| tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29568269 RSS FEED | Al-Qaida Remains Dangerous, Mullen Says
8.12.2009 22:23:0 +0000
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - Al-Qaida remains a danger, and the area along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan is the epicenter of global Islamic extremism, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Foreign Press Center here today. Mullen reiterated to foreign journalists that he fully concurs with President Barack Obama's decision to send another 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
"It is my belief, and that of the commanders, that this surge gives General McChrystal all the forces he needs in 2010 to reverse the momentum of what I have described as a growing and increasingly lethal insurgency," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal commands U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan.
The border area was where al-Qaida planned the 9/11 attacks, Mullen noted. "Should we be hit again, I'm convinced the planning, training, financing and leadership will emanate from there," he said. "That is why we are so focused on it. That's why we believe this mission is in our national security interests and those of our allies and friends."
Mullen returned yesterday from visiting soldiers and Marines at Fort Campbell, Ky., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., who soon will deploy to Afghanistan.
"I thanked them for their service, and I told them that their mission to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida and to degrade the Taliban's influence and to prevent Afghanistan or Pakistan from becoming safe havens is not merely about killing or capturing the enemy," he said. "It is also about protecting the Afghan people."
The troops must earn the Afghan people's trust and learn their culture. The mission is all about providing breathing space to build the Afghan security forces so they can protect their own people and stabilize their own country, the chairman said.
"The president has made it very clear, while our commitment to the people of Afghanistan is enduring, our troop presence will not be," Mullen said.
American forces must work to train Afghan forces so they can provide their own security while creating breathing space so good governance can take root, Mullen said.
"In July 2011, we will begin the process of transition – of transferring more responsibility to Afghan national security forces and thinning our own lines," the chairman said. "At that time, the Marines we sent last summer in Helmand province will have been at the job for two years. We will know by then if we have been successful."
Winning in Afghanistan is not solely the responsibility of the military – it is not that kind of war, Mullen said. "Success will only come by and through a concerted effort by other agencies and other partners," he said. "Ultimate success will be the cumulative effect of sustained pressure across multiple lines of operations."
The chairman said the effort needs more civilian experts and help from international partners, and he expressed delight that NATO nations have pledged another 7,000 troops to the alliance's effort in Afghanistan. He also said Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government must do its part.
"We need to see efforts on the part of the Karzai government to make good on promised reforms, and to extend the delivery of goods and services all the way down to the district and sub-district levels," the admiral said.
All involved need to realize that the problems are not limited to Afghanistan, and that a regional strategy is needed, America's top military officer said.
"A key part of the president's strategy is to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan and to improve the level of coordination across and within those border regions," Mullen said. "I believe that to the degree we can do this we can certainly help the Pakistanis themselves get at those safe havens."
The chairman praised the Pakistani military for recent operations in South Waziristan. He said that Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani has been true to his word, "and I very much appreciate his leadership.” | McChrystal Calls Afghan Training Crucial to Mission Success
8.12.2009 22:17:0 +0000
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - The training of tens of thousands of additional, capable Afghan soldiers and police is among the crucial tasks necessary to achieving success in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan told Capitol Hill legislators here today. "To pursue our core goal of defeating al-Qaida and preventing their return to Afghanistan, we must disrupt and degrade the Taliban's capacity, deny their access to the Afghan population and strengthen the Afghan security forces," Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
This strategy, he said, requires reversing the current momentum of the Taliban, while creating "the time and space to develop Afghan security and governance capacity."
Many of the 30,000 U.S. forces deployed to Afghanistan in coming months will be employed to combat the Taliban, McChrystal said, while others will assist NATO troops in training up new Afghan soldiers and police.
"We need to significantly increase the Afghan national security forces," he said.
The surge of U.S. forces to Afghanistan will result in a total of about 100,000 troops in country by the end of summer. About 68,000 U.S. troops are now in Afghanistan.
President Barack Obama's revised Afghanistan strategy calls for July 2011 as the start date of a thinning out of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
That date, McChrystal said, serves as "a positive forcing function on our Afghan partners, in reminding them that although we have a long-term commitment, we also have shared responsibility" for maintaining security.
There are now between 180,000 to 190,000 Afghan security forces, McChrystal said, divided between military forces and the police. More Afghan security forces are needed, he noted.
Afghan army trainers are working hard to close the gap. Sixteen new Afghan National Army companies, McChrystal said, are slated to deploy to Helmand province in early winter. More Afghan troops are slated to follow in the spring.
"We are flowing, everything we can build in the Afghan army, into that area," he said.
By the fall of 2010, McChrystal said, there should be about 134,000 Afghan soldiers and just over 100,000 Afghan police.
And, by July 2011, he said, there should be about 300,000 Afghan security forces divided between soldiers and police.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai recognizes the importance of bolstering his country's security forces as well as refining his country's strategic partnership with the United States, said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Karl W. Eikenberry, who accompanied McChrystal at the Senate hearing.
A strategic partnership with Afghanistan, Eikenberry explained, would, among other things, be reflective and cognizant of Afghanistan's long-term security needs. | Forces Kill Militants, Detain Suspects
8.12.2009 20:44:0 +0000
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - Combined Afghan and international forces killed seven militants and detained several suspected insurgents in operations today in Afghanistan. A combined force killed seven militants and detained four others in Laghman province while pursuing a Taliban bomb maker responsible for several suicide attacks in the region.
"We are aware of civilian casualty allegations, however there are no operational reports to substantiate those claims of harming civilians, including women and children, during this operation," said Navy Capt. Jane Campbell, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command spokeswoman.
The force targeted a compound near Armul village in the Mehtar Lam district after intelligence sources reported militant activity. During the operation, the joint force received hostile fire from multiple positions and returned fire. The force searched the compound without further incident and recovered multiple assault rifles.
In another operation today, an Afghan and international security force detained several suspected militants in Kandahar province while pursuing a Taliban commander responsible for several small-arms and homemade-bomb attacks in the area.
The suspects were detained without incident when the force searched compounds near Senjaray in Arghandab district where intelligence sources reported militant activity.
In other operations, international forces provided medical treatment to several civilians who were injured during two insurgent attacks against Afghan and international forces in Paktia province Dec. 5.
Insurgents aimed a mortar at an international-force installation that hit a bazaar in Chamkani, wounding many civilians. Among the wounded was the son of a local religious leader who was shopping for fruits and vegetables with his father when the mortar exploded near them.
The wounded man was taken to a military medical facility for treatment, where he died of his injuries.
Arrangements were made for the family to return to Chamkani. A hotline and reward have been set up for information leading to the militants responsible for the attack.
