Salute To Heroes Newspaper September Issue by Salute To Heroes

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Should sequestration resume in fiscal year 2016, “it will be very difficult for us to lead around the world. Fiscal year 2016 is a breaking point,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, adding, “I’m not seeing peace breaking out around the world in [2016].” Odierno delivered his remarks Friday, at a Defense Writers Group, at the Fairmont Hotel here, where he was guest speaker.

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Some families have a history of military service, whether it be cross-service or within the same branch. It is somewhat less common however, to have two consecutive generations not only serve in the same branch of the military, but to pursue the same career field. This is the case with Senior Airman Danielle Repp, 351st Air Refueling Squadron boom operator from Spokane, Washington, and her father, Daniel Repp. Both Repps chose to be boom operators, with Danielle entering the Air Force in 2012 and Daniel entering in 1981.

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The Ashford University Leadership Award honors local students and teachers who excel in helping those around them reach their full potential. Reach your potential through duty, honor, and education. Visit military.ashford.edu. MIKE BIRD After 25 years in teaching, Mike Bird feels his greatest accomplishments in education come in the form of notes, written by students reflecting on his “kindness, respect, and big heart.” “Each day I try to bring a passion, love, and enthusiasm into the classroom about my subject matter that hopefully, somehow rubs off on my students,” says Bird. “If my students leave my classroom at the end of the year with a greater appreciaEILEEN BAGG-RIZZO

tion of the world around them and how it works, I feel that I have fulfilled my purpose as an educator.” In his Geoscience and Physics classroom at Mt. Carmel High School, Mike encourages his students to “discover” answers by thinking through problems, trial and error, questioning, and spending time in research and collaboration. This process of discovery takes on different forms including computer programs that allow students to visualize certain events, gather data, and then

use that data to reach conclusions about scientific concepts and principles. Students in Mike’s classroom also engage in a great deal of hands-on learning. “Whether it is teaching the rock cycle to a Geoscience class through the use of melted Starburst Candy, or teaching about flotation and Archimedes’ Principle to a Physics class through the famous Physics Boat Project, students are becoming more connected with science and the world around them.”

teaching since 1990. She also coaches Varsity Swim, has been a Department Chairperson, and has served as Coordinator for the AP Challenge Grant, a literacy program, and the English Language Learner’s program. “Eileen is an outstanding instructor, a natural leader, and (she makes) Santana a better place,” Santana Principal Tim Schwuchow said when she was named a GUHSD teacher of the year. A student of Ms. Bagg-Rizzo wrote: “Remarkable teachers give students life skills that are applicable both inside and outside of the classroom for

the rest of their lives. Mrs. Bagg-Rizzo is a genuinely remarkable teacher.” Santee dominated this year’s Grossmont Union High School District Teacher of the Year awards, with two local teachers being chosen as the top of the pack to send to the San Diego County Teacher of the Year competition. Randy Cambou, an A.P. Government Teacher at West Hills, was among the 45 teachers in the running for the five tops spots and was named a GUHSD Teacher of the Year.

Tara Goldstone is Vice-President of the Junior San Diego Army Advisory Council and an incoming Senior at Poway High School.

to Heroes Newspaper as an artist. She has been enrolled in Junior ROTC and a member of the marksmanship team. Tara comes from a loving family and enjoys traveling with her younger brother Kyle to visit family and friends.

bership Program (SMP). She would like to attend the University of Southern California, earn her Commission and become an Officer while pursuing her work career as a Japanese Anime Artist, eventually working on television and movies.

