Face of Defense: Food Services Trio Inseparable Since 8th Grade

By Terrance Bell
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Lee

FORT LEE, Va., Sept. 29, 2014 - In middle school, three students made a pact to attend high school together, play football together, enroll in college together and follow the same career path.

Pfc. Derek Jones, Pvt. Joshua Anderson and Pfc. DeAndre Kinlaw, all now 19 years old, graduated from the Army's Food Service Specialist Course on Sept. 10, 2014. The Jacksonville, Fla., natives have attended middle school, high school and college together and are now embarking on a stint with the Florida National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Terrance Bell  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"We were in the eighth grade sitting at a table, and we planned our whole lives out right there that day in class," recalled Army Pvt. DeAndre Kinlaw, a member of the trio.

One could argue their ambitions were simply notions of pre-adolescent romanticism, but it was far more than that.

It was about extending their reach far beyond the familiar, actively pursuing goals and drawing inspiration from each other along the way. Those dynamics also played part in the decision to take the plan one step further, joining the Army National Guard and completing basic combat and advanced individual training together as members of the same units.

The three 19 year olds -- Pvt. Joshua Anderson, Kinlaw and Pfc. Derek Jones -- graduated Sept. 10 after completing the Quartermaster School's Food Service Specialist Course as members of Tango Company, 266th Quartermaster Battalion. They are now on leave in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.

Resilience, teamwork, common purpose

Army Capt. Constance Marable, Tango Company commander, manages more than 400 soldiers at any one time. It's not every day she comes across soldiers from the same school, she said, adding that they should be commended for accomplishing such lofty goals. More importantly, she said, their shared experiences demonstrate resilience, teamwork and common purpose -- attributes that she said are critical to soldiering.

"My initial reaction when I heard that they were in middle school together and all the way through to college was sobering," she said. "Then I thought of things like 'band of brothers,' 'team' and a 'deep appreciation of bond' -- the very things that complete the total soldier concept and the main ingredient needed to cultivate exceptional leaders."

They met as residents of Palmdale, a working class neighborhood in the north-central portion of Jacksonville. While attending Ribault Middle School, they found that their ways and personalities were eerily similar.

"We're the same person," Kinlaw said. "We just look different. We can all be thinking about the same things, then one of us will say it out loud."

Strong, supportive families

The three also came from strong, supportive families. Kinlaw and Jones said their mothers were influential.

"My mama didn't play," said Jones, shaking his head in a manner that suggested he would never defy her. "She didn't want me on the streets and wanted me to get an education." Anderson said the men in his family, including his dad, kept him focused. "My father was a straight disciplinarian," he said.

Sharing a deep interest in sports, the youngsters used their athletic talents to support their academic goals and other aspirations, despite living in an environment where negative temptations lurked at every corner and dreams often were squashed. They earned spots on the football and track and field team rosters at Ribault High School, feeding off each's positive energies.

"They were positive role models," Jones said of his friends. "There were times when I didn't want to do this or that, but they were always motivating me to do better, to be positive and continue to drive on."

Jones said all of them had endeavored to gain football scholarships in high school then attend an NCAA Division 1 school. Jones was heavily recruited, but none of the three departed high school with an athletic scholarship. As a result, they all settled upon attending Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. The experience was less than ideal, as each struggled with financial and other issues. Jones remembers his tribulation well.

"I would stay in the library until 4 in the morning and had a class at 9," he recalled. "There was so much pressure and so much going on. I was always thinking, 'How I'm going to pay for school? How was I going to pay it back?'"

The preoccupation with finances had a negative effect on each, amplifying an inadequate support network. A military solution to their dilemma came to light during a late-night basketball shoot-around.

"I presented an idea [to join the military] to Derek," Anderson said. "As soon as I said it, Derek said, 'Man, I was just thinking about that. That's something I want to do, too.'"

Enlisting in the Florida National Guard

Jones and Anderson made a decision to enlist and informed Kinlaw, who already had taken steps to join the school's ROTC program to support his educational efforts. They had no service preference and wound up enlisting in the Florida National Guard, because "they were the only ones to pick up [the phone]," Kinlaw said.

Upon making their decision, he added, the three informed the recruiter they were in school and needed a way to pay for tuition and other expenses. Joining the Florida Guard would be a good decision, the sergeant told them, because it pays 100 percent of tuition immediately following advanced individual training, Kinlaw said.

Jones provided more context about the decision. "We've been through a lot together -- a lot of ups and downs; more downs than ups," he said. "I feel like joining is our stepping-stone to being where we want to be in life right now."

An opportunity to stay together

To do that, all three made some personal sacrifices. Each had different majors and could have pursued military occupational specialties that supported their academic interests, but food service was the only one that provided the opportunity for the three to stay together.

"I couldn't imagine going through basic training without them," Kinlaw said.

