Marine Corps Amphibious Tracked Vehicle

By LtGen. George Flynn
MARINE CORPS COMBAT DEVELOPMENT COMMAND, QUANTICO, Va.

Jan. 6, 2011

“We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience.” (George Washington)

There is no guarantee we will learn from the bloody combat lessons of the last century. The current penchant by some for questioning the Marine Corps’ need for an amphibious tracked vehicle suggests an ignorance of history and a lack of understanding of the future; it is unsupported by hard lessons learned, world trends, and a security environment characterized by a high degree of uncertainty. Our Nation will most certainly require continued global access from the sea, and just as certainly there are forces at work that are actively and aggressively attempting to deny us that much needed access.

The Secretary of Defense clearly stated that his decision to cut the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle program does not call into question the amphibious assault mission of the Marine Corps. Moreover, he stated the requirement of developing a more affordable and sustainable amphibious tractor to provide the Marines a ship-to-shore capability into the future.

As America’s expeditionary force in readiness, the Marine Corps specializes in rapidly deploying anywhere in the world to develop access through partnership building activities, to create access in response to crises, and to provide the ability to force access to deter and/or defeat threats. The Corps will never be defined by a program, but rather by the capabilities we bring to the fight.

As a maritime Nation the tyranny of distance, geography, and topography remain constant challenges to our global influence. As demonstrated countless times, our ability to come from the sea and overcome the challenges of natural and manmade barriers allows us to protect and defend U.S. interests. Our continued ability to respond is dependent on our ability to operate in uncertain environments, create opportunities and ensure freedom of action regardless of access challenges.

The Marine Corps has learned that amphibious operations should avoid fixed defenses whenever possible. This option is not always available, however. In such cases the amphibious tracked vehicle is essential to success. The tracked amphibious vehicle provides the ability to perform three critical tasks: ship-to-shore movement, breakout from the beach and protected land mobility and firepower. As a result, the amphibious tracked vehicle has been a mainstay of amphibious capability. It has often proven the indispensible, enabling capability that Marines employ to both solve the sea/land mobility challenge and to gain advantage over our enemies.

Recent operational experience and history attest to the effectiveness of amphibious tracked vehicles in providing the capability and capacity demanded by numerous operating environments—permissive, uncertain, or hostile. Most recently, amphibious tracked vehicles assisted in overcoming the devastated infrastructure in Haiti. These same vehicles were used to rescue stranded citizens and deliver relief supplies following Katrina’s devastation of the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005. In the 1990s these vehicles enabled relief efforts in Somalia during Operation RESTORE HOPE and subsequently provided the key capability necessary to safely withdraw U.N. forces in UNITED SHIELD. During the Korean War they allowed us to project power from the sea at Inchon to reverse the looming defeat of U.S. forces trapped at Pusan. Given the proliferation of area denial weapons among both state and non-state actors, we believe that future operations—even those conducted for benign reasons—will be conducted under uncertain and highly dangerous conditions.

Amphibious tracked vehicles employed from ships at sea provide the means to assure littoral access that no other capability can provide. They are the only combat vehicles built to operate effectively in the littorals: a complex environment of salt and fresh water, muddy marshes and estuaries, and dry land; rural, suburban and urban landscapes; wildly varying terrain; high to low population densities; and temperature extremes. They can quickly and seamlessly transit from ship-to-shore as well as swim rivers and negotiate inland water obstacles, providing the ability to achieve tactical and operational surprise. They protect their occupants as they maneuver on sea and land to a position of advantage and can close with an enemy or rescue our friends. Their known presence off shore historically has been a powerful deterrent and effective capability across the range of military operations.

A modern amphibious tracked vehicle uses the sea as maneuver space, creates opportunities in the littorals, optimizes employment of amphibious forces, and enhances survivability in the face of area denial threats. An amphibious tracked vehicle is the proven means to overcome access challenges, natural or manmade, ranging from tsunami-ravaged infrastructure to an armed aggressor seeking to oppose our maneuver. Amphibious tracked vehicles empower a flexible, ship-borne force to wait off shore for the opportunity to shape the security environment or alter an outcome. This unique capability provides our Nation with a critical power projection asset.

There is no doubt that the sustainment and further development of our Nation’s amphibious capability is important for continued access to strategically vital regions of the world. We see a clear mandate to be ready to shape, influence, deter, and if necessary defeat would be forces that seek to deny us access. Meeting this mandate will allow us to profit “by dear bought experience” rather than repeat the errors of the past.

DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: New Medical Mission for Air Guard

We have scheduled a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable with Air Force Col. Brett Wyrick, air surgeon, Air National Guard for Monday, Jan. 10 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Col. Wyrick will discuss the new medical mission for Air Guard. Beginning next week specialized medical personnel from the Air National Guard will begin flying Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) missions from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The CCATT consists of a physician specializing in an area such as critical care, pulmonology, anesthesiology or surgery, along with a critical care nurse and a respiratory technician. The Air Guard will place at least one CCATT on each rotation flying out of Ramstein for the next two years, and are looking to combine with the Air Force Reserve to field even more teams in the coming months.

Family Matters Blog: Navy Program Helps to Strengthen Families

By Elaine Wilson

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2011 – Military families have many support programs at their fingertips, but I wanted to highlight one in particular that’s making inroads in family care.

