Operation Shower Champions Military Families, Moms-to-be

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., May 4, 2015 – A nonprofit organization geared toward helping military families -- especially expectant mothers whose spouses are often away fulfilling their duties – got a boost from the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at a special event here yesterday.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia lauded Operation Shower, which is sponsored by the PGA Tour, The Players Championship and fellow nonprofit initiative “Birdies for the Brave” and has helped more than 2,500 military families since 2010.

Leanne Morrissey, Operation Shower’s founder, said the group provides baby showers to military moms-to-be, and gives them items to help get started with the new baby. The organization also brings together military families in similar situations.

Giving to Military Moms

During a baby shower with the theme “Love is in Bloom,” 40 mothers were honored and treated to various gifts during festivities hosted by Morrissey and Tabitha Furyk, wife of PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk. Battaglia thanked the couple and praised Jim Furyk for his acumen as a champion on the golf course.

“How we all enjoy being in the presence of champions -- those who make a significant sacrifice to make a positive difference,” the sergeant major said. “I think the room is filled with champions today.”

Morrissey, he added, is herself a champion.

“Leanne, we wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you to bring such a vision and idea to a reality,” Battaglia said.

“Over the years, you’ve given so much to our military moms-to-be. [You] give, give and give more, never asking for anything in return. You’re really the reason that brings us here today to spend time with this other special group of champions: our military spouses and moms-to-be.”

Facing Hardships

The sergeant major praised military spouses for overcoming the hardships they face as their spouses are away defending the country.

“Ladies, you take on a magnificent responsibility,” Battaglia said, “and I just want you to know that while raising a family in the military has so many great experiences and memories, the hardships that you endure … while your spouse serves in uniform doesn’t go unnoticed.

“You are, at times, placed in some not-so-ideal conditions,” he continued, “[with] children moving from school to school, the family relocating to a new city, the separation month after month.”

Military Families' ‘Heart and Soul’

Calling military families “the heart and soul of our armed forces,” Battaglia told a brief story of a father who was a special operations service member and was often gone for long periods, missing out on time with his daughter.

The sergeant major said that while the story is an extreme example, it helps to illustrate some of the sacrifices that military families endure.

Battaglia told the expectant mothers that the nation is proud of them and their families, and he thanked the nonprofit organizations willing to serve the families in times of need.

Chaplains, RPs Enhance Skills in Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention

By Christianne M. Witten, Chief of Navy Chaplains Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 80 Navy chaplains and religious program specialists (RP) gathered at Naval Station Norfolk for a professional development training course (PDTC), April 27-30.

The training focused on enhancing pastoral care skills and the role of spirituality for service members and families in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. The Norfolk PDTC is one of 13 total training sessions the Chaplain Corps is conducting worldwide from January to July 2015.

"It cuts right to the core of the command when suicide happens," said Capt. Robert Clark Jr., commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk, in his opening remarks to the attendees. "Chaplains play a key role in suicide prevention and particularly in postvention as advisors to the commander on the best way to care for the impacted family and Sailors in the command," he added.

Subject matters experts in suicidology and suicide intervention from the 21st Century Sailor Office and LivingWorks Education facilitated the training alongside the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center staff.

"In this training, we will focus on the unique ways we can keep our warfighters in strength by providing courageous care where it matters, when it matters on the deck plate," said Deputy Chief of Navy Chaplains Rear Adm. Brent Scott during his opening remarks. "As chaplains, we usher in the divine presence into the conversation as we speak to the issues of hopelessness and one's purpose in life," he added.

In addition to pastoral care, the three-day training underscored the invaluable advisory role of chaplains to the command triad to address command climate issues, help reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behavior to prevent suicide in the command.

"The link to building resilience in our people is reducing barriers and reinforcing hope. It's not a one-size- fits-all approach but about building bridges with other partners in care with whom we work as professional Navy chaplains," said Capt. Frank Foley, a Navy chaplain in the chief of chaplains' office who helped facilitate the training.

Days one and two focused on effective prevention and intervention strategies. These strategies included the importance of purposeful engagement at various transition points in a service member's career, and purposeful listening to connect the dots indicating when someone might be at risk. These risk factors include: a disrupted social network, relationship challenges, occupational or academic setbacks, and fall from glory situations.

"Chaplains are vital resources to Sailors and families, particularly when it comes to navigating life's stressors and challenges," said Steve Holton, deputy director for the 21st Century Sailor Office Suicide Prevention Branch. "The evidence-based tools we're introducing to the Fleet through these trainings will enable any shipmate, leader or professional to effectively assess a Sailor's level of risk, promote positive coping strategies, and build trust. This collaboration is another way for us to provide tools to support Every Sailor, Every Day and encourage proactive engagement before crises occur," Holton added.

Participants learned how to use evidence-based intervention tools such as the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, a screening tool for persons at risk, and the VA safety plan. Both tools are intended to equip chaplains with the right questions to ask to help keep service members and family members safe, without compromising an individual's confidentiality.

"As we care for our people, we provide a completely confidential and safe place for those who are experiencing suicidal thoughts to explore their pain. We are able to help them build personal and spiritual resilience so they can work through their challenges and successfully re-integrate into their work environment," said Cmdr. Glenda Harrison, command chaplain for USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and training participant.