That statement brought to light the innocence of three young middle school kids who probably had no concept of foresight or the inherent difficulties of growing up. Whatever agreement they made as school-agers, they never imagined the blessings they have today.

"I thought that we would be friends just for a little bit, and then we would probably meet new ones," Jones said. "They say you meet your real friends in college, but that really didn't happen. I met my real friends in middle school.

Jones, Kinlaw and Anderson are scheduled to attend Airborne School together in the near future and will be assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). The three also have plans to attend Florida International University for the spring semester.

 

#Airmen Deploy to Deliver #Ebola Treatment Facility

By Air Force Senior Airman Kayla Newman
633rd Air Base Wing

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va., Sept. 29, 2014 - Airmen from the 633rd Medical Group here partnered with representatives from the U.S. Public Health Service on Sept. 26 to deliver a modular medical treatment center as part of the U.S. whole-of-government effort to support humanitarian relief operations in Ebola-stricken African nations.

Airmen assigned to the 633rd Medical Group board a C-17 Globemaster at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Sept. 26, 2014. The 633rd Medical Group packaged and delivered a modular medical treatment center, as part of a governmentwide effort to support humanitarian relief operations in Ebola-stricken African nations. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Airmen from the 633rd Medical Group accompanied the Expeditionary Medical Support System, or EMEDS, to Africa. And while they will not be involved in treatment of patients exposed to the virus, they will be supporting the overall effort by setting up the facility and training international health care workers officials said.

Fulfilling a State Department request

In early September, Defense Department officials approved the State Department's request for a 25-bed deployable hospital facility and the equipment and personnel required to set it up. The Air Force's Expeditionary Medical Support System fulfilled that request, meaning Operation United Assistance -- the designation for Ebola relief missions -- receives the largest version of the EMEDS facility. The facility can treat a population at risk of up to 6,500.

"Over the past week or so, 633rd MDG airmen have worked in tandem with representatives from the U.S. Public Health Service as part of a multiagency effort," said Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Dun, chief of the expeditionary medical operations division in the office of the Air Combat Command surgeon. "From the scale of response, this is a national effort. Experts from across the country are working together to bring meaningful relief to those stricken by this terrible disease."

Setting up facility, training health professionals

As part of the joint effort from multiple government agencies, airmen will set the stage for further mission success by standing up the EMEDS and training public health professionals on the proper use of the extensive tools available to them.

"The most important thing is the airmen setting up and training the [international health workers] on the equipment and how it works," said Air Force Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Sean L. Murphy, ACC's command surgeon. He noted that while the airmen will not be doing patient care, they will use force health protection measures as a precaution and will play an important role in the humanitarian mission.

"We are potentially setting a precedent, because the EMEDS unit is typically set up for things like trauma care," said Public Health Service Rear Adm. Scott Giberson, acting deputy surgeon general. "[Instead], we will be using it for an infectious pathogen and treatment of international health care workers."

The Air Force's EMEDS is one of the greatest assets to have in this situation, Giberson said, noting that the Defense Department, U.S. Army Africa and U.S. Africa Command are supporting the effort with logistics and other contributions. "But the Air Force has the piece of delivering the facility for us and [providing] the expertise of setting up the facility and training us on the facility," he added. "We need that piece of the puzzle to complete the successful mission."

#Zimbabwe: Waiting for the Future

Zimbabwe’s growing instability is exacerbated by dire economic decline, endemic governance failures, and tensions over ruling party succession; without major political and economic reforms, the country could slide into being a failed state.

A year on since the election victory of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Zimbabwe’s politics and economy are ever more precarious. Rather than addressing the corroding social and economic fabric, both the ruling party and the opposition are embroiled in internal power struggles. In its latest briefing, Zimbabwe: Waiting for the Future, the International Crisis Group examines Zimbabwe’s challenges and argues that while it still has the capacity to deliver on reforms and prevent further deterioration, it will struggle to do so without policy coherence, improved governance, accountability and clarity as to the leadership succession within ZANU-PF.

The briefing’s major findings and recommendations are:

• Political and economic insecurity is exacerbated by mounting tensions over the succession within ZANU-PF, and further complicated by the entry of the First Lady, Grace Mugabe, into the political arena. ZANU-PF should use the December National People’s congress to decide who will replace 90-year-old President Robert Mugabe were he to be incapacitated or decide not to seek re-election in 2018.


• ZANU-PF should seek to rebuild trust and collaboration with domestic and international constituencies by (i) holding an inclusive national dialogue with the opposition and civil society on political, social and economic reforms; and (ii) clarifying and acting on key policy areas including indigenisation, land reform and the rule of law, as well as anti-corruption initiatives.


• Questions remain about Robert Mugabe’s 2013 election victory; it has not secured broad-based legitimacy, and key process and institutional concerns must be addressed to avoid a rerun of such concerns in 2018. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) should encourage Zimbabwe to address election-related concerns identified in their respective election-observation mission reports.


