Naval Base San Diego Conducts Multiagency Security Training Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Stephen Votaw, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Security officials from Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) took the lead in conducting a multiagency training exercise at the Pacific Beacon bachelor housing complex in San Diego Oct. 28.

The exercise was used to help prepare the base officials for a hostage scenario and to help integrate the base master-at-arms (MAs) with other professional

units.

Units from the Commander, Navy Region Southwest (CNRSW) Police Department, San Diego Police Department, as well as hostage negotiators and a Special Weapons and Tactics unit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), participated in the training exercise.

"It is important that we perform these types of exercises so that everyone knows how to respond," said Lt. David Deree, assistant security officer and force protection training team leader. "It is important to practice safety precautions for our Sailors and to help build communications with other agencies and departments."

Deree said that training advisers were on hand to answer any questions and give direction for those participating in the exercise.

According to Deree, NBSD conducts large-scale training exercises quarterly to help keep the highest level of readiness possible.

"We do these kinds of exercises for safety," said Deree. "Safety of both our security teams and our Sailors nearby the incident is always our highest priority, and we do everything possible to ensure the highest level of safety possible."

Base MAs and CNRSW police were the first to arrive and secure the scene until the San Diego Police Department and FBI officials arrived to take charge.

As part of the exercise, residents were cleared from the building prior to the scenario taking place to ensure the safest and most controllable training environment possible.

FBI agents played the role of the suspect and hostages barricaded inside of a room on the seventh floor of the Pacific Beacon bachelor housing complex.

Guantanamo Bay Media Invitation Announced

The Department of Defense and the Office of Military Commissions will provide seats for news media aboard military aircraft for travel to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on November 8, 2010, for a military commissions hearing in the case of United States vs. Noor Uthman.  Return travel is planned for November 11, 2010.

Media reservation requests should be e-mailed to Tanya.bradsher@osd.mil.  All requests must be received by 5 p.m. EDT, November 2, 2010.  Due to a limited number of seats aboard the flight and limited accommodations at Guantanamo Bay, media travel is not guaranteed.

NORAD Dispatches Fighters to Escort Suspicious Aircraft

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2010 – The North American Aerospace Defense Command ordered four fighter jets today to escort a civilian aircraft with suspicious cargo.

NORAD diverted two Canadian CF-18s to track the aircraft as it flew into and over Canadian airspace, NORAD officials said in a statement. The civilian aircraft was passed to two U.S. F-15s as it transited into U.S. airspace and its ultimate destination at John F. Kennedy International Airport, they added.

NORAD dispatched the fighters “out of an abundance of caution,” the statement said.

Family Matters: Halloween Opens Doors to Community

By Elaine Wilson

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2010 – I went for a long walk the other night and found my new neighborhood had been transformed into an otherworldly lair. Ghosts hovered from branches and skeletons from rooftops. Toothless pumpkins, faces frozen in eerie smirks, leered at me from nearly every porch as I passed by. But rather than feel the onset of fear, I felt a sense of satisfaction. I've got a sneaking suspicion I moved into my new neighborhood just in the nick of time.

I moved to Maryland about a month ago, a journey I've been blogging about over the past several months, detailing my challenges with everything from house hunting to picking the right school for my kids. But now it's time for the final stage of my move: meeting the neighbors.

In my last community, I must admit I didn't spend much time on social endeavors. I had a newborn, two elementary-age children and a husband to balance with work, which kept me busy. But people didn't seem to gather for street-side chats each evening there, something I sorely miss from my military days.

I remember gathering in my cul-de-sac in Turkey with other military families just about every evening, watching the kids from folding chairs on the sidewalk until it grew too dark to see each other.

I'm always amazed at how military families create such strong bonds and a sense of community in such a short time, and while juggling very difficult demands. They are always willing to pitch in to help another military family in need, whether it’s with child care, a last-minute ride home or just a shoulder to cry on. I know I was the recipient of much of that support when I was a single mom on active duty.

