Four Dead in N. Korean Attack, U.S. Carrier Group Deploys

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2010 – South Korean officials announced that two of the four dead in the unprovoked attack by North Korea yesterday were civilians.

President Barack Obama told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Korea.

Obama strongly condemned the North Korean attack on the island of Yeonpyeoung. He said North Korea must stop its provocative actions, which will only lead to further isolation, and fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement and its obligations under international law.

The two presidents agreed to hold combined military exercises and enhanced training in the days ahead to continue the close security cooperation between our two countries, and to underscore the strength of the alliance and the commitment to peace and security in the region.

The USS George Washington carrier strike group will join South Korean naval forces in the Yellow Sea west of the peninsula from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 to conduct the next exercise in the series announced at the 2-plus-2 meetings in July.

This exercise is defensive in nature, said United Nations Command officials in Seoul. “The intent of the series of exercises is to enhance our interoperability with the Republic of Korea, but also as a deterrent to North Korea,” Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said today during a press availability.

The USS George Washington with an embarked carrier air wing, the cruiser USS Cowpens, and the destroyers USS Lassen, USS Stethem and the USS Fitzgerald will participate in the exercise along with South Korean ships. The United States has notified China, Japan and other nations in the region of the exercise in international waters. The USS George Washington last exercised in the area in October 2009.

Officials planned the exercises well in advance of yesterday’s North Korean artillery attack, Lapan said.

“Past exercises, sanctions, international condemnation -– there have been any number of things that have been intended to curb the North’s aggression, but for whatever reason they have chosen to disregard,” he said.

The North Korean attack is a violation of the Armistice Agreement signed in 1953. It follows the North Korean sinking of the South Korean ship Cheonan in March -– an attack that killed 46 South Korean sailors.

There have been many North Korean breaches of the armistice over the years, but it is one of the first to target civilians. The attack has had a chilling effect on the people of South Korea.

“Just the act of aggression itself –- regardless of who was killed –- is what’s of concern to us, but certainly attacking civilians takes this to a different level than we’ve seen in the past,” Lapan said.

Obama said the United States will work with the international community to strongly condemn this outrageous action by North Korea, and to advance peace and security in the region.

Gates Condemns Attack on South Korea

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today condemned the attack by North Korea on the small South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.

"In a phone call this morning, Secretary Gates told [South Korean Defense] Minister Kim [Tae-young] the United States strongly condemns the artillery attack by North Korea, views it as a violation of the armistice agreement and assured him that we are committed to South Korea's defense,” Morrell said in an issued readout of Gates’ call with Kim.

“He expressed sympathy for the loss of life and appreciation for the restraint shown to date by the South Korean government. The Secretary and the Minister agreed their departments should consult closely and coordinate on any response to this act of aggression by the North,” Morrell said.

The White House this morning issued a statement condemning the attack and calling on North Korea to halt its “belligerent” action and to fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement. Officials from both the White House and DOD affirmed the U.S. alliance with South Korea and are closely monitoring the situation on the Korean peninsula in the wake of today’s attack that is reported to have killed two and injured at least 15.

“We will honor our alliance obligations to the South, and … we are determined to promote peace and security on the peninsula,” Morrell said earlier today in an interview on MSNBC.

“We take this very seriously, just as we took the sinking of the Cheonan earlier this year very seriously, [in which] the North murdered some 40 South Korean sailors,” he said.

Morrell said Gates responded to a reporter’s question yesterday about North Korea by saying, “To any question beginning with ‘Why?’ with regards to North Korea, my answer is the same: I don’t know.”

North Korea’s government is extremely unpredictable, and “they do things you could not possibly have predicted in a rational world,” Morrell said.

Morrell said U.S. sanctions in place against North Korea have been strengthened since the March sinking of the Cheonan.

“It’s hard to pile more sanctions upon the North than are already there,” he said, “and yet it seems they are not foolproof. But we’ve always known they aren’t foolproof.”

North Korea’s government “is determined to bypass the sanctions [and] to not abide by its international obligations,” the press secretary said.

North Korea’s irresponsible behavior also is “demonstrated by the fact that it’s trying to be a proliferator of weapons, that it’s dealing with countries that are also under sanctions … unfortunately, this is not out of keeping with their belligerent and unpredictable behavior,” Morrell said.

The Defense Department views North Korea’s actions “with concern,” Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan told reporters today.

The North Koreans “certainly increase tensions on the peninsula,” Lapan said, “and so any type of military incidents between North and the Republic of Korea are viewed with concern, because of contributing to instability in the region, and especially on the Korean peninsula.”

Meanwhile, he said, the U.S. government is monitoring the situation and conferring with allies.

"At this point it’s premature to say that we’re considering any [military] action," Lapan said.

