NYT: A Victory for Veterans

NYT: A Victory for Veterans

A must read article about PTSD

How Can I Solve My Problem?The answer is "information" ...... and the information is here!

Gates Budget Review to ‘Force Discussion’ of Risk Analysis

By Lisa Daniel

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2011 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today announced the framework for a comprehensive review of military spending designed to put national security needs ahead of arbitrary budget cuts.

“We must reject the traditional approach of applying across-the-board cuts -- the simplest and most politically expedient approach, both inside this building and outside of it,” Gates said at a Pentagon news briefing. “That kind of an approach preserves overhead and maintains force structure on paper. But it results in a hollowing out of the force from a lack of proper training, maintenance and equipment. We’ve been there before in the 1970s and in the 1990s.”

President Barack Obama, in an April 13 speech on the nation’s fiscal challenges, set a goal of saving $400 billion over 12 years, mostly from the Defense Department and beyond savings already identified. To do that, he directed Gates and other Pentagon leaders to conduct a “fundamental review of America’s military missions, capabilities, and security role around the world,” Gates noted.

Defense leaders have worked for more than two years to find cost savings in the department, Gates said. The effort began in acquisitions, with more than 20 weapons systems being curtailed or cancelled, then moved to cutting overhead costs and redirecting the savings to support warfighters and help to reduce the federal deficit.

“The overarching goal of these efforts was to carve out enough budget space to preserve and enhance key military capabilities in the face of declining rates of budget growth,” he said.

The goal of the new review, Gates said, is “to preserve a U.S. military capable of meeting crucial national security priorities, even if fiscal pressure requires reductions in the force’s size.”

The review will be guided by the National Security Review, the National Defense Strategy, the National Military Strategy, the Chairman’s Risk Assessment and the Quadrennial Defense Review to ensure it is focused on “strategic policy choices, first, and corresponding changes in the DOD budget, second,” the secretary said. The director of cost assessment and program review, the undersecretary of defense for policy, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will lead the effort jointly, he added.

The review will provide a strong analytical link currently missing between the QDR and the present makeup of the forces, the secretary said. Once competing strategy options are identified, only then should the review consider fiscal implications and options, he said.

The secretary outlined a four-step process for saving money in the department that would start with identifying additional efficiencies to be gained from eliminating bureaucratic excess and overhead. But that alone won’t generate enough savings, Gates said, so examiners should then move on to looking at programs, processes and mandates that drive up costs, “to include the way we deliver health care, compensate military personnel, provide retirement benefits, sustain our infrastructure and acquire goods and services.”

In the third category, officials will review missions and capabilities of marginal scope against overall strategy. “They represent missions that the department carries out today that, while of value, are not central to our core mission or are of lower priority,” Gates explained.

Gates cited the long-standing U.S. strategy that calls for the military to be able to fight two major, regional conflicts simultaneously as an example of reviewing strategic alternatives.

“If you were to tell yourself the likelihood of having two such fights simultaneously is low, and you could therefore plan to fight sequentially, that would have huge implications in terms of the size of force that you need to maintain,” he said. “But the other side of that is the risk involved if you’re wrong.”

The final area for consideration – “the hardest category, strategically, and I would say intellectually,” Gates said – is to consider alternatives to the QDR strategy that translate into options for reductions in force structure or capability needed to execute the strategy, Gates said. Such consideration would be informed by all the other activities in the framework, he added.

“In the end, this process must be about identifying options for the president and the Congress where the nation is willing to accept risk in exchange for reduced investment in the Department of Defense,” Gates said.

No matter what happens in the review process, the secretary said, leaders must make tough decisions and avoid the “hollowing out” of the forces.

“I want to force that kind of discussion,” he said. “If we’re going to cut the military, if we’re going to reduce the resources and the size of the U.S. military, people need to make conscious choices about what the implications of that are for the security of the country, as well as for the operations that we have around the world.”

USS Theodore Roosevelt Officer Judges Contest at Theodore Roosevelt High School

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Kayla Thompson, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The assistant combat direction center officer aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) served as a judge for the second annual public speaking contest at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C., May 12.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Rogers judged the contest that was sponsored by the D.C. chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and aimed at improving self expression.

Rogers served on a five-judge panel, which included prominent people in the community, including Anne Roosevelt Mason, a great granddaughter of Theodore Roosevelt; the U. S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, Terrance Gainer; an executive for a local television channel; a lawyer; and an educator. The school is predominantly African American and Rogers, an African American himself, volunteered his time because of his desire to help at-risk youth. Rogers regularly donates his time to efforts like these in the community.