Military families have an amazing gift of empathy and adaptability. And I hope I can put some of those social skills to work here, since I plan to establish roots and settle in for the long haul.

Hence the walk. I not only wanted to get the lay of the land, but also to see if I could meet and greet some neighbors. I ended up seeing more creepy crawlers and spider webs than humans, but Halloween is just a few days away.

As I escort my bear cub, woodland fairy and Darth Vader down the street this weekend, I hope to make some connections that will last over the long term. The holiday, after all, is the perfect excuse to knock every neighbor's door. I'm looking at the holiday this year as a chance to gather new acquaintances, as much as an opportunity to score some candy from my kids.

I may meet a few ghosts and goblins along the way -- and, I'm sure, a few Lady Gagas and Justin Biebers this year– but I also hope to meet a few great people.

Happy Halloween!

Today in the Department of Defense, Monday, November 01, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen speaks at 8:50 p.m. EDT at the BENS Eisenhower Award Dinner honoring Mary and David Boies in the Grand Ballroom Gotham Hall, New York City, N.Y.  Media interested in attending should contact Jennie Moonis, jmoonis@bens.org 202-296-2125, ext. 1124 of JCS Public Affairs at 703-697-4272.

Today in the Department of Defense, Sunday, October 31, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

A National Capital Region Flyover of Arlington National Cemetery in support of the Marine Corps Marathon, occurs at 7:35 a.m. EDT and 7:41 a.m. with two CH 53E's and two F/A-18's.

Today in the Department of Defense, Saturday, October 30, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

This Day in Naval History - Oct. 29

From the Navy News Service

1814 - Launching of Fulton I, first American steam powered warship, at New York City. The ship was designed by Robert Fulton.

1955 - Ships of the 6th Fleet join U.S. military aircraft in evacuating American citizens from Egypt, Israel and Syria when war breaks out in the Middle East.

1980 - USS Parsons (DDG 33) rescues 110 Vietnamese refugees 330 miles south of Saigon.

1989 - A pilot making his 1st carrier landing and four others are killed when his plane crashes on the flight deck of of the training carrier Lexington (AVT 16) off the coast of Pensacola, Fla.

Boat Forces Tour – RB-M Program

Written by: Dan Bender

The Response Boat-Medium is the Coast Guard’s replacement for the aging fleet of 41-foot Utility Boats, a venerable platform that was known as the workhorse of the Coast Guard for most of it’s 25-year-long service life.  Making that transition, from planning to delivery, is the business of the RB-M Program in Kent, Wash.

The team here have a broad mandate to ensure the quality of the boats being delivered to the fleet.  This involves directly monitoring assembly, observing test trials, engineering and supporting the operators who use these boats.

“It’s definitely a multifaceted program,” said Lt. Andrew Hoag who handles warranty issues and tracking reliability and maintenance of the platform.  “Our mission is ensuring quality control of the RB-Ms being constructed.  The feedback I’ve heard has been mostly positive but with any new acquisition there’s always going to be design elements that can be improved.”

Learning what to improve comes from vigorous testing.  Much of that testing is done before the boats ever leave Washington but the ultimate shakedown comes when these highly capable boats are put into service.  Feedback from the fleet is an important source of information.

Input from operators has been an integral part of the design process from the outset.  While the program was still in the planning stages, 22 highly experienced Coasties were brought in to lend their experience.

A welder pieces together an aluminum RB-M keel. Photo by PA2 Dan Bender

“Input from real operators is priceless,” said David Shepard, a boat project specialist from the Office of Boat Forces.

From the comfortable air-conditioned cabin, to the safety of its self-righting capabilities this boat far exceeds the capabilities of the UTBs it is replacing.  That couldn’t happen without the crew of the program who work behind the scenes to ensure their shipmates in the fleet have the best platform possible.