Tara has been very involved in the Junior San Diego Army Advisory Council the last several years supporting events, leading fundraisers and contributing to the Salute

Tara is considering joining the Army after high school, possibly joining the Army Reserves and pursuing her Commission through the Army’s Simultaneous Mem-

Santana High School teacher Eileen Bagg-Rizzo was named one of five San Diego County Teachers of the Year at a recent ceremony and dedicated her award to the school. When she received her award she referenced her experience during the Santana shooting in 2001 and told the crowd: “We will always be one school, one heart.” Eileen Bagg-Rizzo teaches English and Team Excel, a course in the Environmental Design Pathway at Santana, where she has been TARA GOLDSTONE

KENZIE HALL

(and son of a wounded warrior) to see the entrepreneur and author, Stedman GraBroadway production of Superman and go ham. Kenzie Hall knew what it was like to worry up on stage to meet the actors. Kenzie has moved 10 times, so far. At one about a parent deployed to a combat zone. point, she attended three schools in one When she was eleven, her father was de- Kenzie’s efforts attracted the attention of a year. “I think most kids who are not in the ployed to Afghanistan. To help her and her national charity, The Boot Campaign. She military are not used to adapting to change” sister refocus their sadness and worry, her was invited to move BratPack11 to be a fea- she says, “If not for my dad’s deployments parents suggested that during that year, tured program under The Boot Campaign I would never had started a non-profit to Kenzie and her sister could pursue a big umbrella in December 2013. help military kids. dream they had – acting. The girls both In March 2014, BratPack 11 granted a wish I have seen a lot of the world and what it took acting classes and even traveled to Los to a gold star Texas family with a surprise has to offer. I take those lessons and use Angeles for auditions. Kenzie was delighted trip to Los Angeles to meet their favorite them to create my own success.” As she to redirect her energy and she thought oth- stars. Two young sisters toured several looks to her future, Kenzie would like to coner military kids should “live their dream”. studios and met celebrities including their tinue growing BratPack 11 (she’s currently From there, Bratpack 11 was born – grant- favorite Disney star, Debbie Ryan. Debbie designing a T-shirt line) and plans to start ing big dream wishes to military kids who surprised them during a studio tour and an online blog where military kids can find had a parent injured or killed in combat. gave them a behind-the-scenes tour. Myra support or just chat with other military kids. Brandenburg of The Boot Campaign nomi- She will continue working on these goals, all Kenzie has developed Bratpack 11 for nated Kenzie and says, “There aren’t very while pursuing her first love, acting. the past five years, recruiting volunteers, many children whose lives are devoted to producing a 3-minute public service an- serving others. . . Kenzie is among a rare Kenzie is the daughter of Jason and Aerica nouncement and making cold calls to few who get it. Life is more than serving Hall and has a younger sister, Madison. Her prospective donors (she said this is the yourself. father, Jason, is a Captain stationed with the hardest part, donors do not always take It’s about using your gifts and talents cre- U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion in Southern her seriously due to her young age). So atively for the benefit of others...not only is California. She comes from a long line of far, this budding charity has granted a few Kenzie giving of herself but she is inspiring military service including two great grandfadream wishes – the first was a five day all- others to join her in the process!” Kenzie’s thers who served in the Navy—both served expenses trip to Disneyland to a gold star philanthropy work earned her a spot at the in WWII and one retired from the Navy. Her family who lost their father in combat and distinguished Teens Can Make It Happen grandfather served in the Air Force, as well arranging for a young Spiderman superfan Conference hosted by famed marketing as an uncle and great uncle.

