By Steven Donald Smith
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2006 – The overnight arrests of 21 suspected terrorists by British authorities is a stark reminder that the United States is still at war with "Islamic fascists" who are intent on destroying freedom-loving people, President Bush said today. The suspects are thought to have been ready to unleash a plot to bomb multiple international flights bound for the United States. Officials said the suspects planned to carry liquid explosives onto about 10 commercial airplanes.
"I want to thank the government of Tony Blair and officials in the United Kingdom for their good work in busting this plot," Bush said while standing on the tarmac at Austin Straubel International Airport, in Green Bay, Wis. "I thank the officials in Washington, D.C., and around our country who gather intelligence and who work to protect the American people."
Bush said cooperation between British and American authorities was solid, and the cooperation among agencies within the U.S. government was excellent. He added that the United States is safer today than it was before the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, because of security improvements made since that attack. "But obviously we're still not completely safe, because there are people that still plot and people who want to harm us for what we believe in," the president said.
Bush said travelers are going to be inconvenienced as a result of the steps taken to further tighten airport security, but he urged patience and vigilance. "The inconveniences occur because we will take the steps necessary to protect the American people," he said. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said today that the investigation into the bomb plot is ongoing.
"This plot appears to have been well planned and well advanced, with a significant number of operatives," Chertoff said. He described the plot as sophisticated in nature and "suggestive of an al Qaeda plot." Chertoff said the arrests in Britain have significantly disrupted a major threat. "But we cannot assume that the threat has been completely thwarted or that we have fully identified and neutralized every member of this terrorist network," he added.
Reports indicate that U.S. and British intelligence agencies continue to search for 10 additional suspects. The U.S. raised the nation's threat level for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom and bound for the United States to its highest alert level of Severe or Red. The threat level for all other flights was raised to High or Orange.
In addition, almost all liquids have been temporarily banned from commercial flights, and several states have enhanced airport security measures by deploying National Guard troops there. "I have ordered the re-deployment of security assets to high priority locations to respond to this threat -- these assets include bomb-sniffing dogs, the California National Guard, and the California Highway Patrol, in concert with local and federal law enforcement agencies," Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a written statement.
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ordered the Massachusetts National Guard to bolster airport security in the commonwealth. "We've done this mission before, and we're ready to do it again," said Brig. Gen. Oliver J. Mason, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard. The commonwealth's Guard units helped secure its airports after the Sept. 11 attacks. The role of the National Guard in airport security is to support or augment, not replace, airport security and law enforcement authorities, Guard officials said.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Current Threat Level
August 10, 2006 - The United States Government is raising the nation's threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States. We are also raising the threat level to High, or Orange, for all commercial aviation operating in or destined for the United States.
Currently, there is no indication of plotting within the United States. We believe the arrests of extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted. Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security Administration is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security requirements.
Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, we are prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions from being carried on the airplane. This determination will be constantly evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant. Travelers should also anticipate additional security measures within the airport and at screening checkpoints.
Recommended Activities
All Americans, including those traveling in the transportation systems, should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicions items or activities to local authorities immediately. Everybody should establish an emergency preparedness kit as well as a communications plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency situation.
Everybody should establish an emergency preparedness kit as well as a communications plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency situation
Currently, there is no indication of plotting within the United States. We believe the arrests of extremists engaged in a substantial plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States have significantly disrupted the threat, but we cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted. Consistent with these higher threat levels, the Transportation Security Administration is coordinating with federal partners, airport authorities and commercial airlines on expanding the intensity of existing security requirements.
Due to the nature of the threat revealed by this investigation, we are prohibiting any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions from being carried on the airplane. This determination will be constantly evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant. Travelers should also anticipate additional security measures within the airport and at screening checkpoints.
Recommended Activities
All Americans, including those traveling in the transportation systems, should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicions items or activities to local authorities immediately. Everybody should establish an emergency preparedness kit as well as a communications plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency situation.
Everybody should establish an emergency preparedness kit as well as a communications plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency situation
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Milestone Reached as 4th Iraqi Army Division Stands Up
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – The Iraqi army is halfway to its goal of 10 divisions as the 4th Division assumed command of the area north of Baghdad yesterday. The division assumed primary control of its area of responsibility from the 101st Airborne Division. This is the fifth of 10 division headquarters in Iraq to assume the lead in regional operations.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman called the development a key benchmark in the effort Iraqis are making to take control of their own country. The division will be in the lead for security in Salah Ad Din, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk provinces. This area includes the cities of Tikrit, Kirkuk and Samarra and Iraq's northern oil fields.
Overall, Iraqi security forces are in the lead with five army divisions, 25 army brigades and 85 army battalions, Whitman said. The Iraqi national police have two battalions in the lead in other areas. In northern Iraq, 33 battalions, nine brigades and two divisions have demonstrated their ability to operate independently and now lead the fight against terrorists and anti-Iraqi forces. The 5th Iraqi Army Division assumed the lead in Diyala province in July.
The assumption of authority ceremony was held at Camp Dagger, outside Tikrit. Iraqi Lt. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Abdel-Rahman al-Mufti, commander of the 4th Army Division, and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Turner, commander of Task Force Band of Brothers, presided. Dignitaries attending the ceremony included Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, Defense Minster Gen. Abdul Qadir Muhammed Jasim, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, Multinational Force Iraq Commander Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the governors of Salah Ad Din, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk provinces, and many provincial and local leaders.
"I think this is a good day for Iraq," Khalilzad said. "The people of Iraq are starting to get organized so they can take on more responsibility for their own country." Casey agreed. "I think what you saw here today was a great statement in progress and unity in Iraq," he said. "They (Iraqis) keep taking small steps and getting better and better every day."
The 4th Division will continue to report through the coalition command structure until the Iraqi Ground Forces Command is fully set up at Camp Victory, outside Baghdad, Multinational Corps Iraq officials said. "The IGFC begins standing up in September with its formal alignment under the Joint Headquarters and will then conduct a phased assumption of overwatch for Iraqi army divisions," said Army Lt. Col. Michelle Martin-Hing, a Multinational Corps Iraq spokeswoman.
American advisers will continue to work with the 4th Division as it moves forward. Servicemembers assigned to military training teams are embedded with the Iraqi units. Thirteen such teams are with the 4th Division. Roughly 150 U.S. personnel are assigned to the teams, and U.S. units will continue to partner with Iraqi units as they gain more capabilities.
Servicemembers of Task Force Band of Brothers, which is built around the 101st Airborne Division, "will continue to train and operate with the Iraqi army as they now take the lead for security operations," Martin-Hing said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – The Iraqi army is halfway to its goal of 10 divisions as the 4th Division assumed command of the area north of Baghdad yesterday. The division assumed primary control of its area of responsibility from the 101st Airborne Division. This is the fifth of 10 division headquarters in Iraq to assume the lead in regional operations.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman called the development a key benchmark in the effort Iraqis are making to take control of their own country. The division will be in the lead for security in Salah Ad Din, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk provinces. This area includes the cities of Tikrit, Kirkuk and Samarra and Iraq's northern oil fields.
Overall, Iraqi security forces are in the lead with five army divisions, 25 army brigades and 85 army battalions, Whitman said. The Iraqi national police have two battalions in the lead in other areas. In northern Iraq, 33 battalions, nine brigades and two divisions have demonstrated their ability to operate independently and now lead the fight against terrorists and anti-Iraqi forces. The 5th Iraqi Army Division assumed the lead in Diyala province in July.
The assumption of authority ceremony was held at Camp Dagger, outside Tikrit. Iraqi Lt. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Abdel-Rahman al-Mufti, commander of the 4th Army Division, and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Turner, commander of Task Force Band of Brothers, presided. Dignitaries attending the ceremony included Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, Defense Minster Gen. Abdul Qadir Muhammed Jasim, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, Multinational Force Iraq Commander Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the governors of Salah Ad Din, Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk provinces, and many provincial and local leaders.
"I think this is a good day for Iraq," Khalilzad said. "The people of Iraq are starting to get organized so they can take on more responsibility for their own country." Casey agreed. "I think what you saw here today was a great statement in progress and unity in Iraq," he said. "They (Iraqis) keep taking small steps and getting better and better every day."
The 4th Division will continue to report through the coalition command structure until the Iraqi Ground Forces Command is fully set up at Camp Victory, outside Baghdad, Multinational Corps Iraq officials said. "The IGFC begins standing up in September with its formal alignment under the Joint Headquarters and will then conduct a phased assumption of overwatch for Iraqi army divisions," said Army Lt. Col. Michelle Martin-Hing, a Multinational Corps Iraq spokeswoman.
American advisers will continue to work with the 4th Division as it moves forward. Servicemembers assigned to military training teams are embedded with the Iraqi units. Thirteen such teams are with the 4th Division. Roughly 150 U.S. personnel are assigned to the teams, and U.S. units will continue to partner with Iraqi units as they gain more capabilities.
Servicemembers of Task Force Band of Brothers, which is built around the 101st Airborne Division, "will continue to train and operate with the Iraqi army as they now take the lead for security operations," Martin-Hing said.
Guard Border Mission 'Right Way to Do Business,' Chief Says
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – The National Guard's mission at the southwestern U.S. border is a balance of shared responsibility between the federal and state governments that is already improving border security and reducing illegal immigration, the National Guard's top leader said here today. “I think it's the right way to do business in the United States of America," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. "It is exactly a shared responsibility between state and federal (governments). It is not heavy-handed one way or the other, and it doesn't wrench control away from the governor nor the president. The National Guard has met all of the numbers that have been asked for and delivered all of the capabilities that have been asked for."
The National Guard has exceeded its 6,000-troop requirement at the border and is providing critical capabilities that allow the Border Patrol to be more effective as a law enforcement agency, Blum said. Guard troops are constructing fencing, putting up lighting, monitoring sensor systems, providing mobility with trucks and helicopters, filling communications gaps, and doing administrative work, he said.
All of these operations are designed to free up Border Patrol agents to do law enforcement activities while an additional 6,000 agents are trained over the next two years to make a more robust force, Blum said. "We're loaning them the skill sets and the expertise, so they can be more effective in the interim. And then ultimately ... they will be much more capable, manpower-wise, two years from now than they are now," he said.
The Guard's border mission is a shared responsibility between the federal and state governments, because the international border with Mexico is the responsibility of the federal government, but is also part of the state border, Blum said. Blum also has a lot of flexibility in deciding which units will rotate in and out of the border at what times, he said. For instance, Guard units from hurricane-prone states will not be sent to the border until this winter or next spring, so they are available to their state governors for any natural disasters, he said.
The National Guard is still more than able to meet its obligation to the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan while sending troops to the border, because the 6,000-troop limit for the border mission makes up only 2 percent of the total force, Blum said. Currently, 30 states have contributed troops to the border mission, and by the end of the two-year mission, almost all 50 states will have sent troops, he said. "We can do this. The size of this operation and the flexibility that's been afforded will make it fairly easy for us," he said.
The Border Patrol has already seen measurable success from the National Guard's presence at the border, Blum said. Border Patrol officials recently told Blum that traffic of non-Mexican illegal immigrants across the southwestern border has dropped drastically in the short time the Guard has been there, he said. Guard troops at the border also are satisfied with the mission and progress they have made, Blum said. They are working in fairly hostile terrain that can be brutal during the summer months, but morale is high among the troops, he said.
"The troops understand that this is important work; it's necessary work," he said. "I think they're pretty fulfilled and rewarded by it, and they like the flexibility and length of the mission." Blum emphasized that the National Guard's mission at the border is not a military one, but is military support to civil authorities. It's important that people in Mexico don't see this mission as a closure of the border to legal immigration, trade and business, he said.
"We're not trying to close the border; we're trying to make the border more secure, in that we want to get more control of the illegal activity that happens on the border," he said. "The legitimate immigration is very important to our nation and to our Mexican neighbor, and our ability to do trade and business back and forth across that border cannot be impeded."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – The National Guard's mission at the southwestern U.S. border is a balance of shared responsibility between the federal and state governments that is already improving border security and reducing illegal immigration, the National Guard's top leader said here today. “I think it's the right way to do business in the United States of America," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. "It is exactly a shared responsibility between state and federal (governments). It is not heavy-handed one way or the other, and it doesn't wrench control away from the governor nor the president. The National Guard has met all of the numbers that have been asked for and delivered all of the capabilities that have been asked for."
The National Guard has exceeded its 6,000-troop requirement at the border and is providing critical capabilities that allow the Border Patrol to be more effective as a law enforcement agency, Blum said. Guard troops are constructing fencing, putting up lighting, monitoring sensor systems, providing mobility with trucks and helicopters, filling communications gaps, and doing administrative work, he said.
All of these operations are designed to free up Border Patrol agents to do law enforcement activities while an additional 6,000 agents are trained over the next two years to make a more robust force, Blum said. "We're loaning them the skill sets and the expertise, so they can be more effective in the interim. And then ultimately ... they will be much more capable, manpower-wise, two years from now than they are now," he said.
The Guard's border mission is a shared responsibility between the federal and state governments, because the international border with Mexico is the responsibility of the federal government, but is also part of the state border, Blum said. Blum also has a lot of flexibility in deciding which units will rotate in and out of the border at what times, he said. For instance, Guard units from hurricane-prone states will not be sent to the border until this winter or next spring, so they are available to their state governors for any natural disasters, he said.
The National Guard is still more than able to meet its obligation to the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan while sending troops to the border, because the 6,000-troop limit for the border mission makes up only 2 percent of the total force, Blum said. Currently, 30 states have contributed troops to the border mission, and by the end of the two-year mission, almost all 50 states will have sent troops, he said. "We can do this. The size of this operation and the flexibility that's been afforded will make it fairly easy for us," he said.
The Border Patrol has already seen measurable success from the National Guard's presence at the border, Blum said. Border Patrol officials recently told Blum that traffic of non-Mexican illegal immigrants across the southwestern border has dropped drastically in the short time the Guard has been there, he said. Guard troops at the border also are satisfied with the mission and progress they have made, Blum said. They are working in fairly hostile terrain that can be brutal during the summer months, but morale is high among the troops, he said.
"The troops understand that this is important work; it's necessary work," he said. "I think they're pretty fulfilled and rewarded by it, and they like the flexibility and length of the mission." Blum emphasized that the National Guard's mission at the border is not a military one, but is military support to civil authorities. It's important that people in Mexico don't see this mission as a closure of the border to legal immigration, trade and business, he said.
"We're not trying to close the border; we're trying to make the border more secure, in that we want to get more control of the illegal activity that happens on the border," he said. "The legitimate immigration is very important to our nation and to our Mexican neighbor, and our ability to do trade and business back and forth across that border cannot be impeded."
America Supports You: Group Helps Troops Trade Helmets for Hardhats
By Samantha L. Quigley
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – Transitioning from the military into the civilian work force can be as simple as trading one type of headgear for another through "Helmets to Hardhats." Helmets to Hardhats helps people leaving military service find careers in the construction industry, said Sarah Hayes, the not-for-profit organization's general manager. She noted that National Guardsmen and reservists also can benefit from the program.
Program participants must receive an honorable discharge from military service. Interested veterans can register on the program's Web site, www.helmetstohardhats.org. "When a candidate comes to the Web site, they give us their military experience, and they also tell us what they'd like to do," Hayes said. "We assess that, ... and we recommend specific construction careers to them."
