A world filled with wonder, adventure, and endless possibility

Wednesday 13th March 2024 at 12:21 AM

As the CH-47 Chinook helicopter soars through the skies over Hawaii

From CH-47 Chinook on Hawaii:13th March 2024:(Media Link//Seven Seas News Desk)::

This is an special click looks some risky too. Enjoying the View like this we can sea the broad size of the sea. we can feel the touching nature over the sea. In the photo you may see Army Sgt. Shelby Lewis looks out of the rear of a CH-47 Chinook during training over Hawaii on 3rd March 2024. this photo was taken by Army National Guard Sgt. Lianne M. Hirano when he was trying to click the joy of enjoying the View. These moments were clicked at a CH-47 Chinook-a big helicopter. This photo was provided by DoD USA army.

As the CH-47 Chinook helicopter soars through the skies over Hawaii, carrying soldiers on a training mission, there exists a moment of unparalleled wonder and exhilaration for those fortunate enough to gaze out of the rear. The feeling is akin to being suspended between earth and sky, with the lush greenery of the Hawaiian landscape sprawling below like a vibrant patchwork quilt.

As the wind rushes past and the rotor blades slice through the air, there's a sense of freedom unlike any other. With every twist and turn of the helicopter, the view morphs into a breathtaking panorama, revealing hidden valleys, towering peaks, and pristine beaches lapped by azure waters. It's a sight that evokes a profound sense of awe and gratitude, reminding soldiers of the vast beauty that exists beyond the confines of their military duties.

In this moment, as they peer out of the rear of the Chinook, the stresses and pressures of army life momentarily fade away, replaced by a sense of peace and tranquility. Surrounded by the camaraderie of their fellow soldiers, they find solace in the knowledge that they are part of something greater than themselves, bound by a shared sense of purpose and duty.

But amidst the serenity of the view lies an undercurrent of excitement and anticipation. For soldiers, even in moments of leisure, there is always the awareness of the training mission at hand, the need to remain vigilant and prepared for whatever challenges may arise. It's a reminder that even in the midst of beauty, the call of duty is ever-present.

Yet, despite the demands of their service, there's a profound appreciation for the opportunity to experience such moments of respite and reflection. For in the rear of a CH-47 Chinook over Hawaii, amidst the splendor of the landscape, soldiers find a fleeting glimpse of the world beyond their military obligations—a world filled with wonder, adventure, and endless possibility. And in that moment, they are reminded of the privilege and honor it is to serve their country, both in times of peace and in times of conflict.

Creature Comfort at Sea

Specially trained to help sailors cope with stress associated with deployment

June 23, 2023 |DOD News |   

When the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier set off last month on its second deployment, it carried something both familiar and entirely novel:

Meet Sage, the USS Gerald R. Ford's facility dog. Under a pilot program, she is the first "expanded operational stress control canine" that will be part of the crew of a Navy ship throughout a deployment.

The 3-year-old Labrador retriever has been specially trained to help sailors cope with stress associated with deployment, providing comfort and morale boosts as part of the ship's warfighter toughness mental health and resiliency team. 

A seated dog stares up at a person holding her leash.

A dog sits in front of four smiling, standing sailors in a room.

Recently, Sage and her handlers visited sailors aboard the USS Normandy, another ship in the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, in the Mediterranean Sea. From the looks of it, things went swimmingly. 

Navigate a combat rubber raiding craft

 During an exercise in the Philippine Sea 

Philippine Sea: 28th February 2021: (Seven Seas News)::

Marines and sailors navigate a combat rubber raiding craft after launching from the USS Ashland during an exercise in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 24, 2021.

Photo By: Marine Corps Sgt. Danny Gonzalez

Courtesy: US Department of Defense

Drone Dog

 A test of an unmanned ground vehicle 

Florida: 13th November 2020: (Seven Seas News)::

Airmen watch a test of an unmanned ground vehicle at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 10, 2020. Tyndall plans to use the “computerized canines” to aid in reconnaissance and enhanced security patrolling operations across the base.

Nebraska Guard Transitions COVID-19

Defense Feature              23rd July 2020 at 5:57 PM

Testing to Civilian Health Care Workers

23rd July 2020//By Army Staff SGT. HEIDI MCCLINTOCK

After months of support, the Nebraska National Guard is transitioning its COVID-19 testing mission to civilian health care workers throughout the state.

As of July 1, full Nebraska National Guard testing teams are no longer activated to provide testing throughout Nebraska, but a small group of soldiers and airmen is still activated to provide training and knowledge to hos pitals for the Test Nebraska campaign. Another small team is supporting the Omaha area.

A man puts on full body protective gear.

''The transition has been going very well,'' said Army Maj. Angela Ling, the coordinator between the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Resources and the Nebraska National Guard. ''The current process is: if a hospital/clinic/health department is interested in running a Test Nebraska site, they contact DHHS, and together they get a contract signed. Once the contract is signed, my team receives the contract, and we call the hospital directly.''

''When we call the hospital, we work out their training needs, test kit, and [personal protective equipment] delivery and scheduling plan,'' Ling added. ''Once these details are solidified, we send an update to the Test Nebraska team to get them loaded into the scheduling system.''

The transition was put in place after several hundred Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated in late March to support testing teams that traveled across the state for weeks on end.

Three Nebraska National Guardsmen wearing face masks stand in grass.

''The civilian hospitals are doing a wonderful job with this transition,'' Ling said. ''They are eager to support this need for their communities.''

