DOD Committed to Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

June 15, 2023 | By Joseph Clark , DOD News |

DOD policy on AI is publicly available

The Department of Defense (DoD) of the United States has recognized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing military capabilities and addressing emerging security challenges. With the aim of harnessing AI technologies to maintain technological superiority and strengthen national defense, the DoD has formulated a comprehensive policy framework. This policy emphasizes the responsible and ethical development, deployment, and use of AI systems by the military. It encompasses guidelines for AI research, acquisition, and implementation, focusing on ensuring transparency, accountability, and human control over AI-enabled systems. By promoting collaboration, innovation, and adherence to ethical standards, the DoD seeks to leverage AI effectively while upholding the principles of safety, reliability, and national security.--Editorial Desk

The Defense Department is prioritizing ethical considerations and collaboration in its approach to developing and fielding military applications of artificial intelligence, a top Pentagon technology official said today.

Michael C. Horowitz, the director of the emerging capabilities policy office in the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, underscored the U.S.' commitment to leading the international conversation surrounding artificial intelligence during a panel discussion in Washington on setting rules and expectations for emerging technologies in national security.

A man in uniform points to a computer screen

Underpinning this commitment, Horowitz said, is a comprehensive set of policy decisions within DOD that governs the development and fielding of autonomous weapon systems, ethical artificial intelligence strategy, and the development of responsible artificial intelligence strategy and pathways.

U.S. leadership, in codifying these principles, is now driving responsible artificial intelligence policy formulation among international partners, he said.

A photo illustration depicting a soldier wearing virtual reality glasses with a chess set in the foreground

"If you look at NATO's ethical AI principles, for example, they're very similar to the Defense Department's ethical AI principles and that's not that's not an accident," Horowitz said. "It reflects in many ways the sort of common values and perspective on how we're thinking about... when we would want to use AI and how."

He said U.S. also led on the international stage by issuing its Political Declaration of Responsible Military use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in February.

In this post a photo illustration depicting a soldier wearing virtual reality glasses with a chess set in the foreground.

"That's a set of strong norms that lay out principles of what responsible use looks like that we're now working to bring other countries on board to endorse since we think that bringing the international community together on this issue, that there is a lot of possibility for cooperation and we want to encourage the rest of the world to take these issues as seriously as the department has," Horowitz said. "And in looking at our allies and partners, we're really encouraged by that."

That commitment to the responsible development of artificial intelligence, and its transparency concerning the development of policy surrounding emerging technologies, is also how the U.S. has distinguished itself from its global competitors, he said.

He said all DOD policy surrounding artificial intelligence and emerging technology is publicly available.

A small drone is photographed while hovering

"That's in contrast to some of the competitors of the United States who are a lot less transparent in what their policies are concerning the development and use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, including autonomous weapons systems," Horowitz said. "And we think that there's a real distinction there."

At the same time, the U.S. has remained committed to being at the leading edge of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, Horowitz said.

He said the rapid advance of the technology has opened up a wide array of use cases for artificial intelligence beyond defense. The U.S. continues to be "an engine of innovation when it comes to AI."

"The Defense Department does lots and lots of different experimentation with emerging technologies," Horowitz said. "And we both want to do them in a safe and responsible way, but also want to do them in a way that can push forward the cutting edge and ensure the department has access to the emerging technologies that it needs to stay ahead."

One Year Since the Conclusion of the Afghanistan War

 Message to the Force                               30th August 2022

Today, we mark one year since the end of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and I, like so many of you, have been reflecting on the sacrifice that American Service Members, Veterans, their families, and so many others made during America's longest war.

I first want to express my profound gratitude to all who served in Afghanistan, including everyone on our Department of Defense team.  Every American who contributed to our efforts shared a deep devotion to keeping our country safe, working toward a brighter future for the Afghan people, and standing up for liberty, democracy, and the rule of law.  As a veteran of the war, I witnessed firsthand the bravery, selflessness, and compassion that our men and women brought to the fight.  Your efforts make me proud to be your colleague - and even prouder to be an American.

Two decades of noble service demanded significant and selfless sacrifice.  Many Service members still bear the wounds of war, to body and to soul, and 2,461 brave heroes never made it home.  To our Gold Star families: We hold your loved ones in our hearts - and we pledge to you the unwavering commitment of a grateful Nation.

The
United States went to Afghanistan in 2001 to wage a necessary war of self-defense. 