The Navy’s Project FOCUS, or Families OverComing Under Stress, equips military families with the skills they need to weather the psychological and physical challenges brought about by a decade of war. The program educates and builds coping skills among service members and their families, while also informing communities about the stressors military families and how they can best support them.

“Families make such sacrifices to support service members and their country,” Kirsten Woodward, family programs division director for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, told me in a recent interview. “It’s important for us to support families in the same manner in which they are sacrificing.”

For more on this program, including information on the program’s onsite and online options, read my American Forces Press Service article, “Navy Program Puts “FOCUS’ on Military Families," or visit the Project FOCUS website.

Navy Intel Chief: Information Dominance Must Balance Firepower

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2011 – “Information as warfare” requires operational commanders to employ intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to dominate the information realm even as they direct combat actions, the Navy’s senior intelligence officer said today.

Vice Adm. David J. “Jack” Dorsett, the director of naval intelligence and deputy chief of naval operations for information dominance, spoke to defense writers about what he called a shift from an Industrial Age military force to an Information Age force.

“We’re great at strike warfare -– dropping bombs. It’s now time for the Navy, and frankly the U.S. joint forces, to step up and start dealing with information in a much more sophisticated manner than they have in the past,” Dorsett said.

Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, announced in October 2009 the Navy was combining its intelligence directorate, communications networks and related information technology capabilities into the information dominance organization.

Dorsett said as leader of that organization he serves as the Navy’s “banker” for information capabilities.

“I do resources, I do requirements, I do policies,” he said. “Tenth Fleet is the operational commander for our cyber forces and our network forces, and our Navy’s information operational capabilities.

“Tenth Fleet is a three-star operational commander,” he continued. “The [chief of naval operations] this past year also created Navy Cyber Command, a two-star commander, and he’s responsible for manning, training and equipping the fleet.”

In just over a year since the Navy reorganized its intelligence and technology communities, Dorsett said, the service has made great progress in organizing its work force and developing sensors and networks, but hasn’t accomplished as much in analyzing collected intelligence.

“Managing data, making sense of the information, is one of our largest challenges,” Dorsett said. “Part of the job dealing with information dominance is looking at information from one end to the other: from sensors to networks to transport to exploitation dissemination.

“One area this past year we haven’t made as much progress on was on processing, exploitation and dissemination,” he continued. “It’s high on our list for this upcoming year.”

Within the Defense Department, the Navy is primarily partnering with the Air Force in “tackling imagery exploitation first, as something … easier to get our hands around,” Dorsett said.

“But we’re also partnering with agencies like the National Security Agency on their cloud computing initiatives, their cyber pilot initiatives, and … how you manage information, how do you get it to flow from one point to another,” he added.

Effectively processing intelligence imagery –- managing data -– requires combining automated tools with skilled human analysis, Dorsett said.

“An awful lot can be automated,” he said. “You don’t need to look at every single piece of electro-optical imagery that comes in, necessarily. You need tools to alert you to the key issues that you can then apply an analyst to.”

But if those analysts aren’t well-trained and experienced in looking at data from signals intelligence to imagery to open-source data, Dorsett said, some of the available information will be lost.

“We look at things holistically,” he said. “If you just look at the data and technology and tools and you forget to apply energy to training your people, you won’t get to the right solution set.”

A major emphasis over the past year, he said, has been to increase the number of sensors gathering imagery in the “battle space.”

“But I think more needs to be applied to this issue of processing, exploitation and dissemination, especially as all of the services bring more sensors to bear in our future capabilities,” Dorsett said. “That’s part of our game plan.”

In replacing legacy weapons systems with new capabilities, he said, a one-for-one substitution isn’t the most effective approach.

The Navy is taking a “family of systems” approach to balance information and firepower requirements, he said, noting the approach includes incorporating signals intelligence capability on surface ships.

“One of the principles for information dominance is, every platform needs to be a sensor and every sensor needs to be networked,” Dorsett said.

While increasing the intelligence-gathering capability of weapons systems is critical, he said, the military also needs to maintain its other combat capabilities.

The Navy’s P-8 Poseidon aircraft is an example, he said. The aircraft, now in development as an anti-submarine and shipping interdiction platform, is “a primary warfighting tool for the Navy,” Dorsett said.

“We don’t want to optimize it for [signals intelligence] at the expense of [asymmetric warfare],” he said. “We’ll deal with spiral approaches to a variety of our systems and platforms and plug-and-play in the years ahead, so I wouldn’t preclude the P-8 from having a [signals intelligence] or [multi intelligence] payload, but at this point we’re going to focus on primarily on [asymmetric warfare].”

Historically, the U.S. military has emphasized combat power over intelligence activities, Dorsett said.

“I think you see, with the Department of Defense and the creation of [U.S.] Cyber Command, the recognition by the secretary of defense and the seniors within the department that the nonkinetic, the cyber, the information side of the house is really critical,” he said. “You need a combatant commander that is dealing in that arena as his primary mission area.”

Commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan have seen the value of integrating intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with operations over the last five years, he said.

“Ops-intel integration was the 2000-2010 era improvement we made in joint war-fighting,” Dorsett said. “2010-2020, it needs to be this elevation of non-kinetic information capabilities.”