"Training of this nature is paramount to a chaplain's professional development and keeps the chaplain leaning forward to provide viable solutions to the command to address this health of force issue," Harrison added.

The training also emphasized the importance of engaging family members who are often the ones most attuned to changes in their Sailor, Marine, or Coast Guardsmen. According to Joiner's Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, these changes include signs of isolation, "thwarted belongingness" or "perceived burdensomeness."

While many family members fear disclosing information that could impact their service members' career, they also have complete confidentiality with their chaplain. In these cases, chaplains can act as an advocate to intervene and get the service member the help he or she needs.

The final day of training focused on postvention, supporting a survivor's recovery and reintegration back into the command. Participants learned how to best advise commanders in the aftermath of a suicide to be sensitive to the needs of the crew and ways to foster an environment of healing in the command and for family members as they grieve.

"One of the best practices shared which I intend to take back to my command is the importance of rehearsing my command's suicide crisis response plan," said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Prince, the command chaplain for the Coast Guard's 5th District. "My command recently had a person die by suicide. Since that time, I have been making unit visits to engage people on ways to be resilient by proactively setting physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual goals in their personal and professional relationships," Prince added. "This training was a great encouragement as it helped validate this approach to care for my people."

Water, fuel systems maintainers work around clock to keep up flow

by Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
36th Wing Public Affairs

5/1/2015 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam  -- Many may not know, but underneath every person's feet at Andersen Air Force Base lie unseen miles of pipeline.

It is up to the water and fuel systems specialists of the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron to not only maintain the 45 miles of fuel pipeline and 100,000 miles of water lines, but also inspect and maintain the Air Force's largest fuel storage buildings, which in total hold 66 million gallons.

Day and night, the 36th CES Airmen install, inspect, modify and repair 600 facilities that include water and wastewater treatment systems, water distribution, waste collection systems, fire suppression, backflow prevention systems and liquid fuel storage.

"Basically from the moment the water reaches the base to the moment it leaves the base as waste, it is our responsibility," said Staff Sgt. Staci Ducusin, 36th CES water and fuels systems craftsman.

The shop is composed of 13 Airmen and 20 civilians working in sync. The military members are trained to work with both water and fuels, while the civilians are specialized and hone in on their skills as liquid fuel maintainers, mechanics and plumbers.

"The beauty of having (civilians) here is that they understand these buildings, that have been renovated many times and sometimes we (military personnel) don't know how the plumbing works in there," said Staff Sgt. John Steklachick, 36th CES water and fuels systems craftsman. "It's a learning process, but experience is obviously going to take the lead."

Since water and fuels systems maintainers are trained to work with both water and fuels, they have a wide variety of skill sets and are tasked with a range of jobs throughout the day.

The utilities systems maintainers' job is to ensure Airmen always have the water they need wherever they are.

"Whenever people call about clogged toilets or backed up floor drains, we are the ones maintaining that and trying to keep flow going downstream," Steklachick said.

The crews are also trained to set up field water purification units and field water distribution systems, as well as maintain and repair permanent water facilities to bring potable water to the warfighter. They also repair, maintain or replace washers, valve seats, leaking faucets and water/sewer lines where needed.

The liquid fuels systems maintainers' job is to perform preventive and major maintenance on liquid fuel systems used for storing, distributing and dispensing gasoline and jet fuel. In addition, they manage periodic inspections on liquid fuel systems for leakage, corrosion, and faulty fittings then make necessary repairs or adjustments.

"Our job is extremely important," Steklachick said. "We deal with the quality of life. Imagine a base without water and fuel. You need a runway and water to establish an Air Force Base."

Military Contractor in Afghanistan Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Offering Bribes to a US Army Official

An independent contractor for a trucking company in Afghanistan that was responsible for delivering fuel to U.S. Army installations was sentenced to four years in prison today for offering a U.S. Army serviceman $54,000 in bribes to falsify documents confirming the receipt of fuel shipments that were never actually delivered.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly T. Currie of the Eastern District of New York, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John F. Sopko, Assistant Director in Charge Diego Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer Jr. of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations’ (ICE-HSI) New York Field Office and Director Frank Robey of the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Command (CID) made the announcement.

Akbar Ahmed Sherzai, 50, of Centreville, Virginia, pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2014, to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.  In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Margo K. Brodie of the Eastern District of New York ordered Sherzai to forfeit $54,000.

In connection with his guilty plea and in other court documents, Sherzai acknowledged that he was employed by a local Afghan trucking company contracted to transport fuel between U.S. military bases in Afghanistan.  Sherzai acknowledged that, in April 2013, he approached a U.S. military serviceman to discuss instances in which his company failed to deliver the fuel—called “no-show” missions—which resulted in a $75,000 fine to his company for each no-show.  Sherzai admitted that he offered the serviceman bribes to falsify documents to confirm deliveries, so that Sherzai’s company and others could recover the fines they had paid for no-shows.  On several occasions, Sherzai paid cash bribes to the serviceman, who, unbeknownst to Sherzai, was working with law enforcement.  In total, Sherzai acknowledged that he paid the serviceman $54,000 to falsify documents relating to nine deliveries, allowing his company and others to avoid or recover $675,000 in fines.

This matter was investigated by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, FBI, ICE-HSI and CID.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel Butler of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amir H. Toossi of the Eastern District of New York.