Secretary of State Visits Service Members on Guam

By Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

Yigo, GUAM (NNS) -- More than 1,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines attended a speech given by Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton at Andersen Air Force Base Oct. 29.

Clinton visited the base as part of her trip to the Asia-Pacific Region. She began her speech by thanking local military leaders along with the governor of Guam and other officials.

She reaffirmed Guam's importance to the nation, and her gratitude to the service members for their dedication and sacrifice.

"This (Asia-Pacific) region is the center of much change, and many challenges of the 21st Century," Clinton said. "We are engaging even more actively in the region with our allies, our partners, with emerging powers, and with institutions that are being built in order to keep peace and advance prosperity and stability."

The secretary added that service members continuously prove themselves indispensable. She highlighted the importance of the role our troops stationed in Guam have in our Asia/Pacific strategy.

"As we step up our engagements, we will depend more than ever on each of you. The men and women of our armed forces are one of the most important assets we have for engaging the world," she said. "Your mission is evolving for the 21st Century and no one understands this better than you. You are called on to perform a wide variety of services, in a wide variety of places. For instance, earlier this year, Sailors from Guam were part of a five-month humanitarian deployment of the USNS Mercy, delivering medical and dental care to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and Palau. And after the devastating earthquake in Haiti last January, the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, like the one now based here, was used to survey the damage and identify safe landing places for aircraft carrying relief supplies."

Clinton stated that more and more, service members are also called on to cooperate with forces from other countries. She recognized these efforts that strengthen our joint security and show our allies that we remain deeply committed to them.

"I know that today, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 is hosting members of the South Korean military for joint training on identifying and eliminating Improvised Explosive Devices. This is the kind of collaboration that saves lives and leaves both countries better off," she said.

Brig. Gen. John Doucette, 36th Wing commander was appreciative of the positive message Clinton relayed.

"I would like to thank Secretary Clinton for taking time out of her schedule to address the service members here," said Doucette. "It is through the efforts of all the service members that our Nations mission is accomplished. The visit has served as a reminder of what we are fighting for: the safety of not only those we love, but the country we took an oath to protect."

At the conclusion of the event, Clinton came off the stage and entered the crowd to take photos and shake hands with service members in attendance.

Coast Guard Heroes: Robert J. Yered

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

This Compass series chronicles the first 14 heroes the Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters have been named for. These men and women, who stood the watch before us, lived extraordinary lives as they lit the way for sailors in times past, braved gunfire in times of war and rescued those in peril at sea. As Coast Guard heroes, their stories are a constant reminder of our service’s legacy. As the namesake of the Coast Guard’s newest patrol boats, they will inspire the next generation of Coast Guard heroes.

Engineman Robert J. Yered’s fearless actions set him apart as he stood duty in the explosive loading detail at the United States Army Terminal, Cat Lai, Vietnam, on February 18, 1968.

In the early morning hours the terminal at Cat Lai was attacked by enemy rocket, mortar and small arms fire. As the heavy rounds beat into the terminal, one of the rockets struck a barge carrying several hundred tons of mortar ammunition. The barge was quickly engulfed in flames, and threatened to destroy three nearby ammunition ships carrying more than fifteen thousand tons of explosives.

Engineman Yered courageously exposed himself to enemy gunfire as he helped extinguish fires on the burning barge. His bold act averted not only the destruction of his own ship but also that of the entire terminal.

Yered’s valorous character shone through many times throughout his career and he is one of 12 Coast Guardsmen awarded the Silver Star. Among his other awards are the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars and a Purple Heart Medal.

A special place in the Coast Guard’s history

Some 8,000 Coast Guardsmen served in various roles during the Vietnam War and during the course of the conflict 59 were wounded and seven lives were lost.

Coast Guard 82-foot cutters were a perfect fit for the shallow waters required for operations in Vietnam. The cutters spent 70 percent of their time underway as they inspected vessels for contraband, intercepted and destroyed North Vietnamese and Viet Cong craft and provided fire support for friendly forces.

