son and four other men were overdue from a fishing trip off the coast of New Jersey, she was able to provide the necessary information to help Sector Delaware Bay SAR planners put together a coordinated search effort. Aircraft from Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., along with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Finback and rescue boat crews from Station Barnegat Light, N.J., began an aggressive search.

By midday Monday, watchstanders had worked with family members to positively identify the voice of one of the fishermen on a vague mayday radio call heard by Sector Southeastern New England. Watchstanders correlated McDade’s overdue boat information with the mayday call to confirm they were looking for the 32-foot boat, Black Magic, with six men onboard.

“We knew we had a genuine case with a good chance of survival,” said Senior Chief Bud Holden, an operations specialist and the Command Duty Officer on watch at Sector Delaware Bay when the initial call came in.

Without knowing what happened to the men and having only a general understanding of where they were planning to fish, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Nearly 24 hours after the search began on one of the last legs of their search pattern, the crew of the HH-6035 rescue helicopter from Air Station Elizabeth City caught the glimmer of a flashing light. As the crew investigated the source of the light, they found it was coming from the Black Magicwith all six men safely onboard. The boat had suffered mechanical problems and drifted about 120 miles east of Atlantic City.

Thanks to the men’s foresight to put together a float plan, a family member’s concerned phone call, the efforts of skilled Coast Guard SAR watchstanders and the cooperation of several Coast Guard rescue assets, the men are were safely rescued.

“The fact that these fishermen told their families where they were going, their route and intended fishing grounds really helped in search efforts,” said Holden. “Not to mention that they stuck with their plan and did not divert to other areas. This information was critical in search planning efforts, ultimately saving the lives of these men.”

CGC Finback, homeported in Cape May, N.J., with the help of the 47307 Motor Life Boat crew from Station Atlantic City, brought the Black Magic and the six men to Station Atlantic City Tuesday afternoon where they were reunited with their families.

While this SAR case ended well, it is still a cautionary tale.

“People running that far off shore need to ensure they have some sort of communication that does not require power, like an EPIRB,” said Holden. “A correctly registered EPIRB provides the Coast Guard with position information and can take the search out of search and rescue.”

Gates, NATO Defense Ministers Discuss New Strategic Concept

By John D. Banusiewicz

American Forces Press Service

BRUSSELS, Belgium, , Oct. 13, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and his fellow NATO defense ministers are here to discuss myriad issues in advance of next month’s summit meeting of the alliance’s heads of state in Lisbon, Portugal.

While en route here from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he attended an expanded defense ministers meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Gates told reporters traveling with him that tomorrow will be a busy day for NATO’s North Atlantic Council, but that the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan won’t be part of the agenda.

“Obviously, Afghanistan will figure prominently in Lisbon, but not tomorrow,” he said. “The work that we have cut out for us in Brussels tomorrow really is about trying to move forward and reach final agreement on a lot of the other aspects of the summit that are important in terms of the future of the alliance.”

Reaching agreement on NATO’s new strategic concept -- with assured security and dynamic engagement at its center -- will be at the top of the list, the secretary said. Also, he added, the council will try to agree on committing to various “critical capabilities” -- among them missile defense, capabilities to counter improvised explosive devices, cyber defense, and aircraft command and control systems.

“There are about 10 of these capabilities that we believe we need to commit to as guidance for the defense planning process,” Gates said. “They wouldn’t all be locked in stone, but they certainly should be things that the alliance should focus on.”

There’s a proposal to slim down the alliance’s command structure to realize “significant efficiencies,” Gates said. NATO has 14 agencies, he explained, and a proposal is on the table to trim that number to three.

“With all these reform efforts and efforts to bring efficiencies, our position, of course, will be -- just like we’re doing in Washington –- that any savings realized as a result of these efficiencies be plowed back into these critical capabilities that I talked about,” Gates said.

Amid reports that some allies are planning defense cuts, Gates said he knows they must deal with the issue based on their own internal dynamics, but he’s worried that any such cuts would cause the alliance to look toward the United States to cover any gaps created.

“At a time when we’re facing stringencies of our own, that’s a concern for me,” he said.

On missile defense, Gates said he believes broad support exists for the phased, adaptive approach to missile defense in Europe that calls for increasingly capable sea- and land-based missile interceptors and a range of sensors to defend against the ballistic missile threat from Iran.

“The linkage with national missile defense, so that both territories and populations are covered, is really more a matter of software –- of connecting the command and control of the different national capabilities,” he said. That would require only a modest financial outlay beyond what already has been approved –- perhaps 85 million to 150 million euros over 10 years, he added.

A defense ministers’ session of the North Atlantic Council will take place tomorrow morning, and they’ll be joined in the afternoon by the alliance’s foreign ministers for a joint session of the council. The foreign ministers will hold a separate meeting among themselves after that.

Gates: Resources Must Match Words in NATO Strategic Concept

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2010 – Deeds and resources must match words as NATO formulates its strategy agreement for the future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in Brussels today.

Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton discussed the new Strategic Concept that NATO leaders will debate and adopt at the Lisbon Summit in November. The two leaders made their statements during a closed-session meeting of defense and foreign ministers.

Both secretaries praised the draft proposal submitted by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

“The secretary general’s draft does a good job of capturing the complexity and uncertainty of today’s security environment, and strikes the proper balance between security concerns both in and out of area,” Gates said.

The new concept is the first update of NATO’s long-term security strategy since 1999.

Clinton said the concept “must express the alliance’s enduring commitment to protect freedom and security through collective defense, crisis management and cooperative security.

“[The concept] must demonstrate our renewed determination to meet emerging security challenges,” she continued. “And it must explain to our publics how NATO will continue to deter and defend against all threats to peace, prosperity or democracy –- including terrorism, proliferation and cyber attack.”

The draft concept strikes the right balance in disarmament and deterrence, NATO’s relations with Russia and the need to enhance NATO’s capacity for conducting civilian-military operations, the secretary of State said.

The concept will require resources to develop the capabilities needed, Gates said. “We will have to make sure —- at Lisbon —- that the words in the Strategic Concept will be matched by agreement to invest in the capabilities necessary to turn those words into reality,” he said. “I therefore very much welcome the alliance’s agreement to fund the critical capabilities we have identified as a matter of priority.”

Two emerging threats addressed by the draft concept are the threats from ballistic missiles and cyber attacks, Gates said.

“It is vitally important that we not only talk about these new threats in Lisbon, but act to counter them by agreeing to acquire the capabilities necessary to collectively defend against them,” he said.

The ballistic missile threat exists and will grow, Gates said, noting that NATO nations must agree to counter the threat.

“For the past year, ever since President Obama announced our new approach to countering the missile threat to Europe, the (NATO) alliance has worked on territorial missile defense. The studies have been done, the data are well-known and the affordability is clear," Gates said. "We can protect ourselves from ballistic missiles affordably, and over time increase protection over all parts of NATO Europe, consistent with the principle of the ‘indivisibility of security.’ It is time for a decision.”

The alliance also needs to bolster its cybersecurity defenses, Gates said. “Our vulnerabilities are well-known, but our existing programs to remedy these weaknesses are inadequate,” he said. “The new draft highlights this underappreciated new threat, though the language could be sharpened further.”

Gates urged the ministers to review NATO’s cybersecurity policy after Lisbon as a matter of priority. “We need to identify what more must be done to protect our vital information systems,” he said. “And then we need to agree to fund the capabilities that are necessary to protect these systems.”

The world is experiencing tough economic times, Gates said, but he urged NATO ministers in Brussels to be careful not to “hollow out” the alliance during restructuring efforts.

“The substantial reforms discussed by defense ministers this morning should, in time, produce savings that must be reinvested in new capabilities,” he said. “This is how we will keep the alliance modern, strong, effective and relevant.”

2010 Proves Banner Year for Recruiting

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2010 – The military services had a banner year for recruiting and retention in fiscal 2010, Defense Department officials said here today.

The services met their overall numbers, and exceeded qualitative goals, said Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

The Army had the highest recruiting goal with 74,500 new soldiers, and it recruited 74,577. The Navy had a goal of 34,180 sailors and recruited 34,140. The Marine Corps recruited 28,041 young men and women on a goal of 28,000. The Air Force recruited 28,493 airmen, topping a goal of 28,360.

All of the reserve components made their fiscal-year goals, with the exception of the Army National Guard. The Army Guard intentionally missed its recruiting goal in order to stay within end-strength limits.

The services also set quality records with 100 percent of the recruits in the Army and Marine Corps having a high school diploma. In the Air Force, the percentage with at least a high school diploma was 99 percent and in the Navy, 98 percent.

However, the services are not taking this success for granted, Stanley said.

“Recruiting is always going to be a challenge,” he said. “It’s still a challenge.”

While the high unemployment rate has helped spur recruiting, it was not the biggest reason young men and women decided to join the military, Stanley said.

“As we look at where we are right now in terms of the challenges facing us, it’s more to it than the economy,” he said. “To a person -- serving their nation, doing it with honor, being patriots -- seems to be the recurring theme that comes up every time we look at and talk to those who are wearing a uniform today, and we’re still proud to have that in our active and our reserve components, and our Guard.”

Stanley said the propensity of Americans to enlist is higher than it has been in the past. Still, he said, there are difficulties. Only three of every 10 Americans in the prime recruiting group of 17 to 24 years of age are even qualified to enlist, he added. Many candidates, he said, are disqualified for medical, educational or conduct reasons. Also, he added, the military and private industries are in competition for these prime recruits.

“We know that as the economy turns, our business will get a little tougher,” said Maj. Gen. Donald M. Campbell Jr., the commander of Army Recruiting Command. “But I believe if we set the conditions now in the Army like we're trying to do and focus on quality of life, taking care of our soldiers and our families and focusing on those tools that allow them to recruit in difficult environments, then we’ll be okay.