The Navy has integrated intelligence and surveillance capabilities, electronic warfare, cyber, networks, oceanography and meteorology –- knowledge of the environment –- to break down barriers in warfighting, Dorsett said.

“Out of balance? We have been,” he said. “I think … DOD is taking a variety of steps to make improvements in this non-kinetic, information side of the house.”

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, January 06, 2011

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

NPC Search Engine Give Sailors Resources

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

MILLINGTON Tenn. (NNS) -- In 2011, Navy Personnel Command (NPC) recommends that Sailors take advantage of the search engine available at www.npc.navy.mil.

This search engine, called "Knowledge Base," is available to answer Sailors' personnel questions.

"The Knowledge Base is really easy to use and it was created to supplement our customer service efforts," said Vincent Vuketich, of the NPC Customer Service Center (CSC). "A Sailor can call the CSC or email us for information, but they don't have to. The Sailor can go to www.npc.navy.mil research and answer his or her own questions online 24/7."

NPC has a Knowledge Base team that works daily to keep the database current with continuous updates of Navy regulations and instructions.

"KB (Knowledge Base) is an online tool, public facing, and can be accessed from anywhere in the world," said Vuketich. "Sailors, retirees and their families can ask essentially any question they want about the Navy. The system uses keywords to generate a solution to their question."

Sailors can access the Knowledge Base by visiting the NPC website and by clicking on the 'Ask NPC a Question' icon in the upper right corner of the page. In fiscal year 2010 the self-help page received more than 14,000 visits.

"This system has been up and running for approximately eight years now," said Vuketich. "We currently have nearly 1,000 solutions, but we are always interested in hearing from the fleet about additional solutions that are needed."

Solution categories range from advancement and promotions to education or career information. Sailors can also search for Navy programs, pay and benefits or NAVADMINS.

"Our goal is to meet Sailors' needs by providing them instant access to relevant Navy information any time they need it from anywhere in the world," Vuketich said.

For more information, contact the CSC at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC, via email at CSCMailbox@navy.mil or online at the NPC website.

This Day in Naval History - Jan. 05

From the Navy News Service

1855 - USS Plymouth crew has skirmish with Chinese troops.

1875 - Cmdr. Edward Lull begins expedition to locate the best ship canal route across Panama.

1943 - In the Southwest Pacific, USS Helena (CL 50) fired first proximity-fused projectile in combat, shooting down a Japanese divebomber in the process.

1968 - Lt. Clarence W. Cote becomes the first male Nurse Corps officer in the regular Navy.

Risk Management Key to Mitigating Mishaps in 2011

By April Phillips, Naval Safety Center Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Following the holiday season, Sailors and Marines across the fleet are returning from leave and getting back to the regular routine at their duty stations in January 2011.

Whenever large numbers of people are returning from extended time away from the job, there's a potential for mishaps to occur due to complacency or skills that have become rusty.

January is also a time when many Sailors and Marines enjoy winter sporting activities such as skiing and snowboarding. There's a greater likelihood for inclement weather, deteriorated driving conditions and slips, trips and falls.

All these factors combine to make this a good time to remember the basics of risk management, said Derek Nelson, head of the Media Division at the Naval Safety Center (NAVSAFECEN). Nelson writes the popular weekly "Summary of Mishaps," which is better known as the "Friday Funnies." In this capacity, he pores through the mishap reports received by NAVSAFECEN, and he has noticed some trends.

"Snowboarding mishaps have really been on the rise in the last few years," said Nelson. "People seem to have a hard time recognizing their limitations."

Nelson said a lack of training contributes to many snowboarding mishaps. Others attempt to outdo their experience level, including a second class petty officer who had been on five separate snowboarding trips before he hit the slopes with some shipmates who had far more training than he had.

"He wasn't completely inexperienced, but he went with people who knew a lot more, and he wanted to keep up with them. He ended up with a concussion and a lot of days on limited duty," Nelson said.

Other mishap reports he has examined show a general complacency trend. He said one of the major problems is people who are in a hurry and cut corners.

"Whether you're driving or performing a task around the house or on the job, being in a hurry to get things done is a needless risk that too often ends in a trip to the emergency room," said Nelson. "Usually, the person doesn't take time to make a risk assessment beforehand, and therefore, there's no risk management that takes place."

Nelson cited one particularly memorable example; a Sailor was using a gas-powered snow blower to clear his driveway after a winter storm. The blower became clogged, and rather than turning it off to clear it, the Sailor just reached his hand inside the still spinning blades.

"It chopped off one of his fingers," Nelson said.

He also said he hoped Sailors and Marines would take time to reflect on risk management. It doesn't have to be a formal military training session to be effective.

"When people simply talk about their experiences, it can be very helpful. Everyone's got a story and sharing that story could help others. Talk about what could have been done to avoid the mishap or near miss," he said.

Those who need resources to start a risk management discussion can find them on the NAVSAFECEN website. Nelson recommends a product called "Deckplate Dialogue," which provides information and discussion ideas about numerous safety-related topics. This tool is available for download at http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/Pages/media/deckplate_dialogue.aspx.>

For more news from Naval Safety Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nsc/.

