Senior Enlisted Leaders Tour California Units

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
Office of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27, 2014 - Two senior enlisted leaders finished a weeklong command visit across California Oct. 25, a tour that included stops at more than 30 individual bases and facilities covering all service branches.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, conducts a ceremonial oath of enlistment ceremony at the Los Angeles Military Entrance Processing Station, Oct. 21, 2014. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan)  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Army Command Sgt. Maj. William Clark Jr., senior enlisted advisor to the California adjutant general, began their tour Oct. 19 in Sacramento.

The tour included town hall meetings, facility tours and meetings with various organizations to discuss topics such as resilience, transition and veteran care.

Because this tour was so extensive, Battaglia said, he invited Clark to join him. This allowed Clark the opportunity to make additional contacts, he added, and to share his vast experiences to other elements of the DoD, interagency and municipalities throughout the state.

"The California National Guard touches every part of the state," Battaglia said. "We can never go short on relationship building and collaboration between all of the DoD entities and beyond. Having Command Sergeant Major Clark with me allowed me to introduce him to some of his peers and others that he and the [adjutant general] may need during state response situations and natural disasters."

Potential impact on future training

One of Clark's takeaways potentially could have an enormous and long-lasting impact on the training of the California National Guard. The two visited the Marine Corps' Infantry Immersive Trainer at Camp Pendleton, a training facility for hands-on practical application of tactical skills and decision making in an immersive, scenario-based training environment.

"I've never seen anything like it on any of the bases we've sent our soldiers to train at," Clark said. "Now I know it's available for Guardsmen and reservists to go through the training in preparation to execute their mission."

Six of the stops on the tour were directly aimed at seeing more about resilience, transition and veteran care programs. They included engagements at family readiness centers, Veterans Affairs facilities and the University of Southern California's School of Social Work.

After the pair visited the Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System, Clark said he could tell the staff care and are concerned about serving and supporting the veteran community well.

"[The staff] is reaching out and want to make a difference," he said. "They know they don't have all the answers, but they're willing to hear from veterans and take their feedback and make adjustments in their programs if that's going to help improve the care of veterans today."

Addressing veteran homelessness

During their visit to the U.S. Veterans -- the nation's largest nonprofit provider of comprehensive services to homeless and at-risk veterans the enlisted leaders met with two young, veterans who fell on hard times and are now starting to rebound. Clark said their stories were touching and sad, and that the conversation personalized some of the challenges leaders face.

"To combat this homeless challenge, our senior leaders are going to have to make decisions when it comes to resources," he said. "How much resource are we going to be able to push toward any of the issues that the armed forces face today? It's going to take prioritizing and sacrificing on the part of service members and retirees."

Battaglia has emphasized the need for strong and sustained transition programs that provide service members the tools they need to succeed and thrive within the civilian sector as another way to help prevent homelessness and joblessness within the veteran community. The importance of these programs has driven him across the country, he said, to root out best practices he can share with others organizations.

While the programs he saw in California weren't necessarily different from others he's seen, Battaglia said, such programs are not meant to be identical. But two elements of Camp Pendleton's transition program made an impression, he said.

"Their transition program, their TAPS GPS, allowed me to see how much resiliency is embedded into their curriculum, and that made me very satisfied." he said. "Transition is a family affair, it's a very significant turning point in one's military lifecycle, and resiliency plays a key role.

"The other is the effective internship program with welding and Microsoft that provides service members with a credential [or] license, and likely a job, as their enlistment comes to a close," he continued. "It's two key takeaways I plan to bring back with me to D.C."

Various engagements

The tour included many other engagements allowing an opportunity to hear directly from service members, DoD civilians and families.

"The town halls and unit visits were an opportunity to allow service members, across all of the military service branches, to tell me about their jobs and learn more about their capabilities," Battaglia said. "As important, it allowed me to take feedback and input from them on issues they are facing out here."

Battaglia said his message to the troops is consistent and simple: "Stay fit, stay strong and stay resilient."