• The Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and other opposition parties are sidelined, their cachet with international players has been severely damaged, and prospects for a common opposition agenda are remote.

“The international community – East and West – must explore common ground to help nurture an appropriate climate for economic recovery and policy coherence”, says Piers Pigou, Southern Africa Project Director. “The Zimbabwean government must demonstrate clearly and consistently it is a reliable partner that delivers on its undertakings. The current situation is not sustainable. There is simply not enough money circulating in the formal economy and Zimbabwe is struggling to finance its deficit, borrowing from wherever it can even to pay its civil service bill”.

“Zimbabwe is an insolvent and failing state, its politics zero sum, its institutions hollowing out, and its once vibrant economy moribund”, says Comfort Ero, Africa Program Director. “A major culture change is needed among political elites, as well as commitment to national as opposed to partisan and personal interests”.

#CARNABY SALES & DISTRIBUTION ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE SALES RIGHTS TO #SCORSESE "TOMORROW”

American Film Market 2014 marked as official sales launch

LONDON, 29^TH SEPTEMBER 2014:Carnaby Sales & Distribution has acquired the worldwide sales rights to landmark British feature film, Tomorrow presented by Martin Scorsese. The hotly anticipated film, which began production in London last week, includes Stephen Fry amongst its star cast and marks the directional debut of Martha Pinson, Scorsese’s long-time script supervisor.

The deal was secured by Carnaby’s joint CEO, Sean O’Kelly, together with Roaring Mouse Productions’ Sebastian Street, Stuart Brennan, and Dean Woodford as part of a three-picture deal. Carnaby will handle worldwide rights for the film, excluding the USA, which is being handled by William Morris Endeavor (WME).

The American Film Market (AFM) in November 2014 will mark the official launch of Tomorrow, where Carnaby will screen the first footage of the film with select international buyers. Capitalising on the strength of Scorsese enthusiasts around the globe, Carnaby's focus will be on securing distribution in the key major territories whilst working alongside WME on domestic. Pre-sales interest has already been particularly strong, with buyers recognising the film’s appeal for both domestic and international audiences.

Produced by London based production companies, Roaring Mouse Productions & Studio 82, Tomorrow marks Martin Scorsese’s first ever voyage into British feature film as he takes on an executive producer role. Martha Pinson is at the helm as director. Pinson has directed an award winning short film and off-‐ Broadway plays as well as collaborating with Oliver Stone and Sidney Lumet. She has also worked on Scorsese’s four most-‐recent narrative films: The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and Hugo. The script is being penned by Stuart Brennan andSebastian Street who are producing alongside Dean M. Woodford, whileEmma Tillinger Koskoff and Scorsesecome on as Executive Producers.Carnaby’s joint CEO’s Sean O’Kelly and Andrew Loveday are also executive producing on the film.

Sean O’Kelly, joint CEO, Carnaby Sales & Distribution said: “We are already working with actor and writer, Sebastian Street, for a number of leading roles in forthcoming pictures. When he first mentionedTomorrow we knew it was going to be special and jumped all over it. I’m enormously proud to be working alongside such a talented team. Not only doesTomorrow feature BAFTA-winning cast and crew, but the hard hitting and compelling storylines have a universal appeal which will resonate with audiences around the world. Tomorrow has something for everyone, from a Working Title love story, to elements of Hurt Locker and Dallas Buyers Club. We’re excited to bring this into the market.”

We are already working with actor and writer, Sebastian Street, for a number of leading roles in forthcoming pictures. When he first mentioned Tomorrow we knew it was going to be special and jumped all over it, we simply had to work on it!”

Producer, Dean Woodford, Studio 82, said:” I’m delighted to be working alongside Sean and Andrew. We were looking for a dynamic sales agent and a clever marketeer, with a vertically integrated approach. We’ve certainly found that with the Carnaby team.”

Andrew Loveday, joint CEO, Carnaby Sales & Distribution added: “I’m incredibly excited for the producers and up and coming talent that we have on board – it has all the hallmarks of a Good Will Hunting all over again!“

Tomorrow is a moving and inspirational feature film, which candidly explores the difficulty and loneliness soldiers encounter as they try to reintegrate back into society having served for their country; moving on from losses and injuries to forge a life, find sustaining work and experience love. The film is a very personal journey for both writers and boldly explores several hard-‐ hitting yet underexposed issues such as post-‐traumatic stress disorder, as well as HIV and AIDS. Confirmed cast for Tomorrow includes: Stephen Fry (The Hobbit), Stephanie Leonidas (Defiance),Sebastian Street (Age of Heroes), Stuart Brennan (Risen), Sophie Kennedy-‐Clark(Nymphomaniac 1 & 2, Philomena) Paul Kaye (Blackball, Game of Thrones) andJoss Stone (The Tudors).

Tomorrow is one of many titles on Carnaby's growing slate, which will see two additional films start production next month and another six in the first half of 2015. They currently have two titles in post-production which will premiere at AFM. Within the last year, Carnaby has made a real mark on the industry, as the development slate continues to grow and projects commence production.

