Military Matters for Georgians

National Infantry Museum, Columbus, GA, To Host Gulf War 20th Anniversary National Tribute 9AM May 26 To Honor Service Members, Unveil Stones To Those Who Lost Lives in Decisive Military Action

2011-05-12T11:42:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Infantry Museum, located adjacent to Fort Benning in Columbus, GA, will host a Gulf War Twentieth Anniversary National Tribute to the men and women killed in service during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm on Thursday, May 26, from 9-10:30AM, leading off Memorial Day Weekend. The event will include participation by the top service commanders from the conflict and will feature laying commemorative granite paved stones for each of the men and women who died. Families and unit members will attend and thousands are expected.

"We won rapidly in the Gulf War; 382 men and women gave their lives," says Col. Greg Camp (Ret), Executive Vice President of the National Infantry Foundation. Infantry Foundation Chairman Lieutenant General Carmen Cavezza added, "This event is a long overdue national tribute to the sacrifices our military heroes made to enable a clear victory by the United States and coalition forces. This will be the first official recognition of all Gulf War men and women who died in service."

The event's emcee will be retired Four-Star General Barry R. McCaffrey, a division commander in the Gulf War. The top Air Force and Navy commanders in the Gulf War have already indicated participation, Gen. Charles Horner (Ret), and Admiral Stanley Arthur (Ret), as well as LtGen. William M. Keys, USMC (Ret.), who commanded the 2nd Marine Division in the Gulf War. Other leaders from all branches are expected. In addition to the stone pavers and speeches, a military honor guard will march. Taps will be played following the unveiling of the stones and the raising of a new, special, dedicated flag for the Gulf War.

McCaffrey stated, "The Gulf War was a decisive military action. Anyone who comes to the Infantry Museum and sees the powerful exhibits from all of America's wars will understand how appropriate it is that the Gulf War commemoration be hosted here. As a participant in the Gulf War, I am proud that America is giving recognition to those who served and died for their country."

The National Infantry Museum and Foundation continues to seek information from families and unit members of the service members killed in the Gulf War to include at the event. All are invited to come. Persons with information or photos of the 382 are asked to send them to Cyndy Cerbin at ccerbin@nationalinfantryfoundation.org or contact her. "We want families and friends to feel that this is home for recognition of their heroes," said Ben Williams, Executive Director of National Infantry Foundation.

In partnership with the Army and the Maneuver Center of Excellence, the Gulf War ceremony will be a special event included at the conclusion of the graduation of a company of new Infantry School soldiers, a powerful message of continuity for the graduates. Four-Star General BB Bell (Ret), who was General Norman Schwarzkopf's executive officer in the Gulf War as a colonel, will deliver the graduation address. The class then march the short distance to the granite pavers for the unveiling.

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As Government Threatens to Shut Down, The American Legion Reaches Out to Military Families

2011-04-08T16:54:00.000-04:00

PRNewswire - As the threat of a shutdown by the federal government looms, the nation's largest veterans service organization is offering support to military families who may suffer stress due to its effects.

If families of military personnel – especially those deployed overseas – are affected adversely by a government shutdown, they are encouraged to seek assistance from The American Legion's Family Support Network (FSN). FSN's function is explained on the program's web page at www.legion.org/familysupport. Electronic applications for help can be submitted immediately and 24/7 via a link on the page. The Family Support Network's phone center will be manned as of 8:00 a.m. Monday. "We are ready to help in any way we can," said Jimmie L. Foster, National Commander of The American Legion.

"Our Family Support Network cannot take the place of a paycheck," said Foster, "but we can help those families – especially those with deployed loved ones – take care of needs such as the provision of groceries, car repair, help with fix-it-up projects, advice and counsel, and perhaps, intercession with local businesses to extend payment terms and such. We are not the government," he continued, "but we are a good neighbor who can help some families get through this situation if it does happen."

To members of the armed forces, a government shutdown would mean that they would be issued promissory notes rather than paychecks while the work stoppage continues. "The problem is, an I.O.U. doesn't satisfy a mortgage company, or a utility company, a bank officer or even a grocery clerk," said Foster. "That's why we have strongly encouraged the Department of Defense to continue troops' pay uninterrupted. As I have said, 'The troops are either engaged in combat or supporting those who are. They don't need to deal with this uncertainty. We don't think our elected leaders should allow it to go that far.'"

As for military veterans and their families, the benefits and services offered to by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will remain, for the most part, unaffected by a government shutdown. However, some impact will be felt. The American Legion has posted a presentation by the VA on the subject at: www.legion.org/veteransbenefits/99722/va-provides-answers-shutdown-concerns.

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Georgia Loses Another Soldier: Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner, Griffin, GA

2011-03-31T17:39:00.002-04:00

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner, 23, of Griffin, Ga., died March 29 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Konar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Airman Missing in Action from Korean War is Identified

2011-01-21T22:22:00.000-05:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, has been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Air Force 1st Lt. Robert F. Dees, 23, of Moultrie, Ga., will be buried Jan. 22 at the Longstreet Historical Cemetery in Ozark, Ala. On Oct. 9, 1952, he was flying an F-84 Thunderjet, attacking several targets in North Korea. After he and three aircraft from the 430th Fighter-Bomber Squadron completed their attack on their primary target, they began their bombing run against enemy boxcars on the railroad near Sinyang. Other members of his flight reported seeing an explosion near the target they were attacking. They believed it to be the crash of Dees' aircraft and could not raise any radio contact with him. Airborne searches over the battlefield failed to locate him or his aircraft.

Following the armistice in 1953, the North Koreans repatriated 4,219 remains of U.S. and allied soldiers during Operation Glory. In November 1954, they turned over remains which they reported were recovered from Sinyang. Accompanying the remains were portions of a pilot's flight suit and a pneumatic life preserver. But after two attempts, the Army's mortuary at Kokura, Japan, was unable to identify the remains. They were buried in 1956 as "unknown" at the Punch Bowl Cemetery in Hawaii.

Beginning in the late 1990s, analysts from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) undertook a concentrated review of Korean War air losses, as well as a review of the Kokura mortuary files. They made a tentative association to Dees, based on U.S. wartime records as well as the information provided by the North Koreans. These remains were disinterred from the Punch Bowl Cemetery in June 2010.

Dees' remains were identified by making extensive dental comparisons with his medical records.
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Veterans Sue Obama Administration Over 76 Year Old War Memorial: VFW Wants Obama to Restore Mojave Desert Cross

2011-01-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Institute, representing the VFW Department of California and VFW Post 385, just filed a lawsuit against the Obama Administration because it refuses to transfer ownership of the land on which stood the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial to the VFW, as directed by a 2003 Act of Congress. The Obama Administration also refused to allow the VFW to rebuild the memorial after vandals destroyed it in May 2010, and it opposed the VFW's intervention into the lawsuit brought by the ACLU. The ACLU is attempting to permanently remove the VFW's Memorial as the case returns to the district court at the U.S. Supreme Court's direction.

"The way our government has treated the veterans in this case is a disgrace to their service and dedication," said Kelly Shackelford, president/CEO of Liberty Institute. "Members of the VFW and those this Memorial represents paid for this land with their own blood, sweat, and tears."

The U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in April 2010 reversed the rulings of the district court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals which had demanded the removal of the Mojave Desert Memorial, and sent the case back to the district court for further consideration.

As Justice Kennedy observed in the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the Memorial, the Mojave Desert Veterans Memorial "evokes thousands of small crosses in foreign fields marking the graves of Americans who fell in battles, battles whose tragedies are compounded if the fallen are forgotten."

The VFW then filed a motion to intervene in the district court case, which was denied after the Obama administration and the ACLU together opposed the veterans' attempt to defend their own Memorial on land transferred to them by an Act of Congress. The Memorial remains in a vandalized state since criminals tore it down on May 9, weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling protecting the Memorial.

"This land belongs to the VFW, and the court should honor the congressional act that conveys the land and the memorial to the veterans," said Ted Cruz, a Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and co-counsel with Liberty Institute. "The veterans have an acute interest in restoring and preserving this 76-year-old memorial to those brave American soldiers who gave their lives in World War I."

"This is our land, our memorial and we want it back," said James Rowoldt, State Adjutant/Quartermaster of the VFW Department of California. "To deny the veterans a chance to defend our own is to continue to dishonor those for whom the Memorial stands."

In a disturbing trend, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the same court that originally ruled against the Mojave Desert Memorial, recently ruled that the Mount Soledad Memorial, a 43-foot-tall veterans memorial in San Diego, is also unconstitutional. Liberty Institute represents The American Legion as an amicus in the case, and launched a petition at www.DontTearMeDown.com asking President Obama to appeal the disgraceful ruling.

Liberty Institute works to uphold Constitutional and First Amendment religious freedoms and free speech in the courts. Liberty Institute represented all the major veterans groups as amici in the Supreme Court case of Salazar v. Buono involving this 76-year-old war memorial.

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Defense Official Outlines Pay Freeze Details

2011-01-11T07:53:00.002-05:00

Defense Department civilian employees affected by the federal pay freeze for 2011 and 2012 will still have the opportunity to receive performance awards, promotions and normal longevity increases, a senior defense official said.

Pasquale "Pat" M. Tamburrino Jr., deputy undersecretary of defense for civilian personnel policy, told American Forces Press Service in a recent interview that senior leaders are working to ensure that employees are treated fairly during the freeze.

"We value the contributions of our career federal employees, and we value their service to the nation. Nothing has changed there," he said. From the time the pay freeze was announced, Tamburrino added, the emphasis has been on ensuring all federal employees receive equal treatment.

"Whether you're the most junior civil servant on the first day of the job or you're a member of the executive leadership team, it applies to you," he said. Defense leaders, he noted, have been "very clear" in directing that the freeze should affect all employees equally.

"Not everything is covered by statute," he said, noting that heads of agencies have some administrative discretion in some dimensions of pay. But guidance on the pay freeze instructs agency heads to manage administrative privileges the same way the president treated general pay increases in the executive order, he added.

"You should not use that privilege to grant a pay raise," he said.

Tamburrino said he encourages managers to use the tools that always have been available to them -– and still are -– to reward employees.

"When it's appropriate, you give somebody a performance award," he said. "If you tell them the organization has five or six goals, and they do a lot of heavy lifting to help you get to those goals, then I think you should sit down as a leader and say, 'We have to recognize that.'"

Most employees, he said, want three things: clear guidance on the management team's priorities, the tools and resources necessary to complete their work, and coaching and feedback.

"Financial compensation is important because it is; we all have financial obligations that have to be satisfied," he said. "But what's really important as well is [that] you want to tell your employees, 'You're doing a really fine job.'"

President Barack Obama announced his intent for a two-year pay freeze for federal civilian workers Nov. 29. Congress approved the proposal, and Obama signed it into law Dec. 22.

The Office of Personnel Management issued a memorandum Dec. 30 to heads of executive departments and agencies, detailing how the freeze applies to the federal work force in accordance with existing law and presidential guidance. The Defense Department issued guidance in line with OPM's the same day.

"It's a response to the difficulties the country is facing, and I think what's really good about it is [that] it's universal," Tamburrino said. "You have to have a very clear understanding of what's in and what's out, because that's what affects employees."

The freeze covers what have traditionally been known as general pay increases, he said, which normally take effect each January and consist of a combination of base pay and locality pay increases for most civilian employees. Federal civilian pay increased an average of 3.5 percent in 2008, 3.9 percent in 2009, and 2 percent in 2010, according to government figures.

"The president determined, based on the state of the economy, that those pay raises that are statutory in nature should not be granted [during the two-year freeze]," Tamburrino said.

According to the OPM guidance, the freeze, which extends though Dec. 31, 2012, affects some 2 million federal civilian employees in most pay systems: general schedule, executive schedule, senior executive service, senior foreign service, senior-level and scientific, and professional. Postal employees and military service members are not affected by the freeze.

However, OPM officials said, the pay freeze policy may not apply to any increase that is required by a collective bargaining agreement that has already been executed.

Except for minor instances in Alaska, Hawaii and other nonforeign areas, locality pay also is frozen, Tamburrino said. "I think everybody recognizes [the pay freeze] was a really difficult decision," he said. "I think we did a tremendous job in issuing some very clear guidance, and I think the leadership of the Department of Defense did a really good job in making it very level and even across the department."

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

President Signs Defense Authorization Act

2011-01-11T07:52:00.002-05:00

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2011 - Noting his objection to two of its provisions, President Barack Obama signed the fiscal 2011 defense authorization act into law Jan. 7.

The Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 is named for former U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, longtime chairman the House Armed Services Committee, who lost his House seat in November's election.

"The act authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, for military construction, and for national security-related energy programs," the president wrote in a statement accompanying the signing's announcement.

Obama registered "strong objections" to two of the act's provisions related to transfer of detainees from the U.S. facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. One prohibits the use of funds appropriated by the act to transfer Guantanamo detainees into the United States, and the other bars the use of certain funds to transfer detainees to the custody or effective control of foreign countries unless specified conditions are met.

But despite his objections to the two sections, the president said in his statement, "I have signed this act because of the importance of authorizing appropriations for, among other things, our military activities in 2011." The act governs a wide range of Defense Department activities, including procurement; research, development, testing and evaluation; equipment operation and maintenance; military personnel authorizations and policy; and reserve-component management.

Georgia loses another brave soldier...

2011-01-09T21:10:00.002-05:00

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Joseph R. Giese, 24, of Winder, Ga., died Jan. 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Detainee Transfer Announced

2011-01-06T16:58:00.002-05:00

The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Saiid Farhi from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Algeria. Farhi was ordered released by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Nov. 19, 2009.

As directed by the President's Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of this case. As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, Farhi was approved for transfer by unanimous consent among all six agencies on the task force. In accordance with Congressionally-mandated reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to transfer this individual.

The United States is grateful to the Government of Algeria for its willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the Government of Algeria to ensure the transfer took place under appropriate security and humane treatment measures.

Today, 173 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.

Statement by the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos on Efficiencies

2011-01-06T16:05:00.000-05:00

"Today the Secretary of Defense announced the termination of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) program. I support his decision. After a thorough review of the program within the context of a broader Marine Corps force structure review, I personally recommended to both the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy that the EFV be cancelled and that the Marine Corps pursue a more affordable amphibious tracked fighting vehicle.

"Despite the critical amphibious and warfighting capability the EFV represents, the program is simply not affordable given likely Marine Corps procurement budgets. The procurement and operations/maintenance costs of this vehicle are onerous. After examining multiple options to preserve the EFV, I concluded that none of the options meets what we consider reasonable affordability criteria. As a result, I decided to pursue a more affordable vehicle.

"Our nation's amphibious capability remains the Corps' priority. In the complex security environment we face, the execution of amphibious operations requires the use of the sea as maneuver space. A modern amphibious tracked vehicleis the means towards this end. It enables the seamless projection of ready-to-fight Marine rifle squads from sea to land. It is thus the key to allowing ship-to-shore operations in permissive, uncertain, and hostile environments; assuring access where infrastructure is destroyed or nonexistent; and creating joint access in defended areas. It is also central to the entire Marine tactical vehicle strategy for operations ashore. Once on land, an amphibious armored fighting vehicle provides the Marine rifle squad with the protected mobility and firepowerto maneuver to a position of advantage to rapidly close with, engage, and defeat the enemy.

"The Marine Corps remains committed to develop and field an effective, survivable and affordable amphibious tracked vehicle. To bring this capability to the force sooner rather than later, we intend to capitalize on the Office of the Secretary of Defense's recent efforts to streamline procurement and to rapidly accelerate the acquisition and contracting processes in developing our new amphibious tracked vehicle requirement.

"Shortly, we will issue a special notice to industry requesting information relative to supporting our required amphibious capabilities. We look forward to working with industry in meeting this challenge to field a modern and affordable amphibious tracked vehicle that will support our nation's needs."

Mullen: Leadership Key to Nation's, Military's Future

2011-01-04T11:37:00.000-05:00

Because leaders at all levels are key to U.S. success, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a CNN interview broadcast yesterday, his main concern is ensuring the military continues to develop and encourage great leaders for the country.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told Fareed Zakaria on the "GPS" program that America's toughest problems are solved by great leaders. The chairman gave the interview in November, but the network didn't broadcast this portion of the interview until yesterday.

"As I become more senior, ... one of the things I worry about the most is how do I stay in touch with those that I affect the most," Mullen said.

The chairman noted that he meets wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. In addition, he said, he and his wife, Deborah, go to Dover Air Force Base, where the remains of fallen warriors return to the United States, "to meet those families and to face the most difficult part of it."

"We attend the funerals at Arlington [National Cemetery]," he added. "We meet with the ... families of the fallen. I certainly intend to be there for them."

The chairman also meets service members in the field. His most-recent trip to Afghanistan took him to Marja in Helmand province and to Forward Operating Base Wilson in Kandahar province.

"Local commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq don't necessarily want me out in the middle of the fight, and I can understand that," he said. "But when I visit, I try to get as far into that as I can, because one of the things that's been a leadership principle for me forever is ... I want to understand as much as I can about what I'm asking a young man or a young woman to do, including to die for our country."

That impetus, he said, is "just in my soul. I need to do that." The need, he added, comes from feeling accountable for their lives.

Mullen also spoke about leadership at the senior level, which he said requires a different set of capabilities.

"Another thing that I try to subscribe to, particularly as I've gotten more senior is listening, learning and leading," he said. "The more senior I've become, the more I try to listen to others and to see challenges and problems through other people's eyes, whether they are service chiefs, combatant commanders or ... military leaders throughout the world."

Still, Mullen said, he is not shy about making decisions and pushing the team forward.

The chairman said he is concerned about the military retaining the right kind of officer and noncommissioned officer leadership in the future. The military's young, mid-grade officers and NCOs have deployed repeatedly, he noted, and are the most combat-tested force in U.S. history. "They are exceptional in what they've done," he said. "And if we retain them in our military in the right proportion, the right numbers, then our military is going to be fine for the future, and it's going to be fine because they will lead us."

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Comedy Hypnotist to Entertain Returning US Soldiers

2010-12-14T21:13:00.000-05:00

Glenn Miller, The Master of Comedy Hypnosis, will entertain troops returning from a two-year tour in Iraq and Afghanistan at Ft. Stewart, Georgia early next year. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the soldiers and their families.

Captain Shane McKinley, after reviewing many comedy hypnotists, contacted Ft. Lauderdale, FL based “Dinney” Dinofer, personal Manager of Miller, inquiring as to the cost of having Miller perform. It was an immediate decision by Dinofer and Miller that Miller would perform for the troops gratis on Friday, January 28, 2011.

Miller, who was the #1 comedy hypnotist on Carnival Cruise Lines for 4 years, now appears on Royal Caribbean Cruise lines as well as conventions, corporate dates, universities, colleges and social events.

Ft. Stewart is an Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County in South Georgia. The population at the 2000 census was 11, 205. Fort Stewart was built in January of 1941. Main residents are members of the 3rd Infantry Division. The Fort Stewart Military Reservation includes approximately 280,000 acres making it the largest military installation in the Eastern United States.

The show that Glenn Miller is presenting is audience participation and is one that will entertain the troops, but the main purpose is to raise money. Hopefully residents in the nearby communities will support the fundraiser.

Year-long G.I. Bill 'fix-it' Campaign by Legion Pays Off with Senate Vote

2010-12-14T14:19:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- A concentrated lobbying effort by The American Legion and fellow VSOs (veterans service organizations) has culminated in U.S. Senate passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Improvements Act of 2010. The legislation expands and improves educational assistance for veterans who served in the armed forces after September 11, 2001.

"This is great news," said Jimmie L. Foster, National Commander of The American Legion. "This bill rectifies the inequities and shortcomings of the well-intentioned but incomplete Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and makes it whole."

Among other things, the new measure expands Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to include financial assistance to veterans pursuing training in vocational schools and through distance learning programs. Presently, assistance under that legislation is available only to those veterans attending degree-granting colleges and universities. The act also expands benefits to certain members of the National Guard and Reserve forces and provides students with an annual allowance for the purchase of textbooks while streamlining the application and benefits award processes.

Passage of the bill is the product of an intensive lobbying campaign by The American Legion that began immediately after implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill last year. Bob Madden, assistant director of the Legion's economic division, testified before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in July and strongly urged support of many of the provisions that were ultimately included in the new measure. Commander Foster emphasized the importance of the "fix-it" bill during his testimony before a joint session of Congress shortly after he took office in September. At the time he said, "The American Legion urges enhancement to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill that would give veterans a more robust educational benefit." His championship continued the legacy of The American Legion in seeking educational benefits for veterans. The Legion drafted the original World War II-era G.I. Bill -- the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 -- and was integral in the writing of the Post-9/11 bill as well as its latest enhancements.

The Senate measure, sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka, a World War II veteran and beneficiary of the 1944 G.I. Bill, now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. A vote in that chamber may come as early as Thursday of this week. The bill is supported by many House members, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee Bob Filner.

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Georgia loses another brave soldier: Pfc. Austin G. Staggs, 19, from Senoia

2010-12-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of six soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Nov. 29, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an insurgent attacked their unit with small arms fire.

Pfc. Austin G. Staggs, 19, of Senoia, Ga.

Sgt. 1st Class Barry E. Jarvis, 36, of Tell City, Ind.
Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Oakes, 29, of Athens, Ohio.
Spc. Matthew W. Ramsey, 20, of Quartz Hill, Calif.
Pfc. Jacob A. Gassen, 21, of Beaver Dam, Wis.
Pvt. Buddy W. McLain, 24, of Mexico, Maine.

They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Mullen Cites North Korea's Unpredictability

2010-11-26T11:09:00.000-05:00

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

North Korea's artillery assault on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island is an issue of concern in a region that wants stability, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said recently on ABC's "The View" television show.

Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, appeared on the daytime talk show to discuss a range of issues, including the situation on the Korean peninsula.

"There is worrisome leadership in North Korea," Mullen said. "[North Korean President Kim Jong Il is] a very unpredictable guy, a very dangerous guy. This [attack] is also tied, we think, to the succession of his young, 27-year-old [son] who's going to take over at some point in the future, and he continues to generate these kinds of events."

Mullen said Americans should be concerned about North Korea's volatile posture, but he noted that the United States has 28,000 troops in South Korea, where "we are very much aligned with in supporting them."

"They are a strong ally. We need the region to stay very stable," Mullen said. "[Kim Jong Il] is a guy who creates instability routinely. I think it's very important, certainly with the Japanese and the South Koreans, but I also think it's important for China, to lead. The one country that has influence in Pyongyang is China, so their leadership is absolutely critical."

North Korea has worked hard to develop nuclear weapons, Mullen said, calling last week's revelation of the uranium enrichment facility there "a big deal." He said the facility has been described as sophisticated and modern.

"So, [If Kim Jong Il] continues on that path with nuclear weapons, or his son does, it could be a very dangerous outcome in the long term and it will at least destabilize an important part if the world," the chairman said.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Mullen backed the idea of high-level screenings and pat downs at airports.

"The recent events of the two cargo planes that had bombs on them, and certainly the bomb in Times Square, the Detroit bomber [Christmas Day 2009], were all very real and indicative of the threat that's out there," he said. "[Terrorists] are still trying to kill as many Americans as they can, so it's not going to go away."

Turning to the possible repeal of the military's so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Mullen said it is difficult to know what the outcome will be.

