National Guard ready for Winter Storm

Posted on Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 7:39 PM

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Orrell of National Guard Bureau WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2011 - In response to blizzard conditions and strong winter storms across a third of the country, six governors have declared states of emergency and about 1,100 National Guard members from 11 states have been activated or are on standby, National Guard Bureau officials said. Soldiers with the Illinois National Guard's 3637th Maintenance Company load their Humvees before moving out to provide roadside assistance to stranded motorists on Illinois interstate highways, Feb. 1, 2011. Courtesy photo  As of 6 p.m. EST yesterday, the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin had declared states of emergency, and the Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin National Guard had activated. Meanwhile, Guard members in Indiana, Kansas, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania were on standby, officials said. A day after Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency, the Missouri National Guard called up more than 600 soldiers and airmen to conduct emergency missions throughout the state. The Missouri Guard members will be spread over three task forces, Army Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general, said. "Our force is seasoned by dozens of overseas deployments and 18 state emergency missionssince 2005," Danner said. "Our citizen-soldiers and airmen are ready to protect their fellow Missourians in their time of need, whether they are conducting door-to-door safety visits or clearing critical paths for emergency vehicles so first responders can do their jobs." Soldiers and airmen with Task Force East, based in St. Louis; Task Force Northwest, based in Kansas City; and Task Force Southwest, based in Springfield, are making door-to-door safety visits, providing critical infrastructure power generation, helping stranded motorists, conducting presence patrols and clearing emergency routes to support first responders. The Missouri Guard also has sent liaison officers to emergency operation centers. Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has activated more than 500 Illinois National Guard members to help stranded motorists. They will be stationed at rest areas along Interstate 70 and other highways and will coordinate with the Illinois State Police to ensure the safety of travelers stranded along the roads. "We must do everything we can to keep motorists safe during this massive winter storm," Quinn said. "Illinois Department of Transportation crews are working nonstop to clear roadways, and the Illinois State Police will also be closely monitoring our highways. These troops from the Illinois National Guard will help ensure public safety along the roadways, and I urge everyone to exercise caution when traveling." Guard members stationed along the highways will provide water, snack bars and roadside safety tips to stranded motorists and will relay information regarding road conditions, vehicle accidents and stranded motorists to state police officers. "I'm proud that the Illinois National Guard is able to play our part in responding to this winter storm," said Army Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, Illinois adjutant general. "Our soldiers and airmen respond to the governor's call to help in state emergencies, just as we answer the president's call to serve overseas. It takes selfless citizens to serve in today's National Guard –- whether in Illinois or across the world." In Arkansas, the National Guard has about five Guard members transporting supplies from Little Rock to the Washington County emergency management facility in Fayetteville in preparation for any needed assistance. The Indiana National Guard had not yet been activated last night, but about 875 Guard members were on standby. About 30 members of the Iowa National Guard are helping stranded motorists. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback declared a state of emergency, which activates the disaster response and recovery portions of the Kansas Response Plan, which authorizes state resources and funds to expedite emergency assistance statewide, including the National Guard. In Oklahoma, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is using the Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City for equipment staging, but no National Guard personnel are anticipated to be used to support this FEMA mission assignment, officials said. The Texas National Guard has about 30 Guard members assisting stranded motorists in Wichita Falls and Lubbock. With Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declaring a state of emergency, Air Force Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, the state's adjutant general, can activate elements of the Wisconsin National Guard to active duty to assist local authorities if needed. The declaration also directs all state agencies to assist in any response or recovery efforts. New Jersey and Pennsylvania have Guard members on standby, but no mission requirements had arisen as of last night.