As the 82-foot cutters patrolled inshore, larger cutters helped in forming an offshore barrier against infiltration. A total of 30 high endurance cutters served with Squadron Three, which consisted of 10-month deployments from 1967 and 1971.

Retired Senior Chief Kennith Spoor had duties in the explosive loading detail, much like Yered, when he served in Vietnam from July 1969 to July 1970. Spoor vividly recalls the very real dangers of standing the watch at the Army Terminals.

“Our job with the Coast Guard was to supervise the off loading of explosives because they were having too many accidents,” said Spoor. “One of our biggest worries was a swimmer attack that would put explosives under a ship, which did happen in Qui Nhon.”

The manifestation of their biggest fears came true that day in Cat Lai, but despite this persistent threat, Yered exhibited gallantry at the highest level, as he put his life on the line for others- he truly is a Coast Guard hero.

With contributions from LTJG Ryan White

This Day in Naval History - Oct. 28

From the Navy News Service

1864 - Steamer General Thomas and gunboat Stone River destroy Confederate batteries on Tennessee River near Decatur, Ala.

1882 - Orders issued for first naval attache (Lt. Cmdr. French Chadwick sent to London).

1933 - The development of the PBY Catalina flying boat is begun by awarding the contract to the Consolidated Aircraft Company.

Air Force School Focuses on Cybersecurity

By Ian Graham

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2010 – “The wars of the future will be fought in the cyber domain” sounds like a bad movie tagline from 20 years ago, but it’s becoming truer by the day, and the Air Force is readying troops for that battle.

During an Oct. 27 “DOD Live” bloggers roundtable, Air Force Brig. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, discussed the importance of cybersecurity and the newest class of students graduating from the AFIT Center for Cyberspace Research.

AFIT itself has been in existence since 1919, researching and expanding the technology available to the U.S. military, beginning with flight.

“Even at that time, there was a new technology -- flight, the ability to fly,” Givhan said. “Part of what had to be core to us in dealing with this new technology was education -- education and research -- and that we couldn't just depend upon others, but it had to be part of what we were doing, directly connected to us.”

Now, Givhan said, AFIT has added graduate-level cybersecurity education and research to its academic offerings. Some training and research has been going on already, since the advent of computer networking on a large scale, but now AFIT offers master’s degrees and doctorates in cyber fields.

“What we are doing is truly continuing education -- it's not training,” he said. “We're educating [students] on the capabilities, with a little bit of hands-on work as well on particular technology and capabilities within that technology. But it's not like we're giving them a specific cyberweapon and teaching them how to fire or use that specific cyberweapon.”

The two main courses, Cyber 200 and Cyber 300, give students two slightly different looks at cyber operations, but cover the same main topics: the technology, the policy, the doctrine and the law as they relate to the cyber domain.

Cyber 200 is intended for field grade officers and some noncommissioned officers with six to eight years of service and some experience in the cyber domain. In the three-week course, Givhan said, students focus on tactical and operational issues relevant to what they may face in their line of work.

The more advanced two-week 300 course, designed for higher-ranking officers with 12 or more years of total service with at least six of those years working with cyber issues, focuses on broader concepts, the general said.

“These are the folks who are actually going to be helping make this happen in terms of what the joint force commander needs and how to integrate our cyber capabilities into his plan and to accomplish his objectives,” Givhan said.

The first class of Cyber 200 and Cyber 300 students graduated yesterday.

The venture is exciting, Givhan said, because it involves new technology. They’re testing limits, he added, rather than working within “safe” parameters. Thanks to the growth of computer networking jobs in the private sector, he noted, the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard can be involved closely as well.

“They're actually involved in this on the outside, in civilian jobs having to do with cyber,” he said.