On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda terrorists attacked our country.  They were able to plan and execute such a horrific attack because their Taliban hosts had given them safe haven in Afghanistan.  Since 2001, no enemy has been able to launch such an attack on our homeland, and that speaks to the entire U.S. government's efforts to defend our citizens from terrorist threats that could emanate from Afghanistan or anywhere around the globe.

Still, we know this work is not done.  We must keep a relentless focus on counterterrorism - and we are.  Just a few weeks ago, the United States delivered justice to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's deputy at the time of the 9/11 attacks.  And in recent months, our military has successfully carried out operations against key ISIS leaders.  We also know that preventing terrorist violence requires much more than military might.  We're committed to supporting a whole-of-government effort to address the root causes of violent extremism.  No one should doubt America's resolve to keep our people safe.

For me, there is no greater testament to the strength of a country's democracy than the fact that millions of people freely choose, every day, to defend it.  Those who step up to serve - whether in uniform or as part of our civilian workforce - do so because of the values we fight for: the rule of law, human dignity, and freedom.

So last year, in the war's final days, the United States, along with our partners and allies, conducted the largest air evacuation of civilians in American history, lifting more than 124,000 people to safety.  I'm proud that our military communities-and Americans from all walks of life-have welcomed our Afghan allies as they begin new lives in our country.

And our values continue to drive the important work that American patriots are doing around the world.  The United States is rushing urgently needed assistance to Ukraine in the face of Russia's unprovoked and reckless invasion.  We are firmly committed to supporting the people of Ukraine and to defending the rules-based international order against autocrats and aggressors anywhere.

As our country looks back on two decades of combat in Afghanistan, I understand that many people have hard questions about the costs of the war and what their sacrifices meant.  These are important discussions, and I hope we will keep having them with thoughtfulness and respect.

Last year, I said that although the Afghanistan war has ended, our gratitude to those who served never will.  Today, I renew that pledge.  To every man and woman who served in Afghanistan: This country will never forget what you did and what you gave.

Thank you.

May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

Lloyd J. Austin, III

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 

Brooke Toner: Life After the Knock on the Door

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

Brooke Toner, wife of Navy Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV, addresses audience members after being presented the Silver Star in honor of her husband at the at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley 
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2011 - Brooke Toner was 28 years old the day she heard the knock on her door.That knock brought the news every military spouse dreads: for Brooke, it meant her husband of less than three years was never coming home."It was the worst day of my life," she told the capacity crowd gathered at the Navy Memorial here yesterday for the award ceremony honoring her husband, Navy Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV.Toner died in Afghanistan while defending fellow service members from an enemy who had infiltrated the Afghan National Army. The Americans were unarmed and on a physical training run when the gunman started shooting. Toner accosted the man and bought time for another service member to seek help.After Brooke accepted her husband's posthumous Silver Star from Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, she told American Forces Press Service how she felt about the event, and how her life has changed since that knock on the door in 2009.Surrounded by hundreds of friends, family, and 'Frankie' Toner's fellow sailors, she said, "I'm just so proud of my husband. It's as simple as that. I'm just proud that he's a man who lived the way he did, who loved me the way that he did, just who he was as a person."Toner was a great friend, brother, support system to others and a Navy officer, she said."He was just so incredible," she added.Their first date was six years to the day before he was killed March 27, 2009, she said."I knew him for seven months before that; we started dating in 2003, and we were married in 2006," she said. "We were married for two years, seven months, eight days."Brooke said she is now involved in the American Widow Project, which a fellow military widow, Taryn Davis, founded after her own husband was killed.On the group's website under "our mission," visitors will find this:"Since 2001, nearly 6,000 U.S. service members have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around half of these service members were married, leaving an estimated 3,000 military widows across our country. While the service member's sacrifice is acknowledged, many simply forget or fail to recognize the sacrifice of the spouse who is now left a widow of war. Oftentimes the invisible wounds of military widows are disregarded due to age or a simple lack of knowledge and understanding."The American Widow Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter ... military widow to military widow."Brooke said the organization "means a lot to me, because I know how alone I felt. Just being able to meet with other women who understand the love that I have for my husband, and understanding that it's forever."The group is "full of love, full of life, full of laughter, surprisingly," she said. "For me to be able to let another widow know that they're not alone, through the organization � I couldn't ask for a better gift, because I know how I felt."In the two and a half years since her husband died, Brooke said, she has moved back to Idaho, where her "entire family" lives."After not living there for 12 years, I decided it would be a good support system at home, which is wonderful," she said.She also got a dog, which she named Kailua after the place she lived with her husband in Hawaii."I call him Kai. We picked out the name � we wanted to name our pets after places where we had lived," she added.Brooke said she travels to retreats "with the widows" and helps Davis with the group in any capacity she can."I'm just keeping busy. Each day I wake up and say, 'I'm going to have a good day today.' Because it's not always easy," she said. "So I make myself smile, and I find a way to really live and love life, the way me and Frankie lived and loved life."

