During the Vietnam War, newly arrived soldiers were referred to as Cherries (virgins to war). At least this is how it was in the infantry. I’ve heard other acronyms as well such as FNG (fu*king new guy), Newbie and fresh meat, but they weren’t used as often. A grunt (infantry soldier) remained a Cherry until he lost his innocence, which was usually after his first firefight. I remember seeing war movies growing up where everyone was depicted as a brave warrior, rushing the enemy through a wall of flying steel. Let me tell you that most every soldier still remembers his first firefight. It doesn’t have to just be Vietnam, it could be Korea, WWII, Iraq, or anywhere else where you are put in harm’s way. In my case, I was so scared and felt paralyzed and helpless as I laid on the jungle floor – bullets popping overhead and impacting all around me. Only two thoughts were going through my head at that time: how to sink deeper into this ground and I hope I don’t get hit.
I wasn’t a Rambo. Instead, I was confused and unsure of what to do next. Sure, shoot at the enemy they say, but how do you do that when you can’t even see them – which was most of the time! In my haste of finding shelter, my rifle lodged between some tree roots and I wasn’t able to get it free to protect myself. Of course, I pissed myself – just like every other Cherry had done. This turns out to be one hell of an initiation!
The firefight itself is just a small part of losing your virginity and much of the time it only lasts a few moments before the enemy retreats. It’s what you see afterwards that stays with you forever. Soldiers you just met are laying seriously wounded or dead, flesh and body parts are strewn about, blood is everywhere! Your gag reflex was on overdrive. Rarely did I see a dead enemy soldier in Vietnam as bodies were normally taken when the enemy withdrew. And this made life frustrating!
There is some comparison between a Cherry and a freshman in his first year of high school. Just think about it. You are scared, apprehensive, don’t know anybody, hope you fit in, and you know there is much to learn before you are able to graduate. With this in mind, add the threat of death or maiming to your daily routine – somebody may jump out of a locker in the hallway and shoot you (although today that’s not really far-fetched). You must be hyper vigilant to survive 365 days in this school. And still the learning continues.
About the Author
John Podlaski “served in Vietnam during 1970 and 1971 as an infantryman with both the Wolfhounds of the 25th Division and the 501st Infantry Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, two Air Medals, and a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He has spent the years since Vietnam working in various management positions within the automotive industry and has recently received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
John now works in sales and logistics for a Belgian company that supplies gears and shafts for transmissions and diesel engines. He is a member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 and lives with his wife of 37 years, Janice, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. They own a 1997 Harley Davidson Heritage and are both members of the Great Lakes Chapter of Southeast Michigan Harley Owners’ Group.” John Podlaski is the author of Cherries : A Vietnam War Novel
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
VA, DOD create mobile app for PTSD treatment, support
Free iPhone application aims to help users overcome stigma of seeking support
Veterans and service members with post-traumatic stress disorder can now get support from a new iPhone application from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments.
The VA’s National Center for PTSD and DOD’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology created the new PTSD Coach application to provide remote support for veterans and service members with PTSD, whether diagnosed or pre-diagnosed, the VA has announced. PTSD is a condition that develops months or years after a trauma and can last for decades. The most recent studies of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars indicated that about 14 percent received the diagnosis, which includes symptoms such as disturbing memories and flashbacks.
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The PTSD Coach application was developed for iPhone, iPad and iTouch to provide a self-assessment for the condition, support and treatment options, and tools for managing daily stress from the condition, according to an April 19 news release. The tools support relaxation and positive self-help strategies, and can be customized with contact phone numbers and e-mail addresses, photographs and music, the departments said. An Android version is coming soon.
Julia Hoffman, clinical psychologist with the VA’s PTSD center, said the mobile application is intended to help veterans get over the difficulties in seeking treatment, and can be used anonymously.
“PTSD is characterized by extreme avoidance,” Hoffman wrote April 19 in the VA’s Vantage Point blog. “Many Veterans also have logistical problems getting to treatment because of their location, transportation options, work schedules, etc. Others fear stigma (being shamed or discriminated against) of having a PTSD diagnosis and receiving treatment.”
She said the developers are hopeful that the mobile application can overcome the logistical problems and when used anonymously, can help overcome the stigma.
“For veterans not yet in treatment, PTSD Coach provides tools for managing stress and helps them to understand their difficulties better and learn more about PTSD treatment,” Hoffman wrote.
Federal agencies have created or sponsored more than 30 free mobile applications in recent months as described at the USA.gov website. Many of them provide tools to general consumers and citizens, while others are aimed at assistance for specialized populations.
Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer for Federal Computer Week.
Third Fleet Holds Change of Comand
From Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Third Fleet held a change of command ceremony aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8), April 21.