Related Sites: National Guard Bureau

Art in War Ground

By Army Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell of Task Force Bastogne KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Feb. 1, 2011 - The soldier's ink-stained, dirt-caked hands grasped his body armor and helmet as he prepared to depart the dimly lit plywood building on top of Observation Post Mustang. Army Pfc. Luke I. Schlueter finishes a unit logo in the tactical operations center of Observation Post Mustang in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province, Jan. 28, 2011. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Burrell  Bracing against the crisp, whipping wind on the 6,500-foot mountain, Army Pfc. Luke I. Schlueter pulls on his gloves and adjusts his fleece jacket before settling down to look through various sets of binoculars and scopes at the draws, spurs and ridges surrounding the small observation post. For the last nine months in eastern Afghanistan, pulling guard duty has been Schlueter's job as a cavalry scout assigned to Troop C, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Bandit, of the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team. "I do my job because it's my job, but my hobby is art," Schlueter said. "Taking a blank piece of paper and making something out of it is just a way of reminding me why I'm here and what's going on." Since age 6 growing up in Okinawa, Japan, Schlueter employed art as a way to express himself. His mother bought him coloring books, but he wouldn't color in them. Instead, he'd trace the outlines. While living at the top of Afghanistan, he has plenty of outlines to trace now. "You've got all these mountains," he said. "Especially the clouds and everything that are here, it's crazy. Where I'm from in Nebraska, it's all flat. I mean, you get to see clouds and stuff, but not like it 'is here.' It's ... it's ... it's ridiculous." Schlueter, from Bellevue, Neb., draws anything –- mountains, people, animals, surrealistic landscapes, or whatever his buddies ask of him. "When people see something they want me to draw and get something off their mind, that's usually when I come into play," Schlueter said. "They say, 'Hey Schlueter, draw this,' and it gives them a laugh." Since following his older cousin and sister into the Army, he has put his talents to use at some odd times. "I was in basic training, and the night before you get out -- when everybody's cleaning and everything -- I got told to paint the barracks –- all three floors," Schlueter said. "I painted everything. And then I painted the squadron rock, which the squadron sergeant major gave me a coin for, because he was really impressed with it." In the tactical operations center at Observation Post Mustang, Schlueter has been working on another piece of art. For the past few days, he has been hunkered close to a large eagle he's drawing around his unit's crest. Past unit emblems adorn the walls, providing a respite from the utilitarian maps, charts and wires. "It's nice to work on a piece that's going to be around for a while," Schlueter said. His squadron's blue and red logo covers nearly half of a wall. He added that soldiers' esprit de corps at their hilltop living quarters may benefit from his efforts to bring a little more color to Army green. "I've been told the reason why Wal-Mart's blue is because it helps people who are shopping be more relaxed. So yeah, I guess it makes people have better morale," he said with a laugh.

Related Sites: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Four governors declared states of emergency

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Orrell of National Guard Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2011 - Four governors have declared states of emergency and one has mobilized his state's National Guard due to blizzard warnings and strong winter storms.

Army Staff Sgt. Travis Radtke and Army Staff Sgt. Jason Copley, both of the Missouri National Guard, perform preventive maintenance checks on vehicles at the Missouri National Guard armory in Springfield, Mo., Jan. 31, 2011. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard in preparation for a severe winter storm. U.S. Army photo by Ann Keyes

By 9 a.m. EST today, the governors of Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois had declared states of emergency, with three to six inches of sleet and up to a foot and a half of snow anticipated for some areas.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon mobilized about 600 Missouri National Guard members to support local authorities with emergency route clearance, door-to-door safety visits, generator assistance and stranded-motorist support, Missouri Guard officials said. The Missouri Guard also has sent liaison officers to emergency operation centers in affected cities and counties.
Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Danner, Missouri's adjutant general, said that the Missouri Guard has dealt with similar situations before, and that he feels confident Guard members will get the job done again.
"The leadership and soldiers and airmen of the Missouri National Guard are seasoned professionals," Danner said. "We will apply lessons learned from years of experience to help the citizens of Missouri."
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is using the Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Okla., for equipment staging, but National Guard officials said they don't anticipate this FEMA mission assignment will require Guard support.
 

Related Sites:
Missouri National Guard

Defense Employees Top $17 Million in CFC Donations

Posted on Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 3:53 AM By Terri Moon Cronk 0f American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2011 - For the second straight year, Defense Department employees donated or pledged more than $17 million in the Combined Federal Campaign, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said today. Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III presents a check for $17.2 million to Rene Acosta, president and CEO of Global Impact, the firm that manages the Combined Federal Campaign, at a Jan. 31, 2011, ceremony at the Pentagon. DOD photo by R.D. Ward  "Year after year we've demonstrated a strong commitment to service and to charity," Lynn said to award winners and canvassers at an awards ceremony in the Pentagon auditorium. "[Dr. Martin Luther King] was devoted to enhancing the lives of others and expanding opportunities for all," Lynn said. "Dr. King once remarked, 'Life's persistent and urgent question for all was, 'What are you doing for others?' Over the course of the past year, thousands across the department have answered that question." Even in today's time of economic challenges and hardships, Lynn noted, Defense CFC donors made sacrifices. "The department as a whole is not immune to tough economic realities," he said. "While we confront these hardships, there are those out there for whom the times are even tougher. In these challenging times, their struggles are a challenge to us all." That, he added, makes the "compassion of giving by those in this room and throughout the department all the more admirable." Lynn told the audience their philanthropy led the CFC to another resounding success. The $17.2 million raised by DOD employees, Lynn said, "underscores the department's culture and tradition of charity, and these contributions will have a real impact on real people." Defense employees, Lynn added, donated 10 percent more than the average federal worker in this year's campaign. "Each one of you is responsible for helping feed the hungry. Each one of you is essential for helping house the homeless. Each one of you ensures expanded access to education, and lifts up those less fortunate than ourselves," he said. Lynn noted the campaign also lent a hand to members of the military. "Your charitable efforts are vital to improving the lives of wounded service members and their families," he said. "The results of your efforts are very real and very powerful. You are all remarkable individuals and organizations who came together for a common, noble cause." CFC is the world's largest workplace charity campaign. Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors support eligible nonprofit organizations that provide health and human service benefits worldwide.