The judges were introduced to the contestants, who drew names to decide the order in which they would speak. They were given five minutes to speak on any aspect of Theodore Roosevelt's life.

"All nine students were well studied and prepared for the stiff competition, but there was one young man who really stood out," said Rogers. "The winner, Jonathan Rucker, was very articulate and eloquent and tied his research of Theodore Roosevelt to his personal decision to join the Navy. He had me with that declaration. He just really stood out among the competitors."

Once all the students were done and the judges finished their deliberation on who the winner should be, they provided feedback on things that impressed them and areas they could improve upon. The judges also had the opportunity to speak to the students on a personal level after the contest was done.

"I was able to speak to the winner about things to expect when he hits the deck plates as a Sailor," said Rogers. "The event overall was as rewarding for me as it was for the kids because it was an opportunity for me to mentor them. Some children didn't have parents there to cheer them on, and it was an opportunity to be a good role model for them."

Service members, employers recognized during Armed Forces Week

By Tech. Sgt. Thomas Sobczyke

128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

Two Wisconsin National Guard members were among five Richard Bong Award recipients honored at the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) breakfast, held May 16 at the Wisconsin Club in downtown Milwaukee.

Master Sgt. Mike A. Schmaling, of New London, Wis., of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, and Sgt. 1st Class Richard P. Gerard, Franklin, of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 132nd Army Band, Madison received awards alongside Staff Sgt. Edel A. Rojas, U.S. Air Force; Boatswain's Mate (Petty Officer) 1st Class Adam Kraft, U.S. Coast Guard; and Sgt. Ryan M. Lackey, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Hydro-Thermal Corporation, of Waukesha, Wis., was recognized at the breakfast for its support of service members.

Bong Award recipients are chosen by their commanders for outstanding service and dedication. The award commemorates Maj. Richard Bong, a Medal of Honor recipient born in Superior, Wis., in 1920 who remains the top American ace fighter pilot with 40 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat.

The ESGR breakfast, organized by the Milwaukee Armed Forces Committee and the Wisconsin Committee for ESGR, kicks off Armed Forces Week in Milwaukee.

IKE Sailors Prepare for Ship's Return to the Fleet

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Albert Jones, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)(IKE) Sailors are preparing for the ship's return to the Fleet by attending damage control courses, such as the Advanced Shipboard Fire Fighting Course at the Farrier Fire Fighting School Center for Naval Engineering in Norfolk, May 10.

The four-day course is designed to prepare firefighter Sailors to combat casualties they may encounter aboard a ship. It covers a wide range of topics, from proper battle dress to rescue and assistance team procedures, and even how to set up a P-100 pump for firefighting if the ship were to lose fire main pressure.

"Be open-minded, because you're going to learn something," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Anthony Trujillo, an instructor at the school.

The first day of the course takes place in a classroom, while the remaining three days are spent between the classroom and a live fire trainer. On the trainer, students get hands-on experience with setting up a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), hose handling, setting up a ram fan for smoke control, plotting in a repair locker, working as the on-scene or team leader and setting up a P-100 for firefighting. The students also watch demonstrations on how to set up and use some equipment, such as the Portable Exothermic Cutting Unit (PECU).

Trujillo said while the controlled fires in the trainer aren't as hot as an out of control shipboard fire, the students still get that sense of urgency, because they are dealing with high heat and a charged hose.

Hull Technician 1st Class Michael Kubicki, who recently attended the course, agreed with Trujillo, adding that the trainer creates that feeling because it is not like a general quarters or inport emergency team drill. He said during these drills there is not a charged hose, and there is not any extra heat because it's a person waiving a flag, whereas the heat and smoke at the trainer makes it feel more like an actual emergency.

The Farrier Fire Fighting School also has a one-day firefighting course, as well as other courses designed to augment training.

Navy Names Ship for Civil Rights Activist Cesar Chavez

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the selection of the USNS Cesar Chavez as the 14th Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo/ammunition ships.

Continuing the Lewis and Clark-class tradition of honoring legendary pioneers and explorers, the Navy's newest underway replenishment ship honors the memory of Mexican-American civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.  Chavez served in the Navy from 1944-1946 after which he became a leader in the American Labor Movement and a civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers.

"Cesar Chavez inspired young Americans to do what is right and what is necessary to protect our freedoms and our country," said Mabus. "The Cesar Chavez will sail hundreds of thousands of miles and will bring support and assistance to thousands upon thousands of people. His example will live on in this great ship."

Designated T-AKE 14, Cesar Chavez is being built by General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.  Eleven of the T-AKEs are slated to serve as combat logistics force (CLF) ships, and three are slated to be part of the maritime prepositioning force (MPF).  Cesar Chavez will serve the CLF missions, helping the Navy maintain a worldwide forward presence by delivering ammunition, food, fuel and other dry cargo to U.S. and allied ships at sea.