The tour concluded with a visit to Coast Guard Sector San Diego to learn about the unit's responsibilities and mission to protect our nation's border, its coastline and the American people.

LEAVING CAMP BASTION

10/27/2014 12:04 PM CDT

U.S. Marines and sailors load onto a KC-130 aircraft on the Camp Bastion flightline, Afghanistan, Oct. 27, 2014. The Marine Corps ended its mission in Helmand province the day prior, and all Marines, sailors and service members from the United Kingdom also withdrew from southwestern Afghanistan. The U.S. troops are assigned to Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan.

PROTECTIVE GEAR TRAINING

10/27/2014 11:06 AM CDT

Navy Cmdr. James Lawler, right, a member of the Defense Department medical support team, shows students how to remove their personal protective equipment during training at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in San Antonio, Oct. 24, 2014. The students are part of a 30-person team prepared to deploy in the event of an Ebola crisis in the United States.

DoD News Broadcast Channel Plans Ebola Special

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2014 - Defense Department leaders discuss mission, policy and protection of troops participating in the department's Ebola response in a special program scheduled to air at 9 a.m. EDT Oct. 30 on the DoD News Broadcast Channel, Defense Media Activity officials announced today.

"Ebola Defense: A DoD News Special Report" also takes an in-depth look at the specialized training for service members deploying to West Africa, and the program also will present the latest information on the Army's research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments.

Operation Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq

From a U.S. Central Command News Release

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 27, 2014 - U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists yesterday and today, using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes in Syria, U.S. Central Command officials reported.

Separately, officials said, U.S. and partner-nation military forces conducted seven airstrikes yesterday and today using fighters, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq.

In Syria, four airstrikes near Kobani destroyed five ISIL vehicles and an ISIL-occupied building.

In Iraq, three airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck a small ISIL fighting unit. An airstrike southeast of Fallujah struck a large ISIL unit, destroyed an ISIL building and damaged an ISIL vehicle. An airstrike south of the Bayji Oil refinery struck ISIL fighters, and another airstrike south of Bayji struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed an improved explosive device. Finally, an airstrike east of Zumar struck a small ISIL unit and destroyed two ISIL occupied buildings.

All aircraft left the strike areas safely, and airstrike assessments are based on initial reports, officials said.

The strikes were conducted as part of Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project power and conduct operations, Centcom officials said.

Among the coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq are the United States, France, United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Bahrain.

Happy birthday to our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt!...

Happy birthday to our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt! Roosevelt would become known as the country’s Conservationist President for his work protecting wildlife and public lands — which included establishing the first wildlife refuge and protecting approximately 230,000,000 acres of public land.

Pictured here is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North

Dakota’s Badlands. The park was created to honor Roosevelt and his conservation work. Photo by Brad Starry 

Orbital Antares Rocket at the Launch Pad

The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen on launch Pad-0A, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 5,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-3 mission is Orbital Sciences' third contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Launch is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 at 6:45 p.m. EDT. > Latest: Orbital Launch Blog Image Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Ferus Natural Gas Fuels Makes Canadian Energy History by Commissioning the First Merchant LNG Facility in Canada

Elmworth, Alberta (October 28, 2014) – Ferus Natural Gas Fuels Inc. (Ferus NGF) is pleased to announce the grand opening of the first merchant liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Canada - positioning the company as a leader in the North American domestic natural gas fueling market. The facility, which became commercially operational in May, 2014, is located in Elmworth, Alberta, about 65 kilometres southwest of Grand Prairie.

Ferus NGF’s Elmworth LNG plant is strategically located in the heart of oil and gas activity in northwest Alberta and northeast British Columbia, and produces high-quality LNG fuel for engines used in drilling rigs, pressure pumping services, water heating for well fracturing and heavy-duty highway and off-road trucks. Other high horsepower applications for this LNG are in rail, mining, and remote power generation. To support the entire LNG supply chain, Ferus NGF has also designed and built specialised mobile storage and dispensing equipment to provide full-service fueling solutions. 