Related Sites: American Widow Project Related Articles: Ceremony Reveals Threads Connecting Military Life Mullen Presents Silver Star to Fallen Sailor's Widow

Vietnam Vet Still in the Fight

By Army Spc. Jennifer Andersson
159th Combat Aviation Brigade
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Sept. 20, 2011 - Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roy Brown proved his mettle as a combat pilot in Vietnam. Now, 41 years later, he's proving his stamina and love of the military with service in Afghanistan.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roy Brown, now serving in Afghanistan, stands with his helicopter in the early 1970s when he was Cobra pilot serving in Vietnam. Then, and now, Brown served with the 101st Airborne Division. Courtesy photo

Brown, who also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, began his career with the 101st Airborne Division, and is serving with the Screaming Eagles again as his career draws to a close. As the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade's liaison officer to the Air Force's 702nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, which supports Regional Command � South here, Brown is in no hurry to retire."Call it patriotism or call it my admiration of the Army's principles -- its organizational objectives and goals, its performance over the decades in areas not only of military success, but what I think of as social equity," he said. "But your life's works need to have a higher purpose."
Explaining how his career began, the Oklahoma native said it was a $5 bill that transformed his boyhood dream into reality in 1971.
"My mother asked me how I knew I wanted to be a pilot if I'd never flown, so I went to the local airport, paid $5 and rode in a Piper 140 airplane for about 20 minutes," he said. "Then I walked right into the Army recruiting office and said, 'Send me to flight school.'"
The recruiter told then-19-year-old Brown about a program called "High School to Flight School." Still in his first semester of college, he knew flight school was a good opportunity, so he took it. His mother had reservations about him going to war, but knew that flight school was something her son would never be afforded any other way.
"He always wanted to be a pilot, even when he was a little boy, playing with [toy] airplanes," his mother, Betty S. Terry-Schmidt, said. "It did not surprise me that he chose to be a pilot."
Following basic training at Fort Polk, La., Brown went on to primary flight school at Fort Walters, Texas, and advanced flight school at Fort Rucker, Ala. Even then, Brown was a force to be reckoned with. As the custom held on the day of a pilot's first solo flight, fellow students would throw the pilot into the local swimming pool.
"I evaded them successfully for about two hours, which, at that time, I think was a record," Brown said. "Then, of course, I was finally caught and thrown into the pool."
Brown proved to be an exceptional beginner pilot and graduated at the top of his class. This distinction earned him the privilege of choosing which air frame he would fly.
"I knew Vietnam was a hot and muggy place," he said. "There was one aircraft with air conditioning, so I went with the [AH-1] Cobra. Besides that, I knew if somebody shot at me, I could shoot back."
And choosing the Cobra guaranteed Brown would get shot at. "The question was not 'Who's going to Vietnam?'" he said. "If there was one or two not going to Vietnam, that was the unusual part. Everyone was going to Vietnam -- me, especially, when I chose the Cobra. That was 100 percent assurance you were going."
While Brown embraced the adventure on which he was about to embark, his mother struggled to temper her fears with the support she knew her son needed.
"As a mother, I was anxious. Not about him leaving, but about him going into war," Terry-Schmidt said. "I could understand his feelings, though. He was very determined, so I could only back him."
Rather than feeling fear or anxiety about heading to war, Brown chose to think positively. "We were apprehensive about what could happen in Vietnam," he said. "At the same time, we were young and bold, and we would be the ones to beat the odds."
While Brown beat the odds, not all of his buddies did, nor did the enemy. But despite the casualties he saw in Vietnam, he said he never experienced post-traumatic stress the way some veterans have. "I was young and naive enough that it didn't faze me," he said.
His job as a gun pilot was to take down the enemy by any means necessary, and he did his job. "Nonmilitary people don't understand, especially back in the days of Vietnam," he said, "and if you can't deal with that part of it, the military may not be a career path you should take."
"He was always a strong young man, and he knew what he had to do," Terry-Schmidt said.
Back at home, Terry-Schmidt had to endure long gaps in communication from Brown, with only the news to keep her informed. Sometimes it would be three weeks or longer before she'd hear from him.
"It would seem like forever," she said. "I was always anxious for his safety."
To keep her mind off the periods of no news from her son, she kept herself occupied.
"At that time, I was working, and I had younger children still at home, so in the daytime, I was busy," she said. "At night time, I would think of him, and of course, I did a lot of praying, trusting that God would take care of him and my prayers were answered."
Communication then was not like it is today, where soldiers can have contact with family and friends at most any time of the day, Terry-Schmidt said. This time around, she hears from her son a few times a week.
Improvements in communication have improved not only soldiers' morale, it also has improved how they fight wars, Brown said.
Throughout his career, he has become qualified on 11 types of aircraft -- both rotary and fixed wing -- some with multiple models, like the UH-1 Huey models B, C, D and H. He has deployed five times.
"I feel more confident with him being in Afghanistan than I did with him in Vietnam because of the experience he has now," Terry-Schmidt said. "I know he is a very careful pilot. He knows his abilities. I know he wishes he was not in Afghanistan, but that's where his duty has led him, and I respect him for that."