Cesar Chavez will be designated as a United States Naval Ship (USNS), and operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command with a crew of civil service mariners (129 in CLF mode, 75 in MPF mode).  For CLF missions, the T-AKEs’ crews include a small detachment of sailors.  Like her sister dry cargo/ammunition ships, T-AKE 14 is designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea and can carry two helicopters and their crews.  The ship is 689 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 105 feet, displaces approximately 41,000 tons, and is capable of reaching a speed of 20 knots.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.  Additional information about the T-AKE class of ship is available at http://www.msc.navy.mil/factsheet/t-ake.htm.

Navy Chaplain Teaches Soldiers about Suicide Prevention

By Robin Holland, Training Support Center Hampton Roads Public Affairs

Norfolk (NNS) -- A Training Support Center Hampton Roads (TSCHR) Navy Chaplain taught the importance solidarity plays in suicide prevention to soldiers at the Army School of Music in Norfolk, Va., May 5.

TSCHR Chaplain Lt. Leo O'Boyle began his briefing by telling a story about baseball legends Jackie Robinson and Peewee Reese.

O'Boyle spoke of Robinson who was the first African-American to break the color barrier as a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In one particular game in Cincinnati, Robinson played and endured racial slurs while one irate fan threw a beer bottle at Robinson. In this particular incident, Reese, who played shortstop, walked over to Robinson and put his arm around his shoulder.

"Now you might say this wasn't anything extraordinary, but remember the time, climate and the tension; Peewee Reese was making a stand both as an individual and as a teammate," said O'Boyle. "Later in life, Jackie Robinson commented in his biography that if it wasn't for Reese's actions, he would have hung up his spikes forever. This just goes to show you, we never know, at times, the impact a measure of solidarity has in another person's life."

Additionally, O'Boyle showed a clip from the movie "A Scent of a Woman," starring Al Pacino who plays Frank Slade, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Frank is blind and impossible to get along with. Chris O'Donnell plays the role of Charlie Simms, who agrees to look after Frank during the Thanksgiving holiday. Since Charlie is trying to save up a little money so that he can make it home for Christmas, he agrees to look after Frank only to learn that Frank has plans of committing suicide.

After the video, O'Boyle and the students analyzed the clip, and then listed the target audiences for suicide. Men are four times more likely to kill themselves or to die from suicide than women, and yet women attempt suicide more often than men. The number one target audience is between the 15-25 age range in which suicide is the third leading cause of death. Retirees, just like character played by Pacino, are also very likely to commit suicide. In closing O'Boyle shared with the soldiers a two minute video called "Just Ask," which teaches that by just asking if someone is ok, one could help save a life.

"You might notice alterations in personal behavior or changes in attitude that are just very different from how you know that person," said O'Boyle. "If you sense something is wrong, one of the greatest things you can do is say, 'Hey, how are you doing? Or you don't seem yourself?' Just Ask is our motto. That may open an opportunity for a person to express what's going on in their life, and the last thing you want to do is to think you missed that opportunity."

"Chaplain O'Boyle's suicide prevention brief was very effective," said Staff Sgt. Freddie Valenzuela, Army School of Music platoon sergeant. "He engaged the students by showing them video clips they could relate to. We will definitely invite him back."

For those who would like a copy of the "Just Ask" DVD, contact O'Boyle at (757) 492-6648.

Obama Salutes Devotion to Duty at Coast Guard Commencement

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2011 – The smallest U.S. military service has vast responsibilities in protecting thousands of miles of coast, securing hundreds of ports and patrolling millions of miles of ocean, President Barack Obama said today.

The president addressed 228 graduating cadets and 1,500 military personnel and their families during a commencement speech at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

Obama praised the cadets’ commitment and dedication to service.

“I've seen your devotion to duty all along the Gulf Coast when the Coast Guard, including members of this class, worked day and night tirelessly as you led the largest environmental cleanup in our nation's history,” the president said.

“In you we see the same spirit that has made your service ‘always ready’ for more than two centuries, invoking the English translation of the Coast Guard’s Latin motto, “Semper Paratus.”

“In you we see the readiness that has made the Coast Guard one of our nation's first responders, leading the evacuation of Lower Manhattan on 9/11 and often being the very first Americans on the scene, from the earthquake in Haiti to the oil spill in the Gulf,” Obama said.

Coast Guardsmen pulled stranded Americans from the rooftops during Hurricane Katrina, the president added, saved desperate migrants clinging to rafts in the Caribbean and even today rescue Americans from the surging Mississippi River.