A Salute to Military Chefs

Written by: Christopher Lagan

Post written by Petty Officer 3rd Class Victoria Bonk

As America prepares for Thanksgiving – a holiday that has become synonymous with good food – and lots of it, we thought it a fitting time to salute the men and women who prepare food for tens of thousands of Coast Guard men and women every day. Today, we share our thanks for the Coast Guard’s Food Service Specialists.

One of the most forgot-about-jobs in the Coast Guard is the Food Service Specialist. They are the men and women who keep their fellow shipmates well fed to have the energy to complete the many missions of the Coast Guard. A lot of times, they are up well before and go to bed well after most of the crew, serving up to four or more meals a day.

Last week, the USO of Metropolitan Washington held its annual dinner to salute military chefs. All services were represented. Representing the Coast Guard was Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Sullivan, a food service specialist and enlisted aide to the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara. He joined chefs from all the services to prepare a six-course meal demonstrating their talents and hard work.

“I was excited about cooking for this event. It was my largest plated meal that I have done, 180 plates,” said Sullivan. “It was great to be able to meet and work with other chefs.”

Sullivan has been a food service specialist for nine years and an enlisted aide for one year. His passion for cooking and drive to better his skills led him to apply for the enlisted aide position. When he received orders to become an enlisted aide, it meant he had to also receive more culinary training.

“I felt that I had reached my potential as a shipboard cook and decided it was time for a new challenge and time to take myself out of my comfort zone,” said Sullivan. “I like a challenge and I never want to stop learning.”

Also during the USO dinner, another member of the Coast Guard was recognized for being the Coast Guard Enlisted Aide of the year, Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Bishop, a food service specialist and enlisted aide to the Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Bob Papp.

“I’m so honored to have been chosen to be the Coast Guard enlisted aide of the year,” said Bishop.

Bishop has been a food service specialist for nine years and an enlisted aide for three years. He became an aide because of the advice and recommendation from Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Bowen (ret.), the 10th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, who thought he would be good at the job. He enjoys being an aide because of the many opportunities to be creative and work with the senior leadership of the Coast Guard.

“Being an aide has given me the chance to be creative with my cooking since I’m cooking for smaller amount of people,” said Bishop.

The USO took a night to recognize how important cooks are to the operations of the military services and showcase their talents. The Coast Guard has many support jobs that help keep the service going; food service specialist is only one of them. However, without cooks, the Coast Guard wouldn’t be able to run the same.

White House Condemns North Korean Attack

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 – The White House condemned today’s North Korean artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong.

“The United States strongly condemns this attack and calls on North Korea to halt its belligerent action and to fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement,” according to a White House statement issued this morning.

President Barack Obama attended a late afternoon meeting of his senior national security team on the situation on the Korean peninsula, according to a White House press release. The president was briefed by National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Ambassador to the United Nations Susan E.Rice, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, and Army Gen. Walter L. Sharp, commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

"The president reiterated the unshakeable support of the United States for our ally, the Republic of Korea, and discussed ways to advance peace and security on the Korean peninsula going forward," the release says.

The attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong is reported to have killed two and injured 15 military personnel.

The White House statement affirms the United States is firmly committed to the defense of South Korea and to the maintenance of regional peace and stability.

STORAGE SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES TOYS FOR TOTS CAMPAIGN

Stores and headquarters continue long tradition as toy drive collection sites and program donor.

LOS ANGELES, California (November 23, 2010) – Storage Solutions and its affiliate, Union Development Company (UDC), are once again sponsoring their annual holiday toy drive benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program. The self-storage operator is collecting toys at each of its 21 locations throughout Southern California.

In addition to supporting a wonderful holiday cause, individuals who drop off a new, unwrapped toy will be eligible for Storage Solutions discounts. New customers can save 50% off a new self storage rental and existing customers can save 25% off boxes and moving supplies. The collection ends December 19 at 5:30 p.m.

The toy drive is a long-standing tradition for the company – as is a monetary donation made each year when the Marine Corps Reserve picks up toys that are also collected at headquarters. Last year, Storage Solutions and UDC presented a $500 check accepted on behalf of the program by Master Sgt. Wayne Harkley., Ret., now an instructor of Fontana High School Marine Corps Junior Officers Training Corps.

"The company has been involved with Toys For Tots for a long time and everyone here is very proud to support the program. We enjoy making it easy for customers and our local communities to get involved, too," said Jae Ho, Operations Manager.

About Toys for Tots®:

The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, started in 1947, has been successful in bringing thousands of smiles to needy children each year. Their sole mission is to ensure all less fortunate children have the chance to experience the same joys of the holiday season that millions of Americans take for granted each year.

