Soviet History

The January 25, 2014, episode of American Heroes Radio features a conversation with Captain S. Martin Shelton, USN (ret.), the of author of St. Catherine’s Crown.

Program Date:  January 25, 2014

Program Time: 1500 hours, PACIFIC

Topic: Soviet History

Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2014/01/25/soviet-history

About the Guest

Captain S. Martin Shelton, USN (ret.) completed “forty plus years of military service which included active duty in the Korean and Vietnam wars, requiring that he travel throughout the world, with particular emphasis on the Far East.  S. Martin Shelton has an extensive background in Soviet and Chinese studies which fostered his interest in the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Bolshevik’s regicide of the Czar, Empress, and their five children, and the burgeoning Soviet Communist régime. Captain S. Martin Shelton is the author of St. Catherine's Crown.

According to the book description of St. Catherine's Crown, “1917- Empress Alexandria understands that the Bolsheviks will soon topple the Czar. She charges her godson, Kirik Pirogov, to carry the imperial crown of Catherine the Great and a cache of Romanov jewelry to a secret czarist refuge in western China. Alexandra informs her youngest daughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia, of the escape route necessary to carry on the Romanov Dynasty.

Kirik and Anastasia make perilous journeys across Siberia via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Their story is told against a background of revolution, their hardscrabble life in the Russian village, constant fear of the Soviet secret police, and unscrupulous treasure-hunters.”

About the Watering Hole

The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life.  Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

           

About the Host

Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years.  He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant.  He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University.  He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership.  Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One.  He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen from the Archive:

http://www.hitechcj.com/americanheroesradio/soviet_history.html

Program Contact Information

Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA

editor@police-writers.com

909.599.7530

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/342119369260245

352nd SOG conducts exercise at RAF Fairford

by Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch
352nd Special Operations Group Public Affairs

12/26/2013 - RAF FAIRFORD, England  -- The 352nd Special Operations Group conducted an exercise involving six aircraft and approximately 130 Airmen from Dec. 9 to 12, 2013, on RAF Fairford, England.

The exercise was designed to allow the 352nd SOG to practice and evaluate their ability to efficiently forward deploy their newest assets, the CV-22 Osprey and MC-130J Commando II.

"Before we ever did anything with these new aircraft - other than local training - we sat down and took a long time to think about all of the skill sets and all of the equipment that we would need to go on the road," said Lt. Col. Michael Thomas, 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron director of operations and exercise mission commander. "This exercise is a way to validate our efforts and identify those things before we look at venturing further from home."

The 352nd SOG received their first CV-22s and MC-130Js earlier this year. The Osprey is flown by the 7th Special Operations Squadron and combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical-landing capabilities of a helicopter with the long range, fuel efficiency and speed of a turboprop aircraft. The MC-130J is flown by the 67th Special Operations Squadron and flies low-visibility, single or multi-ship low-level air refueling missions for helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft as well as resupply and transport of military forces via airdrop or airland.

According to Col. Christopher Ireland, 352nd SOG commander, they couldn't have picked a better location for the exercise.

"RAF Fairford is a perfect location for us to test our ability to forward deploy our new CV-22s and MC-130Js," Ireland said. "These new aircraft bring enhanced and new capabilities, and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to test ourselves so close to home."

The 352nd SOG is based at RAF Mildenhall, England. The unit plans and executes specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to transport and resupply military forces.

Face of Defense: Sailor Gets Presidential Call on Christmas

III Marine Expeditionary Force/Marine Corps Installations Pacific

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S.D. BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 26, 2013 – Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Vilma T. Rodriguez received a phone call from President Barack Obama on Christmas Day.

At the time of the call, Rodriguez was celebrating the holiday with friends at Camp Shields in Okinawa.

"In my 18 -- almost 19 -- years in the Navy I've never experienced anything like this," said Rodriguez, an independent duty corpsman at the Camp Kinser Group Aid Station and assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

"To receive a call from the president -- it's a big deal," she added. "I felt honored that he took time to show his concern for the well-being of my family."

Obama wished Rodriguez a merry Christmas and thanked her for her hard work during Operation Damayan, the relief effort in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. The Marines assembled with Rodriguez also had an opportunity to wish the president a Merry Christmas.

Calling service members on Christmas has become a tradition for the commander-in-chief, and Rodriguez was selected this year for her admirable performance during Operation Damayan.

Rodriguez provided essential medical care for the U.S. military response team, but she was also affected personally by the storm. Rodriguez, a native of Tacloban, one of the hardest-hit areas, lost her brother and cousin to the typhoon. Dealing with her own personal crisis, Rodriguez prioritized the needs of others over her own and dedicated herself to the relief effort.

Rodriguez impressed Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Eric S. Anderson, command master chief of III MEF, who nominated her for the phone call.

While working alongside Rodriguez in the Philippines, Anderson and Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Donald C. Schrader, command master chief of 3rd MLG, III MEF, both took note of her selfless attitude despite her personal loss.

"She always had a smile on her face; she was very resourceful," Schrader said. "She had her priorities all in order -- to the mission first."

Rodriguez is “a very humble person. She always puts others before herself,” he added.

"She's got a heart of gold," Schrader said.

U.S., Japan to Negotiate Environmental Stewardship Pact

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25, 2013 – The Department of Defense welcomes the announcement today in Tokyo that the United States and Japan will negotiate a framework to further address environmental stewardship of United States military activities in Japan, according to a DOD news release issued today.

