Chief of Chaplains prays with Wolf Pack

by Senior Airman Armando A. Schwier-Morales
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Like most years, the Kunsan chapel hosted the National Prayer Breakfast on Jan. 22, 2014. However, a special guest made this year's event different.

Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Howard Stendahl, U.S. Air Force chief of chaplains, headlined as the guest speaker during the breakfast and also toured the base. In previous years, chief of chaplains were given the opportunity to attend many National Prayer Breakfast events. But this year, with recent budget constraints, things have changed.

"I go to one (location), if I could pick one, this (Republic of Korea) is it," said Stendahl. "A place where people are forward deployed, in face of a real and proximate threat. Persons who are deployed in place, I believe deserve the finest spiritual care and advocacy for religious freedoms we can provide."

The National Prayer Breakfast is an event that dates back to 1953 when congressional members wanted to unite leadership and reflect on the nation's founders' moral and spiritual values.

"The NPB is an important event because it crosses barriers of religion and culture," said Chaplain (Capt.) Krista Ingram, 8th Fighter Wing chaplain, "Prayer is universally understood even when it is practiced differently. The NPB is a celebration of this bond of prayer among and across peoples, and is an opportunity for the chapel to highlight a faith practice that unites people when so many want to use faith as a tool for division."

Stendahl conveyed the 2014 National Prayer Breakfast theme of "Mindfulness, Faith and Resiliency" during his speech at the breakfast. He also spoke on living in the present.

"The resiliency of the soul, whether you are a warrior, pulling peoples tonsils, or you are flying or fixing jets, is to perceive the miracle of the ordinary that surrounds us every day and not just wait for it -- but to see it here, in Kunsan," said Stendahl.

Approximately 170 Airmen attended the breakfast, helping to develop resiliency, comradery and the Wolf Pack family as Kunsan is a remote assignment that separates Airmen from their families.

"The speech Chaplain Stendahl gave helped reinforce the mentality, that yes, it is good to look to the future, but sometimes we tend to forget that what we have right now is worthy of our time," said Staff Sgt. V. Viviana Hook, 8th Logistic Readiness Squadron installation deployment readiness cell. "It made me realize that I was focusing on the right things when it comes to my children, they are my present and when the time comes, the future will be molded for us."

NCO creates Shogun Soccer club

by Airman 1st Class Keith James
18th Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- "Sorry sir, there won't be a 2013 soccer intramural season this year due to funding ," the sad news Master Sgt. Jody Miller, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant superintendent received when he phoned over to the 18th Force Support Squadron.

"Due to the lack of funding, the 18th FSS was only able to fund four out five sports, and soccer got the boot," Miller said. "My commander, and I talked about it and decided why not create a bootleg season, basically start it up on our own."

Undeterred and unfazed by the news Miller and members from the 718th AMXS created the intramural league. The league needed items finding a field to utilize, referees, gathering equipment, organizing the league by setting standards and bylaws and most importantly getting the word out to the teams who were interested in participating.

"Once (Miller) got up and running, I helped him with whatever he needed and we considered him the CEO," said Tech. Sgt. Sean Donovan, 718th AMXS aircraft prolusions systems craftsman, jokingly.

Miller with the help of his leadership and members from his maintenance shop, was able to meet all the requirements for the season, and coordinated with Ryukyu Middle School and Department of Defense Education Activity to use their field for the entire season. He also found volunteer referees, and participants to bring personal soccer balls.

The season kicked off in October, with three games between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m. every Sunday, through January. The league had 12 teams, one being a Marine team, with everyone excited to get out there on the field.

"Overall everyone had very positive attitudes," Donovan said. "Everyone was just happy to get their cleats on and get out there on the field and play."

Miller created a Facebook page called "Shogun Soccer Club". The page was used to set up the brackets that divided the teams into two divisions: East and West. The page also acted as a hub to send out information such as current records, statistics, schedules, and allowed for players to converse between each other and ensured the season.

Miller plans to create a soccer league year round with the standard 11 vs. 11 with 35 minute half' s, using the same system previously used, but opening it up to all, not just squadron teams.

"Were looking for all those other teams, more Marine teams, possibly an Army team and there's word that the Japan Air Self Defense Force is interested in taking part," Miller said. "So this time around should be interesting and hopefully a different turn out."