FORT IRWIN NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER Health care technology advancements have soared during the past 75 years. Through the years the U.S. Army has managed to upgrade its medical equipment inside its hospitals worldwide. However, many of the Army’s medical buildings were not built for modern-day technology. Such as: • Kaiserslautern Military Hospital, located in Germany, was built in 1938 by the Nazis and still is used as an United States Army Clinic • Tripler Army Medical Center, located in Hawaii, was completed in 1949 and is designated as a historic building, which the military is still using. • Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley in Kansas was designed in the 1930s and construction began in 1947. It has been in operation since 1952. And then there is Weed Army Community Hospital inside Fort Irwin National Training Center. It was built in 1966. A 2003 Government Accountability Office report stated the obvious: Facilities were deteriorating, which made the properties a high-risk of military concern. According to Maj. Scott Shopa, the architectural technology at many military installations was out of date. Many were built before computers and air conditioning. Thanks to extra money allocated by Congress, the Army is slowly replacing those ancient buildings with new ones. “We are making a lot of progress,” said Shopa, who is he project manager for a new facility being built at Fort Irwin to replace Weed. The $162 million project is 15 percent completed and is expected to be fully completed by mid-2016. “The present building has changed a lot, but still doesn’t meet the changes in modern health care you would expect in 2014,” he said. “The building was built before computers. We had to retrofit these (modern) capabilities on an old platform (building).” Shopa said the new facility is not that much bigger the present one, but it is being built with modern health care guidelines. “An example might be — the old guideplates from 1960, what the first hospital was designed from, would have an exam room of about 100 square feet. The standard new guideplates would be 110 feet. So a little larger,” Shopa said. “We’re not trying to add extra space. We are trying to develop a modern healthcare platform. Something that has 360-enhanced health benefits. An example of that is patients do better in calm environment. You do better when you have access to sunlight and the outdoors.” “So there is going to be a lot of windows. There are going to be healing areas. You are going to have sound compression.” Shopa points out that with a population of 15,000 soldiers and families, baby deliveries are a big part of the Fort Irwin facility. The 40-mile trip to Barstow Community Hospital could be difficult for expectant mothers living at Fort Irwin. So the new hospital is being built with live-and-delivery rooms. “Mothers don’t have to leave the room after giving birth,” Shopa said. “The mother stays in the room. Recovers in that room until she leaves. That’s a big difference.” In the old hospital, Shopa said patients staying in the mid-surgery area had to leave their room to take a shower. The new facility will have showers and bathroom sinks in all the rooms. Shopa said soldiers who suffer major injuries from a Humvee crash or possibly a tank flipping over, would still have to be evacuated to trauma center in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Besides the upgraded medical technology, the hospital will be third largest platform using U.S. Green Building Council features. The building will be powered by a 2.4-megawatt solar array. “We should generate as much electricity as we consume,” Shopa said. Fort Irwin’s health care gain has been an economic boost for the Barstow economy. Contractors from all the United States have assisted the Army Corps of Engineers with the project. The Barstow Chamber of Commerce estimated the project would create 600 construction jobs. According to Sales Manager Wesley Quintanar, a company called Leidos has spent about $19,000 for its workers to stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Lenwood since the project started. The Landmark Inn at Fort Irwin also has benefited from the project. By Mike Lamb

Corporate: JPMorgan Chase & Co School supplies included a pack of markers, crayons, pencils and pens, binder, folders, and other supplies needed during the school year. The Miller Elementary Parent Teacher Association members, JPMorgan Chase & Co. employees, as well as community members all helped to make this wonderful opportunity possible and gave under privileged students the resources they need to succeed at school. The JPMorgan Chase & Co. employees who volunteered at the event were recognized for their community service by State Senator Joel Anderson. Anderson said, “It is inspiring to see the Miller Elementary PTA leaders and volunteers and the dedicated JPMorgan Chase employees give of their time in order to see kids succeed in school. Events like these demonstrate how much our community appreciates our service members and their families.” Other dignitaries present were San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts, a representative from the office of Councilman Scott Sherman, and a representative from the office of State Assemblyman Brian Maienschein. The volunteers achieved record time in assembling the backpacks, which took a little over two hours instead of the anticipated four hours. Contributed by Mariette A. Boutros

Education: Dr. Luis A. Rankins-Ibarra His wide range of experiences have helped him oversee the daily operations of large urban school districts, including serving as an Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance, and Associate Superintendent of Human Resources for the Oceanside Unified School District since 2001. EUSD Board President Marty Hranek commented, “During our community visit last week, people who have worked with him over the last 13 years in Oceanside described him using such words as “respect,” “integrity,” “team-player,” and “student-centered.” Dr. Ibarra embodies those qualities which are so critical in leading a district and community forward.” Dr. Ibarra began his tenure on July 1, 2014. “I believe my personal and professional experiences will be a solid fit with the mission and goals of the Escondido Union School District.” Overseeing finances for the OUSD, Dr. Ibarra was responsible for the management of all businessrelated functions, including managing the district’s $195 million bond construction program. Under his leadership, the district modernized ten school site projects, all on-time and within budget. Dr. Ibarra completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California, San Diego and California State University, San Marcos in 2008. He earned his Master’s in Educational Administration from Azusa Pacific University in 1995, and finished his undergraduate studies with a BA in Liberal Arts from California State University, San Bernardino in 1990. “I have been blessed to experience the benefits of public education, first as a student learning English and academics simultaneously, and later as a teacher, a school site leader, and now as Escondido’s proud new superintendent. We continue our important work-to provide the best learning experiences to Escondido’s children.”

