Surface Tension: The cutter surface swimmer

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

Story and photos by Seaman Adam Stanton

When you think of a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, the first thought that comes to mind is of a Coastie jumping out of a helicopter to pull someone to safety. But the Coast Guard has another kind of swimmer… the cutter surface swimmer.

The cutter surface swimmer program takes volunteer crewmembers with strong swimming skills and maritime knowledge and trains them in basic life-saving skills and recovery situations. The candidates go through a physical and written qualification process, where only the best qualified members are selected.

“The training builds you up to get you in the ocean. You learn in a controlled environment, and then, apply the training to a real life situation,” said Coast Guard Seaman Joshua Angelica, a cutter surface swimmer stationed aboard Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, homeported in Alameda, Calif.

All cutters have at least one qualified surface swimmer aboard whereas cutters with flight decks have a minimum of two cutter surface swimmers aboard while the cutter is underway. Because deploying a surface swimmer off a cutter comes with risks, a certified line tender, responsible for tending the swimmer’s line and maintaining communication through a series of hand signals, is partnered with every surface swimmer.

The program has a dual purpose; providing for the safety of the general public in distress and for the crew in the event there is a shipmate overboard. While rescuing someone in a small boat is the preferred recovery method for persons in the water, a surface swimmer can be an ideal asset especially in cases where survivors are fatigued, entangled or injured.

“Its an eye opener of how challenging the conditions are in the ocean and in rough seas,” said Angelica discussing the training he and his fellow swimmers do on the open ocean. “As a cutter surface swimmer, you think about that worse case scenario where a person can’t move and a small boat cant get to them in really rough seas, we need to be prepared for that.”

The rigid training schedule surface swimmers maintain prepares them for real-life situations where every second counts. When disaster strikes at sea, and a life is in peril, you can count on the Coast Guard’s cutter surface swimmers to be ready to respond.

USS Ronald Reagan Chiefs Help Out at Presidential Ranch

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Dean Lohmeyer, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (NNS) -- USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) chief petty officers participated in a community service project Dec. 10-12, at Rancho Del Cielo, the ranch once owned by the ship's namesake, former President Ronald Reagan.

More than 25 chief petty officers completed several maintenance projects to help the upkeep of the land. Ronald Reagan's chiefs have been helping out at the ranch since August 2006.

Event coordinator, Master Chief Electronics Technician Jim Ritch, said the event strengthened the already strong tie between the Ronald Reagan Ranch and the Ronald Reagan chief's mess.

"We did anything they asked us to do while we were there," said Ritch. "It's a huge property and there is so much to be done that we were just privileged to be there to help."

The chiefs cleared a fallen tree, trimmed low-hanging branches, split nearly 10 cords of firewood, built walking paths, cleared riding trails, raked algae and weeds from a lake, as well as numerous other projects.

"There was a lot of teamwork and camaraderie going on," said Chief Logistics Specialist Mario Moreno. "We saw what had to be done and we attacked it. We got the job done."

According to Andrew Coffin, vice president and director of the Reagan Ranch, the property is managed by the Young America's Foundation (YAF), a non-profit organization funded entirely by private donations from around the country by those who are committed to preserving Rancho Del Cielo and sharing the lessons of Ronald Reagan's life and ideas with today's youth. He said the assistance provided by the ship's chiefs was greater than any dollar value that could be associated with their labor.

"The work that the chiefs do is incredibly important." said Coffin. "When Ronald Reagan was president, countless government personnel worked on the ranch, including a battalion of Navy Seabees, who built roads and cleared trails. Today, we just have a single ranch manager on site. We work hard to be good stewards of the generous gifts that YAF supporters provide for the preservation of the ranch, and the work the chiefs from the USS Ronald Reagan do at the ranch helps us do exactly that."

Beyond the sheer amount of work done, Coffin said he was more impressed by the quality of the work.

"The work that the chiefs do is in a class by itself," said Coffin. "From the very first work weekend in 2006, they were committed to working hard and getting the job done. I can say without hesitation that these are the most productive days that we have at the ranch all year.

"I'm confident that President Reagan would be both humbled and proud by the work that these American heroes do to help preserve and protect his beloved ranch home," said Coffin.

Coffin's sentiments were shared by Ronald Reagan Ranch Manager George Thompson.

"Working with the chiefs this weekend was fantastic," said Thompson. "I always enjoy having the chiefs here. They always work hard, and they do a lot of work to help us out with our projects."

USS Ronald Reagan Command Master Chief Mark Rudes was proud yet humbled by the work done by the chiefs in his mess.