The Marines ended up winning the championship and were presented a trophy purchased through donations from each of the teams, ending the season with an excellent turn out.

"If the 18th FSS doesn't do intermural soccer again come October, we're ready to do another," Miller said.

In this day and age of the military, sequestration, force management and resiliency are popular topics and for good reason. The Air Force is currently undergoing various changes with cut backs, reducing its numbers of personnel which affect service members and their everyday lives. But, by staying resilient like in Miller's case, it just goes to show that when you want something badly enough, it can be accomplished.

18th CS shows info dominance, postal skills

by Airman 1st Class Keith James
18th Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Communications Squadron was recently recognized by the Air Force, with two Air Force level awards.

The18th CS won the Air Force Annual Information Dominance Unit Award and the Outstanding Large Postal Facility Award for their outstanding performance, stellar facilities and their junior Airmen, NCOs, senior NCOs and officers showcasing information dominance.

"Earning best communications squadron and best large post office in the Air Force is an outstanding accomplishment," said Lt. Col Jeffrey Blankenship, 18th CS commander. "These awards are a result of the hard work and dedication by the Airmen, U.S. civilians, and Japanese civilians. I am honored to serve alongside the men and women of the 18th Communications Squadron and amazed at what they accomplish on a daily basis."

The Outstanding Large Postal Facility award recognizes the stellar postal services here through newly integrated capabilities and programs that not only improved processing and delivery, but also receiving of mail.

Some accomplishments included establishing themselves as number one out of four for Pacific Air Forces large post offices by managing over 85,000 official mail center programs with more than 90 active distribution offices. By adding and streamlining a new United States Postal Service delivery tracking program, which alerts customers when their parcels have arrived and are processed, allowing the post office to trace over 19,000 in parcels to patrons.

"It's a big project and big program," said Senior Master Sgt. David Braun, 18th CS superintendent of postal operations. "But we figure out how to tackle any response".

In addition to winning the large postal office facility, the 18th CS also won the information dominance award.

Some of their major accomplishments which helped the squadron take home the information dominance award included being number one out of 17 units across PACAF, orchestrating over $1.8 million in wireless projects and installing Wi-Fi in over 60 facilities. They prepared site requests and certified over 140 technical orders tasks, secured aviation weather imagery for over 170 units in six areas of responsibility, and were named number one in PACAF communication security.

"We made huge strides in mobility. A commander can now pick up his laptop and connect (to the internet) at various points throughout the base, without having to plug into the wall or have a port open and activated," said Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Griffieth, 18th CS flight chief of plans and resources.

They also went on to earn the Defense Information Systems Agency Pacific Defense Switch Network facility of the year, which tested the overall maintenance of the DSN switch that connects all the telephone numbers on Kadena.

"Overall, I think our successes this year were marked by our leveraging of new technologies; bringing it to the war fighter in support of the mission here at the 18th Wing" Griffieth said. These awards indicate the impact that the 18th Communication Squadron has, not only on the 18th Wing, but also in the Air Force, he said.

"Sometimes people forget why we're here and that's to support the operation plans here at the 18th Wing through airpower," Senior Master Sgt. Seth Quirk, Section chief of cyber systems maintenance said.

Safety helps keep the doctor away

by Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais
18th Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Fitness is a big part of every active duty service member's life. Regular fitness evaluations, routine unit PT sessions, and working toward personal fitness goals are day-to-day considerations for everyone on Kadena.

Unfortunately, since they are performed so often, fitness activities have the potential to put service members at risk if they are not approached properly and with care.

"In fiscal year 2013 there were 59 on-duty injuries and 26 off-duty injuries," said Senior Master Sgt. Charles A. Siroin, Jr, 18th Wing Safety ground safety manager. "Fitness is one of the activities with the most mishaps on-duty as well as off-duty; fitness-related injuries account for 24 percent of all off-duty mishaps."

It is especially important for everyone to know the dangers specific to Okinawa. As a subtropical island and world-famous water sports destination, the island presents unique dangers residents should be aware of.

"We have had fatalities in the past with scuba diving and snorkeling, and even people just getting too close to the waves and being taken out to sea," said Siroin. "Because of Okinawa's climate everyone is doing fitness activities year-round. That's definitely our unique activity we have to constantly be aware of. There is no point when the amount of fitness mishaps decreases, they're constant throughout the year."