National Preparedness Month September is National Preparedness Month, a time to prepare for crisis and natural disasters. Families, schools, communities and workplaces are urged to take action on National PrepareAthon! Day, September 30th, by participating in a simple yet specific activity that will increase preparedness for everyone. Suggestions include creating an emergency kit, hosting an emergency drill practice, having a group discussion on family and/or workplace emergency plans, and being informed about the different types of hazards that could occur in your community and the best actions to mitigate danger. An emergency kit is essential to have for any situation that may pose a threat to accessing basic survival necessities. While your kit should be personalized to fit your own specific needs, there are 10 core items that are important to include: 1. WATER At a minimum, at least three gallons per person in the household. This averages to be a three-day supply but it is suggested to store enough bottled water to last up to two weeks. 2. NON-PERISHABLE FOOD Granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, canned/packaged tuna or chicken are proteinpacked and nutritious. Include a manual can opener, paper plates, napkins and utensils with the food. Rotate non-perishables every three to six months. 3. FIRST AID KIT Plastic gloves, antibiotic ointment, bandages, wipes, scissors, aspirin, anti-diarrhea medication, and eye wash solution are key items to have. 4. MEDICATION Keep extra medication and medical supplies on hand. 5. FLASHLIGHTS Pack extra batteries and check the expiration dates periodically. 6. MATCHES Store in a waterproof container. 7. MONEY Keep cash or traveler’s checks in your kit in case evacuation is necessary. 8. EXTRA SET OF CLOTHING Consider switching clothing seasonally. 9. BATTERY POWERED RADIO with extra batteries. 10. HYGIENE ITEMS Soap, toothpaste, towels, deodorant, toilet paper etc. If you have a baby or pet, make sure to include the necessary supplies for them as well. Graphic courtesy of FEMA: Make preparation easy, fun and family oriented. Get the kids involved! A great activity for children is the Pillowcase Project, the creation of a mini emergency kit in a pillowcase, introduced by the American Red Cross to prepare children for disaster in an age appropriate manner. Include toys, puzzles and games in your kit for family recreation. A child friendly list and preparedness games are available on Ready.gov. Build your kit gradually, put it in an easily accessible location in your home and ensure that everyone knows where it is. Ready.gov has more suggestions of items to include in your emergency kit as well as items to keep at work and in the car. Join the Preparedness Community for National PrepareAthon! Day, September 30th, a National Day of Action, where schools, places of employment, faith-based and community organizations , colleges and universities are encouraged to host a specific activity, focusing on a specific hazard (earthquake, flood, wildfire, tornado, hurricane, winter storm) to have a tangible impact of increased preparedness for each individual. Go to www.ready.gov/prepare for more information. Contributed by Christopher Lagan