Biographies:  William J. Lynn III  Related Sites: Combined Federal Campaign

Dr. Patrick Smock of Liberty Hill runs the Miami Marathon

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Paula Taylor of Task Force Bastogne
NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Jan. 31, 2011 - After tossing and turning for most of the night, Army Maj. (Dr.) Patrick Smock finally rolled out of bed at 3:30 a.m. yesterday. He'd trained hard for four months, and the day finally had arrived for the 745th Forward Surgical Team orthopedic surgeon to run the 26.2-mile Miami Marathon -- thousands of miles from Florida amid the concrete barriers and concertina wire that line the perimeter of Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan.

Army Maj. (Dr.) Patrick Smock of Liberty Hill, Texas, runs the Miami Marathon satellite race at Forward Operating Base Fenty in eastern Afghanistan, Jan. 30, 2011. His brothers, also doctors, ran the Miami Marathon in Florida later that day. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Richard Daniels Jr.

As he arrived at the start line, a few stars still shone through the clouds and dotted the sky. Soon, the sun would begin to crest over the snow-capped mountains.
As Smock and the other marathoners took off down the dusty hardtop road, they soon came across a group of up-armored trucks getting ready to roll out on a convoy.
"That really puts things in perspective," Smock said later. "You see that and you think, 'This [race] is just for fun.' By the second lap, those guys were already gone, doing their job."
At the halfway mark, Smock said, he was doing well, but the going got tougher with about five miles to go. "I hit my wall about 21, 22 miles," he said, "and started to need to take a break -- walk it out and make sure I keep fueling myself up. I used that finish line as my motivation."
Smock, who lives in Liberty Hill, Texas, said he and his brothers, Michael and David, had planned to run the Miami Marathon together for almost a year
"We are all doctors, all went to the same school, and are all very active, but have never run a marathon together," he said. "When I found out that I would be deployed and unable to run with them in Miami, it was disappointing, but I decided that it would not stop me from running 'with' them, even if it was from halfway around the world."
Shortly after arriving at Fenty, Smock said, he contacted the Miami Marathon race directors and inquired about a satellite run. They were receptive and were happy to sponsor the run. "They also sent T-shirts, medals and several other goodies to pass out to all the participants," he added.
Smock said he wore out three pairs of track shoes running laps around the airstrip to train for the event. The soles on the pair he wore for yesterday's race, in fact, were starting to separate.
Though Smock missed an opportunity to be with his brothers when they ran the marathon in Miami just 10 hours after he finished his, he said he plans on running in future events together with them, barring another deployment.
"I don't know if we will run Miami together in the future -- that will most likely depend on how our schedules work out -- but we are already tentatively planning to sign up this summer for the Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid [New York] in 2012," Smock said. "Hopefully, no deployments interfere with those plans. I don't think I could find a place to swim in Iraq or Afghanistan."
The 26.2 miles of the satellite course at Fenty comprised eight laps around the airstrip. Smock finished the race in 3 hours, 27 minutes.
"I crushed my goal," he said. "I had run two marathons before, and I did each of those in just under four hours. I wanted to run 3:30 today. I think my official clock time was 3:27 and some change. I'm so excited right now!"
 

Related Sites: 

NATO International Security Assistance Force 

50 needy patients selected for free replacements

Ludhiana : A mega charity event `Operation Walk 2011' was inaugurated at DMCH on Saturday. Padam Brij Mohan Lal Munjal, chairman Emeritus, DMCH managing society, inaugurated the event.Under this project, hip and knee replacements of more than 50 poor needy patients would be done for free. The patients have been selected from all over Punjab after extensive recruitment camps. This would be carried out in association with a team from the USA led by Dr Paul Khanuja, director, Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopaedics, USA. Operation Walk Maryland is a non-profit, volunteer medical service organisation providing free surgical treatment to patients in developing countries. DMCH managing society secretary Prem Kumar Gupta said patients would get all the services, latest imported implants and medicines totally free of cost under this project. He said: “A team consisting of about 45 people, including surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nursing staff, surgical technologists, physiotherapists and other supporting staff has reached DMCH and has brought with them equipments, implants and consumables to be used during this project.“ Dr Mohd Yamin, professor and head of orthopaedics said the patients would be operated with state of the art technology and equipments from the USA. He said the patients would also be given free walkers and post-operative information booklets.
Dr Deepak Jain, assistant professor of orthopaedics, who is coordinating the project, said preparations for this project have been going on for more than a year to make it a success.He said many young patients, who have lost their work due to disabling arthritis and are now dependent on their families, have been included in the project. This project would be carried out in newly renovated operation theaters and wards, which have been specially constructed with inputs from experts at USA. These operation theatres and wards have been equipped with the latest facilities and gadgets to make them at par with the international standards. Faculty from orthopedics department Dr Rajnish Garg, Dr Harpal S Selhi, Dr Sanjeev Mahajan, Dr Pankaj Mahindra and Dr SK Kohli made significant contributions to the project. During his visit to the hospital, Munjal also inaugurated newly renovated Neuro Ortho OT complex, Orthopedics ward, Pediatrics ward, Radio diagnosis block and emergency area, appreciating progress of the hospital. :--Rector Kathuria (Photo:Sukhjit Alkra)