(From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news release.) | Afghan Commander Says Pieces in Place for Success
8.12.2009 19:19:0 +0000
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - The core goal of American forces in Afghanistan is to defeat al-Qaida and disrupt and degrade the Taliban, the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan told Congress today. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal said he is fully behind President Barack Obama's decision to send 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan to reverse the Taliban's momentum and create time and space to develop Afghan security and governance capacity.
McChrystal, who has been in command in Kabul for six months, participated fully in Obama's strategy review. "Combined with insights and policy considerations from across our government, I believe the decisions that came from that process reflect a realistic and effective approach," he said.
The general reminded the representatives that Afghanistan is a complex environment. "I first deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, and have commanded forces there every year since," he said. "Despite that experience, there is much in Afghanistan that I have yet to fully understand."
Afghanistan is a challenge that is best approached with a balance of determination and humility, he said. "While U.S. forces have been at war in Afghanistan for eight years, the Afghans have been at it for more than 30," he said. "They are frustrated with international efforts that fail to meet their expectations, confronting us with a crisis of confidence among Afghans, who view the international effort as insufficient and their government as corrupt or, at the very least, inconsequential."
The insurgency is complex and resilient, too, he said. The Afghan Taliban are the prominent threat to the government of Afghanistan, aspiring to govern the country again. The Haqqani network and the Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin are extremist insurgency groups with more limited geographical reach and objectives, "but they are no less lethal," McChrystal said.
All three groups have ties and receive support from elements in Iran and Pakistan. They have ties with al-Qaida and coexist with criminal networks, both fueling and feeding off instability and insecurity in the region. "The mission in Afghanistan is undeniably difficult, and success will require steadfast commitment and incur significant costs," he said.
Obama's decision, announced Dec. 1 in a speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., recognizes that the next 18 months will "likely be decisive and ultimately enable success," the general said.
"The president also reiterated how this decision supports our national interests," he added. "Rolling back the Taliban is a prerequisite to the ultimate defeat of al-Qaida. The mission is not only important; it is also achievable. We can and will accomplish this mission."
McChrystal said that while conditions in Afghanistan have deteriorated, it is still possible to win against al-Qaida and the Taliban. The Afghans themselves are resolved to end the conflict, he said, and the Taliban are not popular with the people. "The Taliban have no widespread constituency, have a history of failure in power and lack an appealing vision," the general said.
Also where the counterinsurgency strategy has been applied, real gains in security and more credible governance have followed, he noted. "Finally, Afghans do not regard us as occupiers," the general said. "They do not wish for us to remain forever, yet they see our support as a necessary bridge to future security and stability."
McChrystal said the strategy review has imbued the effort in Afghanistan with "a greater sense of clarity, capability, commitment and confidence."
The strategy review questioned all assumptions about the fight in Afghanistan and produced greater clarity on the way forward. Additional forces already are beginning to flow into Afghanistan, with a reinforced Marine battalion deploying now.
"By this time next year, new security gains will be illuminated by specific indicators and will be clear to us that the insurgency has lost the momentum," McChrystal said. "And by the summer of 2011, it will be clear to the Afghan people that the insurgency will not win, giving them the chance to side with their government."
From July 2011, American and NATO forces will play a supporting role as Afghan security forces consolidate and solidify their gains. "Results may come more quickly, and we may demonstrate progress towards measurable objectives, but the sober fact is that there are no silver bullets," McChrystal said. "Ultimate success will be the cumulative effect of sustained pressure across multiple lines of operation."
The 30,000-troop commitment will increase capability in Afghanistan, but more is already being done by a change in approach. "For the past six months, we have been implementing organizational and operational changes that are already reflecting improvements in our effectiveness," he said.
The increased forces will allow faster training of Afghan security forces. The 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division – whose deployment was announced yesterday – has a training mission. Other U.S. forces will partner with Afghan army and police and expand security zones in key areas to reverse insurgent momentum and deny the Taliban the access to the population they require to survive, the general said.
"The additional capability we are building translates into credibility in the minds of Afghans, who demand proof not only that we want to protect them, but that we can," McChrystal said. "In a war of perceptions where the battlefield is the mind of an Afghan elder, the hope of an Afghan mother, the aspirations of an Afghan child, this can be decisive."
U.S. commitment is watched intently and constantly by allies and enemies. The United States walked away from Afghanistan after the Soviets left in 1989. "The commitment of 30,000 additional U.S. forces, along with additional coalition forces and growing Afghan national security force numbers, will be a significant step toward expanding security in critical areas and in demonstrating resolve," McChrystal said.
There are other challenges including corruption in the Afghan national government. McChrystal called this the "Afghan government's credibility deficit." He said this must be recognized by Afghan officials as a critical area of focus and change.
"Equally important is our ability to accelerate development of the Afghan security forces," he added. "Measures such as increased pay and initiatives, literacy training, leader development and expanded partnering are necessary to position the Afghan national security force to assume responsibility for long-term security."
Because extremists operate on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, enhanced coordination and cooperation with the Pakistani government and military are essential the general told the panel.
McChrystal said he is confident that the right strategy and resources are in place.
"Every trip around Afghanistan reinforces my confidence in the coalition and Afghan forces we stand alongside in this effort," he said. "But I also find confidence in those we are trying to help. That confidence is found where an Afghan farmer chooses to harvest wheat rather than poppy, or where a young adult casts his or her vote or joins the police, or where a group of villagers resolves to reject the local insurgency.
"We face many challenges in Afghanistan," he continued, "but our efforts sustain by one unassailable reality: neither the Afghan people nor the international community want Afghanistan to remain a sanctuary for terror and violence." | U.S., Iraqi Forces Capture 5 After Balad Attack
8.12.2009 19:18:0 +0000
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - U.S. forces today assisted Iraqi security forces in arresting five people after an indirect-fire attack on Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Pilots of AH-64 Apache helicopters responding to the mid-morning attack saw five people burying an improvised launch-rail system at the attack site. U.S. forces on the ground questioned and held them until local police arrived and arrested them on charges of suspected terrorism.
"What we've seen recently is irreconcilable criminals using these rail systems to launch rockets at the base," said Army Lt. Col. Patrick Cooley, Task Force Marne operations chief. "The rockets are wildly inaccurate, so it's a matter of safety for the people who live near the base. It's good to see the [Iraqi police] stopping these guys."
Another aspect to recovering this rail system is the effect it will have on future attacks.
"By taking this rail out of the enemy's hands, it will degrade his ability to launch future attacks, and it lets them know we are aggressively pursuing them with all available means," said Army Col. Jeff Finley, Task Force Marne effects coordinator.
There were no casualties or damage to equipment from the attack. Iraqi security forces are leading the investigation.
In other news from Iraq, U.S. forces advised the Baqubah Regional Commando Battalion in carrying out warrants for the arrest of five suspected terrorists in Diyala province Dec. 5.
The men are suspected of kidnapping, smuggling lethal weapons, conducting bomb attacks and extorting local people.