Vice Adm. Gerald R. Beaman relieved Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt.
"I have had a great tour as commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet; and it is directly due to the selfless support each of you has provided in or out of uniform," said Hunt.
Hunt assumed command of 3rd Fleet in June 2009. During his tour he directed the successful completion of many deployments, exercises and humanitarian missions; such as Operation Tomodachi, RIMPAC 2010, Terminal Fury, and Talisman Saber.
"I feel truly blessed and am humbly honored to have led the best fleet in the United States Navy," said Hunt.
Hunt will assume command of Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR) and Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVSURFPAC).
Third Fleet was originally formed March 15, 1943, during World War II, under the command of Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey. He opened his headquarters ashore in Pearl Harbor, territory of Hawaii, June 15, 1944. The fleet operated in and around the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, Formosa, Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands. It also operated in Japanese waters launching attacks on Tokyo, the naval base at Kure and the island of Hokkaido.
On Nov 26, 1986, Commander, Third Fleet shifted his flag from his headquarters ashore to resume status as an afloat commander for the first time since World War II, aboard USS Coronado (AGF 11). In August 1991, 3rd Fleet's commander, his staff and the command ship, USS Coronado, shifted homeports to San Diego. In September 2003, Commander, Third Fleet shifted his flag from the command ship USS Coronado (AGF 11) to headquarters ashore at Point Loma, San Diego.
"I cannot tell you how honored I am to be given this chance to become the twenty sixth commander of the United States Third Fleet," said Beaman. "When I look at the names that have commanded before me, most notably, Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey, I fully realize the magnitude of importance and the magnificent opportunity that command of the U.S. Third Fleet presents."
Beaman graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and was commissioned through the NROTC Program in 1974. His previous tours as a flag officer include: Naval Network and Space operations Command in Dahlgren, Va, commander of Strike Force Training Pacific, deputy chief of staff operations, Allied Joint Forces Command-Naples. He is reporting from U.S. Fleet Forces Command as deputy chief of staff Global Force Management, Joint Operations and Fleet/Joint Training.
"There is no better feeling in the world than to awake knowing that you are one of thousands of Sailors who wake up each morning trying to make a difference, to make our Navy a better place, and I intend to do just that as Commander, Third Fleet," said Beaman.
Marines in Korea Donate to Local Residents
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brianna K. Dandridge, Commander, Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs
SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Korea (MARFORK) purchased and donated much needed calrose rice for mentally and physically disabled residents at the Bnell Home, April 22.
The MARFORK Marines donated nearly a ton of rice, which is approximately a four month supply and an important staple in the Korean diet.
MARFORK became involved with Bnell Home through the Korean American Friendship Society and have committed to providing on-going assistance to the home. The command began making small personal donations of food and supplies to Bnell Home almost seven months ago.
"We are ready to join with our Korean friends and lend a hand whenever and wherever needed," said Maj. Bernard O'Loughlin, assistant chief of staff logistics, Marine Corps Forces Korea. "We are ready to make a difference."
Many of the residents have limited learning capabilities and physical disabilities, and were placed in the small two-bedroom home by families unable to care for them.
"The home is funded completely on donations and support from the local community," said Gunnery Sgt. Min-sook Ellis. "Currently the school doesn't qualify for state aid. There is a real need for assistance."
This donation is just a small part of ongoing efforts to support the residence by the Marines.
"Next we are going to look at making some repairs to the house," said O'Loughlin. "We are planning on taking on a few maintenance projects around the house."
USS Carl Vinson Crew Going Greener For Earth Day
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs
USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) celebrated Earth Day April 22 by supporting this year's theme, 'Billion Acts of Green.'
In supporting that theme, which is based on the principle of small individual acts adding up to a larger impact, Sailors were challenged to make one alteration to systemically reduce their collective impact on the environment.
Led by the 'Green Machine,' a team of volunteer Sailors who strive to actively minimize the ship's environmental impact and protect the ocean's ecology, Carl Vinson Sailors set out to become more aware of the environment and how they can be good stewards of it. The team set up a forum on the ship's intranet for Sailors to share their Earth Day suggestions.
"We wanted to get ideas from the Sailors, everyone from the E-1 who just reported aboard to the strike group commander," said Green Machine's senior enlisted representative and IM-1 Division Quality Assurance supervisor Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (AW/SW) Michael Armetta of Vinson's aircraft intermediate maintenance department. "We set up the [intranet] page to get ideas on how to reduce our trash footprint."
A single Vinson Sailor contributing an idea to the team and making an effort to help the ship go greener, supports the "Billion Acts of Green" theme for Earth Day, said Armetta.
"I plan on drinking water out of a refillable bottle, and reducing the number of sodas I drink to three or less per week," said 'Green Team' member, Aviation Administrationman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Zachary Lowry.