"It was humbling to see the chief's mess come together and do such a huge amount of work for no other reason than to leave our mark on our namesake's ranch," said Rudes. "Listening to the stories of the men who worked with Ronald Reagan was especially humbling. Knowing that these gentlemen actually worked with the president put everything in perspective."

The chiefs mess hopes to continue working with the Ranch and carry on this tradition in the years to come.

For more news from USS Ronald Reagan and the Ronald Reagan Strike Group, visit www.reagan.navy.mil or visit the official USS Ronald Reagan Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Coronado-CA/USS-Ronald-Reagan/212147332020?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=24.

Face of Defense: Guardsman Has Complementary Dual Roles

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Lillian Chatwin

American Forces Press Service

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 16, 2010 – When he’s asked about the upcoming weather forecast, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Sterling Poulson switches to his "TV voice" to report, "It's 70 degrees outside and pretty nice!"

"People come in here five or six times a day wanting to know what the weather's going to be like," said Poulson, a weatherman for the nightly news on KUTV Channel 2 here and the public affairs noncommissioned officer in charge for the Utah Air National Guard state headquarters.

When prompted, Poulson made a few taps on his keyboard, looked at a bunch of multi-colored dotted lines on a map of the United States, and then presented a full weather report with the fervor of a veteran forecaster.

"Looks like snow Monday night and Tuesday morning, with another storm rolling in here on Wednesday,” he said. “It's going to get cold, cold, cold with temperatures in the 40s. Friday will be partly cloudy and a little warmer, with a high of 48. Looks like snow on Saturday, and temperatures probably won't climb out of the 30s this weekend.

"Summer is pretty much over," Poulson added with a chuckle. "There's going to be a storm about every four days, and it just keeps getting colder and colder."

That’s not what Air Force Lt. Col. Cecilia Nackowski, the chief of plans and programs, whose desk sits directly across from Poulson’s, wanted to hear. "Can you delay that?" she asked.

"For how long?" Poulson asked after only a short pause.

"Three weeks!" the colonel replied.

Poulson laughed. "In three weeks, you will have shoveled your driveway three more times," he said.

Poulson's roles as a TV weatherman in civilian life and a public affairs specialist with the Air Guard are complementary and have proven mutually beneficial, he said.

"Everything I learned about weather, I learned in the military," he said. "When I first went to Offutt Air Force Base [in Nebraska], I worked under Col. Robert Miller. He's the one who wrote 'the book' on severe weather forecasting, and I got to learn a lot from him. I soaked it up like a sponge.

It was like going to a seminar every day."

Poulson began his Air Force career right out of high school in 1969 as an aerospace ground equipment operator. He served in that capacity during a deployment to Vietnam for 13 months in 1970 and 1971.

In 1975, Poulson decided to retrain into weather forecasting in pursuit of a childhood fascination he gained after observing eight inches of rainfall within 24 hours. After training, he served as a severe storms forecaster in support of the Air Force Global Weather Center.

After 10 years of active-duty service, Poulson transitioned to reserve status in 1980 and was assigned to the weather detachment at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He attended college at the University of Utah.

In 1984, he became a weather producer for KSL-TV. He started his long-running career as an anchorman, weather producer and meteorologist at KUTV in 1989.

Poulson has been a public affairs specialist with the Utah Air Guard since 2000. He writes his own scripts and acts as the master of ceremonies for most of the Utah Guard's major annual events, such as the Governor's Day parade and the Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day concerts. He has hosted several Minuteman and Hometown Hero Award ceremonies and narrated the history of the Utah Air National Guard in a DVD production titled "60 Years of Distinction."

"They call me the voice of the Guard," Poulson said with a smile. He attributes his ease at public speaking to his 21 years of experience being on camera at KUTV.

His employer is very supportive of the military and his role in the Guard, he said.

"The cool thing about my employment at 2News is I can give the Guard a little visibility," he said. "I can do live shots at the VA concert in uniform, and make sure we talk about the concert on TV. I can do public affairs spots and place public service announcements that let people know about the event."

Since his college days, Poulson has had a strong interest in music, and he founded Choral Arts Society of Utah in 1987. As the music director of this 100-voice choir, he has collaborated several times with the Utah Guard's 23rd Army Band for events such as the Armed Forces Day concert.

Poulson has been recognized in both his military and media careers. In 2008, he won a silver Utah Broadcaster Award for a television news story he covered in Morocco in support of the African Lion medical mission with the 151st Medical Group. He also received the 2010 Senior NCO of the Year award for the Utah Air National Guard. He’s scheduled to retire from the Guard in September.