“But the bottom-line premise for all services,” Campbell continued, “will be that three in 10 is the number that we’re going to have to choose to look at in 17-to-24-year-olds.

Navy Honors Killed, Injured in USS Cole Attack

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2010 – Navy officials, current and former crew members and families of the fallen gathered today at Norfolk Naval Station, Va., to remember the 17 sailors killed and 39 others wounded in the al-Qaida attack on the USS Cole 10 years ago today.

Suicide bombers launched the surprise Oct. 12, 2000, attack on the Arleigh Burke-class, Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer as it was anchored in Aden, Yemen, for a routine refueling stop. The attackers detonated an explosive-laden boat against the ship’s port side, tearing a 40-by-40-foot hole in the hull and sending seawater gushing into the engineering compartment.

The attack was the deadliest assault against a U.S. naval vessel since the Iraqis attacked the USS Stark on May 17, 1987.

Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, the Cole’s commander during the attack, recalled the impact of the blast.

“There was a thunderous explosion. You could feel all 505 feet and 8,400 tons of guided missile destroyer violently thrust up and to the right,” Lippold said during a recent radio interview. “Lights went out, and within a matter of seconds, I knew we’d been attacked.”

During today’s ceremonies, Navy Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr., commander of USS Fleet Command, saluted the Cole crewmembers’ quick response and valor as they fought to keep the ship afloat and tended to the wounded while defending against a feared follow-on attack.

Harvey said the attack underscores the importance of always being trained and prepared, and he praised the sense of vigilance that has been passed down to subsequent USS Cole crews.

After 14 months of upgrades and repairs following the attack, the USS Cole made an overseas deployment in November 2003. The ship later deployed to the Middle East in June 2006.

The USS Cole, which recently returned to its Norfolk homeport after a deployment that took it through the Gulf of Aden, shows no visible evidence of the deadly attack that occurred a decade ago. But below its decks are regular reminders, including a blackened U.S. flag that survived the attack and 17 gold stars that line the ship’s “Hall of Heroes” passageway.

As a ship’s bells rang 17 times during today’s ceremonies, the names of the fallen 17 sailors were read aloud:

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, a hull maintenance technician from Mechanicsville, Va.;

* Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, 35, an electronics technician from Morrisville, Pa.;

*Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, a mess management specialist from Woodleaf, N.C.;

* Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, an information systems technician from Rice, Texas;

* Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, a signalman from Rex, Ga.;

* Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.;

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, an engineman from Fond du Lac, Wis.;

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Scott Owens, 24, an electronics warfare technician from Vero Beach, Fla.;

* Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.;

* Seaman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, an engine room fireman from Churchville, Md.;

* Seaman Patrick Howard Roy, 19, a fireman from Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.;

* Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, an electronic warfare technician from Portland, N.D.;

* Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, a mess management specialist from Kingsville, Texas.;

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, an operations specialist from Ringgold, Va.;

* Seaman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, a fireman from Rockport, Texas;

* Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.; and

* Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, October 14, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is traveling.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

This Day in Naval History - Oct. 13

From the Navy News Service

1775 - The Continental Congress establishes a Continental Navy, later known as the U.S. Navy.

1943 - The Destroyer Bristol (DD 453) is sunk, with the loss of 52 lives, by the U-317 off the coast of Algeria.

1954 - USS Saipan (CVL 48) begins relief and humanitarian aid operations for Haitians who were victims of Hurricane Hazel. The operation ended Oct. 19.

DOD, DHS Join Forces to Promote Cybersecurity

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that their departments will work together to better protect against threats to military and civilian computer networks and systems.

The departments’ new memorandum of agreement on cybersecurity was created, the senior officials said, to coordinate and improve efforts to secure the nation’s critical cyber-based infrastructure.

“With this memorandum of agreement, effective immediately, we are building a new framework between our departments to enhance operational coordination and joint program planning, Gates and Napolitano said in a joint statement. “It formalizes processes in which we work together to protect our nation’s cyber networks and critical infrastructure, and increases the clarity and focus of our respective roles and responsibilities.”

Under the agreement, DOD cyber analysts will work with their counterparts at DHS to formally support the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, called NCCIC. The agreement also provides a full-time senior DHS leader to DOD’s National Security Agency, along with a support team comprised of DHS privacy, civil liberties and legal personnel.

“This structure is designed to put the full weight of our combined capabilities and expertise behind every action taken to protect our vital cyber networks, without altering the authorities or oversight of our separate but complementary missions,” Gates and Napolitano said in their joint statement.

“We will improve economy and efficiency by better leveraging vital technologies and personnel to serve both Departments’ missions in full adherence to U.S. laws and regulation,” they added. “This memorandum of agreement furthers our strong commitment to protecting civil liberties and privacy.

According to a senior DHS official, the agreement is the “next logical step” in cybersecurity efforts and has several important effects.