Warrior Games Begin in Colorado

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Sept. 28, 2014 - The 2014 Warrior Games, bringing together more than 200 wounded, ill or injured U.S. service members and veterans opened here today, with a senior Defense Department official lauding all those competing as an inspiration to everyone who wears the uniform.

"Through these games we celebrate athletes -- the warriors -- and we recognize your service and your accomplishments and we applaud them," said Jessica L. Garfola Wright, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness as she opened the six days of games.

The competition includes seven sports -- archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball.

"Athletes, I will tell you -- you inspire me," Wright said. "And you inspire your fellow service members, and your families and your friends. Americans everywhere, she said, will use one word and that's just awesome. You are awesome."

Wright said she was honored to represent Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel who she said sent his best wishes to all the athletes.

"Your courage, your strength and your perseverance -- it is awesome," she said. "Thank you for your service in uniform to the United States of America. Thank you for your sustained excellence in the face of adversity."

Wright said the warrior-athletes had so much to be proud of and "it just simply gave me chills to see you march in" to the opening ceremony.

The undersecretary also expressed her gratitude to the families and friends of the competitors.

"It comes down to the support you give them. The support, the love, the motivation that you give them to get them through the very hard times that they have."

Wright also thanked the U.S. Olympic Committee for its commitment to the athletes, and specifically, Charlie Huebner, vice president of paralympic development for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation.

She also thanked the games' sponsors, including Deloitte and the the USO. "You are partners not only with the U.S. Olympic Committee, but with [the Defense Department] and I appreciate your support."

#OLYMPIC #TORCH

09/28/2014 06:33 PM CDT

Marine Corps Cpl. Jorge Salazar passes the Olympic torch to Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Sharona Young during the opening ceremony for the 2014 Warrior Games at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 29, 2014.

CA Governor Signs Respect After Death Act

(Sacramento) Today, California's Respect After Death Act (AB 1577) was signed by Governor Brown, having passed in both the Assembly and Senate earlier this year. The long-awaited bill will provide needed guidance to help ensure that transgender people have their gender identity reflected on their death certificates. It was authored by Speaker of the Assembly Toni Atkins and co-sponsored by Equality California and Transgender Law Center.

 “We are grateful to the Governor, California’s Legislature, and the leadership of Assembly Speaker Atkins for enacting this common-sense bill that will help protect the dignity of our loved ones upon their passing,” said Masen Davis, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “This brings us a significant step closer to making sure that all transgender people are able to live—and die—authentically in accordance with who they really are.”

“Everyone deserves to have their identity respected in death, and this law cleans up a confusing process to ensure transgender Californians get the same respect that anyone else gets,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of EQCA. “We thank the Governor and Speaker Atkins for their leadership on this issue.”

AB 1577 requires the official responsible for completing a transgender person’s death certificate to do so in a manner that reflects the person’s gender identity if they are presented appropriate documentation, such as written instructions from the deceased person confirming their wishes, an updated birth certificate or driver’s license, or evidence of medical treatment for gender transition. In the absence of these documents, the gender reported by the person’s legal next of kin would be used.

Drafted at the beginning of this year, the bill drew inspiration from the passing of Christopher Lee, a San Francisco artist and transgender advocate who was misgendered after his death in 2012. The bill was passed by the Assembly Health Committee in March, and passed by the Senate in August. Transgender Law Center congratulates everyone who has helped advocate for this important step!

“I’m so happy,” said Lee’s close friend Chino Scott-Chung. “It brings us great solace to know that Christopher’s legacy will live on to protect the dignity of other transgender people, and that their friends and families will hopefully not have to endure what we did.”

Transgender Law Center works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

EMPLOYER SUPPORT RECOGNITION

09/26/2014 06:55 PM CDT

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel thanks audience members and recipients of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Sept. 26, 2014. Fifteen private- and public-sector employers from across the country were recognized for exceptional support of their employees who serve the nation in the National Guard and Reserve. It is the highest recognition that DoD bestows to employers for such support.

Medano Fire in Sand Dunes National Park (Image 2)

On the afternoon of June 23, 2010, winds from the east began stirring up the Medano Fire in Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa, Colo., blowing smoke toward the dunes. The fire, which had consumed about 5,000 acres in a remote section of the park, was apparently started by lightning. Firefighters kept a close eye on the blaze but generally let it burn in the mountains, since periodic fires are important for forest health. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) scientists are studying wildfires in order to forecast fire-weather interactions, assess emissions, and understand the social impacts. NCAR is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. (Date of Image: June 2010) [Image 2 of 4 related images. See Image 3.]

Credit: David Hosansky, Head of Media Relations, National Center for Atmospheric Research

See other images like this in NSF's Science360 for iPad app. To download the Science360 for iPadapplication for free, visit the Apple iTunes store.