"For me," Mullen said, "it's been my personal view it is very difficult for an institution that values integrity like the military does to have people show up at work every day and lie about who they are."

Deborah Mullen said she works with families of returning veterans. She's also concerned about military's suicide rate, noting that it is the "most devastating loss to a family."

"Suicide is taboo in the civilian world. Nobody likes to talk about suicide," she said. "There really have been no studies done on suicide, and the military is going to lead the way on this because they began a study on suicide about a year ago on a five-year study." What the military learns about suicide will be shared with the rest of nation and the world, she said.

Wyatt Asks Air Guard Leaders to Look Ahead

2010-11-26T10:53:00.000-05:00

Times are tough for the Air National Guard, but Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt III sees many "great" opportunities for his 106,700-member force to excel in the future.

"We know there is a mismatch right now of demands on the force and resources," said Wyatt, the director of the Air Guard. "I think it will get worse before it gets better, but I don't bring you a message of despair today.

"I bring you a message of hope and courage because I see great opportunity, because we are the most efficient force, the most capable force that we have ever been. The country can afford us before it can afford some other things that [it] is looking at."

Wyatt's question for senior Air Guard leaders from around the country is: "ANG 2025: Are We Ready?"

"Are we willing to make the tough choices that will posture us for the future?" he asked.

The Air Force announced that Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York is the preferred base for eight C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

"Through the next several months and years, there will many of these announcements," Wyatt said. "The questions will be: Are they the type of announcements that we as an organization can embrace and take forward and excel the way we have excelled in our missions in the past?"

Wyatt said the Air Guard should prepare for future demands now.

"We have got to start shaping that force today, to be ready to provide the force that this country needs in 2025," he said.
Wyatt said the Air Guard has seen "significant change" over the last decade.

Airmen who have been in the Air Guard for 20 years or less, he said, have been focused on the Air Expeditionary Force construct.

"They know nothing else," Wyatt said. "They are used to it."

Wyatt said that when he joined the Air Guard, the force was not built for such deployments.

"We have evolved into an air expeditionary force -- an extremely capable air expeditionary force. But what will be the demands of tomorrow?"

Wyatt said he also is proud of the Air Guard's domestic response capability, but there are challenges ahead for that mission too.

"We have 30 percent less airlift now than we did when we responded to Hurricane Katrina," Wyatt said, adding that in fiscal year 2010 more than 100 emergencies across the country generated over 2,250 airlift sorties.

"We are on call 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. If that's not value for America, I don't know what is," he said.

The Air Guard is slated to undergo many mission changes next year, Wyatt said, as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

"We have undergone a lot of change and it has been undertaken in a short time period," he said. "The rate of change is not slowing at all. We need to reflect on the implications of what we have done in the past as we look to the future of the Air National Guard."

The Air Guard has been through trying times before, Wyatt said, noting that when Air Force Maj. Gen. Winston P. "Wimpy" Wilson was the director of the Air National Guard, he lost 50 percent of his aircraft due to resource constrictions. Wilson converted into more modern aircraft and diversified the force into non-flying missions, Wyatt said.

On the other hand, when Air Force Lt. Gen. John B. Conaway was director of the Air National Guard during the Reagan years, he was faced with a flood of resources.

"He took advantage of the landscape and he moved us forward," Wyatt said of Conaway's achievements.

Wyatt said he needs his senior leaders to help him decide how to go forward. He plans to conduct an internal review this year to get an "honest assessment" of the Air Guard.

"We will not lose momentum," he said. "We owe our airmen that effort."

Wyatt said the key to the Air Guard's future is to: "Figure out what we do best, what we do most efficiently, most cost-effectively and grab it!"

By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke
National Guard Bureau
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'Veterans Paid the Price, Cut Debt Elsewhere,' Says The American Legion

2010-11-18T13:35:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- "There they go again," said The American Legion's National Commander Jimmie Foster about the recommendations of two debt reduction commissions which would decrease military retirement benefits. "Every time Washington wakes up with a deficit hangover after decades of spending binges, those who study the serious problems of our national debt can't resist the easy but unfair route of trying to balance the budget on the backs of veterans. It is unfair and if these ridiculous proposals are passed into law, it will hurt America's ability to defend itself from our enemies."

One panel, chaired by former Sen. Pete Domenici and Clinton administration Budget Director Alice Rivlin, calls for changing the formula to calculate military retirement pay and delaying payments until the eligible veterans reach age 57. Another panel, chaired by former Sen. Alan Simpson and retired Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, recommends that military retirement checks be delayed until age 60.

"Tell it to the Marines!" was Foster response to the proposals. "I want these commissions to look a 22-year-old Marine in the eye and say that if you retire at age 40, after 20 years of service and three, four or even more tours of being shot at in Afghanistan, that you still have not done enough to receive your retirement. I want these commissions to tell the soldiers in Iraq that the benefits they are receiving are too much. America has a huge debt all right. And it is owed to these men and women who protect our freedoms every day. It is a debt that must be repaid."

The panels have also recommended cuts to military weapons systems that could hurt American efforts to fight the Global War on Terrorism.

The Simpson/Bowles Commission suggested slashing $100 billion from the defense budget in 2015, closing one-third of the U.S. bases overseas and freezing noncombat military pay. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned that cutting even 10 percent or $55 billion from his budget would be "catastrophic" for the military.

"Cutting the military's budget while it is engaged in two wars is unconscionable," said Foster. "When you send American troops to war, you must pay the cost of those wars. Freezing pay and cutting benefits, whether in combat or in garrison, will also make young people think twice before volunteering to serve their country. The United States would not exist if not for the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in our military throughout our history. It is only because of their sacrifice, that beancounters have the freedom to argue about how to balance the budget to begin with."

With a current membership of 2.4-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

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VA Pilots Expedite Payments to Disabled Veterans

2010-11-17T06:59:00.000-05:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--VA has launched two pilot programs to test new procedures that will speed the payment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation benefits to Veterans with disabilities connected to their military service. These new programs are part of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki’s effort to “break the back” of the disability claims backlog.

“A fundamental goal in the transformation of VA’s claims processing is to make sure that Veterans receive in a timely manner the benefits they earned through their service to our Nation,” Shinseki said. “VA’s ambitious tests of numerous innovations reflect our commitment to constantly improving how we meet our mission of responsiveness to Veterans, their families and survivors.”

The “Quick Pay” Disability Program at the St. Petersburg, Fla., Regional Office and the “Express Lane” Pilot, based at the Seattle, Wash., Regional Office, are among a number of new initiatives using reengineered and streamlined claims processes to provide Veterans with faster claims decisions and benefit payments.

Secretary Shinseki established as one of VA’s highest priority goals the elimination of the disability claims backlog by 2015, so that all Veterans receive a quality decision on their claim in no more than 125 days.

The “Quick Pay” Disability initiative is designed to speed disability compensation to Veterans who provide sufficient evidence at the time of claim submission to decide all or part of their claim. Since program launch, “Quick Pay” has paid more than $2 million in benefits to 1,656 Florida Veterans. These payments averaged $1,236 monthly and were made three months faster than the department’s 125-day goal.

Under the “Express Lane” Pilot program based in the Seattle Regional Office, staff members are realigned to address disability claims based on claim complexity.

Like a supermarket check-out “express lane,” small employee teams focus on rapidly processing numerous less complex claims that typically involve only one disability, thus freeing their co-workers to process the more complex and multiple-disability claims that demand the greatest level of unilateral effort.

The “Express Lane” Pilot, while managed from Seattle, is also being tested at three additional VA regional offices: Nashville, Tenn.; St. Paul, Minn.; and Muskogee, Okla.

The St. Petersburg and Seattle pilots are among more than three dozen VA initiatives exploring optimal ways to organize and deliver benefits and improve service to Veterans.

For additional information on VA’s claims transformation activities, visit http://www.vba.va.gov/transformation. Questions about benefits for Veterans may be directed to VA’s toll free benefits number at 1-800-827-1000.

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Death of Georgia Soldier: Spc. Shannon Chihuahua

2010-11-15T17:00:00.000-05:00

Spc. Shannon Chihuahua, 25, of Thomasville, Ga., died Nov. 12 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

On Veterans Day, VA Secretary Shinseki Recognizes, Thanks Veterans

2010-11-11T10:05:00.000-05:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--This Veterans Day, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki calls on America to honor its 23 million Veterans by reaching out to them and their families with heartfelt thanks and to encourage them to seek the benefits and services they have earned from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“As we observe Veterans Day, I look to everyone – families, friends and acquaintances in communities, large and small – to turn out and thank all our Veterans, from earlier eras and those who are just returning home”

“As we observe Veterans Day, I look to everyone – families, friends and acquaintances in communities, large and small – to turn out and thank all our Veterans, from earlier eras and those who are just returning home,” said VA Secretary Shinseki.

Shinseki noted that America has made significant investments in Veterans benefits and services over the past 19 months: a 16 percent VA budget increase last year and a 10 percent increase in the 2011 budget request. He said this is making it possible to increase Veterans’ access to benefits and health care services, help end the disability claims backlog, and eliminate Veterans’ homelessness by 2015. The Post 9/11 GI Bill has already sent more than 400,000 Veterans to college, and care and benefits will be extended to more Veterans who have illnesses related to exposure to Agent Orange and service during the first Persian Gulf War.

Under Shinseki, VA is taking unprecedented steps to reach out to Veterans and their families with a television ad campaign, a new VA blog, and other social media initiatives, and outreach teams traveling throughout rural communities. The goal is to let Veterans and their families know what services they are eligible for and how to access them. The emphasis is on meeting emergent transitional needs such as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affects many Veterans, including those returning from the Middle East, as well as those who served in Vietnam four decades ago.

VA recently launched its first official blog, “VAntage Point,” at http://www.blogs.va.gov to improve the way VA and Veterans engage online. The blog expands VA’s social media presence, adding to its Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs), Twitter (http://twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs/), Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/VeteransAffairs/), and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/DeptVetAffairs) postings. With more than 70,000 subscribers, VA has the largest Facebook subscriber base among cabinet-level agencies.

On Veterans Day, Shinseki will join White House and military officials, and leaders of major Veterans organizations, at the traditional Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m. Following the ceremony, VA will host an observance program in Arlington’s Memorial Amphitheater.

Across the country, from the rousing notes of the “Star Spangled Banner” to the poignant bugle solo of “Taps,” Americans will celebrate U.S. Veterans with music, ceremonies and speeches. Nearly 100 VA-sponsored activities are scheduled, highlighted by Birmingham’s 63rd annual Veterans Day parade and parades in Lexington and Denver; recognition ceremonies in Anchorage, Alaska, Chillicothe, Ohio, and Tomah, Wis.; concerts in Durham, N.C., Bath, N.Y., and Tucson, Ariz.; and the third annual Veterans Run/Walk in West Haven, Conn. The oath of citizenship will be administered to 25 Veterans at the Fort Sam Houston Cemetery in Texas as they become official citizens of the nation they served.

The Veterans Day National Committee has designated regional observance site status to Veterans Day programs at 54 sites in 29 states. Sites were selected on the basis of community involvement, regional impact and continuity. They are also eligible for support from the Department of Defense.

A guide to these sites and other information about Veterans Day is available on VA's Veterans Day Web page at http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/ under "Regional Observances." The page includes a variety of resources, including a teacher’s guide, a poster gallery and links to information about the Arlington National Cemetery ceremony.

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Outback Gives Free Bloomin' Onion and Beverage to Vets on Veterans Day

2010-11-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

At Outback, we appreciate our Veterans service to our country and we are proud to serve them. This Veterans Day all Veterans and Active Military will receive a Free Bloomin' Onion® and a beverage with valid military ID.

We are honoring your heroes on our Facebook Page. Join the conversation and share your hero with us.

To learn more visit www.outback.com/troops

Lowe’s Offers Veterans Day Discount

2010-11-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced today it will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, and retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available November 11 – November 15.

The discount is available on in-stock and Special Order purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards.

To further honor our armed forces, Lowe’s will be providing customers with complimentary bumper stickers that offer a simple “Thank You” to our troops. A limited quantity of “Thank You” stickers, with an image of the American flag, will be available in-store during the Veterans Day weekend.

In addition to offering military discounts at specific times during the year, Lowe’s has extended benefits for its employees serving in the military and offers employment opportunities to military personnel after their military service has ended. Currently, more than 14,000 Lowe’s employees are military veterans or reservists.

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Operation Homefront: Military Family Food, Fun & Falcons

2010-10-26T17:01:00.000-04:00

On behalf of Operation Homefront Georgia, Feed the Children and the Atlanta Falcons we'd like to invite 400 military families E-1 through E-6 who reside near Atlanta and would benefit from receiving one box of non-perishable food, one box of cleaning/hygiene supplies and one box of Avon products to join us for our Food, Fun and Falcons event on November 2, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Brook Run Park in NE Atlanta.

We only have 400 slots available and everyone must be registered via the internet to receive items. We will call and confirm the first 400 registrants and give you a code you will bring with you and use to pick up your food and other items.

Bring the kids, it's election day and the kids are out of school - come meet the Atlanta Falcons Players, Cheerleaders and special mascot Freddie!

You must be present to pick up your items (one box of food will feed a family of four for approximately one week) and you must have pre-registered and received a code.

Unfortunately walk ups and non registered participants will not be served. If you know of someone who could benefit from receiving this special gift, forward this invite to them. If you have any questions you may call our office at 770-973-0014 and ask for Jennifer.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing our 400 families next Tuesday!

Register Now!

Sincerely,

Jennifer
Operation Homefront Georgia
georgia@operationhomefront.net
770-973-0014

Note: We rec'd the above via email and thought it was worth passing along to you. I would bet that the response on this will be overwhelming! - jmd

Military Order of the Purple Heart Gives Hope to Atlanta’s Homeless Veterans

2010-10-18T13:58:00.000-04:00

-(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Atlanta VA Medical Center will host a “Stand Down” for homeless veterans in the greater Atlanta metro area. Many of the activities for this event are made possible by the dedication and generosity of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (MOPHSF).

“Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.”

On 27 September 2010, the MOPHSF staged its 15th annual “Play it Again Pete” golf tournament at the Northwood Country Club to benefit the Metro Atlanta Homeless Veterans Program. Named in honor of Pete Wheeler, who for 61 years has been the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the State of Georgia, this year’s event raised $63,850 to assist the Atlanta VA Medical Center in the conduct of their homeless veteran program. For the past 10 years, the man behind the scenes in bringing this wonderful event to life has been James Randles, a Past National Commander of the MOPH and Board Director of the Service Foundation. Randles is a combat wounded veteran of the Vietnam War and a Decatur resident. Assisting in the planning and promotion has been Dr. Ken Heard, himself a physician at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

According to Randles, “There are over 8,000 homeless veterans in the Atlanta area. The proceeds from this event will help many veterans who might not otherwise be able to help themselves, be able to re-establish themselves through the resources and support of many businesses, corporations, and individuals in the Atlanta.”

The organization now known as the "Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.," (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, The MOPH is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's military history. Most importantly, through veteran service, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Through the VAVS program, MOPH volunteers selflessly provide assistance to hospitalized veterans at VA medical facilities and State Veterans Homes.

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111th Congress Achieves Banner Year on Veterans Legislation

2010-10-14T07:10:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Congress may be receiving low approval ratings from the general voting population, but The American Legion says lawmakers have done quite well on veterans issues this year.

"The 111th Congress may be remembered for banner legislation such as health-care reform, financial regulation and the recovery act," said Jimmie Foster, national commander of the Legion. "But, in our view, the real successes were the passage of bills that affected nearly every veteran in America."

Chief among the pieces of veteran-related legislation was the "Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009," which guarantees appropriations for VA health care one full year in advance.

Another significant milestone for the 111th Congress was the "Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010." The bill included substantially increased VA funding for fiscal 2010 – the agency's first budget to exceed $100 billion.

More recently enacted laws affecting veterans include the "Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010," which created a pilot program of comprehensive assistance for family caregivers, and also addressed a number of issues important to women veterans and those residing in rural areas.

A bill signed in July provided $13.4 billion to compensate Vietnam veterans who have suffered ill effects from exposure to the toxic herbicide, Agent Orange.

Within the past month, bills have been passed that provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans receiving VA benefits, and expand state veterans nursing-home care to include parents whose children have died on active duty.

The American Legion's legislative director, Tim Tetz, said that, although Congress is becoming increasingly partisan, "the bipartisan passage of so many veterans bills by the 111th Congress certainly demonstrates its commitment to honor the sacrifices of those who have served in uniform."

Still awaiting President Obama's signature is the "Veterans Benefits Act of 2010." This omnibus legislation will clarify and, in some cases, expand certain benefits – including those related to homeless veterans, burial benefits, and adaptive automobile allowances for disabled veterans.

Foster laid out The American Legion's legislative agenda for next year during testimony before a joint House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on Sept. 22. His list of priorities included a repeal of the disabled veterans tax, which penalizes military retirees by reducing their pension payments if they are receiving VA disability compensation.

The Legion also favors extending Post-9/11 GI Bill education funding to include vocational and distance-learning curricula, and providing benefits to more National Guard and reserve servicemembers.

Despite the work yet to be done, the Legion's national commander reiterated his praise for the 111th Congress. Reflecting upon his visit to Washington last month, Foster said, "I came to town to deliver my testimony on the needs of our nation's veterans. Before I left, Congress had passed half of our legislative agenda."

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Shipping Out the Holidays to Military Heroes

2010-10-06T09:35:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Ensuring care packages arrive in time for the holiday season is a priority for friends and family members of military personnel serving around the world. To help get packages on their way, the U.S. Postal Service offers a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box.

The recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military destinations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 12.

Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is $14.50, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to $12.50. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their Priority Mail postage labels online at Click-N-Ship.

Environmentally friendly Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available at no cost at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship.

The Postal Service continues to show support to those serving in the armed forces by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Military Care Kit. Each kit includes two "America Supports You" large Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, four medium-sized Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape and six customs forms with envelopes.

For online ordering of the large Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate boxes featuring the "America Supports You" logo and information about mailing letters and packages to military destinations, go to Supporting Our Troops.

"Shipping holiday packages early helps ensure that they arrive in time for the holidays," said Pranab Shah, vice president and managing director, Global Business. "They are a great morale boost for those men and women serving their country in places far from home."

To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas, the Postal Service recommends that mail for service members be sent no later than the mailing dates listed below. Mail addressed to military Post Offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling. APO/FPO addresses generally require customs forms. To see an online table of updated APO and FPO addresses and mailing restrictions by individual APO/FPO ZIP Codes, click here, select "Pull-Out Information" and click on "Other Information."

MILITARY MAILING DEADLINES

Military Mail Addressed To	Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)1/	First-Class Mail Letters and Cards	Priority Mail	Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/	Space Available Mail (SAM)3/	Parcel Post
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092	Dec-18	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093	N/A	Dec-4	Dec-4	Dec-1	Nov-20	Nov-12
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098	Dec-18	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO AA ZIP 340	Dec-18	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966	Dec-18	Dec-10	Dec-10	Dec-3	Nov-26	Nov-12

1/ EMMS is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO address.

2/ PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3/ SAM parcels are paid at Parcel Post postage rate of postage with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world's mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.

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Missing WWII Soldier is Identified

2010-09-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Pfc. James C. Konyud, of Cleveland, will be buried on Sept. 25 in his hometown. From mid-September 1944 to early February 1945, the Army was engaged against German forces in the Hürtgen Forest, along the Germany/Belgium border, in the longest continuously fought battle in American history. In early January 1945, elements of the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division were deployed defensively in the area southeast of Aachen. Konyud, a member of K Company, 121st Infantry Regiment, was reported missing near the location on Jan. 1.

In 2007, a German explosive ordnance disposal team working in an agricultural field between Vossenack and Hürtgen, found human remains and military-related equipment, including Konyud's military identification tag. The remains and items were turned over to Army Memorial Affairs Activity-Europe officials for further analysis.

Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) teams traveled to excavate the site twice in 2007 and once in 2008, recovering additional remains and other military-related equipment, including a second identification tag for Konyud.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA, which matched that of Konyud's brother and niece, in the identification of his remains.

More than 400,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II died. At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover, identify and bury approximately 79,000 as known persons. Today, more than 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.
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DOD Identifies Air Force Casualty: Senior Airman Michael J. Buras, 23, of Fitzgerald, Ga

2010-09-22T15:48:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Senior Airman Michael J. Buras, 23, of Fitzgerald, Ga., died Sept. 21 of wounds suffered as the result of an improvised explosive device detonation in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Secretary of State Kemp Announces Increased Voting Opportunities for Georgia’s Military and Overseas Voters

2010-09-21T09:35:00.000-04:00

Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced today (September 20) that, for the first time in history, ballots are being delivered electronically to Georgia’s military and overseas voters for the 2010 General Election. On Saturday, September 18, Georgia’s military and overseas voters began receiving notifications that their ballots are available for downloading and printing.

The system which will deliver these blank ballots was developed in-house within the Secretary of State’s Office at no additional cost to Georgia’s taxpayers.

Secretary Kemp stated, “We were able to leverage our existing technology and resources to better serve Georgia’s overseas and military voters without having to incur any additional costs or expense.”

To access their ballot, military and overseas voters will log on to a secure webpage on the Secretary of State’s website, print and vote their ballot, and then mail it back to their county election office. This will save weeks of time previously lost to delivery of blank ballots by mail.

Secretary Kemp added, “One ballot cast by a member of our military that is not counted due to slow mail service or a missed deadline is one too many. This e-government solution increases Georgia’s commitment to our men and women in uniform, who fight to protect our Constitution and our freedoms, by providing them additional opportunities to vote and fully participate in our elections.”

With this new advance in ballot delivery, Georgia is in full compliance with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (also known as the MOVE Act) and Georgia House Bill 1073, signed into law this year by Governor Perdue.

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U.S. Soldier MIA from Korean War Identified

2010-09-20T20:56:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced earlier this month that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

United States Army Sgt. Charles P. Whitler was buried Sept. 2 in his hometown of Cloverport, Ky.

In early November 1950, Whitler was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, occupying a defensive position near the town of Unsan by the Kuryong River known as the "Camel's Head." Two enemy elements attacked the U.S. forces, collapsing their perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. Whitler's unit was involved in fighting which devolved into hand-to-hand combat around the 3rd Battalion's command post. Almost 400 men were reported missing or killed in action following the battle.

In late November 1950, a U.S. soldier captured during the battle of Unsan reported during his debriefing that he and nine American soldiers were moved to a house near the battlefield. The POWs were taken to an adjacent field and shot. Three of the 10 Americans survived, though one later died. The surviving solider provided detailed information on the incident location.

Analysts from DPMO developed case leads with information spanning more than 58 years. Through interviews with eyewitnesses, experts evaluated circumstances surrounding Whitler's captivity and death and researched wartime documentation of his loss.

In May 2004, a joint U.S.-North Korean team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, excavated a mass grave near the "Camel's Head." An elderly North Korean man reported he had witnessed the death of seven or eight U.S. soldiers near that location and provided the team with a general description of the burial site.

The excavation team recovered human remains and other personal artifacts, ultimately leading to the identification of seven soldiers from that site, one of whom was Whitler.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used dental comparisons and mitochondrial DNA - which matched that of Whitler's sister and niece - in the identification.