"I'm going to use electronic means to read and route paperwork to reduce printing in addition to using reusable containers to eat and drink out of for all meals," said Lt. Nicholas Walker, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22.
In addition to the efforts of individual Sailors, Vinson's leadership is taking an active role in creating a series of events designed to continually decrease the ship's environmental footprint, and quantify the impact of every Sailor's efforts.
"I will be working with my team of Sailors in our four waste processing plants to measure how much of a difference our crew made this Earth Day by choosing to reduce the amount of plastic and aluminum they use April 22," said Cmdr. Christopher Valdivia, Vinson's auxiliaries officer. "Personally, I'll be drinking my daily soda from the fountain machine and avoiding the plastic cereal bowls and coffee creamers. Plus, I want to be able to tell my kids that we made a difference out here."
"One simple step of changing how you act now benefits yourself, your family and future operations," said Armetta. "You may be 18 or 19 years-old now and not have a family yet. Imagine six or eight years later, still in the Navy with a family, the decisions you've made and the influence you've had spreads to more people."
Armetta encouraged Sailors to consider the immense effort taken to produce and dispose of a single bottle of water.
"We have distilleries aboard that produce water. People want to buy a plastic bottle of water, and that takes energy to produce. It costs money to produce and dispose of that one small item," Armetta said. "Reducing our disposal of 100 empty bottles of water doesn't sound like much now, but it adds up exponentially."
In addition to reducing the ship's environmental impact, reducing the time spent disposing of shipboard trash is a benefit for Vinson Sailors.
"We're taking an hour to dispose of trash during [vertical replenishments], and that affects the mission and [operational risk management] of Sailors. We're working an extra hour to dispose of more than 30 tri-walls of trash," explained Armetta. "If we reduce that hour once a week, we could save 30 to 40 hours over a deployment and get back on target, supporting the troops on the ground."
Sailors' actions have the best odds of changing the way the Navy conducts business, said Armetta.
"A Sailor's choice to drink what the ship produces from the distillery and not buy a bottle of water can be a cultural change. It doesn't take much to change the way the Navy does business. The culture has to change, because the ocean and our landfills can only hold so much trash," Armetta said. "There wasn't much of a conservation philosophy 20 or 25 years ago, because no one was taking measurements of the trash the Navy was producing. Now there's the 'Green Machine' platform for Carl Vinson to be a greener work environment and reduce our footprint while we conduct our mission."
Today in the Department of Defense, Saturday, April 23, 2011
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.
2011 Army Earth Day Message
Our Army is people - more than 2.2 million Soldiers, Civilians and Family members. Together, we have a big impact on our environment-it's our responsibility to ensure it is a positive impact.
As individuals. there is much we can do to demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment and becoming more sustainable. Simple things like turning off lights and water faucets when not in use; carpooling; collecting and reusing rain water; reducing the use of individual plastic water bottles; recycling paper, cans and plastic bottles; composting organic waste; minimizing the waste generated; and purchasing energy and water efficient appliances. All contribute to our goal of lessening our collective “bootprint" on the Earth.
As an Army, we have already done much to protect the natural environment on which we depend. Our installations are exploring ways to produce more energy while consuming less; to ensure that our water usage does not exceed its availability; and to promote recycling, repurposing and reuse.
We are also considering the waste stream in all of our purchases by choosing items with less packaging, reusing what we can and recycling the rest. These responsible steps support our dedication to sustaining our environment today to ensure we have enough to perform our mission in the future. When we compare what we consume with what we produce, we strive for a net zero end result.
This goal of net zero touches every part of our Army. Our energy programs impact not only the environment at large, but also our Soldiers in the field. For example, promotion of greater fuel efficiency and use of alternative energy technologies can result in fewer fuel convoys and potentially fewer casualties. A military that is not dependent on fossil fuels has the freedom and flexibility to fight in locations where fuel delivery is logistically difficult. Furthermore, money saved by using less fuel can be used for other priorities. Though the Army continues to aggressively expand its efforts in the area of operational energy, it is clear that we need to do more. We must continually consider the impact of everything we do not only on our financial and natural resources, but also on our ability to meet the operational challenges of the future.
As we commemorate Earth Day 2011, we encourage you to take an active role in sustaining the Earth's resources. Look for ways to minimize the Army bootprint, as well as your personal bootprint. Join us in our commitment to preserve a quality environment, ensure availability of needed resources for the future, and maximize the operational flexibility of our Soldiers.
Raymond F. Chandler III
Sergeant Major of the Army
Martin E. Dempsey
Chief of Staff of the Army
John M. McHugh
Secretary of the Army
This Day in Naval History - April 22
From the Navy News Service
1778 - Capt. John Paul Jones of Ranger leads a landing party raid on Whitehaven, England.