Currently, the facility can produce up to 50,000 gallons per day of LNG and has capacity to expand up to 250,000 gallons per day of LNG.

“Regionally focused small-scale LNG plants like the one we have built in Elmworth ensure proximal and reliable supply for our customers,” said Dick Brown, CEO of Ferus NGF. “In order for customers to make the switch to natural gas they need a high level of certainty and trust. Ferus NGF is successfully fueling oil and gas operations and on-road trucking with natural gas and our business plans include the wide-spread build-out of LNG and CNG infrastructure to provide regional supply and service across multiple high horsepower industries in North America.” 

Natural gas as a fuel is gaining support and traction from both industry and political leaders. As emission standards continuously evolve and companies strive to meet them while simultaneously finding ways to reduce operating costs, natural gas is positioned to become the fossil fuel of choice in North America.

“Natural gas provides significant environmental and cost benefits to high horsepower applications currently using diesel,” said Brown. “Canada has an abundance of natural gas and Ferus NGF is playing a lead role in facilitating its use as a consumable engine fuel.”

About Ferus Natural Gas Fuels

Ferus Natural Gas Fuels (Ferus NGF), privately held by The Energy & Minerals Group, provides end-to-end LNG and compressed natural gas ("CNG") fueling services including liquefaction, compression, transportation, storage and delivery to our customers in all end-use industries. Ferus NGF Inc. built the largest merchant LNG plant in Canada and is jointly building two LNG liquefaction facilities with ENN Canada in Alberta and British Columbia. In the United States, Ferus NGF LP is an equal partner in Eagle LNG Partners, a consortium dedicated to building out LNG infrastructure across the country, and is partnered with GE Ventures in The Last Mile^TMFueling Solution, a fully-integrated natural gas fueling system for oil and gas and other high horsepower operations, often using gas that would have otherwise been flared. For more information, visitwww.ferus.com.

About The Energy & Minerals Group

EMG is the management company for a series of specialized private equity funds. The Firm was founded by John Raymond (majority owner and CEO) and John Calvert in 2006. EMG focuses on investing across various facets of the global natural resource industry including the upstream and midstream segments of the energy complex. EMG has approximately $17.5 billion of regulatory assets under management (RAUM) and approximately $7.9 billion in commitments have been allocated across the energy sector since inception. For additional information, please visit www.emgtx.com. 

Navy Physician Provides Ebola Treatment Expertise to DoD Team

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

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Oct. 27, 2014 - The Defense Department's unprecedented mission of establishing a 30-member team to rapidly and effectively respond to any potential Ebola virus outbreak in the U.S. has brought some of the U.S. military health system's best medical professionals together.

Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) James Lawler, center, an infectious disease physician, talks to team members during a training event at the San Antonio Military Medical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Oct. 25, 2014. The group is part of a 30-member DoD team that could be called on to respond to new cases of Ebola in the United States. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

One member of the joint team brings real-world experience treating Ebola patients to the DoD training course that will assist in advancing the group's proficiency. Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) James Lawler, chief of the clinical research department of the bio-defense research directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Fort Detrick, Maryland, discussed his role on the DoD team serving as a subject-matter expert on Ebola treatment.

"I've had the opportunity to work in a couple of isolation treatment units in sub-Saharan Africa," he said, "and recently, in May, I was at the Ebola treatment unit in Conakry, Guinea, as a consultant for the World Health Organization. He also worked with the local health ministry and with Doctors Without Borders, which runs the Ebola treatment unit in Conakry.

Advances in Ebola treatment

Lawler, an 18-year Navy veteran, said he thinks the treatment of Ebola has "evolved significantly" due to the outbreak in West Africa.

"We're really rewriting the textbook on Ebola virus disease, because we've seen so many more cases in this outbreak," he said. "I think we've tried to capture a lot of the lessons that have been learned from West Africa, and also from the repatriated patients who have been treated here in the United States. We've learned a lot about effective treatment and how important aggressive supportive care can be, and we've tried to impart those lessons to the team here."