The field’s growth in the private sector also helps to bring in recruits who have worked for civilian companies in network administration or security. AFIT has begun some programs for ROTC cadets, Givhan said, adding that he hopes those will expand as people learn more about the importance of cybersecurity and as the Air Force can teach more about it.

“This is a conversation. … This is not a one-way sort of delivering lectures and things, and people are just soaking it up,” the general said. “This is all so new and exciting and rapidly changing.

“We depend upon the participation of everyone who's part of the class and the instructors,” he continued, “and we all learn from each other in this. And it's changing so fast that the iterative process that we use to reinforce what we're doing … is going to change every time we give it.”

Today in the Department of Defense, Friday, October 29, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen delivers remarks at the Joint Forces Command Assumption of Command by Gen. Ray Odierno at 10 a.m. EDT at the JFCOM Headquarters in Suffolk, Va.  Media interested in attending should contact JFCOM Public Affairs Kathleen Jabs at 757-836-6553 or JCS PA Jennifer Harrington at 703-697-4272.

Guyanese Iwo Jima Sailors Reunite with Relatives During Continuing Promise 2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Hunt, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (NNS) -- The humanitarian assistance mission Continuing Promise 2010 presented four service members of Guyanese descent currently embarked aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), an opportunity to reunite with their relatives in Georgetown, Guyana, Oct. 22.

Army Capt. Devicka Sahedeo, Machinist's Mate 1st Class Kurt Powdar, Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Daniel Singh, and Cpl. John Eversley, gathered at a local school and spent the day catching up with their respective family members after years of separation.

"When I heard we were coming to Guyana, I was really excited," said Singh. "I'm glad there was someone out there who cared about reconnecting me with my family. It was a great surprise."

Powdar, who left the country at the age of 13, was thrilled to meet his wife's father for the first time.

"I know he was shocked when he saw me; we've only seen pictures of each other until now. He's pretty proud of me," he said.

Sahedeo was also able to meet with new relatives and reconnect with others she had not seen since she left more than 20 years ago.

"It was a little overwhelming," said Sahedeo. "I met a lot of people who knew me from before, and they told me stories of how I was as a child. It was just amazing."

Family member after family member ventured into the engineering site designated for the Continuing Promise reunion; however, one last service member anxiously awaited the arrival of his maternal grandmother and great aunt. Upon spotting them, Singh's anxiety was immediately replaced with exhilaration.

"They went through a lot to get here, but that just made it even better," said Singh. "We talked about everything from what the military is doing out here to our other family members around the world."

In addition to a warm reception from relatives, service members felt a fresh welcoming from their developing home country.

"When I was here it was scooters and go-karts, now its bicycles, cars and cell phones," said Powdar. "Imagine it in five or ten years."

Iwo Jima is currently off the coast of Guyana and will move on to Suriname for the final phase of Continuing Promise 2010, a humanitarian assistance mission in which the assigned medical and engineering staff embarked aboard Iwo Jima are working with partner nation teams to provide medical, dental, veterinary and engineering assistance in eight nations.

General Officer Announcements

The chief of staff, Army announced today the following assignments:

Brig. Gen. Clarence K. K. Chinn to, commanding general, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Fort Polk, La..  He most recently served as deputy commanding general (support), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., director, Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., to deputy chief of staff for Operations, International Security Assistance Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

George H.W. Bush Strike Group Sinks Ex-USNS Saturn

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sandi Grimnes, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Public Affairs

USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, At Sea (NNS) -- Sea and air assets assigned to the George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) successfully sunk the former U.S. Navy re-supply ship USNS Saturn (T-AFS 100) in a sinking exercise (SINKEX) in the Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 27.

Ships from Destroyer Squadron 22 and aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, along with Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 and VP 45, participated in the real-world tactical training exercise with surface-to-surface, air-to-surface and surface-to-air live fire, said Commander, Destroyer Squadron 22 Capt. Jeffrey Wolstenholme, who was responsible for the coordination, planning and execution of the two-day SINKEX.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and the guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64) launched missiles, 5-inch guns, Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) and 25-mm and .50-cal weapons. In addition, aircraft and helicopters from CVW 8 launched from Bush and employed bombs and air-to-surface missiles during the exercise.