General Restrictions: Images and other media in the National Science Foundation Multimedia Gallery are available for use in print and electronic material by NSF employees, members of the media, university staff, teachers and the general public. All media in the gallery are intended for personal, educational and nonprofit/non-commercial use only. Images credited to the National Science Foundation, a federal agency, are in the public domain. The images were created by employees of the United States Government as part of their official duties or prepared by contractors as "works for hire" for NSF. You may freely use NSF-credited images and, at your discretion, credit NSF with a "Courtesy: National Science Foundation" notation. Additional information about general usage can be found in Conditions.

CalVet Hosts Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise Business Matchmaking Event

WHO:     California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)

 

WHAT:   Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Business Matchmaking Event

 

WHEN:   Wednesday, October 1, 2014

              Registration: 7:00 a.m., Event: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 

WHERE: Department of General Services

               707 3^rd Street

               West Sacramento, CA  95605

 

ATTENDING:

                Peter J. Gravett, CalVet Secretary

                Fred Klass, California Department of General Services Director

                John Garcia, former U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary for

                Intergovernmental Affairs

 

BACKGROUND:

This forum will teach disabled Veteran business owners and suppliers how to get certified by the State of California; where to find state bidding opportunities; how to compete for contracts; how to effectively manage a business; and about the support and services available through the CalVet and the California Department of General Services.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with more than 50 federal and state government, public utility, and private-sector procurement decision makers for targeted, one-on-one matchmaking.

 

SIGNIFICANCE:

This forum demonstrates greater government collaboration and is the first time Federal, state, and private entities have come together to put government contracts into the hands of disabled Veterans.

 

For information about CalVet’s DVBE Program, go tohttps://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Disabled-Veteran-Business-Enterprise-Program.aspx.

Rochester Man Indicted on Charges of Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS, Attempting to Kill U.S. Soldiers and Possession of Firearms and Silencers

USDOJ: Justice News

Rochester Man Indicted on Charges of Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS, Attempting to Kill U.S. Soldiers and Possession of Firearms and Silencers

Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin and U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. for the Western District of New York announced today that a federal grand jury in Rochester has returned a seven-count indictment charging Mufid A. Elfgeeh, 30, of Rochester, with three counts of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), aka the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. In addition, Elfgeeh is also charged with one count of attempted murder of current and former members of the United States military, one count of possessing firearms equipped with silencers in furtherance of a crime of violence, and two counts of receipt and possession of unregistered firearm silencers.

more info...

#Obama on #Global #Health #Security Challenge

By Cheryl Pellerin
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2014 - With Ebola spreading in West Africa at an alarming rate, President Barack Obama today hosted top government and military officials along with experts in public health and proposed a series of steps aimed at protecting people from that and other infectious diseases.

President Barack Obama convenes a meeting on the Ebola virus at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 16, 2014. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Forty four nations are involved with The Global Health Security Agenda which, along with the World Health Organization, is bringing nations together to make concrete commitments to global health security.

Critical roles in global health security

Joining the president at a GHSA Summit today were cabinet members including Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

"As Secretary of defense I especially want to recognize and thank senior defense and security officials from other countries who are here today because, as you know so well, you each have critical roles to play in supporting global health security," Hagel said.

Scientific, economic and demographic trends are magnifying the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, the secretary said, whether the outbreaks begin with an accident, as an act of terrorism or in nature.

"Such events threaten not only the health of our citizens but also geopolitical stability," Hagel said, adding, "When states are unable to provide basic services for their citizens, dangerous regional and global security consequences result."

Prevent, detect and respond

Hagel added, "To prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks, we must work across all the sectors of all of our governments and across all of our nations in a concerted global effort," including he said, responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases that threaten the stability of nations and regions.

Today, Obama said the United States has unique capabilities other nations don't have in helping to prevent epidemics. "We can mobilize the world in ways that other nations may not be able to," he told GHSA attendees at the White House.

"That's what we're trying to do on Ebola and that's what we'll do on the broader challenge of ensuring our global health security," he said, adding, "We will do our part. We will lead. We will [contribute] resources. But we cannot do it alone."

Obama said other nations are starting to answer the call for help made at the United Nations this week.

"Together, our countries have made over 100 commitments both to strengthen our own security and to work with each other to strengthen the security of all countries' public health systems," the president said.

Not caught flat-footed

To do more to prevent threats and outbreaks, the United States will partner with countries to help boost immunization rates to stop the spread of preventable diseases, and work together to improve biological security so nations can store, transport and work with dangerous pathogens safely.

In the United States, scientists are working with partners to find new ways to stop animal diseases from crossing over into people, which is how Ebola started.

"And with the executive order I signed last week," Obama added, "we now have a national strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, to better protect our children and grandchildren from the reemergence of diseases and infections that the world conquered decades ago.