Over the past few months, the guard testing teams have been able to provide Test Nebraska sites wherever needed, including nursing homes, corrections facilities, meat processing plants, smaller towns and large cities alike.

The teams have helped to collect more than 80,000 samples for testing during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting 53 counties and all 19 health departments.

''It's been a great honor for the governor to entrust his confidence in Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen to provide the testing for COVID-19 these past few months,'' said Army Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, Nebraska adjutant general. ''I couldn’t be more proud of the team we have had on orders to provide the support and capabilities for such an important mission. It goes without being said we have great soldiers and airmen in the state of Nebraska that are ready to respond at a moment's notice.''

A woman in protective gear stands next to a car.

Throughout the pandemic, the guard has always pushed to ensure the safety of the soldiers and airmen supporting the COVID-19 response missions as well as their fellow citizens.

''I have three directives: [to] preserve the health of the force, protect our families in our communities and stay ready,'' Bohac said. ''If we take care of everyone, we take care of the other two, and that’s the direction we’re following.''

As the mission begins to wind down, the soldiers and airmen know that their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, and they are proud of their contributions during this time.

''Our team has enjoyed working with numerous agencies and filling a need for the state during this pandemic,'' Ling said.

(Army Staff Sgt. Heidi Mcclintock is assigned to the Nebraska National Guard.)

Click of A Tearful Embrace

When A Soldier Welcomed Home with the Tears of Joy

A soldier with the New Jersey National Guard is welcomed home during a ceremony in West-field, N.J., Dec. 12, 2019. The soldiers were returning from Jordan where they supported Operation Spartan Shield.
Photo By: Mark Olsen

Special Report: Presidential Inauguration

01/21/2013 09:21 AM CST                                                Mon, Jan 21, 2013 at 8:59 PM

American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2013 - Images and articles in American Forces Press Service's special report at http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2013/0113_inauguration/ highlight the U.S. military's roles in the 57th presidential inauguration.

Related Sites: Special Report: Presidential Inauguration

Special Report: Presidential Inauguration

Families Use Creativity

 To Connect With Deployed Loved Ones

By Elaine Sanchez American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2011 - Molly Blake will unveil a special guest on Christmas, someone who is an even bigger hero to her daughters than Santa Claus: their dad. Army Maj. Darren LoRe sends a message to his son, Sendoa, from Afghanistan, where he's been deployed since May. He'll connect with his family over the holidays using Skype and instant messaging. Courtesy photo  She'll use technology to enable her deployed husband, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Peter Blake, to participate in the morning festivities."We'll prop him up on the fireplace on the computer," she explained. From his fireplace perch, their dad's computer persona, which they've dubbed "Digital Daddy," will be able to watch as his daughters, Leah and Helen, open gifts. The lieutenant colonel's deployment to the Pacific marks his fifth in the couple's 10-year marriage. His wife, like many military family members, is accustomed to relying on creativity, and a heavy dose of technology, to keep her family connected throughout the holidays. "He's been gone for more Christmases than he's been home," said Blake, whose family is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Her husband is the commander of Marine Attack Squadron 311. To help speed through this separation, Blake used aluminum foil to fashion a bucket in the shape of a chocolate kiss, which she calls a "kiss jar." The girls counted out one candy kiss for each day of their dad's six-month deployment and loaded them into the jar. They'll eat a kiss each day until he comes home, she explained. Blake also created a "Daddy Journal" for each of them with their picture on the cover. On a recent night when they went out for sushi, they brought the journals along and wrote about the experience. "When he gets home he can relive some of these things," she said. Overall, the girls are staying positive. They understand the importance of their dad's mission, she said. Blake said she, too, is focusing on the positive. Her husband left for his deployment shortly after Thanksgiving. But while he won't be home for Christmas, she said she takes comfort knowing other Marines will. "It takes the sting away when someone else will be able to be with the family," she said. Cammy Elquist LoRe also is coming to terms with a holiday separation. Her husband, Army Maj. Darren LoRe, has been deployed in Afghanistan since May -- his second deployment in four years. LoRe and her husband rely heavily on technology, such as instant messaging, to keep in touch, she said. She's also created a YouTube channel where she uploads videos of their 4-year-old son, Sendoa, directly from her smart phone. This way, dad's been able to watch his son's first at-bat in T-ball, she added. The technology will come in particularly handy this weekend, LoRe noted, when phone line connections will be bogged down with families trying to connect with their deployed loved ones. She said she'll upload several videos on Christmas so her husband, when he has a few minutes off duty, can watch their son open gifts and share family time. LoRe said she hopes the videos will boost his spirits. "[Deployed troops] have to focus on what they need to do and we tug heart strings every time, but I know it's appreciated," she said. The family also is planning a Christmas encore when LoRe's husband comes home in January for his mid-tour leave. LoRe said she'll save some family gifts and leave the tree and house lights up on display. Along with sharing in the festivities, "he'll get some satisfaction knowing he does the lights better than me," she joked. Meanwhile, LoRe is trying to insert special holiday memories for her son between a busy schedule of work and child care. Each morning, she wakes up early to take her son sledding or to bake cookies before their day begins. "The challenge is creating time and the mind-space and purposefulness into the day," she said. "I still have to work. Finding that time as a solo parent is my biggest challenge." Above all, LoRe tries to instill a sense of thankfulness in her son. The holidays can be tough on military families with a deployed loved one, she noted, so it's important to focus on what's important. Kathy Kling said she's grateful to have her husband home. He missed Thanksgiving this year, but arrived home from his deployment in Kosovo just in time for Christmas with his wife and their 9-year-old daughter, Laurynn. Army Staff Sgt. Jason Kling is a flight medic with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Kling said the anticipation of his arrival was nearly unbearable on Thanksgiving. The family Skyped before and after dinner, but she acknowledged, "it was still a little rough because it was so close to his coming home." She said she kept her husband close at hand while he was gone by setting a plate for him at the table -- something she does every holiday he's gone. While he'll be home for this holiday, her husband has missed many others, Kling noted, and offered some advice to other families dealing with deployments. She cited the importance of maintaining a sense of normalcy around the holidays. If you're used to being with family on the holidays, she said, then take a trip to see them. This support will prove invaluable if the holiday blues come creeping in. As a National Guard spouse, more than an hour away from her husband's unit, Kling can't easily access the support systems active-duty families have on hand on a military installation. So she's created them. She said she makes time to get together with other Guard wives, and they enjoyed a recent outing before the busy holiday season kicked in. "Family is a great support system, but other wives understand what I'm going through as a military wife," she explained. Kling also stressed the importance of communication, especially between husband and wife. They went through a tough time on their first deployment on this regard, but when she opened up, she said things got easier, and "I became happier," she said. Staying busy also can help, LoRe added. Take a drive and look at lights or participate in a holiday community activity, she suggested. "Separate from the madness and stress of trying to please everyone," she said. "Simplify. Make it about appreciating what's going right in your life." In the midst of the holiday rush, LoRe noted the importance of pausing to appreciate what you have, and to look ahead with a positive outlook. The holidays aren't just about presents and gatherings, she said, but also about "leaving the year and entering a new year." "The time may pass by slow, but it passes, LoRe said. "No matter how down in the dumps you might feel, this moment in time and what makes you feel down passes, and then we're on to another moment. "That day will lead into the next one, and then to the time when your spouse returns to you," she said. "And you'll be back together as a family."