One characteristic of Ebola, he said, has been recognized more widely now for contributing to the mortality and morbidity of the disease: diarrhea and the incredible amount of fluid loss and associated electrolyte abnormalities that come with the disease.

"I think being more aggressive in treating those features of the disease has been an advance that this outbreak has precipitated," Lawler said. "And I think that there's a better appreciation that aggressive supportive care can make a significant difference in outcome."

Training focused on infection prevention

During the DoD training the 30-member team has undergone, Lawler said, the focus has centered on appropriate infection prevention and control in isolation units -- how to set up an isolation unit appropriately, how to use the personal protective equipment, and how to integrate the appropriate infection control procedures into daily clinical practice.

Team diversity

The team's make-up 10 critical care nurses; 10 noncritical care in-patient nurses; five physicians with infectious disease, internal medicine and critical care experience; and five members trained in infection control specialties is essential to its success, Lawler said. "Their complex patients require a significant amount of care," he added, "and as part of the team we have a core of critical care nurses who are really the most important part of the team."

That intensive nursing, Lawler said, makes the biggest difference in patient outcome, and all of those disciplines are important to managing patients.

"We also have some other folks who specialize in things like industrial hygiene and environmental health [who] can help with some of the other aspects of setting up a patient care unit that are important," he said.

The infection prevention control practices the team is training on will work if they're done effectively, Lawler said.

"It's important to really rely on your training and to remain focused and deliberate when you're working in a unit," he said. "Errors usually come when people get sloppy; when they get tired [and] careless. We really focus on preventing that."

Additionally, Lawler said, there is "absolutely" a benefit to having a team available for any infectious disease contingency, because Ebola is not the only worry.

"There's [Middle East respiratory syndrome] Coronavirus that's out there in the Middle East right now," Lawler explained. "We've already had experience with [severe acute respiratory syndrome] [and] with pandemic influenza, so the threat of emerging disease and pandemic disease is always out there."

Confidence in DoD team

Lawler expressed confidence in the team's training and said he believes it's ready to "deliver good care, and to do it safely."

"I feel very comfortable that our training has prepared the team to deliver care effectively and safely," he said. "If the event ever happens [where] the team gets called up, hopefully, other people [outside DoD] have the same confidence that I do that the team is ready to go."

Lawler said the nation always turns to the military in difficult times, and it is up to the DoD team to ensure it lives up to that trust.

"I think, in general, doing good patient care in difficult situations is what the military medical system always does," he said. "That mission is not unfamiliar to us, and we're ready to go if the call comes around for this particular instance."

Medical Research Institute Develops Ebola Diagnostics

By Cheryl Pellerin
DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2014 - The Ebola crisis in West Africa seized global attention in March, but scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases have worked for years on diagnostics, vaccines and drugs for Ebola and other lethal pathogens that adversaries might use in bioweapons targeting troops on the battlefield.

A digitally colorized scanning electron micrograph depicts numerous filamentous Ebola virus particles in green, budding from a chronically infected VERO E6 cell in orange at 25,000X magnification. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

USAMRIID, based in Frederick, Maryland, has pioneered research since 1969 to develop such medical countermeasures, and its work has contributed to critically needed help in the current outbreak.

On Oct. 25, the World Health Organization reported 10,141 cases of confirmed and suspected Ebola virus disease in six affected countries -- Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Spain, and the United States -- and in the previously affected countries of Nigeria and Senegal, and 4,922 deaths, all as of Oct. 23.

During a DoD News interview last week, a USAMRIID scientist discussed the institute's work on Ebola diagnostics, a critical tool that allows medical workers in West Africa, and now around the world, to determine whether someone is infected with the Ebola Zaire virus.

The Ebola Zaire strain, one of four known strains of Ebola virus, is the one that has caused the current outbreak.

Diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutic drugs needed

In Africa today, some of the most-needed medical products are diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutic drugs to treat Ebola virus disease. USAMRIID and others are working on vaccines and therapeutics for Ebola, but none has been approved yet for use in patients.