WASHINGTON Everyone wants the U.S. to lead the way in resolving global conflicts and crises, he said, not necessarily supplying the preponderance of forces, but involvement to some extent. The nagging question is, “Do we want to do that or not?” In fiscal year 2016, Odierno pointed out that the budget will go down $9 billion from what it is now. That would have a “significant degradation” on the force “because I cannot take people out fast enough.” The general explained that manpower, modernization and training need to be kept in balance even as the budget shrinks and it’s currently out of balance with too many Soldiers and not enough dollars to properly train and equip them. With a reduction of 20,000 a year, that’s as far as he said he’s willing to push it without seriously degrading operational concerns and personnel considerations. Although the total Army budget is around $120 billion a year, the vast majority of that is mandatory spending that can’t be touched -- obligated funds for equipment, personnel costs, things like that, he explained. About 46 percent of the budget alone is for personnel. Sequestration takes “a large percentage of a small portion of the budget” that would have otherwise gone to training and equipping the force, he said. The slashed budget will delay aircraft purchases, platform upgrades, improved command and control systems and a host of other needed requirements for years to come. The active Army is now 510,000, which is down from a high of 570,000. It will be 490,000 by the end of fiscal year 2015, 470,000 by fiscal year 2016, 415,000 by fiscal year 2017, and 420,000 by fiscal year 2019, he pointed out. Before the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, and the Russian incursion into Ukraine, Odierno said he testified to lawmakers that a reduction to 450,000 would pose a “significant” security risk and 420,000 would mean the Army would be unable to “execute our current strategy.” Since that time, the risk has increased. The ability of the Army to deploy Soldiers to a number of hot spots around the world simultaneously “causes me grave concern,” he said. “I’m in a box.” Over the last two days, the chief said he approved letters for the Army secretary to sign, replying to about 40 lawmakers, who were concerned that the Army will reduce the number of Soldiers on installations in their home states. “I wrote back that ‘the reason I’m taking Soldiers out of your installation and out of your state is because of sequestration. Not that I want to do it.’ That’s the dilemma we’re in,” he said. “In my opinion, we’ve got to have a security debate in this country and decide what we want to do,” he added. “Not a budget debate, a security debate about what capabilities and responsibilities we want from our Army.” Summing up the current state of affairs -- sequestration and degradation of readiness, even as unforeseen problems emerge in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere -- the general remarked: “This is a lousy way to plan and do business.”

NAVY “It feels great to have won the gold medal, but, really, I don’t think it’s sunk in just yet,” said Jackson, who was diagnosed with epiglottal cancer last fall. “Sports have made a big difference in my life. They have given me something to do, instead of just sitting at home on the couch feeling depressed.” Jackson wasn’t the only Navy athlete to strike gold. Edmonston won a gold medal in the men’s 200-meter sprint (open), and both athletes were part of the U.S. men’s 4x100meter relay team, which captured gold during the final race of the day. On the field, retired Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Max Rohn and retired Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jaime Garza won three gold and one silver medal in discus and shot put competitions. Additionally, retired Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Redmond Ramos and Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Angelo Anderson earned bronze medals in 400-meter sprints. Two active-duty female Sailors, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Maria Gomez-Mannix and Navy Chief Career Counselor Ching Dressel took home bronze medals, as well. “I’m excited to be at the Invictus Games because it’s time for wounded warriors from other nations to meet,” said Dressel, who was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in 2009. “The therapeutic power of sports for wounded warriors - not just combat-wounded service members, but medically wounded, too - is important to recognize and share.” At the end of the day, the U.S. Team led the overall medal count with 37 medals, 12 of which are gold medals. The U.K. Team, which enjoyed the support of a robust crowd of spectators, clinched 16 gold medals - more than any other team. Before the track and field finals commenced, a drumhead service - a longstanding tradition during which a makeshift altar is constructed by drums - commemorated the 13th anniversary of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Athletes and audience members looked on as hymnals were sung and prayers communicating a desire for peace were recited. “The Invictus Games is not really about medals; it’s about connecting with seriously wounded, ill and injured service members from other nations,” said retired Navy Lt. j.g. Laura Root, who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy in 2011. “I’ve met other people here with Muscular Dystrophy people like me. I have been using all of the other languages I know! It has been amazing to connect with these athletes.” On Sept. 10, the Invictus Games kicked off during an elaborate opening ceremony that was attended by the royal family and included Red Arrow and Apache attack helicopter fly-overs. A video message from U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama was played, and she told the athletes: “You’re inspiring to all of us, especially our young people.” Actor Idris Elba read from the poem that inspired the name of the games: “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley. The stanzas of the poem - which conclude with the declaration, “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” - also were put to song, and the anthem has been played during each medal ceremony. Prince Harry announced the launch of the Invictus Games March 6. The Royal Foundation, with the direct oversight of the prince and the Defense Secretary Philip Hammond, are hosting the event, which brings together wounded warriors from 13 nations. The athletes are competing in archery, cycling, powerlifting, rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby. All of the Navy and Coast Guard athletes participating in the Invictus Games are enrolled in Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor, the Navy’s sole wounded warrior support program. NWW supports more than 3,150 Sailors and Coast Guardsmen.