They are linked to Harith Sadun Dawud al-Rubayi, who was arrested in November for suspicion of murder, kidnapping and bombing attacks against civilians and Iraqi forces. The regional commando battalion arrested the men in their homes and collected evidence, including weapons and sensitive materials.
(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.) | Odierno Cites Iraq's 'Deliberate, Steady Progress'
8.12.2009 18:31:0 +0000
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - On the eve of holding parliamentary elections early next year, Iraq continues to make steady progress as a sovereign country that is a valued U.S. ally in the Middle East, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said in Killeen, Texas, yesterday. "Today, Iraq is a nascent democracy that is rebuilding its strategic depth as a regional power in the Middle East," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said at an Association of the United States Army-sponsored event held in the city that hosts the Fort Hood Army base.
Iraq also remains of vital interest to the United States, Odierno said, noting its strategic location makes it "a crucial link" between America's allies along the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea.
"Over the past several years, we have continued to make deliberate and steady progress in Iraq," Odierno said. Current levels of violence in Iraq, he said, are at the lowest point since 2003.
2009 "has been another transformative year for the Iraqi people," Odierno said, as Iraqis prepare to hold parliamentary elections in January.
"As I travel around Iraq, I can sense a feeling of great anticipation for these elections and the hope for continued progress," Odierno said. "We are witnessing the principles of democracy take hold in Iraq as Iraqis establish the foundations of their own representative government in accordance with their own constitution."
Iraqis, like Americans, desire a better future for their families -- especially for their children, Odierno said.
Iraq's citizens, the general added, also recognize that "the ability to vote in credible and legitimate elections is a significant step in choosing leaders who will make the right choices which will allow Iraq to move forward."
Meanwhile, Iraq slowly is re-establishing diplomatic, economic and security relationships with its Middle East neighbors, Odierno said, and has formalized its partnership with the United States through agreements that were signed about a year ago.
The strategic framework agreement established principles of U.S.-Iraqi cooperation in the realms of politics, defense, diplomacy, security, culture, economics, energy, health and environment, law enforcement and judiciary functions and information technology and communications.
The 30-article status-of-forces agreement acknowledges that the U.S. troop presence in Iraq is temporary and at the request of the sovereign Iraqi government. Article 24 requires U.S. forces to withdraw from all Iraqi territory no later than Dec. 31, 2011.
Under the terms of the agreement, U.S. combat forces withdrew from Iraqi municipalities and villages on June 30.
"The security agreement fundamentally altered how we conduct operations in Iraq, clearly putting Iraqi forces in the lead," Odierno said. "All military operations were conducted by, with and through the Iraqi security forces, according to their rule of law -- their rule of law established by their constitution."
These agreements, he said, established the foundation for a comprehensive strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States. The pact, he added, recognizes Iraqi sovereignty and demonstrates "America's continued commitment to Iraq, its people and overall stability of the region."
The security agreement recognized the progress that had been made in Iraq, Odierno said, including the increased capability of Iraqi security forces. As Iraqi security forces took the lead, he said, U.S. and coalition forces were able to maintain operational momentum against violent extremist networks bent on halting progress in Iraq.
Today, the Iraqis are well on their way toward assuming full responsibility for their security, Odierno said.
"The Iraqis wanted the responsibility, and they have demonstrated that they are capable," he said. Overall security incidents in Iraq have decreased by 83 percent over the past two years, he said, while U.S. military deaths have decreased by more than 90 percent.
Improvised-explosive-device attacks in Iraq have decreased nearly 80 percent during the same time, Odierno said, noting car bombings and suicide-vest attacks decreased by 92 percent.
This November featured the lowest monthly number of incidents and civilian deaths in Iraq on record since the war began in 2003, Odierno said.
Meanwhile, the still-dangerous al-Qaida in Iraq terrorist network has been degraded, Odierno said, noting its foreign component has dwindled to a few individuals and its funding has been reduced by 50 percent.
Al-Qaida in Iraq now is forced to protect its leaders, Odierno said, while husbanding its reduced resources to focus on making periodic spectacular attacks.
And though al-Qaida cannot terrorize Iraqi citizens on a consistent basis, Odierno said, the group still can mount high-profile bombings, such as today's multiple attacks near Iraqi government sites in Baghdad. Today's bombings followed similar terror attacks that occurred in October and August.
The recent Iraq terror bombings represent "an attempt to undermine public faith and confidence in the new government," Odierno said. These attacks fail, he said, because they only serve to harden Iraqi resolve against al-Qaida in Iraq and terrorism.
"The Iraqis know that holding credible and legitimate national elections, followed by a peaceful transition of power, are the strongest possible responses to any terrorist or insurgent network that wishes to use violence" as a means of sabotaging Iraq's progress, Odierno said. | Gates Meets With Karzai, Other Afghan Leaders
8.12.2009 17:55:0 +0000
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here today, the first senior U.S. official to visit with Afghan President Hamid Karzai since President Barack Obama's announcement last week of his new strategy for Afghanistan. Gates was slated to kick off his visit with a one-on-one session with Karzai to discuss Obama's decision and how the United States and its allies plan to implement it as they partner with Afghan national security forces, he told reporters during the flight here.
The discussion will be Gates' first with Karzai since the president's announcement, he said. He talked briefly with Afghan Defense Minister Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak the night before Obama's address.
Another major message will be the importance of a long-term relationship among the U.S. military, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and the Afghan national security forces, he said.
The United States will work to reduce its forces, over time, as the security situation improves, Gates said. At that point, its relationship with Afghanistan will focus more heavily on civilian developmental and economic areas, more reflective of its relationships with other countries around the world, he added.
"But we intend to be their partner for a long time to come," he said, vowing not to abandon Afghanistan. "We are not going to repeat the experience of 1989," he said, referring to the United States walking away from involvement with Afghanistan when the Soviet Union ended its occupation.
Gates said he'll emphasize during his talks here the importance of "capable, honest ministers" in Afghanistan, particularly within the Defense and Interior ministries, which have a direct link to the success of U.S. and partner-nation operations here.
Expressing confidence in Wardak and in Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Akmar, Gates shared Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's view that the Afghan government is getting an unfairly critical assessment from some corners.
"There is a tendency to paint this government with too broad a brush," he said. "The fact is, there are competent, capable, honest ministers and there are capable, competent and honest governors. And we just need to encourage that."
During his visit here, Gates said he'll ask the Afghan leaders about prospects for increasing the retention and recruitment of Afghan national security forces, and stepping up the U.S. and partner countries' training partnerships with them.
He called it an "eye opener" to learn during last week's congressional hearings that the Taliban pay more than the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police.
"So raising the pay of police, and putting in place a number of additional incentives and bonuses ... for the Army, such as combat pay ... clearly will help," he said.