“We expect it to enhance joint planning and increase visibility between DOD’s and DHS’s operational processes and increase each agency’s effectiveness,” the senior DHS official said today in a telephone briefing for reporters. “For example, we would hope that this would drive more rapid collaboration under the National Cyber Incident Response Plan,” a federal plan to define roles and responsibilities of agencies and industry in responding to potential cyber attacks.

In the same briefing, a senior DOD official said that one of DOD’s key missions is to provide defense support to civilian authorities during attacks on the homeland.

“This applies to responding to hurricanes or other natural disasters or to [weapons of mass destruction] and it applies to cybersecurity as well,” the senior DOD official said. “So from our perspective supporting DHS on cybersecurity is part of DOD’s mission and this [agreement] is intended to help DOD and [the National Security Agency] in particular to be able to do that more effectively.”

By executive order, NSA acts as the national manager for National Security Systems and in that capacity it reports to the Secretary of Defense and to the Director of National Intelligence.

“We’re not talking about new missions or new authorities; we’re looking to help our departments be able to do their jobs better,” the senior DOD official said.

“The U.S. just happens to have a tremendous amount of expertise at NSA,” he added. “Our perspective is that it will be a lot faster and more cost effective to make sure NSA is supporting DHS as effectively as possible than to expect DHS to try to build all the capabilities NSA has. As a country we don’t have the time or the money to try to buy all of the capabilities twice.”

DOD needs DHS to succeed in the cybersecurity mission, the senior DOD official said.

“We need it to help us be able to do our own assigned missions,” he said, “from transporting troops and material to wars overseas to supporting defense of the homeland. We rely as a department not just on the dot mil -- our own networks -- but on a secure dot gov and dot com to work with our partners.”

The DOD official added, “It may seem ironic in today’s connected world, and especially for cybersecurity, that we’re suggesting it’s critical to have people work together on a daily basis, face-to-face. But that’s the reality of how people work and from a DOD perspective we understand that this arrangement will help DHS compete more effectively for support from NSA.”

“We look forward to building on this vitally important step toward greater collaboration,” Gates and Napolitano said in their joint statement, “as we continue to work together on new and better ways to protect our economy and critical networks against evolving threats by those who seek to harm the United States.”

Big "E" Takes Their Best Shot

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brooks B. Patton, Jr., USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- As the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) was conducting its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Oct. 8, the crew faced another challenge besides the rigors of these simulated war games.

The cold and flu season is here, and a Sailor's cough or sneeze could mean the spread of a potentially life-threatening virus that can directly impact the ship's warfighting capability.

The flu can decimate a ship's crew, especially due to the close-quarter living arrangement inherent to shipboard life.

"If we didn't administer the flu shot it could potentially knock out more than 50 percent of the crew and could result in many hospitalizations," said Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Thomas P. Dewitt, Medical department's chief of preventive medicine.

Even if one has had the flu shot before or is not prone to getting sick, they should get the vaccination. The influenza virus is always changing, and annual vaccinations are highly recommended. Each year's shot is different from the previous.

Instead of thousands of Sailors waiting in line to receive shots, the creative Sailors in Big E's Medical department developed a rotation to allow the maximum number of Sailors in line that can effectively be inoculated while the remaining come back on a first-come, first-serve basis when the line is empty.

Due to the sudden nature of last year's H1N1 outbreak, the vaccination had to be manufactured after the influenza A and B vaccinations were already issued. This resulted in Sailors having to receive two shots.

This year's single shot includes all vaccinations, and the short waiting time incentivizes the effort.

According to the World Health Organization, 49,000 people died in the U.S. alone from the virus in the 2007 – 2008 flu season, while an estimated 3 to 5 million were stricken worldwide.

As the Sailors and Marines of the Enterprise Strike Group are gearing up for the warship's 21st deployment, the overall health of the crew is critical to mission readiness.

The Enterprise Strike Group consists of Enterprise, the guided missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Mason (DDG 87), the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 56), USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Carrier Air Wing 1 and Destroyer Squadron 2.

The Enterprise Strike Group is conducting COMPTUEX as part of its work-ups in preparation for the upcoming deployment. For more information about Enterprise, Carrier Strike Group 12 or Carrier Air Wing 1 visit www.Enterprise.navy.mil, WWW.ccsg12.surfor.navy.mil, and www.cvw1.navy.mil. You can also visit www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn65.>

For more news from USS Enterprise (CVN 65), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn65/.

Gates Reaffirms Position on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

By John D. Banusiewicz

American Forces Press Service

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct. 13, 2010 – As Justice Department officials consider the implications of a federal court order for the Defense Department to stop enforcing the so-called “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today that whether the law is repealed is a matter for Congress to decide.

While en route here from Hanoi, Vietnam, Gates told reporters traveling with him that much remains to be worked out before DOD effectively could implement a change allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.

A review panel led by Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon’s top lawyer, and Gen. Carter F. Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, still is researching the issue, and input from servicemembers and their families remains to be compiled and evaluated, Gates noted.

