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Admiral Mike Mullen Retiring on a High Note Servicemembers Honored Humanitarian Service Medal Berlin Airlift: Historic Humanitarian Operation Operation Tomodachi Mission in Japan Continues Continuing Promise 2011 Pacific Partnership 2011 Arctic Care 2011 ON THE EDUCATION FRONT: Y Programs for Servicemembers Y Active Duty Benefits Y Education Assistance Y REAP & VEAP Y Moreâ&#x20AC;Ś

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COMING HOME

H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

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From the Editor Honorable Ray Mabus Secretary of the Navy

Admiral Mike Mullen Retiring on a High Note

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Operation Gratitude The Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 Michael B. Donley Secretary of the Air Force

American Airlines Supporting All Who Serve

Berlin Airlift: Historic Humanitarian Operation

By Karl Weisel

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Central Texas College and Texas A&M University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Central Texas

USNS Comfort Deploys

Humanitarian Service Medal

United States Southern Command SOUTHCOM By Valerie A. Kremer

COMING HOME

American Airlines is honored to offer long-standing support to the U.S. Armed Forces. Join us by donating a minimum of $25 to our Miles in Support of Those Who ServeSM program. You’ll earn 10 AAdvantage® miles for every dollar you donate. For more information on how to donate, visit AA.com/jo AA.com/joinus.

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As Humanitarian Assistance Transitions, So Does U.S. Military

Continuing Promise 2011: Public Health Matters

Helping Babies Breathe

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Health Care Jobs On Rise Through 2018

Japan’s Recovery – Operation Tomodachi Continues

By Lt. Gen. Ken Keen

By Capt. Tracy Brannock and Kenneth Kartchner By Air Force Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson

Pacific Partnership 2011

By Mass Comm Spc 1st Class R. David Valdez By Donna Miles

Servicemembers Honored for Role After Pakistan Floods

By Spc. Scott Davis

Humanitarian Relief Efforts to Libya

Servicemembers Support Arctic Care in Rural Alaska

Arctic Care 2011: Remote Alaskan Village

Alaska Guardsmen Provide Future for Rural Alaskans

By Jennifer L. King

By Maj. Guy Hayes

By Sgt. Craig Anderson By Maj. Guy Hayes

COMING HOME

We were there when you landed on the northern coast of France. We were there when you returned to the Philippine shore. We were there when you fought in Korea and Vietnam. We were there when you rolled across the deserts of Iraq. We were there then. We will always be there.

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USMC Training â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Humanitarian Assistance

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CPP: Soldiering On

By Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson

U.S. Sailors, Kenyan Soldiers Partner During Humanitarian Mine Action Program By Staff Sgt. Robert Biermann

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College Credit for Military Service Upper Iowa University Changes To The Post-9/11 GI-Bill GI BILL: National Testing Program Education Programs for Servicemembers Student Work-Study Allowance Program Active-Duty Military Education Benefits Thomas Edison State College Expands Nuclear Program Options

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From The Editor

his publication can in no way recognize or honor all the men and women of our armed services who not only serve to protect the people of our nation, but also step up to reconstruct and restore the lives of those people in nation’s who find themselves in the midst of natural and man-made disasters. Our brave servicemembers bring to these people the staples of life with food and water. But, they also bring hope to these communities; to the adults and children they meet, a warm smile and the care that is provided, both medical and humanitarian, is to these people, a lifeline in an hour or true need.

Our servicemembers hit the ground running when called upon. Deployment during and after a natural disaster means help with clean up, rebuilding neighborhoods, assisting displaced citizens; it’s all part of the package when you raise your hand and take the oath of a U.S. Service Member. With our military at the forefront of conflicts around the globe, and our posturing as a leading military nation, the compassionate side of our nation’s armed forces is often lost. The juxtaposition of our military’s power and capabilities are the key components that make them the world’s best first-responders in any catastrophe. The skills, equipment and logistical prowess of our military are unmatched. While only some will be awarded the Humanitarian Service medal, I believe 10

COMING HOME

all servicemembers are humanitarian heroes. There is an unspoken valor among them and it is the core of our nation, to be honorable, to lend a helping hand, to be compassionate and care about our fellow man. I recently read an article by a former Navy man, James B. Brinton, who served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy Special Projects Office’s Ballistic Missile Submarine program; his duties involved communications, intelligence, and support of advanced navigation technology. Brinton discussed the high merit of our Armed Forces, their ability to quickly deploy, to be at the ready and prepared to deal with any calamity. He posed an alternate use for our Navy’s ‘retiring’ ships and aircraft carriers, rather than spending millions to convert them into museums and permanently keep them in port, why not spend less, make a few adjustments and keep them in the fleet, for use in humanitarian operations. The core of his thoughts came from his reflection of The Great White Fleet of 1907 that was instituted by President Roosevelt. Sixteen battleships set sail on an around-the-world goodwill mission to demonstrate that while the United States had achieved global reach, with mighty sea power, America’s intentions were peaceful. As many would share my hope that in our lifetime we will see a transition to world peace, we can look to our military and know that as representatives of our nation, they are bringing the hope and sentiment of our country to others around the world…Honor. Respect. Compassion. Benevolence

G.D. Wood Editor-in-Chief

H U M A N I TA R I A N H E R O E S Publisher

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Senior Airman Leandra D. Hernandez, USAF; Staff Sgt. Joseph Swafford Jr., USAF; Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Laura A. Moore, USN; Senior Airman Tiffany Trojca, USN; Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gary B. Granger Jr., USN; Tech. Sgt. Prentice Colter, USAF; Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael C. Barton, USN; Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter, USN; Mass Communication Specialist Steven King, USN; Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim Williams; USN; Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson, USAF; Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Russell, USN; Lance Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr. III, USMC; Sgt. Craig Anderson, USA; Staff Sgt. R.J. Biermann, USAF; Lance Cpl. John M. Raufmann, USMC; Dept. of Defense; Dept. of Veteran Affairs, Dept of Homeland Security; U.S. Army; U.S. Marine Corps; U.S. Navy; U.S. Air Force; U.S. Coast Guard; Library of Congress.

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U.S. Marine Cpl. Timothy A. French, of Tilton, N.H., with Co. A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, attached to Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010. Photo: 2nd LT. Alejandro Aguilera, USN. Copyright © 2011 LaFayette Marketing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or images in whole or part is strictly prohibited without written permission from publisher. LaFayette Marketing Group, Inc., assumes no responsibility for advertisements or claims made therein. The publisher expressly disclaims any liability for inaccuracies or omissions of information contained herein whether occurring during the publication of such information for publication or otherwise. All trademarks, service marks, logos and registered trademarks are the sole property of respective owners. Disclaimer: Neither the Department of Defense nor any other component of the Department of Defense, nor any other government or military bodies have approved, endorsed or authorized this product or promotion, service or activity.

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November 11

Veterans Day COMING HOME

Photo: Tech. Sgt. Cheresa D. Theiral, USAF

Remembering and Honoring All Who Have Served Our Country

Welcome Home!

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Remarks

by the Honorable Ray Mabus Secretary of the Navy

Council on Foreign Relations

“All you have to do is look at the headlines to see what the Navy and Marine Corps have been doing recently. We are in Japan and off its coast. We are off the coast of Libya. And we have Marines in combat in Afghanistan. Just those three operations involve 35 ships and 45,000 Sailors and Marines. If you also count the other things that are going on, on a day-to-day basis around the world, we are doing partnership stations off of South America and Africa and the South Pacific. We do humanitarian assistance and disaster relief all over the world. The Navy and Marines were the first responders in Japan, in Pakistan earlier this year, in Haiti and in my home state after Katrina. We are the most flexible and the most formidable expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known. We can take the same equipment, the same people and do very, very 14

COMING HOME

New York, NY

different missions. In fact, the carrier Ronald Reagan was headed across the Pacific to do combat air support over Afghanistan when the tsunami – the earthquake and subsequent tsunami – struck on March the 11th. Without pausing, it pivoted and became a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief platform, using exactly the same people, using exactly the same equipment that they had been using. The Essex amphibious ready group was training in Indonesia. They moved to Japan. Another amphibious ready group was in the Arabian Gulf and came around to the Mediterranean where they met up with a different group of Marines from the ones they had brought over, because the ones they had brought over were in Afghanistan, and they now are in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya. And it’s their Harriers and their Ospreys that have been flying some of

March 28, 2011

the no-fly zone, and who rescued the Air Force pilot whose plane went down for mechanical reasons. Our submarines and our surface ships have been firing Tomahawks to establish the internationally recognized no-fly zone now. So we are forward deployed, we’re also flexibly deployed. And I think the headlines represent why we need a global fleet, why we need this ability to be able to do everything, from high-end combat, through partnership building, through disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and why we have to be so flexible, because we simply do not know what the next thing coming over the horizon will be.” To read this speech in its entirety go to: www.navy.mil/navydata/ people/secnav/Mabus/Speech/ CouncilForeignRelationsv2.pdf Reprinted Courtesy of www.navy.mil

With the launch of the University of Southern California School of Social Work’s military social work specialization, the first such program affiliated with a research university, we have spurred a revolution in the way mental health professionals address the unique needs of servicemembers and their families. The school and its Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families bring together innovative technology with university research leadership, strong linkages with the military and extensive experience in the training of mental health providers. We work with partners that include the Department of Defense, Department of Mental Health and more than 500 community care and healthcare organizations in Southern California alone to bridge a critical gap in the needs of wounded warriors and their families through education and training platforms, applied research and strategic partnerships that improve the capacity and competency of behavioral healthcare professionals. Our goal is simple … leave no servicemember behind.

usc.edu/socialwork

Photo by Mark Berndt

Our Men and Women in Uniform Bravely Keep Us Out of Harm’s Way Now, It’s Our Turn to Protect Them

Photo: Petty Ofc 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses troops at an all-hands call at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2011.

Admiral Mike Mullen

Retiring on a High Note

fter 43 years of service to our country, Admiral Mike Mullen is answering the call of retirement, and going out on a high note. In his fourth and final year as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen has put in a full schedule that included a short tour with the USO, an appearance on David Letterman, and meeting and honoring Purple Heart recipients, in addition, of course, to his regular duties as the highestranking officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s principal military advisor and advisor to the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. Growing up during the golden age of Hollywood, one would not imagine that Mullen, the son of a Press Agent, with such clients as Ann-Margret, Peter Graves and Dyan Cannon, would take to the military theatre rather than the big screen. 16

COMING HOME

As the oldest of five children, Mullen needed a scholarship for college. The answer came when he was recruited to play basketball for the Naval Academy at Annapolis. To the amazement of his family, he took to the life instantly. Among his acquaintances in the class of 1968 were Admiral Blair; Senator Jim Webb, Democrat of Virginia; and Oliver L. North, the Reagan-era official. While Admiral Mullen is an honored war veteran, his candor on Letterman let the world know firsthand that he started out being just another guy who liked to have some fun. He offered that in his first month as a senior at the Naval Academy, he managed to accumulate 115 demerits. Admittedly, the rest of the year for Mullen was rather uneventful, as 35 more demerits would have meant expulsion. As it was he graduated in the bottom third of his class. As an addendum to his educational career it should be noted that Admiral Mullen obtained

a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and also graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. His rise in the Navy started at sea. Little more than a year after his Naval Academy graduation in 1968, then-Ensign Mullen reported aboard the destroyer USS COLLETT as an AntiSubmarine Officer. During this tour, he deployed to the Western Pacific and participated in combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. Over the course of his career at sea, he served aboard six other warships, three as the commanding officer; at the age of 26 he commanded his first ship, a gasoline tanker that carried 100 sailors and was deployed to the Mediterranean. As an admiral, he commanded the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON Carrier Strike Group and the U.S. Second Fleet.

COMING HOME

Adm. Mullen speaks with comedian Jon Stewart, ma gician David Blaine and NBA legend Karl Malone in Kab ul, Afghanistan, July 31, 201 1 during their 5-day USO tou r.

Blaine as they entertain deployed servicemen and whites to host a USO dinner. women on a three-country, six-day tour. It is unknown what retirement will really mean for Admiral Mullen, one would wonder Admiral Mullen has led nine USO tours to though if the globetrotting and having your hand 13 different like Spain, Italy, Egypt, Afghanistan, on the pulse of the military, are things you would Iraq, Bahrain, Germany, Ireland, Oman, Kosovo, ever be able to get out of your system. the United Kingdom, Qatar and Kyrgyzstan. Since his appointment in 2007 Mullen has helped Adm. Mullen with wife, Deborah, at USO Metro Awards Din lift the spirits of more than ner, April 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. 74,300 service men and women. Mullen’s poise and candor when interacting with servicemembers is quite impressive. Whether addressing entire troops or speaking one-on-one, Mullen’s down to earth demeanor is apparent and genuine.

Photo: Mass Comm Spc 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN

One of the few remaining Vietnam veterans in the top ranks of the military; Mullen made his way through the ranks the old-fashioned way; determination and hard work. His appointments have included serving as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), the Navy’s top uniformed leader and representative to the JCS. From August 2003 to October 2004, he served as the Navy’s 32nd Vice Chief of Naval Operations. During the first half of 2005, he served as Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, leading the Alliance’s peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and its training mission in Iraq. Since taking office as Chairman in October of 2007, Admiral Mullen has focused his efforts on three main priorities: 1) defending vital national interests in the Middle East; 2) resetting, revitalizing and reconstituting the Armed Forces; and 3) properly balancing global risk. He has placed significant emphasis on the expansion of counter-insurgency warfare training and resources and was an early advocate for a greater focus on operations in Afghanistan. He now considers that war the U.S. military’s “main effort.” In May 2011, Mr. Obama announced that he had chosen Gen. Martin E. Dempsey to succeed Admiral Mullen when his term ended in the summer 2011. Admiral Mullen concluded his four-year appointment as CJCS by leading a star-studded, eclectic group of celebrities on his final USO entertainment tour overseas. On tour with Mullen were Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show,” Hall of Fame forward Karl Malone and illusionist David

Photo: Petty Ofc. 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN

Photo: Mass Comm Spc 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, USN

Bagram cialist Preston M. Hodge at ple Heart to U.S. Army Spe Pur the ts e a under sen cam pre rol llen pat Mu ed e Adm. Mik red when his mount ust 1, 2011. Hodge was inju Air Base, Afghanistan, Aug pelled grenade attack. small-arms and rocket-pro

Admiral Mullen and his wife, Deborah devote much of their time to advancing a host of warrior and family support initiatives, to include survivor benefits, suicide prevention, mental health, wounded care and veteran employment and education. As chronicled by ‘Mullen’s Travels’, a collection of photographs from everywhere the Admiral has been along with scores of news articles, he has spent his time as CJCS being highly involved, available, decisive and noteworthy. The photographs alone depict a versatile man who appears to be as comfortable donning a pair of fatigues and trudging through the desert, as he is cleaning up in his finest dress

Channel Your EnErgY Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what moves you to action. Compelling professional challenges that have real-world implications. a supportive environment where your contributions are valued. and a trusted, responsible organization giving you the latitude to go as far as your talent and drive will take you. Find the right place to direct your energy. Join us at Marathon Oil and uncover your full potential. Marathon Oil values your military experience. leadership ability and teamwork fit our mission, too. With operations in the U.S. and abroad, we can help you find a career that builds on your strengths.

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HELP US SEND 100,000 CARE PACKAGES TO U.S. MILITARY THIS YEAR

HERE ARE TEN EASY WAYS TO HELP! CONTRIBUTE TO OUR CARE PACKAGES SUPPORT OUR ORGANIZATION 1 WRITE LETTERS! We need Letters, Letters and more 5 BUY or SELL on eBay: Sellers can designate 10‐100% Letters! Please include your address or e‐mail in each letter so the recipient can write back, if they choose.

of auction proceeds to Operation Gratitude.

6 DONATE a car, truck, or other vehicle to support 2 DONATE your Easter and Halloween Candy! Operation Gratitude through Cars for US Troops by visiting www.carsforustroops.org or calling toll‐free 3 MAKE hand‐knitted or crocheted Scarves and Hats. 1‐800‐333‐0606. 7 SHOP at the Operation Gratitude Store ‐ every 3 4 SEND New 15” Stuffed Animals and 6” Beanie items purchased pays to send another care package. Babies, Webkinz or Trolls! We send the large ones as (www.CafePress.com/OpGratitude). “Battalion Buddies” to Military kids when their parent deploys. Service members give the small ones to kids in 8 RECYCLE Old Cell Phones & Ink‐Jet cartridges: war zones. Smiles all around! Operation Gratitude receives cash! Contact GRC Recycling at 1‐877‐744‐3601 or info@grcrecycling.com Ship all donations to: 9 VISIT our Great Ideas page for creative ways to PERATION RATITUDE support Operation Gratitude and send additional care 17330 Victory Boulevard packages (www.OperationGratitude.com/ideas.php) Van Nuys, CA 91406 10 DONATE financially online or by check. Each ATTN: Item Donations Operation Gratitude package costs $15 to send and a We only accept delivery of items at the following times: donation of any amount is greatly appreciated. • PATRIOTIC DRIVE: March 15th thru May 5th • HOLIDAY DRIVE: September 15th thru December 5th For more information, visit us on the web at www.OperationGratitude.com For donation and volunteer information, email OpGrat@gmail.com or call (818) 909‐0039

FACEBOOK.COM/OPERATIONGRATITUDE TWITTER.COM/OPGRATITUDE Operation Gratitude is a 501 (c) (3), volunteer‐based organization that sends care packages addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas. Our mission is to put a smile on a service member’s face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people.

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The Hiring Heroes Act of 2011

eterans are disciplined, skilled, team players, yet they still face difficulty when applying for employment. With their sights set on cutting the high unemployment rate among veterans the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has approved legislation that would require broad job-skills training for all U.S. service members before leaving the military. The Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 is a bill to help Veterans make a successful transition from military service to the working world, particularly those brave men and women who have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Look at What the Government is Doing This bill authorizes the continuation of services already being provided as well as modifying programs for Veterans. • Modifies federal hiring practices to encourage the hiring of separating servicemembers and would allow servicemembers to begin the federal employment hiring process prior to separation. • Requires all departing servicemembers to participate in the Transition Assistance Program, administered by the Labor Department in partnership with the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The training, now voluntary, includes job-search techniques, resume writing and interviewing tips. • Requires that each servicemember receive an individualized assessment of jobs they may qualify for when they participate in the Transition Assistance Program. • Requires DoL to engage with each veteran on a periodic basis to determine whether the veteran is employed or whether the veteran might be interested in further assistance. • Continues a program that provides rehabilitation and vocational benefits to severely wounded members of the armed forces. • Provides up to an additional 24 months of vocational rehabilitation and employment services to Veterans who have exhausted both these benefits and state-provided unemployment benefits. • Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to engage with each veteran who has participated in its Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program periodically to determine whether the veteran is employed.