Gates cited the need to increase the size of the Afghan National Army to give relief to overtaxed soldiers. Attrition in the Afghan army is highest in the west and north where the combat is heaviest, he noted.
"The reason is, there aren't enough of them, and they basically fight until they die, or they go AWOL, because there is nobody to rotate in behind them so they can get a break," he said. "So [increasing] the numbers, and getting to be in a position where you can rotate some of these Afghan soldiers, I think, will be an important part of the retention piece as well," he said. | Gates: NATO Steps Up, Pakistan Makes Strides
8.12.2009 17:47:0 +0000
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - NATO's commitment of 7,000 additional troops for the International Security Assistance Force it leads in Afghanistan comes as a pleasant surprise to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, who calls it a sign of the alliance's renewed commitment there. "Frankly, my hope was that we could get 5,000, so a commitment for [7,000] was better than I expected," Gates told reporters traveling with him on the way here today. "And from what I am hearing coming out of the NATO meeting is that the commitments may go higher than that." NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels, Belgium, last week, and a force-generation conference at the alliance's military headquarters ended yesterday.
More countries are expected to come forward with more troops, Gates said, but need to wait until elections take place in their countries, or until after the January NATO conference being set up in London to discuss the matter.
Gates cited a big change in NATO's attitude, but said he can't pinpoint whether it's linked to the new U.S. administration, his own personal approach or another factor.
"Since spring, I have been surprised by the change of tone on the part of our allies," he said. He noted that Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has seen a similar shift as more military leaders express a willingness to send additional forces to support NATO's effort in Afghanistan.
"There has been a ... realization of the importance of being successful in Afghanistan, of the consequences to the alliance of not being successful, and just a greater sense of commitment to this thing," Gates said.
Gates had pressed his NATO counterparts during an October conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, to provide more troops for the mission. Since then, he said, he's had many telephone conversations with them about the matter, and hosted several defense ministers at the Pentagon in the lead-up to President Barack Obama's decision to deploy an additional 30,000 U.S. troops.
The result, he said, appears to have paid off.
Meanwhile, Gates reaffirmed continued U.S. support to Pakistan as it fights terrorism on its side of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
"The key thing to remember about the relationship with Pakistan is, it's Pakistan's foot on the accelerator," he said. "And we are prepared to move ahead with that relationship and cooperation just as fast as they are prepared to accept it."
Gates said he's impressed by the progress Pakistani troops are making.
"The Pakistanis have done so much more than any of us would have expected or believed a year or a year and a half ago," he said. "They are taking some serious casualties. They are in a serious fight. And they have all the support from us we can give." | FEMA HIGHLIGHTS HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT INCREASE PREPAREDNESS
8.12.2009 17:46:0 +0000
This year Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has assembled a list of gift ideas for the holidays to help keep your family and friends prepared. Emergencies can happen at any moment; these gifts can serve as a great starting point to ensure that your friends and family have an emergency communications plan, a disaster supply kit, and stay informed about emergencies in their area.
“Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere and the holiday season provides a great opportunity to ensure that you and your loved ones are taking simple steps to be prepared,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “As families gather this holiday season, I encourage everyone to take a few minutes and discuss what you would do in case of an emergency or disaster. The public is the most important member of our nation’s emergency response team and the more the public does to be prepared, the more successful this team will be.”
The most important thing any individual can do is take a few minutes to discuss with their family, friends and loved ones what they will do in the case of an emergency or disaster. This includes developing a simple family communications plan and identifying how you would get in touch with loved ones and where you might meet if you are separated when an emergency or disaster takes place.
Additionally, there are simple supplies that can go a long way in the case of an emergency or disaster that would make great gifts this holiday season.
A list of possible gifts that may assist in disasters includes:
· Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits; food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours; i.e., extra clothing, blankets, and flashlights).
· NOAA weather radios with extra batteries.
· Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
· Smoke detectors.
· Fire extinguishers (for kitchen, garage, car, etc.)
· Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire.
· Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights and fluorescent distress flags).
· Pet Disaster kits (food, water, leashes, dishes and carrying case or crate).
· Battery powered lamps
This year, consider at least one of these ideas. You just may save the life of a friend or family member. For more information and preparedness tips, please visit www.ready.gov and www.fema.gov. | Secretary Napolitano Announces Grant Guidance for More Than $2.7 Billion in Fiscal Year 2010 Grant Programs
8.12.2009 16:24:0 +0000
December 8, 2009: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the release of fiscal year 2010 grant application guidance kits for 13 DHS grant programs totaling more than $2.7 billion—funds for state, local, tribal and territorial governments and private sector entities to strengthen our nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
“These grants play a major role in our efforts to work with our state, local, tribal and territorial and private sector partners to build a national culture of readiness and resilience,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This year’s guidance focuses on maximizing efficiency and value while prioritizing risk in awarding grants to strengthen our nation’s security.”
The grant program guidance kits announced today also incorporate the input of DHS’ state, local, tribal and territorial and private sector partners and include specific steps undertaken by DHS to improve the ability of state and local partners to apply for and utilize grant funding.
The guidance announced by Secretary Napolitano today has increased tribal funding, reduced administrative paperwork for state and local government and enabled local jurisdictions to use preparedness funding for ongoing maintenance contracts, warranties, repair or replacement costs, upgrades and user fees for equipment purchased with previous DHS grants.
These 13 preparedness grant programs may fund a variety of activities including planning, organization, equipment purchases, training and exercises:
Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)—$1.78 billion targeted for states or urban areas to build capabilities critical to security. HSGP consists of five programs:
State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)—$842 million to build capabilities at the state and local levels to implement the state homeland security goals and objectives identified in the State Preparedness Report. The 9/11 Act requires states to dedicate 25 percent of SHSP funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise and equipment activities.
Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)—$832.5 million to enhance regional preparedness by strengthening capabilities in 64 high-threat, high-density urban areas across the country. The 9/11 Act requires states to dedicate 25 percent of UASI funds to law enforcement terrorism prevention-oriented activities.
Operation Stonegarden (OPSG)—$60 million to enhance law enforcement and border security operations in states that border Canada (including Alaska) or Mexico and states and territories with international water borders.
Metropolitan Medical Response System Program (MMRS)—$39.3 million to enhance and sustain comprehensive regional mass casualty incident response and preparedness capabilities, divided evenly among 124 MMRS jurisdictions.
Citizen Corps Program (CCP)—$12.4 million to engage citizens in community preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery activities.
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)—Up to $10 million available to eligible tribal applicants to help strengthen the United States against risks associated with potential terrorist attacks.
UASI Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)—$19 million to support target-hardening activities at nonprofit organizations at high risk of a terrorist attack.
Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program—$329 million to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities.
Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP)—$48 million to assist governments in carrying out initiatives identified in Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans and improve interoperable emergency communications used to respond to natural disasters and acts of terrorism.
Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP)—$ 33.6 million to enhance catastrophic incident preparedness in high-risk, high-consequence urban areas and their surrounding regions and support coordination of regional all-hazard planning for catastrophic events, including the development of integrated planning communities, plans, protocols and procedures to manage a catastrophic event.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program—$57.6 million to support the construction or renovation of Emergency Operations Centers to improve state, local or tribal emergency management and preparedness capabilities to ensure continuity of operations during disasters.
Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP)—$48 million to increase preparedness capabilities for safeguarding critical infrastructure sites and key resource assets, such as chemical facilities and nuclear power plants, through planning and equipment acquisition.
Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP)—$48 million to help states and territories improve security of state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards in order to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud and enhance the reliability and accuracy of personal identification documents.
Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)—$288 million to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness and strengthen risk management capabilities in order to protect against improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons; conduct training and exercises; and implement the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)—$11.5 million to support security measures including plans, facility security upgrades and vehicle and driver protection for fixed-route intercity and charter bus services.
Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP)—$15 million to protect critical freight rail systems infrastructure from acts of terrorism and major disasters, as well as other emergencies resulting from railroad cars transporting toxic inhalation hazardous materials.
Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak)—$20 million to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies within the Amtrak rail system.
EMPG Program applications are due no later than January 22, 2010. IECGP, FRSGP, PSGP, IPR (Amtrak), IBSGP, EOC, BZPP, and DLSGP applications are due no later than February 12, 2010. Applications for HSGP, THSGP, NSGP, and RCPGP are due no later than April 19, 2010.
The FY 2010 application guidance packages reflect DHS’ strategic priorities, as well as the National Preparedness Guidelines and the National Response Framework.
DHS oversees more than 50 grant and financial assistance programs representing approximately $4 billion in non-disaster grant funding annually to help state, local, tribal and private sector entities strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, protect, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
Further information on preparedness grant programs is available at www.dhs.gov and www.fema.gov/grants. |
| tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37845825 RSS FEED | MILITARY CONTRACTS December 8, 2009
8.12.2009 22:22:0 +0000
MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY
Raytheon Missile Systems Co., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a modification for $159,500,065 under its cost-plus-award-fee contract (HQ0276-08-C-0001), contract line item number (CLIN) 0003. Under this contract modification, Raytheon will continue the Block IIA Standard Missile 3 cooperative development technology development. The work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz. This award extends the existing CLIN 0003 performance period for an additional 10 months to Aug. 31, 2010. The amount obligated on this action is $4,200,000 using fiscal year 2010 Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funds. The Missile Defense Agency is the contracting activity.
ARMY
General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Dec. 7, 2009, a $17,607,407 firm-fixed-price contract for 1 lot of common and long lead components to support the conversion of 15 M1A2 tanks to M1A2S tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Work is to be performed at the Lima Army Tank Plant, Lima, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2012. One bid was solicited and one bid received. U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-10-C-0002).
General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, Mich., was awarded on Dec. 7, 2009, a $14,317,682 cost-no-fee contract for material for the Iraq program to purchase 140 M1A1 Abrams vehicles. Work is to be performed at Lima, Ohio (70 percent); Scranton, Pa. (14 percent); Anniston, Ala. (10 percent); and Tallahassee, Fla. (6 percent), with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2011. One bid was solicited and one bid received. U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command, Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-06-C-0006).
NAVY
Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a $14,592,978 firm-fixed-price contract for air terminal ground handling services at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, and Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. This contract contains one seven-month base period and five one year option periods, which if exercised, bring the total value of the contract to $124,866,662. Work will be performed in Sigonella, Italy (70 percent), and Naples, Italy, (30 percent). Work is expected to be completed by September 2010. Contract funds will expire before the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with five proposals solicited and three offers received. The Naval Regional Contracting Detachment Naples, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Sigonella, Italy, is the contracting activity (N68171-10-C-0004).
BAE Systems San Francisco Ship Repair, San Francisco, Calif., is being awarded a $9,882,035 firm-fixed-price contract for the regular overhaul and dry docking of Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). Work performed will include dry docking the ship, ballast-tank preservation, rudder and propeller inspections, underwater hull preservation and undocking the ship. The ship provides an afloat, mobile, acute-surgical medical facility in support of U.S. deployed forces and also supports U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions worldwide. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $11,222,382. Work will be performed in San Francisco, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Military Sealift Command, Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities Web sites, with one offer received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Fleet Support Command, Norfolk, Va., a field activity of Military Sealift Command, is the contracting activity (N40442-10-C-5000).
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $6,988,148 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity delivery order contract (N00019-07-D-0004) to exercise an option for the VH-60N executive helicopter special progressive aircraft rework aircraft induction. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed in February 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $6,988,148 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.,is the contracting activity.
McDonnell Douglas Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., is being awarded a $6,600,000 not-to-exceed order against a previously issued Basic Ordering Agreement (N00019-05-G-0026) for F/A-18 A-D Service Life Extension Program Phase B+ engineering support services. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Mo. (55 percent), and El Segundo, Calif. (45 percent). Work is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
Cascade General, Inc.*, Portland, Ore., is being awarded a $6,181,068 firm-fixed-price contract for the regular overhaul of Military Sealift Command's USNS Guadalupe. Work performed will include preservation of ballast tanks; ultrasonic gauging; overhaul of a ship's service diesel generator; dry-docking and undocking of the ship; underwater hull preservation; freeboard preservation; and propeller-system maintenance. The ship's primary mission is to deliver petroleum to the Navy's carrier strike groups and other naval forces at sea. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $7,516,743. Work will be performed in Portland, Ore., and work is expected to be completed by March 2010. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Military Sealift Command, Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities web pages, with three offers received. The solicitation was set aside for small business. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Fleet Support Command, Norfolk, Va., a field activity of Military Sealift Command, is the contracting activity (N40442-10-C-1003).
AIR FORCE
Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc., Herndon, Va., was awarded a $10,492,100 contract which will provide for architecture baseline products to support the launch and test range systems. The contract will also provide a risk reduction and capability maturation program to develop and maintain the current and future architectures. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. SMC/LRSW, El Segundo, Calif., is the contracting activity (FA8811-09-C-0006). | Annual Review of the United States Coast Guard's Mission Performance (FY 2008)
8.12.2009 22:7:0 +0000
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by the Homeland Security Act of2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General Act of1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of our oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the department. This report addresses the annual review of the U.S. Coast Guard's mission performance, as required by the Homeland Security Act of2002. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions and a review of applicable documents.