1898 - U.S. warships begin a blockade of Cuba.
1987 - The U.S. Navy is ordered to provide assistance to neutral vessels under Iranian attack outside the exclusion zone and that requested help.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Vietnam Combat Vet Authors World War II Novel
With the addition of Phil Ward, Military-Writers.com now lists 1245 former, current or retired US Military personnel who have authoed 3954 books.
Phil Ward is a decorated combat veteran commissioned at age nineteen. A former instructor at the Army Ranger School, he has had a lifelong interest in small unit tactics and special operations. He lives on a mountain overlooking Lake Austin with his beautiful wife, Lindy, whose father was the lieutenant governor to both Ann Richards and George W. Bush. Phil Ward is the author of Those Who Dare.
According to the book description of Those Who Dare, “The first in a series of meticulously researched World War II novels about hit-and-run raids against Hitler's war machine by British forces - under the command of a U.S. soldier - "Those Who Dare" is sure to appeal to avid military fiction fans. By May 1940, panzer divisions had decimated Belgium and reached Calais. Lieutenant John Randal of the U.S. 26th Cavalry Regiment volunteers his expertise to help slow their advance. What unfolds is a blend of military guerrilla tactics, suspense, humor, cultural and social commentary, and war buddy camaraderie - plus a little romance between the American GI and the widowed Lady Jane Seaborn. Along the way readers meet such colorful characters as Captain David Niven in MO-9 and Captain 'Geronimo Joe' McKoy with his Travelling Wild West Show and Shooting Emporium. The author - a decorated combat veteran - covers the details of war extensively, from the five points of contact of a parachute landing fall to descriptions of a British raider's A-5 flinging ferries before the first 12-gauge shell casing hits the floor. As the novel ends, Major Randal's men, fresh from Operation Tomcat in France, learn they will deploy via sea transport within 48 hours on their next mission. The second book, which is already written, tells that tale.”
Phil Ward is a decorated combat veteran commissioned at age nineteen. A former instructor at the Army Ranger School, he has had a lifelong interest in small unit tactics and special operations. He lives on a mountain overlooking Lake Austin with his beautiful wife, Lindy, whose father was the lieutenant governor to both Ann Richards and George W. Bush. Phil Ward is the author of Those Who Dare.
According to the book description of Those Who Dare, “The first in a series of meticulously researched World War II novels about hit-and-run raids against Hitler's war machine by British forces - under the command of a U.S. soldier - "Those Who Dare" is sure to appeal to avid military fiction fans. By May 1940, panzer divisions had decimated Belgium and reached Calais. Lieutenant John Randal of the U.S. 26th Cavalry Regiment volunteers his expertise to help slow their advance. What unfolds is a blend of military guerrilla tactics, suspense, humor, cultural and social commentary, and war buddy camaraderie - plus a little romance between the American GI and the widowed Lady Jane Seaborn. Along the way readers meet such colorful characters as Captain David Niven in MO-9 and Captain 'Geronimo Joe' McKoy with his Travelling Wild West Show and Shooting Emporium. The author - a decorated combat veteran - covers the details of war extensively, from the five points of contact of a parachute landing fall to descriptions of a British raider's A-5 flinging ferries before the first 12-gauge shell casing hits the floor. As the novel ends, Major Randal's men, fresh from Operation Tomcat in France, learn they will deploy via sea transport within 48 hours on their next mission. The second book, which is already written, tells that tale.”
Face of Defense: Chef Finds Success in Army
By Army Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
FORT BRAGG, N.C., April 22, 2011 – When White House ushers told the auditioning chef it was a good sign if the president wanted to meet him after the third course, it was a defining moment in the culinary career of J.D. Ward, at that time an Army staff sergeant.
For four years, Ward had been working nights as a contracted prep cook at the White House residential kitchen following a day shift in a Pentagon’s Army kitchen, and now, he was getting a shot at the top. Thinking good thoughts, he changed into a new coat, a starched shirt and tie, a new apron on top of that, and a nice white toque hat. Then he waited.
For the Oklahoma farm boy turned big-city chef who had worked 80-hour weeks for five years in the restaurant business and who could expect pretty much the same for many years to come, enlisting in the Army had provided unforeseen and unmatched opportunities.
“Growing up on a small farm in Oklahoma, I experienced some pretty wonderful country home cooking,” Ward said. “I was able to see something go from the earth to the table, and that impressed me.”
Ward enjoyed college at Southwest Texas State, but he yearned for a different lifestyle. He decided to spend a year working in the best restaurant he could find and simply enjoy the food. What he hadn’t counted on was how well-suited he was for the business.