Do more to detect incidents and outbreaks

Second, he said, the United States will do more to detect incidents and outbreaks by helping hospitals and health workers find ways to share information more quickly as outbreaks occur.

"We want to help countries improve their monitoring systems so they can track progress in real time and we'll intensify our efforts to diagnose diseases faster," Obama said.

The United States must work with partners to make sure that technologies available now to diagnose many illnesses in minutes get to the market and get distributed as quickly as possible, he added.

Third, he said, the United States must do more to respond faster when incidents and outbreaks happen.

Emergency operations centers

"The United States will continue to help countries create their own emergency operations centers, with rapid-response teams ready to deploy at a moment's notice," Obama said.

"Just like our military conducts exercises to be ready, we'll lead more training exercise as well, helping countries stress-test their system and personnel so that in the event of an outbreak or biological attack, they know how to find the source ... mitigate the impact [and] ... save lives.

Obama also announced a new effort to help health workers respond to diseases like Ebola.

"Today we're issuing a challenge to inventors, entrepreneurs and businesses of the world to design better protective solutions for our health workers. If you design them, we will make them, we will pay for them, and our goal is to get them into the field in a matter of months to help the people working in West Africa right now. I'm confident we can do this," the president said.

#Defeating #ISIL

By Nick Simeone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2014 - Defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant will require a long-term commitment by the United States and its allies on many fronts and will not be achieved by airstrikes alone, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters today.

"This will not be an easy or brief effort," Hagel said at a Pentagon news conference, where he took questions alongside Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

At beginning of campaign

"We are at the beginning, not the end" of efforts to degrade and destroy ISIL, Hagel said.

Since August, the United States along with France have carried out more than 200 airstrikes against terrorist targets in Iraq. The impact of more than 40 airstrikes conducted by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria this week -- including against a little known group of al-Qaida veterans called Khorasan which U.S. officials say was plotting attacks against the United States and its allies -- is still being assessed.

The air attacks to deny ISIL freedom of movement are just one element of a strategy announced by President Barack Obama earlier this month to defeat the group, which has declared a caliphate spanning the Iraqi-Syrian border, threatening minority groups and non-adherents while forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee.

"No one is under any illusions that airstrikes alone will destroy ISIL," Hagel said. He also emphasized that the strategy must also include diplomatic, economic and intelligence components along with cooperation from the new Iraqi government, and "will require a long term commitment from the United States and all of our partners and allies."

The key to the strategy in Syria will be training and equipping moderate Syrian opposition forces to take on the battle against ISIL on the ground. Hagel said U.S. military assessment teams have arrived in Saudi Arabia where Syrian forces are set to be trained. Congress has approved $500 million in funds to train Syrian opposition forces but the Defense Department has said it could take up to a year before the first vetted Syrian troops are sent into battle.

#Anti-ISIL #Campaign Will Take Time, Says #Dempsey

By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2014 - The campaign against the ISIL terror group will be persistent and sustained and will take time, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at a Pentagon news conference this afternoon.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said this week's U.S. airstrikes demonstrate that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has no safe haven inside Syria.

"Our targeted actions are disrupting ISIL's command and control, their logistics capabilities and their infrastructure in Syria," Dempsey said. "While in Iraq, we're empowering our Iraqi partners to go back on the offensive."

U.S. strategy will be to continue to build, guide and sustain a credible coalition, said the chairman, who noted the participation of Arab countries in the coalition and in the airstrikes inside Syria.

Larger strategy

The military actions, Dempsey said, are part of a larger strategy that includes a whole-of-government approach that also targets ISIL's financing, interdicts foreign fighters, and exposes "ISIL's false narratives."

"In particular, stripping away their cloak of religious legitimacy behind which they hide," the chairman said.

Reporters asked Dempsey if he wanted to dial back his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week in which he said that if conditions change in Iraq he will tell President Barack Obama that more American troops will be needed.

"If you're asking me would I would provide my best military advice at all times, the answer is absolutely," Dempsey said. "If you're suggesting that I might, at some point, recommend that we need a large ground force to counter ISIL, the answer to that is also absolutely."

Ground force needed

A ground force is needed, he said, but it doesn't have to be an American ground force. The chairman emphasized that Iraqi, Kurdish and Syrian forces are best to take on ISIL on the ground. American advisors are already working with Iraqi and Kurdish forces and the training an equipping of Syrian moderates is just beginning.

Much of what is needed to defeat ISIL depends on local forces and local governments, the chairman said.

"How long is it going to take ... the new government of Iraq to convince the Sunni, Shia and Kurds that their future should rest with them [and] not with separations along sectarian lines?" Dempsey asked.

Taking on ISIL inside Syria will require a large ground component of Syrian moderates, Dempsey said. "We've had estimates anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 is what we believe they would need to recapture lost territory in eastern Syria," he said. "I am confident that we can establish their training if we do it right. We have to do it right, not fast. They have to have military leaders that bind them together. They have to have a political structure into which they can hook, and therefore be responsive to. And that's going to take some time."