Diagnostic assays developed at USAMRIID, however, are being used now in Africa to detect the Ebola virus in patient whole blood, serum or plasma samples. And beyond its vaccine and therapeutic efforts, USAMRIID has several efforts contributing directly to fighting the Ebola crisis in West Africa, said Dr. David Norwood, chief of the institute's diagnostics systems division.

"That includes providing a diagnostic capability to the host nation in support of diagnosing Ebola on the continent," he said, "[and] we've worked with the [Food and Drug Administration], the Joint Program Executive Office and others to get an emergency use authorization for the same assay for testing American citizens."

Emergency-use declaration

On Aug. 5, FDA issued an emergency-use authorization for the Defense Department's real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for Ebola.

FDA officials said the authorization was based on a 2006 Department of Homeland Security declaration that the Ebola virus even then "presented a material threat against the U.S. population sufficient to affect national security."

The 2006 DHS declaration said the circumstances justified the emergency use of diagnostic tests to detect Ebola. Also on Aug. 5, Homeland Security Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell determined that circumstances exist to justify authorizing the emergency use of diagnostics for detecting Ebola virus disease.

Norwood said the assay is available for troops deploying to West Africa and to U.S. citizens through U.S. Public Health laboratories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The assays typically are designed to pick up either proteins or nucleic acids from the virus, or in some cases the host, and the idea is to detect the presence of the virus in bodily fluids, typically of someone who is infected," he added. "Critical to a diagnostic test is the ability to detect the organism very early."

Early signs of Ebola similar to those for flu

Early signs of Ebola are similar to early signs of other fever-producing illnesses such as flu, so the test is important in identifying Ebola early so those infected can be quarantined, Norwood explained.

Scientists and technical staff from USAMRIID have been in Liberia since March of last year providing diagnostic capabilities, the doctor said.

"Beginning in August of this year," he added, "we have had teams ... on the ground assisting, USAMRIID and [National Institutes of Health] personnel, providing diagnostic assays to folks in the Monrovia area of Liberia." The Naval Medical Research Center has two field-deployed teams operating in Monrovia as well, he said.

Training for military personnel, foreign governments

USAMRIID also provides training for military personnel in a course called Field Identification of Biological Warfare Agents, and Norwood said the institute has hosted representatives from foreign governments to train on using diagnostic capabilities in the field.

"For this particular outbreak, we have tailored a specific training program at USAMRIID that involves being able to perform the laboratory tests in the appropriate [personal protective equipment]," he noted, adding that USAMRIID personnel have trained the Liberian staff that works alongside them in the proper use of personal protective equipment and the performance of the assays.

Norwood said USAMRIID also is involved in developing protocols for some of the assays USAMRIID is required to support. These include assays that will be required, for example, in future clinical investigations to test the level of a new drug in patients' blood.

As the diagnostic field advances, Norwood said, the main focus will be to drive disease identification very close to, if not at, the time symptoms appear. "There's a significant effort through the Joint Science and Technology Office to invest in methods that could identify the response of the host to infection," he added.

Moving forward in diagnostics

Even something as basic as being able to determine whether someone has a viral or bacterial infection by looking at one impact of the infection on the host response would be a huge step forward for clinical treatment, Norwood said.

"That would drive the decision about whether to provide antibiotics for somebody, for example," he explained. "That's where diagnostics is moving -- to try to diagnose before the level of virus or bacteria ... [gets] to a critical level in order to identify the presence of the organism."

In response to a question about the nature of USAMRIID's contribution to the West Africa Ebola crisis, Norwood said USAMRIID and its experts have been working on pathogens like Ebola virus for many years before the current outbreak. "We had started in 2010 preparing the documentation for all the filoviruses that include Ebola and Marburg, to submit it to the FDA for just such an event," he explained.

The process is called a pre-EUA submission, and USAMRIID experts provided data to FDA so that if a dangerous outbreak occurred, the FDA could quickly transition the diagnostics into use under an emergency declaration.

