A Farewell Message to the Defense Department

By William J. Lynn III
Deputy Secretary of Defense

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2011 – As I depart the Pentagon after thirty-two months in office, I want you to know that serving as our nation’s 30th Deputy Secretary of Defense has been the greatest privilege of my life.

I am grateful for the strong leadership provided by President Obama, by Secretary Bob Gates, and now by Secretary Leon Panetta. I also want to thank my colleagues at DOD. There is no better team for these times, no stronger set of leaders for the challenges we face, no more dedicated group of people to work with in support of our troops.

Each day in this job, I have stood in awe of the young men and women who strap on body armor and go out on patrol, not knowing whether they will return to base safe. Each day, I have been humbled by the quiet determination of our military families and especially our wounded warriors, who have sacrificed so much. Each day, I have admired the dedication of our civil servants, who, a decade after 9/11, return every morning to a building once subject to brutal attack.

As I walk down the Pentagon steps a final time, I am confident our Department is well positioned to weather the institution challenges our fiscal environment presents. I wish you well in the months and years ahead as you continue to protect and defend our great nation.

MCPON Visits Sailors on Korean Peninsula

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Brianna K. Dandridge, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/SW) Rick D. West conducted an all-hands call with Sailors in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Oct. 5, to discuss prominent topics including Perform-to-serve, new uniforms and the future of Individual Augumentee (IA) assignments.

With the Navy's retention rate at an all-time high, manning has become imbalanced in some job fields (rates), said West. Some rates have become critically overmanned, while leaving others undermanned. With so many Sailors deciding to stay in uniform, West said there are three actions Sailors can take to enhance their chances of staying Navy.

"One, it is important to put a lot of detail and effort into evaluations. Next, ensure that you have all the looks in Fleet RIDE (Rating Identification Engine) and PTS. Lastly, be open to changing ratings and more opportunities," said West.

Fleet RIDE is a Web-based program which electronically matches Sailors' career interests and qualifications with the jobs for which they are best suited.

During the all-hands, MCPON took the opportunity to thank Sailors for serving and for being a "top quality and diverse force."

"Only one percent of the nation wears the military uniform," said West. "We have the special honor of serving our country, and I thank each of you for your outstanding service and dedication"

West encouraged Sailors to "stay the course," and to continue to excel in the Navy.

"You need to stay fit to fight, physically, mentally, and financially," said West. "It is important to be ready to take care of business."

Many Sailors said they were honored to have met with the Navy's senior enlisted advisor.

"I was glad that MCPON West was here," said Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Nathaniel Draper. "Junior enlisted Sailors need to hear the thoughts and concerns of senior leadership."

West also visited Sailors assigned in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, including Japan and Bahrain.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the commander for the United Nations Command; the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command; and commander, U.S. Forces Korea. CNFK also serves as liaison to the ROK navy and the Combined Forces commander staff in armistice and in wartime to commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Japan.

Navy Band Kicks Off Albuquerque Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse L. Dick, Navy Office of Community Outreach

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (NNS) -- Area Sailors kicked off Albuquerque Navy Week with a rousing performance from Navy BandSouthwest, "The Destroyers" at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Oct. 2.

The Destroyers will continue to play free performances throughout the community and at the Balloon Fiesta performing Top 40, classic rock hits, Motown, country, funk and jazz.

Sailors representing Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Phoenix, Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Albuquerque and the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) will spend the next week participating in various community events in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque Navy Week runs through Oct. 9 and will include civic, corporate and educational engagements attended by Assistant for Administration to the Secretary of the Navy, Carla E. Lucchino and Deputy Director, Concepts and Strategies for Information Dominance, Rear Adm. Michael W. Broadway.

"We've brought a lot of great people to Albuquerque, a lot of active duty, reserve and civilian folks," said Lucchino. "I want to talk about the Navy as a, 'Global Force for Good,' and explain to people all the great opportunities in the Navy and our contributions to the national defense."

Officers and Sailors are scheduled to participate in various community and corporate events including visits to the Joy Junction Homeless Shelter and the University of New Mexico Children's Hospital. Other events will have Sailors showcasing their culinary expertise in a televised chili cook-off contest, and later a visit to the Ronald McDonald House. The week culminates in performances by the Navy Parachute Team, "Leap Frogs."