Marine Brings Experience to Unit

By Marine Corps Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington  2nd Marine Aircraft Wing CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan, June 20, 2011 - Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, established in 2008, is one of the youngest squadrons in the Marine Corps, but its Marines are not without experience. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Lilia A. Garcia, the work center supervisor for Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3, and a native of Mission, Texas, is deployed to Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan. Garcia joined the Marine Corps in 1995 as an unmanned aerial vehicle technician. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samantha H. Arrington  A gunnery sergeant deployed here with the squadron has served the UAV community throughout her entire enlistment of nearly 17 years. Lilia A. Garcia oversees all RQ-7B Shadow UAV mechanical and launching operations for the squadron. The Mission, Texas, native joined the Marine Corps in 1995 as a UAV technician. "I've known Garcia since 1997," said Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Charles D. Carter, the squadron's maintenance control chief and a native of Newport News, Va. "She is the kind of Marine who is focused like a laser beam on getting the mission accomplished." Even though many Marines physically tower over the short-statured Texan, there is firmness in Garcia's soft words. She rarely raises her voice when addressing her troops, likely attributable to the knowledge she carries after nearly two decades in the UAV community. "She works longer hours than everyone else in the maintenance department does just so she is available to all of her Marines," Carter said. "I have developed an incredible respect for her abilities." "Working with the junior Marines is one of my favorite parts of my job," Garcia said. "When the Marines are out doing their jobs, whether it's launching or controlling the aircraft, I know I've done my part. My junior Marines have a lot of potential, and they work very hard." When Garcia entered the Marine Corps UAV community, she said unmanned aerial vehicles had recently formed into self-sustaining aviation squadrons. Previously, UAVs were directly attached to the ground units they now support. "We became a very valuable asset because we were able to use our aircraft to watch over ground troops," Garcia said. "For the squadron, it is just important that we do our part." Deployed Marine Corps UAV squadrons use small, lightweight vehicles that are able to stay in the air for several hours to supply Marines and their coalition partners with aerial information throughout combat missions. Garcia has deployed seven times to locations all over the world. In 2003, when the United States and its coalition partners began Operation Iraqi Freedom, Garcia said Marine Corps UAV squadrons adopted a heavy deployment schedule. "We would deploy for seven months and come back for five months and then deploy again," Garcia said. "Because of that deployment tempo the Marine Corps created [Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3] to try and slow down the deployment rate. It took several years but it has helped." Garcia and the other Marines of VMU-3 currently call Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., home. The squadron arrived in Afghanistan in May for its second deployment to support NATO International Security Assistance Force missions. "When I joined the Marine Corps 16 years ago I didn't think I was going to stay in," Garcia said. "I love what I do, though, and that's what has kept me in."

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation

By John D. Banusiewicz  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - An intelligence-driven U.S. operation in Pakistan killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden yesterday, President Barack Obama announced in a nationally televised address from the White House late last night. The president revealed that shortly after taking office in January 2009, he ordered CIA Director Leon E. Panetta to make bin Laden's death or capture the top priority of the U.S. war against the al-Qaida terrorist organization. "Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden. It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground," he said. The president said he met repeatedly with his national security team as information developed indicating bin Laden was at a compound in Pakistan, and that last week he determined enough information was available and authorized the operation. "Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama said. "A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. "No Americans were harmed," he continued. "They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body." Obama noted that bin Laden had been al-Qaida's leader and symbol for more than 20 years and continued to plot attacks against the United States and its allies. "The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaida, yet his death does not mark the end of our effort," Obama said. "There is no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must, and we will, remain vigilant at home and abroad." The president emphasized that the war against al-Qaida is not a war against Islam. "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader," he said. "He was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al-Qaida has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity." Counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped in finding bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding, the president said. "Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people. Tonight, I called [Pakistani] President [Asif Ali] Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations, and going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al-Qaida and its affiliates." The president praised those who worked to find bin Laden and those who carried out the operation that killed him. "Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who've worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome," he said. "The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. "We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation," he continued, "for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day."