Determining likelihood of emergency outbreaks

At the time, Norwood said, USAMRIID submitted 73 assays to the FDA and engaged several subject-matter experts to try to determine which of the assays would be critical for emergency outbreaks.

"Time and time again," Norwood said, "the filoviruses came up as the No. 1 priority, so we were ... concerned about this."

He added, "I don't think I can sit here and honestly say we were ready for what has happened. But we were certainly more prepared than we would have been." And that's what USAMRIID tries to do, he added -- predict and be ready for that next event.

USAMRIID is uniquely positioned with therapeutic, vaccine and diagnostic medical countermeasure capabilities all under one roof, with biocontainment capabilities, Norwood said, for the lethal pathogens.

"And while we've got U.S. Army in our name," he added, "the solutions we work on are solutions that can impact public health. I think we're seeing the effects of what we do on public health in the current outbreak."

Creating Your Financial Legacy Now

4 Tips for Creating Your Financial Legacy Now

Many Baby Boomers are Leaving Their Life’s Work 

to Chance, Says Retirement & Inheritance Planner

Half of all Americans with children do not have a legal will, according to a survey done by the legal service RocketLawyer.

“While the survey was conducted in 2012, the attitudes Americans have on inheritance and legacy matters seems to remain the same through the years, individuals would rather focus on the here and now” says Carl Edwards, an independent financial planner.

“These parents love their children, and I think the concept of dying and not being there for their children is simply not an option they consider. Many of these folks are young and still in their prime earning years.”

More surprisingly, however, is that fact that 41 percent of baby boomers age 55 to 64 do not have a will, says Edwards, consultant and owner of C.E. Wealth Group, (http://www.cewealth.com).

Edwards says the time to plan for your financial legacy is now; he offers suggestions on how to move forward.

• Documentation is vital; sort out your will ASAP! A will is the most basic estate planning document; it tells the world exactly where you want your assets distributed when you die. While you’re not legally required to have a certified professional create a will, you should strongly consider one. These documents may be contested by people who are unhappy with the decisions you made. You deserve the peace of mind in knowing that your life’s economic work and other wishes will be executed as specified, and your family will be grateful to you for not leaving them with the headache of trying to sort out your estate. Other crucial documents include your living will, power of attorney, durable power of attorney (including for health care), joint ownership and living trust.

• Utilize executors and gifts effectively in your estate. Real property, financial investments, cash and personal possessions encompass the financial assets that you own. Once you have identified specific gifts you would like to distribute, you can apportion the rest of your estate in equal shares among your heirs, or you can split it into percentages. For example, you may decide to give 45 percent each to two children and the remaining 10 percent to a sibling. Choose your executor, the person responsible for carrying out the wishes outlined in the will, wisely.

• Consider an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust. Many individuals think of the income tax free benefits that may be had from life insurance, but they never

realize that the same life insurance may push them into estate tax nightmares. An irrevocable life insurance trust can be established to assist you in passing your estate to your heirs without the surprise attack of life insurance that gets eaten by unexpected estate or inheritance taxes.

“You don’t have to be super-rich to benefit from a tactful and ongoingapproach to estate management,” Edwards says.

• Trusts can be another powerful estate management tool. A trust is a legal entity that can own property. Properly structured trusts completely avoid probate and avoid the delays and expense that often accompany probate. Trusts are not a matter of public record. They’re a tool for maintaining privacy. And, even after your death, trusts can provide some measure of control over how assets are distributed to children and other beneficiaries. In addition, trusts are much more difficult to contest than a will.

About Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards, MBA, ChFC®, is a Chartered Financial Consultant® and the owner of C.E. Wealth Group, (http://www.cewealth.com). He has passed the Series 7, Series 66 and Series 63 securities industry exams and the Series 24 principal exam. He represents High Street Asset Management as an Investment Adviser Representative and Calton & Associates, Inc. as a Registered Representative. Edwards is also a licensed insurance agent in life, health, Medicare Supplement and long-term care insurances. He received a master’s degree in business administration and is currently completing a second master’s degree in finance from Penn State University. He also is a member of the American MENSA.