The Coast Guard Academy, founded in 1876, is the smallest of five federal service academies, with 1,030 cadets enrolled. Like the other academies, it is highly selective and charges no tuition. The academy's curriculum emphasizes leadership, physical fitness and professional development.

With the impending retirement of the academy’s superintendent, Coast Guard Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe, Obama noted that the incoming superintendent, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Sandra L. Stosz, “will become the first woman to lead one of our nation’s military academies.”

This is a tribute to the admiral, the president said, but also “to the opportunities that the Coast Guard affords women of talent and commitment, including the class of 2011, which has one of the largest numbers of women cadets in the history of this academy.”

He commended the class of 2011 on earning the highest grade-point average of any class in the academy’s history and noted the academy’s acceptance of a range of international applicants.

“This academy welcomes cadets from all over the world, including two dedicated young men in your class from the Marshall Islands and Romania,” he said. Obama also acknowledged President Jurelang Zedkaia of the Marshall Islands and King George Tupou from Tonga, who were in the audience.

“They are two of America's closest partners among the Pacific island nations,” Obama said. “Their citizens serve bravely alongside our forces, including in Afghanistan, and we are very, very grateful.”

Obama told the cadets that the nation, for its “enormous investment” in transforming them into leaders, has great expectations.

“Here at home, we need you to stop those smugglers and protect our oceans and prevent terrorists from slipping deadly weapons into our ports,” he said.

In congratulating the Class of 2011, Obama told the cadets that if they stay true to the academy’s lessons, he is confident that “future historians will look back on this moment and say that when we faced the tests of our time, … we passed our country, safer and stronger, to the next generation.”

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, May 19, 2011

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

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Ashton B. Carter; Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Christine H. Fox; Director, Operational Test and Evaluation J. Michael Gilmore; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition David M. Van Buren and Program Executive Officer F-35 Lightning II Program Navy Vice Adm. David J. Venlet testify at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal 2012 and the future years defense program at 9:30 a.m. EDT in room SD-G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building.

British Maj. Gen. Phil Jones, director of the Force Reintegration Cell, International Security Assistance Force headquarters, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10:30 a.m. EDT, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program.  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

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will speak at 4:30 p.m. at the Deloitee Energy Conference at the Omni Shoreham, Washington, D.C.  Media interested in attending should contact Lt. Cmdr. Tamara Lawrence, SECNAV’s public affairs officer at 757-343-4230.

This Day in Naval History - May 18

From the Navy News Service

1775 - Benedict Arnold captures British sloop and renames her Enterprise, first of many famous ships with that name.

1798 - Appointment of Benjamin Stoddert as first Secretary of the Navy.

1969 - Launch of Apollo 10, dress rehearsal for first lunar landing mission. Navy Cmdr. John W. Young was the command module pilot and Navy Cmdr. Eugene A. Cernan was the lunar module pilot.

Team Navy/Coast Guard Scores Individual, Team Medals to Open Warrior Games

By Lt. Tom Gordy, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NNS) -- Team Navy/Coast Guard scored eight medals on the first day of the 2011 Warrior Games, May 17.

The team took five silver medals and three bronze medals during the morning's track and field events at the Gerry Barry Stadium.

U.S. Navy Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Nathan R. DeWalt, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Angelo Anderson, Explosion Ordinance Disposal 1st Class Patrick Woodruff, and Lt. Daniel B. Cnossen won individual medals during the first day of competition.

DeWalt was Team Navy/Coast Guard first medal winner, earning two silvers, one each for the men's 800- and 100-meter wheelchair races.

"[Having won] the first medal - it feels good," the York, Penn., native said after the 800-meter race. "When I crossed the finish line, I couldn't breathe - I gave it 110 percent."

Though he suffers from paralysis as a result of a motorcycle accident, DeWalt had a full morning of competition, participating in the 100-, 200-, and 800-meter wheelchair races, as well as the sitting discus event. He will participate in the 10-kilometer handcycle race and wheelchair basketball later in the week.

Anderson also earned two medals, a silver in the 200-meter wheelchair race and a bronze in the 100-meter wheelchair race.

"It's phenomenal to represent Team Navy/Coast Guard," the Atlanta native said, describing what propelled him to the victories. "I realize this is so much bigger than me. I had a lot more motivation outside of myself to win this for our team."

Anderson, who suffered broken limbs during combat operations in Afghanistan, currently serves on active duty at the Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va.

Cnossen, a native of Topeka, Kansas, took bronze in the men's 800-meter race for lower-body amputees.