"The United States Armed Forces appreciates its close partnership with Japanese Self Defense Forces and the government of Japan," Hagel said in the release.

Hagel added, "This framework will help guide our activities going forward related to our shared goal of reducing impact to Japan's precious natural landscape as we continue to conduct operations that provide for the common defense of Japan. This is yet another step we are taking together in order to update and modernize our alliance to ensure it is able meet the security challenges of the 21st century."

This framework will include a bilateral agreement that will supplement the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), and will apply to all U.S. activities across Japan, including Okinawa, the DOD release said.

The Embassy of the United States in Tokyo, Japan, today issued a news release about the framework.

Here is the text of the U.S. Embassy’s release:

The Government of Japan and the U.S. Government recognize the two Governments’ successful efforts on the environment, including 36 years of close cooperation in the Environmental Subcommittee and other relevant subcommittees of the Joint Committee, as well as the implementation of the “Joint Statement of Environmental Principles” announced in 2000. Bearing in mind such bilateral efforts on the environment, the two Governments reached a common view on the significance of further strengthening bilateral cooperation in this field by recognizing the importance of the environmentally friendly operations of U.S. Forces in Japan, as well as by enhancing positive relations between local communities and U.S. Forces in Japan. Regarding U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas scheduled for return, including those identified in the 2013 Consolidation Plan for Facilities and Areas in Okinawa, the Government of Japan affirmed its responsibility for environmental restoration.

Based upon the above mentioned shared view, the two Governments announce the launch of bilateral consultations towards producing a framework further addressing environmental stewardship relating to U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas in Japan. This framework is to include a bilateral agreement that would supplement the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) as well as other documents. The two Governments understand that the consultations are to be conducted based on the following:

1. Recognition of the importance of environmental protection and its contribution to managing risk to human health and safety. The two Governments affirmed their continuing commitment to implement the “Joint Statement of Environmental Principles.”

2. Application by U.S. Forces in Japan of high environmental standards:

A. U.S. Forces in Japan, in accordance with U.S. policy, apply the Japan Environmental Governing Standards (JEGS), which are drawn from the more protective of U.S. standards, generally applied and enforced Japanese national standards, or any applicable international agreement standards.

B. The U.S. Government’s review of local installation procedures periodically to ensure consistency with the JEGS, and to communicate that report to the Joint Committee.

3. Producing uniform procedures for reasonable host nation access to facilities and areas:

A. Following a contemporaneous environmental incident, i.e., a spill;

B. For site surveys associated with land returns as announced in the October 3, 2013, Security Consultative Committee (SCC) Joint Statement.

4. Commitment by the Government of Japan to take measures to support environmentally friendly projects by U.S. Forces in Japan as well as to enhance positive relations between local communities and U.S. Forces in Japan, in close consultation with the U.S. Government. Measures to be taken by the Government of Japan include:

A. Taking new environment-related financial measures additional to the current Facilities Improvement Program (FIP), which the Government of Japan committed to under the June 21, 2011, SCC document on Host Nation Support (HNS).

B. Assuming costs for other environmental measures within the U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas under a new framework constituting an additional exception relating to Article XXIV of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

C. Taking environmental measures around the U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas to improve further environmentally friendly living conditions of both local communities and those within the U.S. Armed Forces facilities and areas.

Former AF General Counsel appointed as Homeland Security secretary

By Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie, Air Force Public Affairs Agency

December 24, 2013

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- A former Air Force general counsel was sworn in as the fourth Homeland Security secretary Dec. 23.

Secretary Jeh Johnson, joined by his family, took the oath at his home in Montclair, New Jersey. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson now oversees the third largest federal department in the United States and leads 240,000 men and women working to implement the department’s important homeland security mission.

“I am honored to assume the important responsibilities of this office,” said Secretary Johnson. “The men and women of the Department of Homeland Security deserve strong leadership and I look forward to supporting them every day as we work together to make our communities and our nation safer, more secure, and more resilient.”

Former President William Clinton appointed Johnson as Air Force general counsel following nomination and confirmation by the Senate in Oct. 1998. He served in that position for 27 months and returned to private law practice at Paul Weiss in January 2001.

Following the 2008 election, Johnson served on President-Elect Obama’s transition team, and was then publicly designated by the President-Elect for nomination to the position of General Counsel of the Department of Defense on January 8, 2009, followed by formal nomination on January 20, 2009, and confirmation by the Senate on February 9, 2009.

Johnson’s legal career has been a mixture of private practice and distinguished public service and began his career in public service as an U.S. assistant attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted public corruption cases.  

“Johnson will play a leading role in our efforts to protect the homeland against terrorist attacks, adapt to changing threats, stay prepared for natural disasters, strengthen our border security, and make our immigration system fairer, while upholding the values, civil liberties, and laws that make America great,” said President Barack Obama.

Top AF leaders: Happy holidays to all!

By Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters, Air Force Public Affairs Agency,

December 24, 2013

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force’s senior leaders send a holiday message to Airmen and family members throughout the force.

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh II and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody thank service members and family members for their dedication and perseverance throughout the year.

They ask everyone to remember those who paid the ultimate price for this country.

“We are enormously privileged to serve with you in the world’s finest Air Force and look forward to a great year ahead in 2014,” Air Force top three leaders said.  “We wish you and yours all the best during this holiday season and throughout the New Year.”