“I feel very strongly that this is an action that needs to be taken by the Congress,” the secretary said, “and that it is an action that requires careful preparation and a lot of training. We have a lot of revision of regulations that has to be done.”

The review also will determine what other kinds of changes would be necessary if the law is repealed, including benefits and adjustments to facilities, he added.

“This is a very complex business,” Gates said. “It has enormous consequences for our troops. And as I have said from the very beginning, I think there should be legislation, and that legislation should be informed by the review we have under way.”

The review panel is considering results of an extensive survey of active duty and reserve-component servicemembers, and Johnson and Ham conducted numerous town-hall meetings to get face-to-face input, Gates said. Tens of thousands of comments have been submitted to a special e-mail address set up to gather additional input, he added, and hundreds of gay and lesbian servicemembers took advantage of a chance to share their views anonymously. In addition, the final responses from a survey of spouses and family members assessing their views on the impact of a repeal of the law have just been received, the secretary noted.

“I think we had a very strong return on those,” he said. “My recollection is that we sent out 150,000 surveys and got back somewhere between [40,000] and 50,000. Those all still have to be collated and analyzed. The surveys are an important piece of this.”

When all that feedback is compiled, Gates said, the panel will put together its recommendations. Then everything, including the raw data, will go to the services for their individual analyses.

“I think there’s a lot going on here,” the secretary said. “Frankly, to try and accelerate it would be difficult. There are a lot of moving parts as we’re trying to get as thorough a view of all of this as possible.”

Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is traveling.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen speaks at the DOD Energy Security Forum at 9:15 a.m. EDT in the Pentagon Auditorium.  Media interested in attending should contact Cmdr. Wendy L. Snyder, wendy.snyder@osd.mil or call 703-697-1252.

Maj. Gen. John Campbell, commanding general for Regional Command East, and French Army Brig. Gen. Pierre Chavancy, commanding general for Task Force Lafayette will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. EDT, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on current operations.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addresses the 2010 Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce meeting at 7 p.m. MDT at the Sandia Resort, Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Media interested with questions should contact the Chamber of Commerce at 505-764-3739.

Graphic Novel Helps Corpsmen Cope with Combat-related Stress

By Valerie Kremer, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) recently produced a 200-page graphic novel called "The Docs" as a communication tool to help Navy Corpsmen with the stresses of combat deployments.

The graphic novel tells the stories of four fictional corpsmen serving in Iraq at the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Since the start of combat operations in the Middle East, Navy Medicine recognized that expeditionary hospital corpsmen have extremely high exposure to the many significant stressors of war, both acute and chronic," said Capt. Greg Utz, NHRC commanding officer. "Their dual roles as caregivers and combatants puts them at high risk for stress injuries, so we developed this graphic novel as an innovative way to help our Sailors prepare for and interpret situations they may see in theater."

"The Docs" portrays four expeditionary Corpsmen from both active duty and Reserve components, who are deployed with Marine Corps and seabee units.

The story follows them as they grapple with having to kill enemy forces; struggle to save the lives of wounded Sailors and Marines; encounter home front problems such as injuries to their children, and other concerns that test their resilience.

In addition, they battle the stigma of seeking mental health care for their patients and for themselves, and gain greater awareness of their need to care for one another.

"The goal for this story is to provide an entertaining and community-appropriate message of the importance of caring for caregiver, and the responsibility shared in that endeavor," said Utz.

As an integral part of Navy Medicine's Care for the Caregiver program, "The Docs" was developed with the intent to instill realistic expectations of possible deployment stressors, and to provide examples for corpsmen on helpful techniques for in-theater care of stress injuries.

Graphic novels tell stories through use of sequential art in a traditional comic format, but have a beginning, middle, and end, as with traditional text novels. This format was chosen specifically for its appeal to the targeted age group and its value in providing thought-provoking content for discussion in training scenarios.

Jerry Larson, Ph.D., NHRC chief scientist for behavioral health, said the format works in helping provide corpsmen with tools they will need in high stress situations. Initial feedback from the Hospital Corps has been positive.

"Addressing the psychological toll of combat and creating the expectation of recovery is one of the most critical things we can achieve in Navy Medicine," said Larson. "While sometimes recovery requires assistance from mental health providers, nevertheless the expectation of recovery must be instilled."

Larson said copies of the "The Docs" will be distributed to corpsmen preparing to deploy. The primary audience for distribution is the Naval Expeditionary Medical Training Institute, and field medical training battalions -- both of which are located on Marine Corps bases.

Navy and Marine Corps personnel can order a free copy by visiting the Marine Corps Combat and Operational Stress Control site: http://bhin.usmc-mccs.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=c_user.dsp_browse&cat_id=1.

The graphic novel is available for online viewing and download at: http://www.med.navy.mil/Navy%20Medicine%20Media%20Room/Pages/Publications.aspx and plans are underway to animate the story for viewing on portable phones and computers.

