Southcom Nominee Stresses Commitment in Confirmation Hearing

By Terri Moon Cronk, DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- President Donald J. Trump’s nominee to serve as the next commander of U.S. Southern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee today that he would commit all of his energy to ensure Southcom is ready to do its part to pursue opportunity and manage challenges.

Navy Vice Adm. Craig S. Faller, now the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, will receive his fourth star if confirmed for the post.

“We’re fortunate to live in the Western Hemisphere interconnected by a bridge of common cultural bonds, shared values, and with a few rough exceptions, strong democratic principles,” Faller said at today’s confirmation hearing.

A hemisphere that shines is a beacon of opportunity in a world awash in complexity and rapid change, he said. “During recent travels to the [Southcom] region with the secretary of defense, I saw first-hand the opportunity and willing partners like Colombia, Chile, Brazil and Argentina.” Faller told the senators.

National Defense Strategy

The 2018 National Defense Strategy sets clear guidance, he noted.

“We will field a more lethal and ready force,” the admiral said. “We will build new and stronger partnerships, and we will scrupulously account for every resource the Congress has authorized and appropriated.”

Faller noted multiple challenges that he said must be dealt with aggressively, from the return of great-power competition with Russia and China to threat networks of criminals and violent extremists that traffic in drugs, weapons, humans, illegal immigrants and illicit goods and undermine the sovereignty and security of the United States and its partners.

Nationally, he said, the 72,000 U.S. drug-related deaths last year constitute a crisis. “And if confirmed as Southcom commander, I will remain committed to doing our part to deny, degrade and destroy this scourge,” he added.

The United States military must compete and win, the admiral said.

“There is no other choice for our nation’s security,” Faller told the Senate panel. “Teamwork wins. Just as nations with allies and partners thrive, our combatant commands must work together with all parts of the DoD team, our interagency partners and Congress.” His aim, he said, is to strengthen and enhance relationships and teamwork.

Message to Partners

Faller shared the message he plans to convey to U.S. partners.

“My plain and simple message to our friends in the region is ‘the United States is a reliable and trustworthy security partner,” he said. “Our commitment is unwavering. The United States is your security partner of choice. We offer unmatched military education, training and equipment with U.S. ingenuity, technology and experience to back it up.

“International military education and training,  … along with foreign military sales and building-partner-capacity authorities, are strategic game changers,” he continued. “We are your reliable security partner, and with ever-present threats to our homeland, teamwork is more important than ever.”

The United States competes best with the power of its ideas and ideals and with its inspiration, education and commitment, the admiral said.

“Latin America and the Caribbean are not our backyard. It’s our shared neighborhood,” Faller said. “And like the neighborhood … where I grew up, good neighbors respect each other’s sovereignty, treat each other as equal partners with respect, and commit to a strong neighborhood watch.”

Mattis Pays Tribute to Prisoners of War, Missing in Action

By John D. Banusiewicz, DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON -- Service members who were held as prisoners of war and those still missing from the nation’s wars deserve respect and admiration from the nation for which they fought, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said here today.

Mattis hosted the Defense Department’s annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon River Terrace Parade field.

“Those who don the uniform -- in particular, those who suffered in captivity or have gone missing in distant lands – serve as enduring proof that America still turns out warriors of true character and grit,” the secretary said.

While all who have worn the uniform deserve admiration, Mattis said, those who were prisoners of war “deserve our deepest respect.”

“We recognize the crucible that they went through,” he said, “and we will never let their sacrifices wither in the compost of history. They returned home to us as role models for honor and courage, and we remember their uniquely tested heroism every day.”

That heroism, Mattis said, is embodied by Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Tiffins, who was present at today’s event with his family. Tiffins served as a soldier in World War II and was held by the Germans as a prisoner of war for 18 months and eagerly re-enlisted as an airman when he returned home. The secretary also noted the sacrifices of Arizona Sen. John McCain, who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. McCain died Aug. 25.

“[He] did not let the torture that he endured define his lasting service to America,” the secretary said. Like Tiffins, he said, McCain returned home eager to serve again, “dedicating his life to public service with what his daughter Meghan called ‘ferocity and faith.’”

Honoring the Missing

As the nation honors those service members who returned after enduring captivity by the enemy, Mattis said, it also honors those still missing in action and those awaiting their return. “And we thank their families for their unrelenting courage and faith as we strive to bring them home,” he added, noting that some of them were on hand for today’s observance.