WASHINGTON

Danielle’s desire to become a boom operator stemmed from her father’s career, which she got to observe first-hand growing up. “Boom operator was definitely number one on my list,” Danielle said. Her first exposure to the boom operator world was all it took to peak her interest in the career field. “I got to fly space-available once on a flight from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, to Hawaii and I got to watch (my dad) during the (refueling),” she recalls. “Seeing pictures and hearing how much he likes the job made me think ‘You know, I don’t want to sit at a desk all day, I want to be out there doing something.’” Daniel, now a retired chief master sergeant, supported Danielle in her decision as soon as he heard about it. “I’m proud my daughter chose to serve her country in a job that motivates and challenges her to be her best,” he said. “It’s been fulfilling for me to see the community I served for 30 years is solid, with a sound formal education process, and filled with strong leaders, instructors, and professional aviators.” Although they were never stationed together, they have a bond through their mutual love of the career field. “Our enlisted aviators are a little closer to the pointy end of our nation’s will than many, and being a boom operator provided a sense of mission and purpose,” Daniel said. “The support of our tankers enables our nation to feed the hungry, protect the threatened, and bring hope to the despondent.” “It’s such a cool job,” Danielle said. “I love when you take passengers on a flight and you get to see their eyes get all big when they see the jet behind us. It reminds you how cool the job actually is.” While they are both familiar with the same job, things have changed since Daniel joined. “When I was a senior airman, we flew with navigators, the boom operator made celestial observations with a sextant to aid the navigator in position keeping, and night lighting for air refueling was poor and unreliable at best,” he recalled. “There weren’t the high-fidelity simulators we have today for pilots or boom operators; training relied on more live-flight learning.” “It’s still the same job, but the mission is a lot different,” Danielle said. “I can still call my dad up any day and be like, ‘This happened on the jet today and I thought that was weird’ and he will sit there and talk me through everything, break it down and put it into terms that I’ll understand a lot better.”