Air Station Miami welcomes the Ocean Sentry

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

The Coast Guard’s District 7 executes missions in an immense area stretching over 1.8 million square miles. As of this month, Coast Guard aviators have a new aircraft to fly those two million square miles – the HC-144A Ocean Sentry.

The HC-144A Ocean Sentry is the Coast Guard’s newest aircraft delivered as part of its recapitalization program and will serve as the service’s medium range surveillance aircraft. Air Station Miami is the second operational unit to fly the HC-144A, with the first being Aviation Training Center (ATC) Mobile.

Capable of remaining in flight in excess of nine hours, it doubles that of the hours for the legacy HU-25 Falcon. This greater endurance allows Coast Guard aircrews to remain on-scene longer, adding value to the execution of law enforcement, marine and environmental response and search and rescue missions.

Since the delivery of Air Station Miami’s first HC-144A on March 10, the pilots who will fly the Ocean Sentry have trained and transitioned their qualifications. The pilots attended a ten-week course at ATC Mobile where they familiarized themselves with the aircraft and studied the Sentry’s new systems.

In a series of extensive technical training, the avionics electrical technicians and aviation maintenance technicians at Air Station Miami have also begun transitioning qualifications, to include experienced operators arriving from ATC Mobile this summer.

A standard operational crew for the Ocean Sentry consists of two mission system operators (MSO), one drop master or load master (mission dependant) and one basic aircrewman.

The MSO position is a new role for aircrews with the arrival of the Ocean Sentry platform. MSOs are tasked with operating the on board mission system pallet (MSP) that combines a wide-ranging suite of electronic equipment that collects, compiles, interprets and disseminates data from the sensors and electronic equipment on the aircraft. These integrated components further improve situational awareness and responsiveness of Coast Guard aircrews.

Additionally, in a first for Coast Guard aviation, the Ocean Sentry is capable of transmitting and receiving Secret-level information, improving the Coast Guard’s interoperability with the Department of Defense.

Air Station Miami is proud of its 78-year history of aviation excellence and continues to stand ever at ready as the Coast Guard’s newest, and 16th airframe in it’s history, takes to the skies.

Expeditionary Warfare Conference Speakers Focus on Challenge

By Dan Broadstreet, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Public Affairs

PANAMA CITY, Fla (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, presented his opening night speech Oct. 4, at the Expeditionary Warfare Conference illustrating how America's expeditionary forces could be crippled without adequate mine countermeasures support.

Adm. John C. Harvey described the losses during the U.S. Navy's attempt to conduct a forcible entry into North Korea's port of Wonson in 1950, and then quoted the Commander of Task Force 95, Rear Adm. Alan E. Smith from his after-action report.

"Rear Adm. Alan E. Smith wrote, 'We have lost control of the seas to a nation without a navy, using pre-World War I weapons, laid by vessels that were utilized at the time of the birth of Christ.'"

Harvey went on to further characterize the United States' adversaries.

"So in 2010, sixty years later, what do we learn from our Navy's experiences at Wonson in 1950? The Wonson incident is just one grim reminder that our enemies are truly thinking enemies. Like us, they will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals limited only by the technology available to them and their moral code," Harvey said.

The conference's theme was titled, "Expeditionary Operations – What's Next?" And with presentation titles such as "Resourcing Expeditionary Warfare in a Decade of Shrinking Budgets," keynote speakers challenged industry and military to consider every feasible solution to maintain America's forward presence and sustain America's access to the world's sea lanes.

Special guest speaker, Under Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Robert O. Work, delivered a presentation on "Amphibious Landings in the 21st Century" and discussed the importance of the Navy and Marine Corps team. Work said the Department of the Navy has a major role in winning "the battle for access" in the 21st century. He also explained that the Department needs to rethink its approach to amphibious assaults due to changes in anticipated threat tactics and available technologies.

"It's as important to our Navy as it is to our Marine Corps," Work said.

Work also spoke about how America's advances in unmanned and automated systems are going to change the look of the future.

"A lot will depend on the exploration and the discoveries that we have," Work said. "But without question, we are going to have more unmanned systems in the future and more automated battle systems. But we never, never want to lose the human element in our thinking about our war fighting because that is what I believe makes this force so special; the capability of our Sailors and Marines."

Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James T. Conway acknowledged that his audience was, in fact, made up of the very scientists, engineers and researchers responsible for the development of such modern advances. Hence, he did not hesitate to present attendees with four specific challenges.

"I'll give you three to four areas where you can help us," said Conway. "First, we need light weight. Now you fill in the blank. It can be armor, vehicles, personal equipment, weapons systems. Secondly, think energy. Energy self sufficiency is increasingly important to us."

Conway's third concern was finding an innovative way for Marines to manage waste.

"What is there about a base camp that is considered excess? asked Conway. "Take a look at what we consider waste and ask yourself, 'Can we miniaturize it or convert it into a catalytic gear to heat our tents at night?'"

And finally Conway concluded by challenging attendees to try and reverse what he called a disturbing trend he said he was detecting in public opinion polls.