About Storage Solutions:

Storage Solutions is a growing leader in the self-storage industry, offering consumers and businesses a variety of self-storage space and supplies at 21 convenient store locations in Southern California. Storage Solutions is the self-storage division of Union Development Company a developer of real estate in Southern California for over 100 years. The firm holds more than 1.7 million square feet of property in its portfolio including retail, industrial, and self-storage facilities and R.V. and boat storage facilities that are branded under the Storage Solutions name. Both company are based in Cerritos, California, and co-owned in a joint venture by Barker Pacific Group and New York-based Angelo, Gordon & Co., a leading investment management firm specializing in non-traditional assets. For more information, visit http://www.storagesolutionsca.com/.

Summit Helps ‘Reset’ U.S.-Russia Relations, Obama Says

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2010 – The NATO-Russia Council Summit that took place in Lisbon, Portugal, offers another step toward the reset of relations between the United States and Russia, President Barack Obama said today.

“We see Russia as a partner, not an adversary,” Obama told reporters during the NATO Summit’s final press briefing.

During the NRC meeting, he said, NATO leaders and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to deepen their cooperation on Afghanistan, counternarcotics efforts and a range of 21st century security challenges.

“Perhaps most significantly,” Obama said, “we agreed to cooperate on missile defense, which turns a source of past tension into a source of potential cooperation against a shared threat.”

The NRC, established at the NATO-Russia Summit in Rome in 2002, is a mechanism for consultation, cooperation and joint action in which NATO member states and Russia work as partners on a range of common security issues.

The alliance suspended formal meetings and cooperation in some areas after Russia’s military action in Georgia in August 2008, then decided in March 2009 to resume formal meetings. The NATO secretary general chairs these meetings.

In Lisbon, a joint statement issued by Medvedev and his counterparts from the other 28 NRC member states said the council would resume theater ballistic missile defense exercises and identify opportunities for Russia to cooperate with NATO’s new territorial missile defense capability by June 2011.

“Here in Lisbon we are laying the foundations for stronger ties between our 29 nations than has ever been the case until now, which is why today marks a fresh start in NATO-Russia relations,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

“As evidence of our determination to cooperate together,” he added, “I am pleased to be able to announce today the completion of arrangements that will allow for the expanded transit of equipment to the [International Security Assistance Force] mission via the Russian Federation. I thank President Medvedev for his support.”

The council also approved a joint review of common security challenges that will guide NATO-Russia security cooperation, agreed to expand cooperation in support of the Afghan government, and committed to making better use of the NRC to manage crises.

On counterterrorism, the NRC said it would strengthen cooperation by jointly developing technology to detect explosives, countering terrorist threats to civil aviation and exchanging information about terrorism.

Russia confirmed its interest in resuming its support to NATO’s counterterrorist operation, called Active Endeavour, in the Mediterranean Sea.

To fight the maritime security threat of piracy and armed robbery at sea, NRC member states said they will expand existing tactical level cooperation through joint training and exercises.

Rusmussen said the most significant thing about the list of NATO-Russia common security challenges is what’s not there -- each other.

“The NATO nations and Russia have today agreed in writing that, while we face many security challenges, we pose no threat to each other. That, alone, draws a clear line between the past and the future of NATO-Russia relations,” he said.

Obama also announced that the United States would host the next NATO summit in 2012.

Mullen Calls North Korea’s Actions ‘Very Dangerous’

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2010 – Revelations that North Korea has secretly built a large uranium enrichment facility validates long-standing concerns about that nation’s nuclear intentions and is a destabilizing force in the region, the top U.S. military officer said today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week ” TV programs this morning.

“The assumption certainly is that [North Korea] continues to head in the direction of additional nuclear weapons,” Mullen said. “They are also known to proliferate this technology, so they’re a very dangerous country.”

According to a story that appeared yesterday in The New York Times, North Korean officials allowed visiting Stanford University professor Siegfried Hecker, former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, to tour a sophisticated new uranium enrichment plant that North Korea has built in secret and may have been built with foreign help.

“I’ve been concerned for a long time about instability in that region and North Korea has been at the center of that,” Mullen said. “We’ve worked hard with other countries to try to bring pressure on them” to comply with strict United Nations Security Council resolutions related to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

“This in fact violates United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 [2006] and 1874 [2009],” Mullen said. “And it violates what they said they’d do in 2005 with respect to getting to the six-party talks [aimed at addressing the country’s nuclear program]. So they’re a country that routinely we are unable to believe they will do what they say.”

North Korea is the greatest threat to peace in Northeast Asia and the focal point of the defense posture on the peninsula. North Korea is believed to have at least 1.5 million military members along with its nuclear capabilities.

In March, North Korea torpedoed and sank the South Korean navy ship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors.

In October, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young participated in the 42nd Security Consultative Meeting here, after which they told reporters that the U.S.-South Korea military alliance has never been stronger.

Both men called on North Korea to end provocative actions like the Cheonan attack.

The news that the ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has anointed his son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor has the alliance preparing to defend against all possible North Korean threats.