"It's very important to get the Navy word out," said Lucchino. "We are the American people's Navy, and we want them to know what we do. We want them to know we're under the water, on the water and above the water."

Albuquerque Navy Week is one of 21 Navy Weeks being held across America in 2011. For regularly updated information and a schedule of events, visit the Albuquerque Navy Week website at http://www.navyweek.org/albuquerque2011/.

High-resolution photos from previous Navy Week celebrations including Navy Band photos, and information about the Centennial of Naval Aviation are available at the website.

Recovered remains of Korean War soldier to be buried at Arlington - News - Stripes

Welcome home, Soldier.

Recovered remains of Korean War soldier to be buried at Arlington - News - Stripes

Now, scroll down and read the comment at the end.

Wow.

Face of Defense: Togo Native Returns to Africa as U.S. Soldier

By Air Force Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti, Oct. 5, 2011 – During a recent civil affairs mission through Djibouti, Army Reserve Cpl. Kwami Koto – information manager for Civil Affairs Team 4902 here -- was able to articulate his connection to the African continent and its people.

"You see those kids playing soccer barefoot?" he asked his team chief as their vehicle passed by children running around on a dirt field. "That used to be me."

Koto, a resident of Denton, Texas, was born in Togo, a nation in West Africa. In the wake of a military coup d'etat and cultural turmoil nearly 10 years ago, he and his wife fled their homeland as political refugees to seek asylum in the United States.

"Human rights in Togo were being systematically violated," he said. "As a journalist, I started writing about it, denouncing the military regime's abuses."

Koto and his family began to receive death threats. He weighed his options carefully: stay in Togo and likely be killed while reporting on the unfolding situation, or flee to America.

"I chose the latter," he said.

After coming to the United States, Koto went to work as a program manager for a marketing company. He attended graduate school in his free time, earning his master's degree in journalism in the spring of 2005. Four years ago, Koto decided to demonstrate his pride for his adoptive country and enlisted in the Army Reserve.

"It is a pride not only for myself, but for my family -- my parents and my entire hometown back in Togo," he said. "They are all proud to have a son who serves in the most prestigious, and by far the best, Army in the world."

Army Reserve officials decided Koto was best suited to build relationships with villages and government leaders throughout the Horn of Africa. To him, the journey has been an astonishing one.

"Thirty-five years ago, I was playing here as a kid -- kicking an orange because we couldn't afford a soccer ball," he said as a proud smile grew on his face. "Now I wear the uniform of a U.S. Army soldier. I never could have imagined it years ago. It's indescribable, the feeling I get when I travel to African villages and help bring about change."

As an Army civil affairs soldier, Koto said, returning to Africa has been a life-changing event for him.

"I had seen Americans before, when I was in Togo," he said. "I learned English from a Peace Corps teacher. I never forgot those lessons or the interactions I had with the Americans. I make sure to treat the people I meet now the way I want them to remember me."

Civil affairs soldiers assess and engage local leaders at both the village and government levels. They build relationships with the people through a spirit of cooperation facilitated by African leaders.

Army Reserve Capt. Justin Lev, chief of Team 4902, said having Koto on the team has been invaluable.

"From Day One, he's been working with us on understanding the African people," Lev said. "The reason we are able to work so well with them is because of Koto."

Lev added that Koto brings a unique perspective on Africa's potential to the team’s mission.

"The African people are very resilient to live the way they live. They are happy with what they have," Koto said. "However, I constantly wrestle with the way some of the African people accept their situation without trying to improve it. Every living thing has to grow and evolve. Africa, after 50 years of independence, is ready to move to the next stage of its development."

Koto said African development must begin with its people, noting that an infrastructure cannot be built if the people are living in squalor. The first step, he said, is to build long-term, positive relationships with the people of Africa. Whether meeting with a village elder, working with local residents to put up buildings or playing soccer with the children of Djibouti, Koto explained, he would love for people in the United States to see Africa the way he sees it.

"This is a land of opportunity," he said. "Africa presents people with both an opportunity to help and an opportunity to learn. Just like all the opportunities we have in the United States, the ones here should not be taken for granted."

Lev said working in civil affairs with Koto and seeing those opportunities presented on a daily basis has changed the way he views the world.

"When we travel to these villages, we see real examples of people living in extreme poverty," he said. "All of the standards we have in the United States don't apply here, but the people are happy. It really shows that happiness is achievable no matter what you have or where you are."