Helmets to Hardhats has matched about 40,000 servicemembers with apprenticeships in construction unions around the country, Hayes said. The remainder of the 150,000 registered job-seekers are still looking for an apprenticeship in an area of their interest. The number of registrants grows each year, she added.
Program organizers helped Shane Anderson secure an apprenticeship with the International Union of Elevator Contractors Local 19, out of Seattle. "When I was getting ready to transition from the Army, I wanted to find a career that would be satisfying, financially rewarding, provide good benefits and a great retirement program," Anderson said in a Helmets to Hardhats news release.
Helmets to Hardhats focuses on 15 trades within the construction industry. Transitioning servicemembers can choose to apprentice as anything from a boilermaker or bricklayer to a roofer, carpenter or plasterer. "If they come in as a first-year apprentice, it usually lasts about four years," Hayes said. "On average, they actually make more than a college graduate after they finish."
Congress created the Carlsbad, Calif.-based organization in 2003 at the prompting of retired Marine Gen. Matthew Caulfield. Caulfield now serves as executive director of the organization, which is made up of the nation's top employers and union presidents. The organization received $5.1 million from Congress this year, Hayes said.
Also because of this program, governors in 22 states have signed resolutions stating that servicemembers are moved to the top of lists for qualified apprenticeship programs in the construction industry. That eliminates what could be a yearlong wait to get into such programs in those states, Hayes said.
The construction industry has welcomed servicemembers with open arms, Hayes said. "They're saving places for these military men and women," she said. "They have better skills; they're disciplined; they show up to work on time; and they know how to work in a team. Hayes also noted the military has "that brotherhood feeling." "And that is also true in the construction industry," she said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – Transitioning from the military into the civilian work force can be as simple as trading one type of headgear for another through "Helmets to Hardhats." Helmets to Hardhats helps people leaving military service find careers in the construction industry, said Sarah Hayes, the not-for-profit organization's general manager. She noted that National Guardsmen and reservists also can benefit from the program.
Program participants must receive an honorable discharge from military service. Interested veterans can register on the program's Web site, www.helmetstohardhats.org. "When a candidate comes to the Web site, they give us their military experience, and they also tell us what they'd like to do," Hayes said. "We assess that, ... and we recommend specific construction careers to them."
Helmets to Hardhats has matched about 40,000 servicemembers with apprenticeships in construction unions around the country, Hayes said. The remainder of the 150,000 registered job-seekers are still looking for an apprenticeship in an area of their interest. The number of registrants grows each year, she added.
Program organizers helped Shane Anderson secure an apprenticeship with the International Union of Elevator Contractors Local 19, out of Seattle. "When I was getting ready to transition from the Army, I wanted to find a career that would be satisfying, financially rewarding, provide good benefits and a great retirement program," Anderson said in a Helmets to Hardhats news release.
Helmets to Hardhats focuses on 15 trades within the construction industry. Transitioning servicemembers can choose to apprentice as anything from a boilermaker or bricklayer to a roofer, carpenter or plasterer. "If they come in as a first-year apprentice, it usually lasts about four years," Hayes said. "On average, they actually make more than a college graduate after they finish."
Congress created the Carlsbad, Calif.-based organization in 2003 at the prompting of retired Marine Gen. Matthew Caulfield. Caulfield now serves as executive director of the organization, which is made up of the nation's top employers and union presidents. The organization received $5.1 million from Congress this year, Hayes said.
Also because of this program, governors in 22 states have signed resolutions stating that servicemembers are moved to the top of lists for qualified apprenticeship programs in the construction industry. That eliminates what could be a yearlong wait to get into such programs in those states, Hayes said.
The construction industry has welcomed servicemembers with open arms, Hayes said. "They're saving places for these military men and women," she said. "They have better skills; they're disciplined; they show up to work on time; and they know how to work in a team. Hayes also noted the military has "that brotherhood feeling." "And that is also true in the construction industry," she said.
Four Iraqis Implicated in Journalist Kidnap Case Arrested
By Gerry G. Gilmore
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – U.S. forces in Iraq have arrested several Iraqis suspected of involvement in the Jan. 7 abduction of an American journalist, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters in Baghdad today. "Coalition forces have detained four Iraqi men that we believe to have been involved in the kidnapping of Jill Carroll, the 'Christian Science Monitor' journalist held hostage in Iraq for 82 days earlier this year," Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell VI said during a Baghdad press briefing. The general did not say when the suspects were arrested.
Carroll was kidnapped in western Baghdad. She was released unharmed March 30. Analysis of intelligence information led forces on patrol to a group of residences believed to have been used to house Carroll during her ordeal. "Troops on the ground, young Marines and sailors, paid attention to what may have been considered minor details at the time," Caldwell said.
Specifically, a Marine lieutenant from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, noticed a unique structure on a green door that he had read about in intelligence reports. On further investigation, other details about the house convinced the Marine that Carroll had been held there. Information from the owner of that house, who the patrol detained, led troops to several others that officials believe were used during Carroll's kidnapping and others. At the third such location that troops investigated, a house north of Abu Ghraib, U.S. soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division rescued two kidnapping victims and detained three other individuals.
"The hunt continues for anybody and anyone else that was involved not only in these kidnappings but in those who scorn law and order, who disrupt democracy and who spread terror in the lives of the everyday Iraqi citizens," Caldwell said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – U.S. forces in Iraq have arrested several Iraqis suspected of involvement in the Jan. 7 abduction of an American journalist, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters in Baghdad today. "Coalition forces have detained four Iraqi men that we believe to have been involved in the kidnapping of Jill Carroll, the 'Christian Science Monitor' journalist held hostage in Iraq for 82 days earlier this year," Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell VI said during a Baghdad press briefing. The general did not say when the suspects were arrested.
Carroll was kidnapped in western Baghdad. She was released unharmed March 30. Analysis of intelligence information led forces on patrol to a group of residences believed to have been used to house Carroll during her ordeal. "Troops on the ground, young Marines and sailors, paid attention to what may have been considered minor details at the time," Caldwell said.
Specifically, a Marine lieutenant from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, noticed a unique structure on a green door that he had read about in intelligence reports. On further investigation, other details about the house convinced the Marine that Carroll had been held there. Information from the owner of that house, who the patrol detained, led troops to several others that officials believe were used during Carroll's kidnapping and others. At the third such location that troops investigated, a house north of Abu Ghraib, U.S. soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division rescued two kidnapping victims and detained three other individuals.
"The hunt continues for anybody and anyone else that was involved not only in these kidnappings but in those who scorn law and order, who disrupt democracy and who spread terror in the lives of the everyday Iraqi citizens," Caldwell said.
U.S.-Iraqi Forces Target Baghdad Death Squads
By Gerry J. Gilmore
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces have stepped up operations in Baghdad to curtail deadly sectarian violence that's plagued the city in recent months, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters in Baghdad today. Of 11 operations targeting death squads in Iraq over the past week, 10 were centered in or around Baghdad, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said at a news briefing.
The Baghdad operations were undertaken "to quell the surge of extremists seeking to exert control and impose their narrow, divisive view of the future of Iraq," Caldwell said. Some Shiite and Sunni factions have used death squads to intimidate others. Some senior U.S. military leaders have warned that the violence could spiral out of control. However, the United States government has vowed not to allow that to happen.
"Iraqi security forces and coalition forces continue to disrupt the terrorists and set the stage for Baghdadis to live stable lives," Caldwell said. U.S. and Iraqi forces continue searches to unearth enemy weapons caches, including 25 such stockpiles found last week, Caldwell said. More than 200 improvised explosive devices were found and cleared that week and 301 anti-Iraqi forces were captured.
U.S. and Iraqi security forces in Baghdad have been targeting kidnappers and corrupt police who help them, Caldwell said. The death squads and other extremists operating in Baghdad continue to use religious sites to store munitions and launch attacks, Caldwell said. A recent Iraqi army cordon-and-search operation at a Baghdad mosque site turned up IED-making equipment, rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 rifles.
Yet, arms alone can't win the war against anti-Iraqi extremists, Caldwell pointed out. Iraqi civilians need to get involved, he said, since death squad members seek to submerge themselves among the populace. Iraqi citizens have to report information, he said. "They're going to have to be part of the solution."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces have stepped up operations in Baghdad to curtail deadly sectarian violence that's plagued the city in recent months, a senior U.S. military officer told reporters in Baghdad today. Of 11 operations targeting death squads in Iraq over the past week, 10 were centered in or around Baghdad, Army Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, said at a news briefing.
The Baghdad operations were undertaken "to quell the surge of extremists seeking to exert control and impose their narrow, divisive view of the future of Iraq," Caldwell said. Some Shiite and Sunni factions have used death squads to intimidate others. Some senior U.S. military leaders have warned that the violence could spiral out of control. However, the United States government has vowed not to allow that to happen.
"Iraqi security forces and coalition forces continue to disrupt the terrorists and set the stage for Baghdadis to live stable lives," Caldwell said. U.S. and Iraqi forces continue searches to unearth enemy weapons caches, including 25 such stockpiles found last week, Caldwell said. More than 200 improvised explosive devices were found and cleared that week and 301 anti-Iraqi forces were captured.
U.S. and Iraqi security forces in Baghdad have been targeting kidnappers and corrupt police who help them, Caldwell said. The death squads and other extremists operating in Baghdad continue to use religious sites to store munitions and launch attacks, Caldwell said. A recent Iraqi army cordon-and-search operation at a Baghdad mosque site turned up IED-making equipment, rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 rifles.
Yet, arms alone can't win the war against anti-Iraqi extremists, Caldwell pointed out. Iraqi civilians need to get involved, he said, since death squad members seek to submerge themselves among the populace. Iraqi citizens have to report information, he said. "They're going to have to be part of the solution."
America Supports You: Michigan Town Plans Freedom Walk
By Samantha L. Quigley
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – The city whose native son helped turn the United States into a nation of motorists will shun Henry Ford's invention for a time on Sept. 11. "We felt that it was important, as we approach the five-year anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, to have a ceremony to remember all those who lost their lives that day," Randy Coble, deputy director of public information for Dearborn, Mich., said. "It's a way to come together and express what we all believe: that we need to remember the victims of Sept. 11 and that we need to make sure our men and women serving in harm's way know that we support them and appreciate their sacrifices."
Dearborn's walk will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 11. The location, Dearborn's Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, holds significance, Coble said. It opened just one week after the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon. The walk and accompanying ceremony will be a simple, somber affair, Coble said. Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido will welcome walkers before a flag that was flown over Ground Zero in New York is raised.
The New York Fire Department presented Dearborn with the flag in 2002 in appreciation for the city's efforts in raising $125,000 for the families of fallen New York firefighters, Coble said. The firefighters also presented the city with an urn of ashes from Ground Zero at the same time. The program will include a moment of silence, the walk around the reflecting pond on the arts center grounds, a playing of "Taps" and a 21-gun salute. Before the ceremony concludes, clergy will offer silent prayers over the ashes from Ground Zero.
Dearborn, a community of about 100,000, boasts residents who hail from some 80 different nations and cultures, Coble said. It also is one of the largest Muslim communities in the country. "Dearborn is a true American melting pot, where diverse people live together as one community, including people of different faiths," Coble said. "Because of this, we know the truth of the old saying that there's a lot more that unites people than divides them, and our Freedom Walk is an example of that."
Dearborn is known as a city that remembers and pays tribute regularly to the military, Coble said. Because of that support, the city is no stranger to the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights grassroots and corporate support of the nation's servicemembers.
Tournament Players Club Michigan held a golf fundraiser yesterday to benefit Home for Our Troops, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and the Wounded Warrior Project -- all America Supports You team members. The event drew the attention of Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, who spoke at the event.
Barber, architect of the America Supports You program and the America Supports You Freedom Walk, also took the opportunity to speak with Guido about his city's Freedom Walk. "(Dearborn is showing) an ongoing grassroots commitment to our military members and their families in the Dearborn region," Barber said of the city's hosting the two events in support of America's servicemembers.
To date, 39 cities across the country have confirmed plans to host America Supports You Freedom Walks to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 and to honor the nation's veterans, past and present.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – The city whose native son helped turn the United States into a nation of motorists will shun Henry Ford's invention for a time on Sept. 11. "We felt that it was important, as we approach the five-year anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, to have a ceremony to remember all those who lost their lives that day," Randy Coble, deputy director of public information for Dearborn, Mich., said. "It's a way to come together and express what we all believe: that we need to remember the victims of Sept. 11 and that we need to make sure our men and women serving in harm's way know that we support them and appreciate their sacrifices."
Dearborn's walk will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 11. The location, Dearborn's Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, holds significance, Coble said. It opened just one week after the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon. The walk and accompanying ceremony will be a simple, somber affair, Coble said. Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido will welcome walkers before a flag that was flown over Ground Zero in New York is raised.
The New York Fire Department presented Dearborn with the flag in 2002 in appreciation for the city's efforts in raising $125,000 for the families of fallen New York firefighters, Coble said. The firefighters also presented the city with an urn of ashes from Ground Zero at the same time. The program will include a moment of silence, the walk around the reflecting pond on the arts center grounds, a playing of "Taps" and a 21-gun salute. Before the ceremony concludes, clergy will offer silent prayers over the ashes from Ground Zero.
Dearborn, a community of about 100,000, boasts residents who hail from some 80 different nations and cultures, Coble said. It also is one of the largest Muslim communities in the country. "Dearborn is a true American melting pot, where diverse people live together as one community, including people of different faiths," Coble said. "Because of this, we know the truth of the old saying that there's a lot more that unites people than divides them, and our Freedom Walk is an example of that."
Dearborn is known as a city that remembers and pays tribute regularly to the military, Coble said. Because of that support, the city is no stranger to the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights grassroots and corporate support of the nation's servicemembers.
Tournament Players Club Michigan held a golf fundraiser yesterday to benefit Home for Our Troops, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and the Wounded Warrior Project -- all America Supports You team members. The event drew the attention of Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communication and public liaison, who spoke at the event.
Barber, architect of the America Supports You program and the America Supports You Freedom Walk, also took the opportunity to speak with Guido about his city's Freedom Walk. "(Dearborn is showing) an ongoing grassroots commitment to our military members and their families in the Dearborn region," Barber said of the city's hosting the two events in support of America's servicemembers.
To date, 39 cities across the country have confirmed plans to host America Supports You Freedom Walks to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 and to honor the nation's veterans, past and present.
U.S. Chopper Crashes in Iraq; Soldiers Find Weapons Cache
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2006 – A U.S. Army helicopter crashed yesterday during an orientation flight over Iraq's Anbar province, officials said today. The UH-60 Blackhawk attached to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing was carrying six coalition troops and has been located, according to a Multinational Corps Iraq press release.
Four of the six passengers were recovered and are in stable condition. A search-and-rescue effort is under way to find the two missing crewmembers. "We are using all the resources available to find our missing comrades," Marine spokesman Maj. Riccoh Player said. The helicopter crash doesn't appear to be the work of enemy forces, officials said.
In other news, U.S. soldiers found an enemy weapons cache and a terrorist training video during an Aug. 6 patrol southwest of Baghdad. Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, found a firearm during a search of a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle's passengers then tipped off the soldiers to check out a nearby house.