COMING HOME

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Sen ate Veterans’ Affairs Committee introdu ced the Veterans’ Employm ent Bill.

Innovative Programs to Prepare Veterans to Transition into Civilian Life This bill authorizes new programs aimed at improving the transition from servicemember to civilian employee. • Creates a competitive grant program for nonprofit organizations that provide mentorship and job training programs that are designed to lead to job placements; • Requires the Department of Defense (DoD), DoL, and VA to jointly contract for a study to identify the equivalencies between certain military occupational specialty (MOS)-related skills and civilian employment. • Allows DoD to create a pilot program to provide paid work experience with civilian employees and contractors to facilitate the transition for servicemembers that are 180 days from separating. • Requires DoL, DoD, and VA collaboration to eliminate barriers between military training and civilian licensure or credentialing for several military occupational specialties.

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Spirit of service.

Passion for mission.

Pride in partnership.

Ready for what’s next.

Booz Allen Hamilton salutes the men and women of the US Armed Forces— who have faithfully answered the call to duty at home and abroad—for their dedicated service of defending our democracy and preserving our peace and freedom. We’re honored to serve and support our military, their families, and the vast network of public, private, and nonprofit organizations that support them. Our employees volunteer to help address issues of work and family life, aid in the transition from military service to a successful civilian career, and participate in other key programs for veterans, wounded warriors, and their families and caregivers. We bring to their cause multifaceted professional and technical knowledge, the compassion and action of thousands of employees, and the commitment to serve those who have served. Booz Allen is proud to be ranked #1 on G.I. Jobs Magazine’s 2011 list of the “Top 100 Military Friendly Employers®.”

Ready for what’s next. www.boozallen.com/veterans Use of the Department of Defense image does not constitute or imply endorsement.

Secretary of the Air Force

ichael B. Donley is the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. He is the 22nd Secretary and was confirmed Oct. 2, 2008. He is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 334,000 men and women on active duty, 176,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 170,000 civilians, and their families. He also oversees the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $119 billion. Mr. Donley has 30 years of experience in the national security community, including service in the Senate, White House and the Pentagon. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Donley served as the Director of Administration and Management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He oversaw organizational and management planning for the Department of Defense and all administration, facility, information technology and security matters for the Pentagon. From 1996 to 2005, Mr. Donley was a Senior Vice President at Hicks and Associates, Inc., a subsidiary of Science Applications International Corporation, and a consultant to DOD and the State Department on national security matters. From 1993 to 1996, he was Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses. During this period he was a Senior Consultant to the Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces and participated in two studies on the organization of the Joint Staff and the Office of the Chairman, JCS. Prior to this position, he served as the Acting Secretary of the Air Force for seven months, and from 1989 to 1993 he was the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller). Mr. Donley supported two Presidents and five National Security Advisers during his service at the National Security Council from 1984 to 1989. As Deputy Executive Secretary he oversaw the White House Situation Room and chaired interagency committees on crisis management procedures and continuity of government. Earlier, as Director of Defense Programs, Mr. Donley was the NSC representative to the Defense 24

COMING HOME

Resources Board, and coordinated the President’s quarterly meetings with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He conceived and organized the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management (the Packard Commission), coordinated White House policy on the Goldwater-Nichols DOD Reorganization Act of 1986, and wrote the National Security Strategy for President Reagan’s second term. He was also a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee from 1981 to 1984. Mr. Donley served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1975 with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), attending the Army’s Intelligence and Airborne Schools and the Defense Language Institute. Mr. Donley earned both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in international relations from the University of Southern California. He also attended the Senior Executives in National Security program at Harvard University.

To read Secretary Donley’s speech in its entirety go to www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123257442 Photo: Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison, USAF

Michael B. Donley

The secretary of the Air Force spoke at the commencement address for the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2011 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado on May 25, 2011. Michael Donley congratulated the 1,021 graduates and challenged them to be lifelong learners, team players and doers after they have received their diplomas and their commissions. The secretary encouraged the graduates to continue building relationships like the ones they have built during their four years at the Academy. “National and international security are team sports, and our nations will depend on the coalitions that you can bring together,” he said. “It will be absolutely critical as you work with your joint partners on the U.S. (Department of Defense) team, your fellows in other government security agencies and our coalition partners.” “Your oath of office ... is your head-to-toe promise to your country, your fellow service members, your families and yourselves. Wherever you go in our Air Force ... this oath will bind you together. It will bind you with the generations of Americans before you who have worn the nation’s cloth and have sacrificed ... their lives in defense of this country’s freedom. And it will bind you and your story to the future security and success of our nation.” “No matter how advanced our systems and technology, we still depend on the education, the training, the commitment, and ultimately, the quality of our Airmen to support these systems and put them to work in our nation’s defense,” he said. Secretary Donley concluded by charging the new officers to “make this count.”

Sec of the Air Force Michael B. Donley gives his remarks at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va.

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Supporting All Who Serve

The Sky’s the Limit

any people consider themselves to be patriotic, but how many are truly doing something about it? Patriotism is not only about belief – it is about action. This is well understood by American Airlines and American Eagle employees. In fact, American has more than 88,000 full- and part-time employees worldwide, more than 60 percent of American’s pilots and approximately 10 percent of all employees are active military service members or veterans. American’s support for veterans and active military is a year-round priority, with involvement in a wide variety of charitable organizations supporting men and women in uniform and their families. American Airlines also offers a number of amenities to active service members, among them priority boarding; preferred seating and upgrades if available; waived baggage fees; baggage delivery to the claim area; and reduced-rate shipping via American Airlines Cargosm. American Airlines invites U.S. military servicemen and women returning on Emergency or 26

COMING HOME

Rest and Relaxation (R&R) leave from Operation New Dawn or Operation Enduring Freedom, to spend time between flights at an Admirals Club lounge. Family members are included, as are relatives accompanying military personnel traveling while on leave. In a visual expression of their support for those who serve, American Airlines and American Eagle have six special yellow-ribbon aircraft that proudly display iconic yellow-ribbon decals and the slogan, “In support of all who serve,” on their fuselages. The aircraft include an American Airlines 767, “Flagship Independence,” an American Airlines 757, “Flagship Freedom,” an American Airlines 737, “Flagship Liberty,” and three American Eagle planes. Behind the scenes, employees often coordinate and volunteer for special events that support members or veterans of the armed forces. American’s Veterans Military Employee Resource Group (VMERG) is the first official company-sponsored group if its type in the U.S. airline industry. The VMERG’s goals include informing and supporting veterans and active military members

and their families about issues related to the military within the company, and donating their time to social and community service programs. These programs take many forms, including American’s support for wounded service members. In 2010, American Airlines began donating a portion of funds generated through Fuel Smart, an employee-driven program to identify fuel-savings opportunities, to Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV). A nonprofit program that annually helps more than 6,000 active military, veterans and their immediate family to travel for medical, counseling and rehabilitation services, ACV received more than $400,000 last year thanks to the fuel conservation efforts of American’s employees. In the summer of 2011, in cooperation with ACV, a group of injured U.S. veterans and their companions flew via American Airlines to France, where they bicycled through historic World War II sites on the first Ride 2 Recovery Normandy Challenge. During the six-day, 240-mile ride, participants were honored in numerous cities and villages as they

visited D-Day landing sites, battlefields and museums. Airport send-off parties for the riders were held at Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Boston Logan, New York-JFK and Miami. American Airlines also collaborates annually with Las Vegas hotels and resorts to hold “Tribute to the Troops Las Vegas,” a special weekend for wounded warriors and their guests from around the country. The trip coincides with Veterans Day, and American provides air transportation for the group. In Las Vegas, they are treated to a variety of activities and entertainment. American’s customers support members of the military through the airline’s partnership with the USO, of which American is the official airline. The USO’s ongoing mission is to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families in more than 160 locations around the world. An easy way to support the USO is by purchasing an American Airlines travel gift card. When purchasers select the USO gift card option, American donates $5 to the USO for every $50 of travel purchased. Another way to support our nation’s military is through American’s Miles In Support of All Who Serve program benefitting the USO. A minimum $25 donation helps support USO programs and services, such as wounded warriors and care packages. For every dollar donated to the program, AAdvantage® members earn 10 AAdvantage miles. Since 2004, the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and American Airlines have hosted the Seats for Soldiers program each December, for which Mavs frontrow season ticket holders donate their seats to injured soldiers. American provides air transportation for the soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and the flight crew and flight attendants volunteer their time for this special occasion. These service members are treated to a gate celebration before boarding the flight and receive a warm welcome upon arrival in Dallas-Fort Worth. As the official airline of the Medal of Honor Foundation, American is proud to provide transportation for recipients to attend annual Medal of Honor Day

events. March 25, 2011, marked the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor for valor in combat against an enemy force. In a tribute to surviving Medal of Honor recipients, American flew them aboard its Flagship Liberty aircraft from New York to Washington, D.C., where they were recognized in conjunction with National Medal of Honor Day. Upon arrival in Washington, D.C., the recipients were honored at a private luncheon where American Airlines presented them with Admirals Club® memberships and AAdvantage Executive Platinum® status, the highest level of membership that can be achieved by American’s customers in American’s award-winning loyalty program. The annual fall Sky Ball fundraiser is an evening of patriotic entertainment and tributes enjoyed by active service members, veterans and the public alike. Presented by American Airlines and the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation, Sky Ball proceeds directly benefit the NavyMarine Corps, National Guard Relief Fund and families of those stationed at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas. Assistance takes many forms, such as financial aid for deployed families, departure and welcome-home receptions, welfare and relief projects of the units assigned in North Texas, and delivering care packages and gifts to injured military who are recuperating at military hospitals. In addition to those who wear the cloth of our nation, the children and spouses of fallen military hold a special place in the hearts of American and American Eagle employees. As the official airline of Snowball Express, an all-volunteer organization that helps provide fun and new memories for the children and spouses of fallen military, American and American Eagle Airlines donate several charter flights to take these families on an all-expense-paid trip each December. Hundreds of employees volunteer their time to host special send-off receptions at departure airports nationwide, to staff the trip and assist with activities. To donate or learn more about these programs, please visit AA.com/JoinUs. H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Photo: Kristen Wong, USMC

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Antonio Thomas hugs his wife after returning home from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan at Hangar 105 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii April 30, 2011. Thomas is an equipment operator assigned to Motor Transport Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3. 28

COMING HOME

BerlinAirlift C-47 transport aircraft, each containing 190 sacks of flour, arrive at Tempelhof Airport, July 2, 1948. Photo: USAF

Historic Humanitarian Operation By Karl Weisel, USAG Wiesbaden

LEFT: A young Halvorsen with Berlin children expressing appreciation for the thousands of packages of gum and candy he and his friends dropped over Berlin in tiny hand-made parachutes. Photo courtesy of The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

RIGHT: An Air Force C-54 flies over group of German children during the Berlin Airlift. Photo: USAF

Berlin children played â&#x20AC;&#x153;Luftbrucke,â&#x20AC;? or airbridge using model American planes from German toyshops in the western sector of Berlin. Photo: USAF

COMING HOME

Frankfurt and Berlin today might find it hard to imagine what Germany looked like after the massive destruction of World

War II.

As life began to slowly return to some semblance of normalcy, and citizens began the arduous task of picking up their lives and rebuilding amidst the rubble, the Cold War began heating up between the former Allies and victors in WWII. One of the flashpoints in this nearly fivedecade long confrontation between East and West occurred when the Soviet Union, led by Joseph Stalin, began a nearly yearlong blockade of West Berlin in June 1948 in an attempt to starve its more than two million citizens and thousands of Allied service members. The siege

included blocking all access to Berlin by land and water and eventually cutting off power to the Western portion of the city. The Western Allied response was immediate, and what became known as the “greatest humanitarian airlift in history” was quickly launched to supply the people in the U.S., British and French sectors of West Berlin with direly needed coal, food, medicine and other supplies. This airbridge, or “Luftbrücke” as the Germans called it, and “Operation Vittles” as it was officially labeled by the participants, began making non-stop flights to the beleaguered city delivering supplies by the ton around the clock on June 26, 1948. Flying from airfields in Wiesbaden, Rhein-Main near Frankfurt am Main, Celle, Fassberg and other northern German cities, the Allies eventually transported more than two

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Gail Halvorsen, the famed “Candy Bomber” of the Berlin Airlift.

First Lt. Gail Halvorsen rigs candy bar parachutes for children during the Berlin Airlift. Photo: U.S. Army

Photo: Master Sgt. John E. Lasky, USAF

isitors to the cities of Wiesbaden,

million tons of goods in more than 277,000 flights in and out of Berlin before the Soviet stranglehold was broken and the siege ended on May 12, 1949. With Wiesbaden serving as the logistical center of the airlift and home to the headquarters of U.S. Air Forces Europe (commanded by Lt. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay), the Combined Airlift Task Force (led by Maj. Gen. William H. Tunner) established its headquarters in a building on Taunus Strasse in the city of Wiesbaden. Road signs on Wiesbaden Air Base today pay tribute to the servicemen who sacrificed their lives during this noble effort to safeguard liberty and ensure the survival of Germany’s frail democracy shortly after National Socialism was defeated. On May 20, 2011, 90-year-old retired Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen returned to Wiesbaden, for a commemorative celebration of the historic event. H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Photo: Karl Weisel (USAG Wiesbaden)

Retired Col. Halvorsen signs autographs and hands out chocolate bars to Wiesbaden Scouts in Germany.

COMING HOME

realized I (a West Berliner) was in trouble and thought about me,” he said, explaining that he was told, “I can live on thin rations, but I can’t live without hope. … If we lose our freedom, we’ll never get it back.”   Representatives of Frankfurt and Wiesbaden described how important the Berlin Airlift was to future

Staff Sgt. Kevin Cloyd rinses the nose art on a static C-47 Skytrain on display at the Berlin Airlift Memorial in Germany.

Halvorsen told the students. “That’s what the airlift was.   “There are two things I want you to remember in your lives. That’s gratitude and that serving others is important,” added Halvorsen, praising the students for their “wonderful questions… You are the symbols of hope as you grow up. Remember, one individual can make a difference.”   Principal Sue Gurley explained that the Photo: Kelli Bland

The Berlin Airlift veteran, known as the Candy Bomber and Uncle Wiggly Wings to those young West Berlin recipients of his generosity with Hershey bars during the Soviet blockade, paid a visit to the school, along with Mercedes Wild, one of those children in post-war Berlin in the late 1940s and author of the children’s book “Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot.”   They joined members of the Luftbruecke Chapter e.V. at special commemorative events in Berlin, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and other locations in memory of those who gave their lives during the humanitarian mission that started in June 1948 and continued for several months after the siege was broken in May of 1949.   “It was not the pilots who were the heroes,” said Halvorsen, during a book launch event on May 14 at Trebur City Hall. “It was those who gave their lives. It was the mechanics who worked in the snow and the cold who made sure that the planes could keep flying. It was all the people who did the work to make sure the mission could continue.”   Describing the massive effort to feed and heat a hungry city of some 2 million people through more than 277,000 flights and the transport of more than 2.3 million tons of goods, Halvorsen said the message of hope may have been the most important thing shared with the citizens of Berlin.   “It was not the chocolate that was important – it was the thought that someone in America

relations during a ceremony at the Berlin Airlift Memorial at the Frankfurt International Airport.   “Today we very often take too much for granted what we have – freedom and democracy,” said Uwe Becker, Frankfurt treasurer, stressing that the Berlin Airlift laid the foundation for years of German-American cooperation and eventual German reunification. “Former enemies became friends in a very short time … saving freedom and peace not only for the people of Berlin but for all of Germany.”   Underscoring that longtime friendship, Aukamm Elementary School invited students from the German Grundschule Bierstadt to join in the special Berlin Airlift observance at the school. The students peppered the famous pilot with questions ranging from how he came up with the idea to toss chocolate to the children of Berlin on tiny parachutes to what was the best thing he had ever done in his life.   “When you do things for people it opens up friendship – it makes friends with people,”

Halvorsen, left and Col. Ray Graham, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany, take off to drop candy.

third- to fifth-grade students were excited about meeting the airlift legend after studying about the mission and designing posters for the observance. For more on the airlift visit www.wiesbaden.army.mil/BA/BA.htm.)

A special thanks for your service.

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Terms and Conditions: Offer of one weekend day free applies to the time-and-mileage charges only of the third consecutive day of a minimum three-consecutive-day rental on a compact (group B) through full-size, four-door (group E) car. Maximum rental period is five days. Taxes, concession recovery fees, vehicle license recovery fee, customer facility charges ($10/contract in CA) may apply and are extra. Optional products such as LDW ($29.99/day or less) and refueling are extra. Weekend rental period begins Thursday and car must be returned by Monday 11:59 p.m. or a higher rate will apply. A Saturday night keep is required. Offer cannot be used for one-way rentals; one offer per rental. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or offer except your BCD discount. Offer valid at participating Budget locations in the contiguous U.S. (excluding the New York Metro area) and Canada. An advance reservation is required. Offer may not be available during holiday and other blackout periods. Offer subject to vehicle availability at the time of reservation and may not be available on some rates at some times. For reservations made on budget.com, free day will be applied at time of rental. Renter must meet Budget age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Renter must present proof of U.S. Government affiliation at the time of rental. Rental must begin by 6/30/2012.

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Choosing the right school and location…

the perfect fit for the Veteran student

ith the new GI Bill, you have more choices than ever! Look for a quality education combined with a location that allows you easy access to a large military installation and provides you with a community that understands and supports veterans.