More than 2,000 servicemen died as prisoners of war during the Korean War. With this accounting, 8,022 service members still remain missing from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1420.
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Greater Valley Area Homebuilder Offers Incentives to Those in Military

2010-09-20T15:56:00.000-04:00

Homebuyers can earn upgrade opportunities based on Military service
Greater Valley Group (GVG), the developer of Quail Run, a master-planned community and Riverside Estates, a golf course community, both in Lanett, Ala. is offering any homebuyer that is in the Military up to two percent of the purchase price towards upgrades such as appliances, tile, plumbing fixtures and deck rails to name a few.

“This is a great opportunity for someone who is moving to the Greater Valley Area or is living here already to take advantage of upgrades we are providing,” said Tim Randolph, Chief Operating Officer for Southern Place Homes, the premier builder for both communities. “Both of our communities are just a short drive to Ft. Benning.”

Quail Run is approximately five miles north of downtown West Point, Ga., on West Fredonia Road. The neighborhood is nestled in a relaxing setting close to West Point Lake and features an extensive array of community amenities, including a pool, pavilion, multi-purpose sports field, tennis courts and a fishing lake. A nearby hunting persevere will open at the end of the year and an equestrian center is scheduled to open in 2011. With 236 lots and homes starting from $180,000’s, Quail Run is an ideal choice for Military personnel.

The community features three and four bedroom single-family design plans ranging in size from 1,800 to 4,000 square feet. Each home sits on approximately one third acre. Standard features include granite countertops, hardwood floors, front and back porches, crown molding, Whirlpool Appliances and carriage style garage doors.
Riverside Estates is approximately four miles north of downtown West Point, Ga. All residents receive a one-year membership to Riverside Country Club after paying their initial HOA fees.

Homes in this community offer luxury features and amenities homeowners desire, with flexible plans that meet the needs of today’s family. With 101 of the 141 lots on the golf course, homeowners are guaranteed a prime choice of golf course real estate. Priced from the $200,000s, homeowners have a choice of 18 pre-approved home plans to choose from. Custom designs are also welcome, but must be approved by an architectural review board.

Children that reside in Quail Run and Riverside Estates attend schools in Chambers County including: Huguley Elementary, W.F. Burns Junior High School and Valley High School. The Springwood School, an independent, K-12 co-educational college preparatory day school is also conveniently located adjacent to Riverside Estates in Lanett, Ala., which is only a short drive from Quail Run.

For more information about Quail Run or Riverside Estates, visit www.gvghome.com or contact Drew Rennolds at 334-499-4190 or by email at drennolds@gvghome.com.

About GVG:
Greater Valley Group is a real estate development company dedicated to building beautiful neighborhoods, recruiting desirable retail and improving an already excellent quality of life in the counties and communities of east Alabama and west Georgia near West Point Lake and the recently opened Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) plant in West Point. With $195 million in residential and commercial projects already underway, GVG is investing in the future, providing quality jobs and creating a desirable destination for permanent relocation for active retirees, industrial workers, executives, professionals, families and students. For more information on Greater Valley Group, LLC, please visit www.GVGHold.com.

Legion: GI Bill Needs Non-Degree Coverage

2010-09-17T18:54:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion testified to Congress on Sept. 16 that the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which provides veterans with the most comprehensive education benefits since World War II, should be extended to cover courses at non-degree granting institutions.

Testifying before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Robert Madden of The American Legion said in his written statement that "a veteran or family member may choose a more traditional path and attend a non-degree institution, but cannot use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to complete these courses. Most of these education paths consist of a shorter training time and can lead to immediate employment. The American Legion believes that veterans should never be limited in the manner they use their educational benefits."

Madden, assistant director of the Legion's Economic Division, stressed the importance of informing student veterans and university administrators of the opportunities that the GI Bill provides, emphasizing that The American Legion has been a leading supporter of the bill since it was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

Last month, The American Legion conducted a two-day "Veterans on Campus" education symposium in Milwaukee. The event, which Madden referenced in his testimony, focused on the unique needs of veterans in their transition from military life to the more relaxed world of academia.

"We found that a large number of student veterans... did not have sufficient information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. VA needs to provide more outreach to colleges and universities around the country to ensure these student veterans have a full range of knowledge concerning their education benefits," Madden told the subcommittee.

Helping veterans with their education benefits is especially important, Madden said, given VA's initial difficulties in delivering those benefits in August 2009, when thousands of student veterans failed to get their GI Bill payments on time. VA had to provide many of them with emergency payments of up to $3,000.

"Now, there are reports of veterans and their family members losing all of their future payments," Madden said. "There have been reports of schools being overpaid, which is why many schools are waiting for the add/drop period before sending in the veteran's enrollment certification.

"In spite of this move by the schools, the veteran is still being overpaid; consequently, the schools send back the money, but it is not being reported back to the VA in a timely manner. Ultimately, veterans are then denied their housing allowance and book stipend until their payment is recouped by VA," he said.

Of the two million servicemembers who have served since 2001, about 250,000 used the GI Bill in the spring 2010 semester. Madden told the subcommittee that one of VA's main challenges is to improve communication with veterans about their education benefits.

"One regional office (RO) says the veteran can do something one way and then another RO says the veteran cannot. Secondly, a veteran or family member will call the 1-800 numbers for education assistance and will ask a question. That same veteran will call back, get a different operator, and ask the same question. What the veteran receives, on occasion, is multiple answers. The veteran needs to receive the same answer so he/she can properly navigate the education process," Madden said.

As veterans determine the best means of providing income for themselves and their families, the options of vocational school, on-site job training, apprenticeships and online distance learning are becoming more popular. On behalf of The American Legion, Madden said that each veteran should have the right to use his or her Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their full extent, and that the inability of veterans taking vocational and online courses to maximize these benefits is unacceptable (veterans enrolled in online courses are not eligible for housing allowances).

The American Legion also wants education benefits extended to Title 32 Active Guard Reserve members who have served under federal orders since 9/11, but have not been allowed to include that federal time in their eligibility requirements for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. "These men and women served valiantly and with distinction. This is a must-fix and needs to be addressed immediately," Madden said.

Additionally. the Legion wants the GI Bill extended to spouses and children of veterans who served in the 9/11 era but retired before Aug. 1, 2009, when the new education benefits were implemented.

VA has increased its number of claims processors and will implement a new IT system to streamline the process itself. "The American Legion is excited about the final implementation of the new IT for veterans," Madden said. "We hope this IT solution helps resolve many of the application, payment and communication problems that have been experienced."

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Call for Art: - Attention War Vets

2010-09-04T15:35:00.000-04:00

Artworks (Fayetteville, GA) is hosting a special exhibit of art (any medium) by veterans for the month of November to honor Veterans Day. Seeking images that portray conflict – both emotional and military, or that rare moment of peace. Send 4 jpgs to info@Awots.com with contact info. Deadline is Oct. 30th, 5:00 pm. No entry fee. Reception is First Friday Night, Nov. 5th.

DOD Announces Military and Overseas Voting Waivers

2010-08-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense announced today that Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia were denied waivers which would have temporarily exempted them from complying with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.

Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Washington were approved for waivers, relieving those states from the 45-day ballot transmission requirement.

"The states granted waivers presented thorough and comprehensive plans to protect the voting opportunities for military and overseas voters," said Bob Carey, director, Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). "In each case, we determined that the combination of measures presented provide military and overseas voters sufficient time to receive, mark and return their ballots so they can be counted, and thus met the requirement for receiving a waiver under the MOVE Act."

In 2008, a delegation of state secretaries of state reported after visiting military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Germany that, everyone the secretaries visited stated a preference for greater e-mail and Internet access to voting. Those same troops stated that email access extended even to remote areas of the theater. Many of the states' waiver application comprehensive plans provide such expanded email and internet access.

The MOVE Act requires states to send absentee ballots to military and overseas voters covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act not later than 45-days before an election for federal office, beginning with the Nov. 2, 2010 election. In accordance with the MOVE Act, states are allowed to apply for a waiver from the 45-day ballot requirement. Twelve states submitted waivers, and one state (Maryland) subsequently withdrew its waiver application. In addition to the programs presented by the states in their waiver applications, DoD has been working with states to improve timeliness and opportunities for military and overseas voters to receive their ballot and submit their votes in adequate time to be counted in the election.

This year, FVAP launched new online products that make completing voting forms easier by developing electronic alternatives for voters to request, receive or return their ballots.

"DoD is working hard to make the absentee voting process seamless, easy, intuitive, and quick for military and overseas voters," said Carey.

Military members can now fill out their registration to vote and absentee ballot applications using FVAP's online tool, and if they do not receive their ballot in time, they may use the Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), for which a full online tool is available.

These tools, along with the latest voting information by state, may be found at http://www.FVAP.gov. In addition, FVAP has launched a 24/7 call center for military and overseas voters, voting assistance officers, and election officials to get help with voting. Individuals can e-mail in their questions or use the online chat capability.

For more information about state waiver applications, visit http://www.FVAP.gov .

State waiver applications and DoD's waiver responses may be found at the hyperlinks in this document.

Commissary Eggs Unaffected by Recall

2010-08-21T16:19:00.000-04:00

From a Defense Commissary Agency News Release

As of yesterday, military commissaries are not affected by the massive Wright County Egg voluntary recall, Defense Commissary Agency food safety officials reported.

Although the commissaries may carry some of the brands such as Hillandale and Sunshine that were mentioned in the Aug. 13 recall action, the cartons of eggs sold in military stores are not part of those linked to salmonella contamination, officials said.

Commissary customers can check the status of their eggs at home by looking for the Julian date and plant code stamped on the end of each egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P, followed by a number. The Julian date follows the plant number. Example: P-1946 223.

The initial Wright County Egg recall announcement involved more than 228 million shell eggs. On Aug. 18, the recall expanded to more than 380 million eggs sold in cartons of six, 12 or 18 eggs.

The Aug. 13 recall applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps; plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946; Julian dates of 136 to 225.

The Aug. 18 recall of cartons of six, 12 and 18 eggs applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Albertson's, Mountain Dairy, Glenview, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Pacific Coast, Farm Fresh, Lund and Kemps; plant numbers 1720 and 1942; Julian dates of 136 to 229.

To date, the recalled eggs are known to have been distributed to stores nationwide, according to the Food and Drug Administration's recall alert sent Aug. 13. Illnesses relating to the shell eggs have been confirmed, and traceback investigations are ongoing, the FDA statement said. The salmonella organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.
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DOD Releases Final Fort Hood Review

2010-08-20T13:47:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense (DoD) released today the final review of the recommendations from the independent report "Protecting the Force: Lessons Learned from Fort Hood."

The DoD will place a high priority on implementing recommendations that will strengthen policies, programs and procedures in the following areas:

Educating commanders about the symptoms of potential workplace violence and the tools available to them to address it;
Ensuring commander and supervisor access to appropriate information in personnel records throughout a service member's career;
Improving law enforcement and force protection information sharing with partner agencies and among installations to ensure that all relevant personnel are aware of and able to analyze and respond to potential threats;
Expanding installations' emergency response capabilities, to include enabling enhanced 911 to notify dispatchers of a caller's location, mass notification and warning systems to guide installation personnel and emergency responders to an emergency, and a common operating picture to ensure that emergency responders have access to real-time information in a crisis;
Integrating force protection policy through the creation of a consultative and policy-making body which will bring together the various entities across the department with force protection responsibilities; and
Ensuring that we provide top quality health care to our service-members and our healthcare providers though the hiring of additional healthcare providers - particularly in the mental health field - and ensuring that healthcare providers receive appropriate post-deployment respite and dwell time.

The tragic shooting of military personnel at Fort Hood in November 2009 underscored the need for the DoD to review its approach to force protection and to broaden its force protection policies, programs, and procedures to go beyond their traditional focus on hostile external threats. The follow-on review final report recommends concrete actions across a range of issues that all contribute to the safety and health of our military forces.

The DoD will track implementation of the various recommendations contained in its final report, focusing particularly on force protection issues.

The final recommendations of the Fort Hood follow-on review can be found at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20100820FortHoodFollowon.pdf .

Georgia Guardsman Dies as a Result of Injuries Received in Afghanistan

2010-08-19T23:21:00.000-04:00

The Department of the Army today released information on the death of Sergeant 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts of Hinesville, a Georgia Army National Guardsman assigned to the 810th Engineer Company (SAPPER) in Swainsboro.

Roberts, 39, died as a result of wounds received during an IED incident that occurred at Sayed Abad, Wardak province, Afghanistan on June 26, 2010. Roberts was transferred to National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md. for treatment where he died on August 17.

Upon word of Roberts’ death, Governor Sonny Perdue said, "The news of Sergeant Roberts' passing is heart wrenching. We prayed fervently for his recovery; now our thoughts and prayers turn to his family and friends. We offer what comfort we can give knowing that Sergeant Roberts died a hero, laying down his life so others may know freedom."

“Each notice received about the death of one of our brave Georgia Soldiers brings with it renewed sadness throughout the Georgia National Guard family,” said Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, the Adjutant General of Georgia.

“Despite successes in the region, we are reminded with every loss that significant dangers still exist for our men and women serving around the world. Sergeant 1st Class Roberts was a combat veteran, having faced the enemy before in Iraq. Regardless, he showed no hesitancy when called again to serve his state and nation in Afghanistan. We extend to his family our deepest sympathy on their loss, as well as praise for the patriotism and valor of Sgt. 1st Class Roberts.”

Lavelle Posthumously Nominated to General

2010-08-07T08:31:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense announced August 4 that retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John D. Lavelle has been nominated posthumously by the President for advancement on the retired rolls to the rank of general. This follows an Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records decision and recommendations from the secretary of defense and secretary of the Air Force.

In April 1972, Lavelle was removed from command as a result of allegations that he ordered unauthorized bombing missions into North Vietnam, and that he authorized the falsification of reports to conceal the missions. Lavelle was retired in the grade of major general, two grades lower than the last grade he served on active duty. Lavelle died in 1979.

In 2007, newly released and declassified information resulted in evidence that Lavelle was authorized by President Richard Nixon to conduct the bombing missions. Further, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records found no evidence Lavelle caused, either directly or indirectly, the falsification of records, or that he was even aware of their existence. Once he learned of the reports, Lavelle took action to ensure the practice was discontinued.

In light of the new information, a request was made to the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records for reinstatement to the grade of general, Lavelle's last grade while on active duty.

The evidence presented clearly corrected the historical record and warranted a reassessment of Lavelle's retired grade.

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Airman Missing in Action from WWII Identified

2010-08-06T22:17:00.002-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Sgt. John P. Bonnassiolle, U.S. Army, of Oakland, Calif. He will be buried Tuesday in San Francisco.

On April 29, 1944, he was aboard a B-24J Liberator with nine other crewmen. They failed to return following a bombing mission over Berlin. German documents captured after the war established the aircraft had crashed near the town of East Meitze, Germany, north of Hannover. German forces removed the remains of three crewmen from the site and buried them in a cemetery in Hannover.

In 1946, The U.S. Army's Graves Registration Command located the remains of the men buried in Hannover and reburied them at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, after confirming the identities of two of the three.

In 2003, a German citizen began excavating the East Meitze crash site and turned over human remains to U.S. officials. A Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team traveled to excavate the crash site in 2005 and 2007, recovering additional remains and crew-related equipment -- including identification tags for Bonnassiolle and three other crew members.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA -- which matched that of Bonnassiolle's sister -- in the identification of his remains.

More than 400,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II died. At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover, identify and bury approximately 79,000 as known persons. Today, more than 72,000 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.
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United Spinal Association/VetsFirst and Other Veterans Organizations Win Victory For Vietnam Vets Suffering From Agent Orange Diseases

2010-08-03T20:15:00.001-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- United Spinal Association/VetsFirst and other veterans organizations scored a victory yesterday for Vietnam veterans suffering from diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit instructed the VA to issue within 30 days new rules for paying disability benefits to Vietnam veterans stricken with ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, or B-cell leukemias.

The rules impact an estimated 200,000 Vietnam veterans who suffer from one of the three Agent Orange-related diseases or their survivors.

The unanimous three-judge panel said VA must publish final rules on the three diseases in the Federal Register within 30 days. The VA claimed it could not issue the rules by the June 23rd deadline set by an act of Congress, because it was waiting for another federal agency (the Office of Management and Budget) to review them.

For many veterans and survivors, the date that VA rules are published has an impact on the amount of financial benefits they will receive. If a Vietnam veteran or survivor files a claim before VA publishes the rules on the three diseases, they are eligible for benefits retroactive to the date the claim is filed.

By law, veterans who file after the rules are published, receive benefits retroactive to the effective date of the regulation. For every month that publication is delayed, these veterans and survivors lose a month of benefits.

The VA estimates that as many as 150,000 Vietnam veterans and survivors have yet to file their paperwork. The veterans organizations believe the publication of rules in 30 days will likely result in a flood of additional VA claims.

Paul J. Tobin, president and CEO of United Spinal Association said, "We urge all veterans and their survivors who have been affected by Agent Orange-related diseases to apply as soon as possible to take advantage of the retroactive benefits available to them. This court decision will improve the quality of life of many individuals who have been suffering for far too long, but it's vital that veterans file now before the rules are published."

"We filed this request because veterans who have given so much for our country, should not have their compensation claims delayed because two federal agencies can't get their act together and comply with the law," said Bart Stichman, co-executive director of NVLSP. "Today's court order is a victory for our Vietnam veterans, and sends a strong message to federal bureaucrats - that bureaucratic delays will not be tolerated."

The successful request for a judicial remedy was filed in July 2010 by a coalition of veterans service organizations: United Spinal Association/VetsFirst; the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP); the Paralyzed Veterans of America; and the Non-Commissioned Officers Association. The organizations received pro-bono legal help from Chadbourne & Parke LLP.

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Veterans Need More VA Outreach on Gulf War Illnesses

2010-07-27T17:02:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion testified to Congress today that while veterans service organizations disseminate information about Gulf War illnesses, VA must improve its outreach efforts to thousands of veterans who suffer from such maladies.

Testifying before a House subcommittee, American Legion panelist Ian de Planque said in his written statement that "VA has moved forward to some extent with increased internal education of their medical and benefits-related staff.

"However, the mission of increasing understanding of the medical factors involved for the actual veterans who have served still lags far behind what is necessary," he told the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

American Legion posts across the country provide valuable information to veterans (such as its "Gulf War Era Benefits &Programs" pamphlet), and the Legion's service officers go through annual training that ensures they have the most current information on Gulf War-related illnesses. But these outreach efforts "do not void VA's responsibility to provide this information directly to veterans," de Planque said.

Since the Gulf War Veterans Illness Task Force published its findings last March, de Planque said VA "rule-making is underway to add additional diseases to the list of those subject to the presumption of service-connection, based on qualifying Gulf War service."

During operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, thousands of veterans were exposed to chemicals, pesticides, oil fires and the psychological stress of SCUD missile attacks (real or false). From these apparent causes sprang various symptoms among Gulf War veterans, including fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, memory loss and mood swings.

de Planque told the subcommittee that VA, in dealing with Gulf War illnesses, needs to remember "the lessons learned from the long uphill battle faced by Vietnam veterans in dealing with the after-effects of the herbicide Agent Orange.

"As is the case with Agent Orange, research much be continuously examined, and where sound medical principles support the addition of new presumptive conditions - or new understandings of existing conditions - VA must adjust their procedures to ensure these veterans receive equitable benefits," de Planque said.

Last February, the Veterans Benefits Administration issued a training letter to regional VA offices: "Adjudicating Claims Based on Service in the Gulf War and Southwest Asia." It provided background information and explained terms such as "medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness." The letter also provided specific procedures for procuring supporting evidence and rating disability claims.

While such training letters can be quite useful, de Planque said The American Legion wants to make sure that both VBA and the Veterans Health Administration are consistent in the way they handle Gulf War illnesses.

"All too often, in American Legion quality-review visits to (VA) regional offices, we see apparent disconnect between VBA and VHA elements in the claims process," de Planque said. "Without a full understanding by both sides of the equation, veterans' claims will suffer from poor interpretation, and these veterans will continue to slip through the cracks."

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Pew Commends Uniform Law Commission for Military and Overseas Voters Act

2010-07-16T08:52:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The Uniform Law Commission (ULC) took a major step toward improving state election systems by approving the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act at its annual meeting July 15. The model law would resolve longstanding, widespread voting problems in all federal, state and local elections for American military personnel and citizens overseas. In 2011, many of the commissioners will work to enact the model law through legislation in their respective states.

The ULC, also known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, now in its 119th year, comprises more than 350 lawyers, judges, law professors, and lawyer-legislators from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Commissioners are appointed by their states to draft and promote the enactment of uniform laws designed to solve problems common to all the states.

Critical provisions of the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act include:

-- mandating that absentee ballots for all elections be sent at least 45
days before an election;
-- requiring electronic transmission of voting materials, including blank
absentee ballots for all elections, upon request;
-- eliminating the requirement for notarization of military and overseas
ballots; and
-- expanding acceptance of the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (used as
a back-up measure when official ballots aren't received) for all
elections.

"In 1952, President Truman urged reform of an election system that disenfranchised those who served in the military in World War II and in the post-war reconstruction," said Doug Chapin, director of Election Initiatives for the Pew Center on the States. "We commend the ULC for setting both a gold standard and developing a practical solution that states can adopt to finally answer Truman's call. This new model law will make it easier for those who defend and represent our nation's democratic ideals around the world to participate in our democracy here at home."

In January 2009, the Pew Center on the States issued No Time to Vote: Challenges Facing America's Overseas Military Voters, a report which documented that 25 states and the District of Columbia did not provide adequate time for overseas service members to vote and have their ballots counted. At that time, Pew began working with the ULC to inform the drafting of the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act.

In October 2009, Congress passed the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act, which removed many of the obstacles to voting and provided more time for military service members and overseas citizens to participate in federal elections. Since then, Pew has been working with states to bring their laws and regulations into compliance with the MOVE Act and expand the new provisions to state and local elections. The ULC's model act provides a clear blueprint for states to go beyond the federal MOVE law and extend key protections for military and overseas voters to any general, special, primary or runoff election for federal, state and local offices and ballot measures.

In addition to its efforts to improve the election system for military personnel and civilians abroad, the Pew Center on the States is partnering with state election officials and Google to develop the Voting Information Project, which will harness modern information technologies to get voters, no matter where they reside, the election information they need. Pew has also been examining the problems posed by the nation's outdated voter registration system and is collaborating with election officials to evaluate options for building a system that is more efficient and accurate, while reducing costs and administrative burdens.

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DOD Identifies Army Casualty - Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis, Powder Springs, GA

2010-07-08T21:45:00.002-04:00

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis, 22, of Powder Springs, Ga., died July 3 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident at Forward Operating Base Lane, Afghanistan (Zabul province).

He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Soldier Missing In Action from World War I Identified

2010-07-07T19:49:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War I, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Army Pvt. Thomas D. Costello of New York, N.Y., will be buried on July 12 at Arlington National Cemetery.

On Sept. 16, 1918, as part of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, Costello encountered heavy enemy artillery barrage and machine gun fire near Jaulny, France, in a wooded area known as Bois de Bonvaux. He was killed during the battle and his remains were buried with two other soldiers in a wooded area between Bois de Bonvaux and Bois de Grand Fontaine.