Upon searching the house, the soldiers found a 9 mm pistol, a rifle, an M-14 automatic rifle magazine with ammunition, and 40 compact discs containing apparent terrorist recruitment footage of U.S. forces being attacked. The soldiers detained six people at the site.
Four of the six passengers were recovered and are in stable condition. A search-and-rescue effort is under way to find the two missing crewmembers. "We are using all the resources available to find our missing comrades," Marine spokesman Maj. Riccoh Player said. The helicopter crash doesn't appear to be the work of enemy forces, officials said.
In other news, U.S. soldiers found an enemy weapons cache and a terrorist training video during an Aug. 6 patrol southwest of Baghdad. Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, found a firearm during a search of a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle's passengers then tipped off the soldiers to check out a nearby house.
Upon searching the house, the soldiers found a 9 mm pistol, a rifle, an M-14 automatic rifle magazine with ammunition, and 40 compact discs containing apparent terrorist recruitment footage of U.S. forces being attacked. The soldiers detained six people at the site.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Leroy Segura Jr., 23, of Clovis, N.M., died on Aug 4, in Habbaniyah, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a HMMWV accident. Segura was assigned to the 362nd Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, Ga.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-3283.
Sgt. Leroy Segura Jr., 23, of Clovis, N.M., died on Aug 4, in Habbaniyah, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a HMMWV accident. Segura was assigned to the 362nd Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, Ga.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-3283.
Security Presence Growing in Baghdad, Spokesman Says
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2006 – The coalition and Iraqi security forces presence in Baghdad is growing, and soon residents will notice an improvement, a senior defense official said here today. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the added U.S. and Iraqi forces in the capital should tamp down the sectarian violence that concerns leaders in the country.
"Those forces will be applied to the current security challenge that exists in Baghdad in a way to bring some stability to the area," Whitman said. "I think over time you will see the increased presence have an effect on the region." The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team is the main U.S. reinforcement to Baghdad. DoD officials extended the Alaska-based brigade's stay in Iraq for up to 120 days. Iraqi troops and other assets are also joining the effort in and around Baghdad.
The shift is part of the new Baghdad Security Plan.
DoD officials are most concerned with sectarian violence between Shiia and Sunni Muslims in the capital. But the Sunni/Shiia split is not the only source of violence in the nation, Whitman said. Officials also are concerned about foreign terrorists, tribal divisions and simple criminal activity in Baghdad. "This is not a monolithic enemy," Whitman said.
Iraqi security forces are growing and becoming more capable, the spokesman said. Commanders in the country say the fledgling democracy's army is consistently capable. Police forces "are developing and the (coalition) military is working closely with the Ministry of the Interior to develop those forces," he said.
The emphasis is on getting the police to the same level of capability and performance as the army, he explained.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2006 – The coalition and Iraqi security forces presence in Baghdad is growing, and soon residents will notice an improvement, a senior defense official said here today. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the added U.S. and Iraqi forces in the capital should tamp down the sectarian violence that concerns leaders in the country.
"Those forces will be applied to the current security challenge that exists in Baghdad in a way to bring some stability to the area," Whitman said. "I think over time you will see the increased presence have an effect on the region." The 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team is the main U.S. reinforcement to Baghdad. DoD officials extended the Alaska-based brigade's stay in Iraq for up to 120 days. Iraqi troops and other assets are also joining the effort in and around Baghdad.
The shift is part of the new Baghdad Security Plan.
DoD officials are most concerned with sectarian violence between Shiia and Sunni Muslims in the capital. But the Sunni/Shiia split is not the only source of violence in the nation, Whitman said. Officials also are concerned about foreign terrorists, tribal divisions and simple criminal activity in Baghdad. "This is not a monolithic enemy," Whitman said.
Iraqi security forces are growing and becoming more capable, the spokesman said. Commanders in the country say the fledgling democracy's army is consistently capable. Police forces "are developing and the (coalition) military is working closely with the Ministry of the Interior to develop those forces," he said.
The emphasis is on getting the police to the same level of capability and performance as the army, he explained.
Evacuation, Humanitarian Aid Continues in Lebanon
By Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2006 – As fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group continues, U.S. servicemembers continue to evacuate Americans trapped in Lebanon, Defense Department officials report. Over the weekend, U.S. helicopters from the Navy's Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group evacuated 37 American citizens from the U.S. embassy compound in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. The choppers took the evacuees to Cyprus.
This brings the total number evacuated to 14,793. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Iwo Jima group stands ready to evacuate any other Americans who wish to leave the war-torn country. Fuel to run power plants and generators in Beirut is scarce. U.S. naval vessels will escort two fuel tankers from Cyprus to Lebanon to help get needed supplies into the city to provide power for hospitals, water pumps and water plants.
About 5,700 U.S. military personnel are providing support to the evacuation and humanitarian activities in Lebanon, DoD officials said. Most are aboard the Iwo Jima group, but many are in Cyprus and a few in the embassy in Beirut.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2006 – As fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group continues, U.S. servicemembers continue to evacuate Americans trapped in Lebanon, Defense Department officials report. Over the weekend, U.S. helicopters from the Navy's Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group evacuated 37 American citizens from the U.S. embassy compound in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. The choppers took the evacuees to Cyprus.
This brings the total number evacuated to 14,793. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Iwo Jima group stands ready to evacuate any other Americans who wish to leave the war-torn country. Fuel to run power plants and generators in Beirut is scarce. U.S. naval vessels will escort two fuel tankers from Cyprus to Lebanon to help get needed supplies into the city to provide power for hospitals, water pumps and water plants.
About 5,700 U.S. military personnel are providing support to the evacuation and humanitarian activities in Lebanon, DoD officials said. Most are aboard the Iwo Jima group, but many are in Cyprus and a few in the embassy in Beirut.
America Supports You: Oklahoma City to Host Freedom Walk
By Gerry J. Gilmore
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2006 – Oklahoma City volunteers are preparing for the municipality's first Freedom Walk, slated to run on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, a local organizer said today. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 people to participate in the walk, logistics coordinator Michael Carnuccio said from his office in a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service.
Oklahoma City's Freedom Walk will wend more than a mile through downtown, he said. Initial coordination with Oklahoma City officials, potential sponsors, and volunteers began in mid-July, Carnuccio said. Everyone contacted "was overwhelmingly supportive and excited," he said.
Sponsored by the Defense Department's "American Supports You" program, similar Freedom Walks are scheduled around the country to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11 and to honor America's military veterans, past and present. America Supports You spotlights ways the American people and the nation's corporate sector support U.S. servicemembers. Last year, the Pentagon sponsored the first America Supports You Freedom Walk in the Washington, D.C., area. Carnuccio said walk participants are to assemble at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, where they'll begin the 1.17-mile-trek at 6 p.m. There's no fee to participate in the walk, Carnuccio said, noting participants will receive free commemorative T-shirts.
Registration isn't mandatory, he said, but people are encouraged to register online at www.freedomwalkokc.com, which is linked to DoD's America Supports You site. Carnuccio said Oklahoma City-area residents may sign up for the walk right up to the time of the event. Oklahoma City is no stranger to terrorism, Carnuccio pointed out. The city was assaulted on April 19, 1995, when terrorist Timothy McVeigh set off explosives that half-destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people. The Oklahoma City bombing was the deadliest terrorist act committed within the borders of the United States until the 9/11 attacks that killed some 3,000 people. In addition to honoring those who died during 9/11, Oklahoma City's Freedom Walk will also serve as a thank you to America's service men and women "who make the ultimate sacrifice for us," Carnuccio said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2006 – Oklahoma City volunteers are preparing for the municipality's first Freedom Walk, slated to run on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, a local organizer said today. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 people to participate in the walk, logistics coordinator Michael Carnuccio said from his office in a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service.
Oklahoma City's Freedom Walk will wend more than a mile through downtown, he said. Initial coordination with Oklahoma City officials, potential sponsors, and volunteers began in mid-July, Carnuccio said. Everyone contacted "was overwhelmingly supportive and excited," he said.
Sponsored by the Defense Department's "American Supports You" program, similar Freedom Walks are scheduled around the country to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11 and to honor America's military veterans, past and present. America Supports You spotlights ways the American people and the nation's corporate sector support U.S. servicemembers. Last year, the Pentagon sponsored the first America Supports You Freedom Walk in the Washington, D.C., area. Carnuccio said walk participants are to assemble at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial, where they'll begin the 1.17-mile-trek at 6 p.m. There's no fee to participate in the walk, Carnuccio said, noting participants will receive free commemorative T-shirts.
Registration isn't mandatory, he said, but people are encouraged to register online at www.freedomwalkokc.com, which is linked to DoD's America Supports You site. Carnuccio said Oklahoma City-area residents may sign up for the walk right up to the time of the event. Oklahoma City is no stranger to terrorism, Carnuccio pointed out. The city was assaulted on April 19, 1995, when terrorist Timothy McVeigh set off explosives that half-destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people. The Oklahoma City bombing was the deadliest terrorist act committed within the borders of the United States until the 9/11 attacks that killed some 3,000 people. In addition to honoring those who died during 9/11, Oklahoma City's Freedom Walk will also serve as a thank you to America's service men and women "who make the ultimate sacrifice for us," Carnuccio said.
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Brian J. Kubik, 20, ofHarker Heights, Texas, died on Aug 5 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered on Aug 2 when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq. Kubik was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-3025.
Pfc. Brian J. Kubik, 20, ofHarker Heights, Texas, died on Aug 5 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered on Aug 2 when his unit encountered enemy small arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq. Kubik was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-3025.
Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Baghdad, Iraq on Aug. 6, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV while conducting a combat operations. All soldiers were assigned to the Army's 2nd Brigade Troop Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Seale, 25, of Grafton, W.V.
Sgt. Carlton A. Clark, 22, of South Royalton, Vt.
Spc. Jose Zamora, 24, of Sunland Park, N.M.
For further information related to this release, contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-3025.
Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Seale, 25, of Grafton, W.V.
Sgt. Carlton A. Clark, 22, of South Royalton, Vt.
Spc. Jose Zamora, 24, of Sunland Park, N.M.
For further information related to this release, contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-3025.
Phase 2 of Operation Together Forward Kicks Off in Baghdad
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2006 – Iraqi security forces and U.S. soldiers of Multinational Division Baghdad yesterday launched the second phase of Operation Together Forward to increase security and reduce violence in Baghdad. The operation is a combined effort between Iraqi police, the Iraqi army, and Multinational Division Baghdad to reduce murders, kidnappings, assassinations, terrorism and sectarian violence in the city and to reinforce the Iraqi government's control of Baghdad, U.S. officials said.
Phase 2, which is supported by the government of Iraq, began with the combined forces of the Iraqi National Police and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducting clearing operations in Baghdad. "We must dramatically reduce the level of violence in Baghdad that is fueling sectarianism," U.S. Army Major Genenal. J.D. Thurman, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, said. "Iraqi and U.S. forces will help the citizens of Baghdad by reducing the violence that has plagued this city since the Samarra bombing."
The Feb. 22 bombing of Samarra's Golden Mosque, a Shiite religious shrine, started a wave of sectarian violence. Phase 2 of Operation Together Forward is designed to allow the government of Iraq to reduce the level of violence in the city and follow up on successes of Phase 1 of the operation.
During Phase 1, which began July 9, Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers killed or captured 411 murderers associated with death squads. The combined forces conducted more than 32,300 combat patrols and seized at least 43 weapons and ammunition caches.
About 6,000 additional Iraqi forces are being sent to the Baghdad area in support of Phase 2, as are about 3,500 U.S. soldiers of 172nd Striker Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. About 2,000 soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, from Baumholder, Germany, have served as the theater reserve force since November. "Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers will not fail the Iraqi people," Thurman said. "We want what the Iraqi people want: a prosperous country free from terror."
Phase 2, which is supported by the government of Iraq, began with the combined forces of the Iraqi National Police and the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducting clearing operations in Baghdad. "We must dramatically reduce the level of violence in Baghdad that is fueling sectarianism," U.S. Army Major Genenal. J.D. Thurman, commander of Multinational Division Baghdad, said. "Iraqi and U.S. forces will help the citizens of Baghdad by reducing the violence that has plagued this city since the Samarra bombing."
The Feb. 22 bombing of Samarra's Golden Mosque, a Shiite religious shrine, started a wave of sectarian violence. Phase 2 of Operation Together Forward is designed to allow the government of Iraq to reduce the level of violence in the city and follow up on successes of Phase 1 of the operation.
During Phase 1, which began July 9, Iraqi security forces and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers killed or captured 411 murderers associated with death squads. The combined forces conducted more than 32,300 combat patrols and seized at least 43 weapons and ammunition caches.
About 6,000 additional Iraqi forces are being sent to the Baghdad area in support of Phase 2, as are about 3,500 U.S. soldiers of 172nd Striker Brigade Combat Team, based out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska. About 2,000 soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, from Baumholder, Germany, have served as the theater reserve force since November. "Iraqi and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers will not fail the Iraqi people," Thurman said. "We want what the Iraqi people want: a prosperous country free from terror."
Iraqi Forces Conduct Raid in Baghdad, Seize Weapons, Detain Terrorists
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2006 – In separate operations yesterday and Aug. 6, Iraqi security forces captured 22 suspected terrorists and seized various weapons, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported. Iraqi security forces conducted an early morning raid in eastern Baghdad yesterday, capturing three individuals believed to be involved in punishment and torture cell activities.
As they received sustained automatic weapons and rocket-propelled-grenade fire from several insurgent positions in the Sadr City neighborhood, Iraqi forces and coalition advisers detained three suspected insurgents, conducted intelligence gathering on the objective, and then departed the area. Iraqi forces seized one AK-47 assault rifle and one magazine of AK-47 ammunition.
Coalition air assets provided precision fires in support of the operation, targeting positions from which Iraqi forces received large concentrations of enemy fire, including anti-aircraft fire. The one coalition soldier wounded during the operation was evacuated immediately to a U.S. military medical facility in Baghdad for emergency surgery. He is currently listed in stable condition. An Iraqi woman was injured on one of the objectives. According to a coalition force adviser, her injury was not life-threatening and Iraqi medics began treating her immediately on the scene.
In another operation, Iraqi policemen and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers found a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad Aug. 6. Iraqi police and soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, requested support from the 463rd Military Police soldiers after being attacked by small-arms fire from multiple directions.
The police and soldiers maneuvered on the enemy and conducted house-to-house searches pending a cordon of the area set by U.S. military policemen. While cordoning off the area, 463rd soldiers found a weapons cache consisting of four rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, 31 RPG rounds, two 82 mm mortar systems, a 14.5 mm machine gun with 100 rounds, and two PKC machine guns. Thirteen suspects were detained during the cordon.
Elsewhere, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, detained six suspected terrorists and seized a large weapons cache during a raid of the Al Hassana'n Mosque in southwestern Baghdad at about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 6. The weapons cache consisted of four PKC machine guns, 13 AK-47 assault rifles, two rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, three RPGs, four RPG fuses, five 60 mm mortar rounds, a 60 mm mortar tube, a box of mortar cartridges, a flare gun, various bomb-making materials, and terrorist propaganda. The suspects were detained for questioning.