This article was sponsored by Military Books.

SUBASE New London Receives $3.2 Million for Infrastructure Improvements

By Seaman Michael Henderson, Naval Submarine Base New London Public Affairs

GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, joined Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell during a ceremony held Dec. 23 at the Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Library and Museum aboard Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London, Conn.

Jackalyne Pfannenstiel is a Connecticut native and attended the ceremony to accept the state's second investment in infrastructure improvements aboard the base.

Rell presented the Navy with a state-sponsored gift of $3.22 million for SUBASE projects which will fund the development of a Virginia class Submarine "training galley", and an expansion of a current Naval Submarine School building that will house a new submarine bridge trainer.

"These projects mean this base will remain the undisputed home for training our nation's submarine crews," said Rell.

In acknowledging the state's gift, Pfannenstiel noted Connecticut's long affinity for the base.

"I grew up a few miles from here," Pfannenstiel said. "I realize how important this SUBASE is to the economy of southeastern Connecticut. And clearly governor Rell realizes it also. We're using this money to modernize the base's infrastructure and maintain cutting-edge technologies. We're giving our people the best training possible, so they have the skills they need to successfully complete their missions."

The training galley will replicate the same conditions and working space that culinary specialists are required to make use of while deploying aboard a Virginia class submarine.

"[It's] a perfect platform for junior culinary specialists in transition to the fleet," said Chief Culinary Specialist Michael Wanca, SUBASE New London Cross Hall Galley leading chief petty officer. "This replica will provide all the characteristics of a full sea going operation, minus the angles and dangles."

According to Wanca, the training galley will allow culinary specialists to be proficient in food preparation, presentation, and sanitation.

"The program will offer not only OJT (on the job training), but also have a classroom setting for professional knowledge and further career development," said Wanca.

Naval Submarine School's Nimitz Hall will be expanded to accommodate the Submarine Bridge Trainer, where submariners will learn navigation and other critical skills.

"They'll operate in a 360-degree virtual environment - so real, that they'll sense the vessel's motion," said Pfannenstiel.

Recognizing the governor's last official visit to the base, and her service and support of the base's fleet, fighters, and families, the Navy New London team presented Rell with a few mementos. The Governor received a National Ensign flown that was flown aboard the base and Connecticut's state ship, Nautilus, as well as the title of honorary submariner, complete with a set of miniature gold "dolphins."

Capt. Marc W. Denno, SUBASE New London commanding officer, highlighted the long-time support of the base by the Connecticut community.

Since the service first received the initial land for the installation through a "Deed of Gift" from the state in 1868, one thing has remained constant, said Denno, "the support our Navy has received from our friends and neighbors in the community."

Three years ago, in a unique initiative, the State of Connecticut, through a Connecticut General Statute, had authorized proceeds from a $50 million bond sale to enhance SUBASE New London's infrastructure.

In 2009, Connecticut became the first state to fully fund a construction project on a base when Rell presented Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus $7.65 million to improve the base.

Last year's funding allowed the construction of a new Diver Support Facility aboard the base and the modernization of a boiler at the base's power plant.

"The base has been transformed from one that was slated for closure a few short years ago…to the winner of "Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic's Award for Installation Excellence," said Rell, "I am very proud of the role the state has played in those changes."

SUBASE New London is home to 15 fast-attack submarines and more than 70 tenant commands and activities.

For more news from Naval Submarine Base New London, visit www.navy.mil/local/subasenlon/.

Navy Program Puts 'FOCUS' on Military Families

By Elaine Wilson, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A Navy program is equipping service members and their families with the skills they need to weather the psychological and physical challenges bred by a decade of war.

Project FOCUS, or Families OverComing Under Stress, bolsters communication and coping skills among military supporters impacted by multiple deployments and the visible and invisible wounds of war.

"Families make such sacrifices to support service members and their country," said Kirsten Woodward, family programs division director for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. "It's important for us to support families in the same manner in which they are sacrificing."

Navy officials created the program in March 2008 after observing the growing effects of wartime stress on family members' psychological health. Little research had been conducted on the impact of war on families up to that point, but what they could find indicated a growing need, said Woodward.

"Back in 2007, we started noticing the effects, and knew it was important to take a look at preventing families from going into health crisis," she said. "We wanted to develop something that would be meaningful and build resilience and health."

Officials designed the program to address the family as a whole, taking into account the community they live in and the military support systems at their fingertips. As a result, the program comprises three parts: an outer and inner tier and a bull's-eye.

The outer tier focuses on providing information and awareness to the communities in which military families live and work, said Woodward. The program educates community members – including social services, family service providers, medical services and schools - on the stressors military families confront and how the community can best support them.

The inner tier is centered on educating and building coping skills among service members and their families, Woodward said. The program provides information on potential stress factors and the skills that can mitigate the impact of multiple deployments.

The program's center, or bull's-eye, is the intervention piece, she said. In this segment, families needing extra care undergo eight to 10 individual training sessions aimed at helping them work through issues. The process starts when a family comes in seeking help.

"It can be a kid acting out or a mom or dad acting disengaged," Woodward said. "We get everyone on a shared language and shared understanding."

Experts take the family through the deployment timeline to identify when issues arose, and to "get everyone on the same page," she explained. They look at family history, the source of family distress and areas of potential change.