Siroin said that although the amount of mishaps doesn't decrease at any point in the year there is an increase following the beginning of the intramural sports season. Flag football, soccer and basketball are the sports with the highest rate of injury.

"Flag football historically has the worst mishaps because when these injuries happen it's not just a rolled ankle," said Siroin. "Usually it's because they came into contact with another player."

Outdoor activities aren't the only fitness endeavors that should be treated with caution. Those working out at Kadena's Risner Fitness Center should be careful as well.

"If anyone gets injured at Risner, all the incident reports are brought to us," said Staff Sgt. Michael R. Voutila, 18th Force Support Squadron sports director. "I'd say monthly we see maybe one or two incident reports."

Incident reports provide those who have suffered an injury at Risner a 48-hour window to claim the gym was at fault, although most injuries sustained at Risner are caused by unsafe or careless behavior.

The most common unsafe fitness behavior Voutila sees is improper lifting, an observation Christie L. Cornell, Kadena Heath and Wellness Center health promotions manager, agrees with.

"The combination of lifting too much weight and using poor form ultimately leads to injury," Cornell said. "It may not be today or tomorrow, but long term it will definitely lead to an injury."

Voutila said the best resource for information pertaining to fitness safety is the HAWC, where in addition to performing as the center's health promotions manager Cornell is the acting exercise physiologist.

"(Exercise physiologists) serve as the subject matter expert on exercise science and the impact of medical issues on the installation's fitness program," said Cornell. "We also provide guidance and recommendations for commanders that have unit PT programs. We want to make sure people are doing what they are supposed to do to stay safe in this environment."

All of the organizations on Kadena dedicated to promoting fitness safety do so by educating service members and their families on the difference between safe and unsafe behaviors and the risks the latter present. It's no surprise to learn their suggestion for the best way to prevent unnecessary injuries.

"Knowledge," said Senior Airman Miranda J. Douglas, 18th Force Support Squadron assistant sports director. "Make sure you know what you're doing. If you don't, find somebody who knows and ask them."

"Know your own personal limit," Siroin said. "I love football; however, I'm older now. I know what I can do and what I can't do and a lot of times people disregard that and push themselves too far."

The HAWC and ground safety ultimately hope to decrease the number of avoidable injuries in the future by spreading awareness about the risks unsafe behaviors present.
"The overall goal is to try to achieve zero preventable mishaps," said Siroin. "One is too many in our eyes, so we try to shoot for zero."

For more information, contact Kadena's HAWC at DSN 634-2499.

Resolute Support Planning Continues, Options Still Open

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT, Jan. 23, 2014 – NATO military leaders are doing all they can to make sure the alliance does not run out of options for the post-2014 NATO mission in Afghanistan, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.

During a military chiefs meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and the rest of the NATO chiefs of defense discussed delays caused by Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s refusal to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States.

The agreement, and a separate NATO Status of Forces Agreement would give the alliance the legal justification for Operation Resolute Support, the train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan that would begin next year.

NATO officials want the agreements completed sooner rather than later, and at the Pentagon today, Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said the United States would like to have the agreement signed "as soon as possible." 

Still, the alliance “won’t reach a point where we would be taking away from the possibility of the Resolute Support mission until sometime in the late spring [or]early summer,” Dempsey said. “Militarily, we always want to give our leaders options, and not box in our elected leaders.”

The United States military is more agile than most, Dempsey said, and can hang on the longest. All the NATO allies have agreed to Resolute Support. “It’s not that our allies are saying, ‘unless I hear by this date I can’t make a commitment,’” he said.

The best metaphor Dempsey has heard came from a commander in Afghanistan in describing why a decision sooner is better than later. “If you buy an airline ticket 90 days ahead of your planned travel it comes at a certain rate,” he said. “If you buy it a month before you travel it’s more expensive and if you wait until the week before you leave, you are really going to pay a heavy price.”

Planning for Resolute Support continues in Kabul with between 8,000 to 12,000 troops being considered for a mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces and for institution building.

In fact, the NATO deployment in July will be at its core Resolute Support, said a senior International Security Assistance Force official speaking on background. There will be some additional troops around in July through September, but by October most of those will be gone.

This protects “the decision space the president, the secretary general and coalition partners” have, the official said.