Attempts to locate Costello's remains by Army Graves Registration personnel following the war were unsuccessful. In September 2006, French nationals hunting for metal in the area found human remains and World War I artifacts. A Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team, operating near the location, was notified of the discovery and recovered human remains upon excavating the site.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the JPAC laboratory also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.
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Afghanistan Visit Gives Mullen Reassurance, Concern

2010-06-30T20:42:00.002-04:00

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday that he returned from Afghanistan this week reassured that U.S. and NATO forces remain on track there, but also concerned about the synergy among terrorist groups in the region.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen made the comments yesterday as part of an interview with David Sanger, New York Times chief Washington correspondent, at the inaugural Aspen Security Forum, part of the Aspen Institute, in Colorado.

Mullen said his trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Israel was scheduled before the fallout from a magazine article on Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal that led to the general's resignation as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"Because of what happened," Mullen said, referring to McChrystal's removal, "it was a trip of reassurance. We'll have a new leader out there very quickly, and we also have a very able deputy there now" in British Lt. Gen. Nicholas Parker. "The strategy hasn't changed, nor has our focus," he said.

Mullen met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who he said was reassured that the leadership transition will be smooth. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, is in the confirmation process to replace McChrystal.

"I wanted to make sure we are staying focused on the mission, and I report back that clearly all the people I saw were," Mullen said of his trip.

Mullen said McChrystal's resignation is different from removals of military leaders under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Dwight D. Eisenhower, and even the 2008 resignation of Navy Adm. William J. Fallon as head of Central Command, because it was not based on policy differences. Although he never heard McChrystal speak negatively of civilian leaders, Mullen said, his resignation was important in light of the article, which included passages in which McChrystal and members of his staff were portrayed as dismissive of some civilian administration officials.

"This goes back to the 1770s," Mullen said. "It's such a fundamental principle. We have enormous challenges now, but that's not an excuse in any way, shape or form for any of us to not recognize the importance of the civilian control of our military."

As for operations in Afghanistan, the chairman said he returned with increasing concerns that terrorist groups are operating more closely with one another, not just in Southwest Asia, but also with men charged in recent attempted terrorist attacks in Detroit and New York.

"I'm increasingly concerned about the synergy among terrorist groups in that region and their expanding desire to kill as many Americans – and not just Americans – as they can," he said.

Mullen acknowledged the length of the nearly decade-long war, but emphasized its importance.

"There aren't any of us who don't want to see this end as soon as we can," he said. "But, coming back from this trip, I am increasingly concerned about the terrorist threat in the region. The war in Afghanistan was something very badly resourced – under-resourced -- for a number of years. We're just getting to a point where it is resourced, and the government and corruption issue [in Afghanistan], as well as security, is comprehensively being addressed."

In the long term, Mullen said, the solution to terrorism is more about the global economy than military operations.

"You can't kill them all," he said of the issue of dealing with extremists and terrorists. "We've got to get to a point where 15-year-old boys pursue a more positive way of life than putting on a suicide vest." That's a long way off, Mullen said, adding that a long-term solution needs leadership from the Muslim community to stand up against the desecration of their religion by terrorists.

In the short term, Mullen said, operations in Kandahar are ongoing, and results won't be apparent until the end of the year. Operations there will ramp up after the remaining one-third of the U.S. surge troops are in place later this summer, he added.

The NATO campaign that took Marja in Helmand province from the Taliban earlier this year underestimated the ability to set up a new local government there, the chairman said. But while security remains a challenge in Marja, he added, "steady progress" has continued, and schools and bazaars are open. Mullen said he has supported from the beginning Obama's stated timeline of July 2011 to begin drawing down in Afghanistan, because it creates a sense of urgency in the Afghan government to take control. "A lot is going to happen between now and July 2011," he said.
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

Petraeus Calls Afghanistan a Test of Wills

2010-06-30T20:41:00.000-04:00

Afghanistan is a test of wills, and the enemy has to know the United States and its allies have the will to prevail, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus said before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday.

The testimony was part of the confirmation process for Petraeus, President Barack Obama's nominee to replace Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The general also has been nominated to succeed McChrystal as commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, a position that requires a separate confirmation process through NATO channels. Petraeus currently is commander of U.S. Central Command.

The United States has vital national interests in Afghanistan, Petraeus told the panel, noting that Obama has said the United States will not tolerate a safe haven for terrorists who want to destroy Afghan security from within and launch attacks against innocent men, women and children around the world.

"In short, we cannot allow al-Qaida or other transnational extremist elements to once again establish sanctuaries from which they can launch attacks on our homeland or on our allies," the general said. "Achieving that objective, however, requires that we not only counter the resurgent Taliban elements who allowed such sanctuaries in the past. We must also help our Afghan partners develop their security forces and governance capacity so that they can, over time, take on the tasks of securing their country and seeing to the needs of their people."

If confirmed, Petraeus will command almost 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan and more than 50,000 servicemembers from 45 other nations.

The general said he will work closely with civilian agencies to implement a whole-of-government approach to the situation on the ground, as the campaign strategy in Afghanistan calls for a fully integrated civil-military effort. Further, he added, the plan calls for international cooperation and crucial contributions from the Afghan government and Afghan national security forces.

As Centcom commander, Petraeus participated in forming the president's strategy in Afghanistan.

"I support and agree with his new policy," the general said. "During its development, I offered my forthright military advice, and I have assured the president that I will do the same as we conduct assessments over the course of the months ahead. He, in turn, assured me that he expects and wants me to provide that character of advice."

The general said he supports the need to inspire greater urgency on the Afghan government's part, noting the policy's intent to begin transitioning security responsibilities to Afghan national security forces in July 2011.

"It is important to note the president's reminder in recent days that July 2011 will mark the beginning of a process, not the date when the U.S. heads for the exits and turns out the lights," Petraeus said. "As he explained this past Sunday in fact, we'll need to provide assistance to Afghanistan for a long time to come."

The general said notable progress has taken place in Afghanistan already. The number of civilian deaths due to coalition military operations has dropped, and areas in Helmand province have been freed from the Taliban. He acknowledged that more remains to be done to secure the progress.

A basic tenet of the counterinsurgency strategy is to secure the population. "Focusing on securing the people does not, however, mean that we don't go after the enemy," Petraeus said. "In fact, protecting the population inevitably requires killing, capturing or turning the insurgents. Our forces have been doing that, and we will continue to do that. In fact, our troopers and our Afghan partners have been very much taking the fight to the enemy in recent months."

The Taliban and their terrorist allies have paid a grave price since April, with more than 130 middle- and senior-level operatives being captured or killed, and thousands of rank-and-file members taken off the battlefield.

The general noted that those gains have come at a cost for U.S. and allied forces. "I want to assure the mothers and fathers of those fighting in Afghanistan that I see it as a moral imperative to bring all assets to bear to protect our men and women in uniform and the Afghan security forces with whom ISAF troopers are fighting shoulder to shoulder," he said. "Those on the ground must have all the support they need when they are in a tough situation."

This is so important, he added, that he has discussed it with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Wardak, and Afghan Interior Minister Bismullah Khan. "And they are in full agreement with me on this," Petraeus told the senators.

The general said he is "keenly aware of concerns" servicemembers have raised about the application of rules of engagement and a tactical directive designed to minimize the possibility of inflicting civilian casualties. "They should know that I will look very hard at this issue," he said.

Developing the Afghan security forces so they can take responsibility for their country and produce sustained success is "hugely important and hugely challenging," Petraeus said.

"Indeed, helping to train and equip host-nation forces in the midst of an insurgency is akin to building an advanced aircraft while it is in flight, while it is being designed, and while it is being shot at," he said. "There is nothing easy about it." Progress in that regard has picked up since the training effort in the country has been overhauled, he added, but more must be done for the trend to continue.

"Further progress will take even greater partnering, additional training improvements, fuller manning of the training and mentoring missions, and expanded professional education opportunities," he said, "and initiatives are being pursued in each of these areas."

Petraeus said tough fighting will continue in Afghanistan, noting that June has seen many NATO casualties.

"Indeed, it may get more intense in the next few months," he said. "As we take away the enemy's safe havens and reduce the enemy's freedom of action, the insurgents will fight back."

The general praised the commitment of American troops in the country. "I'd like to once again note the extraordinary work being done by our troopers on the ground in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere around the world," he said. "Our young men and women truly deserve the recognition they have earned as America's new greatest generation. There is no question that they comprise the finest, most combat-hardened military in our nation's history.
by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
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Sailor Missing From Korean War Identified

2010-06-30T20:39:00.003-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

U.S. Navy Ensign Robert W. Langwell, of Columbus, Ind., will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on July 12. On Oct. 1, 1950, Langwell was serving on the minesweeper USS Magpie when it sank after striking an enemy mine off the coast of Chuksan-ri, South Korea. Twelve crewmen were rescued, but Langwell was one of 20 men lost at sea.

In June 2008, personnel from the Republic of South Korea's Ministry of National Defense Agency for Killed in Action Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) canvassed towns in South Korea in an effort to gather information regarding South Korean soldiers unaccounted-for from the Korean War. An elderly fisherman, interviewed in the village of Chuksan-ri, reported that he and other villagers had buried an American serviceman in 1950 when his body was caught in the man's fishing net.

The MAKRI located the burial site on April 28, 2009, where they excavated human remains and military artifacts. The burial site was approximately three miles west of where the USS Magpie sank in 1950. The team turned the remains and artifacts over to U.S. Forces Korea, which sent them to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command for analysis.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, JPAC scientists used dental comparisons in the identification of Langwell's remains.

With Langwell's accounting, 8,025 service members still remain missing from the Korean War.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or call 703-699-1169.

VA, Congress Need to Grant New Agent Orange Claims Without Delay

2010-06-23T08:31:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion is calling upon Congress and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to move quickly in granting benefit claims for three diseases recently declared to have presumptive connections with exposure to Agent Orange defoliant.

For several months, The American Legion has been pressing VA to publish its final regulations for the three new presumptive diseases: ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and B-cell leukemia.

"Veterans can't collect their earned disability benefits until VA publishes final regulations on these diseases," said Barry Searle, director of the Legion's veterans affairs and rehabilitation division. "And that's a process that has been dragging through the bureaucratic mire since last October."

While veterans across the country are still waiting for those regulations to be published - so they can start to collect earned disability benefits - Congress is on the verge of creating another delay.

The House of Representatives may soon consider a Senate-approved amendment that would add a 60-day period of limited spending on the new benefits while Congress reviews the underlying scientific data that led VA to link the three diseases to herbicide exposure.

VA estimates it will spend more than $42 billion over the next decade on Agent Orange claims stemming from the new regulations.

"We can certainly understand why Congress wants to be fiscally responsible in this matter," Searle said. "But the scientific studies that support these new claims - that link these three diseases to Agent Orange exposure - are thorough in their research and unequivocal in their findings."

Searle said The American Legion wants Congress and VA to work together quickly in resolving any lingering doubts about the three new presumptive conditions.

"Thousands of veterans who suffer from these diseases have waited too long already. The findings are valid. The connections to Agent Orange exposure are real. Let VA and Congress hash it out together, but we urgently recommend that they do it without further delay," Searle said.

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More than 14,000 veterans to benefit from more than $24 million in job training grants

2010-06-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- At a White House forum of the U.S. Interagency Council of Homelessness today, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis announced 97 grants, totaling more than $24 million, to provide approximately 14,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

"This administration is committed to ending homelessness. Achieving that goal is crucial to restoring the strength of our economy and the right thing to do for our nation as a whole," said Secretary Solis. "These grants will help more than 14,000 homeless veterans across the country find meaningful employment, and they will help ensure that these remarkable individuals never face homelessness again."

Funds are being awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. These agencies are familiar with the areas and populations to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs.

"Homelessness is a tragedy that affects far too many of America's veterans, both women and men," said Sara Manzano-Diaz, director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau. "There are barriers unique to women veterans that leave them vulnerable to homelessness. The grants announced today, combined with available social services, will provide the holistic assistance necessary to help reintegrate these women into the labor force."

To assist homeless veterans with reintegration into America's workforce, the Labor Department is distributing these funds nationwide through 33 newly selected grantees and 64 current grantees receiving second-and third-year funding. Homeless veterans may receive occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, as well as job search and placement assistance, including follow-up services. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless.

Grantees under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program coordinate their efforts with various local, state and federal social service providers. A list of grantees and general information on the Department of Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs for veterans can be found at http://www.dol.gov/vets.

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Fox News Sunday Interview with Secretary Gates

2010-06-21T13:28:00.002-04:00

CHRIS WALLACE, ANCHOR: But first, amid recent reports of tough going in Afghanistan, the top man of the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Mr. Secretary, welcome back to "Fox News Sunday."

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT GATES: Thank you.

WALLACE: You said this week that the narrative in this town about the war in Afghanistan has become too negative. So let's discuss some of the issues that have people worried.

The U.S. commander, General Stanley McChrystal, says that the first operation in Marjah has become a, quote, "bleeding ulcer," and the major offensive in Kandahar has now been delayed, in both cases, largely because the Afghans have been too slow in providing civilian support. Isn't that a concern?

GATES: Sure, it's a concern. But I think that the narrative is perhaps overly negative in part because it's incomplete.

I was just at the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels. General McChrystal briefed in detail on the Marjah operation as well as on Kandahar. And the bottom line was progress is being made. It's somewhat slower than anticipated.

The Kandahar operation has actually been under way for a number of weeks, and so what is taking more time is the shaping of the environment before we actually engage with troops and so on. So I think that, you know, it is a — it is a tough pull, and we are suffering significant casualties. We expected that.

We warned everybody that would be the case last winter, that as we went into areas that the Taliban had controlled for two or three years that our casualties would grow, especially this summer.

But I think General McChrystal's message to the defense ministers was he is confident he will be able to demonstrate by December that we not only have the right strategy but that we are making progress.

WALLACE:The key to begin pulling U.S. troops out by next July is to begin to be able to turn operations over to the Afghan army. But here's what Time magazine says about the army, and let's put it up on the screen: "Nine out of 10 Afghan recruits can't read a rifle manual. Commanders routinely steal enlisted men's salaries. Recruits tend to go AWOL after their first leave."

Question: Do you really believe that the Afghan army will be ready to start taking over next July?

GATES:I think that they will be ready to assume primary responsibility for security in certain areas of Afghanistan, certainly by a year from this coming July. We're still looking at 13 months from now.

The reality is the Afghan national army is meeting expectations and above that in terms of recruiting to the larger numbers and toward the goal of 134,000 by this — by this fall. Their attrition and retention rates are both above expectations and above the...

WALLACE: But are those reports about...

GATES:... above the goals.

WALLACE:... about recruits going AWOL, about commanders stealing enlistees' salaries — is that true?

GATES: There are — there are some, and there are instances of that, but there are also significant instances where we are — and a large number of examples where we are partnering with the Afghan army and where those operations are working, and that was what General McChrystal was briefing to the defense ministers.

The percentage of those partnered relationships, of those partnered operations, has gone from somewhere around 40 percent six or eight months ago to about 75 or 80 percent now.

WALLACE: You keep saying that the July 2011 date to begin pulling troops out is a starting point, and that the pace of withdrawals will be based on conditions on the ground.

But let's take a look at what Vice President Biden said recently. "In July of 2011," Biden said, "you're going to see a whole lot of people moving out. Bet on it." Who's speaking for the administration, you or the vice president?

GATES: Well, first of all, that's in a book. I don't recall ever hearing the vice president say that. And whether he said it or not, we clearly understand that in July of 2011 we begin to draw down our forces.

The pace in — with which we draw down and how many we draw down is going to be conditions-based. And there is general agreement that those conditions will be determined by General McChrystal, the NATO senior civilian representative, Ambassador Sedwill, and the Afghan government together in terms of making their recommendations.

WALLACE: So if Vice President Biden is telling the reporter — and there's been no statement by the White House that he didn't say it — there are going to be a whole lot of people moving out next July, you're saying that's not been decided?

GATES: That absolutely has not been decided.

WALLACE: Your feeling is that it all will be decided...

GATES: But I also haven't heard Vice President Biden say that, so I'm not accepting at face value that those — that he said those words.

WALLACE: You know, it's interesting, because one of the reasons that you made such a strong statement up on Capitol Hill and why you're talking to us today — are you worried that the narrative is getting away and that there may be a rush to judgment on Afghanistan?

GATES: I think it's more a sense of frustration. I've been here before three years ago with Iraq. And we were just getting to the point where the surge forces had gone into Iraq. There was a lot of concern. There was a lot of anecdotal information that things weren't going well, casualties were very high, American casualties were very high in Iraq.

And what I'm — what I'm saying is people are losing context. This policy, this strategy, has been in place and working for only about four or five months. We have yet to put yet a third of the surge forces into Afghanistan. The president has said we'll wait until December to evaluate how we're doing.

So I think there's a rush to judgment, frankly, that loses sight of the fact we are still in the middle of getting all of the right components into place and giving us a little time to have this — have this work.

WALLACE:Let's turn to the gulf oil spill. Is there anything more the Pentagon could be doing either to help stop the spill or to prevent those millions of gallons of oil from washing up on the gulf coast?

GATES: Not to my knowledge. We have offered whatever capabilities we have. We don't have the kinds of equipment or particular expertise. I have authorized the mobilization of up to 17,500 National Guard troops in the four states that are — that are most affected.

We have a standing offer. If there's anything people think we can do, we absolutely will do it.

WALLACE: The U.N. Security Council has passed another round of sanctions against Iran. And following up on that, the United States and the European Union have imposed a set of unilateral sanctions.

For all that, honestly, do you see any sign that these sanctions, these efforts, have caused any weakening of the will of the regime in Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon?

GATES: Actually, what we've seen is a change in the nature of the regime in Tehran over the past 18 months or so. You have — you have a much narrower based government in Tehran now. Many of the religious figures are being set aside. As Secretary Clinton has said, they appear to be moving more in the direction of a military dictatorship. Khamenei is leaning on a smaller and smaller group of advisors.

In the meantime, you have an illegitimate election that has divided the country. So I think adding economic pressures on top of that, and particularly targeted economic pressures, has real potential.

WALLACE: Do you think it could weaken the will of the regime in Tehran?

GATES: I think that it could add to the pressures on the regime, that if you add the things we're doing to help our allies in the gulf area improve their defenses, improve their military capabilities, you put that together with sanctions, you put that together with diplomatic pressures and a variety of other things that are going on — and I think — I think you have a reasonable chance of getting the Iranian regime finally to come to their senses and realize their security is probably more endangered by going forward, thereby...

WALLACE: A reasonable chance?

GATES:... stopping them. Yeah, I think so.

WALLACE: Can we contain a nuclear Iran?

GATES:I don't think we're prepared to even talk about containing a nuclear Iran. I think we're — we — our view still is we do not accept the idea of Iran having nuclear weapons. And our policies and our efforts are all aimed at preventing that from happening.

WALLACE: When you say that a — we would not accept a nuclear Iran, does that mean that a military strike either by the U.S. or Israel is preferable to a nuclear Iran?

GATES:I — we obviously leave all options on the table. I think we have some time to continue working this problem.

WALLACE:In the time we have left, let's do a lightning round of quick questions and quick answers. I know you always enjoy this so much, Mr. Secretary.

GATES:The ones that always get you in trouble.

WALLACE:The House and a Senate committee have voted to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" over your objections that the Pentagon review should be completed first. Is a repeal inevitable?

GATES: Well, I think you'd have to ask the members of Congress that. I haven't done any head counts. We are — the president has made his decision.

Our review is about how to implement this and what are the obstacles, what are the problems, what are the challenges, what are the issues. How do we mitigate the negative consequences if we identify negative consequences? What are the questions we have to address? Those are the things this review is all about.

And I feel it's very important for the military to have the opportunity to weigh in, to register their views on these issues, and to give us help on how to do this smart should the legislation pass.

WALLACE: As part of your new drive to try to cut the budget for non- combat operations, has the president agreed to veto any bill that would include continued funding for the C-17 cargo plane or an alternative engine for the Joint Strike Fighter, even if that legislation also included repeal of "don't ask, don't tell?"

GATES: Well, as I told the Senate Appropriations Committee, the defense subcommittee, this week, it would be a very serious mistake to believe that the president would not veto a bill that has the C-17 or the alternative engine in it just because it had other provisions that the president and the administration want.

WALLACE: Have you been given an assurance by the president that he will enforce his feelings, your feelings, about the budget even at the expense of social policy?

GATES: Well, I think the White House has put out a very strong statement in support. I would also just say that I don't go way out on a limb without looking back to make sure nobody's back there with a saw.

WALLACE: So you think that they veto the bill even with repeal of "don't ask, don't tell?"

GATES: I think so.

WALLACE: You set a deadline for Congress to pass a war supplemental bill by Memorial Day. I don't have to tell you that marker has come and gone, and Democrats are still trying to put money for social programs into the supplemental bill.

At what point delay in passing this bill do we begin to hurt the troops?

GATES:Well, first of all, I didn't set a deadline. I wish I could set deadlines for the Congress, but that's just not the way the Constitution is written.

But as I told the Congress this week, this past week, we will have to start doing stupid things after the 4th of July recess in terms of planning for major disruptions if we don't have the supplemental by the 4th of July recess.

We actually begin to have to take really serious negative actions that impact our troops as well as our civilians in mid to — in early to mid August.

WALLACE: Finally, how long are you committed to staying in this job?

GATES: Well, we just said that we'll see.

WALLACE: Well, at one point — the reason I ask is you talked about till the end of the year, till December of 2010. But now you seem to have taken on a new fight over the budget which gets you into 2011.

GATES: Well, we'll just see.

WALLACE: But would you have started this fight if you weren't going to see it through, sir?

GATES: Well, I didn't want to get bored.

WALLACE:Well, there's very little opportunity for that. Mr. Secretary, I want to thank you so much for coming in. It's always a pleasure to talk to you. Please come back, sir.

GATES: Thanks a lot.

Air Force MIAS from Vietnam War are Identified

2010-06-14T17:52:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Capt. Peter H. Chapman, II, Centerburg, Ohio; Tech. Sgt. Allen J. Avery, Auburn, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. Roy D. Prater, Tiffin, Ohio; and Sgt. James H. Alley, Plantation, Fla., all U.S. Air Force.

Prater is to be buried in Columbia City, Ind., on June 19. Other burials are being scheduled individually by the families of the airmen.

On April 6, 1972, six airmen were flying a combat search and rescue mission in their HH-53C Super Jolly Green Giant helicopter over Quang Tri Province in South Vietnam when they were hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. Joint U.S. – Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) field investigations from 1989 to 1992, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), yielded evidence leading to an excavation at the crash site in 1994 as well as two reported burial sites. Team members recovered human remains and personal effects as well as aircraft debris. As a result of these recoveries, all six men on the aircraft were accounted-for in 1997 and buried as a group at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Three were individually identified at that time. Recent technical advances enabled JPAC to identify additional remains to be those of Prater.

Previously, in 1988, the S.R.V. turned over remains they attributed to an American serviceman, however, the name did not match anyone lost or missing from the Vietnam War. The remains were held by JPAC pending improved technology which might have facilitated an identification later.

In the mid-2000s, JPAC's laboratory gained increased scientific capability to associate the 1988 remains to the correct loss. The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) tested these remains against all those servicemembers who were MIA from the Vietnam War with negative results. In 2009, AFDIL expanded its search to make comparisons with previously- resolved individuals. As a result of AFDIL's mitochondrial DNA testing, JPAC scientists determined that these remains were associated with four of the six airmen from the 1972 crash.