Biden Spotlights Military Support at Kids' Holiday Party

Biden spotlighted the importance of military family support

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2011 - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, invited about 25 elementary school students, a few teachers -- and one special guest in Afghanistan -- to a military-themed holiday party in their home at the U.S. Naval Observatory here today.

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, poses for a picture with students from White Oaks Elementary School in Burke, Va., at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2011. Biden hosted a holiday party for the students to raise awareness of military families and the challenges they face. DOD photo by Elaine Sanchez

Throughout the party, Biden spotlighted the importance of military family support for the children -- a fourth-grade class from nearby White Oaks Elementary School in Burke, Va.After greeting each of the children -- all dressed in their holiday best -- at the door, she invited them to join her around the Christmas tree in her living room for a discussion about her own experiences as a military mom.
Biden held up a framed picture of her son, Army Maj. Beau Biden of the Delaware National Guard, with his young son, Hunter, in his arms. The picture, she told the children, was taken the day he returned from a yearlong deployment in Iraq. "I know what it's like to have someone in your family who is deployed," she said.
She then asked Army Col. Rebecca Porter, a clinical psychologist from the Army Surgeon General's Office, to talk to the children -- mostly from nonmilitary families -- about the impact deployment has on kids, especially during the holidays, and how students can support military families in their community.
Biden then kicked off her heels and joined the children on the floor in front of the tree to make holiday cards for deployed troops. The card-making event was sponsored by the American Red Cross' Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which collects and distributes holiday cards to service members, veterans and their families around the world.
But the event's highlight, especially for one of the students, was the holiday book reading in the next room.
Army Maj. James Blain, deployed in Afghanistan since June, appeared on screen to read the book "Mickey's Christmas Carol" to his 9-year-old son, Jimmy, and his classmates. Blain earlier recorded the book-reading through United Through Reading, an organization that enables deployed service members to video-record themselves reading books to their children. Deployed troops can read from more than 270 recording stations around the globe, according to an organization fact sheet.
Jimmy listened intently. He's been in touch with his dad, but mostly over the phone. There's nothing like seeing him face to face, he said after his dad finished the book.
His mom, Tina Blain, who attended the party with all four of her children, agreed. "Having the DVDs has been a huge bonus for us because we can see Daddy whenever we want."
Approaching the holidays without Dad is tough on the children, she added. "To see him so positive and so up going into the holidays is good for them," she said.
Biden also noted the importance of programs such as United Through Reading, which recently pledged to double its commitment to Army and National Guard families in the next two years. Since the program began in 1989, more than 1 million beneficiaries have been served, a news release said.
"It means a lot to children and helps them stay connected with their moms or their dads" while they're deployed, Biden told American Forces Press Service. "I know in my own family, my son read books to our grandchildren and they loved just hearing their dad's voice."
Biden noted that Jimmy's parents were worried that their 2-year-old son, Matthew, would forget what his dad looked like. This program, however, has set their minds at ease, she said, citing Matthew's reaction when his father appeared on screen at the party. As soon as he saw his father, Matthew, perched on his mom's lap, called out, "Daddy, Daddy!"
Biden said the party was intended to raise awareness of military families and the need to support them, which also is the aim of the Joining Forces campaign, a military-support initiative First Lady Michelle Obama and Biden started earlier this year. It's important for people without a loved one in the military to understand the military experience, she noted.
Particularly around the holidays, "it's important we remember and commit to an act of kindness," she said, whether it's taking cookies to a military family, bringing them dinner, or packing care packages. Biden said she and her family recently packed Christmas stockings for deployed service members together.
"We are ending the war in Iraq ... but we still have many, many [service members] deployed in Afghanistan," Biden said. "We have to remember them and be thankful for their service and what they've done for us and this country."