“I was infatuated with that lifestyle -- the long hours and the tight-knit community within the kitchen, the environment with the wine, before-and-after dinner drinks, exposure to wonderful food and the ability to have that wonderful food available at any time,” he said.
Learning the basics, Ward worked his way up, and after a couple of years, he was a banquet sous chef, an under-chef somewhat like an Army sergeant. He found himself teaching culinary arts students what they had been paying $27,000 a year to learn, and he was getting promoted and receiving accolades.
David Bull, a former boss and who now oversees culinary operations for the Austin, Texas, area’s La Corsha Hospitality Group, described Ward as “dedicated, loyal, passionate and possessing a no-fear attitude and confidence to be successful in the business.”
However, the lifestyle in the long term was very hard for Ward. In five years, he worked 10 different jobs in Austin and San Antonio, a typical pattern for cooks eager to learn the ways of different chefs and kitchens. Much of the time, he had a day job and an evening job, consistently putting in 80 hours a week.
“I learned traditional French cooking techniques from traditional chefs, and it was wonderful,” he said. “I took a lot of pride in it.”
Age and experience in the world brought new interests. He met Paula, his future wife, and a now-familiar book, “Band of Brothers,” rekindled a family legacy of service.
“From the time that I was knee-high, I knew my father had been a paratrooper, and I always wanted to be a soldier,” he said. “I was 24 years old, and I said, ‘I have to join now, or I will be too old when it comes time to do it.’”
Ward believed he was taking a four-year break from the high-stress restaurant environment to satisfy an itch to serve and to marry Paula. Additionally, the Army would give him a secure job and benefits to begin his new family.
As a military brat, Paula said, she had vowed never to marry into the military, but she did. “He is so funny and outgoing,” she said of her husband. “We were married two days before his basic training.”
Ward enlisted for four years. While assigned to the Old Guard, he discovered the Army Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Va., and in a way, he found his home.
“I went to the culinary arts competition, and I realized that I didn’t know one-tenth of what I thought I knew about cooking,” Ward said. This comes as no surprise to one of Ward’s Army mentors, Sgt. 1st Class David Russ, also an accomplished chef before joining the Army. One of first instructors at the Army Culinary Arts School, Russ attributes 75 percent of what he knows about food to the Army.
In the Army, Ward said, he met other people who knew more about traditional cooking than he knew existed and they’d been competing on the world stage for years.
“What I thought was going to be a break ended up being something that I fell in love with,” he said.
The Army provided more opportunity for quicker advancement than life as a civilian chef would have, Ward said. There were once-in-a-lifetime opportunities as well, such as being the first member of the Quartermaster Corps to guard the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
At a culinary arts competition, the young Army chef was recruited to work at the secretary of the Army’s mess in the Pentagon, where he cooked for the most-senior members of the Army staff. One thing led to another, and after he competed in the 2006 Culinary World Cup competition in Luxembourg -- during which the Army team earned 12 gold medals -- Ward found himself auditioning to be then-President George W. Bush’s chef.
“Chef, he is ready for you,” the usher said.
In his fresh clothes, Ward went out to talk to the president and his wife, Laura, and their friends. They chatted about where he had cooked in Austin and the fact that he was still in the Army, and two weeks later, he was offered the job.
But to Ward’s surprise, he would take another path. At the pinnacle of his culinary career, the ambitious Texan realized he didn’t want it any more, and he needed a new challenge. He prepared a warrant officer packet and was accepted.
Three years later, Ward said, he realizes it was the best decision of his career. Though he virtually has given up day-to-day culinary artistry, he explained, he is far more challenged as an officer and still is able to maintain his foothold in food service, something that he will always love.
“I am learning so much more as an officer than I ever would have as a chef,” he said. “I have a whole new level of experience. Now I see myself as a manager, and to some degree, a food-service executive, rather than a chef. Who knows where I could have gone in 10 to 15 years as a chef, but I’ve grown so much more as a man.”
His wife agrees. “He’s matured,” she said. “He’s become a more well-rounded person with organizational and leadership skills. He is a better communicator. He’s always had a drive to succeed and do well, but the Army has given him advantages as a person and as a soldier. That has even translated into married life.”
Now wearing the rank of chief warrant officer 2 as the command food service technician for the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team here, Ward still gets a gleam in his eyes when he sees fresh produce, said Paula, who is finishing a degree in psychology.
“He gets on a roll when it comes to ingredients,” she said with a laugh. “He’ll start talking about fresh herbs, and 30 minutes later, he’s still talking about fresh herbs, like Forrest Gump’s friend, Bubba, talking about the many ways to prepare shrimp.”
She added that she can’t imagine a different life. “I like the military lifestyle,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of growth. The Army has been very beneficial to us. We have a special-needs child, and the Army Family Covenant and the Army in general have been very responsive to our needs. I know that’s not always the case –- sometimes Army couples have to look for it.”