The sinking exercise focused on integrated strike group operations, command and control procedures, pre-planned responses to maritime threats and surface action group operations. As the strike group prepares for a combat deployment in spring 2011, the sinking exercise provided a unique opportunity to practice combat scenarios, to include tactics and procedures. The exercise was planned to scale up the attacks during the course of the two days, Wolstenholme said.

The first day's attacks were aimed at Saturn's superstructure to prevent hull integrity breaches. The attacks designed to sink the ship occurred on the second day. Every watertight door and hatch was closed on Saturn to ensure the maximum watertight integrity of the ship, so it would stay afloat until the final event where it was sunk with 5-inch rounds, said Wolstenholme.

Using a decommissioned ship as a training platform allows the U.S. Navy to improve the warfighting skills of those who currently serve. Real world training, such as this sinking exercise, enhances force readiness in a way that is unmatched by any simulated scenario.

This exercise demonstrated the strike group's ability to plan and execute warfare competencies such as maritime security, sea control, power projection and deterrence, said Capt. Patrick R. Cleary, commander, CVW 8.

"Everyone in the strike group is very excited to have the opportunity to conduct this exercise because it is rare to be involved in this," Wolstenholme said. "You have an actual life-size ship out there that you can attack with aircraft coming in, ships driving in close proximity and ships launching missiles from long-range getting targeting information from aircraft. It's really hard to replicate this without a hull to shoot at."

Saturn was prepared for the exercise in accordance with all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements, Wolstenholme said. All the fuel oil tanks and piping were cleaned and flushed of petroleum products, and all readily detachable material capable of creating debris or contributing to chemical pollution was removed from the ship.

"We are very sensitive to the environment," Wolstenholme said. "We take great strides to ensure that we are monitoring the environment. We have dropped sonobuoys around the hull to listen for any marine mammals that may be vocalizing and we are surveying the area for marine mammals, sea turtles and concentrations of jelly fish by flying aircraft over the hull and surrounding area.

"Until we have that absolute verification, we do not give permission to launch any weapons," said Wolstenholme. "We have to have that assurance that we will not be putting marine mammals and sea turtles in danger before we begin firing at the former USNS Saturn."

The Navy has put a moratorium on the sinking exercise after 2010 to conduct a comprehensive review of the requirements, costs, benefits and environmental impacts of the current process, said Wolstenholme. Even with the moratorium, the Navy will continue to get the training it needs, just not in the totality that it gets in the sinking exercise.

Saturn was transferred from the British Fleet Auxiliary to Military Sealift Command Dec. 13, 1983. Saturn was in service for more than 25 years and was deactivated April 6, 2009. Towing and salvage specialists at Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia verified that the 523-foot ship was seaworthy before it was towed about 250 miles off the coast of North Carolina.

Tracks

Clyde Hoch is a self publisher and would be happy to answer any questions. His book is available on Amazon or may be purchased directly from him.  He can be reached via email at hochclyde@yahoo.com or by phone at (215) 679 9580.

Perform-to-Serve Responds to Fleet Feedback

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) LaTunya Howard, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The Navy announced Oct. 27 the merger of Perform-to-Serve (PTS) with the Fleet Rating Identification Engine (RIDE) program was a direct result of the fleet's request for changes to the current PTS system.

"We asked the fleet Navy counselor, 'What can we do here to make the Navy counselors' job easier?'" said Lt. Mark Reid, deputy enlisted community manager, Bureau of Naval Personnel. "This merger offers the features they need to effectively take care of their Sailors."

The new program is a career counselor's single system for identifying eligibility requirements, managing reenlistment applications and reporting results.