As they received sustained automatic weapons and rocket-propelled-grenade fire from several insurgent positions in the Sadr City neighborhood, Iraqi forces and coalition advisers detained three suspected insurgents, conducted intelligence gathering on the objective, and then departed the area. Iraqi forces seized one AK-47 assault rifle and one magazine of AK-47 ammunition.
Coalition air assets provided precision fires in support of the operation, targeting positions from which Iraqi forces received large concentrations of enemy fire, including anti-aircraft fire. The one coalition soldier wounded during the operation was evacuated immediately to a U.S. military medical facility in Baghdad for emergency surgery. He is currently listed in stable condition. An Iraqi woman was injured on one of the objectives. According to a coalition force adviser, her injury was not life-threatening and Iraqi medics began treating her immediately on the scene.
In another operation, Iraqi policemen and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers found a weapons cache northwest of Baghdad Aug. 6. Iraqi police and soldiers from 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, requested support from the 463rd Military Police soldiers after being attacked by small-arms fire from multiple directions.
The police and soldiers maneuvered on the enemy and conducted house-to-house searches pending a cordon of the area set by U.S. military policemen. While cordoning off the area, 463rd soldiers found a weapons cache consisting of four rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, 31 RPG rounds, two 82 mm mortar systems, a 14.5 mm machine gun with 100 rounds, and two PKC machine guns. Thirteen suspects were detained during the cordon.
Elsewhere, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, detained six suspected terrorists and seized a large weapons cache during a raid of the Al Hassana'n Mosque in southwestern Baghdad at about 10:30 p.m. Aug. 6. The weapons cache consisted of four PKC machine guns, 13 AK-47 assault rifles, two rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, three RPGs, four RPG fuses, five 60 mm mortar rounds, a 60 mm mortar tube, a box of mortar cartridges, a flare gun, various bomb-making materials, and terrorist propaganda. The suspects were detained for questioning.
America Supports You: Aberdeen IronBirds to Honor Servicemembers
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2006 – Decked out in special camouflage jerseys, a Maryland baseball team tonight will show their support for men and women in uniform. The Aberdeen IronBirds, the single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, will host a Military Appreciation Night at Ripken Stadium, in Aberdeen, Md.
"This is our first annual Military Appreciation Night, and this is something we want to continue to support the troops and thank them from the Aberdeen IronBirds and Cal Ripken Stadium," Lev Shellenberger, director of ticket sales for Ripken Stadium, said. Aberdeen is home to the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground and the Edgewood Army Arsenal. Because of Aberdeen's strong military connection, Shellenberger and other Ripken Stadium personnel wanted to thank military members for their service.
"This year we were talking to the 22nd Chemical Battalion over at Edgewood Arsenal and the gentleman that talked to us really wanted to get the guys over here to come out for a night," Shellenberger said. "He asked us if we did any sort of military appreciation night, and we let him know that we had never done anything in the past, but it was something we always wanted to do. We definitely see value in giving back to the military community."
In tonight's game against the Hudson Valley Renegades, the IronBirds will raffle off their autographed jerseys at the end of the night. All proceeds will go to "Our Military Kids Inc." Our Military Kids provides support and financial aid to children of deployed and severely injured reserve and National Guard personnel.
"We looked at a couple of different charities and figured the kids affected by the overseas war in Iraq ... could really use the money," Shellenberger said. "Cal and Bill Ripken, ... a lot of the reason they built this baseball stadium in Aberdeen was for the kids, and we felt that charity (was) beneficial to kids and something they really wanted to do." Along with the raffle, other attractions throughout the night will include a performance of the national anthem by the 389th Army Band, military vehicles from the Blue and Gray Military Vehicle Trust Will, and relay races and on-field promotions between each inning to get military members and their families involved.
"Since we're a minor league stadium, we get to do a lot of fun things in order for the crowd to participate," Shellenberger said. The IronBirds have had sold-out seasons since their 2002 debut, and team officials want to promote troop support among their fans and give military families the opportunity to enjoy a night in their honor.
"Without our troops, there would be no land of the free.... They're doing something for us, and we feel we should do whatever we can to support them. This is one way we wanted to do so," Shellenberger said. "They are letting us live the free life. ... They're allowing us this benefit."
Georgia Army Base Hosts Career Workshop for Wounded Veterans
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2006 – A workshop today and tomorrow at Fort Gordon, Ga., is providing career guidance for wounded servicemembers. The Defense Applicant Assistance Office, of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Army's Installation Management Agency are sponsoring the "Hiring Heroes/Wounded Warriors Technical Workshop" and career fair at Fort Gordon's Gordon Club.
The program will provide transitional career and employment information for soldiers who have suffered injuries while supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. DoD officials said the program is the first of its kind and will address issues such as benefits, entitlements and employment options for veterans with disabilities.
Nearly 250 soldiers and 26 spouses are attending the event. About half of that number will be bused from other Army bases in the region, including forts Benning, McPherson and Stewart, in Georgia; and Fort Jackson, S.C.
Today's program is devoted to an employment workshop and seminar, including a resume-writing session. Braille software will be provided, as needed, officials said. An awards reception this evening will feature guest speaker Herman Boone, whose experiences as a high school football coach were depicted in the recent movie "Remember the Titans."
Also during the reception, representatives of the Army's "Freedom Team Salute" will recognize the participating spouses. The Freedom Team Salute program is designed to help soldiers recognize those who support them -- spouses, parents and employers. The program presents U.S. Army pins to such supporters nominated by servicemembers.
The resume lab will continue tomorrow. Tomorrow will also include a daylong career fair co-sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Monster.com, an online job site. About 50 employers will be represented at the fair, officials said. Officials hope offers of employment at tomorrow's job fair will help the Army support DoD's goal of having 2 percent of its civilian workforce manned by personnel with targeted disabilities.
Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said her office is proud to support the Army's Installation Management Agency to "provide this unique and robust career fair experience to our severely wounded." "The career fair at Fort Gordon and others like it will help ensure that those severely wounded servicemembers and their spouses who are looking for employment outside of the active duty military service are armed with the necessary skills to find a career in a field where they can both contribute and excel," she said.
The program will provide transitional career and employment information for soldiers who have suffered injuries while supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. DoD officials said the program is the first of its kind and will address issues such as benefits, entitlements and employment options for veterans with disabilities.
Nearly 250 soldiers and 26 spouses are attending the event. About half of that number will be bused from other Army bases in the region, including forts Benning, McPherson and Stewart, in Georgia; and Fort Jackson, S.C.
Today's program is devoted to an employment workshop and seminar, including a resume-writing session. Braille software will be provided, as needed, officials said. An awards reception this evening will feature guest speaker Herman Boone, whose experiences as a high school football coach were depicted in the recent movie "Remember the Titans."
Also during the reception, representatives of the Army's "Freedom Team Salute" will recognize the participating spouses. The Freedom Team Salute program is designed to help soldiers recognize those who support them -- spouses, parents and employers. The program presents U.S. Army pins to such supporters nominated by servicemembers.
The resume lab will continue tomorrow. Tomorrow will also include a daylong career fair co-sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Monster.com, an online job site. About 50 employers will be represented at the fair, officials said. Officials hope offers of employment at tomorrow's job fair will help the Army support DoD's goal of having 2 percent of its civilian workforce manned by personnel with targeted disabilities.
Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said her office is proud to support the Army's Installation Management Agency to "provide this unique and robust career fair experience to our severely wounded." "The career fair at Fort Gordon and others like it will help ensure that those severely wounded servicemembers and their spouses who are looking for employment outside of the active duty military service are armed with the necessary skills to find a career in a field where they can both contribute and excel," she said.
Coalition Soldiers Detain, Kill Terrorists, Seize Weapons
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2006 – U.S. and Iraqi soldiers detained two suspected terrorists, killed four terrorists, and seized weapons in several different operations in Iraq today, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported. Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, detained two suspected terrorists and seized a collection of weapons during a cordon-and-search operation southeast of Baghdad at about 6:30 a.m.
The two Iraqi suspects had fake IDs, a grenade, 100 7.62 mm rounds of ammunition, an SKS assault rifle, an AK-47 assault rifle, and terrorist propaganda DVDs in their house. The two were detained for questioning.
Elsewhere, four terrorists were killed after air surveillance from Multinational Division Baghdad's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, observed 13 men burying explosive devices on a rural roadway along the Euphrates River in western Yusufiyah province at about 10:15 a.m. The men were observed digging five holes and emplacing explosive devices during an hour-long period beginning at about 9:15 a.m. After planting the first explosive device, eight of the 13 men left the scene. Five others were observed digging four more holes and burying explosive devices at intervals along the road, using a blue truck to carry the munitions. Attack aircraft engaged the truck, destroying it and an estimated four terrorists. One individual had walked away moments prior to the engagement and escaped the explosion.
In other news, an Iraqi civilian died of wounds suffered after triggering an improvised explosive device while driving a tractor in western Anbar province, Iraq, today, U.S. military officials reported. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, responded to the attack and transported the victim to a local U.S. Marine outpost, where the victim was evacuated to a coalition medical facility for treatment. The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the medical facility.
The attack occurred in a small town called Bu Hardan, located on the eastern outskirts of the Syrian border town of Husaybah, Iraq. The coalition forces military unit, which provides security to the Qa'im region, which includes Husaybah, is the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.
The two Iraqi suspects had fake IDs, a grenade, 100 7.62 mm rounds of ammunition, an SKS assault rifle, an AK-47 assault rifle, and terrorist propaganda DVDs in their house. The two were detained for questioning.
Elsewhere, four terrorists were killed after air surveillance from Multinational Division Baghdad's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, observed 13 men burying explosive devices on a rural roadway along the Euphrates River in western Yusufiyah province at about 10:15 a.m. The men were observed digging five holes and emplacing explosive devices during an hour-long period beginning at about 9:15 a.m. After planting the first explosive device, eight of the 13 men left the scene. Five others were observed digging four more holes and burying explosive devices at intervals along the road, using a blue truck to carry the munitions. Attack aircraft engaged the truck, destroying it and an estimated four terrorists. One individual had walked away moments prior to the engagement and escaped the explosion.
In other news, an Iraqi civilian died of wounds suffered after triggering an improvised explosive device while driving a tractor in western Anbar province, Iraq, today, U.S. military officials reported. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, responded to the attack and transported the victim to a local U.S. Marine outpost, where the victim was evacuated to a coalition medical facility for treatment. The victim was pronounced dead on arrival at the medical facility.
The attack occurred in a small town called Bu Hardan, located on the eastern outskirts of the Syrian border town of Husaybah, Iraq. The coalition forces military unit, which provides security to the Qa'im region, which includes Husaybah, is the Twentynine Palms, Calif.-based 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.
Certificate in Homeland Security Studies
Certificate in Homeland Security Studies (Fall semester; Georgetown Univ., Washington, DC) The Certificate in Homeland Security Studies is a 5-course, 15-credit curriculum that prepares students for new homeland security challenges.
More Information
http://www.criminaljustice-online.com/forum10/337.html
More Information
http://www.criminaljustice-online.com/forum10/337.html
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on August 4, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV while conducting combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Calvary Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany. Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Clint J. Storey, 30, of Enid, Okla.
Sgt. Bradley H. Beste, 22, of Naperville, Ill.
For further information related to this release, contact 1st Armored Division Public Affairs at 011-49-611-705-4862
Staff Sgt. Clint J. Storey, 30, of Enid, Okla.
Sgt. Bradley H. Beste, 22, of Naperville, Ill.
For further information related to this release, contact 1st Armored Division Public Affairs at 011-49-611-705-4862
Lebanon to Be Among First Beneficiaries of New DoD Funding Authority
By Donna Miles
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2006 – Defense Department officials hope to use new authorities to help other countries fight terrorism to buy spare parts for the Lebanese military, a senior defense official said today. The "1206 funding," named for the section of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act that authorizes it, is designed to help other countries build capacity within their national military forces, Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, told Pentagon reporters.
The authority allows DoD, in consultation with the State Department, to spend up to $200 million a year to help other countries become stronger partners in the global war on terror, Whitman explained. DoD had requested the 1206 authority for years, but received the authorization in the 2006 defense budget. Since then, DoD has been working with the State Department to determine the best way to use the new authority.
President Bush approved the program in early May, before the onset of violence between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah militia forces, and the department notified Congress of the decisions earlier this week. Congress now has until Aug. 16 to raise any objections.
In addition to Lebanon, Pakistan, Thailand, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Trans-Saharan Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and the Caribbean Basin are slated to receive between $5 million and $27 million in 1206 funding, Whitman said. These funds will address specific needs in those countries and regions, from upgrading sensors and communication equipment, to improving surveillance sites to providing night-vision goggles for tactical forces, he said.
In the case of Lebanon, DoD plans to spend $10 million to buy spare parts for vehicles, armored personnel carriers, helicopters and commercial utility cargo vehicles for the Lebanese military, Whitman said. And although DoD is taking steps to buy the spare parts, Whitman emphasized that actually handing them over to Lebanon will be based on several conditions. These conditions, agreed to by the Defense and State departments, are:
* A firm commitment from the Lebanese government that it will use its military to keep Hezbollah in check;
*A verified vetting process that will screen the Lebanese army for members with loyalties to Hezbollah; and
* A verified cease-fire, with Hezbollah pulling back beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon to give an opportunity for the Lebanese army to establish itself there.
The 1206 funding for Lebanon's military would be just one of many U.S. efforts, most under the purview of the State Department and in cooperation with the international community, to help stabilize the situation there. "It's a tool in the toolbox, so to speak," Whitman said. "We see it as something that you can apply with some degree of flexibility and sometimes it doesn't take a lot to have a significant impact in some countries," Whitman said.
"The payback and the outcomes and the results can be significant for a rather modest investment," he said. "And it prevents ... U.S. forces from having to deal with the situation." Marine General James Jones, commander of U.S. European Command, emphasized the importance of the new 1206 authority during early April testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.
"It is much more cost effective to prevent conflicts than to stop one once it's started," he said. "I cannot overstate the importance of our theater security cooperation programs as the centerpiece to securing our homeland from irregular and catastrophic threats of the 21st century." Jones called the new 1206 authority a paradigm shift that represents a critical first step in security cooperation reform. "The authority provided in Section 1206 is an important tool in our efforts to implement a strategy that recognizes the changed security landscape," he said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2006 – Defense Department officials hope to use new authorities to help other countries fight terrorism to buy spare parts for the Lebanese military, a senior defense official said today. The "1206 funding," named for the section of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act that authorizes it, is designed to help other countries build capacity within their national military forces, Bryan Whitman, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, told Pentagon reporters.
The authority allows DoD, in consultation with the State Department, to spend up to $200 million a year to help other countries become stronger partners in the global war on terror, Whitman explained. DoD had requested the 1206 authority for years, but received the authorization in the 2006 defense budget. Since then, DoD has been working with the State Department to determine the best way to use the new authority.
President Bush approved the program in early May, before the onset of violence between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah militia forces, and the department notified Congress of the decisions earlier this week. Congress now has until Aug. 16 to raise any objections.
In addition to Lebanon, Pakistan, Thailand, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Trans-Saharan Africa, the Gulf of Guinea and the Caribbean Basin are slated to receive between $5 million and $27 million in 1206 funding, Whitman said. These funds will address specific needs in those countries and regions, from upgrading sensors and communication equipment, to improving surveillance sites to providing night-vision goggles for tactical forces, he said.