READ THE REPORT
http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_10-17_Nov09.pdf | DoD Hosts Annual Disability Awards Ceremony And Forum
8.12.2009 20:38:0 +0000
The 29th Department of Defense (DoD) Disability Awards ceremony and 22nd DoD Disability Forum was hosted today by Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Plans, Clarence Johnson, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, Md. This annual event provides an overview of DoD disability policy and initiatives, recognizes DoD organizations with outstanding affirmative action programs for people with disabilities, and highlights the accomplishments of DoD employees with disabilities.
"We are very proud of the outstanding achievements by our employees with disabilities," said Johnson, "and the department remains committed to increasing opportunities for their success."
The keynote speaker at the ceremony was Matthew A. Staton, direct advisor and staff assistant to the secretary of the Army on wounded soldier matters. Staton medically retired from the Army in 2007, following two deployments to Iraq with the 8th Infantry Regiment.
The following 14 DoD employees with disabilities received secretary of defense awards for their outstanding contributions to national security:
Noreen S. Ames, Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Julia E. Becker, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Richard F. Chatfield II, Defense Information Systems Agency
Howard G. Drake Jr., National Guard Bureau
Phillip W. Gregg, Defense Commissary Agency
Greg Hare, Department of the Air Force
Michele E. Hill, Defense Contract Audit Agency
Brooke A. Larrabee, Department of the Army
Anthony L. Parish, Defense Contract Management Agency
Margaret R. Posa, Office of the DoD Inspector General
Adam G. Post, Army Air Force Exchange Service
William J. Russell, Department of the Navy
George H. Stevens Jr., Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Delfina D. Zeigler, Defense Logistics Agency
In addition, three DoD components, the Department of the Navy, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, and the Defense Contract Management Agency, received secretary of defense trophies for accomplishments in their affirmative actions programs for people with disabilities during 2009. | NIH, DoD and VA Hold Conference Examining Impact of Military Service on Families and Caregivers
8.12.2009 17:45:0 +0000
The Second Annual Trauma Spectrum Disorders Conference: A Scientific Conference on the Impact of Military Service on Families and Caregivers will focus on the impact of trauma spectrum disorders on military and veteran families and caregivers across deployment, homecoming, and reintegration. The term, trauma spectrum disorders, refers to any injury or illness that occurs as a result of combat or an unexpected traumatic event, and covers a broad range of psychological health and traumatic brain injury issues.
The conference is presented by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other Federal Partners led by the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), several NIH institutes and centers, and HHS agencies.
What: A Scientific Conference on the Impact of Military Service on Families and Caregivers
When: Thursday, December 10, 2009
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Conference
Where: Natcher Conference Center (Building 45), NIH campus, Bethesda, Md.
The conference will examine the needs of families and caregivers in support of military and veterans with TSD, factors related to family functioning and reintegration, and effective approaches that facilitate treatment of trauma disorders and services to families and caregivers. In addition, the conference will focus on gender and health disparities.
Patricia K. Shinseki, wife of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, and a former board member of the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC), will give the keynote address at the conference. She will discuss MCEC's initiative called Living in the New Normal: Helping Children Thrive During Good and Challenging Times.
Participating NIH institutes, centers and offices include: The Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Library of Medicine, and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Visit: http://www.nih.gov/.
In addition, other HHS agencies and offices include: The Office of the Secretary, Administration for Children and Families and Administration on Aging; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Health Resources and Services Administration; Indian Health Service; and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Visit: http://www.hhs.gov/.
For registration and agenda information, visit: http://www.dcoe.health.mil/Training/UpcomingConferences.aspx.
The Department of Veterans Affairs VA Research and Development program is able to foster the development of patient-centered evidence for clinical care decision-making and serves as a model for conducting superior bench-to-bedside research. Research advances and solutions are applied to patient care as rapidly as possible and benefits not only Veterans, but their family members and caregivers. For additional information about the VA Research Program, please visit www.research.va.gov.
The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) mission is to assess, validate, oversee, and facilitate prevention, resilience, identification, treatment, outreach, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs for psychological health and traumatic brain injury to ensure the Department of Defense meets the needs of the nation's military communities, warriors and families. For more information on the DCoE, please visit http://dcoe.health.mil/.
The Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH) serves as a focal point for women's health research at the NIH. For more information about NIH's Office of Research on Women's Health, visit: http://orwh.od.nih.gov/.
The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. | Soldier Seeks to Reclaim Boxing Title
8.12.2009 16:29:0 +0000
 By Army Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
Special to American Forces Press Service
Dec. 8, 2009 - For the woman he loved, he became a paratrooper in the vaunted 82nd Airborne Division and eventually a U.S. citizen. With his enlistment nearly up, 6-foot, 5-inch, 230-pound Army Spc. Wenderson Jangada is ready to return to his home country of Brazil to reclaim the title of heavyweight boxing champion. Jangada deployed to Iraq's Anbar province in August as an infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, a unit whose battle campaign streamers from World War II read like a Stephen Spielberg movie script: Sicily, Anzio, Normandy, and the Ardennes.
It is a fitting unit for a former boxing champion who has fought and trained with boxers from Argentina, Russia, and most of Europe.
"I learn from them all -- some good, some bad. The Russians just want to kill you," he said with a laugh.
Though Jangada's enlistment expires in early 2010, he expects to be extended through late autumn, allowing him to complete the current deployment.
"I will take a couple months off, then I will train to fight again," said the 2001/2002 Transcontinental heavyweight champ. "Perhaps I will take my titles back."
At 34 in the sport of boxing, Jangada is a mature practitioner, though he has friends who have boxed professionally into their 40s. "If the boxing doesn't work out, I will open a gym with my friend Daniel Silva," he said. Jangada is considering Chicago, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Ind., as possible locations.
"I am a better trainer than a boxer," he said. "Training a boxer is a puzzle. It's like building a house. Everyone starts too fast. I started too fast, but I learned."
Jangada began his career as a muay thai fighter in the same Brazilian gym that spawned mixed martial-arts greats Wanderlei and Anderson Silva. But that's not for him, Jangada said.
"Boxing is a noble art. It's a classic. Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali are classics. Besides, I have heavy hands," he said, referring to his 38 knockouts.
Recently promoted from private first class to specialist, Jangada is stationed here, 10 miles from the Syrian border, where paratroopers are partnered with Iraqi border enforcement troops.
In his time off, Jangada coaches his battle buddies in the art of boxing. "They have heart here in the Army, much more than civilians," he said.
Army 1st Lt. Christopher Hollingsworth, Jangada's platoon leader from Ennis, Texas, takes advantage of Jangada's boxing mentorship whenever he can. The former Special Forces operator and medic from 3rd Special Forces Group said he would be stupid not to take advantage of such world-class talent.
"The training he did with such a wide range of top boxers makes him a great instructor," Hollingsworth said. "We are constantly trying to pick his brain."
Noting the great progress Iraqi security forces have made in Anbar province, Jangada said the deployment is quieter than he had expected.