Afghan women attend a shura

Afghan women attend a shura, or meeting, hosted by U.S. Marine Corps female engagement team members assigned 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 2 at Forward Operating Base Jackson in Sangin district, Afghanistan, Jan. 18, 2011. The topics discussed were personal hygiene and health, occupations, and what tribes and villages the women come from. RCT-2’s mission was to conduct counterinsurgency operations in partnership with the International Security Assistance Force. (DoD photo by Sgt. Artur Shvartsberg, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)

Workshop on Endo – Vascular Therapy at CMCH

Ludhiana: The CMCH (Christian Medical College & Hospital)  here has been chosen to host the prestigious “International Master Class on Venous Disease – 2011”. Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Head, Cardio-Vascular and Thoracic surgery Department, CMCH, said, “In view of the extensive work on vascular disease being done in the CTVS Dept of CMC & H it was decided by an international panel to hold the workshop in Ludhiana”.

Dr Bedi had also delivered a guest lecture on redo-surgery at the last International Workshop. Dr Bedi is credited with being a world leader and the pioneer in beating heart surgery and in the world’s first use of the radial artery in treatment of vascular disease of the leg.

Renowned surgeons, including Prof Jean-Francois Uhl (France), Dr Ted King (USA), Dr Mark Malouf (Australia) and Dr Rene Milleret (France), will be assisting the CMC surgeons so that the latest techniques could be used to help people of this region.

According to Dr Bedi, chronic venous disease is quite common in India as most of our population works in the standing position, leading to pressure on the veins which dilate. It is estimated that over a lakh die due to venous disease (DVT and PE) each year – which is the equivalent of the disappearance of a city the size of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

The other members of the local faculty are Dr A Joseph, Dr A Gupta, Dr V Abraham, Dr V Bhasker, Dr A Bhardwaj, Dr P Gupta and Dr S Samuel.

The conventional therapy of varicose veins is a major operation called stripping. It entails a long cut, pain, admission and a slow recovery. A revolutionary new technique called ‘Endovenous Thermal Ablation’ with a Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) has been introduced and perfected at the CMC. It is this technique which will be discussed in detail at the workshop. Patients will have the advantage of having the best International experts in Ludhiana to lend their surgical skills.

Officiating Director Dr.Kim Mammen, Medical Superintendent Dr.Kanwal Masih were also present on the occasion.Dr.Bedi can be contacted at 98140-60480 for any clarification.:-Rector Kathuria

Dr. Biden Keeps National Guard in Mind

By Army Sgt. Darron Salzer of National Guard Bureau ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 27, 2011 - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, invited the fiancée of a Delaware Army National Guard member to a Jan. 24 White House news conference to unveil a whole-of-government plan to strengthen military family support. "You are family, and we are a National Guard family," Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, tells National Guard adjutants general during a Feb. 22, 2010, reception at the vice president's residence in Washington, D.C. Dr. Biden invited the fiancée of a Delaware National Guard officer to a Jan. 24, 2011, White House event announcing a whole-of-government approach to military family support. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill  Biden said she met Jessica Sanders about two weeks ago when she was seeing off Army Capt. Mark Thomas at a deployment ceremony for the Delaware Army National Guard's 126th Aviation Regiment, which will provide medical evacuations for troops, allies and civilians in Afghanistan. "I am heartened by the efforts to respond to the challenges facing our Guard and Reserve families -– from helping them sustain their businesses to supporting their reintegration back into their communities after deployment," she said. The plan to strengthen military family support, which will begin in the coming months, is a commitment by not only by the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, but also on the part of several other federal government entities. "Today is an important next step in this administration's commitment to support our servicemen, their families and our members," said Biden, who also is the parent of a Delaware Army National Guardsman. President Barack Obama said his administration will focus on four areas: improving the quality of life for military families and veterans, education and development of military children, expanding efforts to help military spouses pursue their education and careers, and increasing child care availability. "The Agricultural Department is expanding its support for families in rural areas," he said, citing one example of the whole-of-government commitment. "A disproportionate number of our military families come from rural areas or are stationed in rural communities." Obama said his administration is making almost 50 specific commitments to military families. However, he added, the government can't accomplish the mission alone. "I want every service member who's deployed to know that when you're over there taking care of the country that you love, your country is back here taking care of the families that you love," Obama said.