"The 800-meter race was my best chance." he said after the race. "At the 500-meter mark I began to close the gap."

Cnossen, an active duty Navy SEAL injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, also participated in 100- and 200-meter races and will compete in the men's 50- and 100-meter swimming races May 18.

Woodruff left the field as Team Navy/Coast Guard's leading medal winner, earning individual silver medals in the men's 100- and 200-meter races (lower-body amputee), and a team bronze medal in the mixed 4x100-meter relay. He also placed fourth in the men's standing shot put event.

After learning that he had won his first medal, he said, "It feels good - I'm glad it helps my team. It feels great to be out here and competing again."

Woodruff, who became a single, lower-body amputee eight months ago following a motorcycle accident, continues to serve on active duty in San Diego, Calif., with Explosive Ordinance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit 1. The Leonard, Texas native is also a member of the Navy/Coast Guard wheelchair basketball team, which defeated the Air Force team in the first round of the tournament later in the day.

Winning the bronze medal in the relay with Woodruff were:

• Retired U.S. Navy Lt. John C. Edmonston of San Jose, Calif. Edmonston, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident, works for the Navy as a civilian mechanical engineer with the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash;

• Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Oswald Gould of Brooklyn, N.Y. Gould, a survivor of stage-four nasopharyngeal cancer, serves on active duty supporting the Fleet Readiness Center, Mid-Atlantic at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va.; and,

• Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Aaron Heldreth of Barstow, Calif. Heldreth, who became a single lower body amputee resulting from an auto accident, continues to serve on active duty Underwater Construction Team Two at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif.

Team Navy/Coast Guard had participants in 19 of the 20 men's and women's adaptive events.

Face of Defense: Fighter Pilot Balances Work, Motherhood

By Air Force Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps

20th Fighter Wing

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C., May 18, 2011 – When Air Force Maj. Jaime Nordin saw her first airshow as a child, she knew she wanted to fly fighter jets.

"I was mesmerized by fighters -- the idea of going fast and flying upside-down," said the F-16 pilot with the 79th Fighter Squadron here, one of 58 women among the Air Force’s 2,689 fighter pilots.

The role of Air Force fighter pilots is to maintain superiority in the air and support the ground fight. But Nordin's mission goes beyond that. She also is the mother of a 2-year-old daughter named Caleigh.

"Being a mom and a fighter pilot are both equally demanding, which makes having only 24 hours in a day hard," she said. "But more and more, I'm becoming a mom, and a fighter pilot is my trade."

Nordin said she was five to six weeks pregnant when she found out Caleigh was on the way. "Because of that,” she said, “I joke with my daughter that she has flown in an F-16." But impending motherhood meant that Nordin had to take some time off from flying.

"Between pulling high G’s and the ejection seat, flying while pregnant is a ‘no go,’" she said.

Being grounded was difficult at first, the major acknowledged. "I went through an identity crisis because I had to stop flying,” she said. “I had to become something other than a fighter pilot. But after a while, my motherly instincts took over."

During that time, Nordin worked in the operations support squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. After the time off from the pregnancy and recovery, her qualifications for flying were out of date, so she had to take a class at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.

"During the time off, I really missed flying," Nordin said. "It's kind of a need. I missed being in the air and the camaraderie of the squadron."

Nordin's husband also is an F-16 pilot, which presents unique challenges to the couple in raising a 2-year-old. For example, she said, she sometimes worries about what will happen while she's flying or in the middle of something else and can't pick up Caleigh.

"Fortunately, we have friends who are willing to step in and help us out at the drop of a hat," she said. "Several times we've had to cash in on them for help because of mission requirements."

For times when the two pilot parents have temporary deployments at the same time and can't bring Caleigh, they have a family care plan in place to ensure their daughter’s care.

"We've been making adjustments in our lives to make things work since Day One," Nordin said. "The busy lifestyle is the only life we know. We've always had to adjust and readjust. [Caleigh has] always known this life."

But so far, she added, the couple has not yet had to miss out on any key moments in their daughter's life.

"I know there are a ton of families where that is not the case, so we've been blessed in that way," she said. "You have to learn to celebrate the ordinary."

The mom and fighter pilot said she can tell that her daughter understands what it means for her parents to be pilots.

"She can tell you what an F-16 is," she said. "She is thrilled by them. She'll see one fly and say that's mom or dad. She enjoys sitting and watching the planes taxi down the runway. She's engulfed in it."