Nimitz Sailors Volunteer in Local Community, Support Area Youth

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ashley Berumen, USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Public Affairs

LAKE BAY, Wash. (NNS) -- Sailors from the Air Department aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) assisted local volunteers in a community relations project at Lutheran Church in Lake Bay, Wash., Dec. 15.

Sailors stuffed backpacks full of food and school supplies for 85 children in the local community.

Nimitz' participation was organized by Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Michael Pascerella, whose aunt, Karen Jorgenson, organizes the church's backpack program.

Jorgenson runs the program each week from donations supplied by the local community.

"It's a blessing," said Jorgenson. "We really needed the extra help, and the Sailors worked really hard."

Cmdr. David Appezato, representing Nimitz leadership, participated in the project and said it was a great way for Nimitz to get to know the community and show Nimitz cares.

"Bremerton has opened its arms to us," said Appezzato. "We can give back by helping the community. What better way to give back, than by helping kids?"

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Jeremy C. Mathis has volunteered on community relations projects before and thinks it is something everyone should do because it is a good way for Sailors to give back to the community.

"The people are very passionate and really want to be here," said Mathis. "It makes an impression on you. It's always good to do something for someone else and have fun while you're doing it."

This was Nimitz' first community relations project since arriving at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton Dec. 9 to prepare for a year-long dry-docked maintenance period at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Event Pays Tribute to ‘The Chosin Few’

By Elaine Wilson

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2010 – Fang Woo walked into a room, walls adorned with Navy history memorabilia, and made a beeline for a young Marine reservist across the room.

The 78-year-old retired Marine was eager to meet one of the men responsible for what is believed to be the first full-length documentary about the Chosin Reservoir campaign, a harrowing 17-day battle during the Korean War marked by crippling losses and incredible triumphs of the human spirit.

Woo has a personal interest in the topic -- he is among “The Chosin Few,” the last living survivors of the battle.

Woo was one of several Korean War veterans who braved chilly temperatures last night to attend a commemoration of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, which took place 60 years ago this month. A crowd of local history buffs and servicemembers also gathered at the Navy Memorial here for the public event, which featured a viewing of the documentary “Chosin” followed by a panel discussion on the film.

“I twisted his arm to come here, but I know this means a lot to him,” Woo’s son, Conrad, said, while watching his father from across the room. “He doesn’t ask for attention for what he did. My dad never even mentioned what he did in Korea when I was growing up.”

The documentary -- produced, written and directed by Marine Corps reservists Anton Sattler and Brian Iglesias, both former active-duty Marines -- tells the Chosin story through first-person accounts from Korean War veterans the Marines interviewed across the country. They made the movie after they departed active Marine Corps duty, both drawn to a largely overlooked, but highly impactful moment in history.

“We picked this battle because it’s never been done before, and these guys are slowly fading away,” Iglesias said, flanked by two of the Chosin veterans featured in the documentary, Warren Wiedhahn and Dr. Stanley Wolf.

Wiedhahn said the movie offered veterans an opportunity to talk about events that some had never opened up about before. After his kids saw it, they asked him, “Daddy why didn’t you ever talk about it? Why didn’t you tell us this?” One of the reasons, he said, is that it was difficult to share his military past with anyone other than the veterans who shared it.

Still, he and his fellow Chosin veterans opened up in detail on the documentary about the horrific, yet triumphant, events of the Chosin Reservoir battle, also known as the “Frozen Chosin.”

In November 1950, U.N. forces were nearing a successful end to the Korean War. U.N. Forces had chased the North Korean army from near the southern tip of South Korea to the north, near the border with China.

But China had decided to enter the conflict and sent thousands of its troops flooding across the border. In late November, the seasoned Chinese forces launched a surprise attack on about 15,000 U.S. troops from the 1st Marine Division and elements of the 7th Infantry Division in and around the Chosin Reservoir area. By Nov. 27, 120,000 Chinese troops had encircled about 30,000 U.N. troops, and a brutal, 17-day battle in sub-zero temperatures began.

The Chinese troops attacked in human waves each night, sending thousands at a time to overrun the U.N. troops until dawn. The veterans recalled the Chinese coming in relentless fronts, unaffected by the mass casualties piling up around them.

“You thought you were a dead man,” one veteran said in the documentary. Only a relentless “love of life” kept him from giving up, he added.

“I prayed for the first time in my life,” another Chosin veteran said, his voice breaking with emotion. “I said, ‘God, don’t let me die, not here. I just want to see the sun come up one more day.’”