Related Sites:  Special Report: Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment  White House Report

During the graduation ceremony

First Lady Michelle Obama addresses attendees during the 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment's Basic Combat Training graduation ceremony at Fort Jackson, S.C., Jan. 27, 2011. 


























U.S. Army photo by Susanne Kappler. 

Challenge : Part of Play

U.S. Navy Capt. Thom Burke, left, the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), attempts a putt on a 60-foot green on the flight deck Jan. 25, 2011, in the Pacific Ocean. The putting challenge was part of Play for L.A., an 18-day promotional event culminating in the Northern Trust Open golf tournament Feb. 15. Ronald Reagan was moored in its home port of San Diego preparing for a deployment. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas A. Groesch, U.S. Navy/Released)

Piracy Challenges Maritime Security Off Somalia

Posted on Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 1:21 AM By Cheryl Pellerin of American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2011 - Pirates off the coast of Somalia are using bigger vessels to extend their criminal reach in a move that could prompt U.S. Navy forces in the region to intensify techniques for pursuing the lawbreakers, the top naval officer in the region said today. Kuwait Naval Force Brig. Gen. Jassim al Ansari, left, shakes hands with Royal Bahrain Naval Force Col. Isa Al Doseri, his successor as commander of Combined Task Force 152 during a change-of-command ceremony at Mina Salman Pier in Bahrain, Jan. 6, 2011. Combined Task Force 152 is one of three task forces that reports to U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, center, in his capacity as commander of Combined Maritime Forces. Established in March 2004, Combined Task Force 152 coordinates theater security cooperation activities with regional partners, conducts maritime security operations, and is prepared to respond to any crisis in the Arabian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brown  (Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available. Navy Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet, told a group of defense reporters here that pirates have begun commandeer large merchant ships and use them as "mother ships" to put smaller boats into operation far from the coast and beyond the reach of the international forces arrayed against them. "This is the first time we've seen persistent and increased use of mother ships -- up to eight 'pirate action groups' as we refer to them, disbursed throughout the region," Fox said, calling this development a "game changer." Such groups may include one or two mother ships that travel with a range of dhows, skiffs and other small craft to attack and hijack international commercial vessels. Fox said the number of pirate hostages rose from 250 to about 770 between September and January. In response to this and to the pirates' evolving capabilities, "we're in a constant process of assessing the way we do our business here." The international force that works together in the region includes participation from the political alliance with the European Union, the military alliance with NATO, and military combined task forces that bring together nations from around the world to address critical security issues facing the region, including terrorism and piracy. U.S Naval Forces Central Command is part of that mosaic, Fox said, "and then we have independent deployers like China or Russia, who are also in the region looking out for the well-being of their ships." Everyone in the region has been "too keen" to categorize some efforts as counterpiracy and some as counterterrorism, the admiral noted. "We've not used the same level of rigor and discipline in terms of [investigating] the counterpiracy piece as we have in the counterterrorism piece," he said. The same techniques should apply to both, he added, including investigating the sources of financing for pirates' activities, equipment, relationships and supplies. The fight against piracy and terrorism is a critical issue in the region but it has helped countries in the region work better together, Fox said. "Pirates are enemies of all, terrorists are enemies of all, and there has been willingness on the part of a large number of nations to come together and work together, where heretofore that hasn't happened," the admiral added. "This is real, no-kidding capability of regional partners developing their own capacity to take care of their own water space, communicate and effectively deal with a threat that they all want to be able to manage," Fox said.

Biographies: Navy Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox Related Sites: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces

Obama Cites Military Successes in State of Union Address

By Karen Parrish 
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2011 - In a State of the Union address here marked by a call for renewed American innovation and cooperation, President Barack Obama pointed to the nation's military as an example to follow.