American Legion Welcomes New Measure to Improve GI Bill Benefits

2010-06-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion welcomed the introduction of a Senate bill last week that would substantially improve and expand education benefits for veterans.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is sponsoring the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, which he introduced in the Senate on May 27.

"This new legislation would realize some of the changes we've been suggesting to Congress for the past couple of years," said Clarence Hill, national commander of The American Legion. "We're especially happy to see that Senator Akaka's bill would extend benefits to those veterans attending vocational schools, on-the-job training and apprenticeships."

Hill said the original 1944 GI Bill - authored and championed by The American Legion - paid for the education of about 16 million veterans. "And half of them went to some type of vocational institution after World War II, so it's most appropriate to expand today's benefits beyond traditional colleges and universities."

Robert Madden, assistant director of The American Legion's economic division, said that if Akaka's bill (S. 3447) becomes law, "every veteran would be free to choose any type of education and employment path that he or she happens to desire.

"Veterans have served America with pride and dedication. With bipartisan support, Congress can show its gratitude to them and their families by creating a GI Bill that is much more equitable," Madden said.

If passed, Akaka's legislation would upgrade veterans education benefits with several new provisions, including:

-- Veterans attending vocational schools would receive the national
yearly average for tuition/fee payments, plus housing stipend based
upon regular rate of the military's BHA (basic housing allowance).
-- On-the-job training and apprenticeships will be paid for on a prorated
schedule: 75 percent of costs for the first six months, 55 percent for
the next six months, and 35 percent for each subsequent month up to 24
additional months; benefits also include housing stipend and $1,000
annual book stipend.
-- 60 percent of charges for flight training and 55 percent for
correspondence courses will be covered, based on the national average
of established cost at all institutions of higher learning.
-- Servicemembers who retired after Sept. 11, 2001 but before the
Post-9/11 GI Bill went into effect would be able to transfer current
veterans education benefits to their family members (this provision
would be paid for by DoD and other federal agencies).
-- Housing allowance: distance-learning students and those attending
schools overseas will receive 50 percent of the established rate
(which would become prorated, based on a veteran's actual course
load).
-- Instead of paying up to $2,000 for a one-time test for licensure or
certification, an unlimited number of tests will be allowed, with
charges being deducted from a veteran's monthly benefits.

During a hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on April 21, Madden urged Congress to cover non-degree education programs with GI Bill benefits, saying that such a disparity "has caused much concern."

At that same hearing, Akaka promised to introduce legislation before Memorial Day to help improve veterans education benefits. He delivered on that promise last week.

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Microsoft Teams With Democracy Live to Assist Military Voters Secure Easier Access to Ballot

2010-05-26T22:58:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. and Issaquah-based Democracy Live recently announced a partnership that aims to make voting more accessible for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are living and serving overseas during elections and want their vote to count. The Democracy Live system has already been selected by numerous elections jurisdictions for use in the coming August primary election.

By delivering virtual ballots to voters around the world, Democracy Live and Microsoft have eliminated a long standing problem for voters stationed in the military and overseas. Using the Democracy Live technology called "LiveBallot" a voter living anywhere in the world can access their ballot immediately online. Historically voters have had to wait as long as 2-3 weeks for their ballot to arrive. The delay often meant military men and women overseas would have not have their ballot counted. LiveBallot is hosted and supported by Microsoft's Azure cloud platform.

A new federal law was recently passed (called the MOVE ACT) that aims to make voting more accessible for voters living and serving abroad during federal, state and local elections. LiveBallot is offered to states and localities to immediately comply with the new federal law.

"In the past, voting has been difficult for troops and other Americans living or serving overseas," said Bryan Finney, president, Democracy Live. "We are pleased to be teaming with Microsoft and using the Windows Azure platform to deliver the most vital tool to our democracy - the ballot. By using Microsoft Azure, LiveBallot allows states to provide U.S. voters with a convenient, safe and secure way to participate in elections from anywhere in the world."

LiveBallot allows voters to print and mail their ballot and track their ballot online to monitor when it is received and processed by their county elections office. This technology gives overseas voters the assurance their ballot is correctly processed, no matter where in the world they vote.

"Running on Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud platform, LiveBallot will help state and local governments reduce the costs associated with sample ballots, voter pamphlets and other paper-based voter information," said Gail Thomas-Flyn, vice president, state and local government at Microsoft. "By utilizing a cloud-based platform Democracy Live can scale up for elections and down once results are determined, which will only further reduce strain on limited election resources."

Multiple counties in Washington State have already used LiveBallot in numerous elections. Kitsap County, Wash., was one of the first jurisdictions to field the solution and has now used the LiveBallot technology in multiple elections.

Retired Navy Chief and Kitsap County resident Dearl Hankins stated, "When I was stationed overseas in the military, during election time it always felt like I had to fight two battles: One battle was against the enemy and one just to be able to vote. A system like LiveBallot makes voting a lot easier for us to concentrate on the mission and not have to worry if our ballot was counted."

"LiveBallot is designed to deliver each of the 200 million eligible voters in the U.S. their specific ballot and balloting information," Bryan Finney said. "The Microsoft Azure cloud provides the scalability and security required to meet the coming demand for any voter, anywhere from Dubai or the dentist chair, to access their ballot from any online screen or device."

Finney went on to say that LiveBallot is not Internet voting, but simply delivering voter information, including a voter's specific ballot. Voters still must print and mail their ballot back in, Finney stated. "Voters are beginning to use LiveBallot to access and print their ballot. This system will save taxpayers significant dollars by eliminating or reducing the number of mail ballots and paper voter pamphlets."

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Senate Committee Hears American Legion Testimony on Bills Affecting Veterans

2010-05-20T09:52:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion testified in Congress yesterday on several pieces of pending legislation that would affect veterans if signed into law.

Appearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Ian de Planque conveyed The American Legion's support for several bills being considered by the committee. De Planque is deputy director of the Legion's veterans affairs and rehabilitation division:

S. 1939: Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009

The American Legion strongly supports the extension of presumption of exposure to Agent Orange for veterans who served on naval vessels located in the territorial waters of Vietnam (known as the "blue water" Navy veterans).

De Planque cited a 2008 study by the Institute of Medicine, which builds a solid case for making blue water veterans eligible for benefits arising from Agent Orange-related disabilities. He said the report "provides scientific justification for this current legislation, which admirably seeks to correct the grave injustice faced by 'blue water' Navy veterans. The American Legion strongly supports this legislation."

S. 1940: To study the effects on children whose parents were exposed to Agent Orange

This bill directs VA to complete a study - and report its findings to Congress - on how servicemembers' exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam has affected their children (including possible links to multiple sclerosis and asthma).

Such a study, de Planque said, "can help establish the associations necessary to allow the VA to provide entitlement to all benefits due to the child or children of any veteran exposed to a Vietnam-era herbicide agent."

S. 3035: Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Care Improvement Act of 2010

VA would establish a polytrauma rehabilitation center in the northwestern United States. The American Legion believes this center will help VA health-care outreach to many rural areas.

The American Legion is urging the committee to consider funding additional areas of TBI studies and emerging treatments in the private sector, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and the Mt. Sinai Hospital's Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire.

"The American Legion remains concerned that the private sector uses a 100-question screening test, while DoD and VA only use a four-part questionnaire," de Planque told the committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

S. 3234: Veterans Employment Assistance Act of 2010

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced this legislation less than a week after The American Legion testified to a House subcommittee on the seriousness of unemployment in the veterans community.

Updating the Senate committee with current data, de Planque said that 14.7 percent of OIF/OEF veterans are jobless; the rate is 30.2 percent for veterans aged 18 to 24. "The total number of unemployed veterans of the two wars is about 250,000," he said. "This legislation would provide these veterans with the training and additional skills they need in order to acquire gainful employment in today's marketplace."

The bill has several provisions The American Legion has backed for some time: extend GI Bill benefits to vocational and apprenticeship programs, more training and counseling for small businesses, and creating pilot programs to help veterans market their military experience and training more effectively.

"No mission is more critical at this time in our history - given the nation's involvement in two wars and the uncertain economic situation - than enabling America's veterans to have a seamless transition from military service to the civilian workforce," de Planque said.

S. 3368: Allows certain individuals to sign VA claims on behalf of claimants

The VA's fiduciary program is addressed in this legislation, which would give legally designated representatives the authority to sign and file VA claims for veterans who are incapable or unable to do so themselves.

The American Legion supports this bill, but emphasizes the need for proper oversight to ensure that veterans' rights are protected.

"Dedicated oversight is necessary to ensure that the veterans affected, most of whom have little ability to protect themselves in such situations, are not subject to being taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals or institutions," de Planque told the committee.

In previous congressional testimony, The American Legion recommended that VA should allocate more staff solely to administer its fiduciary program.

S. 3348: Allows misfiled disability claims appeals to be treated as motions for reconsideration

Many veterans, unfamiliar with the procedure for filing disability claims appeals, mistakenly file their appeals with VA instead of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

If veterans disagree with the decisions made on their disability claims by the Board of Veterans Appeals, they have 120 days after notification to appeal that decision to CAVC. This legislation would offer protection to veterans who file their cases in error.

"This legislation can serve as a safety net for veterans already confused by a complex system, such as the system for adjudication of veterans benefits," de Planque said.

The American Legion also wants to extend the appeals filing period from 120 days to one year.

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The American Legion to DoD: Nonaction Medal is 'Nonstarter'

2010-05-14T08:43:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Calling a proposal to award U.S. troops medals for holding fire in a war zone "misguided," the head of the nation's largest veterans organization voiced concern that overly restrictive rules of engagement would ultimately cost lives.

"Nobody likes to see innocent civilians killed in a war zone but the blame for these tragedies lies with the terrorists who caused the war in the first place," American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. "The proposal to award medals for holding fire is troubling because it is symptomatic of a growing culture in the military that will punish troops for making split-second decisions while they are expected to defend themselves and their comrades. This proposal is an insult to our men and women in combat who already do an extraordinary job of exercising restraint. Too much restraint will get our own people killed."

Hill also worried that rewarding those who don't use force sends the wrong message to those that do. "Vietnam veterans were outrageously slandered as 'babykillers,'" he said. "This was tragic because the overwhelming majority of those who served there tried to prevent innocent casualties. Now, by awarding those who supposedly practice restraint, we would be implying that our heroes who have to fire their weapons are somehow failing in their mission or coming up short. It's a bad idea and the Pentagon should kill it."

With a current membership of 2.5 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

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Desecration of Mojave Desert Cross Does Not Deter The American Legion in Its Fight to Protect Memorials

2010-05-11T19:09:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion vowed to continue its fight to preserve a veterans' war memorial in the Mojave desert, even after vandals have apparently removed the cross in the middle of the night.

"This was never about one cross," said The American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill. "It's about the right to honor our nation's veterans in a manner in which the overwhelming majority supports. The American Legion strongly believes the public has a right to protect its memorials."

The lawless act is just the latest chapter in a decade-long legal fight pitting The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Liberty Institute and several other organizations against the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups that find the cross offensive.

According to a statement issued by the Mojave National Preserve, the cross was reported missing on Monday morning by staff of the National Park Service who went to the site to replace the wooden cover that had been removed from the cross sometime earlier. The cross has stood for the last 76 years as a memorial to World War I soldiers. The American Legion and its allies won what was widely believed to be a Supreme Court victory on April 28, when the court ruled that the memorial was not an overtly religious symbol. Moreover, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that "the Constitution does not oblige government to avoid any public acknowledgment of religion's role in society." The Supreme Court ordered a lower court to reconsider the case.

The desecration of the memorial did not sit well with Hill. "Reports that the Mojave Cross was illegally removed overnight are very disturbing," he said. "The American Legion expects whoever is responsible for this vile act to be brought to justice. While the memorial has been attacked, the fight will continue to ensure that veterans memorials will remain sacrosanct."

"This is an outrage, akin to desecrating people's graves," said Kelly Shackelford, president / CEO of Liberty Institute. "It's a disgraceful act on the selfless act of our veterans. We will not rest until this memorial is re-installed."

A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call (760) 252-6120.

With a membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

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America's Solution for a More Cost-Effective Defense: Leverage the National Guard

2010-05-11T14:16:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has a ready solution at his disposal as he looks for ways to cut excessive overhead, bloat and needless spending in the Defense Department.

The solution is the nation's most cost-effective defense organization, one that provides nearly half of the Army's combat power and a third of the Air Force's combat capability for about 7 percent of the defense budget.

It's the National Guard, which National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) officials today said does more with fewer resources than any other component in the U.S. military and which can do even more with only a modest increase in funding.

"It's time for the nation to start talking about cutting the active-duty military and growing the National Guard," said retired Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett, the NGAUS president. "Relying more on the Guard may be the only way America can reduce defense spending without cutting American military power."

In a speech over the weekend in Abilene, Kan., Gates said he wants the Pentagon to take a hard, realistic look at what defense capabilities America really needs in the 21st century.

Hargett said NGAUS welcomes the effort, but added that the discussion and debate should not be confined to Defense Department officials, who are often too wedded to active-component institutions to see defense solutions from other sources.

Congress, the nation's governors and the American public all need to be heard, he said.

"Today's economic and fiscal realities call for all of us to put America's future defense ahead of America's current defense institutions," he said.

"Unfortunately, the Army and the Air Force are already considering plans to cut the Guard at the end of today's conflicts," the NGAUS president said. "With a largely part-time force and barebones infrastructure, our overhead is much less. We simply can do the same job cheaper. But, too often, that does not matter to some decision-makers. Perhaps it will now.

"Our goal should be nothing less than maintaining the required military power to defend our nation, taking care of our troops, and saving money," Hargett said. "We can do all three, but only if we consider every possible solution."

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Army Releases 2010 Modernization Strategy

2010-04-28T20:24:00.000-04:00

The Department of the Army released today the 2010 Army Modernization Strategy (AMS).

"The goal of Army modernization is to develop and field the best equipment available to allow our soldiers to be successful against our enemies," said Gen. George W. Casey, chief of staff of the Army. "We must continue to transform into a force that is versatile, expeditionary, agile, lethal, sustainable and interoperable, so that our soldiers will have a decisive advantage in any fight," Casey said.

The Army plans to achieve its 2010 modernization goals by developing and fielding new capabilities; continuously modernizing equipment to meet current and future capability needs through procurement of upgraded capabilities, reset, and recapitalization; and meeting continuously evolving force requirements through Army priorities and the Army Force Generation Model.

Equipping individual soldiers and units is a core Army responsibility under Title 10, U.S. Code. "Providing all of America's sons and daughters who serve in our Army with the most capable equipment for the battles they're fighting today and are likely to face in the future are the responsibilities that the Army takes seriously and is committed to accomplishing," said Lt. Gen. Robert P. Lennox, deputy chief of staff G-8 and the Army's chief material integration officer.

The complete 2010 AMS is available at: www.g8.army.mil.
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U.S. Airman MIA from WWII is Identified

2010-04-26T12:25:00.002-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

U.S. Army Air Forces Tech. Sgt. Walter A. McClellan will be buried Friday in his hometown of Pensacola, Fla.

On April 17, 1945, McClellan's B-17 Flying Fortress was struck by enemy fighters while on a bombing run against a rail depot in Dresden, Germany. Following the war, U.S. teams attempted to locate the remains of the crew but because the area was under Soviet control, no further searches could be conducted. The U.S. Army was forced to declare the remains of the "Towering Titan's" crew to be non-recoverable.

Two reports from German citizens in 1956 and 2007 indicated that the remains of a 19-year-old were buried as an "unknown" in a local church cemetery in Burkhardswalde. Church records revealed that the grave held the remains of a young American flyer who had parachuted from his aircraft over the town of Biensdorf, was captured and killed by German SS forces near Burkhardswalde. He was first buried in the town's sports field, but exhumed by the townspeople after the war and reburied in the church cemetery.

In September 2008, a recovery team of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command exhumed the grave in Burkhardswalde and recovered human remains and other artifacts, including a silver Army Air Forces identification bracelet bearing the emblem of a qualified aerial gunner. The biological profile of the remains and McClellan's dental records enabled JPAC scientists to establish the identification.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo

Sweeping Veterans and Caregivers Legislation Passes Congress: Supported by VetsFirst

2010-04-23T16:57:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- VetsFirst, a national organization that serves veterans with disabilities, their families and survivors, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for passing the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (S. 1963). The legislation's sweeping provisions include improvements in VA health care services for veterans, programs for women veterans, construction of new VA medical facilities and, for the first time, critical supports for family and other personal caregivers of veterans with disabilities.

"VetsFirst has strongly advocated for the passage of legislation that recognizes the sacrifice of family members who dedicate their lives to caring for those who have selflessly defended our freedom. We urge the President to quickly sign this bill into law," said VetsFirst's President and CEO Paul J. Tobin.

Under the legislation, family caregivers for eligible veterans of all eras can receive VA training, support services, counseling, mental health services and respite care. For family and non-family caregivers who live with veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the legislation also provides a monthly stipend and access to their own VA health care.

"VetsFirst believes that providing these services to caregivers will ensure that veterans receive quality care and support in their homes and communities. Veterans have the right to receive such care in the least restrictive environment possible," Tobin stated.

"Many wounded warriors don't want to spend their lives in a hospital or nursing home. They would prefer to recover in the company and care of their loved ones. The new VA caregiver services and supports will ease the burden for family members, many of whom have forsaken their own jobs and health care coverage, to care for their veteran," Tobin added.

Although funding VA services for caregivers will require an upfront investment, the long-term gains that result from caring for veterans at home will improve their outlook, speed their recovery and allow them to more easily reintegrate into their community.

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First Lockheed Martin/USAF HC-130J Combat Rescue Tanker Rolls out

2010-04-19T20:58:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) rolled out the first of a new fleet of HC-130J combat rescue tankers for the U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) during a ceremony here today. Maj. Gen. Thomas K. Andersen, director of requirements, Headquarters ACC, spoke at the ceremony.

"Personnel recovery is one of the Air Force's core missions and vital to what we do in defense of America. The mission is demanding and we are grateful to those [employees] of Lockheed Martin assembled here that have given us a world-class aircraft ready for the demands of the mission," Andersen said. "The HC-130J will enable us to meet the expanding operational tasks that we face today - wartime operations in Operation Enduring Freedom and the Horn of Africa, and relief operations in the continental United States as well as in areas like Haiti and Chile. For that, ACC, the Air Force and the nation thank you."

Lockheed Martin is contracted with the U.S. Air Force to build 21 C130J Super Hercules to replace aging fleets of combat search and rescue HC-130s and special operations MC130s. The U.S. Air Force is authorized to acquire up to 31 HC/MC130Js (11 HCs and 20 MCs).

"Yet again, we see the C-130 setting new standards for mission flexibility," said Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin vice president for C-130 programs. "This new configuration of the proven C-130J will give ACC unparalleled capability for combat search and rescue. As demand for the C-130J continues to grow around the world, we will see more ways this aircraft can meet the demands of any operator and mission."

The new aircraft, which is based on a KC-130J tanker baseline, will have the Enhanced Service Life Wing, Enhanced Cargo Handling System, a Universal Aerial Refueling Receptacle Slipway Installation (boom refueling receptacle), an electro-optical/infrared sensor, a combat systems operator station on the flight deck, and provisions for the large aircraft infrared countermeasures system. In-line production of this configuration reduces cost and risk, and meets the required 2012 initial operational capability.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

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Military Leaders Press Obama to Act On Defense Contract

2010-04-14T13:41:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Twelve members of the National Defense Trust (NDT) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama expressing concern over the ongoing delays and political maneuvering preventing the Air Force from awarding the contract to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers. The letter was signed by retired military officers, leaders of think tanks focusing on national defense, and a former US Senator. A copy of the letter was sent to every Member of Congress.

The current fleet of refueling tankers is five decades old and have been in service since the Korean War. Efforts to build new planes that support military aircraft has been ongoing for nearly a decade and the contracts have been canceled due to controversy and scandal.

The latest Request for Proposal was released several months ago with one of the bidders, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), withdrawing from the competition. However, after pressure from EADS and the government of France, the Pentagon extended the deadline for two months.

The National Defense Trust's members believe it is critical that the delays, particularly those that are politically motivated, cease, allowing the military to focus on procuring the planes needed for a strong national defense. As a result of the most recent delay in the process, NDT members have sent this letter to Commander in Chief Obama and Members of Congress. The letter reads in part:

Delays often beget delays. Our war fighters deserve new tankers delivered as quickly as possible, and we see no valid reason to postpone the tanker acquisition process any longer. We urge you to resist further efforts to stall the long-overdue process of procuring and building the next fleet of refueling tankers our men and women in uniform need and deserve.

The National Defense Trust is a coalition of Americans dedicated to a robust defense of the United States and our allies.

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Disabled Vets Discover 'Miracle on Mountainside'

2010-04-08T17:00:00.000-04:00

About 400 disabled veterans here for the 24th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic -- including about 150 veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan -- aren't anticipating pulling April Fools pranks tomorrow. They're expecting miracles today.

Photo left: Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class John Felix said he had fixated for far too long on what he couldn't do due to multiple sclerosis. Just days into his first National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, Felix said he'll return home a new man, focused on his capabilities, not his disability. DoD photo by Donna Miles

And halfway through six days jam-packed days of activities designed to push them to new heights and enhance their rehabilitation, those miracles are beginning to unfold.

"I'm already feeling it," said Noah Currier, a medically retired Marine Corps corporal who is among more than 100 first-timers at the clinic.

Currier returned home safely after two combat deployments with the 1st Marine Division's 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He was among the first to deploy to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, and was at the tip of the spear during the U.S. invasion into Iraq in 2003.

But three days after he returned from the second deployment, as he was riding back to Camp Pendleton, Calif., Currier's life took a dramatic turn. The fellow Marine driving from San Diego feel asleep at the wheel, and their vehicle hit a tree and slammed down a 20-foot embankment.

Currier was paralyzed from the chest down.

Seven years later, after whizzing down Snowmass Mountain on adaptive skis at his first winter sports clinic, Currier experienced the kind of adrenaline rush he thought he'd lost forever.

"It was absolutely great! Awesome! I had a blast!" he exclaimed. "It's a feeling of liberation. I wish I'd done it a long time ago."

Currier experienced a phenomenon that's come to be known here as the "Miracle on the Mountainside."

It's ever-present at the winter sports clinic, where veterans of all ages are getting introduced to adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing, rock climbing, scuba diving, trapshooting, wheelchair fencing, sled hockey, snowmobiling and sled hockey, among other activities.

As they push past their comfort zone and try things many thought they'd never be able to again, they discover a new sense of self-confidence and purpose.

"They say, 'Wow, this is something I can do,'" said Darren Cook, a scuba instructor at the clinic for the past 20 years. "And you see them build that confidence, one step at a time."

Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class John Felix said he, too, has felt the Miracle on the Mountainside. The former recruiter admits he took an emotional nosedive watching multiple sclerosis weaken his body. But just two days into the clinic, realizing he still can enjoy the love of skiing he picked up while stationed in Germany, Felix declared himself new man.

"Yesterday was a major accomplishment," he said of his successful downhill run, with an adaptive ski instructor at his side. "It was the first victory I've had in the last three years."