With another smile, Koto acknowledged what his commander said. As an American, who earned his citizenship in February 2009, he has strong and passionate feelings for both his home and adopted countries.

"I love Africa," he said. "I love it in the same way I love the United States: with my whole heart."

Panetta: Egypt Making Good Progress on Transition

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

CAIRO, Oct. 4, 2011 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said here today that he has full confidence in Egypt’s ability to transform itself to a civilian-led democracy following 26 years of being ruled under a dissent-suppressing emergency law.

Speaking at a news briefing following meetings with Egyptian leaders, Panetta said such a transition would be a “tremendous signal” to the region about moving in a positive direction.

“I really do have full confidence in the process that the Egyptian military is overseeing,” the secretary said, referring to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, a body of senior officers led by Defense Minister Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi.

The council assumed power in Egypt on Feb. 11 after protesters forced the resignation of long-time president Hosni Mubarak during the early days of the ongoing Egyptian revolution.

“I think they’re making good progress [and] I expressed my personal appreciation for their role in helping the Egyptian people … transition to a new political future that includes free and fair elections,” Panetta said.

The council made important decisions in the past few days in response to popular concerns about several issues, a senior U.S. defense official said today during a read out of Panetta’s meetings with Tantawi, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and Maj. Gen. Murad Muwafi, director of Egypt’s General Intelligence Services.

The decisions included a commitment to lift the emergency law, which the military held in place even after protesters left the streets. The Supreme Council last month made changes to the law, but did not abolish it.

Although the council hasn’t actually used the law since it assumed power, the defense official said, “having the emergency law still in effect would cast a shadow over the election process. That’s why [Defense Department officials have] urged council members to lift it as soon as possible, and certainly before the elections take place.”

The council also agreed to end the practice of trying civilians in military courts, he added, and is planning to move ahead with the development of constitutional principles that will serve as a framework for the subsequent work of drafting a constitution.

One-third of seats in the future parliament will be individual mandates, the defense official said, referring to an agreement by the council to allow people who are members of political parties to join to offset the perceived advantage that otherwise would have gone to people from Mubarak’s National Democratic Party.

“We came away with the impression that the Egyptian leadership is clearly determined to transfer power back to civilian rule,” the senior defense official said, “but the timetable going forward beyond election dates that have been announced for the lower and upper houses of parliament is still not clear.”

Elections for the lower house will be held in late November, the upper house in January, and the new parliament will be seated sometime in March, Panetta said.

Afterward, a committee will be appointed to revise the constitution. Once that is in place, a presidential election will be held, he added.

In Panetta’s meeting with Tantawi, the field marshal discussed another recent decision of the council to accept international witnesses to observe the upcoming elections, and to continue to consult with major political groups to create the conditions under which new political parties might form.

On the defense relationship, Panetta expressed support for the continued development and modernization of the Egyptian armed forces and urged the Egyptians to make the best use of their U.S. foreign military financing by more clearly defining requirements and capabilities geared toward current threats.

“It is firmly in America’s interest to provide the Egyptian military the support it needs to confront shared threats and help further regional security and stability,” the secretary said.

With Tantawi and the other leaders, the secretary discussed concerns about the situation in the Sinai Peninsula.

Threats in the region continue, Panetta said, along with continuing efforts to deal with terrorism, concerns over nuclear proliferation, and continued turbulence along the border.

Tantawi assured Panetta of the military’s commitment to deal with potential instability there and with extremism in the region.

“The Egyptian military has worked with the Israelis to get exceptions to limits under the peace treaty so they can produce additional army units,” Panetta said.

“They’re taking advantage of Israeli flexibility on that score,” the secretary added, “so we’re encouraged that they’re going to beef up capabilities there to try to reduce the likelihood of future incidents.”

The United States is ready to help the Egyptians if they need technical assistance to strengthen border security, he said.

Panetta also urged the Egyptians, as he did a day earlier during meetings with Israeli leaders, that the Egyptian and Israeli governments strengthen their communication and consultations on Sinai security and border security.

“Anything the United States can do to work with both of them to promote that kind of relationship I think would be in the interest of the security of this area,” he said.

The secretary underscored with Tantawi and Muwafi -- with whom Panetta worked in his former role as CIA director -- the department’s desire to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation on a bilateral level.