President Barack Obama paid tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces during his State of the Union address, Jan. 25, 2011. He said the nation can repay service members "by giving them the equipment they need; by providing them with the care and benefits they have earned; and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own nation." DOD Screen Grab  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"Look to Iraq, where nearly 100,000 of our brave men and women have left with their heads held high; American combat patrols have ended; violence is down; and a new government has been formed," the commander in chief said.
In Afghanistan, U.S. troops have taken Taliban strongholds and trained Afghan Security Forces, and will continue to deny al Qaeda the safe-haven that served as a launching pad for 9/11, he said.
"Thanks to our heroic troops and civilians, fewer Afghans are under the control of the insurgency," Obama said. "There will be tough fighting ahead, and the Afghan government will need to deliver better governance."
But U.S. and coalition efforts are strengthening Afghan capacity and building an enduring partnership with the Afghan people, he said.
"This year, we will work with nearly 50 countries to begin a transition to an Afghan lead. And this July, we will begin to bring our troops home," the president said.
The nation has sent a message to all parts of the globe, Obama said: "We will not relent, we will not waver, and we will defeat you."
Obama credited American leadership, especially in the New Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, for curbing the global nuclear threat.
Thanks to the treaty, he said, far fewer nuclear weapons and launchers will be deployed.
"Because we rallied the world, nuclear materials are being locked down on every continent so they never fall into the hands of terrorists," he said.
America leads the world in the quest for freedom and security, the president said, and the nation must always remember "that the Americans who have borne the greatest burden in this struggle are the men and women who serve our country."
The nation can repay that service, he said, "by giving them the equipment they need; by providing them with the care and benefits that they have earned; and by enlisting our veterans in the great task of building our own nation."
American troops represent every creed, color, culture and geographical region in the nation, Obama said. And, he added, some are gay, and may now serve openly for the first time since the "don't ask, don't tell" law was overturned late last year.
"Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love," he said. "And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past. It is time to move forward as one nation."
First Lady Michelle Obama included among her guests for the address current and former military members, including Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, who received the Medal of Honor in November; Army Staff Sgt. Brian Mast, who lost both legs below the knee and suffered several other injuries in a roadside bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan; Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Nicole Mohabir, who has deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan; and Dr. Peter Rhee, a Navy veteran and former military surgeon, now director of medical trauma at the University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz. Rhee oversaw the treatment of victims injured in the Jan. 8 Tucson shootings, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Fire AT4 rocket launchers

Members of the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) fire AT4 rocket launchers at Forward Operating Base Kalagush in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, Jan. 20, 2011. The Nuristan PRT worked with the Afghan government to improve security and infrastructure capacity in the district. 














(DoD photo by Chief Master Sgt. Richard Simonsen, U.S. Air Force/Released)

Presenting a Purple Heart

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., center, presents a Purple Heart to Spc. Logan Hawthorn at Brooks Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Jan. 21, 2011. Hawthorn was wounded by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan. (DoD photo by D. Myles Cullen, U.S. Army/Released)