Families are taught emotional regulation so they can better understand their emotions and how to communicate them, active listening, problem-solving, goal-setting and how to manage deployment and combat stress reminders.

The color-coded stress continuum is a popular program tool used to aid communication, Woodward said. Family members learn to describe how they're feeling in terms such as green, orange and red.

"A child may not be sure how to say, 'I'm scared,' or 'I'm missing dad or mom,' but may be more comfortable saying, 'I'm in the red,'" Woodward explained. "It's a language they can plug into."

Or, a mom who is having a bad day at work can say she's feeling orange when she comes home, Woodward said. By doing so, the children will know that mom isn't mad at them, but simply needs some decompression time. "It's a great skill-set to quickly and readily use," she said.

The program takes all facets of health into account, Woodward said. Experts may ask chaplains to step in to help a family in spiritual distress. Or, they can refer family members to services that address physical or psychological fitness.

The goal is to provide families with the tools needed to address issues long after they leave the program, Woodward said.

To reach the broadest base of families possible, officials offer onsite and online program options.

The program was instituted two years ago with seven sites and has grown exponentially since, Woodward said. It expanded to 14 sites within the first year and has now reached 23 sites militarywide. Each site includes about three to five experts - including psychologists, social workers and therapists - as well as a site director, and are collocated on bases and in family friendly environments, such as family service centers or chaplains' offices.

For the online option, military families can visit the project's website at http://www.focusproject.org, Woodward said. In a Web-based training application called "Focus World," people can create an avatar family and go through the program's components virtually. This virtual application is particularly useful for reserve or geographically separated military families, she added.

The program is open to Navy and Marine Corps families, as well as families of the Army and Air Force, both active and reserve.

The feedback from participants so far has been positive, Woodward said, with parents reporting a greater understanding of their children's needs, increased resilience and a greater sense of support.

"Families are what we come home to at the end of the day," she said. "It's important for us to look at our families, our children, and make sure they're being supported in every way we can."

COMSUBPAC Names 2010 Battle Efficiency Award Winners

By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge, COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) announced the recipients of the 2010 Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") award in an official message to the submarine force Jan. 1.

The Battle "E" is an award of merit presented to the most proficient submarine crew in each squadron and recognizes sustained superior technical performance and continual combat readiness throughout the year. The awards are presented by the commodore of each squadron to the submarine under their command which has demonstrated the highest level of battle readiness during the evaluation year.

"Each crew member of an award winner can be justifiably proud of their contribution to improve Pacific Submarine Force readiness," said Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "Their professionalism and dedication to be the best plays a crucial part in today's worldwide operational environment."

The Pacific Force Battle "E" winners and their homeports are:

Commander, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) One (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii) - USS Hawaii (SSN 776)

SUBRON Three (Pearl Harbor) - USS Jacksonville (SSN 699)

SUBRON Seven (Pearl Harbor) - USS Tucson (SSN 770)

SUBRON Eleven (San Diego) - USS Hampton (SSN 761)

SUBRON Fifteen (Guam) - USS Houston (SSN 713)

SUBRON Seventeen (Bangor, Wash.) - USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) (Blue & Gold)

SUBRON Nineteen (Bangor) - USS Michigan (SSBN 727) (Blue)

Submarine Tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) in Guam

Floating Dry Dock Arco (ADRM-5) in San Diego.

Special Category was awarded to the Torpedo Weapons Retriever Swamp Fox (TWR 821) out of San Diego.

Winners of each of the Battle "E" competitive Categories were also announced. Those categories are: the Engineering Red E; Tactical Operations White T; Navigation Red and Green N; Communications Green C; Damage Control Red DC; Supply Blue E; Deck Seamanship White D; Medical Yellow M; Deep Submergence White DS; Strategic Operations White S; Repair Red R; Dental Yellow D; and Weapons Black W.

Nominations Open for Military Child of the Year Award

By Elaine Wilson

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2011 – A nonprofit organization is giving Americans the chance to sing the praises of a group often called the nation’s unsung heroes: military children.

Operation Homefront, a troop- and military family support group, is inviting people to nominate outstanding military children from all branches of service for the 2011 Military Child of the Year Award.

“It is vitally important to recognize military children,” said Jim Knotts, Operation Homefront’s chief executive officer. “I think kids have gotten overlooked as we’ve recognized the sacrifices of the military, and they are such an important aspect of our military community. They deserve to have their moment in the sunshine as well.”

Each winner will receive $5,000 and be flown here with a parent or guardian for a special recognition ceremony April 7.

In the past, just one military child out of the services received the annual top honor. But this year -- the program’s third -- officials have expanded the program to recognize one child each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

“The sacrifices of military kids are so dramatic,” Knotts said. “They live through and thrive in the face of such great challenges, it is wholly appropriate to recognize more of them.”

A panel of judges -– comprising an Operation Homefront staff member and volunteer service members and spouses -– will select the five winners. The panel will look at objective criteria, such as the number of months a child has dealt with deployments, and at subjective criteria, such as leadership, strength of character, resilience and ability to thrive in the face of challenges, Knotts explained.

Past winners have set a high bar, Knotts said, but he added that he has no doubt many others are just as deserving of the award.