Still, the official agreed that sooner is better than later. Karzai not signing the Bilateral Security Agreement stokes uncertainty in Kabul, and this causes hedging behavior in Afghanistan and the region.

NCO familiar with turning challenges into opportunities

by Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Smith
4-25th IBCT (ABN) Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- As a young boy, growing up in the rural, mountainous town of Temosachic, Mexico, he knew he enjoyed class work.

But he never knew his academic talents would help propel him to a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, an American citizenship, and a position in the United States Army.

Army Sgt. Oscar Vazquez, a cavalry scout with the 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, first stepped on American soil as a child, when he and his mother illegally crossed the American border in Douglas, Ariz.

They swiftly moved by foot to a local Walmart where they found transportation to take them to his father, who was working as an agricultural laborer in Phoenix.

Vazquez excelled in the classroom at Carl Hayden Community High School in Phoenix.
He particularly enjoyed being a part of the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, where he aspired to become a Soldier in the Army.

He wanted to go to Army basic training between his junior and senior years like some of his friends did, but his foreign citizenship disqualified him. Army enlistment would have to wait.

In the meantime, Vazquez didn't let his foreign credentials hold him back from performing at a high level as a student and cadet.

He was awarded the JROTC officer of the year trophy and he earned a spot on the school's marine science program's robotics team.

The team's main project was to construct a remotely-operated underwater vehicle to compete at a national competition in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The competition had two divisions, the Ranger division and the Explorer division. Most high schools entered the Ranger division, while colleges and universities competed mainly in the Explorer division.

"We saw who was going to be in the Explorer class, and it was mainly universities, and the Ranger was all high schools. We were like, 'Well, if we can join either one, we might as well go against universities, that way if we lose, then it will be against a university and not another high school,'" said Vazquez.

Vazquez's team worked throughout his senior year designing and building "Stinky," their underwater robot, for the upcoming summer competition.

The team named the robot Stinky because of the strong fumes generated by the pipe glue used to construct it.

"We had to put it together in one afternoon, so we had to glue all of the joints at the same time," Vazquez said. "It was a small area, maybe the size of a cubicle, and it stunk really bad in there. We would go in and work for like five minutes and then rotate out with each other."

Stinky's capabilities included neutral buoyancy, on-board video cameras, an audio recorder, a water sample collection point, a robotic arm, and trolling motors for movement.
Vazquez's high school team, along with their colorfully named underwater remotely operated vehicle, went on to beat out collegiate teams from across the county - including the highly respected and prestigious team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The competition earned Vazquez national recognition, and Arizona State University offered him an academic scholarship.

He accepted the school's offer and spent the next four years earning his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

Vazquez met and married his wife, Karla, while in Phoenix, and the pair had their first child, Samantha.

Through all of his accomplishments, Vazquez was still saddled with illegal status. His wife and child were both American citizens, and he knew he needed to try for legal residence.
He made the tough decision to return to Mexico and apply for legal United States residency. His application was denied.

Consulate officials told him it could take possibly a decade for approval.

He filed for a waiver, but accepted the decision and acquired employment working the nightshift at a manufacturing facility in Sonora, Mexico.

He remained in Mexico for nearly a year until Carmen Cornejo, a Phoenix-area businesswoman, who supports immigrants who strive for higher education, contacted Sen. Dick Durbin.

He in turn recommended for Vazquez' waiver to be approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

"Dick Durbin asked Homeland Security to consider my case again, and, out of nowhere it just got approved for a visa to come back," Vazquez said. "I had a green card, and a social security number, and for the first time, I got a driver's license."

Vazquez used his qualifications to fulfill his lifetime dream of being a Soldier.

"I got back to the United States in August of 2010, and on Feb. 1, 2011, I went to basic training," said Vazquez. "I really wanted to go and fight for the country that had raised me."

"Luckily, I got to JBER July 19, [2011] and we left to Fort Polk [La.] to train, and then three months later we deployed. So I got to go on that 2012 [Afghanistan] deployment, which was really what I wanted to do."

As a paratrooper, Vazquez said he is particularly proud of his active jump status.

"When I was in high school, I remember watching the movie "Band of Brothers," and seeing them jump out of planes. I was like 'That's awesome! I want to do that one day.' It stuck with me. I couldn't get airborne in my contract, but I pushed myself in basic and [advanced individual training] to be able to go to airborne school, and I did it.