White House Unveils New Approach to Military Family Support

By Elaine Wilson of American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2011 - White House officials released a report today that unveils a new, governmentwide approach to military family support and details a sweeping, interagency effort under way to strengthen families and enhance their well-being and quality of life. President Barack Obama announced the results of a nearly yearlong review of military family support today in a White House ceremony attended by the Defense Department's top brass, including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, service chiefs and their spouses. From child care to health care to spouse employment, the report -- titled "Strengthening our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment" -- identifies the key issues military families face and presents programs and resources government agencies plan to roll out in the coming months to address them. "This document is the commitment to our military families not only of this government, but this nation in terms of their support, their care and their empowerment," Robert L. Gordon III, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Pentagon's office of military community and family policy, told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service in a recent interview. The report outlines four key areas that the governmentwide effort plans to address: enhancing military families' well-being and psychological health, developing military spouse career and education opportunities, increasing child care availability and quality and ensuring excellence in military children's education and development. "We're bringing together our agencies, our whole of government, with our whole of nation to focus on those four priority areas," Gordon said. "The DOD can't do this alone; it does take a whole-of-nation approach." Gordon cited counseling services as an example of the benefits of an interagency effort. While the Defense Department offers counseling through Military OneSource and within military support centers and communities, "we can expand those services and activities with partnership with other sorts of sectors," he said. The report addresses plans for expanded counseling services in detail, which will greatly benefit military families, Gordon noted. Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 2 million service members have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in an unprecedented frequency, the report said, and, along with service members, military families also are vulnerable to deployment-related stress. The report cited a 2010 study that reports an 11 percent increase in outpatient visits for behavioral health issues among a group of 3- to 8-year-old children of military parents and an increase in behavioral and stress disorders when a parent was deployed. "We do need to pay attention to the socio-emotional support of our kids," Gordon said, noting the impact of long parental separations due to deployments. He also acknowledged the additional responsibilities the spouse back home must shoulder in the military member's absence. "We have devised ways ahead as a government and ... in partnership with the other sectors to do something about that," he said. The report also lays out new and improved programs to increase behavioral health care services for military families in the coming months. The Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, for example, are slated to implement a multiyear strategy to promote early recognition of mental health conditions that includes education and coaching for family members and integration of mental health services into primary care, the report said. DOD officials also are working to boost the number of mental health providers and to increase quality of care. In one effort, a TRICARE military health plan working group is undertaking a yearlong project to provide the best possible health care for the more than 9.6 million beneficiaries beyond 2015, the report said. Additionally, the Defense and Health and Human Services secretaries will jointly accelerate efforts that prevent and address suicide, the report said. Meanwhile, VA's National Suicide Call Center will expand and enhance services to combat suicide among veterans. The report also outlines efforts to protect military families from unfair financial practices, to address homelessness and improve housing security, and to ensure availability of substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services for veterans and military families. Gordon also touched on employment opportunities for spouses. "Our spouses want to work," he said, noting that of the roughly 700,000 spouses in DOD, 77 percent have expressed a desire to work. "We want to create opportunities for them," Gordon added. The report takes a two-tier approach to the issue of employment, Gordon said. First, the government is committed to opening doors to educational opportunities, and then on easing the path to employment. As an example, he highlighted the Army Spouse Employment Partnership program, which has signed a statement of support with 42 Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. Since 2003, these companies have hired more than 84,000 Army spouses, the report said. DOD officials plan to enhance and expand this program to Navy, Marine and Air Force spouses, Gordon added. "These are the kinds of opportunities we are looking for," he said. In another effort, the Veterans Affairs, Labor and Defense departments will reform the employment workshop portion of the Transition Assistance Program to include an outreach initiative for military spouses, the report said. The workshop will feature a hands-on, tailored work force readiness program for service members and their spouses, including employment assistance during moves. Other agencies will educate corporate America on the benefits of hiring from within the military, the report said, and encourage them to hire military spouses. Turning to military children, Gordon said a considerable portion of the review was dedicated to looking at the need for more abundant child care. The department has 200,000 military children in the child care system, he noted, and a shortage of about 37,000 child care spaces. "This is one area we want to focus on," Gordon said. "You'll see that commitment in this document. It's a partnership that we want to engage with our communities." This community partnership is vital, he noted, since only about 37 percent of families live on military installations; the remaining 63 percent live in thousands of communities nationwide. The Defense, Education, Health and Human Services and Agriculture departments are working together to increase the availability of child care options, the report said. This month, new child care liaison positions will be established through pilot programs in 13 states with identified childcare needs. DOD also will leverage partnerships with organizations such as the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, the Council on Accreditation and Zero to Three for assistance with training community providers. Additionally, DOD will continue to slate construction projects to meet the demand for increased capacity and to replace aging facilities, the report said. On education, the report details efforts to ensure excellence in military children's education and development. The Education Department, for example, will, for the first time, favor grant applications to meet the needs of military-connected students, the report said, and DOD is committed to making its schools a leader in the use of advanced learning technologies, including software, online courses and student-written and sharable simulations. To help to reduce the negative impacts of frequent relocations and absences, DOD will pursue the complete development of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, which addresses mobility-related challenges military children face, such as records transfer and course placement, the report said. To gain a complete picture of this groundbreaking effort, Gordon encouraged service members and their families to read the full report. "What you'll find is how the government and nation really define areas where we can support and care for our families, our service members," he said. "But not only that, it's about empowerment. It's the fact that our families want to be fulfilled. It's the fact that they are assets for the country in those 4,000-plus communities and across the world, and how we can leverage that as well. This document talks about all of these things."

Related Sites: White House news release

Common man hit hard with price rice

Common man hit hard 

    Now those are very old sayings when it is being often told that "Dabb ke vaah te rajj ke khaa" [means: work hard and get better eating]. Now a days thinking of this thing is like a sin. In today's scenario it is being told "Khaadha Peeta laahe da baki Ahemadshahe da" [means: The which one ate is good, rest will not be saved and spent in expenses]. 

 Inflation has risen so much high that it looking like a competition of kites that who's kite is more high mean to say that which product is most inflated. scenario is going in this way that things of daily needs are getting costlier day by day and luxury items are getting cheaper due to stiff competition. Then logically a saying by Shyam Jagota's  comes to my mind that anyhow a common wants to ask that "whether you also save me like Afzal and Kasab ?" The common man in this picture is saying this in a shouting tone. And if the answer comes that comes very late when with the balloon of inflation many people flew away. Or a promise which takes a long time to get it complete and in between that half of the population will fly along with the ballon of inflation. i will make you know the common meaning of my these words further, first we should have to know about the inflation. 

Inflation Rate :-

     According to the figures released the inflation rate was 18.32 5 on food items on 25th December. It was on 14.44 5 a week ago by 25th December.  It was on 10.15 % on 13th November. After-all what is this 18.32 %, 14.44 %, 10.15% ? In a layman's term it is a purchasing power of a person. This purchasing power increased or decreased to knowing this is a inverse relation. Mean to say that if the sign of a figure is positive then purchasing power is decreased. If the figure is negative then purchasing power is increased. In more easy way we can understand in this way, if it is 18.32 % or +18.32% [same thing] then purchasing power is decreased, if figure is like -18.32 % then purchasing power is increased. now it can be said easily that on 13th November the inflation which was on 10.15 % has crossed a mark  of 18.32 % on 25th December. We can also say this that purchasing power of a man has been declined to 18.32 %.