"I'm starting to see where, in the general public, there appears to be a growing loss of support for our great young Marines and Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers in our current fight," said Conway. "Talk to your fellow Americans and point out to them what it's going to look like if we simply walk away. Because, I don't think the world can afford for us to do that in this day and age."

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Riverine Sailors Provide Realistic Training for Strike Group

By MC2(SW) Michael R. Hinchcliffe, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadrons 1 and 3 participated in the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Oct 5.

COMPTUEX is a scenario-driven tactical exercise designed to train the embarked staffs, ships, and air wing of a CSG to function as one highly effective fighting force.

Designed to train and assess, COMPTUEX prepares the Strike Group for the execution of strike, expeditionary, and other naval missions in Joint, Coalition, and Interagency environments. The exercise consists of two distinct phases and is evaluated by Commander, Strike Force Training, and U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Two Riverine Command Boats (RCB), acting as opposition forces, simulated a small boat attack on ships from the Enterprise Strike Group, which included USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), three miles off shore in Cape Henry.

While the simulation tested the skills of the strike group it also allowed the Riverine Sailors to test the capabilities and handling of the RCBs in rough seas.

"We got the RCB to speeds of about 18-20 knots," said Chief Quartermaster Jerry Morgan, the riverine boat officer in charge during the exercise. "The RCB's purpose was to give a realistic view of an inbound fast moving small boat threat and help train the ship's personnel on engagement of force and counter measures."

According to Cmdr. Peter Berning, chief staff officer of Riverine Group 1, the 6 foot seas created a rough training environment for the RCB and the crews.

"The weather we had was a good test for the RCBs because we're looking to use them in an off shore green water environment," said Berning. "Today we learned a lot about the boat and what it could do in rough seas."

The Riverine Sailors will continue to support Enterprise CSG COMPTUEX as the opposition force throughout the month of October, simulating attacks on different ships in the Strike Group.

"I think the exercise went pretty well, the things we learned and the runs we made on the ships, I think we supported the exercise well," said Berning. "It's the first time those Sailors have seen two riverine boats of that size coming towards them at that speed. We presented a new dynamic profile to support the exercise."

Enterprise Strike Group is conducting COMPTUEX as part of its work-ups in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Sailors, Marines Enjoy San Francisco Fleet Week Barbecue Engagement

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Fairbanks, USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines participating in San Francisco Fleet Week 2010 (SFFW 10) enjoyed a pierside barbecue hosted by the Bay Area Law Enforcement Associations, Alameda County Superior Court Judges, the Oakland Navy League and The Oakland A's Oct. 10.

In honor of their service, the Sailors and embarked Marines were treated to food, drinks and entertainment.

"We did this for the first time 11 years ago, and we've been doing it ever since," said Lou Lozano, president of Oakland Navy League. "It's our way of saying thank you to the troops."

Lozano said he plans to continue this tradition and hopes service members continue to participate in the barbeque in 2011.

"It's great to know we, as service members, have this sort of support and appreciation from the local community," said Yeoman 3rd Class Elijah Ford, from USS Makin Island (LHD 8). "Knowing they support us helps us support and protect them."

Makin Island is serving as the flagship for SFFW 2010, which features more than 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. The five-day event showcases the equipment, technology and capabilities of the sea services while highlighting their history within the San Francisco area.

Operated by a crew of more than 1,000 Sailors, Makin Island is a multimission platform that is equipped to meet the needs of the country, from supporting national objectives to providing much needed relief to a disaster area. Makin Island's revolutionary technology is estimated to save the Navy $250 million throughout its 40-year lifecycle and is a model for future ship designs.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Parade of Ships Makes Grand Entrance During San Francisco Fleet Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason J. Perry, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines celebrated San Francisco Fleet Week 2010 (SSFW) with the parade of ships Oct. 9.

Several ships participated in the procession, including USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Pioneer (MCM 9), HMCS Brandon (MM 710), HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705), USCGC Active (WMEC 618), USS Chief (MCM 14), USS Curts (FFG 38), PTF-26 Liberty, and SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a World War II liberty ship.

"I think it was really incredible that these ships came here today," said Sea Cadet James Williams. "I even saw some Canadian ships, and the whole thing was really cool."

San Francisco Fleet Week 2010 (SFFW 10) took place Oct. 7-12 and showcased more than 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their equipment, along with advanced military technology and capabilities, while highlighting the history these services have with San Francisco.

"Our Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are a rapidly deployable, technologically advanced team that is poised for action in a variety of roles as part of our nation's joint force," said commander, U.S. Third Fleet, Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt. "We continue to provide America persistent and decisive combat power wherever called upon."

Fleet week is an annual event that gives members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard an opportunity to share their operational capabilities with the local community.

Operated by a crew of more than 1,000 Sailors, Makin Island is a multi-mission platform that is equipped to meet the needs of the country, from supporting national objectives to providing much needed relief to a disaster area.