“We have to continue to bring pressure on [Kim Jong-il],” Mullen said, specifically through the six-party-talk countries -- Russia, China, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

President Barack Obama “sent out a team to each of the capitals this weekend to re-engage. That’s where we are right now and I’m sure we will continue to do that,” Mullen said.

“We’ve been engaged with China for an extended period of time with respect to North Korea,” Mullen added. “A great part of this will have to be done through Beijing.”

Motorcycle Safety Promoted by Reagan Riders

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SCW) Jeffrey R. Militzer, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Ronald Reagan's (CVN 76) Reagan Riders Association took to the streets and highways of San Diego County to participate in a winter safety ride just days after returning from a month-long underway period.

The Reagan Riders is a motorcyclist club sponsored by the ship, whose purpose is to train riders of all skill levels to be safer on the road.

The group meets twice monthly to review motorcycle safety issues, such as weather advisories and bike recalls that could affect their shipmates. At least once a month, the Riders go on a group outing.

The Reagan Riders began their trip early in the morning after training on safety topics such as drinking and riding, fatigue and inclement weather. After training, the 12 riders cruised a variety of roads to put their training into practice.

"The Navy has deemed that we are losing too many Sailors to inexperience," said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class (AW/SW) Joseph Erskine, president of the Reagan Riders. "We take our Sailors out (on rides) and give them first-hand experience from guys who know the area well."

The Riders' ethos is simple: more training equals more Sailors arriving home safely.

"We are here to train Sailors and make them smarter motorcyclists," said Erskine. "There's no better way to do this than hitting the road together."

The Reagan Riders felt a group ride would improve riders' knowledge of safety throughout the upcoming holiday season.

"It typically doesn't rain much in Southern California, but that's not always the case. So we took a day to go over safe winter-riding habits," said Erskine, a rider with more than 20 years of riding experience.

The Reagan Riders have full command support for their training sessions for good reason. According to the Naval Safety Center, the Navy experienced 14 deaths in fiscal year 2009 from motorcycle-related accidents and the U.S. Marine Corps experienced 22.

"The Navy realizes how serious this issue is and is fully committed to reducing the number of Sailor motorcycle fatalities," said Operations Specialist 1st Class Abraham Nantin, the Reagan Riders' vice president. "Our club can go a long way to that end."

The roads and highways of Southern California can be particularly intimidating for riders of all experience levels.

"It's our goal to get our fellow Sailors accustomed to riding safely in Southern California," said Nantin. "If making it a friendly, group environment will improve their awareness, then that's what we'll do."

While safety is the chief concern for the Riders, having an enjoyable time is also high on the list.

"We of course are out here preaching safety, but we definitely make it fun," said Nantin. "The fact is we all share this passion, so why not enjoy it together? People learn better when they're having a good time and we're going to make the most of it."

Coast Guard chefs compete for Culinary World Cup

Written by: LT Connie Braesch

Coast Guard chefs are steaming up the culinary world stage, winning awards and kneeding out the competition.

Two of our top-notch Food Service Specialists earned a position on the prestigious U.S. Army Culinary Arts Team (USACAT) and are mixing it up as they compete in the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Held every four years, the Culinary World Cup pitts the skills of nine other military teams from across the globe against each other.

“You’re competing on the world stage. You’re up against the best of the best in the culinary world,” said FS1 Ed Fuchs, an apprentice on USACAT and a previous Compass Guardian of the Week. “It’s a great chance to go up against people who are on the same level as you in a battle royal for world champion.”

Echoing his enthusiasm for being a part of this joint service team, FSCS Justin Reed, a primary member of the USACAT, appreciates the joint training and professional development he and the other team members will get during their time in Luxembourg.

“Being on USACAT is a great privilege, so is getting the opportunity to participate in the largest, most prestigious culinary competition in the world when it comes to military chefs,” said Reed. “It’s like the World Cup of Soccer but for chefs.”

Reed and Fuchs are two key non-Army chefs on the 18 member USACAT. The team is comprised of an Army team manager, six primary members, and 11 others as apprentices. This is not the first time Reed has been a part of this joint service team. In 2008, he was the captain when the team competed in the Culinary Olympics.

Over the course of the competition, the team will prepare a challenging cold food presentation and cook a three-course meal for 100 people using a military field kitchen – not an easy task.

“I know how the field kitchens work and I knew I could bring the experience and leadership I learned from competing in the Culinary Olympics,” said Reed.

The team is geared up for the competition after spending 12 hours a day for 33 straight days preparing and practicing their menu. The kitchens heat up today and the pressure cooker intensifies until the winners are announced Thursday.

According to Reed, Sweden, which edged the U.S. by seven tenths of a point to take the gold during the 2008 Culinary Olympics, is their biggest competition. USACAT is planning to give them a run for their money in the race for the Cup.