In the case of Lebanon, DoD plans to spend $10 million to buy spare parts for vehicles, armored personnel carriers, helicopters and commercial utility cargo vehicles for the Lebanese military, Whitman said. And although DoD is taking steps to buy the spare parts, Whitman emphasized that actually handing them over to Lebanon will be based on several conditions. These conditions, agreed to by the Defense and State departments, are:
* A firm commitment from the Lebanese government that it will use its military to keep Hezbollah in check;
*A verified vetting process that will screen the Lebanese army for members with loyalties to Hezbollah; and
* A verified cease-fire, with Hezbollah pulling back beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon to give an opportunity for the Lebanese army to establish itself there.
The 1206 funding for Lebanon's military would be just one of many U.S. efforts, most under the purview of the State Department and in cooperation with the international community, to help stabilize the situation there. "It's a tool in the toolbox, so to speak," Whitman said. "We see it as something that you can apply with some degree of flexibility and sometimes it doesn't take a lot to have a significant impact in some countries," Whitman said.
"The payback and the outcomes and the results can be significant for a rather modest investment," he said. "And it prevents ... U.S. forces from having to deal with the situation." Marine General James Jones, commander of U.S. European Command, emphasized the importance of the new 1206 authority during early April testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.
"It is much more cost effective to prevent conflicts than to stop one once it's started," he said. "I cannot overstate the importance of our theater security cooperation programs as the centerpiece to securing our homeland from irregular and catastrophic threats of the 21st century." Jones called the new 1206 authority a paradigm shift that represents a critical first step in security cooperation reform. "The authority provided in Section 1206 is an important tool in our efforts to implement a strategy that recognizes the changed security landscape," he said.
America Supports You: Virginia Region Gears Up for 9/11 Freedom Walks
By Monique Reuben
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2006 – Eighteen cities and counties in Virginia's Hampton Roads region are planning Freedom Walks to commemorate victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and show support for veterans past and present. Inspired by the 2005 America Supports You Freedom Walk, in Washington, D.C., Hampton Roads and several other cities nationwide are planning their own Freedom Walks, marking the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.
Each Freedom Walk will conclude with a ceremony, featuring speeches from local officials and patriotic music. Organizers of the walks say they anticipate 500 to 1,000 people will participate in each walk. Carlos Clanton, executive director of the Norfolk division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said the Sept. 11 attacks unified this country. ""It had nothing to do with color or political position," he said. "We came united as one people."
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is one of many sponsors of this regional effort. The Navy League, WalMart and The Virginian-Pilot newspaper are others. Clanton, a resident of Norfolk, said the walks will not only honor the victims of Sept. 11, but also will allow people in the community to show their support for military servicemembers.
"Coming out and just walking and being present is going to speak volumes and let them (servicemembers) know that back here we appreciate what they're doing," he said. Bob Batcher, Norfolk Freedom Walk project manager, said he a recent visit to Ground Zero in New York reminded him of the importance of events like this.
"I think it's time for people to step up and say we're a unified country. I harken for the day where spontaneity meant putting a flag on your car. I want us to remember five years ago, when you couldn't buy a flag because so many people were buying them," he said. Pam Brandon, project manager for the Hampton Freedom Walk, said the event will include a laser show or fireworks display. "We're still in some planning stages. We're very excited, and we're beginning to make announcements to the public. We're just hoping for a great turnout," she said.
Batcher said he hopes Americans will come out and join members of their community to honor Sept. 11 victims and show that the country is still united. "It's too easy to sit in the living room and watch a documentary. There's too many men and women out there who are not taking the easy route to make sure that we've got a documentary to watch," he said. "We just want to challenge our community to show their colors."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2006 – Eighteen cities and counties in Virginia's Hampton Roads region are planning Freedom Walks to commemorate victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and show support for veterans past and present. Inspired by the 2005 America Supports You Freedom Walk, in Washington, D.C., Hampton Roads and several other cities nationwide are planning their own Freedom Walks, marking the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.
Each Freedom Walk will conclude with a ceremony, featuring speeches from local officials and patriotic music. Organizers of the walks say they anticipate 500 to 1,000 people will participate in each walk. Carlos Clanton, executive director of the Norfolk division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, said the Sept. 11 attacks unified this country. ""It had nothing to do with color or political position," he said. "We came united as one people."
The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce is one of many sponsors of this regional effort. The Navy League, WalMart and The Virginian-Pilot newspaper are others. Clanton, a resident of Norfolk, said the walks will not only honor the victims of Sept. 11, but also will allow people in the community to show their support for military servicemembers.
"Coming out and just walking and being present is going to speak volumes and let them (servicemembers) know that back here we appreciate what they're doing," he said. Bob Batcher, Norfolk Freedom Walk project manager, said he a recent visit to Ground Zero in New York reminded him of the importance of events like this.
"I think it's time for people to step up and say we're a unified country. I harken for the day where spontaneity meant putting a flag on your car. I want us to remember five years ago, when you couldn't buy a flag because so many people were buying them," he said. Pam Brandon, project manager for the Hampton Freedom Walk, said the event will include a laser show or fireworks display. "We're still in some planning stages. We're very excited, and we're beginning to make announcements to the public. We're just hoping for a great turnout," she said.
Batcher said he hopes Americans will come out and join members of their community to honor Sept. 11 victims and show that the country is still united. "It's too easy to sit in the living room and watch a documentary. There's too many men and women out there who are not taking the easy route to make sure that we've got a documentary to watch," he said. "We just want to challenge our community to show their colors."
American Supports You: Patriotic Pillows Offer Comfort to Wounded Troops
By Ashleigh Covington
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2006 – Passion for sewing and a desire to show support for the military combined to inspire a Chicago woman to launch an effort she calls the "Patriotic Pillow Project." "The pillow project came out of my love for sewing, which my mother taught me and I taught my daughter," Christina Finn said. "I just wanted to reach these individual servicemembers one at a time to say thank you and to empower a nation to participate the same way."
The Patriotic Pillow Project is a member of The Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, which highlights ways the American people and the country's corporate sector support the nation's men and women in uniform. Launched in June 2004, the project provides wounded troops red, white and blue airline-size pillows. A personalized note card is also placed inside pillow offering words of encouragement and support during recovery. "I think the fact that we've replicated, in an artistic way, an image of the American flag brings a lot of meaning to them," Finn said. "That is, in fact, what they are defending: that symbol of freedom and liberty recognized throughout the world."
The project has distributed 4,500 pillows to wounded troops all over the world, and Finn said she anticipates many more pillows to come. "I planted a seed, and now citizens are picking up on our efforts," she said. "It just takes one person, and one person making one pillow reaches out to one veteran or serviceperson that has made that choice to serve and protect our safety and security for our future generations."
The project continues to receive overwhelming support from people who want to help, Finn said. The Patriotic Pillow Project has volunteers ranging from ages 6 to 100 in more than 40 states. "Our youngest volunteer, who is 6, personally created 300 pillow covers. He stitched 300 by himself. His mother and grandmother cut out components for 500 pillowcases, but he got burned out after the first 300," Finn said. "So, he placed all the different patterns in a (plastic bag) with a flier and shared the sewing kit with the community."
As the catalyst for the project, troops call Finn the "pillow mom." "I had a young Marine ... who had read the names of 12 of his buddies who had lost their lives overseas, and I presented him a pillow, and he gave me a hug and whispered in my ear 'Thank you, Pillow Mom,'" Finn said. "That, to me, is my thank you, that they realize they are all our sons and daughters; they are our family; they're all special to me. I am so blessed and honored to be part of their lives, to be in service to them."
Finn said she hopes the pillows will help troops recognize that their service is appreciated. "What we're saying through the presentation of the patriotic pillow is that, 'We appreciate you,' and, 'We honor and respect you,' and 'We pray for you,' and, 'You are not forgotten,'" Finn said. "They've done their jobs; they've served," she added. "We owe them a huge bit of gratitude."
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 2006 – Passion for sewing and a desire to show support for the military combined to inspire a Chicago woman to launch an effort she calls the "Patriotic Pillow Project." "The pillow project came out of my love for sewing, which my mother taught me and I taught my daughter," Christina Finn said. "I just wanted to reach these individual servicemembers one at a time to say thank you and to empower a nation to participate the same way."
The Patriotic Pillow Project is a member of The Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, which highlights ways the American people and the country's corporate sector support the nation's men and women in uniform. Launched in June 2004, the project provides wounded troops red, white and blue airline-size pillows. A personalized note card is also placed inside pillow offering words of encouragement and support during recovery. "I think the fact that we've replicated, in an artistic way, an image of the American flag brings a lot of meaning to them," Finn said. "That is, in fact, what they are defending: that symbol of freedom and liberty recognized throughout the world."
The project has distributed 4,500 pillows to wounded troops all over the world, and Finn said she anticipates many more pillows to come. "I planted a seed, and now citizens are picking up on our efforts," she said. "It just takes one person, and one person making one pillow reaches out to one veteran or serviceperson that has made that choice to serve and protect our safety and security for our future generations."
The project continues to receive overwhelming support from people who want to help, Finn said. The Patriotic Pillow Project has volunteers ranging from ages 6 to 100 in more than 40 states. "Our youngest volunteer, who is 6, personally created 300 pillow covers. He stitched 300 by himself. His mother and grandmother cut out components for 500 pillowcases, but he got burned out after the first 300," Finn said. "So, he placed all the different patterns in a (plastic bag) with a flier and shared the sewing kit with the community."
As the catalyst for the project, troops call Finn the "pillow mom." "I had a young Marine ... who had read the names of 12 of his buddies who had lost their lives overseas, and I presented him a pillow, and he gave me a hug and whispered in my ear 'Thank you, Pillow Mom,'" Finn said. "That, to me, is my thank you, that they realize they are all our sons and daughters; they are our family; they're all special to me. I am so blessed and honored to be part of their lives, to be in service to them."
Finn said she hopes the pillows will help troops recognize that their service is appreciated. "What we're saying through the presentation of the patriotic pillow is that, 'We appreciate you,' and, 'We honor and respect you,' and 'We pray for you,' and, 'You are not forgotten,'" Finn said. "They've done their jobs; they've served," she added. "We owe them a huge bit of gratitude."
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Suplee, 39, ofOcala , Fla., died on Aug 3 at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Fla., of injuries sustained on Apr 1 in Kabul, Afghanistan, when his HMMWV was involved in a traffic accident. Suplee was assigned to the National Guard 153rd Cavalry Squadron, Ocala, Fla.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Florida National Guard public affairs office at (904) 823-0168.
Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Suplee, 39, ofOcala , Fla., died on Aug 3 at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Fla., of injuries sustained on Apr 1 in Kabul, Afghanistan, when his HMMWV was involved in a traffic accident. Suplee was assigned to the National Guard 153rd Cavalry Squadron, Ocala, Fla.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Florida National Guard public affairs office at (904) 823-0168.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Joshua A. Ford, 20, of Wayne, Neb., died on July 31 during combat operations in Al Numaniyah, Iraq. Ford was assigned to the Army National Guard 189th Transportation Company, 485th Corps Support Battalion, Norfolk, Neb.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Nebraska National Guard public affairs office at (402) 309-7300.
Sgt. Joshua A. Ford, 20, of Wayne, Neb., died on July 31 during combat operations in Al Numaniyah, Iraq. Ford was assigned to the Army National Guard 189th Transportation Company, 485th Corps Support Battalion, Norfolk, Neb.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Nebraska National Guard public affairs office at (402) 309-7300.
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. George M. Ulloa Jr., 23, of Austin, Texas, died Aug. 3 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 451-9033.
Sgt. George M. Ulloa Jr., 23, of Austin, Texas, died Aug. 3 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 451-9033.
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Kurt E. Dechen, 24, of Springfield, Vt., died Aug. 3 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, while attached to Regimental Combat Team 5, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Marine Forces Reserve public affairs office at (504) 678-6536 or (504) 678-4287.
Lance Cpl. Kurt E. Dechen, 24, of Springfield, Vt., died Aug. 3 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, while attached to Regimental Combat Team 5, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Marine Forces Reserve public affairs office at (504) 678-6536 or (504) 678-4287.
Navy Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A. Lee, 28, of Hood River, Ore., was killed on Aug. 2 during combat operations while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. Lee was an aviation ordnanceman and a member of a West Coast-based SEAL Team.
For further information related to this release, contact Naval Special Warfare Command public affairs at (619) 522-2824.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A. Lee, 28, of Hood River, Ore., was killed on Aug. 2 during combat operations while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. Lee was an aviation ordnanceman and a member of a West Coast-based SEAL Team.
For further information related to this release, contact Naval Special Warfare Command public affairs at (619) 522-2824.
Terrorists Detained in Iraq; Foreign Fighter Turned Over to Iraqi Courts
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2006 – Coalition forces captured a wanted terrorist along with two others during a raid near Bayji, Iraq, yesterday, U.S. military officials reported. The raid is one of a series of successful operations targeting a terrorist cell involved in aiding foreign terrorists throughout central Iraq. The raid occurred without incident.
Coalition forces have been effectively dismantling this group, which has reportedly orchestrated attacks, kidnappings and bombings of civilians, officials said. In addition, Iraqi and coalition forces announced that a recently captured foreign terrorist would be turned over to the Iraqi government for prosecution under the Iraqi justice system, officials said.
The terrorist, a joint-Sudanese and United Arab Emirates citizen, has admitted to active roles in al Qaeda operations. Iraqi security forces arrested him at a checkpoint just north of Baghdad. He has provided extensive information about Iraqi al Qaeda leadership, in particular operations to create terrorist propaganda for recruiting and to incite sectarian violence, official said.
This is the foreign fighter's second arrest in Iraq. He was arrested in the fall of 2005 and detained for four months for suspected participation in attacks against coalition forces, officials said. Iraqi and coalition officials will continue to work closely to ensure this terrorist will receive due process through the Iraqi justice system, officials said.
Coalition forces have been effectively dismantling this group, which has reportedly orchestrated attacks, kidnappings and bombings of civilians, officials said. In addition, Iraqi and coalition forces announced that a recently captured foreign terrorist would be turned over to the Iraqi government for prosecution under the Iraqi justice system, officials said.
The terrorist, a joint-Sudanese and United Arab Emirates citizen, has admitted to active roles in al Qaeda operations. Iraqi security forces arrested him at a checkpoint just north of Baghdad. He has provided extensive information about Iraqi al Qaeda leadership, in particular operations to create terrorist propaganda for recruiting and to incite sectarian violence, official said.
This is the foreign fighter's second arrest in Iraq. He was arrested in the fall of 2005 and detained for four months for suspected participation in attacks against coalition forces, officials said. Iraqi and coalition officials will continue to work closely to ensure this terrorist will receive due process through the Iraqi justice system, officials said.
Photographs from the War on Terror
U.S. Army aircrew from the 542nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance) fly a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter to a medical evacuation point during a mission near Tall Afar, Iraq, July 30, 2006. The helicopter belongs to the 1st Forward Support Medical Team. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey, U.S. Air Force
Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Ryan D. Jopek, 20, of Merrill, Wis., died in Tikrit, Iraq on Aug. 2 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy. Jopek was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, Waupun, Wis.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Wisconsin National Guard public affairs office at (608) 242-3050.