Consider Central Texas The Greater Fort Hood area, located in Central Texas just an hour from Austin, is a proud military community. You will be surrounded by people that appreciate your service. You’ll find former military personnel and family members in your neighborhood, in area businesses and in the classroom. From Fort Hood services and support to the VA Hospital in Temple, you’ll find everything you need within easy reach. And the Central Texas cost of living is among the lowest in the nation. When you finish your degree, there are plenty of reasons to stay – from career opportunities in civil service, defense contracting, education and healthcare, to great weather and excellent Texas travel opportunities. A Quality Four Year Education Central Texas College and the newly chartered Texas A&M University – Central Texas make a powerful combination for veteran’s education. CTC has been serving active and retired military and family members for over 40 years through campuses around the world and online programs. Texas A&M has a rich history of military tradition and support, and the new campus in Killeen offers a world-class education in a veteran-friendly community. Central Texas College CTC was a founding member of Servicemember’s Opportunity College and issues more associate-level SOC agreements than any other college. That history and commitment translates into unique support for our veteran students. 34

COMING HOME

Whether you choose to take traditional classes at our campus in Killeen, 8-week classes on Fort Hood or online classes, you will be part of a campus community that reflects the diversity of our neighbor, Fort Hood, and celebrates our rich tradition of serving our military community. Start your bachelor’s degree at CTC and transfer to our upperlevel partner, or jump start your post-military career with a two-year applied science degree in a high-demand technical or medical field. CTC also has a long history of serving military spouses, and offers qualifying MyCAA programs in a variety of fields. Many programs are offered completely online, allowing flexibility for spouses with young children or full-time jobs. Texas A&M University-Central Texas A&M–Central Texas is a military friendly, upper-level institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees to a diverse and growing student population. The university is a member of GoArmyEd, the virtual gateway for active duty soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) for classroom, distance learning, and eArmyU online college courses. TAMUCT offers a one-stop shop for soldiers to manage their college education. In addition, the university is one of only eight institutions in the country to have the VetSuccess on Campus program. VetSuccess is a collaborative effort between the university and the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide comprehensive assistance to Veteran-students during their transition into college life, ensuring a higher success rate. As a part of the program, a full-time, experienced Vocational Counselor is on campus helping active duty and veteran soldiers get the most out of their education and benefits. Whether you’re looking to finish your degree or advance your career, A&M-Central Texas offers the education you need for life’s next chapter.

OUR HEROES ARE OUR STUDENTS With over 40 years' experience serving military students and veterans, CTC knows what you need and offers it. • Maximum credit for military training and experience • Face-to-face and distance learning options • Qualifying MyCAA Programs • Flexible schedules and monthly start dates

TAKE YOUR COLLEGE WITH YOU

Request more information today at military.ctcd.edu Or call (254) 526-1104

United States Southern Command

SOUTHCOM

d, uthern Comman Jr. ander of U.S. So m m Gary B. Granger ss co r, Cla d se 2n Fra Spc mm Gen. Douglas Photo: Mass Co a. Se an be rib Ca the during a tour in

Chilean officials requested assistance from U.S. forces to help with primary care capabilities after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake Feb. 27, 2010 in Angol, Chile.

COMING HOME

. Bryan Franks Photo: Staff Sgt

U.S. Southern Commandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/ DR) missions and programs are a central part of efforts to enhance security and stability in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief are two separate but complimentary missions. Humanitarian assistance focuses on the provision of health care, infrastructure improvements and aid to populations temporarily or chronically underserved. Disaster relief is the response to reduce the human suffering associated with natural ty Ci disasters that cause the ala em at lift off from Gu 2010 CH-47 Chinook a 1, es ne Ju tch el wa nn y disruption of normal bo rso A young Force-Bravo pe ping Joint Task orm Agatha. St op al dr pic ter af Tro t or ng rp wi transportation and Ai ief efforts follo in support of rel commerce and destroy infrastructure.

he United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), located in Miami, Florida, is one of ten unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs) in the Department of Defense. It is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central and South America, the Caribbean (except U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions), Cuba; as well as for the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. SOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and canal area. Under the leadership of a four-star commander, SOUTHCOM staff is organized into directorates, component commands and military groups that represent SOUTHCOM in the region of Central America, South America & the Caribbean. SOUTHCOM is a joint command comprised of more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and several other federal agencies. The services provide SOUTHCOM with component

commands which, along with our Joint Special Operations component, two Joint Task Forces, one Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Assistance Offices, perform SOUTHCOM missions and security cooperation activities. SOUTHCOM exercises its COCOM authority through the commanders of its components, Joint Task Forces/Joint Interagency Task Force, and Security Assistance Organizations.

Humanitarian Assistance activities The command manages a series of humanitarian assistance programs that support the development of civilian infrastructure necessary for economic and social reforms and improve the living conditions of impoverished regions. The cornerstone of the foreign humanitarian assistance/disaster relief mission

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Mark Leuis explains how to use a hand-cranked FM radio at Landing Zone 6 distribution center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

H u m a n i ta r i a n H e r o e s

often unique environment; local medical professionals develop closer relationships with U.S. medical personnel; and the local population receives free, quality medical care. In Fiscal Year 2010 U.S. troops conducted 76 MEDRETEs in 16 regional countries, treating about 276,000 people. Humanitarian assistance exercises such as the annual Beyond the Horizon (BTH) and New Horizons (NH) exercise series provide construction and medical assistance to communities throughout the region. These exercises generally take place in rural, underprivileged areas and last for several months. The U.S. Navy’s annual Continuing Promise deployments also contribute ny Trojca) Photo: Senior Airman Tiffa

is SOUTHCOM’s humanitarian assistance program. The humanitarian assistance program complements, but does not duplicate or replace, the work of other U.S. government agencies that provide foreign assistance. SOUTHCOM humanitarian assistance projects are designed to be consistent with, and supportive of both the U.S. Mission Strategic Resource Plan and the SOUTHCOM Theater Campaign Plan. The humanitarian assistance program sends a consistent and sustained message to Partner Nation civilian populations that their governments are capable of responding to crisis and that SOUTHCOM responds to humanitarian needs in the region and is interested in the wellbeing of those in need.

ruments during the ander Balock reach for inst an and Senior Airman Alex local hospital in The le. Chi ol, Ang in A Chilean surgical technici 0, 201 medical hospital March 15, ary ion lt of an. With edit resu exp a the as d at ery oun first surg was deemed structurally uns le, Chi , tion cep Con rwhelmed of ove ls ast Angol, a city southe many other local hospita re than 40 miles away, and mo the 81st d from war an on rati nici ope tech rest ical the nea local Airman Balock is a surg e, uak thq ear the g win with casualties follo s. at Keesler Air Force Base, Mis Medical Surgical Squadron

SOUTHCOM also executes a slate of annual humanitarian assistance exercises. During these exercises, U.S. military forces conduct deployment training while providing tangible benefits to host nations in the form of medical clinics, schools, well drilling, and community centers. One such exercise program is the Medical Readiness Training Exercises (MEDRETEs). During a MEDRETE, a small team of military medical professionals deploy for two weeks to underdeveloped areas in the region to provide medical and veterinary services to communities. These training events enhance the medical readiness training of U.S. military forces as well as provide sustained health benefits to the population and attempt to improve the overall level of care provided by the host nation healthcare system. U.S. medical personnel benefit by providing medical care in a challenging and 38

COMING HOME

significantly to the region. Each year teams of U.S. military personnel, partner nations’ forces and civilian relief volunteers aboard a U.S. Navy ship bring health care, humanitarian assistance and infrastructure improvements to selected communities throughout the region. Begun in 2007, the Continuing Promise deployments alternate between the hospital ship USNS Comfort in odd years and a large amphibious ship in even years. Typically, Continuing Promise deployments are designed to coincide with the Atlantic hurricane season in order to provide persistent capability to support any disaster response effort. Since inception, the mission has provided medical care to more than 300,000 patients. SOUTHCOM humanitarian activities are not limited to major operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The command also seeks to build partner nation capacity to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief operations within their own borders to improve

self-reliance, as well as outside them if they are willing. Foreign Disaster Relief efforts The command is poised to direct U.S. military forces to help a nation in the aftermath of a disaster. Any such mission is in support of USAID´s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, which serves as the lead U.S. federal agency for foreign disaster relief efforts. U.S. Southern Command’s supports the comprehensive U.S. Government disaster response approach led by the U.S. Agency for International Development/Office of U.S Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA). USAID/OFDA incorporates U.S. Southern Command capabilities into the overall U.S. Government’s disaster response efforts to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the economic and social impact of the disaster. In the past few years, SOUTHCOM has been called into action numerous times to help partner nations in need (see table below). The most significant recent operation was Operation Unified Response in 2010, which saw Joint Task Force-Haiti lead a force of about 22,000 troops, more than 30 ships and 300 aircraft that provided life saving assistance and delivered/distributed millions of pounds of food and water following a significant earthquake in Port au Prince, Haiti. Helping partners in the region improve planning and response to natural and manmade disasters is a key part of SOUTHCOM’s mission. The command works year-round on projects that enhance the capacity of host nations to respond and recover when disasters strike. SOUTHCOM sponsors disaster preparedness exercises, seminars, and conferences to improve the collective ability of the U.S. and its partner nations to respond effectively and expeditiously to disasters. SOUTHCOM has also supported the construction or improvement of Emergency Operations Centers and Disaster Relief Warehouses, and has provided pre-positioned relief supplies across the region. This type of multinational disaster preparedness has also proven to increase the ability of SOUTHCOM to work with our partner nations. The command envisions a region in which mutual assistance is the norm. Reprinted Courtesy of U.S. Southern Command www.southcom.mil

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Recent SOUTHCOM Relief Operations 2010 June – Guatemala storms: Supported relief efforts in Guatemala after Tropical Storm Agatha caused widespread flooding and mudslides in late May 2010. A contingent of about 70 U.S. military personnel, USS Underwood and five helicopters deployed to the Central American nation. U.S. forces airlifted more than 160,000 lbs of food & water and provided infrastructure assessments. Feb – March – Chile earthquake: Provided support to the relief efforts in Chile following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the nation Feb. 27. About 150 U.S. military personnel deployed to the South American nation and worked with local and international responders to provide relief to hard-hit areas. Jan – June – Haiti earthquake: Massive U.S. military support to Haiti that included more than 20,000 troops, 23 ships, and dozens of aircraft. During the mission, U.S. forces helped reopen the airport and the ports, delivered millions of pounds of food and water, and provided medical care and support. Additionally, U.S. forces worked with local and international officials to address long-term needs.

2009

September – Nicaragua Hurricane Felix: Helicopters from USS Wasp, USS Samuel B. Roberts and JTF-Bravo airlift 490,000 pounds of aid to Felix victims. Also, provided a forward area refueling capability that allowed the Nicaraguans to reach communities that were cut-off. August – Peru earthquake: A Texas-based medical team of 14 Airmen and a 30-person mobile surgical team from JTF-Bravo provide medical care to Peruvians affected by the disaster. February – Bolivia floods: C-130 airlifts planeload of USAID relief supplies to help relief efforts.

2006 November – Panama floods: JTF-Bravo troops and helicopters evacuate four people and airlift 130,000 pounds of relief supplies. September – Nicaragua alcohol poisoning epidemic: JTF-Bravo troops provide three-man medical team and donate $185,000 of medical supplies. July – Ecuador volcano eruption: Supports disaster relief operations and provides $140,000 of medical supplies and equipment. Photo: Mass Comm Spc 2nd Class Laura A. Moore

November – El Salvador floods: About 40 troops and four helicopters from JTF-Bravo help airlift 373,000 lbs of aid to isolated communities and provide limited medical care to victims. January – Costa Rica earthquake: A team of 34 U.S. troops and four helicopters from JTFBravo work with Costa Rican emergency crews to provide airlift support during search & rescue operations in isolated and devastated areas.

2008 November/December – Costa Rica & Panama floods: A team of U.S. troops and helicopters from Joint Task Force-Bravo work with local officials to deliver 314,000 pounds of relief supplies and evacuate 17 medical patients.

U.S. servicemembers distribute food and water to Haitian citizens after the January 2010 earthquake.

September – Haiti storms: Helicopters from USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) deliver 3.3 million pounds of food, water and other aid to communities devastated by a succession of storms (Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike). Medical teams from the ship also provided limited health care and assessments to affected communities.

2007 November – Tropical Storm Noel: Forces from the Puerto Rico National Guard, U.S. Army South and JTF-Bravo along with the U.S. Coast Guard support search and rescue support, assist in damage assessments, and deliver relief commodities. SOUTHCOM also provides $250,000 in emergency relief commodities. 40

COMING HOME

2005 November – Honduras Tropical Storm Gamma: Nine JTF-Bravo helicopters and 40 troops airlift 110,000 pounds of emergency supplies to affected region. November – Honduras Hurricane Beta: Ten JTF-Bravo helicopters airlift 140,000 pounds of relief supplies. October – Guatemala & Nicaragua Hurricane Stan: Twelve aircraft and 125 personnel evacuate/transport 300 victims and deliver nearly 300 tons of aid.

hometown heroes

Honeywell is proud to recognize and thank the men and women of the United States military who have served tirelessly and with compassion in the many humanitarian operations around the world. Welcome home!

Visit us online at www.honeywell.com

Photo: Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson, USAF.

Lt. Laura Quintana, right, a dentist from Managua, Nicaragua, performs a tooth extraction as Jessica Vergel De Dios, a dental assistant from Los Angeles, observes at the Escuela Max Seidel medical site in Tumaco, Colombia, during Continuing Promise 2011.

COMING HOME

USNS Comfort Deploys in Support of Continuing Promise By Valerie A. Kremer, Bureau of Navy Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

Photo: Mass Communicati on Spec

ialist 2nd Class Eric C. Trett er, USN.

Children, teachers and gue sts, wave goodbye to person nel of the USNS Comfort follo a community service event wing in Manta, Ecuador, in sup port of Continuing Promis e 2011.

H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Richardson, USAF. Photo: Staff Sgt. Courtney

S Comfort Command hospital ship USN aboard the Military Sealift ked bar ice project. em serv nel nity son mu per y com 1 Nav 201 ing a Continuing Promise dur ks tan age sew new dig holes for

Photo: Mass Communicati on Spec

ialist 2nd Class Eric C. Trett er, USN.

ontinuing Promise (CP11) is a five-month mission to nine shipboard hospital, and when necessary, transport patients between ship and countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean, shore in small boats. where aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort, the U.S. During the mission, Comfort visited selected ports in Colombia, Costa Navy and its partnering nations work hand in hand with Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Peru. host nations and a variety of governmental and nongovernmental agencies to train in civil-military operations. “Humanitarian assistance is a key component in the Navy’s maritime strategy,” Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr., Navy surgeon general, said. “Our humanitarian assistance missions bring to others a sense of enrichment and hope that touches individuals, their families, their communities, their nations, and in doing so, benefits the global community.” More than 480 Navy medical personnel work side by side with medical professionals from the nine host nations, five partner-nation militaries, and more than 30 NGOs to provide medical care to patients both ashore and aboard the Comfort. Also deploying with Comfort are 71 Dr. Helle Hydeskov, from Den mark, examines a puppy at a temporary veterinary clin Promise 2011 community civil-service mariners from Military Sealift ic during a Continuing service project. Command who operate and navigate the ship, provide electricity and fresh water to the 44

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During the mission, Comfort visited selected ports in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Peru. About the USNS Comfort The primary mission of the Medical Treatment Facility (MEDTRE FAC) in USNS Comfort is to provide a mobile, flexible, and rapidly responsive afloat medical capability for acute medical and surgical care in support of amphibious task forces, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force elements, forward deployed Navy elements of the fleet and fleet activities located in areas where hostilities may be imminent. Operations are governed by the principles of the “Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Wounded, Sick, and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea” of August 12, 1949.  As a secondary mission, MEDTRE FAC COMFORT is capable of providing a full hospital service asset for use by other government agencies involved in the support of relief and humanitarian operations worldwide.

Photo: Mass Communicati on Spec

ialist 2nd Class Jonathen E.

Davis, USN.

Continuing Promise provides host-nation populations with medical and dental care including surgical services, public health training, engineering support, veterinary services, as well as provide partnering nations with an opportunity to exchange knowledge and information that is critical to building disaster relief preparedness and supporting maritime security in the region. “The relationships built and sustained with our multinational partners during these missions will enhance our ability to work collectively in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the future, as well as other collaborative security activities in the area,” Navy Capt. David Weiss, USNS Comfort medical treatment facility commanding officer, said. 2011 is the Comfort’s second Continuing Promise mission and the fifth year that U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command have conducted the mission. During Comfort’s previous Continuing Promise missions in 2007 and 2009, medical personnel treated nearly 200,000 people in 14 countries. Continuing Promise is a joint effort with Des Moines University, Johns Hopkins, Loving Hugs Inc., Project Hope, Samaritan’s Feet, World Vets and others. “Humanitarian assistance missions such as CP11 demonstrate the Navy’s ability to truly be a global force for good while continuing to bolster our relationships with host nations and our NGO partners,” Robinson said.

Osvaldo Romero, left, from Latter-Day Saints Charitie s, talks to a patient while Lt. anesthesiologist, prepares Cmdr. James Solomon, a Nav her for surgery aboard the y Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20).

