Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers help with Special Olympics

Pennsylvania National Guard Courtesy report

GRANTHAM, Pa. (4/25/12) — Some came to give back to the communities where they grew up. Others attended to show support for friends and fellow Soldiers. All said they learned a valuable lesson - the amount they gave paled in comparison to the amount they received.

More than a dozen Pennsylvania Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 108th Field Artillery, volunteered their time to help athletes at the 2012 Special Olympics Area M Games at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., April 19.

Messiah College hosts the annual event, which this year boasted a record-breaking attendance with more than 1100 athletes, buddies and volunteers from the central Pennsylvania area for a day full of fun and friendly competition.

Soldiers drove from as far away as Philadelphia to act as line judges, time recorders, track security and presenters for this year’s games.

“To be given a ribbon or cheered on by their military heroes, it can't get any better than that,” said Kay Straw, director of the Special Olympics Area M. No matter how high or low the athlete’s abilities, they view the Soldiers as role models and show respect and admiration, she added.

Acting as presenters for this year’s event were Army Sgt. 1st Class Francis Manley and Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Corcoran, both members of Battery C, 1st Bn., 108th FA.

Manley estimates he and Corcoran awarded ribbons to nearly 100 athletes who competed in events such as the 50-, 100- and 200-meter dashes, the 100-meter walk and the 400-meter run. Other presenters awarded ribbons for the softball throw, wheelchair races and both the standing and running long jumps.

For Manley, talking with the athletes while awarding their ribbons made the biggest impact. In many cases, Manley helped to pin the ribbons onto the athletes’ chests.

“When that Soldier pins that ribbon on the chest of our athlete, you can see their chest go out; when he shakes their hands or gives them a pat on the back and says, ‘good job,’ you can see the pride come across the face of that athlete,” Straw said.

Army Staff Sgt. James Shirley, a supply sergeant with the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Bn., 108th FA, knows that feeling of admiration well. Shirley, a native of Carlisle, Pa., has volunteered with the Special Olympics for three years, the first two of which he acted as a buddy to a fellow Soldier’s autistic son. As a buddy, he ensured athletes got to games, ribbon ceremonies and other events.

For Shirley, seeing the joy on the athletes’ faces—no matter how well they did—brings him back year after year.

Other Soldiers echoed a similar sentiment: in a world full of competition, Special Olympic athletes seem genuinely happy to be competing with very little interest in the awards, ribbons or trophies. Often, noted one Soldier, it is the athlete coming in last that receives the biggest applause.

When the athletes did cross the finish line this year, Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Rouvre and Army Sgt. Andrew Bankert greeted them.

“I was a motivator,” Rouvre said, a human resources non-commissioned officer with HHB, who made sure he gave as many high-fives as he could handle. “When you see how excited they are [after finishing the race], it is an amazing experience.”

Rouvre is also in his third year of volunteering and said he especially likes seeing the same athletes year after year.

“I like seeing the kids growing up,” he said. “They often remember us from prior years.”

Army Sgt. Steven Robison, an intelligence analyst with 1st Bn., 108th FA, said Special Olympics is a cause close to his heart. Robison’s best friend has five adopted siblings with varying special needs.

“They are like family to me,” Robison said.

They are the reason that Robison, who had previously volunteered during high school, chose to volunteer again when he learned that the 108th FA has been involved in the games since 2008.

Robison, like the others, said he plans to continue his volunteer work with the Special Olympics later this year when the 108th FA assists with the “Polar Plunge,” an event held on City Island in Harrisburg, Pa., each year to raise money for the Special Olympics.

21st Century Sailor and Marine Website Online

From Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of the Navy (DoN) has launched a dedicated website to serve as an additional resource for the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative announced by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in March.

The new website, located at www.21stcentury.navy.mil, features frequently asked questions, articles, blogs, and videos to update Sailors, Marines and their families on important policies and programs, which impact today's force.

The 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness. The programs are divided into five areas: readiness, safety, physical fitness, inclusion, and continuum of service.

"The Department of the Navy leadership wanted to take all of our existing personnel support programs, those in development and some new initiatives, and bring them together under the one umbrella of 21st Century Sailor and Marine in order to ensure every Sailor, Marine and their families have the tools they need to ensure they exceed and excel in the coming decade. This website is a one-stop shop for information about these programs," said Juan M. Garcia, assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).