Securities offered through Calton & Associates, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through High Street Asset Management. C.E. Wealth Group, LLC, High Street Asset Management and Calton & Associates, Inc. are separate entities. Insurance or insurance-related products are offered through C.E. Insurances, LLC. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Calton & Associates, Inc. or High Street Asset Management. Individuals should consult their tax/legal advisors before making tax/legal-related investment decisions as Calton & Associates, Inc. and its Registered Representatives do not offer tax/legal advice.

Antares Rocket at Sunrise

The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, is seen on launch Pad-0A during sunrise, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The Antares will launch with the Cygnus spacecraft filled with over 5,000 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions. The Orbital-3 mission is Orbital Sciences' third contracted cargo delivery flight to the space station for NASA. Launch is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 27 at 6:45 p.m. EDT.

Military Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

From a U.S. Central Command News Release

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 26, 2014 - U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria Saturday and today, using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct five airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted 12 airstrikes Saturday and today using fighters, attack and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL terrorists in Iraq.

In Syria, five airstrikes near Kobani destroyed seven ISIL vehicles and an ISIL building.

In Iraq, six airstrikes west of the Mosul Dam area struck two small ISIL units, damaged an ISIL building and destroyed four ISIL vehicles and an ISIL artillery piece. Three airstrikes southwest of the Mosul Dam area struck a large ISIL unit and a small ISIL unit, and destroyed two ISIL vehicles and two ISIL buildings. Three airstrikes southeast of Fallujah struck two large ISIL units, a small ISIL unit and destroyed one ISIL building.

All aircraft departed the strike areas safely. Airstrike assessments are based on initial reports.

The strikes were conducted as part of Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community.

The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project power and conduct operations. Among the coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq are the U.S., France, United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the U.S., Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Bahrain.

Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on terrorist attack in the Sinai

The Defense Department strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on Oct. 24 which killed dozens of Egyptian soldiers and wounded many more. We express our condolences to the families of the victims, as well as our wishes for speedy recoveries for the wounded.

The Defense Department continues to support Egypt's efforts to counter the threat of terrorism as part of the important and longstanding strategic partnership between our two countries.

DoD Condemns Terrorist Attacks in Sinai

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2014 - Defense Department officials yesterday strongly condemned terrorist actions in the Sinai Oct. 24 which resulted in the death or injury of dozens of Eqyptian soldiers.

In a written statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The full statement follows.

The Defense Department strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on Oct. 24 which killed dozens of Egyptian soldiers and wounded many more. We express our condolences to the families of the victims, as well as our wishes for speedy recoveries for the wounded.

The Defense Department continues to support Egypt's efforts to counter the threat of terrorism as part of the important and longstanding strategic partnership between our two countries.

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cmdr. Christopher E. Kalafut, 49, of Oceanside, California, died Oct. 24, in Doha, Qatar, of a non-combat related incident at Al Udeid Air Base. The incident is under investigation.

He was assigned to Naval Amphibious Liaison Element, Combined Forces Air Component Center, U.S. Central Command.

Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on the Change of Responsibility for Operation United Assistance

Today in Monrovia, Liberia, Major General Gary Volesky of the U.S. Army 101st Division assumed command of Joint Forces Command - Operation United Assistance and the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

Just 38 days ago, Major General Darryl Williams arrived in Liberia to form an advance detachment in his capacity as Commanding General, U.S.
Army Africa prior to the formal establishment of this Joint Forces Command.

In this short period, our service members, under his leadership, have made great advances in establishing command and control capabilities for this effort including lines of communication over very rough terrain.

Over 1,500 samples from patients have been tested in three labs, two of which were established earlier this month. These labs can now provide 24-hour turn-around results, and are capable of processing up to 100 samples from clinics and healthcare providers each day.