"So, it's pretty good. It's like how they say about this country 'If you set your mind to do something, and as long as you work for it, you will get it.' So, I've gotten everything I've tried to get so far, so it's been great."

During his time in the Army, Vazquez has gone on to attain full U.S. citizenship.
As a combat veteran, Vazquez feels he has earned his citizenship.

Army leaders said they have been impressed by Vazquez and what he has accomplished.
"I was inspired and deeply moved by Sgt. Vazquez's personal story," said the 1-40th Cavalry's commander, Lt. Col. Richard Scott.

Vasquez has perseverance and determination, and through the support of a loving wife, he has been able to fulfill his dreams, despite having the odds stacked against him, Scott said.

"It is exceptional individuals like Sergeant Vazquez who serve amongst our ranks that make us the best Army in the world," Scott said.

Vazquez's story is so inspirational, a movie based on his robotics team's victory is currently in production.

Motivated by an in-depth story by Joshua Davis for the tech magazine Wired in 2005, the film La Vida Robot stars George Lopez and Jamie Lee Curtis, is due to be released later this fall. Vazquez is played by Carlos Pena Jr.

AF vectors 58 captains, majors into regional affairs program

By Debbie Gildea, Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs / Published January 23, 2014

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- The Air Force has selected 58 line officer captains and majors for development as regional affairs strategists under the International Affairs Specialist Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.

The program, managed by the undersecretary of the Air Force, international affairs, is a force development initiative intended to create a cadre of officers with in-depth regional expertise, said Lt. Col. Carl Wood of AFPC international affairs assignments. It offers eligible Airmen an opportunity to develop international insight, foreign language proficiency and cultural understanding. Following training, RAS officers will fill international political-military assignments.

"Their in-depth international and regional experience and professional level language skills, combined with existing operational skills strengthen the Air Force's ability to build partnerships with allied and coalition partners," Wood said.

Most officers selected for the program will earn an advanced academic degree, learn a foreign language and serve a six-month immersion among several countries within their assigned region in order to meet DOD certification requirements. Depending on their assigned region, existing degrees, foreign language proficiency and in-country experience, selectees' RAS training programs will be accelerated to include only the necessary elements.

Officers selected for the program can sit in on the Jan. 30 webinar, which begins at noon Eastern Standard Time, Wood said. To log in, go to Defense Connect Online at https://connect.dco.dod.mil/r2q73262l1d/ at least 10 minutes prior to the start time.

To see the list of selectees, or for more information about the international affairs program, go to myPers, select "search all components" from the drop down menu and enter "PSDM 14-06" or "International Affairs Specialist Program" in the search window.

Opinion: A death while serving will never be senseless

Commentary by Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

1/23/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARSON, Alaska -- Hollywood has always had a "hot-or-cold" relationship with the U.S. military, sometimes praising our efforts, like the post-World War II-era movies, and sometimes questioning our actions, as in many Vietnam-era movies.

Now it is the current generation of veterans and service members who face the public scrutiny of Hollywood's media machine. The products of this industry have already started to define the history of today's veterans.

The most recent example of the media coverage of service members' actions, the theatrical version of the book "Lone Survivor" ( a film I have not yet seen), brings to light the heroism and sacrifice of U.S. servicmembers.

I recently watched an interview from a reputable news source in which the reporter used the words "senseless death" in highlighting the actions of the modern-day warriors depicted in this film - the type of people I've been honored to work with.

While watching this interview, I found myself amazed at the impressions many Americans have regarding the U.S. military and the sacrifices made to protect this country.
To be blunt, some people don't get it.

I've spent seven years, five months and nine days in the military. Four years were devoted to honoring the dead as member of the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and two years as a public affairs specialist for the 1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. I have had the privilege to spend my career writing about or honoring the sacrifices of true American heroes.

While I am in no way an expert on every service member and why they do what they do, I feel the need to spell something out: while these sacrifices are tragic, they will never be senseless.

It's not about glory, sacrifice or honor, though many noble people have achieved all three.
Many great men and women will tell you this is just a job and they need the paycheck. I've had those days too.

It doesn't matter if they are stellar service members or still trying to find their niche; if they signed up for the benefits or for the education. The men and women of the armed services are less than one percent - of more than 300 million citizens - who have sworn to defend this country with their lives.