H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Humanitarian Service Medal

he Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under Executive Order 11965. This medal is awarded to any member of the United States military (including Reserve and National Guard members) who distinguish themselves by meritorious participation in specified military acts or operations of a humanitarian nature. This medal is presented as an individual service medal. The activities for which the Humanitarian Service Medal may be authorized are designated by the United States Department of Defense. Such activities include natural disaster relief, evacuation of non-combatants from a hostile area, or humanitarian support to refugees. This medal may not be awarded for services rendered in domestic disturbances involving law enforcement, equal rights demonstrations, or protection of property. This medal may also not be presented if either the Armed Forces Service Medal or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was presented for the same period of service. The Humanitarian Service Medal is retroactive to April 1, 1975. Multiple awards of the medal are authorized with service stars denoting additional awards. Centered on the obverse of the medal within a circle, is a right hand pointing diagonally upward with open palm, (to symbolize a giving or helping hand). At the top of the reverse of the medal is the inscription, “For Humanitarian Service” in three lines. Below this is an oak branch, with three leaves and three acorns, and below this, around the outside edge of the medal, is the inscription, “United States Armed Forces.” Criteria The number of eligible operations are too numerous to mention and have included a wide variety of services from the first operation of the Guyana Disaster Relief in Jonestown, Guyana 46

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in 1978 and have included disaster, flood, tornado, and earthquake relief work and snow removal work. Also included were Operation BOAT PEOPLE, Evacuation of Laos, Cuban Refugee Resettlement, Beirut Evacuation, Cholera Epidemic in Truk Islands and operations of humanitarian aid in the United States and every corner of the world. Please refer to DOD 1348.33-M for approved operations. To be eligible, a service member must meet the following requirements: • Must be on active duty at the time of direct participation in a Department of Defense approved humanitarian act or operation. “Active duty” means full-time duty in the active military service of the United States. It includes duty on the active duty list, full-time training duty, annual training duty, and attendance, while in the active military service, at a school designated as a Service school by law or by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned per section 101(22), title 10, United States Code (10 USC 101(22)). This includes service as a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy. Members of the Army National Guard are eligible provided that the use of active forces has been authorized in the act or operation. • Must have directly participated in the humanitarian act or operation within the designated geographical area of operation and within specified time limits. “Direct participation” is defined as “hands on” activity at the site or sites of the military act or operation. Specifically excluded from eligibility for this medal are personnel or elements remaining at geographically separated military headquarters.   • Must provide evidence which substantiates direct participation in a DOD approved humanitarian act or operation except when by-name eligibility lists are published. Acceptable evidence includes the following: – Certificates, letters of commendation or appreciation. – Officer or enlisted evaluation reports.   – Copies of TDY or special duty orders reflecting participation within the specified time frame and geographical location cited.  – After-action reports, situation reports, rosters, unit files or any other records or documentation that verifies the service members participation.   – Statements from commanders, supervisors, or other officials who were in a position to substantiate the service members direct participation in the area of operation. • The HSM is a U.S. service medal and does not preclude or conflict with other service medals or decorations awarded on the basis of valor, achievement or meritorious service. • No person will be awarded more than one HSM for participation in the same military act or operation. • A service star will be worn to denote direct participation in second or subsequent humanitarian acts or operations. The approved HSM operations are in appendix C. 2009 Joint Task Force BRAVO 2009; Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE, 13 Jan–04 Feb 2010 Haiti Earthquake Relief; Operation ASSIST in Chile 06-29 Mar 2010 Angol, Santiago, & Talcahuano, Chile

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A local Haitian boy is held by his mother while receiving a wellness check-up during Operation Unified Response.

As Humanitarian Assistance Transitions, So Does U.S. Military By Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, U.S. Army Commander, Joint Task Force â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Haiti

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hen an international humanitarian crisis occurs, the U.S. military is often called upon to be a first responder with its capacity to provide robust logistics, manpower resources and life saving aid. The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 caused one of the worst natural disasters any country has ever experienced. The response by the United States and the international community was and continues to be unprecedented. With these coordinated efforts, two months after the earthquake, the humanitarian situation was already transitioning from a crisis response to one of sustained relief and long-term recovery. The transition has caused some to question whether the U.S. military’s presence is still required. I can tell you, without hesitation, the skills our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, coastguardsmen and civilians bring to this humanitarian assistance mission are still useful. However, the U.S. military’s role should transition to other humanitarian and United Nation organizations for long-term relief and recovery. The U.S. military’s role has evolved as the situation in Haiti has evolved. This

occurs in every mission, and Haiti is no different. During the days immediately following the earthquake, the mission of the U.S. Joint Task Force – Haiti was to support the U.S. Government’s lead federal agency for providing humanitarian assistance, the United States Agency for International Development. Our mission was to save lives and provide security, when necessary, to support the delivery of water, food and medical care. As the situation in Haiti evolved from emergency response to relief and recovery, the need for military support also transitioned. One example of this is the U.S. military partnering with the United Nation’s Coordination Support Council planning task force. This task force was chaired by the Government of Haiti and comprised of members from the UN, USAID, military and non-governmental organizations. One of its missions is the removal of debris from roadways and residential areas affected by the earthquake. The goal is to clear the debris from the roads and areas where homes once stood so the government can begin the recovery process, and families can return to their communities, reducing the need for settlement camps for displaced Haitians.

One skill set the U.S. military brings to their missions now is a complement of expert planners. Using the Military Decision Making Process or MDMP, a proven military planning process was adapted to fit the situation in Haiti. The result, a plan that meets the intent of the Government of Haiti and calls for moving or creating more space for displaced civilians living in overcrowded or flood-prone areas before the rainy season starts. The UN, USAID and the hundreds of NGOs partnered with the Government of Haiti as they transitioned from emergency response to relief and recovery. They have years of experience addressing the wide spectrum of humanitarian needs and requirements for reconstruction and rebuilding. What the U.S. military brings to these types of interagency-run operations is years of experience in planning. It’s something we train our officers to do early on in their careers and this training is enhanced and reinforced as they progress through the ranks. Today, the request for many of the skills the U.S. military provided in the days and weeks immediately following the earthquake have waned. As JTF-H forces begin to redeploy, there will be a transition of the remaining military H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

DoD Photo

ponded irs Battalion res e 98th Civil Affa tes and ga ssy ba Soldiers from th Em outside the U.S. cy en Class erg 1s em t. to an . Medics Sg t woman in labor ered liv de th Or found a Haitian el ni and Staff Sgt. Da ez gu year in 29 m e Do th John d care for girl and provide a healthy baby old mother.

requirements to the United States Southern Command’s (USSOUTHCOM) long-standing humanitarian assistance operations. These types of operations are already being planned for implementation and will include medical assistance, construction of schools and emergency operation centers and development of hurricane preparation projects. On behalf of all the Soldiers, Sailors,

Haitians try to get back to normal daily activities, in spite of the mess left by the earthquake and aftershocks in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Airmen, Marines, Coastguardsmen and civilians who have served and are currently serving here as part of Operation Unified Response, I am proud to have answered our nation’s call for such a noble mission. The people of Haiti are extremely grateful. When I look into the eyes of the children and see the smiles on their faces, I see both resilience and hope. When I see the poverty, the thousands of homeless living in makeshift settlements, and a shattered city, I see the challenges of a

nation that needs the world’s assistance. As the U.S. military’s role decreases, the U.S. Government’s commitment remains steadfast as USAID mobilizes its resources to the fullest and the UN, international community and hundreds of NGOs step forward to provide much needed assistance. While they do this, the light needs to keep shining on this Caribbean nation so hope can overcome the challenges faced by the people of Haiti.

Lieutenant General P. K. (Ken) Keen Military Deputy Commander USSOUTHCOM Lieutenant General P. K. (Ken) Keen serves as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command, Miami, Florida. He is second-incommand of one of ten unified commands under the Department of Defense. Southern Command conducts military operations and promotes security cooperation throughout the 16 million square mile area of Latin America and the Caribbean. LTG Keen is a native of Hyden, Kentucky and graduated as a distinguished military graduate from Eastern Kentucky University in December 1974. An Infantry Officer with 18 years on airborne status, LTG Keen has commanded Light Airborne Infantry, Ranger, Special Forces, Military Group and Army Component units. His commands include a Special Forces Detachment (SCUBA) in 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group; Company and Battalion Commands in the 82nd Airborne Division; Command of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; Command of the 75th Ranger Regiment; Command of U.S. Military Group in Bogota, Colombia; and Command of U.S. Army South (USARSO). LTG Keen participated in Operation JUST CAUSE as the

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Assistant S3 of the 75th Ranger Regiment and was Commander, Ranger Task Force during Operation DESERT STORM as part of a Joint Special Operations Command. His experience in Latin America includes assignments as a Special Forces Officer in the Republic of Panama (1977-1980); Military Group Training Officer in Honduras (1980); Foreign Area Officer and Student at the Brazilian Command and General Staff College in Brazil (1987- 88); Commander of U.S. Military Group in Colombia (2001-2003); and Commander of U.S. Army South (2005-2007). From September 2007 to September 2009, he served as the Director of the U.S. European Command Plans and Operations Center and the EUCOM Chief of Staff. LTG Keen’s education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics; a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of Florida; the Brazilian Command and General Staff College; and the U.S. Army War College.His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Combat SCUBA Diver, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge and Master Parachutist Badge.

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Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven King

he Continuing Promise 2011, USNS COMFORT Preventive Medicine Team successfully connected a school to municipal water and sewage. A small group of four, led by Capt. Tracy Brannock, United States Air Force Public Health Officer, also assessed the sanitation and hygiene practices of the students and staff at Esquela Manuel Pio de Zuniga y Ramirez in La Huaca, Peru. Municipal water was available in one section of the school but only for an average of four hours a day. Because of the limited water supply to the school, the administrators bucketed what water they could into 200-liter drums and set them along the sidewalks outside for the children to use – a situation which, while practical, resulted in higher risk for issues with sanitation and hygiene for the students. The children were seen using the drums continuously for drinking, partial bathing, and hand washing. These practices made it almost impossible to avoid contamination of the water supply. The Preventive Medicine Team collected water samples from three different locations at the school that yielded positive results for fecal coliform indicating a presence of potentially harmful bacteria in the water. Ken Kartchner, a member of the Latterday Saint Charities (LDSC), with experience in water and waste engineering was a critical member of the team in providing expert guidance and recommendations regarding the construction efforts in this project. He quickly determined that Manuel Pio could utilize its current infrastructure to greatly improve sanitation and hygiene practices. Mr. Kartchner conducted a system assessment and noted that the school was equipped with an elevated water tank and a pumping system from a large underground cistern connected to the municipal water supply. He also assessed that the municipal water reservoir and the regional water treatment plant effectively filtered and chlorinated water to the school. The Availability of clean water was not the issue. The challenge that the school faced was their knowledge of the current infrastructure and how it can be appropriately utilized. The Preventive Medicine Team worked closely with the U.S. Navy Seabees, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28, led by Ensign Tres Moreno, to coordinate the best design and plan to equip the entire school with potable water. The Seabees installed an 1100 liter gravity-fed water tank over one set of restrooms and connected it to the municipal water supply. The tank is capable

USAF Staff Sgt. Sarah Boyll, a dental technician attached to the hospital ship USNS Comfort, high-fives a young boy at Miguel Grau School, in Salaaverry, Peru.

Continuing Promise 2011:

Public Health Doesn’t Just Happen

By Capt. Tracy Brannock and Kenneth Kartchner

of storing enough water to provide service to the restroom while the municipal water is not flowing. Further, they constructed and connected a hand washing station just a few steps from several classrooms, providing safe water for drinking and washing. The water safety was confirmed by post-construction tests that found no fecal coliforms. The Preventive Medicine Team met with the School Director, Jose Mendives Avala, Assistant Director, Oscar Scevedo Chorres and maintenance personnel to improve the local knowledge of optimal utilization of the system. The Preventive Medicine Team prepared a schematic of their existing system and showed them how the elevated tank could be filled 90% of the time without the expense of using pumps. The schematic also illustrated how the work of the Seabees fit into their existing system. The education on their system design, as well as working side-by-side with them on the cleaning of the water storage tank, provided them critical knowledge of the importance of regular cleaning and chlorination of the tank and assurance that this would continue long after the team left. Cinco de Mayo, an easily remembered day, was chosen as the commemorative day for the annual cleaning of the reservoirs. Beyond the water project, the Preventive Medicine Team found that there was opportunity for assistance with the sewer system associated with the school, as well. The city recently completed the municipal sewerage system with oxidation lagoon treatment and a new collection system had been installed through the school. This system had not yet

been connected to the sewer. Not afraid of rolling their sleeves up, the Preventive Medicine Team worked with three volunteers from the Padres de Familias (PTA) to redirect the discharge from the bathroom to the new sewer system. Dozens of paint buckets of raw sewage needed to be bailed out of the junction boxes to facilitate the connections of the piping. After two days of work and with assistance from the Navy Seabees, the job was complete. The efforts of the Preventive Medicine Team and the Navy Seabees resulted in Esquela Manuel Pio de Zuniga y Ramirez effectively using their municipal water supply and sanitary sewer system and improving hundreds of present and thousands of future lives. Such an opportunity like this is not complete without the opportunity to educate the community. Thus, while the water and sewage projects were being conducted, the Preventive Medicine Team and Chana Gwynette of EDGE Outreach conducted health education and dental hygiene classes at the school. Together they trained 15 teachers on germ prevention, proper hand washing procedures, the importance of wearing shoes, and leading by example by doing the same. Over 390 children were taught how to wash their hands, set up flytraps, and prevent the spread of germs. Days later, the children were observed singing songs and washing their hands as they had been taught, bringing smiles and assurance that their lives may continue to improve beyond the USNS Comfort’s disappearance over the horizon.

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rdson, USAF

Forster said is it important they share what they learn with others after Comfort leaves the area. For the skilled birthing attendants, resources are very limited, so after completing the training, each attendant is given a free infant ventilator bag. While in Jamaica, the medical personnel will provide this training during the entire visit for all to attend. COMUSANAVSO / COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined full-spectrum military operations. The units provide principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space to enhance regional security and to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Carribean, Central and South American regions.  For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.

Photo: Staff Sgt

DiDonne told the students that communication will be a barrier because they are traveling through many different countries.   “As you’re trying to show them how to give the baby air through the ventilator, say ‘breathe baby breathe’ as you do it, so that they can remember how long they need to squeeze the bag,” said DiDonne.   The medical personnel will provide basic, yet in-depth training, to the attendants who will be equipped with critical life saving training sometimes never offered to many of the countries DiDonne’s students will visit. Each participant will learn how to properly ventilate a baby, stimulate those who cannot breathe, tear down and reassemble the equipment for future use.   “We’ll teach them what a healthy baby looks like as opposed to a baby who might need a little bit of help to breathe,” said Emily Forster, registered nurse volunteering on behalf of Latterday Saints Charities.    The medical team’s main focus during its visit in Jamaica is teaching infant stimulation, breathing and equipment sterilization.

. Courtney Richa

edical personnel aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) participated in “Helping Babies Breath” training sessions, April 13, 2011, in preparation for humanitarian assistance in the Caribbean, Central and South America as part of Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11).    The practitioners learned how to tell the difference between healthy babies and those who require assistance after birth, as well as how to provide life saving care if needed.   “The purpose of the training is to reduce unnecessary neo-natal deaths worldwide,” said Dr. Tom DiDonne, master instructor and American Academy of Pediatrics volunteer.    The students will use their new training to teach skilled birthing attendants, who are typically not doctors or nurses, how to properly assist with the birth of newborns.   DiDonne said many infants are dying due to their birthing attendant’s lack of knowledge and equipment. Several organizations have come together to educate people on how to safely deliver babies and help infants who cannot breath properly.

Tom DiDonna, master instructo r for Helping Ba teaches a Helping bies Breathe, Babies Breathe training course Military Sealift Co aboard the mmand hospita l ship USNS Com (T-AH 20). DiDo fort nna is part of Co ntinuing Promise a five-month hu 2011, manitarian assis tance mission to the Caribbean, Cent ral and South Am erica.

‘Helping Babies Breathe’ Training

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By Air Force Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson

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Capt. Colette Gardner, USAF, a nurse with the 321st Expeditionary Medical Squadron, has a quiet moment in the inpatient recovery ward at Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq. 58

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Photo: Rich McFadden, USAF

ealthcare will generate 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between 2008 and 2018, more than any other industry. The steady increase is largely in response to rapid growth in the elderly population. However, returning servicemember numbers will continue to rise even more quickly, and their healthcare needs will have to be met. Ten of the twenty fastest growing occupations are related to healthcare. Many job openings should arise in all healthcare employment settings as a result of employment growth and the need to replace workers who retire or leave their jobs for other reasons. Employment change. Wage and salary employment in the healthcare industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2018, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined. Employment growth is expected to account for about 22 percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 200818 period. Projected rates of employment growth for the various segments of the industry range from 10 percent in hospitals, the largest and slowest growing industry segment, to 46 percent in the much smaller home healthcare services. Employment in healthcare will continue to grow due to many contributing factors. The proportion of the population in older age groups will grow faster than the total population between 2008 and 2018. In addition, older persons have a higher incidence of injury and illness and often take longer to heal from maladies. As a result, demand for healthcare will increase, especially in employment settings specializing in gerontology care for the elderly. Employment in home healthcare and nursing and residential care should increase rapidly as life expectancies rise, and families are less able to care for their elder family members and rely more on long-term care facilities.

Photo: Sr. Airman Andrew Lee, USAF

Health Care Industry Jobs On the Rise Through 2018

Physical therapist Kimberly Griffin performs routine therapy on patient complaining of back pain.

H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

USAF sic, Photo: Staff Sgt. Alesia D. Goo

speaks , left, a peri-operative nurse, Lt. Cmdr. Valerie Quinn, USN fort Com S USN ship l pita ery aboard the hos with a patient prior to surg Promise 2011. ing tinu Con ing dur , aica (T-AH 20) in Kingston, Jam

Advances in medical technology will continue to improve the survival rate of severely ill and injured patients, who will then need extensive therapy and care. New technologies will continue to enable earlier diagnoses of many diseases which often increases the ability to treat conditions that were previously not treatable. Industry growth also will occur as a result of the shift from inpatient to less expensive outpatient and home healthcare because of improvements in diagnostic tests and surgical procedures, along with patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desires to be treated at home. Many of the occupations projected to grow the fastest in the economy are concentrated in the healthcare industry. For example, over the 2008-18 period, total employment of home health aides is projected to increase by 50 percent, medical assistants by 34 percent, physical therapist assistants by 33 percent, and physician assistants by 39 percent. Rapid growth is expected for workers in occupations concentrated outside the inpatient hospital sector, such as pharmacy technicians and personal and home care aides. Because of cost pressures, many healthcare facilities will adjust their staffing patterns to reduce labor costs. Where patient care demands and regulations allow, healthcare facilities will substitute lower paid providers and will cross-train their workforces. Many facilities have cut the number of middle managers, while simultaneously creating new managerial positions as the facilities diversify. Traditional inpatient hospital positions are no longer the only option for many future healthcare workers; persons seeking a career in the field must be willing to work in various employment settings. Hospitals will be the slowest growing segment within the healthcare industry because of efforts to control hospital costs and the increasing use of outpatient clinics and other alternative care sites. Demand for dental care will rise due to greater retention of natural teeth by middle-aged and older persons, greater awareness of the importance of dental care, and an increased ability to pay for services. Dentists will use support personnel such as dental hygienists and assistants to help meet their increased workloads. 60

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Job prospects. Many job openings should arise in all employment settings as a result of employment growth and the need to replace workers who retire or leave their jobs for other reasons. Tougher immigration rules that are slowing the numbers of foreign healthcare workers entering the United States should make it easier to get a job in this industry. Occupations with the most replacement openings are usually large, with high turnover stemming from low pay and status, poor benefits, low training requirements, and a high proportion of young and part-time workers. Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants, and home health aides are among the occupations adding the most new jobs in this industry between 2008 and 2018, about 592,200 combined.