The victory continued as Felix climbed a rock wall, drawing wild applause from onlookers below as he rang the bell at its apex. Felix said he'll take the can-do attitude he's gained here when he returns home from the clinic.

"I now have a whole new attitude," he said. "I feel like I can go back to Connecticut, and whatever challenges come my way, I can say, 'Bring it on. I can handle it.'"

Heeding the advice of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki, a disabled veteran himself who opened the clinic March 28, Felix said he's finding encouragement and inspiration from the other participants.

"I see people with a whole lot more serious issues than I'm dealing with doing amazing things," he said. "And the way I look at it, if they can do it, I can definitely do it."

Daniel Pelacios, a former Army sergeant and long-time participant at the clinic, said he was excited to return after a five-year hiatus to enjoy the camaraderie at the clinic.

"What's really great is the chance to see the new guys, bond with them and help them out," he said. "Because no matter what service they were in or when they served, I find that I have so much in common with them."

"I'm learning so much here, from everyone," said Joey King, a former Marine corporal who was confined to a wheelchair four years after leaving active duty, after a 2008 car accident. "I'm asking lots of questions."

King's attendance at his first winter sports clinic is a rite of passage in itself. Although he lives independently, he's been largely confined to his Wisconsin community since his injury and had yet to get on a plane or check into a hotel room. "It's a whole learning experience," he said.

That was before his first time on skis – ever. Although sore from keeping his forearms so tense during the downhill run, King said, he had a blast screaming down the mountain. He was looking forward to trying his hand at snowmobiling and other activities at the clinic. "I'll try anything," he said.

The Miracle on the Mountainside extends to family members attending the clinic with their loved ones. Valerie Wallace said she's amazed in the transformation she's watching take place in her son, Army Sgt. John Barnes.

Barnes was wounded during a mortar attack while deployed to southwestern Baghdad with the 101st Infantry Division in 2006. Since then, he's struggled with a severe traumatic brain injury that's complicated by post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.

Getting Barnes to the clinic was a challenge in itself, his mother admitted, but she said she's already seeing a breakthrough in the making. He spent two and a half hours on a snowboard, arriving at the bottom of the slope dripping in sweat and the kind of ear-to-ear grin that she said has become so rare since he was wounded.

"Just for him to be out here and do all this, you can't wipe the smile off his face," she said. "There really is something special that's happening here."

Hundreds of volunteers who make the winter sports clinic possible say they, too, feel the magic of the winter sports clinic.

"This is a way for us to come and give a little bit back, but in some ways, it's almost self-serving to be here," said Scott Romme, who has returned to the clinic for the past 10 years to teach scuba diving. "It puts life in perspective. And in a lot of ways, I think we get more out of it than the veterans."

As he talked about the winter sports clinic – a vision he came up with more than two decades ago to help disabled veteran recuperate –clinic director Sandy Trombetta tried to describe what happens during the Miracle on the Mountainside.

Many veterans lose a sense of who they are when they become disabled, he said, but he credited the tremendous support they receive here, along with the healing power of the mountains, with helping them re-establish their identify.

"It's a mind, body, soul experience that affects the spirit," Trombetta said. "And what really makes the difference here are those mountains. It's Mother Nature. You can't come here and not be overwhelmed by the grandeur of these mountains. It's overwhelming."

The winter sports clinic, which continues through April 3, is jointly sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans.

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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U.S. Soldier MIA from Korean War is Identified

2010-04-08T13:38:00.000-04:00

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

U.S. Army Cpl. Stanley P. Arendt was buried on March 29 in Palatine, Ill. In early November 1950, Arendt was assigned to the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division occupying a defensive position near the town of Unsan in the bend of the Kuryong River known as the "Camel's Head." Arendt's unit was involved in heavy fighting which devolved into hand-to-hand combat around their command post. Almost 400 men of the 8th Cavalry Regiment were reported missing in action or killed in action from the battle at Unsan.

In late November 1950, a U.S. soldier captured during the battle of Unsan reported during his debriefing that he and nine other American soldiers were moved to a house near the battlefield. The POWs were taken to an adjacent field and shot. Three of the 10 Americans survived, though one later died. He provided detailed information on the location of the incident and the identities of the other soldiers. Following the armistice in 1953 and the release of POWs, the other surviving soldier confirmed the details provided in 1950.

In May 2004, a joint U.S.-North Korean team excavated a mass grave near the "Camel's Head" after receiving a report that an elderly North Korean national had witnessed the death of seven or eight U.S. soldiers near that location and provided the team with a general description of the burial site.

The excavation team recovered human remains and other personal artifacts, ultimately leading to the identification of seven soldiers from that site. Among the forensic techniques used in the identifications by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command was that of mitochondrial DNA, five samples of which matched the DNA of Arendt's brother.

Military Release of Gates/ Mullen Briefing on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

2010-03-26T11:26:00.000-04:00

SEC. GATES: Good morning.

I have an announcement this morning on changes in regulations with respect to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." At the end of the briefing, the general counsel of the department, Jeh Johnson, will be available if there are specific questions or interpretations that are needed, and then Jeh will brief again or be available again at one o'clock.

In February, I established a high-level working group to review the issues associated with implementing a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and to develop recommendations for implementation, should the law change.

At the same time I directed the department to conduct a review of how the military implements the current policy and within 45 days present to me recommended changes that would enforce the existing law in a fairer and more appropriate manner.

Today, I have approved a series of changes to the implementation of the current statute. They were developed with the full participation of the department's senior civilian and military leadership, and the changes are unanimously supported by Chairman Mullen, Vice Chairman Cartwright and the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The department's general counsel, Jeh Johnson, and the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel have also concluded that these changes are consistent with the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.

These changes reflect the insights -- some of the insights we have gained over 17 years of implementing the current law, including the need for consistency, oversight and clear standards.

The changes are as follows. We will raise the level of the officer who is authorized to initiate a fact-finding inquiry or separation proceeding regarding homosexual conduct to a general or flag officer in the service member's chain of command. We will raise the level of the person who is authorized to conduct a fact-finding inquiry to the level of lieutenant colonel, Navy commander or above.

We will raise the level of the office of officer who is authorized to separate an enlisted member to a general or flag officer in the service member's chain of command.

We will revise what constitutes credible information to begin an inquiry or separation proceeding by for example specifying that information provided by third parties should be given under oath and by discouraging the use of overheard statements and hearsay. We will revise what constitutes a reliable person, on whose word an inquiry could be initiated, with special scrutiny on third parties who may be motivated to harm the service member.

Finally certain categories of confidential information will no longer be used in support of discharges including information provided to lawyers, clergy and psychotherapists; information provided to a medical professional, in furtherance of medical treatment, or a public-health official, in the course of a public-health inquiry; information provided in the course of seeking professional assistance, for domestic or physical abuse, and information obtained in the course of security clearance investigations, in accordance with existing Department of Defense policies.

The services will have 30 days to conform their regulations to these changes. Meanwhile, these modifications will take effect immediately and will apply to all open and future cases. In effect, this means that all separations from this point forward will take place under the revised regulations.

I believe these changes represent an important improvement, in the way the current law is put into practice, above all by providing a greater measure of common sense and common decency, to a process for handling what are difficult and complex issues for all involved.

Of course, only Congress can repeal the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute. It remains the law, and we're obliged to -- obligated to enforce it. At the same time, these changes will allow us to execute the law in a fair and more appropriate manner.

The work of the Department of Defense working group chaired by Mr. Johnson and General Carter Ham continues. As I told the Congress in February, I am determined that we in the department carry out the president's directive on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in a professional and thorough way. I look forward to the continued progress of the working group as they undertake their important task in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you.

Anne.

Q Several of the changes that you've outlined today are suggestions that have been made by gay-rights groups for a long time now. Why do this now?

SEC. GATES: Well, I think first and foremost it's because of the change in policy direction given by the president. And when the president gave that direction, it seemed to me that we ought to look at the lessons learned the past 17 years and see if we, between now and when the Congress acts, could apply this, as my statement says, in a fair and more appropriate manner.

Q So what will happen to people who are in the process of being kicked out now based on third-party hearsay, third-party evidence that might be suspect?

SEC. GATES: At this -- as of my signature right after this meeting, every case that is currently still open will be dealt with under these new regulations. So they will be reinitiated by a flag rank officer. A person who is in the process can opt out of that, can in effect say, "I want to be -- I want to have the proceedings carried forward under the new regulations in terms of what kind of information can be allowed, but I don't want to start the whole process over."

But that's up to the service member who is being -- who's involved in the proceedings.

But as far as the system is concerned, as far as the services are concerned, every case that is open as of this morning will be re- initiated and evaluated under the -- under the new regulations that I've just set forth.

Q Secretary -- (inaudible). Do you support -- on the legislative side of things, do you support a legislative change to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," whether it's a moratorium or outright repeal, this year, before the Pentagon completes its study on the issue?

SEC. GATES: I do not recommend a change in the law before we have completed our study. There is a great deal we don't know about this in terms of the views of our service members, in terms of the views of their families and influencers.

There is a lot we have to address in terms of what would be required in the way of changed regulations, in terms of benefits. There are a lot of unanswered questions in terms of the implementation of this proposed change in the -- change in the law.
I think we need to do this thoroughly and professionally. I think we need to do this right, if you will. And I think doing it hastily is very risky and, I think, does not address some of the concerns that have been expressed by the chiefs of staff, of the services and a number of the questions that have been raised associated with this.

ADM. MULLEN: I would just echo what the secretary said. I think it's very important for us to go through this process. And doing it with haste could easily generate a very bad outcome. So understanding where we are, having that information from those it will affect most, will -- is a very important part of this process.

Q Just a follow-up on that. Is that a view that the White House shares, do you think?

SEC. GATES: You would have to ask them, but I would tell you that my impression is that the president is very comfortable with the process that we've laid out, and certainly with the changes that I've announced today.

Q But if the policy won't be retroactive, is there some way that a service member who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" can try to reenlist? Is there some way that they can appeal to get back into the military -- if they were discharged under the third party?

SEC. GATES: No.

Q Sir, you're raising the bar for having general officers initiate the proceedings. But recently, we heard from Lieutenant General Mixon, basically criticized -- calling the repeal of the policy ill-advised. What do you think about having general officers comment that way? And are they acting in proper guidelines when they do so?

SEC. GATES: I think that for an active-duty officer to comment on an issue like this is inappropriate. Let me ask the chairman to comment.

ADM. MULLEN: I feel the same way. And actually, it's being addressed, you know, inside the chain of command in the Army. I've spoken with General Casey specifically about this. And General Mixon specifically is -- the issue is being addressed with him. There is an opportunity in this process for -- everyone, from junior to senior, will have an opportunity to comment. And somebody in a leadership position like that, understanding, one, where the president's -- what the president's strategic intent is, clearly, you know, I consider, you know, what -- you know, that letter was -- was not an appropriate letter.

SEC. GATES: And I would -- and I would just -- I would just add that I would feel the same way if it were an entirely different issue.

Q What the Army said is that the JAG had looked at it and that he is within his legal proceedings (sic) to actually write that letter. But when he says so, when he especially says that it's ill-advised, is he criticizing the president?

SEC. GATES: Well, you'd have to ask him.

Q Mr. Secretary, can I change the subject to nuclear weapons?

We've heard a lot about --

SEC. GATES: Big gap, but I'll try to wrap my head around that. (Laughter.)

Q It's also a nuclear issue.

We've been hearing a lot about the new START treaty. But I wanted to ask you about nuclear weapons in Europe. There are several hundred U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.

What purpose do they serve? And would you be comfortable with a recommendation to eliminate them entirely?

SEC. GATES: Well, first of all, we have had a deterrent in Europe since the beginning of the Cold War. And I think that this is -- this is one of the issues that probably will be addressed in the NATO -- in the revision of the NATO strategic concept, as people look at that. This is a decision that will be made by the alliance as a whole.

Q Thank you, sir. Also on a different topic, the war in Afghanistan.

I'm wondering if you both could comment on, as the pace of operations increases in RC [Regional Command] South -- first in Marja, coming in Kandahar -- are you concerned that the expected increase in allied casualties will affect support for the mission in their home capitals?

I'm thinking in particular of the rather high ratio of the casualties among the U.K. troops. Are you concerned that there will be a slipping of support there?

And also, Mr. Secretary, as a follow-up, when we were with you in Istanbul, you announced a new program to share equipment and ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] with the allies, specifically to protect them. Can you update us on any new progress on that effort?

SEC. GATES: Well, first of all, the -- our allies have been taking significant casualties. In fact if I'm not mistaken, proportionate to the size of the contribution they're making, the Canadians have had the highest casualty rates.

But there have -- there have clearly been a lot of our British colleagues who have fallen. It's also true of the Danes, the Dutch and others who have been in the south with us. I would -- and we all expect the fight to get tougher as we carry out the new campaign plan.

I would say -- I asked General McChrystal in particular about the British casualties because they seemed to be taking serious losses, and his response was that a big part of it is that the British are actually just in the thick of the fight. They're in some of the toughest places in the south.

Now, my hope is that providing our allies with counter-IED training and equipment will help protect their soldiers as we are working to protect ours, obviously, within the constraints of the law and making sure our troops are taken care of.

But despite these heavy casualties that the various allies have taken, I think that actually has -- as best I can tell, has not been a serious factor in the -- in domestic support or opposition to the war.

But let me ask the admiral.

ADM. MULLEN: I think we've been very clear for months now that this was going to be a very difficult fight in the south and that the expectations -- try to set expectations, as tragic as it is, for these losses. And in particular -- and the secretary, as you indicated by your question, Thom, is -- has again reemphasized the whole area of counter-IED and is there more we can do. So this isn't an issue, from my perspective, of other forces who are ill-equipped, as much as this is a continuing -- a challenge which continues to evolve. And we have to stay on top of it and I believe top leadership has to stay on top of it to make sure we're doing everything we can.

Q Secretary, first of all, there's some -- seems still to be some disagreement with respect to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the year-long review, some disagreement among even congressional members about whether you're studying whether to implement or how to implement repeal. Could you just be clear about that one more time, if the study is looking at whether to implement repeal or how you would actually implement it?

SEC. GATES: The study is about how you would implement it. If the law changes, how would we implement it? This study is not about should we do it. This study is about how would we do it.

And what we need to know in the course of that is the attitudes and feelings on the part of the members of the services and their families and so on. We need to identify where there might be problems or issues or just issues to be addressed, whether it's a change in regulations or benefits or something like that, so that when the time comes we have some idea of what we have to do in order to carry forward with a change.

Q One quick follow. You mentioned that you were going to look into who would be credible in order to provide information about outing someone, but you didn't qualify what a credible person would look like. Do you -- do you have any more specifics about that?

SEC. GATES: Well, let me ask the general counsel to address that with you after the session.

(Off mike)

Q Again, switching topics for a moment, General Petraeus on the Hill a few days ago said that, based on his travels in the Mideast and his conversations with Arab leaders that a lack of progress on the Israel-Palestinian front was raising Iranian influence and making it harder for the U.S. to interact with the friendly Sunni Arab nation. I'd like to ask you both if you share that assessment that, effectively, a lack of progress on the peace talks is harming -- potentially harming U.S. national-security interests.

SEC. GATES: Well, I think that the way I would answer it is that the lack of progress toward a -- toward Middle East peace is clearly an issue that is exploited by our adversaries in the region and is a source of certainly political challenge.

Whether it has a direct impact, I'm not -- I'm not entirely sure. But there is no question that the absence of Middle East peace does affect U.S. national security interests in the region, in my view.

Admiral.

ADM. MULLEN: I would add -- and I've spoken with General Petraeus and actually my counterpart in Israel a couple of times over the last week --and just to, one, reassure in this -- in this discussion right now the strength of the relationship between the two militaries, which is -- which continues to be exceptionally strong.

And certainly in my recent trip out there, there -- the relationship between this was brought to the fore and understood, actually, quite frankly, by everybody. It is a very, very serious issue, and all of us would like to see progress there. And we think it would have a big impact.

And that -- and what the secretary said is, it is in our national interests obviously or we wouldn't be so engaged. So it's an issue that continues to -- we all continue to focus on through a position of strength with our relationship with Israel, certainly from my perspective on the military side.

SEC. GATES: I -- and let me just add a couple of things. First of all, I think the military-to-military relationship with Israel is as strong as it's ever been. But the other point I would make is the United States has considered peace in the Middle East to be a national security interest for decades.

The -- you know, my first tours on the NSC were associated with the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War and the peace efforts after that and then the Camp David talks.

So the United States government has been deeply engaged in this process for decades. So this isn't exactly a new development.

Q Going to another subject, contractor matters, you were actually quoted in a book about Bill Casey, Joe Persico's book, as saying about Dewey Clarridge, 'if you have a tough, dangerous job critical to national security, Dewey's your man. He's talented, one of our best operations officers. Just make sure you have a good lawyer at his elbow. Dewey's not easy to control.'

Assuming your quote is accurate, sir --

(Laughter.)

SEC. GATES: I knew I shouldn't have written that book. (Laughter.)

Q Assuming your quote is accurate in that book, Mr. Clarridge -- obviously a very public figure in the Iran-Contra scandal of some years ago, now back providing intelligence-contractor and information activities to this department -- do you have a good sense of what he is providing to the U.S. military? And do you have a good lawyer at his elbow? Do you have him under control?

SEC. GATES: I have -- I have no idea what the particulars are. This is the reason that, and associated with the broader matter of whether contractors were doing intelligence collection and so on. That's why I've appointed a small group of people to take a look at this whole matter and get back to me.

My view is that strategic communications, information operations are critical to our efforts around the world and in particular in the wars that we're in.

And -- but I think that there are different elements of the department that are engaged in this, and I don't feel that we have an overall strategy or perhaps adequate oversight of the broader effort that's under way.

And so what I'm trying to get my arms around is -- this particular case that's been described in the newspapers is being looked at by the inspector general, and so I'm less focused on that. That will go on in its own -- in its own channel. But rather, and does this suggest that there are broader problems in terms of oversight in these important areas that need to be corrected? And that's what I'm focused on.

Q But let's just clarify what's a totally different subject. That's the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Can you both explain so people understand what did General Mixon do wrong? Because my question is you've both publicly said you want to hear all points of view, you want to hear what people think. So what did he do wrong?

ADM. MULLEN: I think, as a -- as a three-star leader in command, by virtue of just that position alone, he has great influence. And all of us in uniform are obliged to certainly follow the direction of leadership right up to the president. And in fact, there had been very specific -- when the secretary announced a review, there had been very specific direction given by General Casey on how this was going to be approached -- I mean, not verbally, but in fact written. And there's an expectation, obviously, that you would comply with that, or anybody would comply with that.

And in the end, if there is either policy direction that someone in uniform disagrees with -- and I've said this before -- the answer -- and you feel so strongly about it -- you know, the answer is not advocacy; it is in fact to vote with your feet.

And that's what all of us in a position of leadership, I think, have to conform to.

Q Do you believe he needs to leave the military?

ADM. MULLEN: That's a decision that would certainly be up to him.

Q Mr. Secretary --

Q Mr. Secretary there was reporting today that some of the toughest aspects of proposed new sanctions against Iran have been stripped out to get Russia and China on board. Is that a sign that new sanctions may be a failure or worthless? And where does the United States go from here?

SEC. GATES: You know, I think -- I mean, my view -- I don't -- I don't know what the particulars of the Security Council resolution might look like. But I think the -- first of all, it is important to have a U.N. Security Council resolution to reemphasize Iran's isolation, that virtually all of the significant powers have real problems with Iran -- with Iranian behavior and with Iranian policies.

The reality, though, also is that the U.N. Security Council resolution then provides a legal platform for other organizations and individual countries to take significantly more stringent sanctions, whether it's the European Union or individual countries like the United States or individual countries in Europe. And so I think -- I would see the Security Council resolution as sort of -- the isolation of Iran as being -- and the pointed rebuke of Iran by the Security Council as being the foundation on which further steps could be taken by individual countries.

Q Secretary? Getting back to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," as you know, the Marine Corps commandant, General Conway, says that he would like to see the law kept as it is.

And he indicated that he worries that if the law is repealed, it will disrupt a force fighting two wars. I'd like you both to comment on that. And are you hearing, you know, privately, concerns from other officers about disrupting the force?

ADM. MULLEN: As I indicated in my testimony and subsequent to that, when asked specifically where the -- where the chiefs were, it was -- there would be an opportunity to have them express their views, and obviously General Conway has done that. We've spent a lot of time on this in the tank prior to any of us testifying. But certainly it wasn't my intent to get in the way of any chief's specific view. They have responsibilities as well.

The honest answer in terms of the disruption issue -- and a couple of chiefs have spoken to that -- but in my all-hand call -- all-hands calls since that time, the honest answer -- this is anecdotal -- but there's been very little of that said back to me specifically either by questions or statements -- quite to the contrary. Most of what I've heard has actually been very supportive of moving in this direction.

Q Mr. Secretary --

Q Secretary, back on Afghanistan. You have said lately that Iran is playing a double role in Afghanistan, on one hand supporting the government in Kabul and on the other hand providing weapons to Taliban. This week, we have new report saying that Iran is giving training to Taliban. To what level do you think the Iranians are involved in Afghanistan, training the Taliban, and how much are you concerned?

SEC. GATES: Based on everything that I've seen, I continue to believe that the Iranians are involved. But it remains at a relatively low level. And we certainly would hope that it stays that way.

Q Mr. Secretary, I had a question about training in Afghanistan. As you know, there's a shortage of trainers in Afghanistan. Why is there no discussion of resetting the expectations in terms of the number of Afghan police and soldiers you can train?

And should that be recalibrated, both the number and the level that the United States should expect and the Afghans themselves should expect, in light of the training shortage?

SEC. GATES: Well, we'll both take a crack at this. I mean, my view is, there has been a significant increase in trainers. We have gotten additional trainers from the Europeans, not as much -- not as many as we would like.

And frankly, I'm -- my inclination is -- not my inclination; I intend to defer to General McChrystal and General Caldwell in terms of their view of the -- of the timing and the sequencing, what they think they can handle in terms of training, how the training is going. The recruitment appears to be going well. Retention and attrition levels within the army seem to be good and pretty close to goals; not so with the police. Those are still issues that need to be addressed. There's just no question; the police are a tougher problem. And -- but I think that there is, first of all, recognition of that, and efforts are under way to address it.

ADM. MULLEN: There had not been -- because of the lack of resourcing, there just hadn't been a lot of trainers provided for the police, which really is the eye of the needle, if you will, in this particular area. And General Caldwell, under General McChrystal's guidance, is putting all that in place, and a structure that just didn't exist before, from recruiting to training to literacy training, et cetera. And it's going to take us a while.

So I recognize it's been a long time. I understand that. But at the same time, in ways we're really starting there. So I think it's just too early to reassess and say the -- we just don't know yet whether the goals are right.

And it really -- we both depend greatly on Caldwell and McChrystal coming in, saying, you know, yes or no. And they just haven't done that.

Q Sir, given the criticality of the police to the efforts to try to rebuild Afghanistan, and given the relatively, you know, low numbers of those that are trained that are staying on the force and the high illiteracy rate, is it time to reassess quite -- how long -- or perhaps better put, could you -- could you give us a better assessment of how long you think U.S. troops are going to be in Afghanistan past July 2011, given the huge gap that appears to be present in the training of the police, and the importance of the police on the ground in trying to maintain security in places like Marja and so forth?

