Face of Defense: Best Friends Close Army Careers Together

By Adrienne Anderson

Fort Belvoir Eagle

FORT BELVOIR, Va., June 22, 2015 – Two soldiers are celebrating their life-long friendship and marking the close of their military careers here this month.

Army 1st Sgt. Shana Tinsley and Army Sgt. 1st Class Victoria Buggs joined the military together in 1995. The inseparable pair were born and raised in Gary, Indiana, where they met in high school.

Now, 20 years later, they are retiring.

Joining the Army

The two joined the Army on the buddy system, which allowed them to go through basic training and Advanced Individual Training together. However, after completing training, the two weren’t stationed together.

“Even in basic and AIT, we got in trouble together,” Tinsley said about her closeness with Buggs, as they grew up and went through the military together.

During their first assignment, Tinsley was stationed in Bamberg, Germany, and Buggs served in Darmstadt, Germany.

Up until Tinsley transferred to Northern Virginia six years ago, the two never had an assignment together. Despite that, they did what they could to keep in touch.

Tinsley is first sergeant at Fort Belvoir Garrison Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Buggs worked at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Tinsley said she and Buggs would try to coordinate their vacation time together, so they could spend time together. Or, they would visit each other if they were stationed close to each other.

Both are married and have children. Their families stay in contact, as well.

Post-retirement Plans to Travel, Relax

After retirement, both women have big plans to spend more time with their families, travel and relax.

“Both of us have been deployed, we have been separated from our families, we have been to a lot of military schools, we have been separated [from each other] -- we have a lot of history together,” Tinsley said. “Now we are really focusing the next year on traveling, on us and our families.”

The two also have plans for their own businesses. Buggs has already started her business, while Tinsley said she will focus on starting her own. They said they will be able to focus on themselves and accomplish new things.

“Changing from soldier to … being able to hang out and get our nails done and get a pedicure together -- actually get some color,” Buggs said. “We are female, but getting that femininity back as a wife and a beautiful woman.”

Buggs retired last week, and Tinsley is set to retire June 26.

“[Retiring] is something that we really wanted to do together because we valued our time in the service and … we are ready to start a new chapter in our lives,” Tinsley said. “We’ll still be together on the other side.”

USS Jason Dunham Arrives in Kiel, Germany

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

KIEL, Germany (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) arrived in Kiel, Germany, for a scheduled port visit, June 19.

Jason Dunham's visit to Kiel marks the conclusion of exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2015, a large-scale naval exercise between 17 regional partners and NATO allied nations, which ended June 18.

Quote:

"I am extremely excited to make this visit during Kiel Week. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the hard work and dedication of my crew and every other crew that participated in BALTOPS 2015, than to gather here together with our friends and allies, and take part in this rich cultural experience. Over the past 10 days, we trained together with our naval counterparts from other nations as a collective fighting force and now we will have the opportunity to celebrate together," said Cmdr. Darren Dugan, USS Jason Dunham commanding officer.

Quick Facts:

The visit is scheduled during the city's annual Kieler Woche celebration, the largest sailing event in the world.

Tours of the ship are to be open to the public June 20 and 21.

U.S. Sailors are scheduled to play a soccer match with service members of other allied and partner nations.

During BALTOPS 2015, Jason Dunham participated as a member of a task group comprised of Danish, U.K. and German navy ships. The ship participated in exchange visits with vessels from Denmark and Germany.

The port visit to Kiel demonstrates the shared commitment the U.S. has toward promoting safety and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance interoperability with its NATO allies and partners.

Jason Dunham is currently operating in the Baltic Sea, working with allies and regional partners to help develop and improve our maritime forces, maintain regional security, and work toward mutual goals in order to advance security and stability in Europe.

Jason Dunham, homeported in Norfolk, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. The ship deployed from Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 27.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

CARAT 2015 Exercise Series Begins in the Philippines

From Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (NNS) -- Members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps along with their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counterparts kicked off the 2015 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series during an opening ceremony in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, June 22.

The AFP have participated in CARAT since the exercise series began in 1995 and this year's training reflects more than two decades of increasingly sophisticated training ashore, at sea, and in the air.

"CARAT remains a practical way to address shared maritime security priorities, enhance our capabilities, and improve interoperability between our forces," said Rear Adm. William Merz, commander, Task Force 74. "We look forward to operating alongside our Philippine partners as we celebrate the 21st anniversary of the CARAT exercise series."

CARAT Philippines will take place from June 22-26 on the ground in Puerto Princesa and in the waters and airspace of the Sulu Sea. The exercise will focus on combined operations at sea, mobile dive and salvage training, coastal riverine operations, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance and will feature the inaugural participation of littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) along with rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) and forward-deployed P-3 Orion aircraft.

Additionally, personnel from both nations will also exchange best practices on naval tactics during a series of military seminars ashore. Numerous civil action projects, community service events, and joint military band engagements are also planned in the local Puerto Princesa community.

"We are pleased to host our U.S. Navy partners in Puerto Princesa City this year for CARAT Philippines 2015," said Rear Adm. Leopoldo Alano, commander of the Philippine Fleet. "This is a great training opportunity for both nations to gain valuable experience and increase our interoperability."

Now in its 21st year, CARAT is the premier naval engagement in South and Southeast Asia. The bilateral and multilateral exercises provide a regional venue to develop strong maritime partnerships that contribute to the greater peace and stability of the region.

"CARAT is a terrific venue to strengthen our relationship with the AFP and to enhance at-sea readiness through a two-day underway phase," said Capt. H.B. Le, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. "Not only is this the first CARAT of 2015, but it's also the first time an LCS has participated in CARAT Philippines. We're looking forward to getting Fort Worth out to sea and operating hull-to-hull with BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Apolinario Mabini."

Following CARAT Philippines, additional bilateral phases of CARAT will occur from July through November 2015 with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Each CARAT exercise features several days of shore-based exchanges, professional symposia and tactical scenarios culminating in combined training at sea. Phases vary based on exercise locations, mutual training goals and participating assets.