Ward said he still works long hours, but now it’s by his own design and it’s just who he is. His job is much like running a business, with responsibility for the entire food-service operation for a brigade of 3,500 paratroopers, making sure all field equipment is ready in case the brigade is called up, managing accounts within a strict budget, attending to outgoing and incoming personnel, and more.
“Our challenge is to get our cooks to love what they do,” he said. “Most come in eager to learn, but it can very quickly become a disheartening job. However, if, from the top down, people are engaged, encouraged and excited about serving lunch to a brigade of paratroopers, and they take pride in the challenge, then it’s a lot more fun, and these guys love it.”
Any young cook who might be discouraged in the Army’s industrial food service system just needs to be exposed to the broader pieces of Army food service, Ward said.
“They have to look for it, and they have to ask,” he added. “It’s important to have that drive.”
While some enlistees may think the Army is going to give them a professional education and experience to open a restaurant, that’s not entirely true, he noted. However, he added, it can give a soldier the maturity, the wisdom, the leadership skills and the management skills they won’t necessarily get coming up through the ranks of a hotel kitchen.
“If you can cook two quality meals a day for 700 troopers off a mobile containerized kitchen with a team of four cooks, then I know you can be a success in any other piece of food service if you apply yourself,” he said. “It’s not necessarily true that if you cook successfully in a hotel kitchen, you can also cook on an Army field kitchen.”
Ward and Russ –- now a retired sergeant first class -- agree that involvement in the Army Culinary Arts School and its competition team can be a key component of an Army chef’s success. Russ, who was named National Military Chef four years in a row -- he shared a spot on “The Tonight Show” with actress Sandra Bullock in 2003 -- credits the schoolhouse for raising the standard of Army food service through training.
He also stresses the importance of having leaders like Ward, who really care that soldiers receive a quality dining experience, whether at the dining facility, eating “hot A’s” in the pine forests of Fort Bragg’s training sites or deployed in a war zone -- leaders who, like Ward, will say and mean things like, “If a soldier’s eating in the 1st Brigade, I want to be a part of it.”
An entry-level Army cook may not understand why he is doing some of the job’s tasks until becoming a senior leader, Ward said.
San Diego Sailors Help Displaced Military Families from Japan
By Candice Villarreal, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego Corporate Communications
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego donated hundreds of pounds of provisions April 20, to military families displaced by the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan.
The command's diversity committee began accepting donations of food, water, diapers and baby formula when Japan-based Sailors' families began voluntarily evacuating and heading to San Diego.
"We know [the families] are still getting paid and that they are not destitute," said Stephanie DuBose, force ombudsman for Commander, Naval Surface Forces. "These donations just provide them with a little extra quality-of-life comfort and save them some money. The FISC team got wind of what we were doing and, right away, was asking us, 'Hey, what can we do to help?'"
The families are currently being housed at the Navy Lodge aboard Naval Base San Diego.
Navy civilian Paula Hoff, an administrative branch supervisor for FISC San Diego, said she felt the need to buy and donate goods the moment the diversity committee announced the drive.
"A lot of these families have young children, and it's very hard to be away from your home," Hoff said. "I just felt it was necessary. I'm blessed that I get the chance to drive to my own home after work today. They really can't do that; I can't even imagine what that's like."
According to DuBose, 104 adults and 183 children have benefitted from donations so far. She said she and her team of ombudsmen through their subgroup You are Not Alone (YANA) began accepting the donated goods from local commands March 26.
"We were in reception mode, with our catcher's gloves on," she said.
A week later, the donations piled up to fill five rooms, from floor to ceiling.
"When you see these families who have left nearly everything behind in Japan, you think to yourself 'This could be me; I'm a Navy spouse,'" DuBose said. "Their lives were in Japan, their cell phone companies were in Japan, everything was in Japan. I think these Sailors, many having been stationed overseas at some point, understood that."
FISC San Diego personnel plan to hold a barbeque for the families April 22.
"I think the most amazing part is that these Sailors know they don't have to be here [participating]," DuBose said. "They want to be here. I'm just so inspired by their passion for helping others. We couldn't have done it without them, and we're humbled by their dedication."
FISC San Diego, one of seven supply centers under Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCS), provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other Joint and Allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.
"Murph Express" Helps San Diego Sailors Help the Environment
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Eva-Marie Ramsaran, Navy Public Affairs Support Element - West
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- With Earth Day on April 22, the Navy and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) are reminding local service members that they offer military personnel and Department of Defense (DoD) employees a non-stop, premium bus service that is both environment-friendly and cost-effective.