Makin Island's revolutionary technology is estimated to save the Navy $250 million throughout its 40-year lifecycle and is a model for future ship designs.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Today in the Department of Defense, Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is traveling.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead addresses University of Chicago conference “The Future of Terrorism and U.S. Grand Strategy” at 9:45 a.m. EDT at the Caucus Room, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz provides remarks and takes audience questions at a National Press Club Luncheon at noon EDT at the National Press Building,

529 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

  Media interested in attending should contact Lt. Col. Sam Highley, Strategic Communication Advisor, at 703-695-8723 or samuel.highley@pentagon.af.mil.

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford L. Stanley will address the media at 3:30 p.m. EDT, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973), to provide an end of fiscal year update on recruiting and retention in the military services.  Representatives from the services will be available to respond to questions.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Gates Spotlights Maritime Security in Hanoi Forum

By John D. Banusiewicz

American Forces Press Service

HANOI, Vietnam, Oct. 12, 2010 – Disagreements over territorial claims and the appropriate use of the maritime domain pose a challenge to stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told a group of regional defense ministers meeting here today.

Gates is one of eight defense leaders from nonmember nations invited to participate in the first “plus” defense ministers meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The 10-member association includes Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia and Brunei.

In his remarks at the conference, Gates urged a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes that have beset the region, most notably in the South China Sea.

“The United States does not take sides on competing territorial claims, such as those in the South China Sea,” Gates said. “Competing claims should be settled peacefully, without force or coercion, through collaborative diplomatic processes, and in keeping with customary international law.”

The secretary applauded initial steps by nations with competing claims in the South China Sea to discuss development of a full and binding code of conduct on the matter, and he said the United States stands ready to help in facilitating such initiatives.

“We have a national interest in freedom of navigation, in unimpeded economic development and commerce, and in respect for international law,” he said. “We also believe that customary international law, as reflected in the [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea, provides clear guidance on the appropriate use of the maritime domain, and rights of access to it. By adhering to this guidance, we can ensure that all share equal and open access to international waterways.”

Gates noted that the United States always has exercised its rights and supported the rights of others to transit through and operate in international waters. “This will not change,” he said, “nor will our commitment to engage in exercises and activities together with our allies and partners.”

Those activities, Gates said, are a routine and critical component of demonstrating the U.S. commitment to maintain peace and stability and promote freedom of navigation in the region.

“They are also essential to building habits of strong security cooperation,” he said, “which is necessary as we move forward to address common security challenges together.”

This article was sponsored by Police Books.

Senior Leadership Summit Held Aboard USS Makin Island

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Terry L. Feeney, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- A Senior Leadership Summit (SLS) was held aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Oct. 7.

The summit focused on federal response capabilities to local and state requirements in the event of a major natural disaster in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"We are honored to be a part of San Francisco Fleet Week and to host the first Senior Leadership Summit," said Capt. Cedric Pringle, USS Makin Island executive officer. "This summit builds on lessons learned from past natural disasters and encourages joint operations in support of response and recovery."

This was a first for any San Francisco Fleet Week and offered an opportunity for senior Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard leaders to interact with local, state and regional leaders, to focus on disaster preparedness and response.

In attendance for SLS was former Secretary of State George Schulz; Nancy Ward, FEMA regional administrator; and various officials from the San Francisco Fire and Police departments, along with medical and relief organizations. In addition to the sea services, the U.S. Army and Air Force were also represented.

"SLS is a great step to solidify participation between local responders, and the multiple capabilities that the military brings to the table," said Joanne Hayes-White, Chief of Department for the San Francisco Fire Department. "This is an opportunity to establish relationships well before a natural disaster occurs."

Being ready to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the event of potential natural or man-made disasters is a core capability of the Sea Services Maritime Strategy. Doing so takes advantage of the fact that the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are a rapidly deployable, technologically advanced team that is poised for action in a variety of roles as part of our nation's joint force.

"Makin Island and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit team are perfectly suited to provide relief if required," said Pringle.

The SLS is just one new facet of San Francisco Fleet Week which recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of the sea services, past and present. Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are woven into the fabric of the community - as neighbors, volunteers and citizens actively working together to enhance the quality of life in the Bay Area.

USS Makin Island, the host ship for SLS, is the first United States Navy ship to be equipped with gas turbines and an electric drive system, replacing the older technology of steam boilers. With the ship's electric drive running, which is similar in functionality to that of a hybrid car, it is possible to transit longer distances using less fuel.

Additionally, Makin Island is the first U.S. Navy ship to have an advanced electrical plant that powers all of the ship's auxiliaries, including the capability to produce 200,000 gallons of fresh water every day.

Operated by a crew of more than 1,000 Sailors, Makin Island is a multi-mission platform that is equipped to meet the needs of our country, whether that is supporting national objectives or by providing disaster relief.

Makin Island's revolutionary technology is estimated to save the Navy $250 million throughout its 40-year lifecycle and is a model for future ship designs.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.