NAVADMIN 352/10 describes the initial implementation of the system, specific policy changes, PTS algorithm changes, procedures for application submission and point of contact information for addressing questions or concerns.

The new system allows commands to view in-rate and conversion quotas on a monthly basis. Additionally, the enhanced, performance-driven algorithms

U.S.-India Exercise Exemplifies Growing Cooperation

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2010 – U.S. Army elements in Alaska are preparing to host India’s army for the next in a series of annual field engagements that aim to improve bilateral readiness and cooperation while demonstrating U.S. commitment to South Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. Army Pacific commander told American Forces Press Service.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon called the Yudh Abhyas exercise to be held next month on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson an example of the growing theater security cooperation program under way throughout the region that’s extending far beyond historical alliances.

Last year alone, U.S. Army Pacific conducted 214 of these events in 29 countries – ranging from the Army’s largest multinational exercise, involving 12,000 participants, to small staff-officer exchanges.

While reinforcing military-to-military relationships with longtime partners in the region such as South Korea, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia, Mixon said the command is increasingly engaging with other strategically significant nations. These include Indonesia and Malaysia, important moderate Muslim nations, as well as India.

During Yudh Abhyas 2010, the 25th Infantry Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team “Spartans” will join their Indian counterparts in airborne and weapons exchanges and a brigade-level command post exercise.

“It’s going to be a great exercise,” Mixon said.

The training will build on last year’s Yudh Abhyas exercise, the U.S. and Indian armies’ largest joint military exercise ever, which also included the largest deployment of Stryker armored vehicles outside a combat zone. About 300 U.S. soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division’s 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, deployed from Hawaii with 18 Strykers to train with the Indian army’s 7th Mechanized Infantry Battalion at one of India’s premier military training sites.

These and similar engagements, Mixon said, are key building blocks in supporting a regional security framework.

“The importance of the Asia-Pacific region is obvious to everybody,” he said. “So across the board, having a U.S. presence on the ground in the Asia-Pacific region enhances peace and stability in the area.”

It also prepares the U.S. and partner militaries that could be called on with little notice to cooperatively support missions ranging from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to peacekeeping.

“It prepares us if there are contingencies,” Mixon said. “We have already built some very, very important relationships that make operations go a lot better when they first begin.”

Mixon has presented Army leaders with a long-range plan to improve training areas within U.S. Army Pacific. The plan, if approved, will enhance capabilities and save dollars spent deploying Pacific-based U.S. units elsewhere for training, he said. But it will also offer U.S. Army Pacific new opportunities to host regional partners for military-to-military training such as Yudh Abhyas 2010.

Meanwhile, Mixon is emphasizing the importance of cultural “astuteness” among his troops.

Recognizing the “hundreds and hundreds of languages and dialects and cultures” within Asia and the Pacific, he recognizes it’s all but impossible for his soldiers to master the linguistic challenges the region presents. What he wants is for his soldiers to be willing to learn enough of a given language to show respect for the cultures of the people they engage with, and the curiosity to take that learning to the next level.

“By doing that, they become astute in how to operate in that particular country,” he said.

Mixon noted how many of his soldiers easily adapted as they shifted from one culture to another during exercises last year in Thailand and the Philippines. “That is what we want our soldiers to be able to do,” he said.

As these efforts continue, U.S. Army Pacific is undergoing an internal reorganization that will improve its ability to support a operations in one of its key focus areas, the Korean peninsula. That initiative, called Pacific Integration, involves folding 8th U.S. Army in Korea into U.S. Army Pacific by next year. Eighth Army already has reorganized as the Army’s only field army, poised on the Korean peninsula to fight alongside its South Korean counterparts, if required.

U.S. Army Pacific will provide enabling capabilities for 8th Army, along with other Army units throughout the region.

Establishing a single Army service component in the Pacific will eliminate redundancies and provide a more efficient, more capable force, Mixon said.