Temperatures dipped to frigid levels and a veteran recalled a “mind-numbing” cold so intense that the troops’ eyeballs would freeze until they put their hands up to warm them. “It was 30-below zero,” Wiedhahn said. “You lived in 30-below temperature, all the time.”

U.N. troops fought valiantly for days and broke out of the encirclement while inflicting huge losses on the Chinese, with an estimated 35,000 Chinese troops killed or wounded.

They fought their way to freedom across miles of rough, mountainous terrain until they reached the port of Hungnam on Dec. 11, where they were evacuated along with thousands of Korean refugees to Pusan.

Of the 15,000 U.S. troops at the battle of Chosin Reservoir, 3,000 were killed, 6,000 were wounded and 12,000 suffered frostbite injuries. For their heroic actions, 17 U.S. servicemembers were awarded the Medal of Honor, making Chosin one of the most decorated battles in U.S. history.

Army Col. David J. Clark, director of the Defense Department’s 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee, was on hand for the last night’s event. Congress created the committee, he explained, to honor and thank Korean War veterans, celebrate the war’s milestones and ensure the American public has a clear understanding and appreciation of the war.

Clark praised the documentary and the Korean War veterans in the audience. He was honored, he said, “to share the experience with some of the heroes that lived this story, and in the process saved a nation and a people from unspeakable tyranny and oppression.”

“And certainly, the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir was a major part of that,” he continued. “We have come to honor our comrades in arms who persevered through one of the most ferocious battles in the annals of American military history. While vastly outnumbered and fighting in unimaginable conditions, our veterans’ courage, selfless sacrifice and unbendable will evened the odds. In Chosin Reservoir, all that is good about the American fighting spirit was on display.”

General: Exercises Vital to U.S., South Korea

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2010 – Exercises such as the Invincible Spirit series are helping the U.S.-South Korean alliance transform for the future while sending an unmistakable message to North Korea that its provocations won’t be tolerated, the top U.S. general in South Korea said yesterday.

Army Gen. Walter L. “Skip” Sharp, commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, condemned North Korea’s spate of destabilizing activities during a speech to the East Asia Institute and Center for a New American Security in Seoul.

The most recent attack, on South Korea’s northwest islands, “crossed a significant threshold and represents a worrying trend toward more frequent and more violent provocations,” Sharp said. “Our task … is to find ways to change North Korea’s strategic calculus and end the cycle of provocations.”

The United States and South Korea’s message to North Korea is clear, he said. “We will not tolerate attacks against the civilian population and all provocations will be met with the utmost response that the combined [South Korea]-U.S. instruments of national power can bring to bear and that the laws of land warfare permit.”

Sharp said North Korea’s actions bolstered the U.S.-South Korean alliance, which is observing its 60th anniversary this year. “Alliance resolve has never been stronger, and we will strengthen the alliance further still, both in terms of capability and commitment,” he said.

The new Strategic Alliance 2015 plan lays out a framework for that effort. It includes improvements in the military exercise and training program, transfer of wartime operational control to South Korean forces by 2015 and the consolidation of U.S. forces to hubs around Pyeongtaek and Daegu.

Sharp called a realistic and adaptable exercise and training program critical to the plan, particularly in light of recent events on the peninsula.

“We will seek to further adapt our exercises to address limited, as well as full-scale, North Korean attacks,” he said. “All our exercises are designed to improve our interoperability and demonstrate unwavering alliance resolve to maintain peace and stability in the region.”

Sharp cited the success of the recent Invincible Spirit naval and air readiness exercises, the most recently that included the Carrier Strike Group George Washington. Together with the biannual theater-level exercises, Key Resolve and Ulchi Freedom Guardian, and future bilateral and multilateral exercises, these are improving alliance capabilities and readiness to respond to the full range of provocations and attacks, he said.

He emphasized, however, that the U.S.-South Korean alliance isn’t focused solely on North Korea. “The [South Korean]-U.S. alliance is a vital element in providing security, stability and prosperity on the peninsula and in the region,” he said. “Based on our shared values, our countries are primed to cooperate and act on a global basis to contribute to international security.”

VADM Currier Visits Military Airbus in Spain

By DCMS Log

FRI. 10 December: VADM John Currier visited Airbus Military (AM) facilities and executives in Madrid and Seville, Spain. Discussions focused on the current program AM holds with the US Coast Guard, the HC-144 air asset. VADM Currier also viewed AM's A400 test bench and Euro Fighter assembly lines.

Pictured: VADM Currier at the A400 test bench.

USS Pasadena Departs for Western Pacific Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Los Angeles-Class fast-attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Dec. 14 for a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific region.