The compound was a virtual fortress

Mon, May 2, 2011 at 8:23 PM

By Jim Garamone 

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2011 - The plan to attack the compound of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden was the result of relentless intelligence work and operational professionalism, White House officials, speaking on background, said this morning.

The operation was the culmination of years of careful and highly advanced intelligence work, officials said, as officers from the CIA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency worked as a team to analyze and pinpoint the Pakistani compound where bin Laden was killed.

Once the intelligence pointed precisely to the compound in Abbottabad –- a town 35 miles north of Pakistan's capital of Islamabad –- the work on the mission began between the intelligence and military communities.

"In the end, it was the matchless skill and courage of these Americans that secured this triumph for our country and the world," one official said.

A small team conducted the helicopter raid on the compound. An official called it a complex operation, noting that the compound was a virtual fortress -– built in 2006 with high walls, razor wire and other defense features. Its suburban location and proximity to Islamabad complicated the operation, the official said.

"The men who executed this mission accepted this risk, practiced to minimize those risks, and understood the importance of the target to the national security of the United States," he said. "This operation was a surgical raid by a small team designed to minimize collateral damage and to pose as little risk as possible to noncombatants on the compound or to Pakistani civilians in the neighborhood."

U.S. helicopters delivered the team to the compound, and the team was on the ground for less than 40 minutes, an official said. They did not encounter any local authorities. In addition to bin Laden, three adult males were killed in the raid.

"There were several women and children at the compound," the official said. "One woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant. Two other women were injured."

One of the U.S. helicopters was lost at the compound due to mechanical failure. The crew destroyed it on the ground, and the assault force and crew members boarded the remaining aircraft to leave, an official said.

"There's also no doubt that the death of Osama bin Laden marks the single greatest victory in the U.S.-led campaign to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida," the official said. "It is a major and essential step in bringing about al-Qaida's eventual destruction."

Though the organization's terrorists still are dangerous and al-Qaida may not fragment immediately, an official said, "the loss of bin Laden puts the group on a path of decline that will be difficult to reverse."

The United States did not share any intelligence on the raid with any other country, the official said.

"We believed it was essential to the security of the operation and our personnel," he said. "In fact, only a very small group of people inside our own government knew of this operation in advance." Shortly after the raid, he added, U.S. officials contacted senior Pakistani leaders and told them about the raid and its results.

"Since 9/11, the United States has made it clear to Pakistan that we would pursue bin Laden wherever he might be," the official said. "Pakistan has long understood that we are at war with al-Qaida. The United States had a legal and moral obligation to act on the information it had."

Related Articles:

Task Force Assesses Likely Impact of bin Laden's Death 

Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done' 