Another occupation that is expected to have many openings is registered nurses. The median age of registered nurses is increasing, and not enough younger workers are replacing them. As a result, employers in some parts of the country are reporting difficulties in attracting and retaining nurses. Healthcare workers at all levels of education and training will continue to be in demand. In many cases, it may be easier for jobseekers with health-specific training to obtain jobs and advance in their careers. Specialized clinical training is a requirement for many jobs in healthcare and is an asset even for many administrative jobs that do not specifically require it. For general information on health care careers: Bureau of Health Professions, Room 8A-09 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/ For a list of accredited programs in allied health care fields: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756. www.caahep.org Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2010-11 Edition, Healthcare, www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm.

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2011 By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class R. David Valdez

Pacific Partnership

Photo: Mass Comm Spc 2nd Class Michael Russell, USN

Arriving at sunrise in Pohnoei, Federated States of Micronesia, military and civilian personnel ready for a full day, exit the well deck in Landing Craft Utility aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland at sunrise.

COMING HOME

Photo: Imagery Spc Helen Frank, Royal Australian Navy Photo: Mass Comm Spc Seaman Christopher Farrington, USN

Top Left: Samantha Mijliaccio from World Vets holds a puppy as Captain Hakim Hamici checks it over at a veterinarian civil action program at Puno, Timor-Leste during Pacific Partnership. Top Right: Capt. Jesse A. Wilson, PP11 mission commander, members of the Pacific Partnership 2011 team and residents of Espiritu Santo at a house in Espiritu Santo. Bottom Left: At their stop in Dili, Timor-Leste, multinational servicemembers move donated supplies during a Pacific Partnership community service project. Bottom Right: U.S. Navy optometrist Lt. Cmdr. Randy Birt, uses an ophthalmoscope to check the retina of a Tongan woman at the Tuanekivale medical site for Pacific Partnership 2011. Photo: Tech. Sgt. Tony Tolley, USAF

Photo: Mass Comm Spc 3rd Class Christopher Farrington

he Pacific Partnership 2011 (PP11) mission arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland on July 22, 2011. The 2011 Pacific Partnership mission made port visits to Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia during the fourmonth humanitarian assistance initiative. The multi-national operation included representatives from the partner nations of Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Spain. “Over the course of four months, the men and women of the diverse countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and all branches of the U.S. military that make up the Pacific Partnership 2011 team have bonded to change many lives for the better in the Pacific region,” said mission commander, Navy Capt. Jesse Wilson, Commander Destroyer Squadron 23. Pacific Partnership is an annual humanitarian assistance initiative that

provides medical, dental, veterinary, engineering and agricultural civic action programs throughout Southeast Asia and the South Pacific to promote interoperability between host nations and partner nations. Sponsored by U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Partnership promotes sustainable improvements in the quality of life for the citizens of host nations while improving the partner nations’ collective ability to respond to a natural disaster. This year, Pacific Partnership completed mission ports in Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia. During the course of those visits, the medical contingent treated 38,696 patients at medical and dental civic action projects, or MEDCAPs and DENCAPs. “The MEDCAP is the basis for most HA/DR operations,” said Navy Capt. Steven Gaeble, officer in charge of the PP11 medical contingent. “This is one of those areas where our host nations are going

to seek out the opportunity to achieve interoperability and exchange information because there may be a more efficient way to treat malaria, dengue, or a host of other tropical illnesses that the partner nations don’t deal with on a regular basis.” Optometry services were also popular, as they accounted for nearly 12,000 of the total patients seen at the MEDCAPs. The DENCAPs treated more than 3,300 patients this year, and the team of dentists, hygienists and technicians from Australia, Canada, France, and the U.S. had the opportunity to work with local dental professionals and get more people treated than the host nations’ infrastructures would normally allow. “When we arrive for our mission ports,” said Cmdr. Arthur Green, officer in charge of dental services for PP11, “we have the ability to treat as many patients in six days as the local doctors can treat in six months. That’s largely because we’re dividing the workload for the local dentists by a factor of at least H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

ten, considering the number of dental professionals we have working with us.” Due to the subsistence farming that is a way of life in the five island nations, animals are not just pets. In many cases, they are a source of food, security, and even work. The PP11 veterinary team, a combination of volunteers from World Vets, Vets Without Borders, Australian Army, and U.S. Army, provided treatment to more than 800 animals at veterinary civic action projects (VETCAP). “As a civilian veterinarian, I tend to work with people’s pets, while the military veterinarians tend to work with military working animals,” said Dr. Lydia Tong, a veterinarian volunteer from World Vets. “However, working with Pacific Partnership, I’ve had the opportunity to provide assistance to people who rely on their animals for survival as well as Australian, Ameri companionship.” can and Tongan Engineers load en gineering supplie While the MEDCAPs, DENCAPs and s for projects arou nd the Vava’u reg ion in Tonga. VETCAPs were visible examples of PP11’s

During the past six years, Pacific Partnership has provided medical, dental, educational, and preventive medicine services to more than 250,000 people and completed more than 150 engineering projects in 15 countries. joint and multinational mission, the engineering civic action projects also left lasting reminders of Pacific Partnership’s impact in the region, much like the buildings left behind by U.S. Navy Seabees and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from World War II. “Working with Australian, New Zealand and host national engineers was a unique opportunity,” said Navy Lt. Michael Sardone, officer in charge of engineering services for PP11. “Our Seabees arrived on station up to a month before the main body of the mission to build new school buildings and water catchment systems that the 64

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local populations will be able to use and maintain for generations.” The PP11 engineering team worked on three community centers, 14 primary schools, one remote clinic, one Hospital, one evacuation center/gymnasium; one water distribution hub with three water catchment tanks, and one athletic field. The PP11 team, which included the crew of the Cleveland, also delivered 257 pallets of donated materials like toys, crutches, wheelchairs, toiletries, and school supplies at 58 community service projects throughout the course of the mission. “The volunteers, military personnel,

and even folks back home who have given what they have to people who need it half a world away, remind me that Pacific Partnership brings out the best in people, said Lt. Phillip Ridley, PP11 chaplain, “and to think that this mission has been doing meaningful things for six years straight. It’s a testament to what nations and institutions can do for people when they work together.” During the past six years, Pacific Partnership has provided medical, dental, educational, and preventive medicine services to more than 250,000 people and completed more than 150 engineering projects in 15 countries.

Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Recovery Operation Tomodachi Continues By Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service

COMING HOME

squarely with Japan for as long as needed following the devastating earthquake, tsunami and radiological crisis.

More than a year after the 9.0 magnitude

earthquake struck off the coast of northern Japan, Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military assistance mission to Japan, shows no sign of waning. With the focus turning from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to consequence management, the country is moving toward normality. When the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami hit there were nearly 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Their presence created a unique disaster situation in that the U.S. forces and associated resources were able to take immediate action on the ground to begin dealing with the crisis once the initial dust had settled. All Services — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force — are present in Japan in various capacities. In addition, U.S. forces train regularly with the Japanese Self Defense Force (SDF) counterparts, which includes many humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises. “This is an enduring commitment. This is an enduring relationship,” said Navy Adm. Patrick M.

Walsh. “So we are posturing ourselves for a long-term support and an enduring commitment.” Walsh said the longstanding U.S.-Japan relationship that underpins the mission runs deeper than many people realize. “In this case, we live here. We have homes here,” the admiral said. “And so we want to be here, side by side or one step behind, wherever they would like us to be as they go through this very cathartic process. It’s one we want to be in a position to support.” The U.S. military remains heavily involved in the mission. Since the operation started, U.S. 7th Fleet forces have delivered more than 260 tons of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies to survivors in support of Japan Self-Defense Force efforts. Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and other senior Japanese officials visited the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to thank U.S. service members personally for their support. Walsh emphasized that maintenance and re-provisioning on some of these ships, and in some cases, the reassignment of some of their forces, in no way signals a drawdown of Operation Tomodachi. In fact, he said, “we have more people who have come to Japan than have left Japan in support of this operation.”

Photo: Gunnery Sgt. Leo Salinas, USMC

he U.S. military will continue to stand

A woman combs through the debris in Ofunato, Japan, March 21, 2011. U.S. Marines assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) deployed a humanitarian assistance survey team to assess the damage to the Ofunato port and bridge. H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Officer 3rd

Class Kyle

Carlstrom , USN

Senior U.S . military m embers su Japanese pporting O Defense M peration To inister Tosh senior Jap modachi imi Kitaza anese lead present wa with a ers visit th April 4, 20 banner as e a 11. ircraft carr he and ier USS Ro nald Reag an,

Photo: Petty

Any reposturing taking place now, Walsh said, is only to ensure U.S. forces are prepared to sustain operations for the long haul. “From the fleet perspective, we have every ship we have here under way,” the admiral said. “Now, it’s time to consider the best way to present ourselves and posture ourselves so we can sustain this level of support over time — maybe refocus it, reprioritize it as events and conditions on the ground change.” Walsh praised the progress that is taking place as Japan begins to recover from the disaster.

“To use the term ‘Operation Tomodachi’ in an environment where it is radiologically contaminated, that is where you find out who your friends are…” “There is an extraordinary level of development that has taken place in a very short period of time,” the admiral said. He called the reopening of Sendai Airport — initially considered unsalvageable but quickly turned operational for support of humanitarian flights “one of those seminal sorts of stories that will go down as truly remarkable.” “Because we were able to work with the Japanese government to get the runway up and running, we were able to develop a logistics hub,” Walsh continued. “And with a logistics hub now, all kinds of things are possible.” Even as Japan begins rebuilding, he said, it’s still dealing with the heartbreaking recovery mission. Japan’s Self-Defense Forces are methodically going from location to location and house-to-house, searching for and recovering victims’ remains, Walsh said. U.S. support is expected to shift more toward helping Japan deal with nuclear consequence management and radiological issues, Walsh said. However, he added, the U.S. military will continue to “be on call when they need us to do more support for logistics or humanitarian assistance or disaster relief up north.” About 400 U.S. service members are currently supporting consequence management missions in Japan, Walsh said, noting that an initial response force recently arrived to provide support. Its members aren’t physically going into Japan’s nuclear reactors, he noted, but are serving in an advise-and-assist role. 68

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“The ability to pivot from the humanitarian assistance [mission] to the consequence management piece, I think, is an important element of an agile organization,” Walsh said. “Being able to adapt to a changing condition on the ground is reflective of our ability to work with Self-Defense Forces and the government of Japan, to listen closely to what their needs are and to do what they want us to do in order to support them.” The complexity of the mission in Japan underscores the level of the U.S. commitment, Walsh said. “To use the term ‘Operation Tomodachi’ in an environment where it is radiologically contaminated, that is where you find out who your friends are,” he said. “We are here, and we are right in the middle of this thing with Japan when it comes to fighting this problem here with the nuclear power plant. And once again we are in a position to support. We will go where they need us to go and we will support them as they need us to support them.” Walsh said Japan has been extremely forthcoming about radiation levels, posting data collected by 80 sensors arrayed around the country on a public website. This information sharing helps guide U.S. support missions, he said, so those involved know where it’s safe to operate and where it’s not and take necessary precautions. “This is the environment we are in, so we are going to go into it smart and learn how to stay alert to changes in the environment,” Walsh said.

“And our ability to characterize that environment over time is what helps our men and women.” As the United States works with Japan to abate the crisis, Walsh said it’s drawing heavily on the benefits of their long, shared history. “There is nothing that can replace relationships,” he said. “To have those established relationships, whether working with logistics or communications or armed forces working side by side, to have insight into what each other’s capabilities are, as well as what each other’s needs are, is very, very important.” The complexity of the disaster in Japan — the earthquake, then tsunami, then radiological crisis — makes that foundation even more critical, Walsh said. “One of the lessons important to draw from this is how important it is to be armed with information and knowledge,” he said, “and to understand the environment or battle space in which we operate, because if you don’t, then it can be very intimidating.” Ultimately, Walsh said, the lessons being learned during Operation Tomodachi will posture the U.S. military for future crises in the earthquakeprone region known as the “Ring of Fire.” “This is the ‘Ring of Fire’ and it keeps our head on a swivel,” he said. “We have to keep working to understand what the environment is telling us and how to be prepared for it. I think it makes us better prepared as operators in the long run.” Reprinted courtesy of Dept of Defense. For related stories go to www.defense.gov/news/ newsarticle.aspx?id=63439

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ceremony was held at Bagram Air Field, Oct. 3, 2010 to recognize 121 service members who supported the relief efforts after flooding in Pakistan in late July of that year.   Senior commanders and command sergeants major from Regional Command-East, International Security Assistance Forces and International Security Assistance Forces Joint Command awarded each servicemember the Humanitarian Service Medal for answering a troubled nation’s call. “We are about to do something we probably need to do more of and that is recognize those have gone above and beyond,” U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and of ISAF. “Today, we are going to recognize those who have done so in a humanitarian mission. We are honoring those in front of us for their hard work and selfless service to the Pakistani people as they faced one of the greatest natural disasters of recent history.   Petraeus said within days of the first signs of flooding, millions of people had lost their homes and millions more were affected by the raging waters that covered nearly a fifth of their country.

Gen. Petraeus awards service members the Humanitarian Service medal during a ceremony held at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Servicemembers for Honored Role After

Pakistan Floods “I was part of the weather support for aviation assets, meaning we were forecasting the weather so the helicopters could navigate through the terrain safely and get supplies to people and conduct rescue missions,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Broady, a Newnan, Ga., native with the 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron. “It feels great knowing we were able to help the Pakistani people and I’m honored to receive my medal.”   “Thank you for your impressive work during a tough mission. Your efforts made a life-changing difference for thousands of families,” said Petraeus. “And even though your role in the disaster relief is over, our country’s is not. Our military will continue the effort you began and the rest of our government is making vital contributions to ensure that our long-term support for Pakistanis affected by the flood is as every bit as robust as your initial efforts.” Gen. Petraeus, stands next to service members recently awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal by the general.

By some estimates, the floods affected more people than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the Haiti earthquake combined.   “One Pakistani official called it the worse ever calamity in his country’s history,” said Petraeus. “When that call came, the men and women before you answered the call.”   The task force of service members supported the ongoing efforts in Pakistan from July to September.   70

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Reader’s Note: The Department of Defense (DoD) has approved the Humanitarian Service Medal for servicemembers who participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Pakistan following the flooding in Swat Valley on July 31, 2010. Military members must have provided at least one day of humanitarian assistance between July 31 and Dec. 15, 2010, in the immediate area of operation. Aircrews landing in the areas of operation during this period are also eligible. Members must provide source documents confirming HSM entitlement to their unit commander or designated representative. For more information, Airmen can visit the Air Force personnel services website or call the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102.

Founded in 1978

n a i r a t i n a m Hu Relief Libya

Efforts:

he 3rd Battalion, 405th Army Field Support Brigade prepared a shipment of humanitarian aid supplies bound for Tunisia for delivery by U.S. military aircraft.    With an increasing need for humanitarian aid for refugees fleeing Libya, the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, or OFDA, turned to its 3rd Battalion service-provider and requested delivery of humanitarian aid supplies.    The battalion is responsible for the storage and maintenance of USAID emergency humanitarian assistance commodities under an inter-agency agreement between the Army and the U.S. State Department, and is experienced in the shipment of humanitarian aid supplies at a moment’s notice. “OFDA keeps our warehouses stocked for emergencies such as this, and we’re well-equipped to get the supplies where OFDA needs them as quickly as possible,” said Lt. Col. Richard Pierce, commander of the 3rd Bn., 405th AFSB – part of Army Sustainment

COMING HOME

By Jennifer L. King

Command’s global network of field support activities. “We are grateful for the opportunity to assist the people of North Africa and to help alleviate their suffering in our own small way.”   “Within 36 hours, we had the entire shipment prepared, packed and loaded onto a commercial truck for shipment,” said Lt. Col. Richard Pierce, commander of the 405th AFSBn-Italy. “We are always prepared for immediate response to humanitarian aid missions.”    After receiving notification of needed supplies from OFDA, the battalion prepared 4,000 blankets, 40 rolls of plastic sheeting and 9,600 10-liter water containers for shipment. The shipments depart the battalion by truck for delivery to Tunisia via military aircraft from the Pisa Military Airport and are then distributed to USAID teams on the ground there.   According to Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan, C-130s out of Ramstein Air Base, Germany, will deliver six pallets of aid supplies from stocks held in Italy, including 4,000 blankets, 40 rolls of plastic sheeting, and 9,600 10-liter water containers to Djerba, Tunisia.

“Our location in Italy gives us a unique logistics capability,” Pierce explained. “Because we have access to both water and air transport capabilities within 30 minutes of Leghorn Army Depot, we can execute loading and transportation missions quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the aid reaches the disaster area as quickly as possible.”   The flights are part of U.S. Africa Command-led Operation Odyssey Dawn, which is providing humanitarian assistance to people fleeing Libya in the wake of recent political uprisings and violence there.    President Barack Obama announced yesterday that the United States would give humanitarian aid and send military and civilian aircraft to assist refugees leaving Libya.    The 405th AFSBn-Italy is responsible for the storage and maintenance of USAID emergency humanitarian assistance commodities under an interagency agreement between the Army and the U.S. State Department. The battalion has a long working relationship with OFDA, previously having shipped supplies to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and Haiti, among others.