"The crew is excited and ready to get underway," said Cmdr. Andrew St. John, Pasadena's commanding officer. "They have all worked hard in getting this submarine ready to go and completing all the requirements to deploy."

Pasadena will be conducting various training exercises and a multitude of missions during the next few months.

"A major part of this mission is training the junior Sailors and getting them submarine warfare qualified," said St. John. "Out of a crew of 137 Sailors, 50 percent are making their first deployment, so we made this one of our main focus areas."

Pasadena was commissioned in July 1991 and is the U.S. Navy's second "improved" Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarine. Throughout its proud and illustrious 20-year history, Pasadena has deployed to and conducted operations in virtually every part of the Pacific Ocean, from the west coast of North and South America to Australia and the Arabian Gulf.

Exercise Sandfisher Commences on Guam, Integrates US, Singapore Amphibious Techniques

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corwin Colbert, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Marines from Okinawa, Japan, conducted helocast training exercise Sandfisher with their counterparts from the Singaporean Armed Forces just north of Gab Gab Beach aboard U.S. Naval Base Guam Dec. 13.

Exercise Sandfisher is an annual training exercise in which III Marine Expeditionary Force, Force Recon Company, conducts bilateral amphibious reconnaissance and combat diving training with the Singapore Armed Forces Naval Dive Unit (NDU) in order to sustain tactical proficiency and support the Pacific Command Commander's Theater Security Cooperation Program (TSCP).

Helocasting is a waterborne technique used by small unit, special operations forces to insert into a military area of operations. The small unit is flown by helicopter to the insertion point. Once there, the aircraft assumes an altitude just above the water's surface and a low airspeed. Team members then exit the aircraft and enter the water.

The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion was the component that conducted the mission.

"What you see right now is helocasting," said Lt. Col. Travis Homiak, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion commanding officer. "That is when we deploy swimmers and dive teams from helicopters that are in a modified hover. The purpose of this is to get them into position to swim across to the beach to conduct confirmatory beach reports and surf observations in order to bring landing forces to the beach."

Homiak said the training has reaffirmed the nation's commitment and established personal bonds among the participants.

"On a personal level, this is an ongoing exercise and reinforces the bonds that the Marines have with their Singapore counterparts," Homiak said. "It also reaffirms the United States' commitment to security in the region."

The 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion's mission is to provide ground and amphibious reconnaissance for III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Gates: New START Treaty Accommodates U.S. Plans

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2010 – The new strategic arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia “in no way limits” U.S. plans for missile defense or modernizing its nuclear arsenal, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.

Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined President Barack Obama at the White House today as the president announced findings of the Afghanistan and Pakistan Annual Review, released today.

After weeks of debate, the Senate voted yesterday to take up the arms reduction pact with Russia.

Gates acknowledged what he called “genuine concerns on the Hill” about the treaty’s effect on modernization of the U.S. nuclear enterprise, adding that misunderstandings existed about the pact’s effect on the U.S. ability to move forward on missile defense.

“I think that there were some legitimate concerns,” Gates said, “but frankly, I think they've been addressed.”

Cartwright called the pact “a relationship between our countries” and said that the treaty addresses much more than the nuclear issue.

“All the Joint Chiefs are very much behind this treaty because of the transparency [and] because of the reality that both the United States and Russia are going to have to recapitalize their nuclear arsenals,” he said. “To have transparency … to put structure to that activity, we need START, and we need it badly.”

A single approach to deterrence that depends on mutually assured destruction is no longer relevant in the 21st century, the general added. “We need this treaty in order to move in that direction,” he said.

The treaty, Clinton said, is worthy of Senate ratification, and not only on its own merits. “It is part of the effort that we see moving forward to bring Russia and Europe and the United States closer together,” she said, “to cooperate on the threats of the future, not to be looking back at the threats of the past.”

’Twas a Night in December

By Jian DeLeon, Ian Graham and Navy Lt. Jennifer Cragg

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2010 – Servicemembers stationed from Antarctica to Afghanistan lent their talents and time to craft a video for a poem titled “’Twas a Night in December,” based on Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” but rewritten with a military twist.

More than 40 commands around the world, representing every branch of the military service, participated.

Along with the military people who contributed to this creative effort, country music star Toby Keith introduced the video, reinforcing his long-term support for military and their families stationed around the world.

Some of the servicemembers involved in this holiday greeting were located in the most remote regions in the world. For example, Air Force Capt. Graydon Muller of 6th Special Operations Squadron and Air Force Capt. Rob Marshall of the 8th Special Operations Squadron departed Nov. 24 to climb Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica. Muller and Massif took time away from their climb to speak a few lines for the video.