Related Sites:
Special Report: Joining Forces 
Joining Forces Campaign 
United Through Reading 
Holiday Mail for Heroes 

During an urban setting weapons qualification

U.S. Navy Operations Specialist 3rd Class Marcelo Martis, right, fires an M9 Beretta pistol as Chief Master-at-Arms Jeffrey Barnes observes during an urban setting weapons qualification course aboard guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) in the Atlantic Ocean Dec. 3, 2011. Anzio was deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian M. Brooks, U.S. Navy/Released)

Salute

 U.S. Airmen with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) salute Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, the 332nd AEW commander, as his aircraft taxis following his final flight as commander at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Nov. 30, 2011. Neubauer relinquished command Dec. 4, 2011. (DoD photo by Senior Airman Amber Kelly-Herard, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Black Hawk helicopters prepare for takeoff

Two U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters prepare for takeoff at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 4, 2011. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht, U.S. Air Force/Released)

New Brace Salvages Limbs, Mobility � and Morale

The doctors saved the service member's leg  By Elaine Sanchez American Forces Press Service SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 8, 2011 - A wounded warrior limped into Ryan Blanck's office at the Center for the Intrepid here one day with a plea for help. Ryan Blanck, a prosthetist and developer of the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis, discusses how he makes the device in his lab at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio, Nov. 9, 2011. The brace reduces pain for soldiers who suffered lower leg injuries and increases mobility, including the ability to run. DOD photo by Linda Hosek  The doctors at Brooke Army Medical Center had saved the service member's leg after a combat injury, but due to the pain, he couldn't walk comfortably, let alone run.Blanck, a leading prosthetic at the state-of-the-art rehab center, found himself in an unfamiliar position: at a loss. "There wasn't a go-to option," he said, referring to devices for wounded warriors with lower leg injuries. So Blanck created one. He designed the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis, or IDEO, a streamlined, energy-storing brace that delivers nearly instantaneous results. Now, most troops with salvaged limbs who wheel or limp into his office walk out a short time later, pain and limp-free. The injured warriors are impressed by the results. When they strap on the brace for the first time and start walking, Blanck said, some stumble midway across the room, but not due to discomfort. "They're uncontrollably weeping," he said. "It's the first time they've walked without pain in two or three, or seven years in one guy's case." Brace Proves to be 'Game-Changer' Blanck's creation is a lightweight, streamlined carbon-fiber device that can be tucked under a pant leg and into a boot or sneaker. It comprises a cuff that wraps around the leg just under the knee connected to a footplate by carbon-fiber rods. The brace works by offloading the limb and allowing the patient to operate the lower limb in a way that avoids pain, he explained. When a service member's heel strikes, the device stores energy through the gait cycle, then delivers it back to propel the foot forward. "That's the concept behind it all; energy storage and power," he said. Prior to IDEO, Blanck noted, "there wasn't a combination device that would allow offloading, adequate range restriction and then power generation." The device is proving a "game-changer" for service members with salvaged limbs, said Johnny Owens, a CFI physical therapist who is working hand-in-hand with Blanck in treating IDEO-fitted warriors. "We're seeing immediate changes we don't usually see," he said. Owens said the device also is singlehandedly helping to turn the tide on a trend of wounded warriors opting for delayed amputations -- amputations several months after injury. He attributes the trend to the slow, and sometimes frustrating, recovery for troops with lower leg injuries. "Prior to all this, limb salvage was a little bit of an unknown," Blanck explained. "You couldn't tell a patient, 'you're going to run.'" But amputees -- depending on the situation and barring other injuries -- can regain significant functions about six months after amputation, he noted. Meanwhile, limb salvage patients sit on the sidelines watching their amputee battle buddies walking or running as their own progress proceeds painfully slow. Frustrated by their limitations, some troops with salvaged limbs opted for late amputations. "It's enticing," Owens said. "You're in pain, but if you cut your leg off, you can run. Many invested a year or two in recovery and then decided to cut [a limb] off. It was psychologically frustrating to see these guys work so hard and then just cut it off." Thanks to IDEO, these troops now have another option, he said, that enables them to not only walk, but run, sprint and jump. Returning to Service Word is spreading of IDEO and its astounding results, and Blanck now is fitting troops from around the country with his device. After hearing of Blanck's and Owens' success, Army 1st Lt. Matthew Anderson traveled here from his unit at Fort Carson, Colo., hoping for similar results. Anderson, an infantry platoon leader, was injured in October 2010 while on a dismounted combat patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan. As his unit cleared a building, he stepped on a landmine. "It felt like a jackhammer hitting my ankle," he recalled. The explosive shattered his heel into a dozen pieces. The doctors salvaged his limb, but the injury left Anderson in pain and with a pronounced limp. While he was able to start walking again after about six months, this strapping, lifelong athlete figured his running days were over. It took Blanck just a few minutes to prove him wrong. With the IDEO, Anderson was walking comfortably within minutes and running within days. "It put the biggest smile on my face," the infantry platoon leader said. He had stopped by the CFI early one morning so Blanck could make adjustments to his device and fit him for another. "I went from walking with a severe gait issue and a limp to walking normally," Anderson said. Blanck finished his adjustments, and Anderson pulled a sneaker over the foot plate and walked across the office with a smooth stride. Once he got the brace, "I could run on it, jump vertically, laterally shuffle," Anderson said. "Things that there's no way I'd be doing with that much speed, efficiency or lack of pain. "For a guy that's in his late 20s that's always been a jock athlete, being hampered by these injuries is pretty tough mentally," he continued. "When you're given the option to get back into it, it's huge; it means a lot to me." Anderson soon will return to duty at Fort Carson. Of the nearly 200 cases they've seen, Owens noted, more than 30 have returned to service and 11 have combat deployed. As they test and improve the current design, Blanck and Owens also are looking into what they call a "widespread potential" for people with issues such as ankle arthritis, strokes and head, back and other injuries. The program's success has one limitation: space. Between amputees and warriors with salvaged limbs, the CFI can get crowded at times. The pair would like to see a rehab center like the CFI, but devoted to wounded warriors with salvaged limbs. There would be no shortage of demand, Owens said, noting that for every one amputee, there are about 10 limb salvage patients. Meanwhile, they have no plans to cut back, no matter how great the demand. Just seeing the joy in a wounded warrior's face at walking again pain-free, they said, makes every extra hour at work worthwhile. "I never thought I'd come to work and get hugged by a 220-pound, 6-foot-4, Special Forces guy," said Blanck with a smile, "but I've had a few hugs. "I loved my job before this, but this is a whole new level." �

Related Sites: Photo Essay Center for the Intrepid

DOD Honors Outstanding Disabled Employees

31st annual DOD Disability Awards ceremony

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service
BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 7, 2011 - The Defense Department honored 19 people and four organizations here yesterday at the 31st annual DOD Disability Awards ceremony.
"At DOD," said Stephen King, the Pentagon's director of disability programs and equal opportunity, "we know our strength is in the diversity of our people -- our service members and our civilians. And by investing in workers with disabilities, DOD reaps the benefits many times over."
This investment helps to dispel myths and remove barriers that can hold back those with disabilities, he added.
John R. Campbell, deputy assistant secretary of defense for wounded warrior care and transition policy, echoed those sentiments to the honorees.
"That kind of adaptive empathy that comes from a military culture that values diversity is exactly what we need to cooperate with our partners and allies and defend freedom around the world," Campbell said. He recalled some noteworthy Americans who he said "demonstrated incredible resilience and compassion" despite their disabilities.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt led the country through "dark days not unlike today's" while he battled polio, a fact that was unknown to the American public for years, Campbell said. Today, he added, Roosevelt wouldn't have to hide his disability.
Army Gen. George Patton, best known for commanding troops during World War II, tried to overcome dyslexia his entire life, Campbell said. Stephen Hawking, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist who has serious physical limitations and complete paralysis from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, "is one of greatest minds alive today and continues to contribute to our scientific understanding," he noted.
He also cited Helen Keller, who earned a bachelor's degree and became a world-renown writer and lecturer despite the fact she could neither hear nor see.
"Where would we be without these leaders?" Campbell asked the honorees and the audience at the ceremony.
The Defense Department has led efforts to improve prostheses and assistive technologies for its wounded warriors, Campbell said, and these developments also are in use in the private sector.
"These investments and advances help us create a level playing field for people with disabilities, and offer them greater opportunities to succeed," he added.
Campbell reminded the audience of President Barack Obama's call to the federal government to become a model employer of individuals with disabilities.
"This demonstrates from the highest level in our government that the future of our nation depends on a talented, resilient workforce made up of men and women both in and out of uniform. The DOD challenges all [government and private sector] leaders to set the level for attracting, retaining and empowering these men and women who have so much to offer."
The following DOD components were recognized for their outstanding achievements in employing individuals with disabilities:
-- Department of the Navy, best military department;
-- Defense Commissary Agency, best mid-sized component;
-- Joint Staff, best small component; and
-- Defense Intelligence Agency, best intelligence component.
Military and civilian honorees are:
-- Bobbie Mezei, Department of the Army;
-- Trent Moore, Department of the Army;
-- Nathanael Wales, Department of the Army;
-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan M. Grundy;
-- William G. Conley, Department of the Navy;
-- Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew R. Koetting;
-- Robert Rudney, Department of the Air Force;
-- Air Force Senior Airman Michael James Malarsie;
-- Air Force Tech. Sgt. Frank Reilly;
-- Thomas J. Dembowski, National Guard Bureau;
-- Army Maj. Leland D. Blanchard, National Guard Bureau;
-- Jamie L. Critchfield, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General;
-- Garth Erik Porter, Army and Air Force Exchange Service;
-- Catherine A. Richardson, Defense Contract Management Agency;
-- Terry Lysaght, Defense Finance and Accounting Service;
-- Pamela A. Circo Webb, Defense Logistics Agency;
-- Sean L. Cumming, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency;
-- Andrew McKay, National Security Agency; and
-- Mark B. Rew, TRICARE Management Activity.
�

Biographies:
John R. Campbell
Related Sites:
DOD Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity
Workforce Recruitment Program -- for college students with disabilities
Executive Order Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce
Presidential Proclamation 

In Final News Briefing

General Calls Iraq Operations "Worth it"

By Lisa Daniel American Forces Press Service  WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2011: As the final U.S. military convoys roll out of Iraq these next three weeks, marking the end of eight years of operations, Americans can be proud of the work service members did there, U.S. Forces Iraq's deputy commanding general said today.