Last year’s winner, 10-year-old Willie Banks, helped to care for his younger sister when his mother deployed to Iraq. His father, an Army major, died when Willie was a toddler. He also volunteers at church, school and on the athletic field.

The year before, Brittany Wallace took the title. When her father was severely injured in Iraq, Brittany took over as head of the household while her mother tended to his rehabilitation. Brittany, who was 17 at the time, took care of her two younger siblings, cleaned the house and made meals –- all while keeping up her grades at school.

“The two past winners are indicative of tens of thousands of exemplary military kids that are out there,” Knotts said.

Nominations will be accepted online until Jan. 31 at http://www.OperationHomefront.net/MCOY. Nominees must have a valid military ID or currently be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, be between the ages of 8 and 18 and able to travel to Washington, D.C., for the April 7 ceremony.

‘Hero Miles’ Program Supports Families of Fallen, Wounded

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 5, 2011 – A popular program that turns donated frequent-flyer miles into free airline tickets for wounded warriors receiving medical care as well as their families will expand this year so families of the fallen and combat wounded can participate in two upcoming events.

The Fisher House Foundation, which administers the “Hero Miles” program, plans to offer airline tickets so grieving families needing assistance can fly to Washington, D.C., this Memorial Day weekend to participate in the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors seminar, foundation President Dave Coker told American Forces Press Service.

The annual conference, to run May 27 to 30, offers a camp for children, a workshop for adults and comfort for families whose military member died in service to the nation, regardless of the cause.

“We will use Hero Miles to bring in any families that need assistance, and eliminate the cost of getting to [Washington,] D.C. as a barrier,” Coker said.

In addition, the Hero Miles program will help families to attend the second annual Warrior Games held in the spring in Colorado Springs, Colo., Coker said.

Some 200 disabled active-duty servicemembers and military veterans will compete in the second annual Warrior Games, scheduled for May 16 to 21 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Participants will put their long recuperations and months of training to the test as they go for the gold in events to include shooting, swimming, archery, track and field, cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball, officials said.

Coker called it fitting that the Hero Miles program helps families who might otherwise not get the opportunity to participate in these events.

“Our goal is to eliminate the barriers to participation, and make sure that families who wish to attend these events can do so,” he said.

The Fisher House Foundation has been underwriting all administrative costs and ticketing charges for the Hero Miles program since 2005. The Hero Miles program provides a way for passengers of participating airlines to donate their unused frequent-flier miles to reunite military men and women undergoing treatment at a military or Veterans Affairs medical center with their families.

The program provides free round-trip airline tickets to two categories of passengers. Servicemembers on at least five days of approved leave from their medical center who don’t qualify for government-funded airfare can receive tickets home and back. In addition, qualified servicemembers may receive tickets to enable their family or close friends to visit them while they’re treated at the medical center.

To date, the program has provided more than 21,000 airline tickets -– valued at more than $27 million -- to combat veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, Coker said.

Coker marveled at the generosity of people who donate their frequent-flyer miles to support the program.

“The miles have no intrinsic value, and [donors] aren’t getting a tax deduction for donating the miles,” he said. “They are doing it because they want to support the military.”

For as little as $5, or more typically, $10, the program can provide free airline tickets to servicemembers or families that otherwise might cost them about $1,400, Coker said.

“So this is a tremendous way that we can have a huge impact,” he added.

Adopt-a-Sailor Program Benefits Recruits During Holidays

By Sue Krawczyk, Recruit Training Command Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- More than 3,000 Recruit Training Command (RTC) recruits took part in the Adopt-a-Sailor program, Dec. 25.

As part of RTC's annual involvement in the program, the recruits were afforded the opportunity to spend the day off base with their families or with a local civic organization.

"The Adopt-a-Sailor program allows RTC to get involved with the community over the holidays," said Capt. Steven G. Bethke, RTC commanding officer. "Many recruits are spending their first Thanksgiving or Christmas away from home, so phone calls, good company and food help lift their spirits."

The program affords recruits the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas Day with their families or with locals. Eligible Christmas Adopt-a-Sailor recruits included those scheduled to graduate Jan. 7 and Jan. 14.

This year, 213 families arrived Christmas morning to meet their recruits with whom they haven't seen since they left for RTC. At the USS Yorktown visitor center, the families reunited with their recruits who shared smiles, laughter, hugs and tears as they spotted one another. Recruits were allowed to bring one fellow recruit from their training group to accompany them for the day.

For one parent, this was not an opportunity to be missed no matter how far he had to travel. Joseph Starling, originally from Dallas, Texas, flew in from Nigeria to see his son, Seaman Recruit Jordan Starling for one day.

"I'm excited about seeing my boy," Starling said. "When I heard about this opportunity I knew I had enough frequent flyer points to fly over. I rescue orphans in Nigeria, and they would all be here if they could be, to see Jordan. He's got a whole group of African orphans cheering him on."

Thanks to generous friends, newlyweds Linnea Allen and Seaman Recruit Jack Allen, of Pinon Hills, Calif., were able to spend the day together.

"I didn't have the funds to make the trip here," Linnea Allen said. "I put something up on Facebook about possibly not being able to come out, and friends were sending me e-mails within hours. They took up a collection for me to come here and paid for the entire trip. A bunch of them donated, including some people I don't even know."