SEC. GATES: Well, there are several aspects to it. First of all, there's the -- there's the national police, there's the border patrol. There are various elements. There are also local security initiatives that are associated with the tribes and some provincial government. So there are a number of moving parts here in addition to the national police and to the army. And I think, you know, we're just going to have to look at how all of that evolves.

The president's decision that we will begin to turn -- to transition or transfer security responsibility in Afghanistan to the Afghans in July of 2011 stands. But it is also clear -- and he has been explicit -- that transfers subsequently will be based strictly on conditions on the ground. So it would be a serious mistake to rush this and transfer, or begin the transfer of authority before -- and then have to go back and re-fight the fight in a particular -- in a particular area.

So, you know, I think this is a several-year process. But we needed to send a clear signal. The president wanted to send a clear signal -- and I supported it -- that -- to the Afghans, that they also need to step up into this fight.

And I think that the increase in recruitment for both the army and the police is testimony to the fact that they are stepping up and the fact that the Afghans in significant numbers in both the police and in the -- and in the army are paying the price with their lives.

In fact, the police casualties are disproportionate, are -- outweigh those of the army, are greater than those in the army. So I think, you know, we've now been at the president's -- in the president's campaign for four months. We have a third of the surge forces that are going into Afghanistan that are there. This is going to take a little time. Let's not pull everybody up by their roots every week to see if they're growing.

Q Can you give -- okay.

Q Mr. Secretary, are all of the recommendations of the general counsel as to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy put into place? And if not, why were they eliminated? And were any of them watered down, including the level of the general that would be required to begin initiating proceedings?

SEC. GATES: One of the recommendations -- I would just tell you one, and I don't want to get into a lot of details; Mr. Johnson's here and can answer your question -- one of the issues that came up was whether we should require a two-star or a one-star. And in my discussions with the Joint Chiefs, the practical aspects -- particularly in the Marine Corps, where there aren't a lot of two-stars and where a two-star may be at great distance from where a unit may be deployed -- having a -- having a one-star do it made it more practical.

My issue was really more to have a -- to have a flag-rank officer do this.

And I was very comfortable with doing it at the -- at the one-star level.

I just wanted to make sure that in terms of the experience and leadership level and so on that we -- that we elevated this to a level who -- of people who have a lot of experience and a lot of maturity.

Thank you all very much.

Tricare Meets Health Care Bill's Standards, Gates Says

2010-03-23T14:57:00.002-04:00

The Tricare military health plan meets the standards set by the health care reform bill the House of Representatives passed last night, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a statement issued yesterday.

Calling their health and well-being his highest priority, Gates reassured servicemembers and their families that the legislation won't have a negative effect on Tricare, which "already meets the bill's quality and minimum benefit standards."

"This was clarified by a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives [March 20], and is expected to be re-affirmed by the Senate," Gates said in the statement.

"The president and I are committed to seeing that our troops, retirees and their families will continue to receive the best quality health care," the secretary said.

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The American Legion Sees Missed Opportunities in VA Outreach to Entrepreneurs

2010-03-13T11:38:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Legion characterized VA's Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) as "critically ineffective, understaffed, underfunded and marginalized" in March 11 testimony before the House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Created to help veterans start their own businesses and bid successfully on federal contracts, CVE - according to The American Legion's National Small Business Task Force - lacks the ability to provide comprehensive technical assistance, takes too long to register clients (one month to one year), and does not offer help to veterans with part-time businesses.

"CVE only operates one office in Washington, D.C., and does not cover the needs of all the veteran-owned small businesses around the country," said small-business expert Joseph Sharpe in his prepared remarks to the subcommittee. He said that CVE's Vetbiz.gov Web site "is not easily navigated" and needs to become more user-friendly.

Sharpe, director of The American Legion's Economic Division in Washington, told the subcommittee that businesses with fewer than 20 employees account for 90 percent of all U.S. firms. He said small businesses generated nearly $1 trillion of income for 2006 and employed 58.6 million workers.

"The American Legion contends that the key to the nation's economic recovery depends on a strong and vibrant small-business agenda," Sharpe told the subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D. Citing Dept. of Labor statistics that rate unemployment among returning veterans as high as 20 percent, Sharpe added that one out of every four veterans who manage to land a job earn less than $25,000 a year.

"Ironically, for too many years, the very men and women who served in uniform, stood ready to fight, and - if necessary - die in order to protect and preserve the free enterprise system, are summarily ignored by the federal agencies responsible for meeting their small business needs," Sharpe said.

CVE did get recognition from the Legion for its VIP database. According to Sharpe, it is the federal government's only database that focuses on veteran-owned small businesses. He said "CVE has successfully promoted this database commercially...and has established a strong foundation and infrastructure that can easily be interwoven into other federal databases, such as the Central Contractors Registry.

While The American Legion supports CVE's goal to provide useful information to veterans who want to start or improve their small businesses, Sharpe said the center could be substantially improved, and that CVE "does not necessarily provide the right assistance to veterans.

"With regard to CVE's technical assistance capabilities, this effort represents a negligible impact locally and virtually no impact nationally," Sharpe told the subcommittee. "CVE maintains one small assistance center in Washington, D.C., where they see a small amount of clients and field phone calls.

"Government employees fielding phone calls about business is not an ideal way of conducting training and market research for veterans and their small businesses," Sharpe said. "VA and the Small Business Administration should develop a comprehensive partnership to assist veterans who are interested in participating in federal procurement."

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Gen. McChrystal's Statement to the Afghan People

2010-02-23T20:15:00.000-05:00

Gen. McChrystal issued the message in Pashtu, following military action in Uruzgan. The following is the complete text of his remarks, as delivered in English:

The Great People of Afghanistan, Salam Alaikum. Sunday morning, the International Security Assistance Force, while conducting a mission with Afghan Security Forces, launched an attack against what we believed to be a group of insurgents in Kotal Chawzar, in Southern Afghanistan. We now believe the attack killed and injured a number of Afghan citizens. I have spoken with President Karzai and apologized to him and the Afghan people. I have instituted a thorough investigation to prevent this from happening again. We are extremely saddened by this tragic loss of innocent lives. I have made it clear to our forces that we are here to protect the Afghan people. I pledge to strengthen our efforts to regain your trust to build a brighter future for all Afghans. Most importantly, I express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. We all share in their grief and will keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Operation Moshtarak, RCS2010.

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A Small Team of Sustainment Experts

2010-02-23T20:14:00.000-05:00

Fort Bragg's 1st Theater Sustainment Command deployed a small team of sustainment experts to Afghanistan to facilitate overall sustainment during the massive flow of equipment in support of the buildup in Operation Enduring Freedom. This tailored team of logisticians is assisting during the transition of subordinate elements to ensure the seamless efficient support to our Soldiers in Afghanistan.

This initiative directly supports the Third Army Commanders stated intent for support for the buildup of forces in Afghanistan.

"Everyone is working hard to overcome the challenges of moving equipment into Afghanistan. We are moving as much as we can as fast as we can with the help of the United states Air Force and U.S. Transportation Command," said Lt. Gen. William G. Webster, Third Army commanding general.

Those efforts include approximately 350 vehicles which are in transit with 650 on the ground at Kandahar and Bagram, ready for issue to troops deploying to Afghanistan as part of the build-up.

Of the 650, that includes over 300 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Two variants are currently being delivered, the MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle and the MaxxPro which is a larger vehicle with an increased load carrying capacity. The intent is to have much of the required equipment for the troop build-up on the ground in Afghanistan before the forces arrive.

"We are engaged in sustainment operations across the entire Central Command area of operations," said Xavier P. Lobeto, the 1st TSC's deputy commanding general. "We're involved with the drawdown of Iraq and the buildup of Afghanistan, this effort is huge and we're here to support and sustain as a team. It's a team effort and always will be," Lobeto said.

The 1st TSC's role in Southwest Asia is to establish single logistics command and control by establishing steady state logistics operations.

They synchronize and tailor logistics for units throughout Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
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Savannah's 118th Field Artillery Returns from Afghanistan

2010-02-23T20:07:00.002-05:00

Photo: Brigadier Gen. Maria Britt, Georgia Army Guard command, shakes the hands of Soldiers from Springfield's Battery A, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery, as they disembark the aircraft that brought them from Afghanistan to Hunter Army Airfield's Departure and Arrival Terminal.

Stepping off a chartered airliner early this morning, more than 100 members of Springfield's Battery A, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery, began the last leg of their yearlong deployment to Afghanistan.

"You have no idea how great it is to be home," said Sgt. David Clark of Offerman. "Unless you've been there and back, you just don't realize how good it is to be back on Georgia soil."

This was the first group of Citizen-Soldiers redeploying to Georgia in the next two months. Arrival times for other returning flights, and dates for upcoming welcome home ceremonies are expected soon, but remain somewhat up in the air.

The Soldiers of Battery A are among the more than 2,000 members of Macon's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat (IBCT) who left in June of last year to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Their mission was to train and mentor the Afghan army and National Security Force so the Afghans can fully take on the role of protecting that war-torn country's citizens.

"I don't know that I can ever fully express how proud I am of these guys," said the unit's commander, Capt. Patrick Grover of Savannah. "From the lowest to the highest rank, they carried out every task and mission asked of them and continually made me and the Georgia Army Guard look good in the eyes of everyone they dealt with.

"If any one ever deserves credit for the success of our deployment, it's them, not me," he added.

After turning in weapons and other sensitive equipment at the terminal, the Guardsmen boarded buses waiting for them outside the airfield's main terminal, and headed for Fort Stewart in Hinesville. Marching onto the post's Cottrell Parade Field with Grove leading it, Battery A received a resounding welcome home from more than 200 family members, friends, fellow Soldiers and dignitaries such Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, Georgia Army Guard commander.

Stepping to the microphone, Britt welcomed the unit back, and then told its members how proud she and Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia's Adjutant General, are of them.

"When we stop and think of how being born free is 'really an accident,' we realize that our staying free is paid for by our veterans, veterans such as yourselves," Britt told the Soldiers standing in formation before her.

"And just as we will always remember the eight who lost their lives during this deployment, we're also grateful to have all of you back safely with us," she added.

Britt then turned her remarks toward the families who crowed the grandstand behind her.

"You sacrificed as much as our Soldiers did, and yet you stepped up time and again to let them know you are always there for them in these challenging times," she said. "That love and support is so greatly appreciated and we ask, yes we know, that you keep it coming."

In no short order after Britt finished her remarks, the crowd rushed the formation, each family finding its Soldier, then hugging and holding on tight as if afraid that the homecoming would be short-lived.

That's the way it seemed to Rashedah Barringer of Columbus and her little girl Morgan, age 3. Frantically searching the formation, mother and daughter found what they were looking for among the sea of Army Combat Uniforms.

Running to her father, Morgan jumped up into Sgt. Joseph Barringer's arms, and hugged him with an intensity he had never known. Holding his little girl with one arm and holding his wife with the other, Joseph Barringer seemed to cringe, just a little.

"I really don't know what to say at this moment," the one-time business major from Columbus Technical College said. He'll be returning there to finish his degree once he's back home. "I'm excited and overwhelmed with the fact that I'm finally home. I just don't know what to say about it, other than I'm proud of who I am and what my unit has accomplished, but Lord am I glad that I'm home."

For little Morgan it's about having her father home and finally having him buy her the "princess dress" he promised her before he left.

"I'm going to be so pretty because daddy promised me he'd buy my princess dress and some shoes," she said, clinging to Joseph's neck.

by Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry
Photos by Sgt. Jerry DeAvila and Sgt. 1st Class Roy Henry

Georgia Department of Defense Public Affairs Office

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DoD Adds Blog to Military Science Dialogue

2010-02-19T13:34:00.001-05:00

Science has seized the popular imagination. There are magazines, popular books, Web sites, webcasts, blogs, documentary films, and even television channels devoted to science and technology.

The practical applications of science and technology also can be found in almost every aspect of military operations, a topic that is discussed in great detail in the award-winning weekly webcast "Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military," produced by the Defense Media Activity.

The popularity of the Armed with Science webcast in its first year has prompted the Defense Media Activity to expand its on-line presence. A new Armed with Science blog, http://science.dodlive.mil, premiered in late January. The new blog includes articles, archived webcast episodes, transcripts, images, and videos.

"Expanding into the blogosphere will allow us to develop a dialogue between our listeners and the scientists, engineers, operators and administrators who are involved in DoD science," said Brian Natwick, general manager of The Pentagon Channel and acting director of DoD's Emerging Media Directorate. The new blog will provide a better forum to highlight the critical role of science and technology in military operations, Natwick said, while demonstrating how research conducted to meet military requirements often benefits society as a whole.

Les Benito, director of the Defense Media Activity's Public Web Directorate, said the blog also will provide an opportunity to experiment with emerging social technologies and implement strategies that better engage the public. It will bolster a social media portfolio that already includes efforts on Twitter, Facebook, and BlogTalkRadio.

"We hope to develop a more user-centric and interactive Web site that evolves over time to meet the needs of our audience," Benito said. "Consider this is an experiment in progress."

John Ohab, a new technology strategist at the Defense Media Activity's Public Web Directorate and host of the weekly webcast, said the blog will place specific emphasis on the men and women who are involved in research, development, and education at the Defense Department. By focusing on their individual stories, Ohab hopes the blog will help break down traditional myths about science and technology that hinder some people from pursuing related careers.

"Science isn't just for scientists," Ohab said. "Not only does science and technology help make our servicemembers safer and more effective, they also impact virtually everything we do in civilian life."

(By Ian Graham, Special to American Forces Press Service. Ian Graham is assigned to Defense Media Activity's Emerging Media Directorate)
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Clayton State Student Veterans Association Hosts Workshop/Presentation on Homecomings

2010-02-08T10:18:00.001-05:00

The Clayton State University Student Veterans Association (SVA) is hosting a workshop/presentation on Thursday, Feb. 25. Entitled, “Homecomings: Community Responsiveness to Troops, Veterans and their Families,” the presenters will be LTC Peter Bauer, MS, USAR; LCSW, LMFT, BCD, and the Rev. Alan Roof, staff chaplain at the Shepherd Center. The event will take place in the Clayton State Student Activities Center Ballroom from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

In addition to inviting the Clayton State campus and the general public, SVA will also be personally inviting local mental health professionals, medical professionals, law enforcement personnel, and clergy to attend.

The workshop/presentation is designed to provide community members (i.e., civilians) with information about the challenges active military troops and veterans face when transitioning back into civilian life and how communities can help them through this process. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) will be discussed, as well as how to support active military troops and veterans who are experiencing these challenges. In addition to providing information on supporting the impacted military personnel, ways to support the military families will also be addressed. Contact information for help resources will be available as well.

“Veterans, for the most part, do not want to be treated special – they just want to be treated with respect and consideration, just like anyone else,” says SVA’s Diana Peters. “The SVA believes this workshop/presentation will help strengthen the foundation of Clayton State University as a military-friendly campus.”

The Student Veterans Association supports The Shepherd Center/SHARE Initiative (www.shepherd.org) and Veteran’s Heart Georgia (www.veteransheartgeorgia.org).
A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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FRC Statement on New Policy Requiring Military Bases to Carry 'Morning After' Pill

2010-02-07T12:31:00.001-05:00

The Family Research Council criticized a decision by the Obama Administration to require military based worldwide to carry Levonorgestrel, or 'Plan B.'

Jeanne Monahan, FRC's Director of the Center for Human Dignity, released the following statement:

"Family Research Council opposes requiring military bases worldwide to carry Levonorgestrel, or 'Plan B,' because the drug can prevent a fertilized embryo from implanting in the uterus and thereby destroy a human life. We can all agree that there is a huge difference between preventing and destroying human life. And women in uniform deserve to know the truth about their medications.

"In the last year we have witnessed the Obama Administration move from the status quo of abortion as legal and available in health care plans to aggressively promoting U.S. government funded abortions. In the same way, the fact that Plan B is optional for military facilities is not sufficient for the Obama Administration, so now military facilities will be compelled to carry and disseminate Plan B.

"Moreover, a requirement to carry this drug would be a violation of the conscience rights of military personnel who have moral objections to providing it, not to mention the majority of American taxpayers supporting military operations. Taxpayers should not be required to pay for military medical personnel to carry Plan B anywhere in the world.

"Recently the FDA changed its approval of Plan B from a prescription drug to an over-the-counter drug for women ages 17 and up. This change was made despite the fact that Plan B is composed essentially of high doses of regular contraceptive drugs (which still require a doctor's prescription). However, because extensive testing for those under the age of 17 has not taken place, the drug can only be obtained by prescription for girls 16 and under. Forcing military professionals to carry over-the-counter Plan B will make it more difficult to enforce age requirements for a drug not widely tested on young girls.

"Finally, the requirement to carry Plan B on military bases doesn't include a parental notification provision in cases in which a minor obtains Plan B by prescription. This new policy undermines the right of parents to properly care for their daughters' physical well-being. In a society that requires teachers to send students to the nurse for a band-aid, the Administration's approach on something profoundly more important than a paper cut defies common sense."
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Air Force fiscal 2011 budget balances for today's fight, postures for future challenges

2010-02-02T06:55:00.000-05:00

Air Force officials here reinforced their commitment to fund and support today's operations while posturing for future challenges through the service's portion of the president's fiscal year 2011 budget Feb. 1.

The $119.6 billion budget proposal supports the Air Force's unique capabilities and core functions and how the service supports its people at home and abroad as it continues to rebalance the force, senior leaders said.

Balancing today's operations

The FY11 Budget Request supports a balanced approach to prevail in today's operations while ensuring new capabilities, force structure, skills and technologies to meet tomorrow's challenges.

"The Operation and Maintenance budget is focused on new and emerging requirements as well as on-going operations," said Maj. Gen. Al Flowers, Air Force budget director. "We have balanced resources across the full spectrum of operations to meet the increasing demands of today's fight."

In FY11, the Air Force's baseline budget totals $119.6 billion which provides resources across several appropriations that provide pay and allowances for people, readiness, and infrastructure and modernization. An additional $20.8 billion was requested for overseas contingency operations to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In keeping with the Air Force's tradition of taking care of its Airmen and their families, General Flowers explained that the Air Force will invest about $1billion for quality of life programs such as child development centers; spouse counseling and employment programs; school liaison officers; and childcare programs.

The general also said the submission will support a basic pay increase of 1.4 percent for both Airmen and civilians. In addition, Airmen can receive increases of up to 4.2 percent for basic allowance for housing and 3.4 percent for rations.

Personnel funding continues to be a priority for the service, with $29.3 billion devoted to active duty, Guard, and Reserve end strength preservation. The budget also provides for increases in critical skills recruiting and retention bonuses, and personnel plus ups in stressed career fields.

"Airmen can expect to see increased emphasis on bonuses -- about $645 million -- for areas such as combat controllers, intelligence, pararescue, explosive ordnance disposal, tactical air control party, contracting, and survival, evasion, escape and resistance," General Flowers said.

In addition to recruiting and retention, the general asserted that education will remain a priority in the FY11 request.

"Tuition assistance is a mainstay in each budget and we will continue to provide Airmen off-duty education," General Flowers said.

In addition to education, the Air Force's budget request maintains investments in the organization, training and equipping of Airmen supporting OCOs.

To increase flexibility and lethality that meets the needs of combatant commanders in the AOR, the Air Force will continue to support efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the general said. The budget request includes a $6.1 billion FY10 supplemental request in addition to the $15.2 billion in OCO funding received in the FY10 appropriation.

Investing for future challenges

As the strategy facilitates funding increases for contingency operations, the Air Force will sustain its investment in new capabilities and a force structure to meet tomorrow's challenges.

"We are modernizing and recapitalizing within our means," Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz said. "In developing the budget request, we also carefully preserved our approach to taking care of Airmen and our Air Force families."

The Air Force's top priority continues the efforts to strengthen the nuclear enterprise with $5.2 billion earmarked for ongoing support and maintenance of the service's nuclear forces.

"In addition to the establishment of Global Strike Command, the Air Force has developed a more rigorous inspection and positive inventory control process while taking steps to correct nuclear force development," said General Flowers.

As ground forces draw down in Iraq and sustain in Afghanistan, the Air Force will see intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and irregular warfare operations increase, the general said.

The new budget provides for 36 baseline and 12 OCO MQ-9 Reapers, four additional RQ-4 Global Hawks and 662 active duty personnel associated with the increased ISR missions. General Flowers said service officials will also seek to develop a normalized training and basing posture for the MC-12 Project Liberty.

The budget proposal provides "enhancement to legacy fighters to ensure today's capability is compatible with future or fifth generation fighters as we develop and bed down the F-35," General Flowers said.

The enhancements include F-15 modernization and radar upgrades and EC-130H Compass Call modifications. Common configuration upgrades and software development for the F-22 will ensure compatibility with new models coming off the line. In addition, the Air Force will continue modernizing the C-5, C-130 and C-17 fleet through programs such as avionics modernization; reliability, enhancement, and re-engining; and large aircraft infrared countermeasures.

The service will also continue its efforts toward emerging missions, the general said.

"We're increasing our ISR combat air patrols to 50 by the end of FY11 and by the end of FY13 we'll be at 65," he said. "Each CAP will have a manpower tail attached and much of the end strength relates to increased demand of ISR support in the AOR."

"We're investing in maturing technologies as we work toward concept exploration for a long-range strike capability," General Flowers said of the $200 million endeavor.

The Air Force will continue building a robust space program while investing in both secure and non-secure satellite communications including a missile warning satellite.

Air Force officials said the FY11 budget helps the service achieve the right balance to meet today's commitments while posturing for future challenges, adding that there is now have a blueprint to improve existing capabilities and pursue new technology while ensuring stewardship of national resources.

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Air Force returns enlisted high year tenure to standards

2010-01-27T12:47:00.000-05:00

Air Force manpower and personnel officials announced today a return of enlisted high year of tenure limits to their pre-2003 levels.

"We've considered returning HYT limits to their normal levels for several years. Now that our Air Force end strength is stabilizing, it is an appropriate time to return back to the pre-2003 levels," said Mr. Tom Voegtle, chief of the retirements and separations policy branch at the Pentagon.

High year of tenure is the maximum years of service a member may remain on active duty in relation to his or her enlisted grade.

The HYT for senior master sergeant, master sergeant, technical sergeant and senior airman will return to 26, 24, 22 and 10 years, respectively. The HYT limits for both chief master sergeant (30 years) and staff sergeant (20 years) will remain the same since they were not raised in 2003, Mr. Voegtle said.

The change will initially affect approximately 2,500 Airmen; 500 senior airmen, 400 technical sergeants, 1,200 master sergeants and 400 senior master sergeants.

The new HYT effective date for master sergeant is April 1, 2011; for technical sergeant, Aug. 1, 2011; and, for senior airman, Sept. 1 2011. The effective date for senior master sergeant is Jan. 1, 2012. This timeline provides Airmen additional opportunities to compete for promotion or plan for separation or retirement from active duty.

All Airmen who separate due to HYT will receive involuntary separation pay. Technical, master and senior master sergeants may apply for full retirement if leaving active duty due to reaching their HYT just as they would under existing policy.