Sgt. Ryan D. Jopek, 20, of Merrill, Wis., died in Tikrit, Iraq on Aug. 2 of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy. Jopek was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, Waupun, Wis.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Wisconsin National Guard public affairs office at (608) 242-3050.
ARMY CASUALTY
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Hai Ming Hsia, 37, of New York, N.Y., died Aug. 1 during combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Hsia was assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 011-49-611-705-4862.
Spc. Hai Ming Hsia, 37, of New York, N.Y., died Aug. 1 during combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Hsia was assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 011-49-611-705-4862.
MARINE CASUALTY
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Joseph A. Tomci, 21, of Stow, Ohio, died Aug. 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 451-9033.
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Joseph A. Tomci, 21, of Stow, Ohio, died Aug. 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 451-9033.
Hate on the Web
Hate speech is the first step in the process of de-humization. You must hate to segregate, to intentionally disadvantage; and, finally to kill. A review of over 500 websites that promote hate reveals some interesting links. And, questions?
Why are White Supremacists adopting the term Jihad? What code words and symbols indicate hate? How are websites, forum, blogs and other e-media disseminating hate? Are hate sites intentionally or unintentionally aiding terrorists? I have posted an interesting PowerPoint Presentation - with a good primer on Hate Speech and Hate Crimes. Perhaps more importantly, it contains 80 hyperlinks to a variety of hate sites. View the PowerPoint and Surf the sites.
You decide.
Click to surf the links or view the PowerPoint.
Why are White Supremacists adopting the term Jihad? What code words and symbols indicate hate? How are websites, forum, blogs and other e-media disseminating hate? Are hate sites intentionally or unintentionally aiding terrorists? I have posted an interesting PowerPoint Presentation - with a good primer on Hate Speech and Hate Crimes. Perhaps more importantly, it contains 80 hyperlinks to a variety of hate sites. View the PowerPoint and Surf the sites.
You decide.
Click to surf the links or view the PowerPoint.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
ARMY CASUALTY
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Dustin D. Laird, 23, of Martin, Tenn., died on Aug. 2 during combat operations in Rawah, Iraq. Laird was assigned to the Army National Guard 913th Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, Union City, Tenn.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Tennessee National Guard public affairs office at (615) 313-0662.
Sgt. Dustin D. Laird, 23, of Martin, Tenn., died on Aug. 2 during combat operations in Rawah, Iraq. Laird was assigned to the Army National Guard 913th Engineer Company, 46th Engineer Battalion, Union City, Tenn.
Media with questions about this soldier can contact the Tennessee National Guard public affairs office at (615) 313-0662.
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Jason Hanson, 21, of Forks, Wash., died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476.
Pfc. Jason Hanson, 21, of Forks, Wash., died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476.
Iraqi Forces Search University, Target 'Death Squads'
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2006 – Iraqi security forces searched a university in Ramadi, Iraq, today in response to insurgent activity and targeted militia "death squads" in four operations yesterday, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported. This morning, Iraqi security forces, with support from coalition forces, began searching Al Anbar University in southwestern Ramadi, which is being used as a center for insurgent activity. Iraqi and coalition forces have received sniper fire from the university on multiple occasions, and credible intelligence reports indicate the university is being used as an insurgent safe haven and command center, officials said.
Iraqi and coalition forces are securing the university to provide a safe and secure educational environment. Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, with support from soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, are searching the university. The 7th Division Military Police Company is assisting in providing security. Military personnel will leave the university as soon as possible, turning over security to Iraqi police, officials said. Operations were planned to coincide with a recess from summer classes.
Elsewhere, Iraqi army and security forces conducted four early-morning raids in Baghdad yesterday, capturing three primary suspects associated with death squads in an ongoing effort to stem activities of these organizations. The precision operations, conducted by Iraqi forces accompanied by coalition force observers, occurred in three areas, all in the western part of Baghdad.
In the Ashulla area of northwestern Baghdad, Iraqi army forces captured two individuals, including one known high-level insurgent leader. This leader controls several smaller cells that allegedly conduct improvised-explosive-device attacks against coalition forces; traffic in weapons; and kidnap, torture and murder Iraqi citizens and Iraqi soldiers. Officials believe one of this individual's "punishment cells" kidnapped and murdered 14 Iraqi soldiers in May as he looked on, officials said. In the Rasheed area of southwestern Baghdad, Iraqi security forces conducted two separate raids and captured two primary targets.
One individual is an insurgent informant alleged to be an active participant in targeting and killing Iraqi citizens. A second individual allegedly conducted a mortar attack against Baghdad International Airport, transported weapons and IEDs, and participated in the murder of Iraqi citizens, officials said. During the fourth and final operation, Iraqi army scouts captured an insurgent cell leader and two others by in the Ghazaliya area of western Baghdad. This cell leader is believed to have conducted IED and rocket-propelled-grenade attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces; he also is believed to be involved in killing Iraqi citizens.
Iraqi and coalition forces are securing the university to provide a safe and secure educational environment. Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Army Division, with support from soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, are searching the university. The 7th Division Military Police Company is assisting in providing security. Military personnel will leave the university as soon as possible, turning over security to Iraqi police, officials said. Operations were planned to coincide with a recess from summer classes.
Elsewhere, Iraqi army and security forces conducted four early-morning raids in Baghdad yesterday, capturing three primary suspects associated with death squads in an ongoing effort to stem activities of these organizations. The precision operations, conducted by Iraqi forces accompanied by coalition force observers, occurred in three areas, all in the western part of Baghdad.
In the Ashulla area of northwestern Baghdad, Iraqi army forces captured two individuals, including one known high-level insurgent leader. This leader controls several smaller cells that allegedly conduct improvised-explosive-device attacks against coalition forces; traffic in weapons; and kidnap, torture and murder Iraqi citizens and Iraqi soldiers. Officials believe one of this individual's "punishment cells" kidnapped and murdered 14 Iraqi soldiers in May as he looked on, officials said. In the Rasheed area of southwestern Baghdad, Iraqi security forces conducted two separate raids and captured two primary targets.
One individual is an insurgent informant alleged to be an active participant in targeting and killing Iraqi citizens. A second individual allegedly conducted a mortar attack against Baghdad International Airport, transported weapons and IEDs, and participated in the murder of Iraqi citizens, officials said. During the fourth and final operation, Iraqi army scouts captured an insurgent cell leader and two others by in the Ghazaliya area of western Baghdad. This cell leader is believed to have conducted IED and rocket-propelled-grenade attacks against Iraqi and coalition forces; he also is believed to be involved in killing Iraqi citizens.
Recruits Processing Into Military Defy Misconceptions, Myths
By Donna Miles
Fort Meade, MD, Aug. 2, 2006 – A step through the doors of the Military Entrance Processing Station here blows away the myths that the military is struggling to get enough recruits, dropping its standards to get those it does, or glossing over the fact that it's recruiting into a wartime force. July 31 was the last day of a month in which all the services had already met their quotas for recruits. It was a relatively slow day at the station -- one of 65 dotting the country. Yet the station buzzed with activity as 102 men and women processed through en route to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
"It's pretty quiet today, but we're always busy," Station Commander Army Lt. Colonel Robert Larsen said. "People come in and are always shocked to see how many people are processing into the military. And what amazes them most is the fact that we do this every single day." The military has gone through a 13-month stretch during which every service consistently met its active-duty recruiting goals. There's never a down day at the station, especially during the busy summer season. Over the course of fiscal 2006, the Baltimore station will send almost 8,000 new members to their entry-level military training.
The station sends soldiers, the largest group processed, to basic training at forts Leonard Wood, Mo.; Benning, Ga.; Jackson, S.C.; Knox, Ky.; or Sill, Okla. Sailors, the second-largest group, all go to boot camp at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill. Marines recruits from the station go to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Airmen will go to the Basic Military Training course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Coast Guardsmen, the smallest group to process through the MEPS station, go to Training Center Cape May, N.J.
But before they can start their training, all recruits process through a MEPS station. The Baltimore station, one of the three busiest in the country, serves as the link between the military and recruits from Maryland, the District of Columbia and parts of Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. Recruits enter as civilians and leave as new members of the armed forces who have signed their military contracts and taken the oath of enlistment.
Recruits arrive at the station before 5:30 a.m. to begin a flurry of tests -- a medical exam, drug test and HIV test, among them -- to ensure they're fit for duty. Another test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, ensures they meet the military's aptitude standards. Military-wide, more than 60 percent of all recruits come from the top half of the aptitude categories, and more than 90 percent are high school graduates, David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said during a Pentagon news conference in July.
"Typically, we see an above-average high school graduate" processing through the Baltimore MEPS, Larsen said. Army Master Sergeant Mark Schoeppner, an Army liaison with the station, bristles at talk that military standards have dipped. "There's a perception that we will allow anybody in, and that's absolutely wrong," he said.
Schoeppner pointed to big improvements he's seen in the force during his 19 and a half years in the military. "It's way better than when I came in, and I feel very comfortable sleeping at night, knowing that we have not lowered the standards," he said. The quality of new recruits "gets better and better every day," agreed Marine Gunnery Sergeant Derrick Benton, a Marine Corps liaison who meets one-on-one with Marine recruits as they process through the station.
A high score on the ASVAB equates to the broadest choice of jobs opened to recruits. "I can pick any job I want," 19-year-old Corey Robinson, from Boonesboro, Md., said of his score as he processed for a four-year stint in the Army. But Robinson didn't have to consider his options; he already had his heart set on infantry, then becoming an airborne Ranger. "There's no question that that's what I want to do," he said. "I want something exciting and fast-paced, definitely not a desk job."
Career counselors at the MEPS station sit with recruits to review their options and help steer them to the military job that most closely matches their interests and aptitude. "We want to ensure that when we put you in a particular field, that we are setting you up for success," Army Sgt. 1st Class Todd Dreeszen, an Army Reserve liaison, said. "The overall concept for us is retainability," he said, emphasizing that a good initial "fit" is a good indicator of how long a servicemember will stay in the military. "We're not looking at a single enlistment," Dreeszen said. "We're looking for 20 years."
Finally, after all their testing is completed and their job specialty selected, recruits sit with a career counselor and review their contract line by line. "We review the contract with them so they understand it fully and to ensure there are no surprises," Larsen said.
Part of that review includes a frank discussion about the possibility -- even probability -- of being sent into a combat zone. "Especially if they're going into the ground forces, they need to understand that for all practicability, a year from now, they could be in the desert," Larsen said. "We make it clear to them that everyone -- from the flute player to the infantry soldier -- has a chance to go to Iraq," Schoeppner said. "There are no false pretenses."
"We remind them that this is not the Salvation Army," Dreeszen agreed. "We reiterate what's already been said to them and remind them that their primary mission is to wage war. There's a reason that even if you're a mechanic, you carry an assault rifle." “They are fully aware that they could end up in Iraq," Benton said. "They know exactly what they are getting to, but they really want to serve their country."
Asked their views about going off to war, recruits processing through the Baltimore MEPS expressed a range of reactions, from nonchalance to anticipation. "It's not a factor," said 22-year-old Salvador Goines, who was processing for a four-year-stint in the Army under the Delayed Entry Program and expects to go to basic training in January. After growing up in "a rough neighborhood" in Wilmington, Del., Goines said he there's not much he might encounter that he hasn't seen before. "It doesn't bother me," Robinson said of going into combat. "I know I'll be with people who are well-trained and that I will be fine." "I'm not scared," said Jeremy Gardner, age 20, who was processing to go into the Navy. "People die here on the streets. There are no guarantees."
Seventeen-year-old Bethany Wade, a high school senior joining the Marine Corps through the Delayed Entry Program, said she has no trepidation about going to war after she graduates from high school in January, five months ahead of her classmates. "If they told me today that I had to go, it wouldn't bother me," she said. "I feel that everybody should be willing to go and fight for their country. We lost so many people on 9/11 that I think if you live here you should be willing to support your country."
At the end of their day at the MEPS station, Larsen reminds recruits of the seriousness of the decision they're about to make as they take the oath of enlistment and begin military careers. "If there is any perception that they're apprehensive about what they are getting into, we won't swear them in," he said. He recalls one time when he refused to enlist a recruit, despite the fact that she was scheduled to ship that day to basic training. Instead, Larsen sent her home to think about her decision. She returned the next day, convincing him that she was sure she wanted to join the military.
On July 31, as 28 new Marine Corps and Navy recruits assembled to take their oath of enlistment, Larsen reiterated his reminder. "This is a monumental day in your life, and I want you to make sure it's what you really want," he told them.
Larsen offered one more tidbit of advice -- about teamwork -- to the recruits as they lined up in formation in front of a line of flags. "Not one of us can get through basic training as a lone wolf," he told them. "You won't make it by yourself. You have to take care of each other -- that person to your left and right -- and they will take care of you." Then, Larsen told each recruit to raise his or her right hand and began the oath of enlistment. "I, your name, do solemnly swear. ..."
No matter how prepared they were for the moment, the new servicemembers said they recognize the importance of the step they're taking. They marched out of the room silently, breaking the tension with giddiness only after taking seats in the adjoining room to sign their military contracts. "This is a change of life, a change of direction," Samuel Blevins said after taking the oath of enlistment and just before heading to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to catch a flight to Navy boot camp.
"This is a big step for me today. It's a part of growing up," Blevins said. "You feel the chills."
Fort Meade, MD, Aug. 2, 2006 – A step through the doors of the Military Entrance Processing Station here blows away the myths that the military is struggling to get enough recruits, dropping its standards to get those it does, or glossing over the fact that it's recruiting into a wartime force. July 31 was the last day of a month in which all the services had already met their quotas for recruits. It was a relatively slow day at the station -- one of 65 dotting the country. Yet the station buzzed with activity as 102 men and women processed through en route to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
"It's pretty quiet today, but we're always busy," Station Commander Army Lt. Colonel Robert Larsen said. "People come in and are always shocked to see how many people are processing into the military. And what amazes them most is the fact that we do this every single day." The military has gone through a 13-month stretch during which every service consistently met its active-duty recruiting goals. There's never a down day at the station, especially during the busy summer season. Over the course of fiscal 2006, the Baltimore station will send almost 8,000 new members to their entry-level military training.
The station sends soldiers, the largest group processed, to basic training at forts Leonard Wood, Mo.; Benning, Ga.; Jackson, S.C.; Knox, Ky.; or Sill, Okla. Sailors, the second-largest group, all go to boot camp at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill. Marines recruits from the station go to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. Airmen will go to the Basic Military Training course at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Coast Guardsmen, the smallest group to process through the MEPS station, go to Training Center Cape May, N.J.
But before they can start their training, all recruits process through a MEPS station. The Baltimore station, one of the three busiest in the country, serves as the link between the military and recruits from Maryland, the District of Columbia and parts of Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. Recruits enter as civilians and leave as new members of the armed forces who have signed their military contracts and taken the oath of enlistment.
Recruits arrive at the station before 5:30 a.m. to begin a flurry of tests -- a medical exam, drug test and HIV test, among them -- to ensure they're fit for duty. Another test, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, ensures they meet the military's aptitude standards. Military-wide, more than 60 percent of all recruits come from the top half of the aptitude categories, and more than 90 percent are high school graduates, David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said during a Pentagon news conference in July.
