VAQ-139 Returns Home From Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Caleb Cooper, Commander, Naval Air Forcea Public Affairs

WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. (NNS) -- The "Cougars" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 returned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island June 4 after a nearly 10-month deployment in support of U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation.

VAQ-139 arrived home after participating in exercise Valiant Shield, Operation Inherent Resolve and contingency operations while deployed in support of the war on terrorism.

"It's important that we were able to protect our brethren with electronic attack and to more precisely target the enemy," said Cmdr. Lew Callaway, VAQ-139 commanding officer. "I think we were able to contribute to keeping America safer from terrorism overseas through operations in Iraq, Syria and contingency operations."

The squadron's homecoming provided their families and friends an opportunity to reflect on the vital role their Sailors played throughout the deployment.

"I think it's amazing," said Julee Shepley, wife of Lt. Dillon Shepley. "I'm blessed to be by his side while he's living his dreams and fighting for his country."

Sailors from VAQ-139 matured in their time out to sea and leadership was proud.

"I enjoyed watching them go from transition, to sustain combat operations, to making it home," said VAQ-139's Command Master Chief Shane Cardon. "Watching their growth was amazing."

VAQ-139 Sailors understood the importance of their mission but are happy to be home.

"It's great to see my family," said Callaway. "I love watching my junior officers meet their families again. It's been a very long cruise but absolutely worth it to know we kept America safe for both our brethren at Carrier Air Wing 17 and the coalition."

In preparation for the deployment, VAQ-139 completed training at Naval Outlying Field Coupeville, Washington, prior to embarking aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

"The training we conducted at Naval Outlying Field Coupeville showed results," said Callaway. "We had 1,200 landings on the boat and zero mishaps."

VAQ-139 flies the EA-18G Growler, which combines the capability of the combat-proven F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with the latest airborne electronic attack avionics suite. The Growler's vast array of sensors and weapons provide the warfighter with a lethal and survivable weapon system to counter current and emerging threats.

DoD Sends Blended Military Retirement Proposal to Congress

By John D. Banusiewicz

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2015 – A Defense Department proposal submitted to Congress today would create what Pentagon officials called a “blended defined benefit and defined contribution” military retirement system.

Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters that the proposal includes elements the department believes are necessary to promote retention, to maintain the all-volunteer force, and to protect service members who retire due to disability.

“The department carefully reviewed proposals offered by the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission as well as Congress,” Warren said. “And in crafting its final recommendation, the department considered all elements of current and potential retirement plans and built a blended system that -- in the military judgment of the Department of Defense -- best enables us to maintain the readiness of the all-volunteer force.”

Officials believe the proposal will help to give the department the flexibility it needs to manage the force into the future, the colonel said, while helping to ensure that 85 percent of service members will start long-term retirement savings.

Proposal Highlights

Highlights of the proposal include:

-- Creating a defined contribution element through the Thrift Savings Plan for service members;

-- DoD automatically contributing an amount equal to 1 percent of a service member’s basic pay to the Thrift Savings Plan account from entry into service through separation or retirement, with vesting after completion of two years of service and additional matching contributions of up to 5 percent of basic pay starting after completion of four years of service and continuing through separation or retirement; and

-- Each service having the ability to offer a bonus, called Continuation Pay, to members with eight to 16 years of service, with each service setting the rate of Continuation Pay.

“This change to a blended retirement system is a key step in modernizing the department's ability to recruit, retain and maintain the talent we require of our future force,” Warren said. “We know that future service members will require more choice and flexibility in compensation and retirement.”

Attracting and Managing the Future Force

The proposal also provides additional options for attracting and managing a military force that requires ever-increasing, diverse and technical skill sets in an evolving global economy, he added.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen, a Defense Department spokesman, said that under the plan, about 85 percent of service members who enter the force will receive some form of a portable retirement benefit.

Future service members would receive 80 percent of the current defined benefit -- retirement pay, which effectively is a pension -- if they serve for 20 years, and would have the opportunity to achieve nearly equivalent or better retirement benefits when they reach retirement age, he added.

“This plan enables us to recruit and retain our superb all-volunteer force in the 21st century,” Christensen said.

Deputy Defense Secretary Hosts Somali Leaders at Pentagon

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2015 – Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work yesterday hosted the Somali prime minister and defense minister in their first meeting at the Pentagon.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Defense Department officials said Prime Minister Omar Ali Sharmarke and Defense Minister Gen. Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali Dini met with Work to discuss the importance of U.S.-Somali security assistance and counterterrorism operations.

Work praised the success of Somali forces in degrading the al-Shabab militant group in the past two years, officials said.

Taking the Fight to al-Shabab

The leaders discussed how taking the fight to al-Shabab requires integrating regional militia forces into the Somali National Army deliberately, but without delay, officials said. The leaders also discussed successes of the Danab companies, which could serve as a good model for the rest of the Somali army, they added.

Work underscored the Defense Department's strong commitment to supporting both the African Union Mission in Somalia and the development of Somali security forces, the statement said.

“The deputy secretary noted it is imperative that Somalia completes the state formation process in advance of holding elections next year, in line with the agreed timeline,” the statement said. “Progress on the political front is a necessary foundation for the development of Somali security forces.”