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t r o p p u S s r e a b k s m a e l M A l e c a i r v u r R e S n i e r a C c i t c Ar j. Guy By Ma

Haye

North of the Brooks Range, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, is the furthest northern town visited by the Arctic Care 2011 team. 74

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807th MDSC Public Affairs Photo: Lt. Col. Brent Campbel l,

North of the Brooks Range, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, is the furthest northern town The 807th Medical Comma visited by the Arctic Care 201 nd (Deployment Support) 1 team. is this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead compon care services to the residen ent of Arctic Care, providing ts of the Alaska village. health

Tetlin, a remote village in the Tok region of southeast Alaska is one of the 12 locations visited by the medical, dental and veterinary teams of Arctic Care 2011. Arctic Care is a joint medical operation intended to bring medical care to people with limited access to medical facilities. Photo: Sgt. Craig Anderson, 807th Medical Command

An Alaska Army National Guard crew chief from A Company, 1-207th Aviation Battalion, maintains watch during a resupply mission in support of Arctic Care 2011. Photo: Sgt. Craig Anderson, 807th MDSC Public Affairs

An Army cargo truck makes its way across rough roads to deliver supplies to medical teams supporting Arctic Care 2011 in remote villages of Alaska. Photo: Sgt. Craig Anderson, 807th Medical Command

H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

A crew chief fro

the A1-207th Av iation Regimen he Alaska National Guard is joining his Black Hawk t, Alaska Air Natio during a supply nal Guard unloa drop. The supplie station in the vil forces with active-duty and Reserve ds s will replenish th lage during Arcti e medical perso c Care 2011. Photo nnel : Sgt. Craig Ander units across the nation to provide son, 807th Medic al Command support for Operation Arctic Care April 15 through 30. Led this year by deployment support officials from the Army Reserve’s 807th Medical Command, Arctic Care is an annual two-week mission where more than 300 government and military medical professionals join specialists from across the nation to provide treatment at remote villages across Alaska. This year’s operation marks the 17th year in which medical teams have deployed throughout Alaska to treat general health patients and provide dental care, eye exams and veterinary care. Medical professionals provide care to native Alaskans, who do not have access to routine health and has become the care as they are in remote largest recurring joint military villages such as Galena, medical and logistics training Northway and Anaktuvuk Pass. exercise of its kind, providing With most villages real-world humanitarian accessible only by airplane assistance and medical care. or helicopter, the teams and “Arctic Care is a supplies are airlifted by Alaska phenomenal operation National Guard UH-60 Black that synchronizes support Hawk helicopters, as well between multiple agencies as C-23 Sherpas and C-130 while providing excellent Hercules aircraft. support to rural Alaska,” said Alaska National Guard make a supply drop on the frozen runway of Nulato. The operation provides Resupplying medical teams is key to the success of the Arctic Care mission. Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Katkus, health care to some of the U.S.’s Photo: Sgt. Craig Anderson, 807th Medical Command the adjutant general of the most remote citizens Alaska National Guard. Austere weather conditions are also a challenge in getting flights into villages, but that’s part of the mission, which is intended to simulate military/ civilian medical outreach operations in time of crisis, conflict or disaster. “It’s an excellent opportunity to train, while providing real-world support here at home,” General Katkus said. “This training is critical for our Guard and Reserve members so they are prepared for emergencies here in Alaska and deployments around the world.” Operation Arctic Care is sponsored s supplies onto ide gu on dr ua Sq by the Innovative Readiness Training ics base in the 144th Airlift r a forward logist loadmaster from fo d d ar ne Gu l sti de na re tio program under the Office of the s we optometric An Alaska Air Na 2011. The supplie medical, dental, tion Arctic Care nals in providing sio Assistant Secretary of Defense for es SC Public Affairs of MD pr a C-130 for Opera th l 807 ica l, ed bel mp : Lt. Col. Brent Ca and will assist m ote villages. Photo Galena, Alaska, rem Reserve Affairs. The Alaska National in ns ka as re to Al and veterinary ca Guard will be the lead agency for Arctic Care 2012.

COMING HOME

Arctic Care 2011 Dental Team Works in Remote Alaskan Village 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) By Sgt. Craig Anderson

During Arctic Care Tanana residents have rare access to dental care, which is otherwise two hundred miles out of their reach. 78

COMING HOME

Although hundreds of miles from a proper facility, Maj. Kevin Madjarac, a dentist with the 360th Medical Company D/S of Twinsburg, Ohio, manages x-rays for villagers.

Cmdr. Lee Minh, a dentist with the U.S. Public Health Service base in Fairbanks, AK, reviews the schedule for dental care during Arctic Care 2011.

Spc. Timothy Clousing assists Maj. Madjarac with a routine cavity repair, a procedure the patient would not likely have done were it not for Arctic Care.

wo hours north of Fairbanks via Blackhawk helicopter, sits a remote village far removed from major roads, airports, and basic medical

and dental care. The 230 residents of Tanana, though far off the beaten path, are not forgotten, as demonstrated to them by the specialized dentistry team volunteering their time and skills in support of Arctic Care 2011. Arctic Care is the largest medical reserve joint operation training exercise and is supported by the 807th Medical Deployment Support Command from Ft. Douglas, Utah. The mission in Tanana is to provide medical and dental care to the Native Alaskans. The operation runs through the end of April. It is unique that we are working with the Army, but together we can provide more healthcare service, said Cmdr. Lee Minh, a dentist with the United States Public Health Service. We are also meeting a lot of new people and that makes it more interesting, he said. Other medical, dental and veterinarian teams are deployed to other small villages throughout northern Alaska. Each with the same mission: provide quality healthcare to those in need. Arctic Care is a mission that requires a lot of cooperation, involvement and planning to make it work, Minh said. I like the dynamics involved in making an operation like this work. It creates the challenges I like to overcome and it develops a communication link between the other services. Working in a remote location with extreme temperatures, the dentistry team faces challenges even Minh might find difficult to overcome. With few resources, limited electricity to run all the equipment it is not easy to perform even the basic dental procedures. And if the equipment breaks down flying a bio medical technician out to repair presents a logistical challenge in itself. Still, Minh remains confident that the 2 dentist and 3 dental assistants will see all their patients before departing at month end. Our goal is to treat all the kids here and to provide emergency treatment and dental care for adults, said Minh. It is only the second day of operation and the dental team already has 125 villagers signed up for service. With a complete dentistry set-up the team is able to perform tooth extractions, beginning root canals, fix cavities, crowns and X-rays. Minh is not the only one who finds this

mission unique. Dental professionals were brought in from as far away as Texas and Ohio, each with a desire to serve the people of Tanana. I think what makes this unique is that we are taken out of our element, our jobs and our daily routines, brought out to a place where we are seeing different people and different cultures and lend a helping hand, said Spc. Timothy Clausing, a dental assistant with the 360th Medical Company Dental Support in Twinsburg, Ohio. We are able to hone our skills while providing care for the people. Clausing, a dental assistant with the 360th Medical Company Dental Support in Twinsburg, Ohio, said that this work here is a valuable life lesson in service that he will hold onto and pass along to others. The experience here is extraordinarily valuable to my career, Clausing said. When I become an NCO and leader I can pass on these values I have learned here to other soldiers. The Native Alaskan people realize the value of the operation and appreciate the care given by the members of Arctic Care. Many go without healthcare services because they do not have insurance and it is too far for them to travel to see a doctor. Without Arctic Care here, people would not be able to get the care they need. They would never go as far away as Fairbanks to get this care, said Fred Nicholia, a member of the Athabascan Tribal Council in Tanana. The peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reception of Arctic Care is very good. Of course, if you were just passing through and not providing health care they would still welcome you, that is just how the people are here, Nicholia said. The Native Alaskans have been very supportive and very friendly - I like them very much, Minh said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;they even prepare a lunch for us each day to show us their appreciation.â&#x20AC;? The professionals here are a great group of people and great representatives of Arctic Care, Nicholia said. The experiences of the Arctic Care soldiers, airmen and sailors in this remote but friendly town have been overwhelmingly positive. The memories and experiences will last a lifetime, with both the service members and Native Alaskans benefitting in many ways. Far from accessible dental care, the 230 residences of Tanana, Alaska, are hosting a team of dentists from Arctic Care 2011. During Arctic Care residents will have a rare access to dental care, two hundred of miles out of their reach. H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Alaska Guardsmen Provide Future for Rural Alaskans By Maj. Guy Hayes

PHOTO: Cpl. Michael Laycock, USMC.

“We’ve flown over 100 Marines and Airmen to the site of Mertarvik laska National Guardsmen from Camp Denali are this summer alone,” said Capt. Michelle Edwards, Alaska Army National making a difference in the lives of villagers in rural Guard. “Our focus this year is to help the Marines with building a road Alaska this summer as they support Marines with the from the barge landing site to the village.” 6th Engineer Support Battalion with moving the village In addition to transporting counterparts from other branches of the of Newtok. U.S. armed forces, the Guard has also transported propane, food, mail The village, which is built close to the Ninglick River in southwest and other supplies necessary Alaska and has a population of to support the mission, and roughly 350 people, is slowly have been available to provide washing away, as every year more emergency medevac support. than 50 feet of Newtok’s coast The Alaska Air National erodes into the river and ocean. Guard also transported a U.S. Like many places in Alaska, Navy King Fischer boat on the village is also only accessible a C-17 July 21, to Bethel, to by air or boat, making the move assist in moving the village to of the village nine miles away Mertarvik. even more challenging. “The Alaska National With the help of the Alaska Guard, working closely with National Guard however, Marines unload supplies from an Alaska Army National Guard other state and federal agencies, Newtok is currently being Blackhawk helicopter. The Marines of 6th Engineer Support Battalion are on Nelson Island, Alaska, building a road to benefit the natives of Newtok, Alaska. are providing important resources moved to the new village site of and support to the villagers of Mertarvik, which means “place Newtok,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas where you get water,” named for H. Katkus, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard. “We are the nearby spring. exceptionally fortunate to have the IRT program, in conjunction with The project is slated to take five years and is part of the Innovative a multitude of other government agencies, provide the funding and Readiness Training Program (IRT), which combines the needs of resources needed for a community emergency evacuation route. communities like Newtok, with the training needs of the U.S. military. This concurrently provides the great men and women of our military “IRT supports many projects at more than 30 locations in the with unmatched productive training to exercise and stay sharp in their United States,” said Capt. Karen Trueblood, Pentagon IRT director. “We military specialties.” provide funding to the units which can be used to cover the costs to This is the second year of the IRT project. The Marines are in the transport equipment or supplement annual training funds.” final completion of a road made of Dura-Base mats, which connect like The Marines, who are building a road across the spongy summer LEGO bricks, and in the coming years are expected to build a storm-safe tundra to Nelson Island, are supported by Alaska Army National emergency shelter, rock quarries and eventually an airfield. Guardsmen aircrews from Bethel and Anchorage. 80

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Moving tables to use as desks for use in processing paperwork for the internally displaced persons. Photo: Lance Cpl. John M. Raufmann

USMC Humanitarian Training – Assistance By Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson, 22nd MEU

arines are known for their tactical prowess, their ability to persevere through austere conditions and their bravery in combat. What they may not be as well known for is their ability to provide care for those in need, anywhere around the world. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training exercise at Fort Pickett, Va. This was the first time the CLB conducted the training, which taught the Marines camp set up procedures and how to process internally displaced persons and refugees. “These guys are enthusiastic, smart and motivated,” said retired Maj. Marty Klotz, the stability operations branch officer in charge with the special operations training group who headed the training for the Marines. The Marines assembled field tents and a barrier with concertina wire. They set up a search and screening site, a reception center, medical center, and multiple tent cities designed to house the refugees and IDPs. The goal for the unit is to process and provide assistance for a minimum of 300 refugees and IDPs.

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Marines assumed the roles of local nationals waiting to enter the processing area. Some were easy to deal with while others caused trouble and tried to enter without being searched or started fights with others waiting in line. “The role players are very important because you never know how someone is going to act,” said Cpl. Alanzo P. Austin, a squad leader and Jonesboro, Ga., native, with CLB 22 who deployed with the MEU to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response earlier this year. “It was an eye opener when we went to Haiti because you never know what to expect from someone.” The Marines started the scenario just as a cold rain began to fall. They searched the role-players and guided them to the reception center, which tracks everyone who enters the camp. The role-players were then shown to their shelter where food and water were also made available to the victims in the exercise. Treating the locals with dignity and respect brings a greater level of trust. “When people start seeing that you’re helping them and you’re providing aid, then they may come forward with information,” said Klotz. As the CLB prepares to deploy with the MEU in 2011, they may be called to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for

a number of reasons, to include natural disasters or countries that are facing political discourse. “Humanitarian assistance, as far as I’m concerned, is the bread and butter of the MEU,” said Staff Sgt. Scott D. Faulkner, the engineer platoon sergeant and Lebanon, N.H., native with CLB 22. “It is one of our major missions.” The CLB participated in a twoweek training exercise at Ft. Pickett, Va., in preparation for their upcoming

TOP: Assembling a field tent for use in processing the many refugees. Photo: Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson Middle: Marine role players wait to begin processing through the evacuation control center during an evacuation operations training exercise. Photo: Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson bottom: Detainment of a roleplaying known terrorist outside of the entry control point into the internally displaced persons processing site. Photo: Lance Cpl. John M. Raufmann

deployment with the 22nd MEU. The Marines are training to be able to process 100 non-combatant evacuees an hour in case an occasion arises where they must evacuate civilians while on deployment with the MEU. The 22nd MEU is a multi-mission capable force comprised of Aviation Combat Element, Marine Tilt Rotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; and its command element. The Marines and sailors of the 22nd MEU are in the early stages of their pre-deployment training program, which is a series of progressively, more complex exercises designed to train and test the MEU’s ability to operate as a cohesive and effective fighting force. Expeditionary Units are the Marine Corps’ smallest permanent Marine Air-Ground Task Force, commanded by a colonel and comprised of approximately 2,200 Marines and sailors ready to provide immediate response capabilities in a hostile or crisis mission. While deployed, each MEU also incorporates two KC-130 aircraft available from the continental U.S. to support the unit’s operations abroad. There are seven U.S. Marine Expeditionary Units located around the world with one in Okinawa, Japan, and three on each continental coast of the United States. H u m a ni t a r i a n H e r oe s

Soldiering On: How the Myers-Briggs® Assessment Helps the Brave Find Purpose Back Home in the Land of the Free

An interview with Introduction to Type® and Reintegration authors Elizabeth Hirsh, Katherine Hirsh, and Jim Peak

CPP: In your work with military personnel and their families, what have you found to be the top concerns? Elizabeth: During reintegration, soldiers often don’t know how to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a way their family and loved ones can understand. On the other hand, sometimes they don’t fully recognize that there was also an equally important reality for those at home. Katherine: Reintegration also offers an opportunity for growth. People come back with a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to make a difference. One of the key objectives of the Introduction to Type® and Reintegration booklet is to help people make best use of their gifts. CPP: Why did you write this booklet? How can the Myers-Briggs® assessment be leveraged to help individuals reintegrate? Elizabeth: The booklet speaks to the premise that we are all unique and respond differently to challenges. Becoming conscious of this helps people avoid making reintegration a source of conflict for either themselves or others. Jim: During the reintegration process, people touch on many of the areas that type-based development addresses – communication, relationships, career satisfaction. The MyersBriggs assessment helps individuals learn about their own natural way of doing things, and then teaches them to look outside themselves and begin understanding those around them. CPP: Please tell us about your background and use of the Myers-Briggs assessment with the military population. Jim: I’ve served as a civilian with the military in Saudi Arabia, Japan, and other parts of the world, but my deployment in Iraq was different because of the intensity of the mission 84

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and because I went without my family. When I returned, I experienced many of the feelings we’ve been describing. I had used the Myers-Briggs assessment for years with engineering teams, and my return from Iraq provided the impetus to also apply it to returning soldiers and their family members. Katherine and Elizabeth had been doing work applying the principles of the Myers-Briggs instrument to the healing process, and applying them to reintegration seemed a logical next step. CPP: What makes reintegration such a timely topic? Katherine: With continuing troop withdrawal, we will see more soldiers heading home. While people are aware of issues associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical injury, most don’t realize that simply serving in a combat zone presents reintegration challenges for many service personnel. CPP: How have you seen the Myers-Briggs assessment benefit service members? Jim: In my extensive work with the military, I’ve observed a stereotype of the strong, quiet soldier who doesn’t show emotion. While that may serve them well in certain situations, such as war, everyday life requires a wider range of responses. The Myers-Briggs tool helps break that barrier by giving people a greater understanding of their feelings and preferences, and a language with which to express them effectively. CPP: How do service members typically react to the insight they gain from the assessment? Elizabeth: They often say they wish they had had this information when they first returned home. It would have enabled them to work through the transition and express their unique perspective to family and friends much more effectively.

Reconnect, tap into support, forge new paths, and be better. Coming to terms with all that you have experienced since your deployment can be challenging. Think for a minute about how both you and the world around you changed during that time. Now, as you transition home, you may find yourself reevaluating many aspects of day-to-day life, including your sense of purpose, your personal values, and your beliefs about relationships, family roles, and jobs. And that, on top of all the other demands of readjusting, can be overwhelming indeed. The Myers-Briggs ® assessment and its companion booklet Introduction to Type ® and Reintegration can help guide you in your reintegration journey. Through the use of personality type, they offer you and your significant others valuable insight into your unique reintegration style and explain what will likely help and hinder you. Together, they provide a framework for understanding the reintegration process and for developing strategies to effectively manage your transition home.

Contact your Transition Assistance Office or visit www.cpp.com/welcomehome to learn more about how the Myers-Briggs® assessment and Introduction to Type® and Reintegration can assist you in creating a vision and developing a plan to guide your next steps. From all of us at CPP, welcome home!

800-624-1765 : www.cpp.com : The Myers-Briggs® experts

The people development people.

U.S., Kenyan Demining Training Program By Staff Sgt. Robert Biermann

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Convenient online classes and degree programs. Credit for military training. Discounted tuition rates for servicemembers and family members.

8 6 6 . 3 6 7 . 6 7 8 1 â&#x20AC;˘ M I L I T A R Y. M O U N T A I N S T A T E . E D U ÂŠ2011 Mountain State University. All rights reserved. Mountain State University is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. Mountain State University Is An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Institution.