This is a country people die trying to enter - just for the slim chance of having a better life. This is a country in which countless numbers have died to uphold the ideals of freedom its founding fathers established more than 200 years ago.

No matter what you think of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or the current state of this country, a death in the service of others - when so few are willing to step up - will never be senseless.

During my career as ceremonial guardsman I preformed hundreds of funerals for veterans and service members. Some of the people were more famous than others, like Chief of Staff of the Air Force Lew Allen Jr., or the first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, Paul W. Airey. Some of the funerals were more memorable then others, like the young child at his parent's funeral who was clearly oblivious to what this loss meant. Or the man who was the only person at his father's funeral who was so grateful for the service we provided that he insisted on personally shaking everyone's hand.

Of all the funerals I served at, the ones that stand out the most were repatriation ceremonies.

These funerals involved remains which had been missing, in some cases, 30 to 40 years.
These funerals always stand out to me because I was able to see the faces of families who had lived their whole lives without their loved ones, and how much that sacrifice affected their lives.

I was able to look into the eyes of a wife who finally received closure after years of uncertainty. In those moments, I was able to truly understand how meaningful that person's life was to her. For me, that is not senseless.

Hollywood, for better or worse, will always be there to dramatize the actions of great people. Their doing so is another way of ensuring their deaths will never be senseless - for the only senseless death in the service of the country is one which is forgotten.

Locklear: Pacom Keys Capabilities to 21st-century Asia-Pacific

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2014 – America's rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region is on track, and U.S. Pacific Command is staying on top of the growing sophistication of today's weapon systems in what Pacom commander Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III calls “the most militarized region in the world.”

Locklear briefed the press at the Pentagon this morning on Pacom’s progress in leading the Defense Department’s rebalance to the Indo-Asia-Pacific and the United States’ relative dominance in the region with such systems heading into the 21st century.

“The rapid technological advancement of warfare capabilities and the proliferation of these capabilities across the globe will challenge us in the future,” Locklear said.

“We must also ensure that we invest in the proper mix of defensive and offensive capabilities for our ships,” he added, “… and that the [ships’] capabilities are both lethal and dominant.”

The security push in the region comes with the growth of economies and because of the increasing defense requirements of Asia-Pacific nations.

“They’re buying … 21st-century weapons. They're not the same weapon systems we dealt with 30 years ago … so it stands to reason that our relative dominance in those technologies and weapons systems will have diminished over time,” the admiral said.

“That's not something to be afraid of,” he added. “It's just something to be pragmatic about.”

Discussing country-by country highlights of ongoing operations, Locklear began with Pacom’s contribution to the multinational Operation Damayan, established to help the Philippine government with the deadly aftermath of November’s supertyphoon Haiyan.

“There was a quick transition in that operation to the armed forces of the Philippines and ultimately to the government of the Philippines to be able to continue that recovery,” Locklear said, adding that the operation “demonstrates the value of working together on [humanitarian assistance/disaster response] –related training and initiatives so we can respond more quickly and more effectively” during natural disasters.

Locklear also traveled to Thailand and Vietnam.

In Thailand, which is experiencing political unrest, “it's important to highlight that the Thai military has responded favorably in support of their government, a democracy that's working through these challenges,” Locklear noted.

“In my time talking with the government and the military leadership, they highlighted their efforts to maintain peaceful democratic processes and we wish them all the best,” he added.

Locklear’s recent trip to Vietnam was the first visit by a Pacom commander since last July, when Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and President Barack Obama met at the White House for the first bilateral meeting.

Afterward they announced the establishment of a new Comprehensive Partnership to increase trade and commerce, military-to-military cooperation, multilateral work on issues like disaster relief, and scientific and educational exchanges.

“We're working closely with the Vietnamese military and we're looking for opportunities to expand and grow our partnerships, especially when it comes to humanitarian [and] disaster relief operations,” Locklear said, adding that the second Pacom-sponsored disaster management center opened in Vietnam while he was there.

In answer to a question about the December South China Sea incident in which the U.S. Navy guided-missile ship Cowpens took evasive action to avoid colliding with Chinese Navy ship Liaoning, Locklear described an evolving environment.