The 21st Century Sailor and Marine Initiative consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Department of the Navy.

Lincoln Raises Nearly $200K for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Benjamin T. Liston, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) supported the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) by raising more than $197,000 throughout the months of March and April.

Lincoln's NMCRS committee raised money by promoting fundraisers and hosted a NMCRS day, which included events such as a slam dunk contest and three-point shootout in the hangar bay, a 5K fun run and golf driving range on the flight deck.

Ten Sailors donated $5 each to compete in the slam dunk contest, and 60 Sailors paid the same amount each to participate in the three-point shootout. While the fun run was free of charge, golfers paid one dollar for every five golf balls they drove off the flight deck.

Personnel Specialist 1st Class Kathryn Benjamin, the NMCRS assistant fundraising coordinator aboard Lincoln, said with an original target of $140,000, the accomplishment was more than what she had hoped for.

"It's really great to see the crew come together to support a good cause," she said. "And having these events really boosted the morale of the ship. We all came together and had a good time. It was also a great feeling to help out our shipmates all over the world."

The NMCRS, a non-profit charitable organization sponsored by the Department of the Navy, is solely funded by charitable contributions like the annual fund drive conducted by shore and sea-based commands throughout the Navy and Marine Corps. Contributions are returned to service members in the form of emergency relief or other services. The NMCRS has helped active duty and retired Sailors and Marines and their families for more than 100 years.

Lincoln will turn over the money to the local NMCRS office once it gets to its new homeport in Norfolk, Va. later this year.

"The NMCRS is a great program because it is Sailors taking care of their fellow Sailors through donations and charitable drives," said Chief Religious Programs Specialist Elliot Warley, Lincoln's NMCRS emergency relief coordinator. "It's a program that helps Sailors out when they encounter a family emergency or crisis."

Lincoln is deployed as the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, which includes embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, comprised of guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

CSG 9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S., Brazil Launch New Defense Cooperation Dialogue

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

BRASILIA, Brazil, April 24, 2012 – Here in the capital of the largest country in South America, U.S. and Brazilian defense leaders met for the first time under a new cooperative agreement that will expand an already close military partnership.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Brazilian Defense Minister Celso Amorim today conducted the first U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Dialogue, an initiative established April 9 in Washington, D.C., by U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

“Brazil is a global power. Brazil is a positive force for stability, not only in the Americas but across the world,” said Panetta, here during a weeklong visit to South America, his first as defense secretary.

“For that reason,” he added, “it is a privilege for me to come here to Brasilia to conduct the first Defense Cooperation Dialogue with Minister Amorim, a dialogue that both our presidents signed and supported.”

“We need to be ready for a broader type of defense,” Amorim said of his nation and its 360,000-member armed forces, “and the United States is certainly a very important partner in this process.”

Amorim accepted Panetta’s invitation to visit Washington, adding that a convenient date must be found to continue his and the secretary’s “extremely productive and open” discussion.

After a press briefing with Amorim, Panetta met with retired Gen. Jose Elito Carvalho Sigueira, minister of institutional security and responsible among other duties for Brazil’s cyber security.

In April 2010, the two nations signed the U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Agreement, the provisions of which framed the discussion today.

During their meeting, Panetta and Amorim said they intend that defense cooperation between the nations will focus on priority categories of activity during 2012.

These include cyber security; science, innovation and technology transfer; logistics; communications; humanitarian assistance and disaster response; and cooperation in support of Africa nations.

Panetta said exchanging more information on cyber security will be beneficial in “a whole new arena. I think both of our nations are concerned about … how we can effectively defend against those potential attacks.”

About humanitarian assistance and disaster response, the secretary said Brazil has performed an outstanding role in Haiti since that island nation experienced a devastating and deadly earthquake and tsunami in January 2010.

“I commend them on the work they’ve done there,” Panetta added. “They have learned a lot of lessons with regard to humanitarian aid and we look forward to being able to share those lessons and to build even greater cooperation in this area in the future.”

Panetta and Amorim also discussed a shared desire to expand the nations’ already significant two-way trade in advanced defense technology,” he said.

“We think Brazil is a very important partner in that area,” the secretary added, “and we continue to look for ways to improve the technology we share with Brazil so hopefully Brazil can provide jobs and opportunities for its people as we provide jobs and opportunities for ours.”