Ebola crisis

Dempsey reminded reporters that ISIL is not the only crisis. "The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the largest the world has ever seen," he said. "This is a complex emergency beyond a public health crisis that has significant humanitarian, economic, political and security dimensions."

U.S. military personnel are providing unique capabilities to establish command and control nodes, logistics hubs, training for health care personnel and engineering support in Liberia, he said.

#FUTURE #MARINE

09/26/2014 03:39 PM CDT

Marine recruit John Sullivan responds to drill instructors at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Sept. 25, 2014.

#DefenseSecretary #ChuckHagel During a press conference

COALITION BUILDING

09/26/2014 03:45 PM CDT

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel listens to a question during a press conference at the Pentagon September 26, 2014. Hagel said defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, will require a long-term commitment by the U.S. and its allies on many fronts, and will not be achieved by air strikes alone.

#USS #ArleighBurk

09/26/2014 03:50 PM CDT

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Raschka writes on a tactical board in the combat information center on the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke in the Red Sea, Sept. 22, 2014.

#173rd #Airborne #Brigade

PARATROOPERS JUMP

09/26/2014 04:00 PM CDT

U.S. Army paratroopers descend at Juliet Drop Zone near Pordenone, Italy, Sept. 24, 2014, with the Italian Dolomite mountain range behind them. The paratroopers are assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade and based in Vicenza, Italy.

#Battaglia Answers Questions on 'Troop Talk'

By Claudette Roulo
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2014 - The health and welfare of the military force is directly connected to readiness, and preventing suicides is a top priority for military leaders as they seek to protect the health of the force, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said during a "Troop Talk" episode recorded Sept. 9 at the Defense Media Activity at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia answered questions ranging from dealing with stress while on recruiting duty to spousal employment that were submitted via email and through social media as well as fielding questions from the studio audience during filming for the second episode of "Troop Talk" that airs today on the Pentagon Channel. Battaglia was accompanied by Dr. Susan S. Kelly, director of DoD's Transition to Veterans Program Office, during a portion of the program.

Suicide prevention

While September is suicide prevention awareness month, Battaglia said, the Defense Department is taking on the challenge of stopping suicide year-round.

One of the central ways the department is addressing that challenge is through resiliency programs, he said. When the principles espoused by resiliency programs become second nature, Battaglia said, the department will "find that the buildup in robustness and resiliency is going to help our service members and families maneuver and navigate through adversity and challenge and crisis and that way they will have better-informed courses of action to make."

If someone feels like they may harm themselves, the sergeant major said, they may find it helpful to remember the acronym "NOW."

"There's no problem too big -- that's the 'N' -- that would lead or should lead someone to suicide as a solution to some degree of adversity," Battaglia said.

He said the "O" stands for outreach.

"And that just means outreach is just a fingertip away," Battaglia said, "whether it's calling a commander, texting a team leader, ringing in to a battle buddy, whatever, but outreach is just that close."

He added, "And the 'W' stands for We care. We understand as leaders in our military ... that our service members sacrifice a lot throughout the course of their enlistment, whether it be four years or four decades and by God we're going to stand by them. We want to help them to success, not just through the military life cycle, but through the remainder of their life."

Difficult recruiting duty

Recruiting duty is very difficult, Battaglia said. The long hours and separations can be stressful for the recruiters as well as their families. The military services, as well as the Military Entrance Processing Command, are addressing the stressors inherent in recruiting duty through programs where they engage with the recruiters and their families, he said.

In addition, some recruiting battalions have organization and family days that are opportunities to engage families, the sergeant major said. Resiliency programs, he said, aren't just for service members. Family members should feel free to take advantage of the assistance those programs offer, Battaglia said.

"The program that I co-manage, Total Force Fitness, is meant for the individual service member, the family member [and] the veteran," he said.

Battaglia said such programs are designed to provide service members and families with best practices, resources and ideas to help build the capacity to deal with stress.

Sports outreach programs

The Defense Department's outreach programs with sports organizations such as USA Basketball and the USA Men's Soccer World Cup Team are part of a program called Commitment to Service, which is sponsored by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the sergeant major said. The partnerships are intended to help players remember what they are representing, Battaglia said.

"Who ... better to do that than us?" he asked. "We do it each and every day -- represent our country."

One of the ways the program has accomplished this is through dog tag exchange ceremonies. The department arranges to have service members present athletes with specially designed dog tags. Rather than being a matched pair as are conventional dog tags, one tag is engraved with the player's name and other information, and the other tag is engraved with the service member's information.

Military spouse employment

Department leaders are discussing ways to extend tours to provide more stability for service members and their families, Battaglia said.

"That's going to depend on, obviously, mission and readiness within that specific service," said the sergeant major, noting there won't be a "one-size-fits-all" solution handed down from DoD on the length of duty assignments.