In USFI's final news briefing from Baghdad, Army Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick told the Pentagon press corps that Americans and Iraqis will have different opinions about whether Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn "were worth it."
"From where I sit, it was," Helmick said.
It was because of the U.S. military role that the country held historic elections in March 2010, giving Iraq "the opportunity for a sovereign future," the general said. And, he added, violence is at an eight-year low.
Helmick said his beliefs are underscored by the positive comments of some wounded warriors and family members of the fallen, which totals more than 4,500 U.S. service members.
"My firm belief is that there is no other military in the world that can do what yours did in Iraq," he said. "For eight years, they have been building and securing this country."
U.S. troops' greatest legacy in Iraq, Helmick said, is in the professionalism, confidence and esprit de corps of the Iraqi security forces.
"We gave 28 million Iraqis the greatest gift anyone can give and that is their freedom," he said.
Helmick marked the historic occasion by calling the veterans of Iraq operations the next "Greatest Generation," a reference to those who served in World War II.
"The significance of this day doesn't escape me," the general said on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For their service in Iraq, he said, "America discovered the next greatest generation."
"Words cannot begin to express the pride I feel about America's military performance and service in Iraq," he added.
The 18-month process of drawing down forces in Iraq "is simply historic," going from 300,000 service members and more than 5,000 installations in 2007 to 8,000 troops and five bases today, Helmick said. Military drivers have logged 16 million miles, "moving a mountain of equipment and personnel," mostly through southern Iraq and into Kuwait, and have fewer than 1,000 truckloads left, he said.
U.S. forces built the Iraqi security forces to more than 700,000, trained them, and left them with "some of the best [equipment] we have," including the M1 Abrams tank and artillery equipment, the general said. U.S. forces also were in charge of the country's security until 2010 when Iraqi forces took the lead.
Every piece of U.S. military equipment "goes through an agonizing process" of determining whether it should be shipped out of the country or left for the Iraqis, Helmick said. The U.S. military has incurred significant savings in transportation costs by leaving equipment, namely office furniture, in Iraq, he said.
Iraq still has challenges, Helmick said, including continued threats from al-Qaida and other terrorist groups, Iranian meddling, and internal ethnic tensions.
Iraq has made good progress on police work, the general said, and is capable of securing the country internally, if not externally. "The Iraqis understand they have a security gap if someone comes into their air space who doesn't want to be seen," he said.
Whether or not the Iraqis choose a future U.S. military role in security is up to them, the general said.
"The sense I get from the Iraqis is that they want to have a strong relationship with our country," he said.
Asked about the military's "lessons learned" in Iraq, Helmick said, "We performed, really, beyond expectations."
Early on, the general said, service members in Iraq had to do things they weren't necessarily trained to do. They weren't very good at advising Iraqi farmers on wheat crops, "but we did that," or in helping with the oil refinery and distribution processes, "but we did that," he said.
"The military had to branch out through all the different portions of the government sector because, at that time, there was no one to pass the ball off to," Helmick said.
U.S. operations in Iraq later became the example of how best to synchronize military and civilian actions, Helmick said. Americans serving in Iraq learned about the country's culture and enabled the Iraqis to create a system of security and governance for themselves, he said, rather than a template of how things are done in the United States.
As for Iraq's future security, Helmick said, "We really don't know what is going to happen, but we know we've done everything we can for the Iraqi security forces."
Asked if the Iraqis are capable of doing their part to keep U.S. State Department employees and contractors safe when they take over the U.S. role there Jan. 1, the general said, "My gut tells me they will be capable to do this -- they're doing it today."
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Related Sites:
U.S. Forces Iraq 

Saving the peoples from flood waters

National Guard is helping to evacuate thousands of peoples in Minot, North Dekota ahead of rising flood waters.....!
Guard Helps North Dakota Flood Victims

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Orrell  National Guard Bureau ARLINGTON, Va., June 23, 2011 - As of 9:30 a.m. EST today, the city of Minot, N.D. has evacuated about 12,000 residents in response to the Souris River overtopping several levees in and around the area, Guard officials said. North Dakota National Guard vehicles patrol one of the mandatory evacuation zones in Minot, N.D., June 22, 2011. The patrols ensure that all citizens have evacuated their homes and render assistance in the areas threatened by the rising water of the Souris River that has exceeded major flood stage. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp  Minot civilian authorities are anticipating that flood waters may reach an additional six to eight feet above the levees by 4 p.m. EST and will eventually be flowing at a rate of 28,000 cubic feet per second. Due to the potential dangers, local officials have decided that fighting the flood is no longer feasible and will brace for water levels to break the record levels of 1881. "It's a sad day for the people of this city, but one that brought the community together to ensure the safety of its citizens," said Army Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota's adjutant general. "Right now our focus is on the safety of the Minot people. "I am proud of the way our soldiers and airmen continue to assist the residents, working shoulder-to-shoulder with the community and civil authorities," he added. Today, the North Dakota National Guard will be redirecting ambulances and 50 additional personnel to join the already 500 Guard members in Minot. They will perform airboat operations, security patrols, traffic-control points and residential evacuations. Sprynczynatyk said that as citizen soldiers and airmen continue to assist flood-stricken residents. "Whether it's been traffic control, levee monitoring or evacuation assistance, our Guardsmen have performed well in every mission asked of them," he said. "Through this catastrophic event, your Guard stands ready to assist." As with any activation, deployment or mobilization, the success of the Guard begins at home and in the workplace, Sprynczynatyk said. "We are able to do our jobs successfully thanks to our employers and families for being supportive when we need it the most," he said. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The North Dakota National Guard contributed to this article.)