Economically, the defense official said, the Egyptians were asking the Defense Department to do more to encourage foreign investment by letting potential investors know that security conditions in the North African nation have improved.

“This has been a remarkable year for the Egyptian people,” Panetta said, “and I have the deepest respect for their bravery and their commitment to bringing about the important change that we’re seeing.”

In establishing a new democracy, he added, “I believe Egypt will not only remain pivotal in this region, but can be very key to establishing similar democracies throughout this area.”

U.S. Soldier MIA from Korean War Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Cpl. Edward M. Pedregon of El Paso, Texas, will be buried on Oct. 6 in Arlington National Cemetery.  A memorial service was held in San Elizario, Texas, on Oct. 1.  In late November 1950 Pedregon and the Heavy Mortar Company, of the 31st Regimental Combat Team – known as Task Force Faith – were overrun by Chinese forces near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.  After several days of heavy attacks, Task Force Faith was forced to withdraw, but was stopped by enemy blockades that overpowered them on Dec. 2, 1950.  Pedregon was reported missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950.

In 1953, following the exchange of all prisoners of war by both sides of the conflict, no further information was gained to indicate that Pedregon had been held as a prisoner of war, and he was declared dead.

In 2004, a joint U.S./Korean People’s Army team excavated several sites in the Chosin Reservoir area and recovered the remains of at least nine individuals and military equipment.  The location of the remains corresponds to the positions temporarily held by elements of Task Force Faith in late November 1950.

Among forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used dental records, and mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of Pedregon’s mother and brother—in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.

Adjutant general receives second star in official ceremony

The Adjutant General is an Iraq War veteran.  Discover these Second Gulf War books written by other Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn veterans.

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Gov. Scott Walker formally promoted the adjutant general of Wisconsin to the rank of major general during an Oct. 3 ceremony at the State Capitol in Madison. Walker officially promoted Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar in August. However, it is a tradition for the governor to promote Wisconsin National Guard general officers with a formal ceremony at the capitol.

"I am honored to continue this tradition here today," Walker said, "and to officially bestow the rank of major general to an outstanding senior officer of the Wisconsin National Guard."

Several people took part in Dunbar's pinning ceremony. Walker and Dunbar's wife, Colleen, pinned the major general rank on Dunbar's jacket, while Dunbar's father Phil and mother-in-law Ida Donegan put the new two-star shoulder boards on his epaulets. His sister Margie Wildason pinned the rank on his hat.

Dunbar thanked family and friends for attending and for participating, noting that it made the event more meaningful. He also mentioned two special people who could not attend - his mother, Peggy, and his father-in-law, Buzz Donegan (USMC) - both of whom passed away in 2009.

He concluded his brief remarks by praising the Wisconsin National Guard and the work they do for our state and nation. "It is a privilege to be the adjutant general and serve the men and women of the Wisconsin National Guard," he explained. "I pledge that I will do my very best not to let them down."

Since becoming the state's 30th adjutant general on Sept. 1, 2007, Dunbar has deployed more than 6,000 Soldiers and Airmen in support of the global war on terror including the historic deployment of the entire 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Iraq in 2009. In addition to commanding the Wisconsin National Guard, the adjutant general oversees the state's homeland security advisor.

Since 2007, Dunbar has led Wisconsin through five separate Stafford Act emergencies. He also serves as vice chair of the FEMA National Advisory Council and was a member of the Local, State, Tribal and Federal Preparedness Task Force which presented a preparedness report to Congress in 2010.

Dunbar began his military career in 1983 and completed pilot training in 1985. He has served as KC-135 functional manager at the National Guard Bureau, staff member for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, executive officer to the director of the Air National Guard, and commander of the 141st Operations Group.

In 2005 he became commander of the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, at General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. There he commanded more than 900 Airmen and was responsible for maintaining worldwide unit readiness.

Dunbar has volunteered for and deployed on contingency missions including Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Northern Watch. A native of Drexel Hill, Penn., Dunbar and his wife Colleen reside in New Berlin.

Makin Island ARG Ships Support 11th MEU Counter-Piracy Training

The USS Makin Island was named after a World War Two battle.  Discover these World War Two books written by heroes who fought across Europe, Africa, and the Pacific.

From Amphibious Squadron 5 Public Affairs

USS MAKIN ISLAND, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships assigned to the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) served as the key platform for counter-piracy training conducted Oct. 1 by the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit during a certification exercise (CERTEX) off the coast of Southern California.