The Humvee of Laptops

Panasonic's Toughbook has found fans among troops in Iraq. That should boost sales for the whole "ruggedized" laptop segment

Early in the war in Iraq, a firefight broke out in a neighborhood that had supposedly been secured by coalition forces. As bullets whizzed by, a U.S. soldier did what came naturally: He held up his laptop computer, a Toughbook 72 from Panasonic Computer Solutions Co. (MC ) Unlike most plastic-covered laptops, this "semi-rugged" model has a hard magnesium shell and steel-reinforced innards. The improvised shield did the trick. "There's a bullet lodged in his hard drive," marvels Maria Leadingham, who manages technology for the Civil Affairs Psychological Operations Center at Fort Bragg, N.C.

No, Panasonic doesn't bill its Toughbooks as bulletproof. But its "fully ruggedized" models are all but impervious to sand and heat, and even the semi-rugged models can stand up to the daily jostling of war. As a result, more than 5,000 are in use in Iraq. Special Forces paratroopers pack a four-pound model in their backpacks. B-1 bomber crews use them for mission planning. 

So far, the machines are proving their mettle. After sandstorms in late March, 6 of 32 standard notebooks used in Leadingham's group suffered technical glitches, compared with only 3 of 200 Toughbooks. 

FALLING PRICES.  Just as the first Gulf War fueled postwar popularity for Humvees, the Iraq War may well accelerate sales of Toughbooks and their ilk long after the war ends. Why? Portable computers take a beating, whether they're being tossed into the trunk of a car, splashed with coffee, or knocked off tables. 

Fully rugged models are likely to remain niche items. They are completely sealed from the elements and hold up even when run over by a truck, but often cost $3,000-plus. That's well above the current average notebook price tag of $1,580. But some semi-rugged models, which come equipped with spill-resistant keyboards, hard casings, and gel-encased disk drives, cost just 10% more than garden-variety models. 

And thanks to falling PC prices, the premium is not so onerous. Panasonic, for example, recently unveiled a "ruggedized" one-pound, ultralight PC for $2,000 -- just $300 more than a similar, nonrugged model from Dell Computer Corp. (DELL ). 

DROP RATE.  The real appeal is reduced maintenance costs. Analysts say 20% of mainstream laptops fail in the first year, usually because of accidental damage. That rises to 35% once a notebook leaves its docking station and to more than 50% for machines that are used outdoors or on shop floors. But the failure rate of rugged or semi-rugged machines is just 5%. 

With the notebook business growing at 14.2% a year, nearly twice the clip of the desktop sector, "a lot more PCs are going to get dropped," notes Panasonic Computer CEO Rance Poehler. He says that increased breakdowns should drive demand for rugged and semi-rugged models. 

And Panasonic plans to cash in. While most PC makers do well to earn a 20% gross margin on notebook sales, Panasonic earns 25% or more. Panasonic's engineers work closely with customers to design products that meet specific needs -- and command premium pricing. Also, the company drives down costs by using low-cost components supplied by its parent, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. 

To be sure, the PC powers need not tremble yet. Market watcher Venture Development Corp. says the rugged notebook market was just $600 million in 2002, less than 5% of the overall notebook PC market. Should demand for semi-rugged continue to grow, industry giants such as IBM (IBM ) and Dell could add features such as cushioned disk drives or magnesium casings. For now, Panasonic has carved out a business that looks likely to withstand the jolts and splashes ahead. 


One of the only places you can purchase cost-effective Toughbooks is at Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff. They have a wide refurbished selection with a Lifetime Labor Warranty.

Jacksonville Naval Aviators and Aircrew Visit Local High School

By Kaylee LaRocque, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Three women naval aviators from Patrol Squadron Thirty visited Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Fla., as part of Naval Air Station Jacksonville's Centennial of Naval Aviation activities, May 13.

The team consisting of P-3 Orion Pilot Lt. Leigh Shannon, Naval Flight Officer (NFO) Lt. Julia Feys and Naval Aircrewman 1st Class Katherine Cary, spent nearly two hours talking about their backgrounds, education and career paths to NJROTC students at the school.

Shannon kicked off the presentation by asking the students how many had family in the military and if they were interested in joining one of the armed services. She also asked how many wanted to fly aircraft and if they liked traveling. Many of the students raised their hands to each question.

After a short video about naval aviation, the team of aviators introduced themselves.

"I graduated high school in a small town in New Hampshire. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do after high school and then I learned about the Naval Academy and that I could go there and learn to fly airplanes. I also grew up surfing and learned that most of the time people in the Navy were stationed by the water. So I decided to join," Shannon told the students. "I finished college and headed to flight school. During my career so far, I've flown five different aircraft and been all over the world. I'm a pilot at VP-30 right now but am soon headed back to Hawaii."

Cary also discussed her background and how she chose her career.