The limited express transit service, known as the "Murph Express," is available to assist all active duty service members and DoD civilian employees including non-appropriated fund (NAF) personnel living in Murphy Canyon Navy Housing with their commute to Naval Base San Diego and other local naval facilities in the San Diego area.
According to officials, with the rising gas prices in the state of California, taking advantage of public transportation and carpooling is cost-efficient and better for the environment.
"The purpose of the Murph Express is to get cars off the road; alleviate traffic congestion within the community, freeway and on-base," said David Love, Transportation Incentive Program (TIP)/ Rideshare Installation program manager for Naval Base San Diego. "This helps to provide a cleaner environment, reduce the carbon footprint and can save the participant more than $1,500 per year in commuting costs."
The Navy, MTS and San Diego Association of Governments, who administers the San Diego Regional Commuting Assistance Program, have partnered together to improve commuter travel between the largest naval housing area in San Diego to Naval Base San Diego and other naval facilities within the downtown metropolitan area by implementing the bus service.
"Murph Express" offers amenities such as air conditioning, reclining seats and is bike-friendly.
"The most important benefit of the Murph Express is that it is entirely free to active duty military personnel and civilian employees upon submission of an application through the Navy's transportation incentive program," said Love.
To enroll in the program, visit http://www.icommutesd.com/murphexpress/ , to obtain the TIP application and follow the submission procedures. All TIP applications must be turned in to Naval Base San Diego Transportation Incentive Program office, at Waterfront Recreation Center, Bldg. 45. Upon submission of the application, all applicants will receive a Compass Card and may begin riding immediately.
The Navy is committed to energy security, energy efficiency and environmental stewardship as means to conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen dependence on fossil fuels.
Missing WWII Airman Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
U.S. Army Air Forces Pfc. Mervyn E. Sims, 23, of Petaluma, Calif., will be buried Friday in his hometown. On April 24, 1943, Sims and four crew members aboard a C-87 Liberator Express departed from Yangkai, China, in support of “the Hump” resupply mission between India and China. Prior to takeoff, a ground crew determined the aircraft had sufficient fuel for the six-hour flight to the air base on other side of the Himalayas in Chabua, India. Once cleared for takeoff, there was no further communication between the aircrew and airfield operators. Army officials launched a search effort when the plane did not arrive at the destination. No evidence of the aircraft was found and the five men were presumed killed in action.
In 2003, an American citizen in Burma reported to U.S. officials at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) that he had found aircraft wreckage he believed to be an American C-87 in the mountains 112 miles east of Chabua. He was detained by Burmese officials when he attempted to leave the country with human remains and artifacts from the site. The remains and materials were handed over to officials at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon. Attempts to excavate the site are being negotiated with the Indian government.
Meanwhile, JPAC scientists continued the forensic process, analyzing the remains and physical evidence already in hand.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA, which matched that of Sims’ sister, in the identification of his remains.
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died. At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 72,000 are unaccounted for from the conflict.
Guam Navy League Tours USS Buffalo, Naval Base Guam
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Gabrielle Blake, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Public Affairs
SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Navy League of the United States Guam Council (NLG) members visited U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) and the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN 715) April 20.
NBG Commanding Officer Capt. Richard Wood provided an overview tour of the base to give NLG members an idea of life and operations on NBG in support of the fleet.
"Personally, I think it's a very good experience," said Mark Sablan, NLG president. "This tour is part of educating the local people of the island. I believe it shows that there is a very good relationship between the Navy and the Guam community. The local people love interacting with the Navy. It really fosters a good relationship."
NLG members were also able to go through the three decks of Buffalo and see the Sailors' work spaces and berthings.
"Being able to see such an impressive submarine is definitely a unique privilege and the chance of a lifetime," said Christine Pascus, NLG member. "It is purely Navy at its best."
Fellow NLG member Roger Crouthamel echoed Pascus' sentiments.
"We really appreciated the opportunity to go aboard the submarine," he said. "It gave us all a good feeling of what submariners go through."
Senior Enlisted Academy to be Renovated
From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs
NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic awarded a $5.2 million contract April 14 to Cutter Enterprises of Tolland, Conn., for renovations to the U.S. Naval War College Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA), Building 1269, at Naval Station Newport, R.I.
Work to be performed includes replacement of the failed exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS), installation of a new sprinkler system, installation of new fire and smoke detectors, and complete fire alarm upgrades.
"The mission for this project is to provide much needed improvements and repairs to Tomich Hall, Coddington Point, at Naval Station Newport," said James Donahue, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic architectural branch supervisor for the Northeast Integrated Products Team.
The project also provides an air-conditioning system throughout the building that will meet the Department of Navy's energy efficiency goals as well as cost savings for the life cycle of the facility.