Led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron Five (PHIBRON 5), the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) were the launching platforms for air and surface assets that allowed a Marine maritime raid force to re-take a simulated pirated vessel.

"The safety and economic interests of the United States and our allies and partner nations depend on unimpeded trade across the world's oceans," said Capt. Humberto Quintanilla, PHIBRON 5 commander. "This Navy/Marine Corps exercise demonstrates our ability to execute anti-piracy tactics while conducting broader scope maritime security operations."

Quintanilla said that effective maritime security requires a comprehensive international effort that promotes global economic stability through the protection of vital ocean commerce. Hostile or illegal acts on the high seas must collectively be stopped.

"Our Navy and Marine Corps team plays a critical role in facilitating international maritime security cooperation," said Quintanilla. "Global maritime security can only be achieved through the unity of international and regional maritime integration, awareness, and response initiatives."

During the exercise, two AH-1Z Viper helicopters and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters were launched from Makin Island. CH-46E helicopters and a small boat were launched from New Orleans as part of the raid.

Once on board the cargo vessel ATLS, Marines searched the ship, apprehended actors playing the role of pirates, seized automatic weapons and returned control of the vessel to the ship's crew.

"This is the type of joint mission that improves interoperability and provides the MEU with an exceptional maritime raid capability," said Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Compton, the maritime raid force's first sergeant. "The Marines decisive and thorough actions enabled them to complete their task and conduct a successful mission."

The Makin Island ARG is scheduled for a routine deployment later this year.

Commissioned in 2009, Makin Island is the Navy's newest amphibious assault ship capable of utilizing surface and air assets to move Marine forces ashore. The ship is named in honor of the daring World War II raid carried out by Marine Raider Companies A and B, Second Raider Battalion, on Japanese held Makin Island Aug. 17-18, 1942. LHD 8 is the second ship to bear the name USS Makin Island.

Dempsey Settles in as Chairman Behind MacArthur’s Desk

Discover some of the best World War Two books written by brave veterans who fought across Europe, Africa, and the Pacific.

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2011 – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took some time today, his first Monday on the job, to speak with Pentagon reporters.

The session was off the record, but it yielded some insights about the 18th chairman his staff agreed could be made public.

-- Individual military awards and honors are represented by ribbons worn on the left side on the uniform. Dempsey’s official portrait shows eight rows of such awards, but the chairman wears only two rows. These are his joint awards and his highest Army awards, he said. Dempsey will wear his full complement of ribbons for official ceremonial occasions, but otherwise prefers to follow the precedent set by Gen. George C. Marshall, former Army chief of staff, secretary of state and the third secretary of defense. A World War I hero, Marshall helped to run World War II from Washington and wore only one row of ribbons, Dempsey said, as a reminder to look ahead at coming challenges rather than back at past achievements.

-- Speaking of Marshall, Dempsey has an original oil painting of the general -- recovered from “some repository” of historical military art and objects -- in his office. The painting is larger than life-size and hangs so that the chairman can see it clearly from his desk.

-- The desk in Dempsey’s office, which looks to measure at least a hefty 4 by 6 feet, is the same one Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur used in the Philippines during World War Two. In his office at home, the chairman said, he has a desk formerly used by Army Gen. Omar Bradley, the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

-- On MacArthur’s desk is an item distinctly Dempsey’s: a wooden box that holds laminated cards the chairman had made when he commanded 1st Armored Division during its 2003-2004 deployment to Iraq. The cards each bear the photo, personal and family information for a division solider killed in action there. The box has “Make it matter” carved on its lid. This, Dempsey said, was the phrase he used to console grieving troops during the memorial services for their fallen fellow soldiers.

-- Dempsey said that after he was confirmed as chairman but while still serving as the Army chief of staff, he visited the economics department at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He was seeking expert opinions to help him manage effectively in what Pentagon leaders have for more than a year called a “constrained budget environment.” Dempsey heard from senior economics professors, as well as “young majors” with doctorate degrees fresh from the London School of Economics and from Georgetown University here. The visit was interesting and informative, Dempsey said, and each expert had an opinion as to how best to tackle budget issues. As the Defense Department’s budget strategy unfolds, the chairman said, it will, in part, be “art, not science.”