For recruits whose families were unable to visit RTC, they went in groups of 25 to 200 with organizations from local churches, Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion posts. The majority of organizations and volunteers have continually supported the program throughout the years by providing a day of food, movies, video games, music and phone calls home. In all, 12 organizations adopted more than 1,000 recruits for Christmas, and more than 1,200 recruits were adopted by 19 organizations during Thanksgiving.

For the past 10 years, 30 volunteers with a local Chicago pub have worked to provide an average of 100 recruits with a day filled with activities.

"The original owners started participating 10 years ago and then we took over about seven years ago," said Leisa Hancock, co-owner. "Once we saw what a good thing it was to bring them all in and treat them to Christmas and how grateful they all were, we knew we would continue the tradition."

The recruits arrived on tour buses and were treated to a day of food, pastries donated by a local bakery, movies, video games, computer access and phone calls.

"For a few years, a corporation donated phones for the recruits to use, but they stopped doing that," said Ken Hancock, co-owner of the pub. "So we just put out the word in the neighborhood and to friends, relatives and (the local) police department, that we needed cell phones for the recruits to use. Everyone comes by to lend their phones. Sometimes the phones are here for an hour, sometimes, eight hours."

Seaman Recruit David Harvey, 19, of Denver, Colo., was grateful for the phone access as he called his mother.

"It was one of those feel-good moments for me to hear my mom's voice," said Harvey. "Back home, I used to wake up early in the morning on Christmas and hang stockings with my family and now at boot camp it's totally different."

Aside from standing in line for phone usage, the recruits also lined up to use laptops so they could access their Facebook accounts.

"Hopefully, I can get online and leave a message for my brother on Facebook," said Seaman Recruit Ian Yates, 23, of Bellevue, Neb. "We are real close even though I didn't live by him. We'd always text or call one another, but now at boot camp, I have to go back to writing and he's not much of a writer. It takes days for letters to go back and forth. Leaving a message on Facebook is instant."

The Adopt-a-Sailor program tends to bring much of an organization's community together as hundreds of volunteers spend months planning the event and raising the necessary funds to feed the recruits.

For the past 11 years, the Morton Grove American Legion Post 134 in Morton Grove, Ill., has never had any issues finding enough support from the community. The post adopted 50 recruits at Thanksgiving.

"Our village loves the promotion," said Casey Bachara, Post 134 Adopt-a-Sailor committee chairman. "Our post has been invited to village board meetings to help promote this more to help make it bigger. It's a fun day, and we've gotten some response back from some of the families. We create a DVD of photos we've taken and then send it to every family if the recruits provide their home address."

Many volunteers are veterans themselves who can empathize with the recruits who are away from their families for the holidays including Richard Bollig, of Chicago, who has assisted with the program for the past four years.

"I'm an Army vet, and I was in the same boat at one point and far away from home," Bollig said. "I want to do something for our country."

"I'm a Marine vet," said Bob Brieskey, of Chicago. "I spent two Christmases away from home so I know what it's like. We bring our phones here so the recruits can use them to phone home."

While the phone calls may have appeared to be the most popular part of the recruits' day, for many it was those who made it all possible that impressed them the most.

"The highlight of the day has been the volunteers," Yates said. "Honestly, I thought we were going to spend the day in the barracks shining shoes and hanging out. All the support the volunteers are giving us is incredible. Words can't describe what this means to us."

Evelia Luna, of Chicago, who has volunteered with the program for 10 years, said it's all about the recruits.

"I find meaning in doing something different on Christmas," Luna said. "I have four children and eight grandchildren, and Christmas d` ay is for the Sailors. My family gets Thanksgiving and New Years'; the Sailors get Christmas. It's a home for them for one day to eat and have fun with each other."

And at the end of day, before the recruits returned to base, they give the gift of music to more than 30 volunteers.

"They all sang 'Anchors Aweigh'," Leisa Hancock said. "More than 100 men and women singing at once sends shivers through us. They're great. When they leave, we feel like we're so close to them."

Suicide Prevention Alliance Focuses on Troops, Veterans

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2011 – A suicide prevention task force for troops and veterans has been added to a national alliance that officials hope will help bring more attention to the issues and offer solutions in the future.

The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention last week announced that troops and veterans -– identified as a high-risk group –- were added because of their increased suicide rates.

“Combined with initiatives already under way by the Department of Defense and the [Department of Veterans Affairs], this task force will further strengthen prevention, bringing together the best minds in the public and private sectors,” said Army Secretary John McHugh, co-chair of the alliance.

The alliance was launched last year by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, with input and support of many public- and private-sector stakeholders, including the National Council for Suicide Prevention and VA.

Speaking Sept. 10, 2010 at the launch of the alliance -- a public-private partnership -- Gates emphasized the importance of a nationwide approach to suicide prevention. The alliance’s strategy pools federal and private-sector research and resources to work on addressing the national suicide rate.

"In everything we do, we must remember that every soldier, sailor, airman, or marine is part, not just of the military, but also a larger community. Their families, their hometowns, their civilian employers, their places of worship –- all must be involved in the solution," Gates said at the launch of the alliance held at the National Press Club here.