"Infantry is like boxing. We are fighters. We are the war dogs. We expected to find more action, but this is not the case. But then, I am glad to see nobody hurt," he said.
His wife, Susan, a former professional volleyball player, moved back to Indiana to be near family until her husband returns from Iraq.
On the night of Oct. 24, Jangada was manning a guard tower. It was dark and cold, and the pouring rain had turned the "moondust" on the base into deep, sticky gumbo. A soldier brought him a note from the Red Cross. The details: Fergeson Jangada, born Oct. 24 in Bluffington, Ind., 8 pounds, 12.3 ounces, 21 inches, mother and baby doing fine.
Susan likes the Army for the stability and health benefits, said Jangada, who is still considering re-enlistment.
"His top end is unlimited," Hollingsworth said. "If he chooses to stay in the Army, he can do whatever he wants." In the meantime, he has eight months left in the deployment to be the best paratrooper he can be, he said.
"Sometimes we love it; sometimes we hate it, but we can never forget it," Jangada said. "No matter what I do when I get out, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division is something I'm going to bring with me forever."
(Army Spc. Michael J. MacLeod serves in the Multinational Force West public affairs office.) | Yama Sakura 57 Guardsmen experience Japanese culture
8.12.2009 3:59:0 +0000
 By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Shepherd, United States Army,
Pacific Sgt. Gerardo DeAvila, Georgia National Guard
(12/6/09) - Tea ceremonies, paper folding and sword demonstrations aren't usually the first things to come to mind when you think of a command post exercise with one of the U.S. strongest military allies.
Yet, the more than 1,500 troops participating in Yama Sakura 57 had the opportunity to visit Japanese children with special needs and practice the art of calligraphy and origami before the start of this year's exercise.
These events were part of a series of cultural exchanges designed to foster a better understanding of Japanese culture and traditions.
The Northern Army of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the U.S. military's bilateral partner for this year's exercise, planned and executed the cultural series. Each day featured a different event, hosted on the Northern Army's camp on the island of Hokkaido, Japan's most northern island).
One of the first cultural activity offered was a Japanese home visit, which was designed to let U.S. participants experience Japanese home life first hand.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Knight of the Colorado National Guard's 169th Fires Brigade, helped prepare a northern Japanese staple, mochi gome, or sticky rice, during his home visit.
"One of the neater things we got to do was take steamed rice and put it in this big bowl and started pounding on it with a hammer," he said. "Later, (our host's wife) came back with soup and the rice was in it. It was absolutely delicious."
Knight also added that experiencing the home life of an average Japanese family was something he has always wanted to do.
"I've always been intrigued by (East-Asian) culture," he said. "So many ancient traditions that we as Americans don't get to see too often. It was very eye opening to be able to see this in person and actually visit with a Japanese family and see how they live and how they view America."
"I was humbled by this experience and I love the respect and honor I felt being at my host's home," said Spc. Latangia Oliver, 40th Special Troops Battalion, California National Guard. "This is my first trip to Japan and did not know what to expect and felt a little apprehensive, but after tonight I feel right at home."
First Lt. Kyosuke Moriguchi, Northern Army, JGSDF, served as an interpreter during the home visit. He said that he was happy to experience the interaction between the U.S and the family.
"The U.S. military and the host family made a good connection," he added. "I hope the JGSDF and U.S. military make as good a connection (during Yama Sakura)."
Capt. Ryan Mundy, Utah National Guard, learned how to write his name in Japanese during the calligraphy class.
"I am amazed at the beauty and difficulty of writing Japanese," he said. "It's a beautiful language."
Sgt. Lizeth Reyes, of the California National Guard's 40th Infantry Division, participated in a tea ceremony and enjoyed the attention to detail placed on such an important part of Japanese life.
"This has given me a great appreciation in working with my counterparts and I'm glad they made an effort to share their world with me," she said.
Other classes during the week included the Japanese art of flower arranging or kado and the proper wear of a kimono.
For many, the best part of the cultural exchange was the joint U.S.-JGSDF visit to children with special needs. The 29 U.S. and 29 JGSDF troops played wheel chair soccer and had a great time, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Alveno Hodge, command sergeant major, United States Army, Pacific Special Troops Battalion.
"When you come to different countries, you usually only get to see what's on that particular installation during that military operation," he said. "But here, our host, the JGSDF, has done so much for us. They have gone out of their way to make us feel comfortable in their country."
"I saw lots of smiling," said Command Sgt. Maj. Hisanoria Honda, command sergeant major of the Northern Army, JGSDF . "I believe that the U.S. participates will have some good memories to bring home.
More than 1,500 U.S. military personnel and nearly 3,500 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force are conducting the exercise here Dec. 7-13. Yama Sakura, which means "mountain cherry blossom," is an annual, bilateral exercise designed to strengthen military operations and ties between the U.S. Army and the JGSDF.
| New York Guardsmen ready for exercise With Japanese counterparts
8.12.2009 3:57:0 +0000
 (12/4/09) - About 120 New York Army National Guard Soldiers arrived here between Dec. 1-4 for Yama Sakura 57, the bilateral command post training exercise with members of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces.
The Soldiers will now establish the division headquarters command post and communications infrastructure to support the full spectrum battle simulation exercise next week. The troops acclimated quickly to Northern Japan\'s cold climate. With temperatures and a wind chill reaching down to the lower teens, most of the New York Army National Guard Soldiers left autumn at home much warmer than the environment on Hokkaido.
They will conduct a joint exercise with the Japanese Northern Army's 2nd Division.
Ten of the division's Soldiers already received a warm welcome as part of the cultural exchange program for Yama Sakura.
The New York Soldiers were received at the homes of Japanese army troops volunteering to open their homes, their families and their culture to the New York Army National Guardsmen.
Yama Sakura 57 involves a military-to-military exchange to better prepare both forces for full spectrum conflict and train Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces for their homeland defense mission.
The command post exercise, scheduled for Dec. 8-13, involves a notional battle to defend Japanese sovereignty. It is one of the U.S. Army's largest such training events for high intensity, or full spectrum, conflict.
"About 60 percent of our effort here is just the military to military relationships and cultural exchange with our Japanese partners," Command Sgt. Major John Willsey said.
Willsey, from the 42d Special Troops Battalion, supervises the Soldier care and life support issues for the deployed troops. "The other forty percent of our effort is the exercise itself," he said. "Training with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces is an exchange of techniques and lessons learned that make both our forces better at what we do."
This is the second time this year that New York Army National Guard Soldiers have trained in Japan with the Japan Ground Self Defense Defense Force. In October, 200 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard, most from the famed "Fighting 69th" the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, took part in Operation Orient Shield. Those Soldiers trained with Japanese infantrymen at Camp Imazu, Japan. | Virginia Guard Soldiers part of new Kosovo task force
8.12.2009 3:55:0 +0000
 The battalion is responsible for conducting scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on U.S. aircraft in the country during KFOR 12, said Capt. Michael H. Gregory, commander of the unit.