DCoE TBI Expert Participates in Live Webcast to Veterans

Discover the best Vietnam War books written by Vietnam War veterans!

By Robyn Mincher, DCoE Strategic Communications

Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) subject matter expert Kathy Helmick participated in a live webcast hosted by USVets.tv September 30. Helmick, DCoE deputy director for traumatic brain injury, was part of a panel on traumatic brain injury (TBI), which focused on symptoms, prevention, treatment and progression of TBI care along with Dr. Vicky Youcha, director of Brainline.org, and Dr. Dan Budenz, founder of Online Rehab Clinic.

Because a large part of the USVets.tv audience includes Vietnam veterans, the panel discussed how some TBI cases were not treated because little was known about TBI during the time of the conflict.

“As we read history books and documentation of previous references to ‘shell shock,’ one would wonder if [they were] concussion related,” Helmick said. “We now have the capability to learn so much about concussion sustained during combat that it would be a shame to let this important time pass without filling these gaps of knowledge.”

A TBI may still be difficult for many service members to recognize. According to Helmick, there are guidelines to help service members remove some of the guess work.

“When a service member is exposed to a potentially concussive event, they’re now required to have a mandatory evaluation,” she said. “This, along with education, has transformed our culture [so] everyone can have detection capabilities.”

Helmick spoke about the progression of TBI care, which now includes in-theater telehealth capabilities for early detection.

“Technology has allowed us to communicate with a provider [remotely] so that the service member can stay as close to their unit as possible,” she said. “Unit cohesion is important to avoid co-occurring conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The panel also discussed the challenges military families face as they care for a service member with TBI. Helmick identified the Family Caregiver Curriculum, created by Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), a DCoE component center, as a helpful resource for families and caregivers.

Youcha, with Brainline.org and Brainlinemilitary.org, listed the tools available on the DVBIC and DCoE websites as helpful to get more information about TBI prevention, detection and care.

“People can access information at their fingertips anonymously, such as fact sheets, clinical practice guidelines and videos of those coping with a TBI,” Youcha said.

Resources available through the two centers include the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Pocket Guide, a quick reference, all-encompassing diagnostic tool for providers, as well as the Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit, a comprehensive clinical guidance tool to help providers assess and manage patients with TBI and psychological health concerns. DCoE also has a comprehensive TBI Information Sheet providing data and resources on TBI and a DVBIC Information Sheet, containing Department of Defense statistics on TBI throughout the military.

USS Denver Conducts Replenishment at Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Casey H. Kyhl, Amphibious Squadron 11 Public Affairs

USS DENVER, At Sea (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) conducted a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) in the Philippine Sea Oct. 3.

The ship received more than 160,000 gallons of diesel fuel marine and 25 pallets of supplies during the ship's first-ever RAS with the Matthew Perry. This was Denver's first RAS in more than eight months.

"Today's evolution went very well," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Elvis M. Acosta. "It's been a long time since our last RAS, so the training and safety briefs we conducted beforehand really paid off for us."

The design of the Matthew Perry allowed it to refuel and re-supply Denver and the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) simultaneously by way of connected and vertical replenishment.

"A lot of Sailors and Marines worked together to get all of our supplies on board today," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW) Gilbert A. Raquino. "The weather delayed our progress but, once we got going, everything was done quickly and safely."

Conducting a RAS allows ships to continue their mission indefinitely without pulling into port.

"Many of the Marines that assisted us with the fuel transfer had never participated in this type of evolution," said Acosta. "Despite the challenges, everybody stepped up, did their job and worked together to make this RAS a success."

Denver is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group which reports to Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. J. Scott Jones, headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.

A Conversation with Politico Columnist - Mr Roger Simon

No one understands politics like Roger Simon, Chief Political Columnist for Politico! Mr. Simon will be our guest on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show with MoJoe this Sunday the 9th of October at 5 pm ET.

Mr. Simon grew up on the South Side of Chicago where politics was a contact sport. At the Chicago Sun-Times, where he wrote a column four times per week, Simon was taught that the only way for a journalist to look upon a politician was down. He admits he now fights against that impulse daily.

Roger calls ‘em as he sees ‘em, straight up the middle giving a view from a lay person's perspective.