     After-all how this comes into the picture? What are the base figures of these figures which determines the whole ?

 The mirror is very clear. first we should come to know that how these figures are being determined. Actually in our country some parameters has been established to measures the inflation. Many factors are taken into consideration while measuring the inflation but the most important factor is the BASE YEAR. The prices of the base year are taken as base to measure the inflation. What happens ? Th difference of the prices from base has been taken and divided by the prices of the base year then multiplied with hundred. the result obtained by this is written in percentage form like 18.32 %. This base year is changed time to time after some particular interval of time. the base year of current inflation is the financial year of 2004-05.

Reasons of Inflation :-

     As in science their is some reason for happening or not happening similarly economics has the reason of inflation and deflation. According to economics the prices of the product us decided by force which is called Demand and Supply. When the demand and supply remains same in proportion then the prices reached to an equilibrium point. When demand increases and supply decreases or remains constant then prices rise. When  demand decreases and supply increases or remain constant then prices fall. I think this is the sole reason of increasing or decreasing of prices. 

Political noise and dialogism :-

     According to chain the next question which comes into picture is that what is reason behind today's inflation? is demand has increased and supply is constant this time ? or supply is reduced and demand is constant ?

     I don't find any logical reason of inflation in between these two. Just observe, Isn't the prices can be increased with a wrong intention ? But how ? As in economics as the supply decreases the prices rise similarly if the availability of products in the market is being reduced or stopped then prices automatically rises. then only that product will be sold which will be available in the market at that time and on high rates. see, prices has been risen.

Price Rise

     Now the question arises that how this whole is being executed ? There has to be no astonishes that this whole is done by big market player and hoarders and earns super normal profits. Moreover political dialogues help these to execute this whole. But how ? Just try to think on the other side of the coin, when a political leader gives a dialogue that this time produce may be not good because of un-seasonal rain. Then isn't this a motivation to big market players and hoarders to stock the products in the godowns ? And in these super normal profits if there may be a share of a Minster, there will be no doubt of being this. When Mr. Pawar gives a dialogue that the produce has been spoiled in Mahrashtra because of rain and the produce will remains low in this year. then isn't this a motivation to hoarders to carry on their such filthy acts ? The point is that that to what degree it was logical to give a dialogue on produced ? Does less produce in one particular area can make suffer whole of the country ? If there it is then can't the products be imported from neighbor countries ? If yes, then what is the reason to make public this thing that the produce will remain low ? Now, isn't this a motivation to hoarders to hoard the stock and rise the prices ?

Photo Courtesy:Vichar Mimansa

     Then after some days, the renowned economist and the vice president of planning commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwalia gives a political dialogue that the increased prices has brought financial happiness. Our GDP is increasing and we try that it crosses a mark of 9 % by the end of this financial year. I ask to S. Ahluwalia that why don;t you say this that the purchasing power of a common man has been decreased and will be continue day by day ? It is obvious that if the prices will rise GDP will automatically rise and also you are pointing you want to reach GDP to the mark of 9 %. It will be very good if the prices will be in control and as well as GDP will increase. Ahluwalia sir, what was the need to tell public about the GDP as everyone know this fact ? It is looking that you make a dialogue just for a formality. Readers, now you tell isn't this a motivation to rise the prices and hoard the stock ?

     According to me the political dialogism has the highest share of making prices rise rather than other factors. If this share may be 99 % it will not astonish me. Even the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told that the inflation will be in control by the end of March. These are those easy explanations for which I've stated upper. 

Rise in Petrol prices :-

Satinder Singh Shah

     By when the govt. has deregulated the oil prices to the companies to determine it has anyhow increased somehow by every month. recently its prices has been increased. If it is analyzed logically then we can see that there is only $ 1/- barrel in crude oil from last year but current year's petrol prices are far far away from last year's prices. what is the reason behind that tha is also a very deep thing but the increased prices of petrol makes what effect on food prices worries me. Inflation will rise anyhow.

     The situation reaches to this extent that youngsters are updating these type of statuses on social networking sites like Facebook "This is the first time in the history that needs, comfort and luxuries are available on same price. Onions: Rs. 65/- KG, Petrol: Rs. 65/- liter, Beer: Rs. 65/- bottle."

     One make a sigh of relief that diesel prices are not deregulated and the control of this is in the hands of govt. and these are not been increased. But there is also a panic that whether they may not increase that in coming financial budget. if it does so then living of a common man will be battleground. 

     Then where the thing is mind of the people will come out on their tongue. "whether you also save me like Afzal and Kasab ? "