You can follow the team on their Facebook page or follow MSG Camacho, team captain, and SSG Parker, a Reservist, on their blogs.

Good luck USACAT! Bring home the Gooooooooooooooold!

Vershbow: Resetting Russian Relationship is Top Priority

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2010 – Continuing the job of resetting the relationship with Russia is among the United States’ highest priorities and one of its biggest challenges, a senior defense policy official said today.

Alexander Vershbow, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, spoke at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Service here. He has served as a U.S. ambassador to NATO, the Russian Federation and South Korea.

The Obama administration’s objective “has been to establish a more coherent Russia policy that acknowledges that Russia is still important as a partner on the front lines of many of the key security challenges,” Vershbow said.

Russia, he added, is “a partner that we have to handle with care if we’re going to achieve our common objectives.”

Since Vice President Joe Biden introduced the “reset” concept at Munich two years ago, Vershbow said, this opportunity for improving a “formerly toxic atmosphere” in the relationship between the United States and Russia has created important successes involving Afghanistan, strategic arms control, Iran and its nuclear challenge, and the bilateral defense relationship.

“One of the key outcomes of the reset was progress on our common objective of negotiating a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty,” Vershbow said, “and we’re very pleased with the results of these negotiations.”

Vershbow said the new treaty includes significant reductions in nuclear weapons, cuts delivery vehicles roughly in half, includes a comprehensive verification regime and gives both countries the flexibility to protect their security.

The new treaty, he added, also allows the United States to carry out its security commitments to its European allies.

“During his meeting with [Russian] President [Dmitry] Medvedev in Japan last weekend, President Obama reiterated his commitment to get the START treaty passed by the Senate during the lame duck session,” Vershbow said. “He’s made clear that this is a top priority and he reaffirmed that again just yesterday.”

As soon as the new START treaty is ratified, Vershbow added, follow-on talks will begin addressing non-strategic and non-deployed nuclear weapons, in addition to further reductions in the strategic force.

Vershbow also noted increased cooperation with Russia in Afghanistan, including facilitating the transportation of material to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan Air Transit Agreement, which was one of the main deliverables from the 2009 Moscow Summit, allows us to fly over Russia with military equipment and provides redundant transit routes as we have been building up our troop levels in Afghanistan,” he said.

“To date, approximately 90,000 of our troops have flown through Russian airspace to and from Afghanistan,” Vershbow added.

Since rail transit for non-military supplies to the forces in Afghanistan was offered by former Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, tens of thousands of containers have transited Russia, easing the strain on other U.S. supply routes.

Russia also has cooperated with the United States in countering Iranian efforts to develop a nuclear weapons capability, Vershbow said.

This effort, he said, included joining with China and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors in 2009 to demand that Iran immediately freeze operations at the previously covert Iranian nuclear facility at Qom. Russia also worked constructively with the United States in the U.N. Security Council on resolution 1929, which imposed stricter sanctions on Iran.

One of the most dramatic moments based on the Russians’ interpretation of their obligations under U.N. resolution 1929, Vershbow said, came when Russia cancelled a significant contract to provide S-300 air defense missiles to Iran.

“Having Russia working hand-in-glove with us on Iran gives us a better chance of finding a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which remains our goal,” he said.

In September, Vershbow said, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov visited U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for five hours of meetings and a renewal of dialogue between the two nations. The leaders signed a memo outlining the U.S.-Russia military relationship that makes defense cooperation a cornerstone of broader relations, and noted shared threats and similar challenges. They also signed an agreement creating a defense relations working group to resolve issues in armed forces reform and transformation, defense policy priorities and national security, transparency and confidence-building, and regional and global security.

Issues with Russia that have traditionally been more challenging include Russia’s relationship with NATO, missile defense cooperation, conventional arms control and regional security issues, Vershbow said.

“While we do not see these issues in zero-sum terms,” he said, “we have also been clear that our efforts at cooperation cannot involve jeopardizing core U.S. principles or interests.”

Ahead of the NATO Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, this week, Vershbow said promising areas for greater NATO-Russia cooperation include terrorism, piracy, countering weapons of mass destruction, disaster response and expanded cooperation regarding Afghanistan.

“Even efforts at cooperation that don’t always bear as much fruit as we might hope can help in reducing some of the uncertainty about Russian interests and intentions and by reducing their uncertainty about ours,” Vershbow said.

Riverine Squadron 1 Returns Home

From Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1 returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Nov. 13, following a deployment to Iraq.

During RIVRON 1's nearly seven-month deployment, its mission was to train Iraqis to provide their own maritime patrol element and to prevent smugglers and violent extremist networks from moving dangerous materials throughout the country's waterways.

"I'm excited for what the Riverines have accomplished and what we've done for the Iraqis, which is giving them the tools to do this job and carry on," said Cmdr. Craig Hill, RIVRON 1 commanding officer.