USAR After months of bureaucratic battles, the Pentagon is finalizing a plan to give reservists a limited role in the evolving cyber force. U.S. Cyber Command’s effort to build a force of 6,200 cyber warriors, split among 133 operational teams, has fueled a tug-of-war between the Defense Department’s active and reserve components. Reserve advocates say the mission is unique because many reservists have civilian careers in the tech sector and are more skilled in cyber operations than many active-duty troops shifting from traditional military career fields. But some active-duty military leaders are reluctant to share the “sexy” cyber mission, which comes with money and jobs that will be largely shielded from forcewide budget cuts, said Adm. Michael Rogers, CYBERCOM commander. “I have told the team: ‘I will not accept an ‘us vs. them’ approach to doing business. We’re on one freakin’ team. ... If you think you can do this just on the active side, you’re a moron,’ ” Rogers told reserve component advocates Sept. 10 as he rolled out some basic elements of CYBERCOM’s staffing plan for the Reserve Forces Policy Board, a federal advisory group. He said the services have offered different plans for how they’ll fulfill their requirement to man, train and equip cyber warriors for his operational command and the 133 cyber teams he’s assembling: ■ The Army will provide 41 mostly active-duty cyber war teams, but a small number of teams will come entirely from reserve components. ■ The Air Force will provide 39 teams that will include some hybrids composed of active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force reserve personnel. ■ The Navy will provide 40 teams, all composed of active-duty sailors, although some reservists will train for cyber missions to offer a “surge” capability. ■ The Marine Corps will provide 13 teams, all active-duty. Rogers expressed some concern about the Corps’ call to exclude reservists from its cyber force. He said he told Lt. Gen. Richard Mills, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, that there are probably Marine Corps Reserve members who are highly skilled and eager to join the cyber mission. Rogers said Mills agreed to “relook that decision’ ” after CYBERCOM stands up its new force in 2016. Rogers expressed reluctance to get too involved in the services’ decisions about building their cyber capabilities. “I’m the operational commander. I am not the service ‘man, train and equip’ guy.” CYBERCOM is tackling a lot of complex issues, he said, urging critics to take a wait-and-see approach. “Let’s generate the force, let’s use it for a little bit, and then let’s step back and assess,” he said. “It seems like every three months, I’ve got somebody telling me we’ve got to rebaseline the [command-and-control] structure; we need to rebaseline the force structure.’ I’m like, ‘Stop! We haven’t even built this thing yet.’ “Cyber is the sexy new thing, it gets a lot of attention,” he said. “In hierarchical bureaucratic organizations, those can sometimes bring out bad behaviors.” Rogers worries that DoD will instinctively “create a huge plethora of new organizations that, quote, ‘do cyber’ ... where every component, whether it’s active or reserve says: ‘I’ve got to have this.’ We just don’t have the resources to do that.” CYBERCOM will not require mandatory training. Instead, Rogers described a process for letting troops waive training requirements if they bring high-tech skills learned in the civilian sector. “We have actually created a board where we can review the packages” of individual troops, Rogers said. “What I told each service is: ‘As long as you meet the training standard, I will leave it up to you how you do it,’ ” Rogers said. His comments to the policy board came just weeks after the board officially called on Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to give reservists a prominent role in the cyber mission and “take advantage of the full range of civilian-acquired skills” within the reserve components. It’s the latest in a series of bureaucratic battles waged by reserve advocates to preserve the operational role reservists filled at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many want to continue in those kinds of roles rather than return to a Cold War-era “strategic reserve” that only mobilizes and deploys for the most severe national crises. Rogers urged reserve advocates to avoid pursuing a narrow agenda and instead “focus on this from a total-force” perspective. “Just as I tell the active component, ‘Look, it can’t be an ‘us vs. them,’ it’s got to be one team ... I ask the same of all of you,” told the board members.

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The best way for reserve advocates to help secure a place in the cyber mission is to lobby Congress and DoD leaders to provide more money for mobilizations, he said. As the Pentagon’s budget has tightened in recent years, money to mobilize reservists has waned. “That concerns me,” Rogers said. “Because if I want to harness the power of that reserve … give them a mission … bring some of them online on the active side and say here is the task, take six months and come back to me — that is becoming increasingly hard.” By Andrew Tilghman

NonProfit: Christopher Yanov He graduated in two-and-a-half years from both UC San Diego (with Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Spanish Literature) and the University of San Diego (with Master’s degrees in Peace & Justice and International Relations). Previously, Mr. Yanov worked with gang members for five years before starting Reality Changers in May 2001 with just $300, yet now the program’s students have earned $60,000,000 in scholarships from all sources. He credits his appearance on Wheel of Fortune in late 2001 for providing the initial financial support for Reality Changers to truly become a bona fide program. Mr. Yanov has also served on the San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention & Intervention as well as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Education & Workforce Development Committee. Currently, Mr. Yanov serves on the Tijuana Innovadora Binational Committee, the University of San Diego’s Emerging Leaders Council, the Voice of San Diego Member Council, and the Federal Employees Scholarship Foundation.

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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR Trainers with the Return-to-Readiness program ensure injured Service members have the help they need to heal and get back into the fight. Personal trainers, like Randy Saldivar, who work at gymnasiums on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., use their knowledge and understanding of the human body and the military lifestyle to make the Service members’ recovery easier. The ability to make a difference and assist someone in their recovery means something to Saldivar. “Being able to train, teach and see an individual improve from wherever they were, either from the Body Composition Program, limited duty, rehab, going into college, etc., to someone better, drives me,” said Saldivar. “I like helping people better themselves.”

and tear on his back and was able to recover with Saldivar’s help. “Just the fact that he went above and beyond with me to give me the personalized training program that he did means a lot,” said Pintek. “He was a great guy, really cared about people and you could tell he genuinely cared about my recovery. I think he seems to be the most dedicated in his field.” Saldivar began training friends and peers before graduating from California State University with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, the study of movement in the human body, in 2009. As a graduation gift, his girlfriend, now fiancée, paid for him to take the test to earn his Personal Training Certificate from the American Council on Exercise. He began applying to gyms, including the fitness centers on Miramar upon successfully passing.