“As we look at the growing number of navies that are operating and the growing number of security concerns in this region, we have to expect militaries are going to have to encounter and operate around each other,” he said, including the U.S. and Chinese navies.

“This highlights to the [People’s Liberation Army] and the U.S. military,” the admiral added, “that we have to do better at being able to communicate with each other in a way that allows us [avoid] a miscalculation that won't be productive in the security environment.”

Locklear said Pacom has had defense officials in Beijing for the past two days.

“We have a mechanism in place with the Chinese where we meet routinely to talk about maritime incidents and how we interact with each other,” the admiral said, adding that he hopes “we will … continue to learn to interact and progress in the professional manner that we exhibit toward each other. This is the best way forward.”

Ultimately, Locklear said, for mutual security, China and its military must be regional leaders and coexist in its part of the world with U.S. allies and with U.S. and allied militaries.

“They're going to have to work hard to get through some of the … territorial disputes they're having with their neighbors. We don't take sides on the territorial disputes,” the admiral said, “but we do expect them to be done peacefully.”

In the end, he added, U.S. forces in the Pacific area of responsibility will operate freely in international waters and international airspace.

“That's the bottom line,” Locklear stated. “We will operate there and we'll operate professionally and we'll operate peacefully. That’s the message to all the militaries that operate in that region.”

In South Asia, India has a critical role in security for a peaceful Indian Ocean, the admiral said, and the United States welcomes that role.

The January 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance directs Locklear “to develop a long-term strategic relationship with India and we're moving in that direction,” he said.

A cornerstone of that long-term key relationship is to determine how the countries will partner in areas of similar interests and capabilities, the admiral said, and how to make this happen despite radically different procurement systems.

“The Indian government and military recognize their procurement system is different than our[s] … and we're working through how to streamline those differences,” Locklear explained, “… so we can move forward with some of the key technologies and key capabilities we want to develop.”

Elsewhere in the region, Japan and the U.S. soon will have a defense review to determine elements such as force laydown that will describe the future alliance, the admiral said, and the nations seem to be moving in a positive direction on the Futenma Replacement Facility in Okinawa.

In the land domain, he added, DOD is pursuing an initiative with its Australian partners involving the Marine Corps and the Air Force, and Pacom is inspecting the shared infrastructure in each alliance country to ensure it is set for the 21st century.

In response to a question about North Korea and its threatened use of weapons of mass destruction, the admiral said that nation’s continued nuclearization and pursuit of missile technologies under the control of an unpredictable young leader make North Korea a “potentially very dangerous” place.

“In the end,” Locklear said, “we must demand a total denuclearization of North Korea. It's in the interest of not only South Korea and the United States but of all the people in the region. And now it's in the best interests of everybody in the world.”

New Clinical Recommendations Released for TBI Injuries

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center News Release

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2014 – The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center has released new clinical recommendations to help service members who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as concussion, to progressively return to their normal activities following their injury.

These clinical recommendations are available for military and civilian health care professionals. The recommendations can be downloaded from DVBiC’s website.

“The Progressive Return to Activity Following mTBI Clinical Recommendations are the first of its kind and are tailored for primary care managers and rehabilitation providers. These recommendations offer a standardized medical approach for service members who have sustained a mTBI to return to activity in a manner which facilitates optimal recovery,” said Army Col. Sidney Hinds, II, DVBIC national director. “We created these clinical recommendations because of a need identified by our Armed Services and Veterans Affairs stakeholders. The mTBI patient was our focus and we vetted these recommendations with our stakeholders before publication.”

These guidelines were developed with input from academic experts, sports concussion clinicians and military TBI experts and will assist health care providers as they monitor patients recovering from concussion.

“These recommendations will further improve and standardize the care provided to patients with mild TBI and offer them useful information to become more actively involved in their recovery,” said Navy Capt. Richard Stoltz, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Since 2000, more than 287,000 U.S. service members have sustained a traumatic brain injury. These injuries have occurred both in training and combat. Eighty-three percent of TBIs are mild TBIs, making it the most common form of brain injury for U.S. Armed Forces personnel.

“DVBIC has more than 20-years’ experience in researching, treating and developing clinical guidance for TBI patients. Our work benefits not only military medicine, but the entire medical community as well,” said Hinds, who is board certified in neurology and nuclear medicine.

The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center is part of the U.S. Military Health System. It is the TBI operational component of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.