Meanwhile, DoD and the White House -- through First Lady Michelle Obama's Joining Forces initiative -- are working to encourage employers to hire more military spouses and veterans.

"The challenges that our military families face also make you very special," Dr. Kelly said. "Employers ... recognize that that specialness about you. You are problem-solvers, you are resilient and you get the job done. No matter what circumstance you are thrown in, you get the job done."

While the department's Transition Assistance Program is primarily designed to help service members and their spouses transition and begin post-military careers, she said, some aspects of the program can assist military spouses as they seek employment following permanent changes of station.

TAP's virtual curriculum was designed with the challenges of military life in mind, Kelly said. It's posted on the Department of Veterans Affairs eBenefits website, she said, and military spouses can access it whenever it's convenient for them.

"All 88 hours of curriculum in the Transition GPS is available to our military spouses also. We also post it on the Department of Labor's website, so it's out there for everybody to use," Kelly noted.

Spouses can use the program's resources to examine labor markets in the area they're moving to, learn how to transfer and take advantage of their military member's Post 9/11 GI Bill, or build a budget designed to help cushion a temporary loss of employment following a move, she said.

$554 #Million #Settlement of #Lawsuit Filed by #Navajo

Attorney General Holder, Secretary Jewell Announce $554 Million Settlement of Tribal Trust Accounting and Management Lawsuit Filed by Navajo Nation

Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Navajo Nation regarding the U.S. government’s management of funds and natural resources that it holds in trust for the Navajo Nation.  The settlement resolves a long-standing dispute, with some of the claims dating back more than 50 years, and brings to an end protracted litigation that has burdened both the Navajo Nation and the United States. 

Secretary Jewell joined Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resource Division Sam Hirsch, and numerous tribal officials at a commemorative signing ceremony held in Window Rock, Arizona today.

“This historic agreement resolves a longstanding dispute between the United States and the Navajo Nation, including some claims that have been sources of tension for generations,” said Attorney General Holder.  “The Department of Justice has made it a top priority to honor and foster the trust relationship between the United States and American Indian tribes.  This landmark resolution ends protracted and burdensome litigation. It will provide important resources to the Navajo Nation.  And it fairly and honorably resolves a legal conflict over the accounting and management of tribal resources.  This demonstrates the Justice Department’s firm commitment to strengthening our partnerships with tribal nations -- so we can expand cooperation, empower sovereign tribes, and keep moving forward together with mutual respect and shared purpose.”

 “This settlement reflects our continuing commitment to upholding the federal trust responsibility to Indian Country and to building strong, prosperous and resilient tribal communities,” said Secretary Jewell.  “The historic agreement strengthens the government-to-government relationship between the United States and the Navajo Nation, helps restore a positive working relationship with the Nation’s leaders and empowers Navajo communities. The landmark Cobell settlement and resolution of 80 other tribal trust management lawsuits under President Obama has opened a new chapter in federal trust relations with tribes and individual Indian beneficiaries.”

The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian tribe in the United States, with over 300,000 members.  The Nation has the largest reservation in the United States, encompassing over 27,000 square miles of land in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.  The reservation includes more than 14 million acres of trust lands, which are leased for various productive uses, including farming; grazing; oil, gas, and other mineral development; businesses; rights-of-way; timber harvesting; and housing.  The Navajo Nation also owns or has ownership interests in over 100 trust accounts.

Under the agreement, the United States will pay the Navajo Nation $554 million in settlement of its claims.  In return, the Navajo Nation will dismiss its current lawsuit and forego further litigation regarding the United States’ historic management or accounting of Navajo funds or resources held in the trust by the United States.  The Navajo Nation and the United States will undertake prospectively information-sharing procedures that will lead to improved communication concerning the management of Navajo’s trust funds and resources, and also the parties will abide by alternative dispute resolution procedures to reduce the likelihood of future litigation.

In addition to the negotiations that led to this historic settlement with the Navajo Nation, the Departments of Justice, the Interior, and the Treasury have been diligently engaged in settlement conversations involving other litigating tribes.  On April 11, 2012, the United States announced settlements with 41 tribes for about $1 billion.  Since that time, the federal government has focused considerable dedicated effort on the remaining tribal trust accounting and trust mismanagement cases and has been able to resolve “breach of trust” claims, without the need for further extended litigation, of almost 40 additional tribes, for over $1.5 billion.

The United States will continue settlement discussions in numerous other cases that are still pending and is committed to resolving the litigating tribes’ trust accounting and trust mismanagement claims in a manner that is fair and reasonable to the tribes and the United States.

“From his first days in office, President Obama has worked to honor the government-to-government relationships between the United States and tribal governments," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Sam Hirsch.  "This settlement is yet another example of the Administration’s promise to strengthen the ties between the United States and the Navajo Nation.  And it reflects my personal commitment to resolving long-standing lawsuits rather than wasting the time and resources of both the United States and Indian tribes in contentious litigation.”