The 25-bed hospital in Monrovia should be fully operational in the first week of November once the construction of the supporting facilities is complete. Upon completion, the hospital will be staffed by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services personnel. In addition, the construction of the first Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) at Tubmanburg is nearing final completion. The construction on the second ETU should finish around the beginning of November and a third soon after.

In Dakar, Senegal, DoD personnel are establishing an intermediate staging base and transport hub. This week, the M/V Vega,a contracted vessel, arrived in the region to deliver some 700 containers of support equipment for US efforts.

In total, approximately 700 U.S. service members are now deployed to West Africa, including nearly 600 in Liberia and 100 in Senegal. Over the coming weeks, that could grow to upwards of 3,900 personnel.

Secretary Hagel appreciates the dedication of these service members to help fight Ebola at its source. The Department of Defense will continue to support the whole-of-government response, led by USAID in this effort.

LAKERS WAIVE BROWN AND SMITH

 

EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Jabari Brown and forward Roscoe Smith, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

 

Brown, a rookie from Missouri, appeared in four preseason games for Los Angeles, tallying five points, two rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes.

 

Smith, a rookie from UNLV, saw action in seven of the Lakers’ eight preseason contests, averaging 3.1 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 45.0% (9-20) from the field.

 

Both players were originally signed to the Lakers training camp roster on September 23.

 

The Lakers roster now stands at 15.

 

Critical NASA Science Returns to Earth aboard SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft

This series of images, captured by cameras on the International Space Station (ISS) show the departure from the station of SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft.

Image Credit: 

NASA

SpaceX's Dragon cargo spacecraft splashed down at 3:39 p.m. EDT Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 300 miles west of Baja California, returning 3,276 pounds of NASA cargo and science samples from the International Space Station (ISS).

A boat will take the Dragon spacecraft to a port near Los Angeles, where some cargo will be removed and returned to NASA within 48 hours. Dragon will be prepared for a return journey to SpaceX's test facility in McGregor, Texas, for processing.

“This mission enabled research critical to achieving NASA’s goal of long-duration human spaceflight in deep space,” said Sam Scimemi, director of the International Space Station division at NASA Headquarters. “The delivery of the ISS RapidScatterometer advances our understanding of Earth science, and the 3-D printer will enable a critical technology demonstration. Investigations in the returned cargo could aid in the development of more efficient solar cells and semiconductor-based electronics, the development of plants better suited for space, and improvements in sustainable agriculture.”

Among the returned investigations was part of the Rodent Research-1 experiment, which also launched last month to space aboard this Dragon. This study supports ongoing research into how microgravity affects animals, providing information relevant to human spaceflight, discoveries in basic biology, and knowledge that may direct affect human health on Earth. NASA and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) are developing spaceflight experiments that will use the Rodent Research Hardware System.

When returned, data from the Fundamental and Applied Studies of Emulsion Stability (FASES) investigation will be processed to help determine the physical principles which play a part in stabilizing different emulsions and the compounds that influenced those emulsions while in orbit. Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids where one liquid is present in droplet form and distributed throughout the other liquid; common emulsions include milk, mayonnaise and paint.

NanoRacks-Girl Scouts of Hawai’i-Arugula Plant Growth study was returned to Earth, as well. This study seeks to determine the impact that various nutrients and microgravity have on the growth and nutritious value of arugula seedlings grown in space. The goal of the study is to develop better ways to grow plants with a high nutritional content in the space environment. If the study samples have a high nutrition value, this may enable NASA and astronauts to grow and consume fresh, healthy food during future space travel.

Dragon is the only space station resupply spacecraft able to return a significant amount of cargo to Earth. The spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sept. 21 carrying almost 5,000 pounds of supplies and elements to support 255 scientific investigations the crew members of Expeditions 41 and 42 will conduct. The mission was the fourth of 12 cargo resupply trips SpaceX will make to the space station through 2016 under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract.

STALLION JUMP

10/24/2014 01:46 PM CDT

Marines jump out of a CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft during airborne sustainment training over Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 21, 2014. The Marines are assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.