And what a perspective it is. From Chicago to Saudi Arabia, from Lebanon to Egypt, Israel, South Africa and now his view from his perch in Washington, DC, Simon has seen it all!
He’ll be giving us his straight up the middle view of today’s political climate on The Halli Casser-Jayne Show with MoJoe, Sunday, October 9, 5 pm ET.

GW Sailors Volunteer at Busan Orphanage

Discover the best Korean War books written by the heroes who fought there.

By Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Alysia R. Hernandez, USS George Washington Public Affairs

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Sailors from nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) visited the Sung Ae Won Home for Children during a port visit to Busan, Republic of Korea, Oct. 2.

Sailors were welcomed and briefed by the orphanage staff and later played with the children.

"The best part of doing this COMSERV (community service project) was seeing the smiles on the kid's faces... I plan on doing a COMSERV for every port we hit," said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Andrew Williams who is from Peoria, Ill. He was one of more than 40 Sailors who volunteered.

While Williams' goal was to make a difference in a child's life, others members of the George Washington crew signed up to experience another culture.

"I volunteered because I thought this would be a good learning experience," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler) Airman Stephen Sobocinski. "Instead of hitting all the MWR (morale, welfare and recreation) tours, I wanted to see another side to their culture."

The trip to the orphanage was just one of five community service projects George Washington Sailors participated in during the visit to Busan.

Sung Ae Won means garden of holiness and love. The orphanage was founded in 1948 and is one of 150 in the Republic of Korea. The orphanage's mission is to provide shelter for children who need immediate help, protect them from any hazard and guide them to become good members of society.

This was the second time the ship visited Busan, last pulling in July 21, 2010. As the Navy's only full-time forward deployed aircraft carrier, George Washington's mission is to help ensure security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean and work with regional partners and allies of the United States.

For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit Navy.mil/local/cvn73/.

Secretary General Sets Stage for NATO Defense Ministers Meeting

By John D. Banusiewicz

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2011 – NATO defense ministers will discuss operations in Libya, Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as the need for the alliance to increase its capabilities, when they meet in Brussels later this week, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will join his NATO counterparts at the alliance’s headquarters for the discussions.

At a news conference previewing the ministerial conference, Rasmussen called NATO’s effort to protect civilians in Libya “a great success.”

“The United Nations Security Council called for action,” he said. “NATO decided to respond. We put together a complete package of measures by air and sea to protect the people of Libya. And we are near to successfully completing that task.

Operation Unified Protector has done what we said it would do. We have kept our commitment to the United Nations, to the region, and to the Libyan people.”

The NATO defense ministers and their International Security Assistance Force partners will meet to discuss the “significant progress” that has taken place in Afghanistan since they last met, the secretary general said.

“Transition is fully on track, and we will not allow insurgents to derail it,” he said. “Already, Afghan forces are providing lead security for a quarter of the population. I expect the next stage of transition to be announced soon, and I expect it to be substantial. And at the same time, our military authorities assess that the insurgency has been weakened overall.”

Noting that insurgents continue to launch spectacular attacks to create the perception that violence is on the rise in Afghanistan, Rasmussen acknowledged that levels of violence are a concern. “However,” he added, “our commanders are confident that security incidents initiated by insurgent groups are lower than last year.”

About a year ago, he said, NATO officials said the situation in Afghanistan’s Helmand province would get worse before it got better as the alliance focused its efforts there.

“Now, we are seeing the results of our efforts,” Rasmussen said. “Attacks since June are significantly lower than last year. In fact, some districts in central Helmand have seen reductions in violence of nearly 80 percent. So our strategy is working, and we should concentrate on the competence of the Afghan security forces in dealing with attacks. That will remain our focus as we complete transition by the end of 2014 --– and as we continue to stand with the Afghan people after 2014.”

Recent events in Kosovo, Rasmussen said, have provided “sharp reminders of how quickly tensions can arise and how important NATO’s mission remains.” On Sept. 27, ethnic Serbs and NATO forces clashed at a disputed border crossing, and four NATO peacekeepers were injured by pipe bombs.

“[NATO’s Kosovo Force] is there to maintain a safe and secure environment for all the people of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity,” the secretary general said. “And we will continue to do so --– firmly, carefully and impartially, in full compliance with our United Nations mandate.

“That is what our troops have been doing for the last 12 years, at considerable risk to their own safety,” he continued. “NATO forces will always use the minimum force necessary, but they have the right to self-defense. That is what they did on Sept. 27.”