Hill pointed out the vitality of the waterways in Basrah, emphasizing the geographical advantage Iraqi security forces have in conducting maritime security missions.

"The rivers can be used for transporting legitimate products and communication, or they can offer a means of moving accelerants of violence," Hill said. "What [RIVRON 1] has done is provide the Iraqi security forces the training to ensure the waterways are used for the right reasons."

During the deployment, the squadron completed more than 150 missions, more than 145 convoys, more than 110 shoreline sweeps in support of coalition and Iraqi security forces, conducted 170 days of training for local forces and more than 90 hours of airtime from unmanned aerial vehicles.

Assigned to Riverine Group 1, under the command of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, RIVRON 1 serves as a direct action unit, designated to serve as a maneuver element to conduct combat operations and augment land forces.

This deployment marked the third for RIVRON 1 since the command's establishment in May 2006. Each of the three Riverine Squadrons has served multiple deployments in Iraq, maintaining a continual presence in the region.

General Officer Announcements

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nominations:

Army Brig. Gen. Robert B. Abrams has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Abrams is currently serving as commanding general, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, Calif.

Army Brig. Gen. Al T.  Aycock has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Aycock is currently serving as deputy commanding general/chief of staff, Installation Management Command, San Antonio, Texas.

Army Brig. Gen. Peter C. Bayer Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Bayer is currently serving as director of strategy, plans and policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. James C. Boozer Sr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Boozer is currently serving as director of operations, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Installation Management, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Buchanan is currently serving as director, J-9, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.

Army Brig. Gen. Gary H. Cheek has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.   Cheek is currently serving as director, Military Personnel Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Kendall P. Cox has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Cox is currently serving as director, J-7, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.      

Army Brig. Gen. William T. Crosby has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Crosby is currently serving as program executive officer, aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.

Army Brig. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Crutchfield is currently serving as commanding general, Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, Fort Rucker, Ala.

Army Brig. Gen. Peter N. Fuller has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Fuller is currently serving as program executive officer, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Army Brig. Gen. William K. Fuller has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Fuller is currently serving as deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Walter M. Golden Jr., has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Golden is currently serving as director, J-1, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Patrick M. Higgins has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Higgins is currently serving as deputy director, requirements, J-8, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Frederick B. Hodges has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Hodges is currently en route to director, Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Anthony R. Ierardi has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Ierardi is currently serving as director of force management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Richard C. Longo has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Longo is currently serving as deputy chief of staff, operations and training, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Va.

Army Brig. Gen. Alan R. Lynn has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Lynn is currently serving as commanding general, Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Army Brig. Gen. David L. Mann has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Mann is currently serving as commanding general, 32d Army Air Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Army Brig. Gen. Bradley W. May has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  May is currently serving as director, Iraq Training and Advisory Team, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.

Army Brig. Gen. Lloyd Miles has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Miles is currently serving as deputy commanding general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis McChord, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash.

Army Brig. Gen. Mark A.Milley has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Milley is currently serving as deputy director, regional operations, J-3, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Jennifer L. Napper has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.   Napper is currently serving as commanding general, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, Fort Huachuca, Ariz. 

Army Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson, Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Nicholson is currently serving as director, Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell, the Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Raymond P. Palumbo has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Palumbo is currently serving as commanding general, U.S. Army Alaska/Deputy Commander, U.S. Alaskan Command, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Army Brig. Gen. Gary S. Patton has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Patton is currently serving as deputy commander for programs, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.

Army Brig. Gen. Mark W. Perrin has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Perrin is currently serving as director, J-2, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.

Army Brig. Gen.William E. Rapp has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Rapp is currently serving as commandant of cadets, U.S. Army Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.

Army Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Richardson has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Richardson is currently serving as director, J-4, U.S. Forces-Iraq, Operation New Dawn, Iraq.

Army Brig. Gen. Frederick S. Rudesheim has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Rudesheim is currently serving as director, requirements and integration, J-8, U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

Army Brig. Gen. Bennet S. Sacolick has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Sacolick is currently serving as commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army Brig. Gen. Frank D. Turner III has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Turner is currently serving as program manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program, Saudi Arabia.

Army Brig. Gen. Kevin R. Wendel has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Wendel is currently serving as deputy director, operations, U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

Army Brig. Gen. Larry D. Wyche has been nominated for appointment to the rank of major general.  Wyche is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Navy to Commission Guided Missile Destroyer Gravely

The Navy will commission its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, Gravely, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, in Wilmington, N.C.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead will deliver the ceremony’s principal address.  Alma Gravely will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late husband.  The ceremony will be highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when she gives the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”

Designated DDG 107, the new destroyer honors the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr.  Gravely was born in Richmond, Va., June 4, 1922.  After attending Virginia Union University, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve in September 1942.  In 1943 he participated in a Navy program (V-12) designed to select and train highly qualified men for commissioning as officers.  On Dec. 14, 1944, Gravely successfully completed midshipman training, becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He was released from active duty in April 1946, but remained in the Naval Reserve.