While the new HYT is applicable now, Airmen who will be "over" their HYT as the policy is normalized will be allowed to remain on active duty until no later than the effective date for their corresponding grades.

An Airman's total active federal military service date will determine whether he or she is under the old or new HYT limit. For example, a senior airman whose TAFMSD is Aug. 31, 2001 or earlier would separate under his or her original HYT date or Sept. 1, 2011, whichever comes first. If the senior airman's TAFMSD date is after Aug. 31, 2001, that Airman's date would be adjusted to the new 10-year limit. In other words, the Airman will now be required to separate at the 10-year point rather than the 12-year point if he or she is not promoted to staff sergeant.

Airmen overseas who will reach HYT before they are scheduled to return will receive new dates in accordance with the revised policy, Mr. Voegtle said. Also, deployed Airmen and those soon to deploy who are affected by the policy change will return no later than 30 days prior to their
new HYT date.

The new HYT requirements will not affect the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Airmen opting to transfer their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits to family members will still be able to transfer these benefits even if their new HYT dates prevent them from completing the required active-duty service commitments.

Extensions of HYT are still applicable under existing guidelines. These include reasons such as extreme personal hardship or when an extension is clearly in the best interest of the Air Force, Mr. Voegtle said.

This change to policy will not affect Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard members.

The AF has a longstanding tradition of taking care of its people, and will continue this tradition through this process and beyond, Mr. Voegtle said.

"There will be no change in retirement or separation pay benefits, and the Air Force is committed to providing our Airmen and their families with an open and transparent process," he added.

Individuals who have questions regarding this policy change or any personnel issue can contact the 24/7 Total Force Service Center toll-free at 800-525-0102.

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Air Force announces upcoming change to C-17 sustainment plan

2010-01-22T07:25:00.001-05:00

Today the Air Force announced it will establish an integrated C-17 Program Office and lead the product support integration efforts at Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, GA with support from the Boeing Company.

Additionally the Oklahoma Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, OK will manage the C-17 engine with support from Pratt and Whitney. The material management functions will be a joint effort between the contractors and the government. The new sustainment strategy will begin in FY2012 and be phased in over a variable timeline.

The new Air Force strategy for C-17 long term sustainment for fiscal year 2012 and beyond is estimated to save $9-$12 billion over 30 years. "This decision is a win-win - it represents our commitment to the warfighter and capitalizes on Air Force and defense private sector expertise," said Debra Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Logistics.

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Military Pay Calculator Enables Service Members, Families to Accurately Estimate Pay for 2010

2010-01-09T09:53:00.000-05:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Military.com and CinCHouse.com launched their new 2010 Pay Calculator on Thursday which enables military members, military spouses and families to input criteria to determine what their pay will be at any given duty location.

Following the recent release of the 2010 pay rates from the Department of Defense, this new tool will help military families accurately predict their pay and allowances and will allow for better financial planning.

"Military pay fluctuates from year to year and from job to job. Having the ability to look ahead and make plans for what will be coming in, makes life much easier and allows military families to practice sound financial management," said Meredith Leyva, founder of CinCHouse.com and Senior Director for Women's and Family Initiatives for Military.com. CinCHouse.com is a Military.com website for military spouses, families and women in the military, and the site's name refers to a term used by military families to describe the "Commander in Chief of the House."

Military pay actually increased by 3.4% for the coming year; a benefit for many families who, in past years, have not seen their pay keep pace with civilian inflation or comparable occupations in the private sector.

John Alexander of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society commented, “This is an exceptional tool that our caseworkers all over the world use to estimate pay and help our Sailors, Marines and their families manage their finances. Military pay can be confusing, the rates for housing allowances differ by duty station and each member is entitled to different allowances based on skill sets and rank. This tool takes all that information and gives you an accurate number on which our military families can base their spending and savings.”

To view the calculator go to: http://cinchouse.com/Money/MilitaryPayEstimator/tabid/88/Default.aspx.

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United States Navy selects Atlanta to host 2010 Navy Week Celebration

2010-01-07T22:40:00.000-05:00

America’s Navy will come home to Atlanta October 11-17.

Atlanta has been chosen as a host city for a Navy Week celebration in 2010, giving area residents an opportunity to meet some of the Navy’s Sailors and learn about the Navy’s critical mission and its broad-ranging capabilities.

The U.S. Navy conducts approximately 20 Navy Weeks each year, reaching out to communities across the country to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy. During a Navy Week celebration, the Navy concentrates a variety of outreach assets in a single city for the week, sharing the Navy story with as many people as possible.

The Navy’s precision flight demonstration team, The Blue Angels, will headline the Navy Week in Atlanta, performing at Dobbins Air Force Base October 16-17.

Other outreach assets which may be scheduled during Atlanta Navy Week include:

- The Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team
- Navy rock bands and ceremonial bands
- Flag Officer speakers
- Navy divers
- Flight simulators and other interactive displays
- and Sailors from namesake ships and submarines.

A wide variety of events are scheduled during each Navy Week, including:

- Engagement with local corporate, civic and government leaders
- Navy Band musical performances
- Dive demonstrations in local aquariums
- Visits to area schools
- and community service projects and events with local sports franchises, to name only a few.

In 2010, 20 cities have been selected to host a Navy Week. These cities include: Tampa; Phoenix; Charleston, S.C.; San Antonio, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City; Birmingham, Ala.; Spokane, Wash.; Little Rock, Ark.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; Boston; Minneapolis; Chicago; Boise, Idaho; Baltimore; Cleveland; St. Louis; Salt Lake City; Atlanta; and Dallas.

Lockheed Martin Super Hercules Deliveries Continue to Strengthen USAF Fleet in Europe

2009-12-22T11:02:00.002-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Brig. Gen. Michael W. Callan, Vice Commander, 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, today (December 21) accepted the tenth of 14 Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) C-130Js to be based at Ramstein. The USAF Europe C-130Js based there also support the airlift needs of Africa Command (AFRICOM).

"I was excited to be asked by the 86 Airlift Wing commander to fly one of his new J-models to Ramstein Air Base," Callan said. "As our USAF continues to upgrade its C-130 fleet, this C-130J will climb faster, go farther and perform with precision in all qualification and missions areas. All of those capabilities will be tested in AFRICOM's AOR, and we at 17th Air Force (AFAFRICA) look forward to partnering with the 37th Airlift Squadron and 86th Airlift Wing to make a difference in Africa."

The Ramstein delivery is the tenth C-130J for the base, which will receive four more in 2010. This aircraft is Lockheed Martin's 16th and final C-130J delivery of 2009.

U.S. Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA) is responsible for conducting Air Force, joint and combined air and space operations in the AFRICOM area of responsibility. To fulfill these responsibilities AFAFRICA employs a full spectrum of capabilities, to include intra-theater airlift assets.

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Pro-Troop Group Says Repatriating Yemenis Will Result in Loss of Innocent Lives

2009-12-18T22:13:00.002-05:00

The largest pro-troop grassroots group in the nation, Move America Forward, was appalled to learn that the Obama administration is preparing to release six Yemenis and four Afghans to the Yemini government soon.

Terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda have a well documented history of taking advantage of the political instability in Yemen to use it as a training base or temporary safe haven for terrorists hiding or on their way to other battlefields.

“Transferring these terrorists back to Yemen or back to any of their home countries is extremely dangerous, and will almost certainly cause more American deaths and the deaths of other innocents, sadly,” said Danny Gonzalez, Director of Communications for the group. “We have had horrible luck, from the Bush administration to the Obama administration, with releasing these GITMO detainees. An alarming number of them, verifiably, return to terror.”

Gonzalez continued, “We have seen then show up in Al Qaeda propaganda videos, captured on the battlefield again, or we hear about them taking part in another bombing or kidnapping. Ultimately the safest place for these murders is Guantanamo Bay.”

In 2008 Move America Forward led a delegation on a 3 day tour of the facility at Guantanamo Bay.

They concluded that the facility at GITMO was professionally run and operating under the guidelines of all international laws and treaties.

MOAA Celebrates Military Spouse Residency Relief Act Victory on Capitol Hill

2009-12-11T18:27:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) President VADM Norb Ryan Jr., USN (Ret.), joined Sen. Richard M. Burr (R-NC) and Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX), military spouses and congressional staff at a MOAA-sponsored Capitol Hill reception to celebrate enactment of the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act and recognize those who played leadership roles in getting the initiative signed into law.

The new law, signed by President Obama on Veterans Day 2009, will reduce voting and state tax challenges military spouses have faced with every military-ordered move. They will now have the option to elect the same state of domicile as their active duty spouse, without having to change state residency with every relocation.

"This great victory was crucial to ensure the states to recognize that military spouses are serving our country, too," Ryan said. "Rebecca Noah Poynter and Joanna Williamson are two military spouses who had a great idea, and exercised authentic leadership in convincing Congressional leaders of its importance. MOAA is proud to have been a lead blocker and tackler in helping these stars cross the goal line."

"Military spouses are our real unsung heroes, and anything we can do for them is a reward to the country," said Rep. Carter, who championed the bill in the House of Representatives. "It's a common-sense bill, and we found a lot of common-sense cosponsors in Congress to help us support it."

"There's no question that military spouses make many sacrifices in support of our Armed Forces," said Burr. "That's why I introduced the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act in the Senate, and [why I was so proud to see] it signed into law on Veterans Day."

"MOAA identified this as one of our key initiatives for military families. It's a great example of military spouses speaking out and getting things changed," said Joy Dunlap, MOAA's Deputy Director of Government Relations. "This is just one of a long list of initiatives that we hope to get accomplished to help military spouses and their families - and with spouses speaking out, more improvements can be made."

Acknowledging MOAA's strong support in this gratifying victory for military spouses, Poynter called Ryan up before the gathering, saying, "I recently received my MOAA membership renewal notice and I'm giving you my renewal check right now!"

MOAA is the nation's largest association of active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, and former military officers and their families and survivors, and the fourth-largest veterans' association, with more than 370,000 members. The association promotes a strong national defense by advocating equitable treatment of those who serve and have served their country in uniform.

MOAA Selected Legislative Goals for 2010
MOAA Celebrates Military Spouse Residency Relief Act 12/10/09
S. 475 - Military Spouses Residency Relief Act 11/11/09
MOAA Applauds Hill Action for Military Spouses 11/02/09

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New Air Force Plan Targets Energy

2009-12-09T10:44:00.002-05:00

National energy independence took another leap forward with today's rollout of the Air Force Energy Plan. The plan serves as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals and further expands a culture shift "where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything we do."

"The case for action to reduce our energy consumption and diversify our energy sources is more compelling than ever," states the plan. "Military forces will always be dependent on energy, but we must dramatically reduce the risk to national security associated with our current energy posture."

The Air Force is the largest user of energy in the federal government. The Air Force Energy Plan supports Air Force priorities and provides links to energy goals established by the federal government. It involves energy-focused considerations from initial design and acquisition through effective use of Air Force resources.

"Integrating energy considerations into Air Force operations is not new," said Ms. Debra Walker, currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Logistics and Environment. "While we have recently developed overarching policy guidance, the Air Force Energy Plan provides us with a foundational, comprehensive plan from which to execute programs."

The plan is written in "...plain English. It explains installation energy requirements, goals and targets," said Ms. Walker. "But these requirements, goals and targets are part of a larger plan that includes acquisition and technology, changing the culture and how we train and indoctrinate people about considering energy in their duties and other matters. It also strongly considers aviation operations."

Colonel Suzanne Johnson, Chief of Policy and Planning, worked on the plan for more than two years. The final product is laid out in four sections: The core document, which gives an overview, and three appendices: Aviation Operations, Infrastructure, and Acquisition.

The desired effect will be achieved through a three-part strategy, which can be applied to any functional area: (1) reduce demand, (2) increase supply--through a variety of alternative and renewable types of energy, and (3) change the culture.

"We are proud of the energy initiatives already implemented by the Air Force," Ms. Walker said. "But this gets an actual, institutionalized, long-range energy plan into 2035. Otherwise, we have no unity of purpose, no unity of effort."

The Air Force Energy Plan was signed by Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley.

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4-Star Gen. McCaffrey, Back From Afghanistan, Offers Comprehensive Report and Strategy

2009-12-08T08:36:00.002-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Four Star-Gen. Barry McCaffrey (Ret), a former Gulf War commander, SouthCom Commander, and U.S. National Drug Policy Director, now Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at West Point, has issued a comprehensive assessment, report, and recommendations on the situation in Afghanistan following a week long-visit.

During his mission, conducted for the U.S. Military Academy, McCaffrey toured the region and met with senior military officials including General David Petraeus and General Stanley McChrystal, attended a Joint Command briefing, met with the ISAF Strategic Advisory Board, top Afghanistan officials, U.S. diplomats including Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, and law enforcement officials.

For the full report, see: http://www.mccaffreyassociates.com/pdfs/AAR_november_2009.pdf .

Among Gen. McCaffrey's findings:

* The President's strategy speech at West Point was "coherent, logical, and sincere."

* A successful strategy will require three to ten years "to build a viable Afghan state with their own security force that can allow us to withdraw. We are likely to suffer thousands more U.S. casualties."

* One of the most important concerns is the stability of Pakistan.

* "We are vulnerable in our Afghanistan operation.... There is little question that Pakistan offers de facto sanctuary to the Taliban.... The Pakistani Army is fighting their own Taliban for the future of the nation."

* "The Taliban believe they are winning in Afghanistan. The Taliban now have a serious presence in 160 districts of 364 -- up from 30 in 2003. In July alone they employed 828 IED attacks. We should expect 5700 IED attacks by year's end 2009."

* "The Afghan National Army is a growing success story," but "the Afghan National police are badly equipped, corrupt (7300 fired in last two years), and untrained." Even with U.S. DOD taking charge of the program, "it will take a decade to create an Afghan National Police Force with adequate integrity."

* While the U.S. prison commander establishes proper values and meets each day with senior detainees to hear their views, "the nation's 34 provincial prisons and 203 detention centers are appalling. Prisoners are consistently subject to torture and police frequently rape female and male detainees."

* The Taliban enforce a parallel system of justice involving hangings, torture, beheadings and beatings."

* "Afghanistan now has hope" despite its problems. Access to basic health care has rocketed from 8% in 2001 to 79%, 83% of children are immunized, TB deaths are down 50%, and seven million children including three million girls are in school - up from one million students and zero girls during the Taliban rule.

THE DRUG ISSUE:

* "The $3.4 billion opium crop produces weapons and supplies for the Taliban and al Qaeda. Left unaddressed, the heroin menace will defeat our strategic goals. Afghanistan produces 93% of the global supply of heroin."

"The current notion that we can ignore the growers as simple farmers and focus our counter-drug strategy on law enforcement against the cartels is painfully naive."

"The solution is three pronged. First, work on alternative livelihood agricultural crops. Second, have the Afghan political leadership confront the opium issue as un-Islamic and one that destroys their culture. Third, destroy the crops. Without the last, nothing will work."

SUMMARY:
We can achieve our objectives in the coming five years:

* Create an Afghan security force;

* Create governance from the bottom up;

* Mitigate the corruption by having a parallel chain of financial custody until the Afghan government is operating unlike an active criminal enterprise."

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New Research Examines Military Children’s Experience When Their Parents Deploy

2009-12-08T07:02:00.002-05:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the largest study to date looking at the emotional well-being of military children, there is now scientific confirmation to many anecdotal reports of the impact of a parent’s deployment on the well-being of a child. The results, published today in the journal Pediatrics, are the first findings of a large-scale, cross-Service and cross-component research study on military children.

The National Military Family Association commissioned the RAND Corporation to follow military children for 12 months, summer 2008 through summer 2009, surveying them and their parent or caregiver on three occasions to answer two key questions: how are school-age military children faring and what types of issues do military children face related to deployment? The baseline findings released today set the stage for results from the follow-up surveys to be reported in subsequent studies.

Study results are consistent across Service branches:

* As the months of parental deployment increased so did the child’s challenges. The total number of months away mattered more than the number of deployments.
* Older children experienced more difficulties during deployment.
* There is a direct correlation between the mental health of the caregiver and the well-being of the child.
* Girls experienced more difficulty during reintegration, the period of months readjusting after the service member’s homecoming.
* About one-third of the children reported symptoms of anxiety, which is somewhat higher than the percentage reported in other studies of children.

“These findings back up what we have been hearing from parents about the impacts of parental deployments on children,” said National Military Family Association Executive Director Joyce Raezer. “While military families are determined to stay strong and healthy, our Nation has been at war for nearly eight years now. We owe it to military families to better understand and address the challenges they are facing now, and may be facing later. Commissioning this research is the first step in doing that.”

Families with a child between the ages of 11 and 17 who applied to the National Military Family Association’s 2008 Operation Purple® Summer Camp program were invited to participate in the survey. Among the 1,507 parent and child sets surveyed (3,014 total participants), 57 percent of the children were from Army families, 20 percent had a parent in the Air Force, 17 percent were Navy families, and the remainder had parents in the Marine Corps or Coast Guard. About 63 percent of the parents were in the active component, with the rest in the National Guard or Reserve.

The study found no significant differences among children based on the Service branch of the parent or whether they were a part of the active or reserve component of the military. Ninety-five percent of children had experienced at least one parental deployment in the three years prior to the study, and nearly 40 percent were going through a deployment at the time of the interview. The study’s participation rate was 97% indicating the importance families place on the need for this research.

What does this mean for military families? This study presents clear evidence that many families are still experiencing stress. There are many good programs from both military and private organizations that support military children and military families; however, quality and outreach are inconsistent, some programs are redundant, and needs remain to be filled. Current programs were created with the best information available at the time. Now that new research-based information is available, the National Military Family Association is calling on all organizations — including the Department of Defense — to use these findings to assess their current offerings.

The Association wants to see best practices replicated and greater targeted support when and where most needed. Because the total months of separation matters to children’s well-being, support programs must continue to be available for families facing their second, third, and fourth deployments. These families need support programs and their community as much as, or more than, those saying goodbye for the first time.

What is next? The National Military Family Association is gathering key nonprofit, military, corporate, education, community, faith-based, and research leaders to form an expert task force and lead a national conversation on the needs of military children and families. In May 2010, the task force will present a plan to address both the immediate and long-term research implications. The task force working groups will focus on the following goals: building resiliency in youth, addressing the needs of girls, engaging communities to support military families, investing in military spouses, and improving the mental health of caregivers and kids.

“Our 40 years of service have made us a trusted resource for families and the Nation’s leaders and we are uniquely qualified to lead the search for solutions, focused on building on best practices and creating partnerships,” Raezer added.

Families and caring adults in military kids’ lives can visit, www.MilitaryFamily.org, for a list of ways to support military families or download the “10 Things Military Teens Want You to Know” toolkit. Also, a link to a downloadable copy of the complete Pediatrics article about the study can be found at www.MilitaryFamily.org/study.

The research project was made possible through grants to the National Military Family Association from the Robertson Foundation, the Sierra Club and Sierra Club Foundation.

The study was jointly conducted by RAND Health, a division of the nonprofit RAND Corporation, and the RAND National Security Research Division.

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Hughes Expands High-Speed Satellite Internet Access for U.S. Troops in Middle East and Central Asia

2009-12-07T08:40:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced that it has expanded provision of high-speed satellite Internet access for U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Available at U.S. military bases, the broadband Internet service is being delivered via the company's new operations hub in Dubai, enabling troops to stay in touch with family and friends at home, including sending photos and videos, connecting over social networking sites and making VoIP telephone calls.

"Hughes is proud to provide high-speed Internet service to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, reinforcing the military's Morale, Welfare & Recreation [MWR] efforts in the region," said Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of Hughes Defense and Intelligence Systems Division. "Staying connected with spouses, children, extended family, and friends is essential for our troops' morale, especially as they often are deployed overseas for a year or more."

Payam Herischi, senior director of Hughes Global Services added, "Hughes has been providing broadband satellite terminals throughout the region since 2003, and the additional bandwidth and resources from our new Dubai-based hub now enables us to connect even more men and women of the military with their loved ones at home while they serve our country overseas."

Hughes high-speed satellite internet service is available at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, with local installation and logistics support provided by partner companies in the region. For more information on internet service for our troops, visit www.hughesglobalservices.com/mwr.html or email hughes-mwr@hughes.com.

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VA to Survey Veteran Households

2009-12-03T15:39:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a national survey of Veterans, active duty service members, activated National Guard and reserve members, and family members and survivors to learn if they are aware of VA services.

"By hearing directly from Veterans and their family members, we gain valuable information to help us serve them better. We hope those who receive the survey will respond to it," Secretary Shinseki said.

In addition to assessing awareness levels, the National Survey of Veterans will collect important health care, benefits, employment, and demographic information that VA will use to inform policy decisions and improve benefits. Recognizing a broader client base than just Veterans, this is the first time VA has included others, such as Veteran family members, in its survey population.

VA is mailing out survey "screeners" to more than 130,000 households to identify potential survey participants. The screener asks if anyone in the household is a member of one of the identified survey groups -- Veterans, family members and survivors, active duty, Guard or Reserve members. Eligible survey participants then may be requested to participate in a full-length survey.

Participants will be able to select a preferred survey method: through U.S. mail, telephone or a password-protected Internet address. VA expects approximately 10,000 Veterans to complete the full-length survey.

This is the sixth VA National Survey of Veterans since 1978. The information collected will help VA in its efforts to design and conduct outreach to Veterans. In addition, it will provide a clearer picture of the Veteran population's characteristics to help evaluate existing programs and policies and measure their impact.

The data collection is expected to be finished by the end of February and the final report released by December 2010.

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Supreme Court Supports Veteran PTSD Defenses

2009-12-03T14:24:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the sentencing decision of a Korean War Veteran convicted of murder should have taken into consideration Post Traumatic Stress he incurred during the war.

This decision comes after a recent jury decision in Oregon where Jesse Bratcher, an Iraqi War Veteran on trial for murder, was found insane due to PTSD. This was the first U.S. murder case where combat PTSD influenced a jury's verdict.

"These recent legal decisions," said National Veterans Foundation (NVF) President Shad Meshad, "are very significant as more Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans, with no prior history of criminal behavior, are coming home to inadequate transitional services, and are ending up in jail, accused of crimes."

"The Supreme Court decision basically says that attorneys of clients facing the death penalty must present evidence of PTSD from military service in their defense," said Meshad.

Meshad consulted on the defense of the Bratcher and on a new book--Veterans in the Justice System: a manual for the legal professional. D.C. Press will publish the book, co-authored by William Brown PhD, next May.

Meshad began assisting Vietnam Veterans who were getting into legal trouble in the seventies. "I see so many of the same patterns repeating," said Meshad. "War experiences and a lack of help transitioning to civilian life ended with many Vietnam Veterans in jail. Soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan have more resources and more support from the public, but it is still not enough. I fear we are going to see many more of these cases popping up all over the country."

Meshad is one of the nation's leading experts on PTSD treatment. A licensed therapist who began working with soldiers as Psych Officer in the Vietnam War, Meshad Founded the National Veterans Foundation in 1985 to provide crisis counseling and transitional resources to soldiers and Veterans.

The National Veterans Foundation launches a new Web page today as a resource to Veterans who are in need of legal assistance at www.nvflegal.org. NFV will include links to organizations and attorneys who specialize in defending former soldiers, frequently asked questions, news about Veteran legal cases, information about representation on claims appeal, email legal advice, pro-bono representation and other resources.

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