Also on the defense ministers’ agenda, Rasmussen said, is a discussion focused on building the alliance’s capabilities.

“My message is clear: improving our capabilities is not only necessary -- it's vital,” he said. “We have to spend on priorities, and spend together, by funding projects that will improve security for all.”

NATO operations in Libya and Afghanistan have shown, for example, that the allies must continue to improve their drone, intelligence and refueling capabilities, he said, adding that the alliance cannot rely on a single ally to provide for those needs.

In addition, the secretary general said, NATO is considering a wide range of projects to protect its troops and to make better use of available resources.

Rasmussen noted that Poland, Romania and Turkey have agreed to host key elements of NATO’s missile defense system, and that he expects to declare at the alliance’s May summit in Chicago that the system has attained interim operational capability.

“There are many different examples, but the bottom line is this: no capability, no operation,” he said. “If we want NATO to remain credible, we have to be able to act. And if we want to be able to act, we have to keep and acquire the capabilities to act. I will be encouraging ministers to identify projects their nations would be willing to lead in the coming months, and I will ask them all for their commitment to making these projects a reality as we head toward our Chicago summit.”

Missing Vietnam War Soldiers Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of three servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors. 

Master Sgt. Charles V. Newton of Canadian, Texas; Sgt. 1st Class Douglas E. Dahill of Lima, Ohio; and Sgt. 1st Class Charles F. Prevedel of St. Louis, Mo., all U.S. Army, will be buried as a group on Oct. 5 at Arlington National Cemetery.  Newton was also individually identified and will be interred individually at Arlington on the same day as the group interment.

On April 17, 1969, the men and three Vietnamese soldiers were on a long-range reconnaissance patrol operating in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, near the border of Laos.  That afternoon the patrol was ambushed by enemy forces and radioed for air support but thunderstorms in the area prevented rescue attempts.  Search and rescue teams reached the site the next day but over the next week found no signs of the men.

Between 1990 and 1993,joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed witnesses, investigated leads and excavated the site associated with the ambush.  The teams recovered human remains, personal effects and military equipment.  In 2003, some of the recovered remains were identified as those of Prevedel.  In 2006 and 2007, joint U.S./S.R.V. teams returned to the site and recovered additional remains and military equipment.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used dental comparisons and mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains. 

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.

Naples Bids Farewell to 6th Fleet Commander, Welcomes New Commander

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Oleksiak, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet held a change of command ceremony at Naval Support Activity Naples Capodichino in Naples, Italy, Oct. 3, in front of guests, friends and shipmates.

Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe relieved Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. Pandolfe also assumed duties as commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), and deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

Harris assumed command of 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO Nov. 18, 2009, and has since been involved with several multinational exercises and operations within the region. Most notably, Adm. Samuel Locklear III, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; commander, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples commented on Harris' service as the Joint Force Maritime component commander during Operation Odyssey Dawn, the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

"When the call came to establish a Joint Task Force, you were ready. You established your lines of communication, issued your guidance, and executed your missions with precision," said Locklear. "Your rapid transition to a wartime posture aboard USS Mount Whitney allowed us to quickly and decisively establish maritime and air superiority. This is exactly how it's supposed to happen. I am proud of what you accomplished. Because of your leadership, we prevailed in combat. It has been an honor to serve with you."

Harris reminisced on his tour in Naples and expressed his gratitude for the men and women of 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO.

"When I got here, I quickly learned how complex this mission was," said Harris. "Now that my tour is coming to a close, my appreciation for the men and women of 6th Fleet and STRIKFORNATO has grown into a profound sense of admiration, and I'm grateful to have the opportunity today to place credit where credit is due."

For his leadership as commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Locklear presented the Distinguished Service Medal to Harris.

After the award presentation and the reading of their orders, Harris relinquished command of 6th Fleet to Pandolfe, who greeted guests and his new staff.

"I am extremely impressed with what I have seen thus far," said Pandolfe. "Your initiative and drive led to success after success. Be assured, however, that many more challenges are just over the horizon and your skills will be tested again. I look forward to sailing with you on that journey."

Harris will serve as the assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon.

Pandolfe previously served as director, Surface Warfare division, on the Navy staff in Washington, where he led efforts to introduce the littoral combat ship to the Fleet, build the Zumwalt-class destroyer, and restart the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer line.