Gravely was recalled to active duty in 1949.  As part of the Navy’s response to President Truman’s executive order to desegregate the armed services, his initial assignment was as a Navy recruiter, recruiting African Americans in the Washington, D.C. area.  Gravely went on to a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments.

Gravely’s performance and leadership as an African American Naval officer demonstrated to America the value and strength of diversity.  Gravely’s accomplishments served as watershed events for today’s Navy.  He was the first African American to command a warship (USS Theodore E. Chandler); to command a major warship (USS Jouett); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral; and to command a numbered fleet (Third).

Gravely is the 57th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.  The ship will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management, to sea control and power projection.  Gravely will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower,” which postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests.

Cmdr. Douglas Kunzman will become the first commanding officer of the ship and lead the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel.  The 9,200-ton Gravely was built at Northrop Grumman Corp.’s Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.  The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet.  Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.  More information on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers can be found at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=900&ct=4.

SEALs Honored During Veterans Ceremony at Norfolk State University

From Naval Special Warfare Group TWO Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Norfolk State University hosted a Navy SEAL and wounded warrior, along with a contingent of SEALs from Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, during a Veterans Day observance ceremony at the university student center, Nov. 11.

The ceremony was held in conjunction with the local Hampton Roads Reserve Officers Training Corps unit and other local veterans groups.

Ceremony guest speaker Lt. Jason Redman spoke about the meaning of Veterans Day and the sacrifices of service, sharing his experiences serving as a SEAL on the front lines and about the near-death experience that left him seriously injured.

Redman was injured in combat, along with two of his teammates in Iraq, when his squad came under heavy machine-gun and small-arms fire. Despite being hit numerous times, Redman and his team won the fight and brought all of his teammates home alive.

While he was recovering at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., Redman posted an inspirational sign outside his hospital room that discouraged visitors from pity and urged fellow wounded warriors to be proud of their service. The sign, gaining the attention of Secretary of Defense Robert S. Gates, became a statement for wounded warriors everywhere, and continues to hang in the wounded ward at the medical center.

"The truth is," said Redman, "I am thankful for these scars because I know they mean that my family, my friends and all of you, hopefully will never have to wear them. I proudly wear them for you."

The torch of American Freedom has burned for 234 years, he said.

"Three years ago, against all odds, I brought my torch of freedom back from Iraq. I pass it on to all of you here today," said Redman. "What will you do with yours?"

Redman reminded the audience that military service requires an incredible amount of dedication and self sacrifice.

"Thousands have willingly sacrificed their own flames of freedom to ensure the flames of all Americans' would never be extinguished by the winds of terrorism," said Redman.

He concluded by thanking all veterans and inviting the members of the audience to meet visiting Navy SEALs and other veterans in attendance.

"Thankfully, there are those of us who wear the uniform; who are entrusted with an oath and presented at the start of our military careers with a part of the flame to keep the torch of American freedom always burning," said Redman.

Public Health Center Promotes 2010 Great American Smokeout

By Hugh Cox, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Portsmouth Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) in Portsmouth, Va., is partnering with Navy Liberty Centers and the Marine Corps Semper Fit Program as part of Navy-wide efforts to promote the Great American Smokeout (GASO) Nov. 18.

The GASO is an American Cancer Society initiative held across the United States to encourage smokers to quite smoking.

Nearly 31 percent of Sailors and 37 percent of Marines smoke cigarettes, according to a 2008 Department of Defense survey of health related behaviors.

"There are lots of reasons for Sailors and Marines to quit smoking and using tobacco," said Dr. Mark Long, NMCPHC public health educator. "In addition to the myriad of reasons that numerous anti-smoking organizations have been touting for years, smoking can also adversely impact operational and individual readiness."

According to Long, more individuals quit smoking Nov. 18, the GASO, than any other day of the year.

Navy Medicine has long-recognized that tobacco harms the health and well-being of Sailors, Marines and their families.

"More importantly, tobacco use is being acknowledged by Navy and Marine Corps leadership as a readiness issue with our deployed forces," said Capt. Larry Williams, NMCPHC health promotion and analysis head.

Williams is the chair of the Tobacco Cessation Action Team (TCAT), a Navy Medicine group that reviews, develops and provides resources, guidance and policies aimed to help decrease tobacco use in the Navy and Marine Corps.

Long, also a member of TCAT, has been the driving force behind the Navy GASO initiatives for many years.

"It is also important for the non-tobacco users to support their friends and loved ones who decide to quit on the 18th," said Williams. "Quitting is easier with friends to support you."