The best such example is the United States’ entry into the Brazilian Air Force’s F-X2 fighter competition, in which it will compete with two other contenders.

“We’ve made a strong offer to provide the Super Hornet” Panetta said, a marine strike attack aircraft manufactured by an American company.

“It’s an advanced aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force, and we think it can help provide Brazil with the kind of fighter technology that it needs for the future,” the secretary said.

A key element in the recently unveiled new U.S. defense strategy “is to strengthen our global security partnerships in very innovative ways,” he said.

“That’s why this Defense Cooperation Dialogue is very important for us,” the secretary added, “because it provides a vehicle for Brazil and the United States to build an innovative defense partnership for the 21st Century.”

There was a time in the past when the United States discouraged countries in Latin America and Central America from developing military capabilities, Panetta said.

“The fact is, today we think the development of those kinds of capabilities is important,” he said, “and that if we can use those capabilities to develop the kind of innovative partnerships that I’m talking about, that will … advance the security of this region and the security of the countries involved.”

The secretary added, “We think this is a real opportunity. The United States, just like other countries, is facing budget constrictions with regard to the future. And what we believe is that the best way to approach the future is to develop partnerships, alliances [and] relationships with other countries, [to] share information, share assistance, share capabilities.”

In that way, Panetta said, “we can provide greater security for the future. That’s our goal, and I think that’s the goal of Brazil as well.”

Sailors Use Voluntary Sea Duty Program to Shape Career

From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Just three months since announced, more than 360 Sailors have applied for the Voluntary Sea Duty Program (VSDP), officials said April 24.

"We're very pleased with the response from the Fleet," said Capt. Kent Miller, director, Enlisted Distribution Division, Navy Personnel Command. "The intent of this program is to focus on improving sea duty manning, with deploying units and Fleet balance being prime considerations."

Announced in NAVADMIN 043/12, Navy established VSDP for highly trained and motivated Sailors to fill critical billets at sea in support of Navy's global mission.

Under the program, Sailors may apply to extend their enlistment in their current sea duty billet beyond their prescribed sea tour, terminate their shore duty early in order to extend their enlistment to obtain new orders to a sea duty billet, or accept back-to-back sea duty orders. The sea duty assignment may be on board ships, squadrons, or other qualified sea duty assignments.

"I thought I would take the opportunity to transfer back to Bangor Submarine Base," said Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SS) Matthew C. McKinsey, assigned to Naval Ocean Processing Facility (NOPF) Whidbey Island. McKinsey's current shore assignment and location of family members require the Sailor, who has served 10 years, to commute two hours a day each way.

Volunteers will be assigned to commands within the same geographic location as the current command if available, providing the benefit of geographic stability for Sailors and family members. The Navy will also consider Sailors' requests for out-of-area moves.

"[VSDP] would allow me to spend more time with my family, increase my financial flexibility and give me a higher sense of job accomplishment by working in my rate and exposure and experience to multiple job tasking," said McKinsey.

Sailors accepted into VSDP will be able to defer their Perform-to-Serve (PTS) window to the minimum obligated service requirement for the orders negotiated, typically 24 months.

"PTS deferment allows VSDP Sailors to extend their current enlistment for orders or extend at their current assignment without a PTS quota," said Miller.

Eligibility criteria for PTS deferment is outlined in the NAVADMIN.

VSDP also provides Sailors a chance to improve their records and increase their competitive edge through sustained superior performance at sea.

"I utilized the Voluntary Sea Duty Program to negotiate for a specific billet," said Navy Counselor 1st Class (SW/SCW/AW) Shannun La Morte, command career counselor, Navy Information Operations Command Norfolk. "As a single mother of a 12 year old and as an NC, I was aware the type of billet I needed for progression. Thankfully there was a sea billet in the area to accommodate."

Volunteers will not be required to accept a billet they do not desire. The detailers will work with volunteers during two CMS/ID cycles to find desirable orders. If no match is found during this time period, Sailors can reapply.

This program does not change eligibility or benefits for the Sea Duty Incentive Pay Program and Sailors may take advantage of both programs concurrently.

Requests will be accepted until Sept. 30. All 1306/7 requests should be forwarded to Navy Personnel Command via the Chain of Command.

For complete information on eligibility, restrictions and application procedures as well as benefits of VSDP, read NAVADMIN 043/12 at www.npc.navy.mil and speak with your command career counselor.