Related Sites: National Guard Bureau

Project Advances Coalition Information Sharing

By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 17, 2011 – A sweeping demonstration project at six U.S. and two overseas sites is expected to pay off in advancing technologies to improve information sharing among U.S. and coalition partners in Afghanistan and in future missions. Army Staff Sgt. Contena Moriley-Mack, left, Test Operator Talaya Johnson, center, and Army 2nd Lt. Edgar Murillo, right, check data in preparation for the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration at the Central Technical Support Facility at Fort Hood, Texas, June 9, 2011. U.S. Army photo by David G. Landmann   The 2011 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration, sponsored by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, wrapped up yesterday following 11 days of trials to assess industry’s latest technologies using real-world operational scenarios. The event featured 37 interoperability trials, 22 multinational programs, and two joint capability and technology demonstrations. Web-based situational awareness tools, wireless technology, Blue Force tracking systems, maritime surveillance, translation devices and enhanced information-assurance and validation innovations were among the technologies involved. Participants -- service members, Department of Defense civilian and contract employees and industry representatives -- worked together at various sites. Marine Corps and coalition task force members were positioned at U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Va. Army participants stationed themselves at the Central Technical Support Facility at Fort Hood, Texas. Air Force members were at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., and Navy participants, at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command’s Systems Center Pacific in San Diego. In addition, the National Guard participated at U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., the Department of Homeland Security Battle Lab in Herndon, Va., and at Hanscom Air Force Base. DHS positioned its officials at Northcom. International participants operated from Canada and a NATO site in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The big objective, explained Charles McMaster, an Army liaison supporting the demonstration at Fort Hood, was to identify and test technologies to shore up information-sharing gaps. “It boils down to, we want to have a shared and common understanding of what is occurring, both on the battlefield and [among] folks who are supporting the efforts on the battlefield,” he said. “So we want to make sure that we literally have a common picture that illustrates or is the foundation of that common understanding. And we do that by having one computer talking to another computer,” McMaster explained. “Whether it is a U.S. computer or a coalition computer, we like to ensure that the information that is sent and received is portrayed on those computers in a way we can all understand what it is.” Developing a common operating picture is critical to the success of combined operations, said Steve Pitcher, the Joint Staff representative to the demonstration. “We want the mission execution information at any given time to be representative on all of our screens,” whether it’s being used by a U.S. system or that of an ally or partner, he said. A major focus of this year’s demonstration was improving the Afghan Mission Network, a new network that promotes information and intelligence sharing among coalition partners supporting the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The network has reached full operational capability, but still needs refinement. That includes testing to ensure the 238 applications approved by U.S. Central Command and NATO are interoperable on the network and don’t disrupt or interfere with each other, Pitcher said. This will help establish the first baseline of coalition capabilities for command and control as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, a step toward streamlining those applications, he said. “What we want to be able to do is stop having to operate, maintain, protect and ensure the interoperability of 238 applications with their own stovepipe databases,” Pitcher said. The hope, he said, is to “get down to some manageable number of web-based applications that use a centralized set of secure databases, so that we are able to perform mission planning with our closest allies and ensure successful mission execution with all our coalition mission partners.” “We have to reduce the redundancy among systems, and to make the capabilities more focused on what the warfighter really needs to do his job,” McMaster said. “We don’t need to have five different ways to portray the same information. We need to have one way that is commonly understood to get that shared common picture.” But the CWID demonstration extended beyond warfighter support to include technologies to support future humanitarian disaster responses and border patrol operations. DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials from the El Paso, Texas, sector participated to get a firsthand look at how new technologies could support real-world responses to wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes and attempted U.S. border infiltrations. For example, one trial used an aerostat balloon equipped with a communications payload to assess variety of technologies that could extend telephone and hand-held radio capabilities beyond the reach of radio towers in the remote New Mexico-West Texas desert, McMaster explained. Another trial evaluated unmanned ground sensors able to pick up seismic and acoustic information that reveals unusual truck or pedestrian activity. Many of the technologies demonstrated during the CWID will never reach the field, but they could have a ripple effect by inspiring or impacting other innovations. If proven to be operationally relevant and technically achievable, those technologies could wind up being written into future contract acquisition requirements. Simply knowing what technologies are already out there can help shorten the time between identifying a capability gap and fielding that capability to troops in the field, McMaster said. Before that fielding occurs, he emphasized the importance of demonstrations like CWID to help ensure it meets requirements and operates as advertised. “We want to make sure it works on the ground here before it is deployed to the field,” McMaster said. “It is not good to find out that something doesn’t work in Afghanistan. It is not the right place to find it doesn’t work in [South] Korea, or anywhere else we are deployed. We need to assess and evaluate it and remediate it before it is deployed. That’s extremely important.”