.S. sailors assigned to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa recently partnered with four Kenyan Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal instructors and more than 30 trainees during a Humanitarian Mine Action Program at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Nairobi, Kenya. The three-week program allowed service members the opportunity to share best practices on safely removing land mines and explosive remnants through several classes and basic practical examinations. It was a productive three weeks with the Kenyan EOD and combat engineers, said U.S. Navy Lt. Junior Grade Jon Maurus, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 officer in charge assigned to CJTFHOA. We had a great opportunity to engage our partners here and share from vast experiences on both sides, with a never-ending goal of strengthening relationships and building trust between our governments. According to Maurus, EOD technicians within the U.S. military and Kenyan Army share many of the same characteristics, which made for an easy and productive visit. It’s nice to work with such motivated and hard-working individuals who continuously seek to increase their knowledge base for selfimprovement, said Maurus. According to U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Craig Jungers, EODMU-11 technician, one such soldier was Kenyan Army Major Edwin Teka. Major Teka was a standout student during the three-week program, said Jungers. He was very involved during the classroom portion and did extremely well during practical exercises. 88

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Teka, 41, is a combat engineer in Isiolo, Kenya. He was the course’s highest-ranking trainee. The course was very good. It has really prepared us to identify munitions for disposal, said Teka. I wish to take my training to a level higher in the future because our army is challenged with disposing of munitions. Kenyan soldiers put their munitions disposal skills to the test in the final week of the program during a controlled detonation at the Kenyan Ministry of Defense StonyAthi Range outside Nairobi. The detonation allowed the Kenyan instructors to tie everything together that the students had learned over the previous two weeks into an actual real-life demolition operation, said Maurus. It was a great success in that the students finally got to see their hard work in action. The KMOD hosted a graduation ceremony to conclude the program. Lt. Col. F.K. Kiriago, HPSS commandant, addressed the trainees and CJTF-HOA members. I know the time was short, but you made sure to complete the syllabus as required, said Kiriago to the trainees. Make use of this knowledge in a positive way and put it to practice. To CJTF-HOA members, we sincerely thank the U.S. government for the instructors from HOA, said Kiriago. This was a great gesture to allow you to come and partner in what we’re doing. After weeks of instruction and practice the Kenyan soldiers are ready to protect against ordnance threats, according to Maurus. I look forward to our next engagement not only to learn and share more, but to see our friends again, said Maurus.

WE ARE MISSION READY Readiness is critical to you. When you select a university to continue your education, you’ll want one that is mission ready with the programs and the people prepared to meet your needs. For more than 50 years, TROY has been honored to serve our nation’s joint forces and their families with quality academic programs taught with mission ready flexibility. With teaching sites around the globe and high tech, yet high touch, online programs through eTROY, an education from Troy University is within reach wherever you may be stationed.

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College Credit for

Military Service

our military service has likely earned you college credit. Many schools and colleges award military students credit towards a degree based on training, coursework, and occupational specialty. You’ve worked hard in the military – now you can save tuition dollars and classroom time! Pursuing your college degree can be the best career move you can make, but it can also be very expensive and time consuming. That’s why claiming credit for your military experience is vital. Applying your military experience credits could save you as much as $600 and 5 months on a typical 3-credit college course. Best of all, using these college credits costs you nothing; you’ve already earned them! The American Council on Education (ACE) was created in 1942 to recognize the educational value of military training and experience. Since that time ACE has continuously evaluated military schools, correspondence courses and occupations to determine the amount and level of academic credit each should be awarded. Through ACE, you can take academic credit for most of the training you have received, including Basic Training. The ACE military evaluations program is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) and coordinated through DANTES. Visit the ACE Military Programs website to see how much credit you may have earned, www.acenet.edu.

Claim Your ACE credits The first step to claiming the credits you have earned is to request a transcript from your military service. Each service will provide unofficial personal copies and send schools an official copy of your transcript at no charge. Each service 90

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AIR FORCE The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) automatically captures your training, experience and standardized test scores. Transcript information may be viewed at the CCAF web site. COAST GUARD The Coast Guard Institute (CGI) requires each Service member to submit documentation of all training (except correspondence course records), along with an enrollment form, to receive a transcript. VETERANS Under most circumstances, Veterans are eligible to use their former service branches transcript program. However if you are not eligible for AARTS, SMART, CCAF, or CGI systems, you will need to fill out form DD-295 and provide your DD-214 Discharge Document to receive credit or your experience. branch has their own system for recording your military education and experience credits. ARMY The Army uses the AARTS system, which automatically captures your academic credits from military training, and Standardized tests. The AARTS system is available to enlisted soldiers only, go to http://aarts.army.mil. Army Officers must use the form DD 295 (Application for Evaluation of Learning) to report their military training and experience. NAVY and MARINE CORPS The Navy and Marine Corps use the SMART system, www.navycollege.navy.mil/transcript.html. This system automatically captures your training, experience and standardized test scores. SMART Homepage

Applying Your ACE Credits In most cases, ACE-recommended credits will be used to fulfill your free-elective requirements, but each college determines the number of credits they will accept, and how they will be applied toward your degree. In fact, some schools may even choose not to grant any credit for military experience. That is why it is critical to shop around for the most “military friendly” school available. One Last Money-Saving Tip Have all of your official transcripts from previous colleges and service branches sent to your new school for evaluation, before you start taking any classes. Many students’ waste valuable time and money taking classes that are unnecessary duplications of previous courses, because they signed up before their military and prior college transcripts were completely evaluated.

“Going from active duty to active student is a major transition. As a peer mentor and a veteran, I’m here to help you every way I can. At UNT, we’re not just military friendly — we’re your military family.” – Kristopher Khastehdel, SSG, USAR UNT veterans peer mentor and vice president, UNT Student Veterans Association

At UNT, we’re committed to your success. We’ve been named a top military friendly school by G.I. Jobs magazine and ranked No. 1 in Texas on the 2010 “Best for Vets” list from Military Times EDGE. Our Veterans Center will help you navigate university resources and select the best degree plan for your future. Choose from 225 degree programs including a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences that leverages the technical training you already have. Apply today and join the nearly 1,200 veterans from all branches of the service who call UNT home.

www.unt.edu/veterans AA/EOE/ADA

2011 UNT URCM

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;As an active duty member of the armed forces, Liberty University Online has afforded me the opportunity to complete my undergraduate degree, as well as progress through a graduate program. Both the instructors and administrators at Liberty Online have provided me with invaluable tools to succeed in academics while performing my military duties.â&#x20AC;? Caleb Nichols, United States Armed Forces Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies

Honoring AmericA’s Heroes by serving tHose wHo sAcrifice for Liberty As one of America’s top military-friendly schools, Liberty University Online offers more than 50 career-ready degree programs and 100 specializations to prepare you for a military career and beyond.

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Upper Iowa University

or over 154 years Upper Iowa University has been proudly serving the men and women in America’s Armed Forces. Beginning with the Civil War and extending to modern day, our university has a rich and proud heritage of supporting the military student and transitioning veteran. In 1973 Upper Iowa launched an external degree program, one of the first in the United States. Today this self-guided, independent study program continues to enable service members stationed around the world with an opportunity to continue their education without having to attend class or have consistent internet access. Deployed military members can work via the U.S. mail or email, depending on their access and location. During the 1990’s, Upper Iowa University established off-campus learning centers on several military installations in order to provide accelerated and convenient degree completion opportunities for service members. These locations included Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Jackson Barracks (New Orleans) Louisiana; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Today, Upper Iowa University has 17 off-campus learning centers in 6 different states. In 1999, Upper Iowa began online program delivery. The program has continued to grow both in enrollment and national reputation. Our online program is delivered in accelerated 8-week terms enabling military personnel to quickly navigate their course work while meeting the many demands of military life. The flexibility of Upper Iowa’s distance learning programs makes them a terrific fit for active duty as well as transitioning service members. They have two options to continue with their education goals and can select the best delivery program based on their preferred learning method and the demands of their current assignment and/ or family situation. No matter where military personnel are stationed around the globe, Upper Iowa University can meet their educational needs. Students can study at any time and from anywhere. We offer a tuition discount for all actively serving members of the military. The discount is extended to spouses and military retirees and their spouses. For military students utilizing tuition assistance (TA), we promise to keep our undergraduate tuition rates at or below

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the military TA cap. Additionally, we work hard to ensure that our admissions staff, academic advisors and financial aid counselors are well trained and understand military and veteran’s benefits in order to provide our military students with first-class customer service. As a regionally accredited, non-profit university, Upper Iowa University applies progressive transfer policies for previous college credits and credits awarded through CLEP and DSST examinations. We also recognize and award maximum credit from military schools and military occupational specialties so students enter the program with as many requirements satisfied as possible. Because service to our country can create special circumstances, we have implemented policies that make earning a degree even easier. This is evidenced by the fact that Upper Iowa has been consistently recognized as one of the top military-friendly colleges and universities by Military Advanced Education and GI Jobs. Upper Iowa University’s vision is to be recognized and respected as an exceptional and ascending institution of higher learning, developing global citizens who become lifelong learners prepared for leadership within society. To this end, our university will continue to support and meet the educational goals of the men and women in America’s Armed Forces. For more information regarding this military friendly school, please visit www.uiu.edu/military or email at distance@uiu.edu.

Kenya Martin Criminal Justice major

Upcoming Changes to the Post - 9/11 GI Bill

he Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 has been signed into law. This page lists changes made to the GI Bill that may affect you.

Effective August 1, 2009 – Payable On October 1, 2011 Expands the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include Active Service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard; or under section 502(f ) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency. Effective March 5, 2011 Limits active duty members to the net cost for tuition and fees prorated based on the eligibility tiers (40%-100%) previously established for Veterans. • Same limitations apply to transferee spouses of active duty servicemembers Effective August 1, 2011 For Veterans and their transferees – simplifies the tuition and fee rates for those attending a public school and creates a national maximum for those enrolled in a private or foreign school. • Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees • Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 annually • Yellow Ribbon Program still exists for out-of-state fees and costs above the cap For Active Duty Members and their transferees – creates a national rate for those active duty members enrolled in a private or foreign school pursuing a degree. • Pays all public school in-state tuition and fees • Private and foreign school costs are capped at $17,500 per academic year (an academic year begins August 1) Allows VA to pay MGIB (chapter 30) and MGIB-SR (chapter 1606) ‘kickers’, or college

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fund payments, on a monthly basis instead of a lump sum at the beginning of the term. Prorates housing allowance by the student’s rate of pursuit (rounded to the nearest tenth). • A student training at a rate of pursuit of 75% would receive 80% of the BAH rate. Break or interval pay is no longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under an Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency, such as a natural disaster or strike. • This means when the semester ends (e.g. December 15th), housing allowances are paid for the first 15 days of December only and begins again when the next semester begins (e.g. January 10th) and is paid for the remaining days of January. • Students using other VA education programs are included in this change. Monthly benefits will be pro-rated in the same manner. • Entitlement that previously would’ve been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment. Allows reimbursement for more than one “license or certification” test (previously only one test was allowed). However, entitlement is now charged. Allows reimbursement of fees paid to take national exams used for admission to an institution of higher learning (e.g., SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT). Allows those who are eligible for both Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (chapter 31) benefits and Post-9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33) benefits to choose the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s monthly housing allowance instead of the chapter 31 subsistence allowance. NOAA and PHS personnel are now eligible to transfer their entitlement to eligible dependents.

Effective October 1, 2011 Allows students to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill for – • Non-college degree (NCD) programs: Non-college degree (NCD) programs offered at non-degree granting schools: Pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees or $17,500, whichever is less. Also pays up to $83 per month for books and supplies. • On-the-job and apprenticeship training: Pays a monthly benefit amount prorated based on time in program and up to $83 per month for books and supplies. • Flight programs: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $10,000, whichever is less. • Correspondence training: Per academic year, pays the actual net costs for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the school or $8,500, whichever is less. Housing allowance is now payable to students (other than those on active duty) enrolled solely in distance learning. The housing allowance payable is equal to ½ the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents. • The full-time rate for an individual eligible at the 100% eligibility tier would be $673.50 for 2011. Allows students on active duty to receive a book and supplies stipend.

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DUTY. HONOR. EDUCATION. YOUR MISSION: AdvANce YOUR lIfe bY eARNINg YOUR degRee Achieving a quality education is affordable and within reach. Thanks to Ashford’s Military Tuition Grant, undergraduate courses are only $250 per credit plus applicable fees, and Ashford provides learning materials for all required courses. These

benefits are available to eligible service members, spouses, and dependents. Plus, your military training can translate into college credit. That’s just the beginning – to learn more about your benefits, call Ashford University® today.

CAll 800.510.6276 or visit militAry.Ashford.edu/freedom

11auaM1073 • aC-02 5 5

400 North Bluff Blvd.

CliNtoN, iA 52732

Accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www. ncahlc.org). For more information about on-time completion rates, the median loan debt of students who completed each program, and other important information, visit military.ashford.edu/pd.

• Other costs or fees for optional items that are not required to take an approved test.

t ek reimbursemen Remember to se g fees. for covered testin

Does every applicant for a national test need to have filed an original claim for benefits? Yes. Every applicant for reimbursement for a national test must have filed an original application for chapter 30, 32 (or sec. 903), or 35 at some point and have been found eligible. Is there a particular form that I must submit to receive reimbursement for a national test? No. The best way to claim the benefit to submit the following: 1 A copy of your test results and 2 A signed note or a signed VA Form 21-4138, Statement in Support of Claim, stating that you are requesting reimbursement for the cost of a national test. The following information is required: • Name of the Test • Name of the organization offering the test

GI BILL W

hen you’ve decided it’s time to put your education benefits to work for you, here’s a list of the various tests, exams and fees that are covered.

tainment Brigade,

Captain Ning Ag bay, IO and battl e captain for 37 Support Battalio 3rd Combat Susta n, assists two stu inment dents during th e Functional Ac ademic Skills co urse.

What test fees does VA reimburse? While VA will reimburse a person for required test fees, VA has no authority to reimburse a person for any optional costs related to the testing process. Test fees that VA will reimburse include • • • • • • 98

Registration fees Fees for specialized tests Administrative fees. Fees VA will not reimburse include: Fees to take pre-tests (such as Kaplan tests) Fees to receive scores quickly

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Jenkins, 3rd Sus

SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) LSAT (Law School Admission Test) GRE (Graduate Record Exam) GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) AP (Advanced Placement Exam) CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) ACT (American College Testing Program) DAT (Dental Admissions Test) MAT (Miller Analogies Test) MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) OAT (Optometry Admissions Testing) PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) ECE (Excelsior College Examinations)

Photo: Pfc. Ashley

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

3rd ID

What tests are approved? Currently the only approved tests are:

• Date the person took the test • Cost of taking the test • A signed statement authorizing release of your test information to the VA General Rule Regarding Receipts: You do not normally have to submit a receipt or proof of payment for the cost. However, in certain instances, it is necessary to submit this evidence. These situations are the following • DSST Tests (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) • Certain situations regarding the CLEP, MAT, and PCAT tests NOTE: if you cannot provide a copy of the test results, request duplicate test results from the testing organization.

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YOUR SERVICE. NOW WE’RE READY TO SERVE YOU. BRYANT &STRATTON COLLEGE IS ASERVICEMEMBER OPPORTUNITY CONSORTIUM (SOC)COLLEGE .

• With 17 regional campuses and a strong online program, Bryant & Stratton College offers military personnel and their family members a quality, career-focused education wherever they’re stationed now and in the future. • All our degree programs – in business, healthcare, technology and the legal field – are approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and our on-site military coordinators and VA certifying officials will help guide you from day one. • Our flexible day, evening, weekend and online classes help active-duty, reserve and veteran personnel fit college into their lives. • We offer special military-specific campus events plus a variety of scholarship and financial aid opportunities for those who qualify. • Our lifetime career advisement can help you find a position after you graduate. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.

Ask about our “Salute To Spouses” scholarships! *Available at select campuses only.

To learn more, visit us at:

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Education for Servicemembers

Academic Skills Programs – These programs offer service members opportunities to update or enhance basic academic competencies in areas such as English, reading, writing, speaking, and mathematics. High School Diploma – This program provides full reimbursement for the cost of studies and testing leading to service members receiving a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential.

Photo: Chris Rasmussen

The Department of Defense (DoD) offers the following programs and services to assist service members in achieving their education goals: expenses for service members taking courses at colleges and universities. TA is not a loan that needs to be repaid, but rather a benefit earned for serving in the military, similar to base pay. Different eligibility criteria, obligation of service requirements, application processes, and restrictions exist for each branch of Service.

Transcript Services – Each branch of Service offers transcript Instructor Lynette Leventis conducts a services to track and document Basic Skills Education Progra m class at the Fort Jackson Army Continuing a service member’s or veteran’s Education Services Center. Examinations Program – military coursework and training. This program allows service These transcripts can be obtained by members to earn certificates, licenses, college credits, and a high school the service member or veteran at no cost and sent to accredited universities diploma, as well as satisfy entrance and employment requirements, with and colleges for use in obtaining college credit for military experiences. successful completion of tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps have partnered with ACE to use the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT), and the National Teacher Exam (NTE). Army / ACE Registry Transcript System (AARTS) and the Sailor / Marine Military Evaluations Program – The American Council on Education / ACE Transcript System (SMARTS). Transcripts for Air Force and Coast (ACE), under DoD contract, develops credit recommendations based on Guard personnel are available from the Community College of the Air Force its evaluation of Service school courses, military training, and most enlisted (CCAF) and the Coast Guard Institute (CGI), respectively. occupations. Most colleges and universities award college credit based on Loan Repayment Programs – These programs are offered to qualified these recommendations. service members to assist in managing college debts. After each completed Independent Study and External Degree Programs – These programs year of active duty service, the military pays 33-1/3 percent or $1,500, allow service members the opportunity for academic advancement through whichever is greater, on the total remaining original principle balance. flexible scheduling, little or no residency requirements, and nontraditional Programs for Afloat College Education (PACE) – PACE offers Sailors at approaches to education, such as distance learning through broadcast video, sea the opportunity to continue their college studies. PACE is free for the Sailor recorded video, interactive CD-ROM, teleconferencing, or the Internet. (the only cost is for books) and offers courses taught by civilian instructors Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) – SOC is a network of aboard the ship or access to college classes using computer technology. colleges and universities that has partnered with DoD to meet the educational Installation Education Centers can provide service members with more needs of the mobile military community. SOC schools have minimum information on any of the voluntary education programs. The Department residency requirements, accept credit transferred from other member of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits website can also assist service institutions, and award credit for military training, experience, and results members in obtaining information about VA-administered programs. of nationally recognized testing programs. To address the specific needs of Individual branches of Service voluntary education websites are listed below: different branches of Service, SOC has designated five individual degree networks: SOCAD (Army), SOCNAV (Navy), SOCMAR (Marine Corps), Installation Education Centers – SOCCOAST (Coast Guard), and SOCGUARD (National Guard). www.dantes.doded.mil/Dantes_web/apps/edcenters/EdCenterSearch.aspx

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Postsecondary Degree Programs – The primary focus of DoD voluntary education programs is to enable service members to earn college credit towards an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree. In many cases, the courses are offered on military installations or are available to service members who are at sea or deployed.