"I'm from a small town in Wisconsin and was working in a movie theater while attending college. I decided I wanted to do something different so I joined the Navy in 2001. After boot camp, I got orders to fly on planes in Bahrain. I was 19 at the time," she said.

"I have travelled to a lot of really cool places including Egypt, Japan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Iraq and some places that probably no one has heard of. I was also stationed in Hawaii with Lt. Shannon and them we both ended up here. I love flying on the P-3's and being part of the aircrew team," continued Cary. "I'm also working on my college degree and the Navy is paying for most of it."

Feys also talked about her job as an NFO and why she joined the Navy.

"I'm from a town near Detroit, Mich. I graduated from high school and was working at a VFW hall and decided to check out the Naval Academy. It was free and I wanted to leave Michigan. So I was accepted, graduated with a degree in computer science and became an NFO," said Feys.

"After lots of training, I went to Whidbey Island, Wash., for my first tour in a P-3 squadron. We went to a lot of really great places. Then, I came back here and am soon transferring to Dallas to conduct testing on aircraft. When I first began working as an NFO, I was the navigator working the GPS and computers. I was also in charge of communications. Then I trained to become a tactical coordinator which means I basically had to learn about the whole aircraft. My favorite part is tracking submarines," continued Feys.

U.S. Embassy in Uruguay Hosts Reception Aboard USS Boone

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Steve Smith, Southern Seas 2011 Public Affairs

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (NNS) -- The U.S. Embassy in Uruguay hosted a reception aboard guided-missile frigate USS Boone (FFG 28) during the ship's port visit to Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of Southern Seas 2011, May 13.

The reception provided an opportunity for the U.S. and Uruguay to highlight the partnership between the two countries and was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay, David Nelson.

"Events like this put a human face on the relationships we are building," said Nelson. "There is a lot of mythology out there. These events show our cooperation in an extremely positive light in an area which most people don't expect."

More than 100 civilian officials and military guests from USS Thach (FFG 43), USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907) and partner nations attended the reception and ship tours aboard Boone.

"Receptions and tours give us the opportunity to showcase the ship, and demonstrate our professionalism to our families, friends and partners," said Cmdr. Roy Love, Boone commanding officer. "It is an honor and a point of pride for the Sailors to show the ship to anyone who visits."

The reception gave guests an opportunity to interact in an international arena. The evening was the beginning of a weekend filled with events for the U.S. Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to build relationships with the Uruguayan navy and local communities.

"Uruguay provides the largest supplement of peacekeeping operators and that is of a large benefit to the U.S.," said Nelson. "Our interactions help build a dialog between our governments and it shows how far we have come as a nation."

The Sailors of Boone were responsible for setting up the reception area, preparing the food and staffing the serving tables.

"The Sailors of the Supply Department and Food Services typically work behind the scenes," said Lt. Jeff Carideo, Boone supply officer. "This reception showcased their professionalism. The night was a great success and that is a reflection of their hard work and talents."

"Boone is a great ship, with an exceptional crew, and it served as an exceptional venue for the honor of entertaining our distinguished guests and partners," said Love.

After Montevideo, Boone and Thach will continue with the Southern Seas 2011 deployment within the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

2011 Warrior Games Begin

By Lt. Tom Gordy, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NNS) -- More than 200 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen opened the 2011 Warrior Games at the U.S. Olympics Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 16th.

The ceremony began with a "march of the athletes" along the Olympic Path which was lined with flag-waving and cheering family members, friends and supporters, and was followed by the time-honored tradition of carrying the torch to light the Olympic flame.

Replete with military honors, including a flyover by Navy F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, the ceremony kicked-off a challenging and competitive week for wounded, injured and seriously-ill athletes.

Representing the Navy-Coast Guard team as torchbearers were Logistics Specialist 1st Class Robert Lipscomb and retired Coast Guardsman Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Michael K. Bell. They were part of a group of six service members representing each of the military branches along with Special Operations Command who were given the honor to carry the torch to Medal of Honor recipient Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, who lit the flame above the training center for the games.

For Lipscomb and Bell, carrying the torch meant much more than merely fulfilling a tradition.

"Carrying that torch shows that we can overcome anything before us," said Lipscomb. "It also represented the men and women who've given the ultimate sacrifice. That flame was a symbol of hope and freedom."

The 2011 Warrior Games are Lipscomb's first. The Goldsboro, N.C., native was diagnosed with stage IV diffuse gastric cancer in August 2010. Although he is still in the process of taking chemotherapy, Lipscomb said he is highly motivated to beat his odds and has set some high goals for the competition.