Related Sites: Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration Website

Carl Bridell, test operator at the Central Technical Support Facility at Fort Hood, Texas, left, works alongside Army 2nd Lt. Reinaldo Sanchez, right, in the CTSF's Afghan Mission Network lab June 9, 2011, in one of the many digital steps involved in the execution of CWID 2011. Sanchez is one of nearly a dozen III Corps soldiers directly involved in a demonstration at the Fort Hood facility. U.S. Army photo by David G. Landmann   Download screen-resolution  Download high-resolution Army Staff Sgt. Contena Moriley-Mack gives instruction to her soldiers as they work through the June 9 phase of Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration 2011 at the Central Technical Support Facility at Fort Hood, Texas. Soldiers from Fort Hood's III Corps worked during the event in the CTSF's Afghan Mission Network laboratory. U.S. Army photo by David G. Landmann   Download screen-resolution  Download high-resolution

President Barack Obama announced his choices

Obama Taps Dempsey, Winnefeld as Chairman, Vice Chairman By Jim Garamone  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 30, 2011 - President Barack Obama announced his choices as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during a Rose Garden ceremony today. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, President Barack Obama's nominee as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, walks with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the current chairman, before the National Memorial Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., May 29, 2011. DOD photo by U.S Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  Obama intends to nominate Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey as chairman and Navy Adm. James A. "Sandy" Winnefeld, Jr., as vice chairman. Dempsey currently is the Army chief of staff and Winnefeld is the commander of U.S. Northern Command. Dempsey will replace Navy Adm. Mike Mullen when his term ends Sept. 30, and Winnefeld will replace Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright when his term ends in July. The president intends to nominate Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to succeed Dempsey at the Army post. The Senate must approve the nominations and the president called on the body to act expeditiously so the military transition will be "seamless." "The men and women of our armed forces are the best our nation has to offer," Obama said during the ceremony. "They deserve nothing but the absolute best in return – that includes leaders who will guide them, support their families with wisdom and strength and compassion." The president said the men he has chosen will make an extraordinary team at the Pentagon. "Between them, they bring deep experience in virtually every domain – land, air, space, sea, cyber," he said. "Both of them have the respect and the trust of our troops on the frontlines, our friends in Congress, and allies and partners abroad. And both of them have my full confidence." The president called Dempsey one of America's most respected and combat-tested officers. "In Iraq, he led our soldiers against a brutal insurgency," the president said. "Having trained the Iraqi forces, he knows that nations must ultimately take responsibility for their own security. Having served as acting commander of Central Command, he knows that in Iraq and Afghanistan security gains and political progress must go hand in hand." Dempsey has a reputation of pushing his forces to change and adapt and the president said he expects that, as chairman, Dempsey will do the same for all forces, "to be ready for the missions of today and tomorrow." Winnefeld led the USS Enterprise carrier battle group in some of the first strikes against al-Qaida in 2001. "Having served as a NATO commander, Sandy is well-known to our allies," Obama said. "Having served on the Joint Staff, he is known and trusted here at the White House. Most recently as the head of Northern Command, Sandy has been responsible for the defense of our homeland and support to states and communities in times of crisis, such as the recent tornadoes and the floods along the Mississippi." Obama called Odierno one of the Army's most accomplished soldiers. Currently serving as the commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command, Odierno served three defining tours in Iraq, the president said. They included commanding the troops that captured Saddam Hussein, partnering with Army Gen. David H. Petraeus to help bring down the violence, and then transferring responsibility to Iraqi forces, allowing the United States to redeploy more than 100,000 troops and end the combat mission in the country. "After years on the frontlines, Ray understands what the Army must do: to prevail in today's wars, to prepare for the future, and to preserve the readiness of the soldiers and families who are the strength of America's families," Obama said. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave an enthusiastic endorsement of the three nominees. "General Dempsey, Admiral Winnefeld and General Odierno have all excelled in key command and staff roles within their services and in the joint arena," the secretary said in a prepared statement. "They possess the right mix of intellectual heft, moral courage and strategic vision required to provide sound and candid advice to the president and his national security team," Gates continued. "Above all, they are proven leaders of men and women in combat operations over the past decade, and are uniquely qualified to guide and shape our military institutions through the challenging times ahead." Obama said he's been grateful for the advice and leadership of the current chairman and vice chairman. "Like President Bush before me, I've deeply valued Mike's professional steadiness and his personal integrity," he said. "On his watch, our military forces have excelled across the whole spectrum of missions, from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to relief efforts after the Haiti earthquake." Mullen has helped revitalize NATO, helped re-set relations with Russia, and has helped steer important relationships with China and Pakistan, the president said. "I believe that history will also record Mike Mullen as the chairman who said what he believed was right and declared that no one in uniform should ever have to sacrifice their integrity to serve their country," Obama said, referring to Mullen's public support for supporting repeal of the law that prevented gays from serving openly in the military. Obama called Cartwright a rare combination of technical expert and strategic thinker. The general has lead U.S. thinking on cyber, space and nuclear issues. "I'll always be personally grateful to Hoss for his friendship and partnership," the president said. "And as he concludes four decades of service in the Marine Corps that he loves, he can do so knowing that our nation is more secure, and our military is stronger, because of his remarkable career." Gates echoed Obama's testimonials of the two men. "I have enjoyed working with Admiral Mullen and General Cartwright and benefited greatly from their wise counsel," he said. "All Americans owe these two fine officers and their families a debt of gratitude, and I look forward to paying fuller tribute to their accomplishments at the appropriate time."

Biographies: Robert M. Gates Navy Adm. Mike Mullen Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld  Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno Related Sites: Obama's Remarks Gates' Statement on Dempsey Nomination Mullen's Statement on Dempsey Nomination

President Barack Obama announced Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during a Rose Garden ceremony on May 30, 2011. Here, Winnefeld, commander of U.S. Northern Command, speaks at a conference of the National Guard Association of the United States in Austin, Texas, Aug. 22, 2010. U.S. Army file photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill  Download screen-resolution Download high-resolution