Army – Army Continuing Education System (ACES) – www.hrc.army.mil/site/education/index.html

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) Program – The TA Program authorizes all of the branches of Service to pay 100 percent of the cost of tuition

Air Force – Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) – www.my.af.mil/faf/FAF/fafHome.jsp

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Marine Corps – Marine Corps Lifelong Learning – www.usmc-mccs.org/education/index.cfm Navy – Navy College Program (NCP) – www.navycollege.navy.mil

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ull-time or 3/4-time students in a college degree program, a vocational program or professional program, can “earn while they learn” with the VA Student Work-Study

Allowance Program. Don’t rely on this document to

determine you’re eligibility for work-study or education benefits, to receive a formal decision from the VA, you must file a claim for benefits. The VA work-study allowance is available to persons training under the following programs: • Post-9/11 GI Bill (38 U.S.C. Chap 33) • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (38 U.S.C. Chap 30) • REAP Participants

VA-related work at the school or at VA facilities in the area. How Much May I Earn? Earnings are equal to the hourly Federal minimum wage, or the State minimum wage, whichever is greater. Students in a workstudy job at a college or university may be paid the difference by the school between the amount VA pays and the amount the school normally pays other work-study students doing the same job as you. Students may elect to be paid in advance for 40 percent of the number of hours in their work-study agreement, or for 50 hours, whichever is less. After the hours covered by the first payment is completed, VA will then pay for each time 50 hours of service is completed.

• Processing VA paperwork at schools or VA offices • Performing outreach services under the supervision of a VA employee • Performing services at VA medical facilities • Performing services at VA offices of the Nat’l Cemetery Administration The work you actually do will depend on your interests and the type of work available. For forms and information the following offices or representatives can assist you: • Any VA regional office • Any VA office or Vet Center • Local representatives of Veterans organizations

Students may work during or between periods of enrollment and can arrange with the VA to work any number of hours wanted during enrollment. However, the total number of hours worked can’t be more than 25 times the number of weeks in the enrollment period.

Private First Class Tiffany Gordon (far seat) and Pfc . Jill Logan, paralegal specialists, HH OC, 25th CAB, 25th Inf. Div ., work on their on-line courses at the computer lab in the Conting ency Operating Base Speicher Education Center, COB Spe icher, Oct.

VA will select students for the workstudy program based on different factors, including: • Disability of the student • Ability of student to complete workstudy contract before end of eligibility to education benefits • Job availability within normal commuting distance to the student • Veterans with a service-connected disability rated by VA at 30% or more. • The number of applicants selected will depend on the availability of 102

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• Reserve Education and Incentives Officers • Download an application: www.gibill.va.gov/documents/ pamphlets/work_study_program.pdf VA work-study must be related to VA work such as lity. working at a VA medical faci

What Type of Work? Services performed under a VA work-study program must be related to VA work. Examples of acceptable work are:

Consult a telephone directory under United States Government, Department of Veterans Affairs, for the telephone number of the office nearest you. Toll-free telephone service is available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. Call 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or for the hearing impaired call 1- 800-829-4833.

Photo: Staff Sgt. Mike Albe rts 25th

• Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. Chap 1606) • Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chap 32) • Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (38 U.S.C. Chap 35) • Dependents under 38 U.S.C. Chap 35 may use work-study only while training in a State. • National Call to Service Participants • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program (38 U.S.C. Chap 31)

Combat Aviation Brigade

Student Work-Study A l lo w a n c e P r o g r a m

Welcome Home To Those Serving in the Armed Forces Get where you want to go with HPU’s military friendly education programs • Traditional classroom and online degree programs • Regionally Accredited Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees • Flexible course scheduling and formats • Free evaluation of transfer and military training credits • Military spouse scholarships Off Island Advising mcponline@hpu.edu 808-687-7071/808-687-7072

Graduate Advising mcpgrad@hpu.edu 808-687-7070

Veteran’s Benefits va@hpu.edu 808-356-5222

Regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). A member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), eArmyU/GoArmyEd, and Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership (NCPDLP).

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www.hpu.edu/military • 1-866-CALL-HPU

Hawai‘i Pacific University

Active-Duty Military Education Benefits

he military understands the value of education. The need for soldiers who can speak multiple languages, analyze technical data, and work with sophisticated equipment requires servicemembers who have earned a higher education. To help military personnel get the training they need to advance in and outside of the military, each service branch offers an array of military education benefits.

Photo: Dijon Rolle, USAG Wuerttemberg Public Affairs Office

Tuition Assistance: Pay for School While Serving on Active Duty One of the most valuable benefits for active-duty soldiers is Tuition Assistance. This program is courtesy of the Department of Defense, but is administered by the individual branches of the armed forces. Tuition Assistance (TA) can be used to pay up to 100 percent of a servicemember’s tuition while taking eligible courses during off-duty hours. Tuition Assistance benefits are capped at $250 per semester credit hour, with a $4,500 yearly cap.

The Army College Fund is an additional incentive that can increase the value of the GI Bill by $40,000 in exchange for a six-year enlistment into a critical skill. While the Army College Fund is not technically part of the GI Bill, it is an enlistment incentive option that must be used in conjunction with one of the GI Bills. Benefits to Pay Down Student Loans The Student Loan Repayment Program is an enlistment incentive option for servicemembers who may already have student loans when entering the armed services. When an individual enlists for three years, he or she can opt to have up to $65,000 of existing eligible student loans repaid during the term of service. Military Scholarships for Dependents Serving on active duty not only makes the servicemember eligible for a range of military education benefits, it can also make his or her family eligible. There are many branch-specific benefits for dependents of soldiers, and schools may offer additional scholarships for military family members.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Tindal, HHC V Corps, and Pvt. Ashley Sample, 30th MED, receive help from Louis Dean, education services specialist, at the Patton Barracks education center.

cific benefits for There are many branch-spe ools may offer sch dependents of soldiers, and itary family mil for ps rshi ola sch additional members.

For those who qualify for the GI Bill, the Tuition Assistance Top-Up program can help pay for costs beyond TA maximums. While traditional Tuition Assistance doesn’t impact GI Bill benefits, using the Top-Up slightly reduces one’s overall GI Bill benefits. GI Bill Options for Active Duty Members Like Tuition Assistance, the GI Bill is another military-wide education benefit. The GI Bill is typically used after separation from the military, and has two main forms: the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Eligibility requirements for each are different, and choosing which one to use depends on the servicemember’s education goals. Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB): One must sign up for this version of the GI Bill at the time of enlistment. To participate, $100 monthly payroll contributions are deducted from the servicemember’s paychecks for one year. Three continuous years on active duty must be served in order to be eligible for up to 36 months of MGIB benefits. The MGIB pays a fixed monthly sum directly to the servicemember for tuition and fees. 104

Post-9/11 GI Bill: The new GI Bill offers tuition and fees (paid directly to the school), a housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies. Eligibility varies depending on length of service, but military personnel who serve at least 90 days of active duty on or after September 11, 2001 may be eligible. No servicemember contribution is required for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.

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Army: The State-Side Education Assistance Program (SSEAP) is an annual scholarship paying spouses and retired spouses/widows(ers) living in the U.S. to attend school full-time Navy: The Naval Special Warfare Foundation awards scholarships to dependents/spouses of active duty SEALS on a need-based criteria

Marines: The Travers Scholarship Program provides up to $2,000 scholarships to need-based active duty Marines spouses or retired Marine spouses/children Air Force: The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program awards $2,000 scholarships to need-based dependent spouses/children of active duty, retired, or deceased Air Force members. The Education Services Office can be a good resource for servicemembers who would like a listing of all the dependent tuition assistance programs available. Additionally, it’s a good idea for servicemembers to not overlook the various service organizations as most have scholarship programs. Finally, many military friendly schools award their own scholarships or discounts. This information should be requested while servicemembers are doing school or program research, or at least during the application process.

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Thomas Edison State College Expands Nuclear Program Options

homas Edison State College has expanded the areas of study under the Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology (BSAST) program for students interested in an engineering career in the nuclear power industry. Students can now earn a BSAST degree in nuclear energy engineering technology, a 126-credit degree program designed to prepare students for career pathways in the engineering field. The College still offers students the 120-credit BSAST degree program in nuclear engineering technology, which has long been popular with students who have completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training program.

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Dr. Thomas G. Devine

“Both programs prepare students to perform competently in reactor operations, health physics, quality assurance, chemical technology and instrumentation and control technology and are appropriate for nuclear industry personnel who aspire to function in supervisory roles in maintenance, scheduling and operations,” said Dr. Thomas G. Devine, acting dean of the School of Applied Science at Technology at Thomas Edison State College. The main difference between the two programs is that the 126-credit BSAST program in nuclear energy engineering technology has different requirements, including additional nuclear electives, a radiation analysis lab, electrical theory and a four-credit capstone course, which are not required in the 120-credit BSAST program in nuclear engineering technology. The nuclear energy engineering technology area of study was developed to prepare students for career pathways in the engineering function within the nuclear industry and support the ability to attain a professional engineering license. Both programs honor the College’s long history of developing programs that meet the unique needs of active duty military

personnel and maximize military training that can be applied as credit toward the degree. “We have been providing specialized educational opportunities for members of the United States military for nearly 40 years,” said Louis Martini, director of Military and Veteran Education at Thomas Edison State College. “We continue to play a pioneering role in the development of degree programs specifically for enlisted personnel that optimize military training and experience.” The College is a long-standing member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) and is a SOC Network member institution. The College also holds a Memorandum of Understanding with Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) as an external degree partner. The College’s Military Degree Completion Program accommodates the special needs of military personnel, whose location, relocation and time constraints make traditional college attendance difficult – if not impossible. It allows enlisted men and women to engage in a degree program wherever they are stationed or deployed. The College is also proud to be a participating institution of the GoArmyEd program, the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership, the Navy College Program for Afloat Education, the Air Force General Education Mobile program, the Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement College Partnership and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. For more information about degree programs for military service members and veterans, earning credit for military training or the new area of study in nuclear energy engineering technology, please contact the Office of Military and Veteran Education at (866) 446-1804 or militaryhelp@tesc.edu.

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Thomas Edison State College Military Degree Completion Program (MDCP). Military-friendly program Associate, Baccalaureate, Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees, and Certificate programs Liberal transfer credit policies Multiple course delivery options Military training and previously earned college credit, certification, and licenses may be applied toward your degree New terms begin every month!

To apply online, visit military.tesc.edu. To learn more, call 1.888.442.8372 or e-mail us at militaryeducation@tesc.edu.

What Is REAP? REAP (Chapter 1607 of title 10, U.S. Code) is a new education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard, who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. Who Is Eligible? Eligibility is determined by the Department of Defense (DoD) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as appropriate. Generally, a member of a Reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, U.S. Code, for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation, is eligible for REAP. There is no specific time frame to use REAP. However, your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves. National Guard members are eligible if their active service extends for 90 consecutive days or more and their service is:

Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB) rate based on the number of continuous days served on active duty. Persons released before 90 days due to an injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated in the line of duty receive the 40% rate. Current rates of payment can be found on our Internet web site or by calling the toll-free number below. • Members who serve 90 days but less than 1 year will receive 40% of the MGIB 3-year rate. • Members who serve 1 year but less than 2 years will receive 60% of the MGIB 3-year rate. • Members who serve 2 or more continuous years will receive 80% of the MGIB 3-year rate. The amount VA pays is based on the type of training program and training time (i.e. full time, half time, etc). If attendance

is less than a month or less than full-time, payments are reduced proportionately. What Programs Are Available? • College or University Degree Programs • Flight Training • Vocational Programs • On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship Programs • Independent Study or Distance Learning Programs • Entrepreneurship Courses • Correspondence Courses Note: VA does not approve schools or programs for benefits. Each individual state approves schools and courses. To find out if your school or program is approved for VA educational benefits under REAP, contact your school’s VA Certifying Official, or call VA at the toll-free number below. Photo: SPC Alicia Torbush

REAP

Reserve Educational Assistance Program

• authorized under section 502(f ), title 32, U.S. Code, • authorized by the President or Secretary of Defense for a national emergency, and • supported by federal funds. How Much Does VA Pay? The educational assistance allowance payable under REAP is a percentage of the Spc. Travis Dobson, 17th Fires Brigade, discusses education and career options with Jessica Partida, Education Services Specialist, at David L. Stone Education Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

How Can You Apply? Once you find a program approved for VA training, complete VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits, and send it to the VA regional office that serves the state where you will train. Indicate on the form you are applying for REAP. You can also apply online through our web site at http:// vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp. Eligible programs available through REAP include flight training.

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For More Information, Call 1-888-442-4551 or go to www.gibill.va.gov.

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Central Baptist College’s Professional Adult College Education (PACE) program offers adults with daily obligations the time to pursue and complete their educational goals. While attending classes from 6 PM to 10 PM, one night per week, our students are free to handle daily matters.

Let PACE help you achieve your educational goals along with your busy lifestyle. For details on upcoming information sessions and enrollment contact us at:

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VEAP

Veterans Educational Assistance Program

EAP is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. The Government will match your contributions on a $2 for $1 basis. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available. Benefit entitlement is 1 to 36 months depending on the number of monthly contributions. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. If there is entitlement not used after the 10-year period, your portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded. Eligibility To qualify, you must meet the following requirements: ntered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, • E and June 30, 1985; • O pened a contribution account before April 1, 1987; • V oluntarily contributed from $25 to $2700; • C ompleted your first period of service; and • W ere discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. • I f you are currently on active duty and wish to receive VEAP benefits, you must have at least 3 months of contributions available. Contributions may be withdrawn if you do not meet the basic eligibility requirements or if you formally request a refund of the contributions withheld.

You have 10 years from your date release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. 110

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How To Apply You should make sure that your selected program is approved for VA training. If you are not clear on this point, VA will inform you and the school or company about the requirements. Obtain and complete VA Form 22-1990, Application for Education Benefits. Send it to the VA regional office with jurisdiction over the State where you will train. If you are not on active duty, send copy 4 (Member Copy) of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty. If you are on active duty, you must have your enrollment approved by your base Education Services Officer, and you must have your service verified by your Commanding Officer. If you have started training, take your application and Member Copy of DD Form 214 to your school or employer. Ask them to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send all the forms to VA. If you wish to withdraw your contributions from VEAP, obtain and complete VA Form 22-5281, Application for Refund of Educational Contributions, and send it to your nearest VA regional office.

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University of Mary Degrees for Military, Civilian Careers

hroughout its history, the University of Mary has specialized in adultfriendly education programs. Today, with its participation in the Yellow Ribbon Education Enhancement Program, a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, U-Mary is also military-friendly. Since the Yellow Ribbon Program took effect, U-Mary has provided increased undergraduate and graduate tuition benefits to military veterans and service members that meet Veterans Administration qualifications. U-Mary offers unlimited enrollment in both its undergraduate and graduate programs through the Yellow Ribbon Program to serve all veterans who want an education based on Christian, Catholic and Benedictine values. “For many years, the University of Mary has offered graduate scholarships to active duty military and National Guard students, and the Yellow Ribbon Program makes a U-Mary education affordable to even more military students,” says Brenda Kaspari, vice president for enrollment services. “Enabling these men and women to earn their degree is one small way we can thank them for their service.”

For over 50 years, U-Mary has made serving adults a priority. With that experience has come a keen understanding of the unique needs of adult learners, in terms of time commitment, class structure and approach. Classes are typically five to seven weeks in length, allowing some degrees to be earned in as few as 15 months. Programs are structured in a “cohort” format, in which students learn from each other in a group of adult student peers. U-Mary’s online degree programs are well suited to military and civilian careers. Military credits are accepted toward any of U-Mary’s bachelor’s programs: • Accounting • Business, with concentrations in human resources, management and marketing • Information Technology Management • Organizational Leadership • Nursing Master’s programs include: • Strategic Leadership • Project Management • MBA, with concentrations in accountancy, executive, health care, human

resource management and management • Nursing, with concentrations in nurse administrator, nurse educator and family nurse practitioner (blended online, on-site format) Faculty, leaders in their specialties with advanced degrees, and an individual academic advisor work closely with students to facilitate learning. The advisorfaculty team partners with each student to promote consistent communication, academic support and – most importantly – academic success. This all combines to make the University of Mary a “military friendly” school, with recognition including ranking among the Military Advanced Education Top Military Friendly Colleges and Universities for four straight years; 2008 North Dakota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Above and Beyond Award; and G.I. Jobs Military Friendly School for two years running. “U-Mary is committed to helping military personnel earn their degrees and create a brighter future for themselves and their families,” concludes Kaspari.

For more information about the University of Mary’s programs, call 1-800-408-6279, ext. 8353, e-mail cade@umary.edu, or visit www.umary.edu/cade. 112

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Values based. Accelerated. Online education. It’s a complicated world. Having ethical leaders is more important than ever before. At the University of Mary—a Christian, Catholic and Benedictine university— students are encouraged to seek the truth, to see themselves as whole and unique individuals responsible to God, and to become leaders in the service of truth. Earn a degree that will advance your military or civilian career. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees can be earned completely online, some in as few as 15 months. U-Mary has been honored as a military-friendly school by Military Advanced Education, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, and G.I. Jobs, ’10, ’11.

800-408-6279, ext. 8353 | www.umary.edu/cade CENTERS FOR ACCELERATED & DISTANCE EDUCATION