"Typically, we see an above-average high school graduate" processing through the Baltimore MEPS, Larsen said. Army Master Sergeant Mark Schoeppner, an Army liaison with the station, bristles at talk that military standards have dipped. "There's a perception that we will allow anybody in, and that's absolutely wrong," he said.
Schoeppner pointed to big improvements he's seen in the force during his 19 and a half years in the military. "It's way better than when I came in, and I feel very comfortable sleeping at night, knowing that we have not lowered the standards," he said. The quality of new recruits "gets better and better every day," agreed Marine Gunnery Sergeant Derrick Benton, a Marine Corps liaison who meets one-on-one with Marine recruits as they process through the station.
A high score on the ASVAB equates to the broadest choice of jobs opened to recruits. "I can pick any job I want," 19-year-old Corey Robinson, from Boonesboro, Md., said of his score as he processed for a four-year stint in the Army. But Robinson didn't have to consider his options; he already had his heart set on infantry, then becoming an airborne Ranger. "There's no question that that's what I want to do," he said. "I want something exciting and fast-paced, definitely not a desk job."
Career counselors at the MEPS station sit with recruits to review their options and help steer them to the military job that most closely matches their interests and aptitude. "We want to ensure that when we put you in a particular field, that we are setting you up for success," Army Sgt. 1st Class Todd Dreeszen, an Army Reserve liaison, said. "The overall concept for us is retainability," he said, emphasizing that a good initial "fit" is a good indicator of how long a servicemember will stay in the military. "We're not looking at a single enlistment," Dreeszen said. "We're looking for 20 years."
Finally, after all their testing is completed and their job specialty selected, recruits sit with a career counselor and review their contract line by line. "We review the contract with them so they understand it fully and to ensure there are no surprises," Larsen said.
Part of that review includes a frank discussion about the possibility -- even probability -- of being sent into a combat zone. "Especially if they're going into the ground forces, they need to understand that for all practicability, a year from now, they could be in the desert," Larsen said. "We make it clear to them that everyone -- from the flute player to the infantry soldier -- has a chance to go to Iraq," Schoeppner said. "There are no false pretenses."
"We remind them that this is not the Salvation Army," Dreeszen agreed. "We reiterate what's already been said to them and remind them that their primary mission is to wage war. There's a reason that even if you're a mechanic, you carry an assault rifle." “They are fully aware that they could end up in Iraq," Benton said. "They know exactly what they are getting to, but they really want to serve their country."
Asked their views about going off to war, recruits processing through the Baltimore MEPS expressed a range of reactions, from nonchalance to anticipation. "It's not a factor," said 22-year-old Salvador Goines, who was processing for a four-year-stint in the Army under the Delayed Entry Program and expects to go to basic training in January. After growing up in "a rough neighborhood" in Wilmington, Del., Goines said he there's not much he might encounter that he hasn't seen before. "It doesn't bother me," Robinson said of going into combat. "I know I'll be with people who are well-trained and that I will be fine." "I'm not scared," said Jeremy Gardner, age 20, who was processing to go into the Navy. "People die here on the streets. There are no guarantees."
Seventeen-year-old Bethany Wade, a high school senior joining the Marine Corps through the Delayed Entry Program, said she has no trepidation about going to war after she graduates from high school in January, five months ahead of her classmates. "If they told me today that I had to go, it wouldn't bother me," she said. "I feel that everybody should be willing to go and fight for their country. We lost so many people on 9/11 that I think if you live here you should be willing to support your country."
At the end of their day at the MEPS station, Larsen reminds recruits of the seriousness of the decision they're about to make as they take the oath of enlistment and begin military careers. "If there is any perception that they're apprehensive about what they are getting into, we won't swear them in," he said. He recalls one time when he refused to enlist a recruit, despite the fact that she was scheduled to ship that day to basic training. Instead, Larsen sent her home to think about her decision. She returned the next day, convincing him that she was sure she wanted to join the military.
On July 31, as 28 new Marine Corps and Navy recruits assembled to take their oath of enlistment, Larsen reiterated his reminder. "This is a monumental day in your life, and I want you to make sure it's what you really want," he told them.
Larsen offered one more tidbit of advice -- about teamwork -- to the recruits as they lined up in formation in front of a line of flags. "Not one of us can get through basic training as a lone wolf," he told them. "You won't make it by yourself. You have to take care of each other -- that person to your left and right -- and they will take care of you." Then, Larsen told each recruit to raise his or her right hand and began the oath of enlistment. "I, your name, do solemnly swear. ..."
No matter how prepared they were for the moment, the new servicemembers said they recognize the importance of the step they're taking. They marched out of the room silently, breaking the tension with giddiness only after taking seats in the adjoining room to sign their military contracts. "This is a change of life, a change of direction," Samuel Blevins said after taking the oath of enlistment and just before heading to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to catch a flight to Navy boot camp.
"This is a big step for me today. It's a part of growing up," Blevins said. "You feel the chills."
New Recruits Share Dreams, Motivations for Joining Military
By Donna Miles
Fort Meade, MD, Aug. 2, 2006 – The young and not-so-young men and women processing into the military earlier this week at the Military Entrance Processing Station here offer a snapshot of the armed forces of the future. Most are between 18 and 20, and men outnumber women. But beyond those generalizations, no common thread runs through the group. They represent all colors and a broad range of ethnic groups, come from a variety of backgrounds, and express a wide range of motivations for joining the military.
Among the youngest processing through the Baltimore MEPS July 31 was 17-year-old Bethany Wade, a high school student from Lewes, Del. Wade still has a semester of classes ahead of her before she graduates five months ahead of the rest of her senior class, but she had far more than senior proms and yearbooks on her on her mind. She has her heart set on becoming a Marine.
Despite friends who she said "don't support me at all" and parents with mixed emotions about her decision, Wade said she has no doubts she's doing the right thing. She chose the Marine Corps because she believes it's the most difficult service to join and the best service to have served in, she said. "I wanted to do something that would really challenge myself," she said. Already, she's meeting her recruiter three times a week to do push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups and take long runs to ensure she's physically ready.
By enlisting through the Delayed Entry Program, Wade said, she hopes to close the gap between her high school graduation and the day she reports for training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. "Hopefully, the second I get my diploma, I can go the next day," she said.
Many of the recruits sitting alongside Wade at the Baltimore MEPS were fresh out of high school. Some, like 19-year-old Corey Robinson, of Boonesboro, Md., said he knew since he was a child that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Army. If all goes as planned, Robinson will head to infantry, airborne and Ranger training after his Basic Combat Training. He said he's excited about the opportunities ahead. "I'll get the educational benefits for college when I get out, but I also get to serve my country," he said.
"I think it's my responsibility to serve," Wade said, shifting self-consciously in his seat as he professed what some might consider an extremely "uncool" viewpoint. "We have freedoms in this country, and if we want to keep them, then it's important to serve," he said. Many of the in processing recruits, including 22-year-old Salvador Goines, of Wilmington, Del., already have a few years of work experience under their belts. Goines spent the past few years installing garage doors while going to school part-time to become a chef. He signed on for a four-year stint as an Army cook and said he looks forward to the experience and educational benefits he'll get.
"I'll try it for a little bit and see what happens," Goines said. "I figure I'll go somewhere and see something a little different." Goines doesn't seem concerned that the "something different" might be a deployment to Iraq. "It's not a factor," he said with a shrug. Across the board, the recruits at the station said that they're ready to go to war if called. "It doesn't really bother me," said 20-year-old Jason Medsker, who is joining the Army to pick up mechanical and welding skills. He said these skills will come in handy when he opens his own garage someday.
The opportunity to learn new skills and get educational benefits is a big draw for many of the new recruits. James Wagner, who served four years in the Navy in the early 1990s, is already halfway through his Master's degree program. He said he looks forward to getting some financial assistance after returning to the Navy as a pharmacy technician. "I want to take advantage of the opportunity to serve my country and get educated at the same time," he said.
Others, like Michael Underwood, aren't as certain of their career paths and chose the military for the discipline and direction they hope it will instill. "I want to straighten my life out and come out with a better head on my shoulders," said the 19-year-old Dale City, Va., resident who's joining the Marine Corps. Underwood said he chose the Marine Corps because he considers it the most demanding of the military services. "I want to do something hard, and I figure that's the hardest," he said.
While most of the recruits at the Baltimore MEPS station had only vague ideas about what they're about to face, others, like Renaldo Peters, know exactly what to expect. Peters served in the Army from 1988 to 1996, a tour of duty that included combat deployments for Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm. He also was a contractor at Forward Operating Base Caldwell, in Iraq near the Iran border, from 2003 to 2005.
Why, one might wonder, would he choose to return to the Army as a sergeant rather than stick with his higher-paying opportunity as a contractor? Peters said his wife, also a veteran, understands his choice, but his friends and other family members "think I'm crazy." "Not everyone understands, but then again, they never served in the military," he said. "I miss it. I miss the training. I miss the teamwork. I miss the people. I miss the sense of pride.
"Money is a good thing," he said, "but it's not the only thing."
Milton Agurs, at 43, said he understands Peters' sentiment. He served 10 years in the District of Columbia National Guard, but left shortly after his unit returned home from its deployment to Iraq in 2004. A year later, Agurs, who works for the District of Columbia Police Department, is ready to return to his former unit. "There's a sense of pride you miss," he said. "I'm ready to go back to duty. I want to be an example to the children in my neighborhood, to show them what service is all about."
Fort Meade, MD, Aug. 2, 2006 – The young and not-so-young men and women processing into the military earlier this week at the Military Entrance Processing Station here offer a snapshot of the armed forces of the future. Most are between 18 and 20, and men outnumber women. But beyond those generalizations, no common thread runs through the group. They represent all colors and a broad range of ethnic groups, come from a variety of backgrounds, and express a wide range of motivations for joining the military.
Among the youngest processing through the Baltimore MEPS July 31 was 17-year-old Bethany Wade, a high school student from Lewes, Del. Wade still has a semester of classes ahead of her before she graduates five months ahead of the rest of her senior class, but she had far more than senior proms and yearbooks on her on her mind. She has her heart set on becoming a Marine.
Despite friends who she said "don't support me at all" and parents with mixed emotions about her decision, Wade said she has no doubts she's doing the right thing. She chose the Marine Corps because she believes it's the most difficult service to join and the best service to have served in, she said. "I wanted to do something that would really challenge myself," she said. Already, she's meeting her recruiter three times a week to do push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups and take long runs to ensure she's physically ready.
By enlisting through the Delayed Entry Program, Wade said, she hopes to close the gap between her high school graduation and the day she reports for training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. "Hopefully, the second I get my diploma, I can go the next day," she said.
Many of the recruits sitting alongside Wade at the Baltimore MEPS were fresh out of high school. Some, like 19-year-old Corey Robinson, of Boonesboro, Md., said he knew since he was a child that he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Army. If all goes as planned, Robinson will head to infantry, airborne and Ranger training after his Basic Combat Training. He said he's excited about the opportunities ahead. "I'll get the educational benefits for college when I get out, but I also get to serve my country," he said.
"I think it's my responsibility to serve," Wade said, shifting self-consciously in his seat as he professed what some might consider an extremely "uncool" viewpoint. "We have freedoms in this country, and if we want to keep them, then it's important to serve," he said. Many of the in processing recruits, including 22-year-old Salvador Goines, of Wilmington, Del., already have a few years of work experience under their belts. Goines spent the past few years installing garage doors while going to school part-time to become a chef. He signed on for a four-year stint as an Army cook and said he looks forward to the experience and educational benefits he'll get.
"I'll try it for a little bit and see what happens," Goines said. "I figure I'll go somewhere and see something a little different." Goines doesn't seem concerned that the "something different" might be a deployment to Iraq. "It's not a factor," he said with a shrug. Across the board, the recruits at the station said that they're ready to go to war if called. "It doesn't really bother me," said 20-year-old Jason Medsker, who is joining the Army to pick up mechanical and welding skills. He said these skills will come in handy when he opens his own garage someday.
The opportunity to learn new skills and get educational benefits is a big draw for many of the new recruits. James Wagner, who served four years in the Navy in the early 1990s, is already halfway through his Master's degree program. He said he looks forward to getting some financial assistance after returning to the Navy as a pharmacy technician. "I want to take advantage of the opportunity to serve my country and get educated at the same time," he said.
Others, like Michael Underwood, aren't as certain of their career paths and chose the military for the discipline and direction they hope it will instill. "I want to straighten my life out and come out with a better head on my shoulders," said the 19-year-old Dale City, Va., resident who's joining the Marine Corps. Underwood said he chose the Marine Corps because he considers it the most demanding of the military services. "I want to do something hard, and I figure that's the hardest," he said.
While most of the recruits at the Baltimore MEPS station had only vague ideas about what they're about to face, others, like Renaldo Peters, know exactly what to expect. Peters served in the Army from 1988 to 1996, a tour of duty that included combat deployments for Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm. He also was a contractor at Forward Operating Base Caldwell, in Iraq near the Iran border, from 2003 to 2005.
Why, one might wonder, would he choose to return to the Army as a sergeant rather than stick with his higher-paying opportunity as a contractor? Peters said his wife, also a veteran, understands his choice, but his friends and other family members "think I'm crazy." "Not everyone understands, but then again, they never served in the military," he said. "I miss it. I miss the training. I miss the teamwork. I miss the people. I miss the sense of pride.
"Money is a good thing," he said, "but it's not the only thing."
Milton Agurs, at 43, said he understands Peters' sentiment. He served 10 years in the District of Columbia National Guard, but left shortly after his unit returned home from its deployment to Iraq in 2004. A year later, Agurs, who works for the District of Columbia Police Department, is ready to return to his former unit. "There's a sense of pride you miss," he said. "I'm ready to go back to duty. I want to be an example to the children in my neighborhood, to show them what service is all about."
National Guard Tops Troops Required for Border Mission
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2006 – The National Guard has exceeded its troop requirement along the southwestern U.S. border by almost 200 servicemembers and is assisting U.S. Border Patrol activities there, a senior Defense Department official said here today. "We were obligated, by Aug. 1, to have 6,000 National Guardsmen deployed to the four-state southwest border region. And, in fact, as of close of business yesterday, we had 6,199 soldiers," Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, said in an interview. "We kept our commitment to the secretary of defense, Lieutenant General (H Steven) Blum (chief of the National Guard Bureau) and the president of the United States. And, most importantly, we kept our commitment to the nation."
President Bush set the Aug. 1 deadline in May when he announced that National Guard troops would be sent to the border as part of his plan to curb illegal immigration into the U.S. National Guard troops at the border are supporting Border Patrol officers by manning observation posts, building barriers and fences, acting as translators, and monitoring sensors that detect illegal movement across the border, McHale said. The Guardsmen do not and will not participate in law enforcement activities, because that responsibility falls to the Border Patrol, under the Department of Homeland Security, he emphasized.
"We have capabilities that we can provide to assist DHS to better enable them to meet their mission requirement and, frankly, to give a little bit of relief to their officers so they can focus on law enforcement activities that are really related to arrest, search and seizure -- things that we do not do," he said.
The National Guard's deployment to the border also frees the Border Patrol to train an additional 6,000 agents that will permanently bolster the force, McHale said. The Guard's deployment is for two years, he said, and the Border Patrol has assured DoD leaders that the extra agents will be trained by then. "I have found the Border Patrol to be a very professional organization. If they tell me they can get the job done, I believe them," he said.