"The architecture/engineering energy study estimates that the building's new fan coil unit system will save approximately $21,000 per year when compared to alternative HVAC systems over a 40 year study life," said Lonnie Johns, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic design manager and architect. "This is about a $1 million life cycle cost savings."
Johns adds that other energy saving features used for this project are occupancy sensors for lighting, photo cells for outdoor lighting control and Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) to control fans and motors.
The existing auditorium will also be renovated, complete with new seating and finishes, and an outdoor plaza at the facility will be restored.
The building presently functions as berthing for SEA students and also houses both classrooms and administrative space.
Renovation of the SEA with updated features will help the SEA accomplish its mission to strengthen senior enlisted commitment to professional excellence and mission accomplishment through education in communication skills, leadership and management, national security affairs, Navy programs and physical fitness.
NAVFAC manages the planning, design, construction, contingency engineering, real estate, environmental, and public works support for U.S. Navy shore facilities around the world, providing the Navy's forces with the operating, expeditionary, support and training bases they need.
General Officer Announcements
The chief of staff, Army announced today the following officer assignments:
Maj. Gen. Walter M. Golden Jr., director, J-1, The Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., to deputy commander for police, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Training Mission - Afghanistan.
Maj. Gen. John W. Peabody, commanding general, U.S. Army Engineer Division, Great Lakes and Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio, to commanding general, U.S. Army Engineer Division, Mississippi Valley, Vicksburg, Miss.
Maj. Gen. Perry L. Wiggins, deputy commanding general, Fifth U.S. Army North, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to commanding general, First Army Division West, Fort Hood, Texas.
Brig. Gen. Peter N. Fuller, who has been selected for the rank of major general, program executive officer, soldier, Fort Belvoir, Va., to deputy commander for programs, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan.
Brig. Gen. Robin B. Akin, commanding general, 3d Sustainment Command (expeditionary), Fort Knox, Ky., to deputy assistant chief of staff, C-4/J-4, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea/deputy commanding general (support), Eighth U.S. Army, Korea.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Bannister, deputy commanding general (operations), 10th Mountain Division (light)/deputy commander for operations, Regional Command South, International Security Assistance Force, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan, to deputy director for operations - force protection, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
Brig. Gen. Timothy J. Edens, deputy commanding general/assistant commandant, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, Fort Rucker, Ala., to assistant division commander, 2d Infantry Division, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea.
Brig. Gen. Robert S. Ferrell, director for command, control, communications and computer systems, U.S. Africa Command, Germany, to commanding general, 5th Signal Command, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany.
Col. Norvell V. Coots, who has been selected for the rank of brigadier general, commander, Walter Reed Health Care System, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center/deputy commanding general, Southern Regional Medical Command Readiness, Fort Gordon, Ga.
DOD Announces Winners of the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced today the winners of the 2011 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence. They are:
U.S. Army Garrison, Wiesbaden, Germany
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii
Spangdahlem Air Base, Spangdahlem, Germany
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio
The Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. The five recipients of this highly competitive Presidential award were selected for their exemplary support of Department of Defense missions.
Excellent installations enable better mission performance and enhance the quality of life for military men and women and their families. Each winning installation succeeded in providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions.
Web Tool Enhances Navy Financial Management Capabilities
By David Rea, Naval Supply Systems Command Public Affairs
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) officially released a new financial management Web Tool, Transportation of Things (TOT) for Financial Managers (TOT_FM), during a ceremony held aboard Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg, Pa., April 20.
The Web tool serves to enhance efficiencies across the Department of the Navy financial management community and will bridge the gaps between Navywide financial and transportation stakeholders by serving as the central knowledge management repository for Navywide TOT financial business functions.
Rear Adm. Mike Lyden, commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, opened the ceremony by emphasizing the importance of the new tool.
"This training and knowledge management tool is designed to enhance operational capabilities for managers and financial transportation stakeholders across the Department of the Navy," Lyden said. "This will serve as a tremendous benefit to the enterprise by providing a single source guide to transportation business functions through an easily navigable interface."
According to NAVSUP Accounting Director Dave Orr, the Web tool will serve as the integrated authority for information on all aspects of financial TOT.
"These functions include transportation requirements planning, execution, reconciliation, and reporting," Orr said. "I truly believe that our financial managers will benefit from this information, and they will find the instruction very beneficial to their daily financial management tasks."
The TOT FM Web Tool provides users with quick access to comprehensive training packages on TOT financial subjects, relevant external policy, guidance and resources. The tool can be accessed with a Command Access Card (CAC) at https://www.navsup.navy.mil/tot_fm.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Financial Management and Comptroller, recently recognized the team which established the TOT FM Web Tool with the annual Financial Management Process Improvement Award, awarded annually to teams for their efforts in improving existing financial processes.
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