U.S. Kills bin Laden in Intelligence-driven Operation 

Mullen Welcomes Medal of Honor Heroes to Pentagon

By Lisa Daniel  American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON: Navy Adm. Mike Mullen joined service leaders today in honoring those he called America's "bravest of the brave" in a Pentagon ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses audience members during a ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes honoring the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor, March 25, 2011. DOD photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  Thirty of the 85 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, along with their families, joined the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior service leaders in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, where their names are engraved on wall hangings among the 3,454 recipients. Today's military leaders thanked the veterans for their service -- most rendered decades ago -- while an Army band played military marches, "America the Beautiful" and other patriotic songs before the ceremony. "For those of us who serve, and have had the opportunity to meet many of you, we marvel at your service, marvel at your dedication, and marvel at your caring," said Mullen, who stood nearby U.S. and service-branch flags and oversized replicas of the Navy, Army and Air Force versions of the medal. The Medal of Honor recipients serve as mentors to the nation's service members and are a bridge between the military and civilian communities, Mullen said. "Your help in connecting us to the American people is a very important endeavor," he said. Mullen called the characteristics that embody the medal recipients –- honor, sacrifice, and service –- "iconic and quintessentially American." President Abraham Lincoln sought and received an act of Congress to create the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, Mullen said, noting the medal came from "one of the darkest chapters in American history, and from the man credited with saving" the United States. The medal is "bestowed on the bravest of the brave for the most selfless and noble acts ever witnessed on the battlefield," Mullen said. It is the most democratic of awards, he added, having no regard for rank, race or class of recipients. More than half of its recipients did not survive the battle for which it was earned, he said. "These heroes –- and I do not use that word lightly -– have demonstrated how just one American can not only make a difference, but can often make history," Mullen said. "We give thanks that here, today, we live in a country where brave young Americans are still willing to give their all in defense of our nation," the chairman said. He noted that the 10 years that today's military has been at war is the longest period of war in American history. Leo K. Thorsness, a retired Air Force colonel and president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society received the coveted medal for his actions in Vietnam. The 85 living recipients of the medal range in age from 26 to 90, he said, and they have the "common thread of passionate love of country." "We wear this for those who can't," Thorsness said, referring to the medals hanging by a light blue sash around the necks of the recipients. "Many more are deserving and didn't receive it, either because they slipped through the cracks or there were no eyewitnesses" to their valor, he said. Today's ceremony marked a personal anniversary for one medal recipient. March 31 will mark 40 years since Brian M. Thacker of Wheaton, Md., was pinned down on a mountain ridge in Vietnam's Kontum province, where he made a strategic decision to try to fend off his North Vietnamese attackers alone rather than risk the lives of all the men in his unit. Thacker was a 25-year-old Army first lieutenant who had extended his time in college ROTC in the hopes of avoiding the draft, he recalled today. But while fulfilling his military commitment in September 1970, he was sent to Vietnam, where "from the American point of view, we were turning the war over" to the South Vietnamese. On March 31, 1971, Thacker was the team leader of an artillery battery on a mountaintop observation fire base collocated with South Vietnamese units when they were overrun by a much larger contingent of North Vietnamese soldiers. The enemy used rockets, grenades, flamethrowers and automatic weapons, while Thacker's group had just one machine gun. Three of his five men were killed in the first 15 minutes. Thacker said he had known for some time he didn't want to make a career of the military, but that did not hold him back in service or combat. "If I got any criticism, it was that I couldn't be reined in," he said. It was with that focus and determination that Thacker encouraged his troops through hours of close combat while he directed airstrikes from an exposed position. By late afternoon, Thacker determined his unit would have to withdraw. He stayed behind -- alone, and with only an M-16 rifle -- to direct airstrikes on his own position to suppress the enemy while his unit climbed the steep terrain to a level where helicopters could reach them. Wounded and unable to catch up to his men, Thacker made his way down the mountain and hid in thick vegetation, eluding the enemy for eight days until he was rescued. Even after 40 years, Thacker said, he still thinks daily about the men who served with him –- and died –- on that mountaintop. "I get to wake up to a new sunrise every day because of their sacrifices," he said.  (Issued on :March 25, 2011)

Biographies: Navy Adm. Mike Mullen Related Sites: Special Report: Medal of Honor Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Terrorism, Weapons Top Threat List: Gates

Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 7:12 PM

By Cheryl Pellerin  American Forces Press Service ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, March 21, 2011 - In a nation he spent much of his career studying and a city he last visited at the end of the Cold War, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates answered questions here today from Russian naval officers about the U.S. Defense Department, its problems and its future. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with junior officers at the new State Russian Naval Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 21, 2011. Gates is visiting Russia to meet with Russian officials and discuss defense reforms under way in both nations, as well as global security and arms-control issues. DOD photo by Cherie Cullen  After delivering a speech at the new State Russian Naval Museum, Gates invited questions from his audience of mid-level officers from the Kuznetsov Naval Academy. "The biggest threats we face are actually those where international cooperation is significantly required," Gates said. "The first is terrorism, ... and the other is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, particularly proliferation in states that have threatened to destroy other states." Terrorism sent the United States into Afghanistan and into a difficult fight with al-Qaida, he added. Nuclear proliferation in Iran brought "all the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, France -- together to try and bring pressure to bear" on that nation, he said. "It is certainly my hope," the secretary added, "that none of us ever have to use military force to deal with these proliferation problems, but rather that we can persuade these countries ... to give up these weapons or weapons programs voluntarily." One of the biggest U.S. defense problems, Gates said, involves very expensive weapons systems ordered many years ago. Some have ended up costing much more than anticipated, and others "have proven not to be useful in the 21st century," he told the Russian officers. The secretary said he's made progress on the problem, saving American taxpayers $300 billion or more as a result. "But being able to be more selective about the weapons programs that we have," he said, "making them relevant to [tomorrow's] challenges and getting them delivered on time and as budgeted is a challenge that every military in the world faces in the 21st century." The world is not going to face the kinds of threats it experienced in the 20th century, the secretary said. "We will face a range of potential conflicts that slides along a spectrum of lethality," he explained. "We will confront nonstate actors that potentially have the capabilities of states, whether it's in the cyber area or in the case of Hezbollah, which has tens of thousands of rockets and missiles -- more than most governments in the world." Perhaps the biggest national security and strategic challenge, Gates told the group, is preparing militaries for diverse threats and security challenges under limited budgets and getting the maximum possible flexibility for using those capabilities technologically and in terms of training. Gates said the way weapons are procured is a major structural change needed in the U.S. military. Most services still buy their own weapons, he added, "but in fact a number of those capabilities can be shared among all of the services." "As we have learned to fight jointly and are structured jointly," he added, "we need to learn how to buy weapons jointly." The secretary cited remotely piloted vehicles as an example, noting that each service has its own program for buying them. "And we think we could save a lot of money if they went together in these programs," he said. In a discussion of training and education for U.S. service members, Gates acknowledged repeated rotations for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cut into full-spectrum training for the whole range of missions that each service is supposed to perform. Turning to U.S.-Russian cooperation, Gates said he would like to see more effort put into an exchange program for Russian and U.S. military officers and noncommissioned officers. "We would more than welcome exchanging students between our professional military training and education organizations and Russia's," Gates said. The effort would benefit both countries, he said, and he promised to raise the issue with Russian Defense Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov during a meeting tomorrow. "It would do both of our militaries good to learn from one another and have the experience of spending time together," he added, noting that the U.S. military services "would be very interested in this at every level, not just the most-senior officers but mid-grade officers and even noncommissioned officers."