"More and more Navy and Marine Corps commands are actively promoting and participating in the GASO and encouraging their Sailors and Marines to stop," said Long. "It is a great opportunity to quit using tobacco."

Numerous resources are available to tobacco users interested in quitting tobacco, including military treatment facilities and clinics that offer tobacco cessation programs and support groups. Additionally, the NMCPHC website has a wide variety of tools, tips and resources for tobacco users, as well as program managers.

For more information on the GASO and other Navy public health programs, visit the NMCPHC's website at http://www.nmcphc.med.navy.mil/Healthy_Living/.

For additional information, also visit the Department of Defense's "Quit Tobacco, Make Me Proud" Web-based program at www.ucanquit2.org.

Tricare also offers a free helpline to assist with cessation. Call the following numbers for information:

North Region: (866) 459-8766

South Region: (877) 414-9949

East Region: (866) 244-6870

Veterans’ Reflections: 'Learn Everything You Can'

By Ian Graham

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2010 – When Frank “Irish” Healey was in Vietnam, he was a walking dead man. At least that’s what infamous Radio Hanoi broadcaster “Hanoi Hannah” said of Healey and his fellow Marines in the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

The unit became known as the “Walking Dead” because it took heavy casualties in a particularly hot combat zone near the demilitarized zone, where the North Vietnamese army was coming across the border into South Vietnam.

“She said we’re ‘already walking dead men and they don’t know it,’ so that’s where the name came from,” Healey said.

The Barnegat, N.J., native said he hadn’t expected that Marines would face such heavy combat in Vietnam. In 1964, when he followed two friends to enlist in the Corps, Vietnam was an advisory mission. They knew things were going on there, he said, but it wasn’t a full-blown war.

Healey followed a long family tradition of service in enlisting: his father and all of his uncles were veterans of World War II or Korea.

“To be a Marine was to join the best,” he said. “I was brought up learning about their valor in World War II and Korea, and that was where I was going to go. If I was going to go, I was going to go with the best.”

He spent two years in Europe aboard the USS Springfield, touring the Mediterranean, before he volunteered to go to Vietnam with the 1-9th Marines in February 1967. They were looking for troops to send to the combat zone, and Healey said he knew it was his obligation to go.

The Marines he met there would end up being an integral part of Healey’s life, even after combat. He still regularly attends 1-9th reunions and is close with many of the Marines with whom he served in Delta Company.

“They’re like brothers to me –- they’re family,” Healey said. “We lived together, we fought together, we bled together, and unfortunately, some of them died with us.”

During one particularly vicious battle near An Hoa, Delta Company took serious fire. A helicopter came, against orders, to pick up some wounded Marines, though it ended up getting shot down a short distance away.

A UPI photographer, Frank Johnston, happened to be on the chopper, and stayed with Healey and the other Marines as they rallied around the fallen aircraft, eventually taking refuge in an abandoned church. Johnson’s photographs of the scene found their way to the pages of Life magazine and numerous newspapers, magazines and books about the war in Vietnam.

The pictures, depicting exhausted, injured Marines fresh off the battlefield, defined an era for the Corps. While Healey said he appreciates that he’s a part of that history, he added that it doesn’t matter that it’s him and his company on the film.

“It’s great –- but the point isn’t who’s in the picture,” he said. “Every one of us was in that picture. We were tight, we were close, and we shared everything we had. Every Marine and corpsman was in that photograph.”

Healey left active duty in 1968 and served two more years as a reservist. In 1970, he accepted a discharge as sergeant, but his story with the Marine Corps doesn’t end there. His son enlisted in the Corps, and he went to Camp Lejeune, N.C., prior to deploying to Saudi Arabia with the 2nd Marine Division. Then-Maj. Gen. William Keys was the commander of that division -– some years prior, he had been a company commander with the 1-9th in Vietnam.

Healey said he made a phone call, unbeknownst to his son. At first reluctant -- and impeded by his noncommissioned officers, who assumed he was being insolent -- the junior Healey eventually made contact with Keys.

“A two-star general went out and found a private first class and had him over for dinner about a dozen times before the Gulf War started,” Healey said. “My son came home and said, ‘Dad, I walked in with PFC chevrons on and dirty utilities, with colonels sitting around. A general walked in, took one look at me and said, ‘You’re a Healey, I know it.’ He took me into his office, gave me a cold bottle of water, sat down, and talked to me like a father for an hour and a half.’”

“That’s a veteran,” he added. “We’re a family.”

Healey said his best advice to servicemembers now is the same he shared with his son upon enlisting: “Learn everything you can.”

“Whatever you train in, train hard, and train well. Know your job, and know two to three jobs above you,” Healey said. “Because if you’re in combat, and you’ll have to take over when people get killed or get wounded, you’re going to have to know that job and know it well to survive and make sure your friends survive.”

(“Veterans’ Reflections” is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.)