Lipscomb will participate in three events during the games: cycling (30-kilometer road race), shooting (10-meter air pistol) and wheelchair basketball. The husband and father of two daughters, Lipscomb serves on active duty with Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group in Williamsburg, Va.

For Bell, a two-time participant and bronze medal winner in the inaugural 2010 Warrior Games, being a torch bearer provided a symbol of hope.

"For me carrying that torch shows that there is hope after injury," he said. "You have to adapt and overcome."

Bell will be competing in the 10-kilometer Recumbent Cycling Road Race as well as shot put and discus events. In 2007, Bell was stricken at the age of 22 with a stroke that left his entire right side paralyzed. Through a year-and-a-half rehabilitation and hard work, he relearned to walk, talk, eat and do many other basic daily tasks.

He medically retired from the Coast Guard and now lives in Union, Mo., where attends college and is working toward earning a master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. He also participates in cycling events, such as the Tour de Corn, the Tour de Cure (diabetes) and the MS 150, a 150-mile bike ride for multiple sclerosis.

The 2011 Warrior Games will continue through May 21, and will include competitions in cycling, archery, shooting, wheelchair basketball, volleyball, swimming, and track and field events.

Team Navy/Coast Guard is sponsored by Navy Safe Harbor, the lead organization for coordinating non-medical care of wounded, ill and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and their families. Through proactive leadership, Safe Harbor provides a lifetime of individually tailored assistance designed to optimize the success of enrollees' recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration activities.

United States Tennis Association Host Navy, Coast Guard Members

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andre N. McIntyre, Expeditionary Combat Camera Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (NNS) -- Wounded Warriors from Team Navy/Coast Guard participated in wheelchair and adaptive tennis training conducted by national wheelchair coaches and volunteers from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) May 13 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

For the Wounded Warrior athletes, it was a much needed break from the rigorous week-long training camp in preparation for the 2011 Warrior Games.

The second annual Warrior Games began May 16 at the Olympic Training Center and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

"This is a leisure afternoon of planned activity for our athletes," said David Pennington,Navy Safe Harbor anchor program coordinator. "It is a low impact sport that is fun. It will allow them to chill and relax their muscles."

The adaptive tennis' goal is to promote and develop recreational tennis opportunities for individuals with differing abilities and circumstances through inclusion, knowledge and support, and by providing, where needed, adaptive programming, equipment and teaching techniques.

"Four training stations have been set-up with various activities to introduce Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to the lifelong sport of tennis," said Robin Jones, USTA national military outreach consultant. "We feel that it is a great activity for reintegration into the community, and it helps our warriors to adjust to life after the military."

"As part of the White House Joining Forces initiative, the USTA feels that Wounded Warriors and their families can benefit from playing tennis socially and competitively," said Jones. "It is a sport that you can play at any age, skill development or at any socio-economic level. It has no barriers, because it is readily accessible to everyone as tennis courts are in virtually every community."

"I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in this activity," said former Coast Guard Lt. Sancho Johnson. "I strongly feel that this is a great activity, and I am excited about the opportunity to incorporate this into my daily lifestyle"

"This was fun," said Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class Oswald Gould. "It has been a learning experience, and it is not as easy as it looks. It is a great outlet to a healthy lifestyle and a good means to meet new people."

Members from the team really enjoyed the break and appreciated the fact that the USTA invested time in order to facilitate this learning experience.

"It has been a great break from practice," said Johnson. "Sometimes you forget how much fun you can have with life when you take time to enjoy it."

"This is a good rehab activity and a great means to workout," said Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Patrick Woodruff. "It is great being around people who share similar experiences. This whole event has showed me how much they [Navy Safe Harbor] care about our rehabilitation and integration. The staff has been very supportive in facilitating activities to assist in our transition to adaptive activities. This activity is just another example of how awesome they have been."

The team is sponsored by Navy Safe Harbor, the Navy's lead organization for coordinating the non-medical care of wounded, ill and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and their families. Through proactive leadership, Navy Safe Harbor provides a lifetime of individually tailored assistance designed to optimize the success of enrollees' recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration activities.

Today in the Department of Defense, Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen conduct a press briefing at 1 p.m. EDT in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973).  All journalists must be seated by 12:50 p.m.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event, have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Scott Gould will testify at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs regarding the Seamless Transition Interagency Collaboration between the two departments regarding Wounded Warrior Care at 10 a.m. EDT in room 418, Russell Senate Building.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen and China’s Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army Gen. Chen Bingde will conduct a briefing at 4:15 p.m. EDT in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973).  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass must be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than one hour prior to the event, have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey testify at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee on fiscal 2012 budget request for the Department of the Army at 10:30 a.m. EDT in room, Dirksen 192.