Other servicemembers from Afghanistan, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Pakistan and throughout the United States participated in making the video. In fact, people on six out of the world's seven continents took part. The video was produced by Defense Media Activity’s emerging media directorate.

’Twas a Night in December

’Twas a night in December and all over the world,

At bases and stations where our flag flies unfurled,

The Holiday season had long since commenced,

And spread its spirit of cheer through the Department of Defense.

Combat boots sat at ease by the fence line with care,

In hopes that a return date soon would be there.

At home, loved ones slept sound in their beds,

With visions of troops coming home in their heads.

As Moms perform night patrols, and Dads conduct checks,

A long winter’s nap is the last thing they expect.

When out on the tarmac arose such a clatter,

Soldiers and sailors sprang up to see what was the matter.

Away to the deck, they hustled, they dashed,

Some ran through a passageway, one opened a hatch.

In Antarctica, moonlight shimmered on the snow,

A sliver of light shown on the objects below.

And what to our wondering eyes should appear,

But letters and packages bundled with care.

Yet it wasn’t just there that we saw these things land,

We received them as well, here in Afghanistan!

They were packaged so well that they could withstand,

The harsh desert winds full of Iraqi sand.

Onto Nicaragua with volcanoes and lakes,

Padded so carefully that nothing would break

Addressed from our family and friends we hold dear,

With Holiday greetings and a “Wish You Were Here!”

We lined up and claimed them, with smiles ear-to-ear,

Every person overcome with Holiday cheer.

Your support and your thoughts are the best possible gift,

We send you our thanks for giving our spirits such a lift.

Thanks from the National Guard

Thanks from the Army,

Thanks from the Navy,

Thanks from the Marines,

Thanks from the Air Force,

Thanks from the Coast Guard,

We want you to know how much this gift means.

In our eyes you’re super, and we mean A-OK.

We will do our duty and keep defending our freedom,

And wish you and yours the very best this Holiday season!

Suspicious Package Temporarily Closes Pentagon Metro

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2010 – A suspicious package resulted in closure of the Pentagon station entrance of the Metro rapid-transit system for more than an hour this morning while security officers investigated the threat, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Security officers closed the station at 7:28 a.m. when a suspicious object was reported in a trash can on the station platform.

Pedestrian traffic was redirected to the Pentagon’s Corridor 3 entrance.

Officers from the Pentagon police department’s explosive ordnance disposal unit and the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives response division investigated the report, and K-9 officers and dogs swept the station for other hazards.

The suspicious object was identified as a battery-operated Christmas ornament.

The Metro entrance reopened at 8:44, the spokesman said.

General Officer Announcements

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

Air Force Col. Donald J. Bacon has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Bacon is currently serving as the deputy commander, 3rd Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Air Force Col. Warren D. Berry has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Berry is currently serving as the assistant deputy director, political-military affairs, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, J5, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Casey D. Blake has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Blake is currently serving as the commander, Defense Contract Management  Agency, Lockheed Martin Marietta, Marietta City, Ga.

Air Force Col. Mark Anthony Brown has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Brown is currently serving as the director, financial management and comptroller, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Air Force Col. Stephen A. Clark has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Clark is currently serving as the commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

Air Force Col. Anthony J. Cotton has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.   Cotton is currently serving as the commander, 34 1st Missile Wing, Air Force Global Strike Command, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.

Air Force Col. Thomas H. Deale has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Deale is currently serving as the director, Air Force Colonel Management Office, deputy chief of staff, manpower, personnel and services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Stephen T. Denker has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Denker is currently serving as the commander, Space Operations Wing, Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado, National Reconnaissance Office, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.

Air Force Col. John L. Dolan has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Dolan is currently serving as the commander, 8th Fighter Wing, Pacific Air Forces, Kunsan Air Base, Korea.

Air Force Col. Michael E. Fortney has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Fortney is currently serving as the chief, Nuclear Operations Division, Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

Air Force Col. Peter E. Gersten has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Gersten is currently serving as the commander, 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Air Force Col. Robert P. Givens has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Givens is currently serving as the deputy assistant chief of staff, J3, Air Force Element, U.S. Forces Korea, Yong San AIN, Korea.

Air Force Col. Thomas F. Gould has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Gould is currently serving as the commander, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Air Force Col. Timothy S. Green has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Green is currently serving as the special assistant to the commander, U.S. European Command, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Belgium.