The presence of the National Guard on the border has already acted as a deterrent to illegal immigration, McHale said. In recent months, there has been a decrease in the number of people trying to cross the border illegally, which is the goal of the deployment, he said. "Our goal is not to increase arrests," he said. "We want to have a presence on the border that will create an environment of deterrence."
About half of National Guard troops deployed to the border will be part of entry identification teams in multiple observation posts along the border, McHale said. These teams monitor the border and, when they see illegal movement, notify Border Patrol agents, who move in and enforce the law, he said.
Guardsmen on the border may face situations where force is required, so they are all trained in detailed rules on the use of force, McHale said. Central to those rules is the right to self-defense and the requirement not to use lethal force unless it is necessary to save human life, he said. The missions the National Guard is performing on the border are very similar to the missions it has performed for years in counternarcotics operations along the border, McHale said. This two-year deployment, with Guard units rotating in and out for their annual training period, allows the Guard to make more progress than in the past, he said.
"Now we'll have more projects in many more locations, specifically for the purpose of supporting border security," he said. In addition to supporting border security, the Guard's operations at the border will help train the soldiers for future deployments overseas, McHale said. The terrain is similar to that which the soldiers would face in some other countries, he said. And many of the operations, like observation, construction and translation, are similar to what they would do overseas.
"When I went to the Southwest, I saw not only a mission requirement to assist the Department of Homeland Security, I saw a great training requirement for our soldiers," he said.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2006 – The National Guard has exceeded its troop requirement along the southwestern U.S. border by almost 200 servicemembers and is assisting U.S. Border Patrol activities there, a senior Defense Department official said here today. "We were obligated, by Aug. 1, to have 6,000 National Guardsmen deployed to the four-state southwest border region. And, in fact, as of close of business yesterday, we had 6,199 soldiers," Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, said in an interview. "We kept our commitment to the secretary of defense, Lieutenant General (H Steven) Blum (chief of the National Guard Bureau) and the president of the United States. And, most importantly, we kept our commitment to the nation."
President Bush set the Aug. 1 deadline in May when he announced that National Guard troops would be sent to the border as part of his plan to curb illegal immigration into the U.S. National Guard troops at the border are supporting Border Patrol officers by manning observation posts, building barriers and fences, acting as translators, and monitoring sensors that detect illegal movement across the border, McHale said. The Guardsmen do not and will not participate in law enforcement activities, because that responsibility falls to the Border Patrol, under the Department of Homeland Security, he emphasized.
"We have capabilities that we can provide to assist DHS to better enable them to meet their mission requirement and, frankly, to give a little bit of relief to their officers so they can focus on law enforcement activities that are really related to arrest, search and seizure -- things that we do not do," he said.
The National Guard's deployment to the border also frees the Border Patrol to train an additional 6,000 agents that will permanently bolster the force, McHale said. The Guard's deployment is for two years, he said, and the Border Patrol has assured DoD leaders that the extra agents will be trained by then. "I have found the Border Patrol to be a very professional organization. If they tell me they can get the job done, I believe them," he said.
The presence of the National Guard on the border has already acted as a deterrent to illegal immigration, McHale said. In recent months, there has been a decrease in the number of people trying to cross the border illegally, which is the goal of the deployment, he said. "Our goal is not to increase arrests," he said. "We want to have a presence on the border that will create an environment of deterrence."
About half of National Guard troops deployed to the border will be part of entry identification teams in multiple observation posts along the border, McHale said. These teams monitor the border and, when they see illegal movement, notify Border Patrol agents, who move in and enforce the law, he said.
Guardsmen on the border may face situations where force is required, so they are all trained in detailed rules on the use of force, McHale said. Central to those rules is the right to self-defense and the requirement not to use lethal force unless it is necessary to save human life, he said. The missions the National Guard is performing on the border are very similar to the missions it has performed for years in counternarcotics operations along the border, McHale said. This two-year deployment, with Guard units rotating in and out for their annual training period, allows the Guard to make more progress than in the past, he said.
"Now we'll have more projects in many more locations, specifically for the purpose of supporting border security," he said. In addition to supporting border security, the Guard's operations at the border will help train the soldiers for future deployments overseas, McHale said. The terrain is similar to that which the soldiers would face in some other countries, he said. And many of the operations, like observation, construction and translation, are similar to what they would do overseas.
"When I went to the Southwest, I saw not only a mission requirement to assist the Department of Homeland Security, I saw a great training requirement for our soldiers," he said.
International Association of Chiefs of Police
According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, IACP, “If you take it seriously and commit yourself to being the best leader and most effective follower you can become, leadership development is a lifelong process. Continue to seek out opportunities to participate in formal leadership training, strive for increased leadership roles and responsibilities, and keep reading!”
Leaders from large and small Police Departments, like the Los Angeles Police Department, the New York City Police Department, or the West Covina Police Department, can benefit from personal development and study.
Police Department Leadership is organized according to leadership position
Level One: Service Deliver Providers/Followers
Level Two: Small-Unit Leaders
Level Three: Organizational Leaders
Level Four: Executive Leaders
View the IACP’s List
Leaders from large and small Police Departments, like the Los Angeles Police Department, the New York City Police Department, or the West Covina Police Department, can benefit from personal development and study.
Police Department Leadership is organized according to leadership position
Level One: Service Deliver Providers/Followers
Level Two: Small-Unit Leaders
Level Three: Organizational Leaders
Level Four: Executive Leaders
View the IACP’s List
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Coalition, Iraqi Soldiers Capture Kidnappers, Terrorists, Seize Weapons
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2006 – In separate operations throughout Iraq today and July 31, coalition and Iraqi forces foiled a kidnapping attempt, captured eight terrorists, and seized numerous weapons, U.S. military officials in Iraq reported. Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers foiled a kidnapping attempt by four men disguised as Iraqi policemen in southeastern Baghdad early today.
Soldiers from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, spotted four kidnappers dressed in Iraqi police uniforms attempting to abduct an Iraqi civilian. The four kidnappers were detained for questioning.
In another operation, Iraqi national police and soldiers from 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, captured eight suspected terrorists during a joint operation in the Doura neighborhood, near the center of Baghdad, at about 9:15 a.m. today. The operation focused on locating and detaining suspected terrorists; soldiers searched seven houses in the area. The soldiers detained the suspected terrorists and seized weapons, various bomb-making materials, terrorist propaganda and two vehicles.
Elsewhere, soldiers of 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from Battery B, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, located a munitions cache during a combined patrol in eastern Baghdad July 31. A tip from an Iraqi citizen led the patrol to a location where they discovered 18 60 mm mortar rounds in two separate ammunition boxes; the rounds had fuses already installed.
It took the soldiers less than 15 minutes from the time the tip was called in to locate the cache, officials said. The ordnance was collected and removed to a secured location in less than an hour.
Soldiers from Company C, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, spotted four kidnappers dressed in Iraqi police uniforms attempting to abduct an Iraqi civilian. The four kidnappers were detained for questioning.
In another operation, Iraqi national police and soldiers from 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, captured eight suspected terrorists during a joint operation in the Doura neighborhood, near the center of Baghdad, at about 9:15 a.m. today. The operation focused on locating and detaining suspected terrorists; soldiers searched seven houses in the area. The soldiers detained the suspected terrorists and seized weapons, various bomb-making materials, terrorist propaganda and two vehicles.
Elsewhere, soldiers of 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from Battery B, 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, located a munitions cache during a combined patrol in eastern Baghdad July 31. A tip from an Iraqi citizen led the patrol to a location where they discovered 18 60 mm mortar rounds in two separate ammunition boxes; the rounds had fuses already installed.
It took the soldiers less than 15 minutes from the time the tip was called in to locate the cache, officials said. The ordnance was collected and removed to a secured location in less than an hour.
Several Terrorists Killed, Captured in Iraq; Weapons Caches Found
WASHINGTON, August 1, 2006 – Iraqi and coalition forces captured and killed several terrorists and found multiple weapons caches over the past week, U.S. military officials reported today. Coalition forces captured five terrorist suspects without incident during raids in southwestern Baghdad yesterday. Grenades, a rifle, ammunition magazines, and an assault vest were found at the raid sites.
The suspects are alleged associates of a terrorist leader linked with attacks against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi and coalition troops. Reports indicate that the leader had been attempting to obtain rockets for a future attack, officials said. The raids are another example of how Iraqi and coalition forces continue to track down and capture or kill terrorists threatening the security and stability of Iraq. The operations will continue to be successful with the support and cooperation of the Iraqi people, officials said.
In a separate incident, Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained two terrorists and discovered bomb-making materials south of Baghdad on July 30. Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, reported a drive-by shooting at their checkpoint and returned fire, causing the terrorists to flee their vehicle on foot. A quick-reaction force from Company C, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, responded to the checkpoint and captured the two terrorists and seized various bomb-making materials from the vehicle.
Elsewhere, coalition forces captured a wanted terrorist and two of his associates during a raid southeast of Tikrit July 30. Among those captured was a regional al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist leader who reportedly controlled five al Qaeda cells. The cells are believed to be responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Tikrit and Dawr, officials said.
In addition, coalition forces detained two senior al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and three other suspected terrorists during multiple raids in central and northern Iraq on July 29. A recent detainee provided information that led to the raids, officials said.
In another raid, Iraqi security forces detained a principal financial and logistical coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq. He was also reportedly the leader of a terrorist cell responsible for kidnappings and makeshift-bomb attacks in Mosul, military officials said.
Troops discovered a large weapons cache, which included rocket propelled grenades, rocket propelled grenade launchers, explosives, small arms and ordnance, at another target site. The cache was destroyed on location and all suspects were detained without incident.
Finally, coalition forces announced they’ve turned over an al Qaeda in Iraq leader to the Iraqi government. The terrorist leader has admitted to conducting terrorist activity since 2004. The terrorist leader has held multiple leadership positions within al Qaeda. At one time, he coordinated and oversaw the operations of five different terrorist cells. He admitted to coordinating more than ten death squad attacks. Another of the groups he led coordinated kidnappings and large-scale bombings throughout Baghdad, officials said.
He was captured in a raid in western Baghdad that resulted from intelligence gathered during the successful targeting of former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in early June. Iraqi and coalition officials will continue to work closely to ensure the terrorist receives due process through the Iraqi justice system, officials said.
The suspects are alleged associates of a terrorist leader linked with attacks against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi and coalition troops. Reports indicate that the leader had been attempting to obtain rockets for a future attack, officials said. The raids are another example of how Iraqi and coalition forces continue to track down and capture or kill terrorists threatening the security and stability of Iraq. The operations will continue to be successful with the support and cooperation of the Iraqi people, officials said.
In a separate incident, Iraqi army and Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers detained two terrorists and discovered bomb-making materials south of Baghdad on July 30. Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, reported a drive-by shooting at their checkpoint and returned fire, causing the terrorists to flee their vehicle on foot. A quick-reaction force from Company C, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, responded to the checkpoint and captured the two terrorists and seized various bomb-making materials from the vehicle.
Elsewhere, coalition forces captured a wanted terrorist and two of his associates during a raid southeast of Tikrit July 30. Among those captured was a regional al Qaeda in Iraq terrorist leader who reportedly controlled five al Qaeda cells. The cells are believed to be responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Tikrit and Dawr, officials said.
In addition, coalition forces detained two senior al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and three other suspected terrorists during multiple raids in central and northern Iraq on July 29. A recent detainee provided information that led to the raids, officials said.
In another raid, Iraqi security forces detained a principal financial and logistical coordinator for al Qaeda in Iraq. He was also reportedly the leader of a terrorist cell responsible for kidnappings and makeshift-bomb attacks in Mosul, military officials said.
Troops discovered a large weapons cache, which included rocket propelled grenades, rocket propelled grenade launchers, explosives, small arms and ordnance, at another target site. The cache was destroyed on location and all suspects were detained without incident.
Finally, coalition forces announced they’ve turned over an al Qaeda in Iraq leader to the Iraqi government. The terrorist leader has admitted to conducting terrorist activity since 2004. The terrorist leader has held multiple leadership positions within al Qaeda. At one time, he coordinated and oversaw the operations of five different terrorist cells. He admitted to coordinating more than ten death squad attacks. Another of the groups he led coordinated kidnappings and large-scale bombings throughout Baghdad, officials said.
He was captured in a raid in western Baghdad that resulted from intelligence gathered during the successful targeting of former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in early June. Iraqi and coalition officials will continue to work closely to ensure the terrorist receives due process through the Iraqi justice system, officials said.
Terrorists Detained in Afghanistan; Extremists Attack Girls School
WASHINGTON, August 1, 2006 – Afghan and coalition forces detained four suspected al Qaeda operatives during an early morning raid today in Khowst province, and a group of extremists attacked a girls school in Parwan province July 28, U.S. military officials said. No resistance was reported. An assault rifle and pistol were confiscated from the target location.
“The coalition continues to relentlessly pursue and disrupt al Qaeda and their associated movements,” Army Col. Thomas Collins, a coalition spokesman, said. “We'll continue to place pressure on their sanctuaries and known areas of operation.” The four suspects are being detained and questioned regarding their participation in al Qaeda activities, officials said.
Also in Afghanistan, a group of extremists attacked a girls school July 28 in Parwan province. The extremists used small-arms and rocket–propelled-grenade fire to attack the school, causing a partial collapse of the roof. Villagers returned fire on the extremists, and one Afghan civilian security guard was injured in the attack, according to local authorities.
”This is another example of total disregard for the progress the Afghan people have achieved. The extremists offer nothing but a bleak return to oppression,” Collins said. “Coalition forces, together with the Afghan government, will continue to seek out those who want nothing but darkness for the country.” The actions of the villagers in Parwan demonstrate the Afghan people's dislike for the terrorists’ agenda, he added.
“The coalition continues to relentlessly pursue and disrupt al Qaeda and their associated movements,” Army Col. Thomas Collins, a coalition spokesman, said. “We'll continue to place pressure on their sanctuaries and known areas of operation.” The four suspects are being detained and questioned regarding their participation in al Qaeda activities, officials said.
Also in Afghanistan, a group of extremists attacked a girls school July 28 in Parwan province. The extremists used small-arms and rocket–propelled-grenade fire to attack the school, causing a partial collapse of the roof. Villagers returned fire on the extremists, and one Afghan civilian security guard was injured in the attack, according to local authorities.
”This is another example of total disregard for the progress the Afghan people have achieved. The extremists offer nothing but a bleak return to oppression,” Collins said. “Coalition forces, together with the Afghan government, will continue to seek out those who want nothing but darkness for the country.” The actions of the villagers in Parwan demonstrate the Afghan people's dislike for the terrorists’ agenda, he added.
Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus, 28, of Wolf Creek, Mont., died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476
Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus, 28, of Wolf Creek, Mont., died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476
Marine Corps Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Anthony E. Butterfield, 19, of Clovis, Calif.
Sgt. Christian B. Williams, 27, of Winter Haven, Fla.
Both Marines died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. They were assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Media with questions about these Marines can call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476.
Lance Cpl. Anthony E. Butterfield, 19, of Clovis, Calif.
Sgt. Christian B. Williams, 27, of Winter Haven, Fla.
Both Marines died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. They were assigned to 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Media with questions about these Marines can call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-5476.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