The secretary expressed gratitude to Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, veteran service organizations and other advocates for their “fierce resolve and “tireless commitment” to realize the mission of accounting for those still missing. Their work gives today’s warriors great confidence that their nation will “go to the ends of the Earth to bring them home.”

DPAA conducted 45 recovery missions and 36 investigations around the world in the past year, Mattis said, and identified 172 individuals from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Mattis noted that in August, 55 cases of remains were returned to the United States from North Korea. He said President Donald J. Trump made this a priority in his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and that DPAA has identified two service members among the remains: Army Master Sgt. Charles H. McDaniel and Army Pfc. William H. Jones.

“Our POWs, our missing in action, their families – they have met the most terrible challenges undeterred, with the highest fortitude, honoring a nation that loves them for what they call out in each of us,” Mattis said. “And for that, we owe them an irredeemable debt of gratitude.”

Presidential Proclamation

“On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor all American prisoners of war and express our deep gratitude for the courage and determination they exemplified while enduring terrible hardships,” Trump said in his proclamation marking this year’s event.

The president also stressed the importance of accounting for those still missing.

“As a nation, it is our solemn obligation to account for the remains of our fallen American service members and civilians and to bring them home whenever possible. We owe an incalculable debt of gratitude to these patriots who gave their last full measure of devotion for our country. For this reason, I have pledged my administration’s best efforts to account for our country’s missing heroes.

“We continue to work to account for the missing personnel from the Vietnam War,” he continued. “American and partner nation search teams are also working tirelessly in South Korea, Europe, the South Pacific, and elsewhere around the world to recover and identify those who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and other past conflicts.”

Face of Defense: Goalie-Turned-Air Force Officer Earns NCAA Accolades

By Sharon Holland, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science

BETHESDA, Md. -- Air Force 2nd Lt. Sidney Peters, the four-time Western Collegiate Hockey Association Scholar-Athlete, WCHA All-Academic, Academic All-Big Ten honoree and 2018 Hockey Humanitarian Award recipient, has been named as one of the NCAA’s Top 30 Woman of the Year honorees for her excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

Peters, who just began her studies as a first-year military medical student at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine -- “America’s Medical School” -- at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences here, was a four-year letter winner as goalie for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s hockey team.

She completed her career with a record of 53-17-6, ranking 5th in all time wins, shutouts, goals against average and total saves for the Gophers, and sixth in save percentage.

Volunteer Work

In addition to her achievements on the ice, Peters devoted more than 800 hours over five years volunteering with the University of Minnesota’s campus Emergency Medical Services and the Maroon and Gold Impacting the Community student-athlete development program, which included community outreach to elementary schools and the university children's hospital.

And, at her own expense, Peters volunteered at the Hospital Bernard Mevs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, for eight days, an experience that further fostered her desire to help others and eventually led to her decision to pursue medical school at USU.

“I really want to work with a deserving population and I feel like there's no more deserving population than the U.S. military," she said.

“Sidney is an amazing individual, and we are fortunate to have her among our number,” said Army Col. (Dr.) Aaron Saguil, associate dean for medical school admissions and recruitment at USU. “She is taking that same passion and work ethic that made her a hockey star and pouring it into her studies -- she will be a phenomenal physician to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.”

Peters was among an initial 581 school nominees for the NCAA award. That number was culled to 154, and was ultimately narrowed to the top 30.

“These 30 women have demonstrated outstanding commitment to excelling in the classroom and in their sports while also serving their peers and community,” said Sherika Montgomery, chair of the Woman of the Year selection committee and associate commissioner for governance and compliance at The Summit League. “They represent the best and brightest of women competing in college and sports, and we’re thrilled to celebrate them and their achievements.”

In October, the selection committee will announce the nine finalists for Woman of the Year. The top 30 will be celebrated and the Woman of the Year will be named Oct. 28 in a ceremony in Indianapolis.

‘It’s an Enormous Honor’

"It is an enormous honor to be among the top 30 nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had as an NCAA student-athlete at the University of Minnesota,” Peters said. “I believe that my experiences playing in the NCAA prepared me well for my career as an officer in the United States Air Force and future physician.”

She added, “Collegiate athletics provided me with a platform to connect with many remarkable people and taught me about both leadership and followership, as well as the value of discipline and hard work. I am proud to be associated with the NCAA and the others that have been nominated for this award."