Biographies: Robert M. Gates  Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Gates State Department Background Note on Russia

Soldier Sings for Love of Music

By Army Sgt. James Sims 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 11, 2011 - The little girl climbed the stairs to her room and shut the door. The world faded away as she grabbed her hairbrush and took the stage before an imaginary audience of thousands of screaming fans. Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer Kohany sings the national anthem at the retirement ceremony for Brig. Gen. Ronald Morrow, deputy commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, in Springfield, Ill., Jan. 22, 2011. U.S Army photo by Sgt. James Sims  For as long as she can remember, Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer Kohany of Chicago, an Illinois National Guard intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd Brigade Support Battalion in Champaign, has been singing in front of the mirror in her room as she did growing up in Valhalla, N.Y., or in a stadium filled with thousands of people before various military functions and sporting events. "I can't remember not hearing Jenny sing," said Debbie Kohany of Oak Lawn, Ill., the soldier's mother. "She was in chorus from first grade all the way through graduation of high school. I would so love hearing her sing at home when she was in her room, whether it was opera, country or rock. When Jen sings, her face lights up and her eyes sparkle. You can see how much she loves to sing." Kohany continued her passion while attending Columbia College in Chicago. "In college I was involved with Columbia College's chorus, and considered a major in vocal performance, but decided instead to major in American sign -language interpretation," she said. When Kohany was in basic training, one of her drill sergeants emphasized the importance of being aware of U.S. military history, in addition to learning basic warrior skills. She was randomly chosen and asked if she knew the national anthem, she said, and having grown up in a patriotic family, she did. Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the British attack on U.S. forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. "They called me to the front of the 'war room' and called everyone to attention while I sang," Kohany said. "The drill sergeants stood there in shock that not only did I know the words, but I actually knew how to sing, as well." Since then, fellow soldiers have asked her to sing at various events. Kohany was part of the Illinois Army National Guard's largest call-up since World War II and deployed to Afghanistan with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 2008. During her deployment, a contest called Phoenix Idol showcased the talent of soldiers serving in Task Force Phoenix. "A good friend of mine, Staff Sergeant Adam Gordon, was the emcee of Phoenix Idol and asked if I would come out on New Year's Eve and participate," Kohany said. "I obliged, with no intention of entering the competition, because I had a pretty hectic schedule and didn't really have the time to learn and practice music for each week's category." Kohany did not win the contest, but was noticed by several soldiers on Camp Phoenix. She was introduced to Tom Negovan, a WGN reporter from Chicago, while he was visiting Camp Phoenix to do a three-part series on Afghanistan, she said. "[Negovan] interviewed me, and asked if I would have any interest in singing at a Cubs game when I returned back to the states," Kohany said. "Sure enough, we stayed in touch, and as soon as I had a number to call, I was receiving a call from a Cubs publicist, asking if I'd be available to sing for the opening." Though she grew up as a Yankees fan, Kohany said, she also likes the Chicago Cubs. Singing in front of 40,000 people, with her friends and family present, was amazing, she added. "Listening to someone who has given their blood, sweat and tears for this country and then so passionately sings our national anthem gives me chills every time," said Army Staff Sgt. John Robinson of Champaign, who served with Kohany as a chaplain's assistant in Afghanistan. "I believe every time someone like Jen sings it, she does it as an honor to our nation and for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice." Her most meaningful performance came in June 2005, though not on the happiest note, Kohany said. "My mom had been engaged to one of the most incredible people I've ever met, Eamonn," she said. "They had put off getting married while I was in college, but because of the closeness of our relationship, I referred to him as my stepdad. My mom manages a small Irish bar on the south side of Chicago. Every so often, I would stop in on a Friday night when Eamonn could persuade me to sing on karaoke night. He was really the only person who could charm me into singing there, and always asked me to sing 'Angel' by Sarah McLaughlin; both mine and his favorite song." That January, a friend of Eamonn's died, and he asked Kohany to sing a couple of songs at the wake. After the church ceremony, someone approached Eamonn and complimented the voice of his "daughter." "He acknowledged his pride, and it was one of the prouder moments in my own life," Kohany said. "Little did I know that only six months later, Eamonn would pass away, while at work, at 1 o'clock in the morning. "It was one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do," she continued, "but I knew it would mean the world to my mom and family. So at his memorial ceremony, I sang 'Angel.' That certainly wasn't my favorite performance, but it was the most monumental. It was hard, and I knew that if I could get through the song that I could do nearly anything, and I know that he would've been proud." Kohany said her mother has encouraged her to pursue a career in singing, but that she sings for the love of singing, not the love of fame. "I do it because I enjoy it, not because I'm trying to get discovered or anything like that," she said. "Since high school, she has urged me to pursue a singing career, but I've found my niche with the military, and I'm pretty happy with that."