“The elections just took place which not only was a milestone for the people of Kosovo but set the stage for further stabilization in the region,” Gregory said. “Our mission is to assist in the implementation of UNSCR 1244 pending a final settlement in Kosovo and I think that we are starting to see more signs of that.”
"This is a very beautiful country and the local populace is very supportive of our mission," said Staff Sgt. Danny J. Conwell.
"The Kosovars have immediately befriended us and made every effort to show their gratefulness for our service with kindness and warmth," said Sgt. 1st Class Jorge L. RiveraDiaz.
"The journey here was easy and the transition from KFOR 11 to KFOR 12 was smooth," said Spc. Robert V. Burkhead. “Task Force Arctic Eagle, the KFOR 11 Aviation Task Force, was from Alaska and gave us a quality mission hand off setting us up for success.”
Many of the Soldiers from Virginia, Kentucky and South Carolina that now make up Det. 2, Co. B, 777th ASB (AVUM) have made friends with Soldiers from other parts of the United States, Gregory said.
Brig. Gen. Alan S. Dohrmann of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade of the North Dakota National Guard and the Soldiers who make up his task force, accepted responsibility of MNTF-E from Brig. Gen. Keith D. Jones, 40th Infantry Division (Forward), of the California National Guard, and the Soldiers under his command.
"We've trained very hard for this mission, really, for more than 18 months now," Dohrmann said. We're all ready for the mission; I know the Soldiers are excited to get things started with the mission, and I'm very excited to get things started too."
More than 1,300 Soldiers comprise Task Force Falcon, the U.S. contingent of MNTF-E. Though its headquarters is based out of North Dakota, units that make up the task force come from 14 states and territories: Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, Hawaii, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Michigan, Utah, and the Virgin Islands. In all, 37 states have Soldiers represented.
Nearly 2,200 Soldiers from several NATO countries, including the U.S., make up the total MNTF-E force.
Stretching along Kosovo's eastern Administrative Boundary Line, MNTF-E is one of five sectors, where NATO peacekeeping forces conduct patrols and engage with people and institutions.
The incoming KFOR 12 Soldiers started arriving in Kosovo in late October. | Louisiana Guardsmen take on undefeated Saints
8.12.2009 3:26:0 +0000
By Sgt. Michael L. Owens
Louisiana National Guard
The Guardsmen and players were part of the "Pros vs. G.I. Joes" event, playing each other in games, such as "Call of Duty" and "Guitar Hero."
"We know that the troops work hard to protect us and our country, so we have events like this to say thank you and show our appreciation," said Addie Zinone, co-founder of the event and member of the Army Reserve.
The Saints were happy to be there and show their off-the-field skills to the Guardsmen after showcasing their on-the-field talents in a win against the New England Patriots the night before.
"It is always fun to do events like this," said cornerback Mike McKenzie. "Supporting and appreciating our Troops is what it's all about."
The Guardsmen were excited to get the chance to meet the players, especially during this historic season.
"I have been a Saints fan all my life," said Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Bonin of the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment. "To be here is very special for me. It's just unbelievable!" | NGB graduates first CPI black belt class
8.12.2009 3:24:0 +0000
 By Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy
National Guard Bureau
About 30 students from 11 states completed the program, which combines the Army’s Lean Six Sigma and the Air Force’s Smart Operations for the 21st Century efficiency programs.
“It’s the first time … that we actually have a class that was designed to be truly joint,” said Air Force Col. B.J. Marshall, CPI director at the National Guard Bureau. “We took the best of the OSD (Office of the Secretary of Defense) curriculum, the Army’s black belt curriculum and the Air Force curriculum and built our own curriculum that meets the learning objectives of both the Army and the Air Force.”
The course runs four weeks and covers a variety of ways and means to evaluate and improve upon processes and procedures within the Guard, such as preparing for deployment, said Marshall.
“This course actually teaches them or provides them with a tool box of techniques to use to improve effectiveness and efficiencies,” said Marshall. “So, if you’re working on improving the efficiency of a project, you would use a lot of lean tools to remove the waste; but if you’re looking at the effectiveness of a process, you would be looking at removing errors that happen repetitively in [it].”
Those who are trained in CPI are rated on three levels – green belt, black belt and master black belt. Currently, the NGB training program is geared toward those working in the black belt capacity. However, a course for green belt certification is scheduled to start in March and a master black belt program is being planned for 2011, said Marshall.
Currently, those seeking green or master black belt training are certified through the Army’s training program. The difference in the three levels of certification is the scope of the projects those individuals would work on to increase efficiency.
“Master black belts traditionally would work mostly enterprise level – very large, very complex projects,” said Marshall. “They also teach the black belt course and coach and mentor black belts. Black belts then coach and mentor green belts.”
Recent graduates of the course have already seen its benefits.
“A lot of times you’ll go to meetings and people will assume they know what the problem is already,” said 2nd Lt. James Domenico of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard.” He added that the training has taught him how to collect statistical data during meetings, which helps to determine what the problem is.
The path to improving efficiency really starts prior to the attending the course.
“Our whole initiative starts with the strategic alignment workshop for the senior leaders,” said Marshall. “We go in and we take their strategic plan, align it to their core processes, identify the gaps and build a project library.”
Black belt students are assigned a project from that list of prioritized projects and they start working those projects, said Marshall. She added that improving readiness or streamlining the deployment process is among the projects worked on most often.
The push for a joint training program came in part from issues raised by many adjutants general who felt that having two separate programs – one for the Air Guard and one for the Army Guard – was often repetitive and cumbersome, said Marshall.
Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, who visited with the class on graduation day, also expressed an interest in having a joint program.
“Bottom line is, I’m all in, in terms of commitment to the program,” he said. “I spoke at length during the (Joint Senior Leaders Conference) to my belief that if we don’t adopt or adapt to this new way of doing business, we will fail.
“As good as we are in the Guard – and we celebrate our 373rd birthday on Dec. 13 – we may not make 400, because we will have lost our relevance and value. I say that tongue-in-cheek as I think we are adaptable enough to get through this.”
Part of that adaptation will include the Guard becoming a data-driven organization, said Marshall. “And one of the key things that this does is that it actually provides the data so that you can actually show the data and then the leadership can make a data-driven decision.”
In the end, it comes down to using the CPI tools to better manage finite resources. “By working through and using the continuous process improvement tools, we are able to free up resources to apply them in other areas,” she said. “And that can be both people and money.”
NGB currently has seven iterations of the course planned for 2010, said Marshall, with the next scheduled to start in February. |
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