Air Force Col. Gina M. Grosso has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Grosso is currently serving as the commander, 87th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

Air Force Col. Joseph T. Guastella Jr. has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Guastella is currently serving as the chief, Program Integration Division, deputy chief of staff, Strategic Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. David A. Harris has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Harris is currently serving as the vice commander, Air Armament Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Air Force Col. Daryl J. Hauck has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Hauck is currently serving as the commander and Air Force program executive officer for intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance and special operations forces, 303d Aeronautical Systems Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Air Force Col. John M. Hicks has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Hicks is currently serving as the director, Secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff of the Air Force Executive Action Group, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. John P. Horner has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Horner is currently serving as the commander, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing, Air Combat Command, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Air Force Col. Charles K. Hyde has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Hyde is currently serving as the deputy director, intelligence, operations and nuclear integration, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Air Force Col. Timothy T. Jex has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Jex is currently serving as the command surgeon, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Air Force Col. Patrick C. Malackowski has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Malackowski is currently serving as the commander, 51st Fighter Wing, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, Korea.

Air Force Col. James R. Marrs has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Marrs is currently serving as the senior military assistant to the under secretary of defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Lawrence M. Martin Jr., has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Martin is currently serving as the deputy director-military, J5/4, Headquarters U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Air Force Col. Jeffrey R. McDaniels has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  McDaniels is currently serving as the director, air operations, defensive counterspace for operations, plans and requirements, deputy chief of staff, operations, plans and requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Mark M. McLeod has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  McLeod is currently serving as the associate director, program integration, deputy chief of staff, logistics, installations and mission support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.

Air Force Col. John K. McMullen has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  McMullen is currently serving as the commander, 3d Wing, Pacific Air Forces, Elmendorf  Air Force Base, Alaska.

Air Force Col. Linda R. Medler, has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Medler is currently serving as the deputy chief, information officer, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Matthew H. Molloy has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Molloy is currently serving as the commander, 1st Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.

Air Force Col. Michael T. Plehn has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Plehn is currently serving as the commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Air Force Col. Margaret B. Poore has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Poore is currently serving as the senior military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Thomas J. Sharpy has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Sharpy is currently serving as the director, Air Force general officer management, deputy chief of staff, manpower, personnel and services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Bradford J. Shwedo has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Shwedo is currently serving as the cyber policy advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, (Global Strategic Affairs) Cyber and Space Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Richard S. Stapp has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Stapp is currently serving as the chief, Aerospace Sustainment Directorate, Ogden Air Logistics Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Air Force Col. David R. Stilwell has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Stilwell is currently serving as the special assistant to the under secretary of the Air Force, international affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Roger W. Teague has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Teague is currently serving as the commander, Space Based Infrared Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.

Air Force Col. David C. Uhrich has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Uhrich is currently serving as director, command, control, communications and computer systems, J-6, Headquarters U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

Air Force Col. Roger H. Watkins has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Watkins is currently serving as the commandant, Squadron Officer College, Air University, Air Education and Training Command, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

Air Force Col. Mark W. Westergren has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Westergren is currently serving as deputy chief of staff to the deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Col. Scott J. Zobrist  has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.  Zobrist is currently serving as the commander, 388th Fighter Wing, Air Combat Command, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, December 16, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs will conduct a press briefing at 12:05 p.m. EST at the White House Press Briefing Room to discuss the Afghanistan and Pakistan Annual Review.

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

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright will conduct a press briefing at 2 p.m. EST in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to discuss the Afghanistan and Pakistan Annual Review.  All journalists must be seated by 1:50 p.m.  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.

Lassen Returns from Final 2010 Underway

By Ensign Sean A. Brophy, USS Lassen Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) returned to Yokosuka, Japan, Dec. 13.

Lassen joined USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group during the past two weeks to participate in exercises with the Republic of Korea (ROK) navy and air force and with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) during Keen Sword 2011.

Exercises with the ROK military in waters west of the Korean peninsula were planned months in advance to increase the interoperability between the ROK navy and U.S. Navy. The two navies participated in highly coordinated drills including anti-submarine warfare and anti-air warfare scenarios.

The exercises also provided the opportunity for the U.S. to reinforce and emphasize its commitment to the Republic of Korea.

Following the completion of Korean naval exercises Dec. 1, Lassen took part in Keen Sword 2011 with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces.

Joined by the attack submarines USS San Francisco (SSN 711) and USS Houston (SSN 713), and the Japanese destroyers JS Hatakaze (DDG 171) and JS Hamagiri (DD 155), Lassen was the only U.S. surface ship playing the role of opposition forces.