The military suicide rate has increased steadily over the past five years, exceeding the national average of 11.1 suicides per 100,000 people. The military last year averaged 12.5 suicides per 100,000, according DOD reports.

The leaders of the alliance’s Military and Veterans Task Force are Dr. Jan Kemp, national director of VA’s suicide prevention program, and Maggie Haynes, director of combat stress for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization.

In addition to the task force for service members and veterans, the alliance also established suicide-prevention task forces for other groups it determined are at high risk: American Indians and Alaska natives, and youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, January 05, 2011

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

Army Col. Andrew Poppas, commander of Task Force Bastogne and 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, will brief the media live from Forward Operating Base Fenty, Nangahar Province, Afghanistan, at 10:30 a.m. EST, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on current operations in Nuristan, Nangahar and Kunar Provinces, including the Pech Valley.  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.

USAFRICOM Sergeant Major Visits Seabees in Horn of Africa

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Lindsey, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Public Affairs

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (NNS) -- U.S. Africa Command's (AFRICOM) senior enlisted leader personally recognized several Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 during a visit to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 20-24.

U.S. AFRICOM Command Sgt. Maj. Mark S. Ripka met with many Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines attached to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) during his trip, including the Seabees of NMCB 74.

"I always make time to see what the Seabees are building," said Ripka. "If there is one organization in the Department of Defense that helps accomplish the U.S. Africa Command mission and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission, it has to be our U.S. Navy Seabees. They do more to build and provide for basic needs through not only their construction projects, but their direct interaction with the people around them."

A schoolhouse project in Kontali, Djibouti, was Ripka's first site visit. He arrived by convoy and was greeted by the crew working there. During his project tour Ripka presented his command sergeant major coin to some well-deserving Seabees, and then escorted the entire crew back to Camp Lemonnier to enjoy a dinner with other distinguished guests, including CJTF-HOA Commander Rear Adm. Brian Losey.

Ripka spoke to the dinner guests concerning their role as U.S. military members in the U.S. AFRICOM area of operation, emphasizing the fact that they are U.S. ambassadors in the eyes of the local population. Chief Builder Manuel Segura, NMCB 74 Detatchment HOA's operations chief, was in attendance.

"He (Ripka) simplified the big picture of what we are doing here and how everything we do has a purpose," said Segura. "We are ambassadors to the United States in and out of uniform whether we are out building a school or on liberty; our actions affect the way people perceive us."

The following day, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Mykoo, CJTF-HOA's senior enlisted leader, and three members of the U.S. Embassy Country Coordination Element joined Ripka in Djibouti to visit a primary school under construction, where the crew there has been working 12 labor-intensive hours per day, six days a week. Ripka toured the project site and once again presented his command sergeant major coins to a hard-working few.

Ripka's final interaction with Seabees of NMCB 74 concluded with a non-commissioned officer (NCO) call for personnel assigned to Camp Lemonnier and CJTF-HOA where he shared some of his own experiences from 36 years of military service. He spoke of the role of NCOs in today's military, and with the assistance of Mykoo, tackled the troop's toughest questions, ranging from the effect of the riots in Sudan to how NCOs will have to adapt and support the changes in the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal.

This Day in Naval History - Jan. 04

From the Navy News Service

1863 - Blockading ship USS Quaker City captures sloop Mercury carrying despatches, emphasizing the desperate plight of the South.

1910 - Commissioning of USS Michigan (BB 27), the first U.S. dreadnought battleship.

1989 - F-14 Tomcats from Fighter Squadron 32 embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) shoot down two hostile Libyan MiGs.

Families Give USS Nebraska (Gold) New Year's Welcome Home

By Lt. Ed Early, Commander, Submarine Group 9 Public Affairs

BANGOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Trident ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) and its Gold Crew returned to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Jan. 1 following an 88-day strategic deterrent patrol.

Capt. Paul Skarpness, commander of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 17, was among those on hand as Nebraska – with a bright red lei draped over its sail – arrived pierside carrying the Gold Crew, as well as a number of dependents who got to spend a few hours aboard during the transit to Bangor.

"We still have a lot of work to do, getting ready for our crew turnover, but it's great to be home," said Electronics Technician 2nd Class (SS) Giancarlo Locandro after reuniting with his wife on the pier. "We did what we had to do out there."

Earlier in the day, Nebraska learned that it had earned the Battle Effectiveness Award, or Battle "E," for SUBRON 17.

"My crew did an outstanding job out there – absolutely phenomenal," said Cmdr. Mike Fisher, commanding officer of Nebraska's Gold Crew. "The crew is jazzed that we won the Battle 'E.'"

During Nebraska's patrol, which began Oct. 6, a total of 14 Sailors from the Gold Crew – 10 enlisted and four officers – earned their submarine qualifications and the right to wear the coveted submariner's "dolphins."

In addition, five Nebraska Sailors became fathers during the patrol.

"Just like the rest of my guys, I'm excited and energized to be back home," said the Gold Crew's chief of the boat, Senior Chief Electronics Technician (SS) David Turley.

The 14th of 18 Ohio-class SSBNs, Nebraska is one of eight ballistic missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, providing the survivable leg of the nation's strategic forces.