Related Sites: Illinois National Guard

U.S. Military Aircraft Fly Egyptians Home

By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 5, 2011 - Four U.S. military aircraft flew 312 Egyptians home today from the Tunisia-Libya border where they fled to escape the violence that continues between government forces and rebels in Libya. U.S. Airmen with the 435th Air Mobility Squadron, from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, unload blankets, tarps and water containers provided by U.S. AID at Djerba Zarzis Airport in Tunisia. The U.S. government is working with the international community to meet the humanitarian needs of the Lybian people and others in the country who fled across the borders in recent political unrest. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Brendan Stephens  Two Marine Corps KC-130s and two Air Force C-130s supported the effort. U.S. Air Forces Africa, also known as 17th Air Force, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, flew the C-130s in the first rotation of U.S. military flights from Tunisia to Egypt, Navy Cmdr. Wendy Snyder, a Defense Department spokeswoman, told American Forces Press Service. Also, U.S. Africa Command, which oversees the effort and is based in Stuttgart, Germany, announced today on the social networking site, Twitter, "Two USMC KC-130s arrived safely in Cairo, flying 132 Egyptian nationals to Egypt from Tunisia." Two of the aircraft flew to Pisa, Italy, yesterday to pick up humanitarian aid supplies from the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance warehouse at Leghorn Army Depot. Donations included 2,000 blankets, 40 rolls of plastic sheeting and 9,600 10-liter plastic water containers. The aircraft landed with the supplies at Tunisia's Zarzis Airport in Djerba near sunset as aircraft from around the world participated in evacuation and humanitarian missions. Also yesterday, Naval Forces Europe Africa, which coordinates U.S. Navy support to Africom, established the joint task for Odyssey Dawn to provide tactical command and control for emergency evacuations, humanitarian relief, and future Africom missions in support of the U.S. government response to unrest in Libya. So far, six U.S. military aircraft are assigned to support humanitarian operations, using U.S. bases in Greece and Italy as hubs. The effort is part of a larger U.S. government emergency response directed by President Barack Obama. "The United States, and the entire world, continues to be outraged by the appalling violence against the Libyan people," Obama said during a March 3 news conference. "The United States is helping to lead an international effort to deter further violence, put in place unprecedented sanctions to hold the [Col. Moammar] Gadhafi government accountable, and support the aspirations of the Libyan people. We are also responding quickly to the urgent humanitarian needs that are developing," the president said. On the same day, Obama approved the use of U.S. military aircraft to help Egyptians who fled to the Tunisian border to get back home to Egypt, and other humanitarian efforts.

Related Sites: U.S. Africa Command Related Articles: Air Force Joins Effort to Help Libyan Evacuees