"Taking part in exercises like these is what being forward deployed is all about," said Cmdr. H. B. Le, USS Lassen commanding officer. "Working together with our allies' military forces — particularly the maritime forces — improves our mutual interoperability and promotes regional security and stability in the Western Pacific. It also supports U.S. 7th Fleet's persistent priority to develop and build maritime partnerships."

Earlier this year Lassen was presented the Commander, Naval Surface Forces Battle Effectiveness Award and awarded the 2010 Association of Old Crows Outstanding Navy (Surface) Unit Award.

Lassen's very own Chief Operational Specialist (SW) Samira McBride was recognized for her individual performance when she was selected as one the Navy's four Sailors of the Year.

Away from its forward-deployed port for 201 days in 2010, Lassen's crew made several port calls to Saipan, Korea, India, Guam, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and locations in Japan.

USS Lassen will hold its sixth change of command ceremony Dec. 17, as Cmdr. Walter C. Wrye IV will assume duties as Lassen's seventh commanding officer. Lassen is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

House Votes to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask,’ Gates Urges Senate Action

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is pleased with today’s House of Representatives vote to repeal the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said, and he hopes the Senate will follow suit before its current session ends.

The House voted 250-175 to repeal the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, and Senate action is required for the bill to go to President Barack Obama’s desk for signature.

The president has advocated the law’s repeal, and Gates and other military leaders repeatedly have expressed a preference for legislative action – which they say would permit an orderly transition for the military – over having the law struck down by a court, requiring immediate compliance with the change and possibly creating different rules in different places.

“[The secretary] encourages the Senate to pass the legislation this session, enabling the Department of Defense to carefully and responsibly manage a change in this policy instead of risking an abrupt change resulting from a decision in the courts," Morrell said.

In a statement released by the White House, Obama praised House leaders for moving forward on repeal.

“I applaud the House for passing, with bipartisan support, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010,” the president said. “Legislative repeal is supported by the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The process contained in this legislation allows for a smooth and responsible repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in a way that maintains good order and discipline in our military ranks.

“Indeed,” he continued, “all of the service chiefs have said that when this law is changed, they will implement an orderly transition effectively and efficiently. As the comprehensive study by the Department of Defense clearly shows, we can move to a new policy in a responsible manner that ensures our military strength and our national security.”

Obama thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy for their leadership on this issue.

“I have consistently called for the repeal of this law,” he said. “Moving forward with the repeal is not only the right thing to do, it will also give our military the clarity and certainty it deserves. We must ensure that Americans who are willing to risk their lives for their country are treated fairly and equally by their country.”

USS Carl Vinson Welcomes Commander Naval Air Forces

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70), At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) welcomed aboard commander, Naval Air Forces Dec. 14 during the Vinson Carrier Strike Group's composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of California.

Vice Adm. Al Myers received a COMPTUEX overview in the ship's combat direction center (CDC) and observed the COMPTUEX evolutions from CDC.

He walked through the hangar bays greeting Vinson Sailors, and toured Aircraft Intermediate Department spaces. He visited Vinson's Reactor Auxiliary Room and the ship's trash processing spaces. He also met pilots from four Carrier Air Wing 17 squadrons and attended a senior enlisted meeting with Vinson's leading chief petty officers and embarked master chiefs.

"I'm thrilled to be here, and it's great to have an opportunity to get around the ship," said Myers. "You demonstrate what makes our Navy great and what makes our Navy important. I am very proud of you."

Myers praised Vinson's professionalism and dedication to duty evident in the ship's recent Inspection and Survey (INSURV) performance, the best in the past four years and the highest ever for a nuclear carrier.

"Usually I like to see one carrier do better than the last one on INSURV. But I don't know if that's possible now because Vinson set the bar so high. It's a fantastic accomplishment by all hands," said Myers. "The challenge is to keep the momentum going, to build and do even better."

Myers also encouraged the strike group Sailors to handle the gravity of their forthcoming mission.

"For the folks who are on their first deployment, they're going to write history. Vinson is going to be in the news," Myers said. "It's important to understand the Navy does two fundamental things - one is we influence foreign countries, build and disrupt coalitions, and we maintain sea lanes of commerce. You're going to influence a few foreign countries. By being present there, you're going to be protecting our lanes of commerce. You can't do that virtually, you have to be there, you have to be forward deployed. You prove every day what a strong team can do."

Vinson and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17; guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52); guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Stockdale (DDG 106); and frigates USS Gary (FFG 51) and USS Rentz (FFG 46); are completing the COMPTUEX certification prior to a Western Pacific deployment.