Saldivar works closely with physical therapists at the Sports Medicine and Reconditioning Team Clinic to ensure the training programs are designed for individual needs.

“He was very dedicated and spent a lot of time with me one on one for my back injury,” said Capt. Paul Pintek, former company commander at Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron (MTACS) 38 and a Tucson, Ariz., native. Pintek suffered two bulged discs due to wear

“I’ve been going to his classes for about two years now and most of what I know, I learned from him,” said Cpl. Jonathan Soriano, a levelone HITT instructor with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11 who trained with Saldivar. “He’s been helping me with proper form, and I ask him questions about kinesiology offline when I don’t understand something. He breaks everything down on how our technique has to be for it to be safe.” Soriano understands there might be a lot of Marines out there who think they know proper form and might hurt themselves. He explained how lucky he feels to have Saldivar there to help him understand the proper form and techniques so he can teach his Marines and hopefully they can pass on the knowledge. Saldivar continues to serve and assist the Service members who live and work at the place that played a role in his life when he was younger for almost five years.

“I coordinate and collaborate with the SMART Clinic so that when they have a patient that they feel completed their program, that person will transition to me,” said Saldivar. “That’s when I can pick them up and help them go from limited duty to fully functional. We don’t want to do anything counterproductive to their recovery.” Saldivar conducts six sessions with an individual to guide them through workouts catered to recovering and strengthening the injured portion of their body. Then, once those six sessions are complete, he helps create a workout routine the individual can perform on their own to maintain and improve their results.

Not only does Saldivar help people get back into shape after injuries, he helps prevent them too. While working at the gym, new High Intensity Tactical Training instructors call upon him to watch over their classes and provide mentorship.

He grew up down the road from Miramar in Mira Mesa. He went to church on the installation when his father worked at Naval Air Station Miramar from 1979 – 1987 in Fighter Squadron 124 providing maintenance for the F-8 Crusader. Saldivar worked his way from being a personal trainer to someone who has many different jobs and titles – all the while helping people as best as he could.

“I’m very proud,” said Retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Reynaldo Saldivar, Saldivar’s father. “He goes to work motivated. All I can say is that he’s doing his best at his job. He loves what he’s doing - he’s focused.”

Some of his job titles include strength and conditioning specialist, recreation specialist supervisor, fitness and personal trainer among others. Titles aside, Saldivar is happy helping others.

Service members or injured personnel who finish with physical therapy and wish to start an exercise regimen should consult their physical therapist and physician first.

“The most rewarding part about what I do is just to see that they are fully functional, where they can do an exercise or activity with limited or no pain at all,” said Saldivar.

Naval Base San Diego SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- It had always been the dream of Sonar Technician 3rd Class Destiny Coates to one day sing before a large audience - and thanks to the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and their All-Star Salute to the Troops, that dream comes true the evening of May 20. In early January of this year, while she was a student at the sonar technician A-school at the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, San Diego, Coates was told by friends about a Department of Defense-wide contest for service members to submit video auditions to the ACM for their televised salute to the troops. The special was to feature country music stars performing in concert with members from each branch of the military at the MGM Grand resort in Las Vegas - exactly the sort of thing Coates had always wanted to do. There was one problem, however. “I was incredibly sick, and there were only a couple days left to enter,” Coates said. “My voice was off, and I thought there was no way I’d ever get chosen.” In spite of not feeling her best, she sat down in her room and recorded herself singing the country hit “Fancy” by Reba McEntire, and sent the video along to the Department of Defense office handling the contest. She heard back within a week that she was chosen as a top-three finalist for the Navy, and then ultimately was chosen in March as the number-one pick to represent the Navy on the televised special. The road to singing on TV was long and winding, but one to which she knew she had long been suited for. “I grew up singing in every choir under the sun,” she said. “I did jazz, blues and classical choirs, and I sang in a lot of country music singing contests. I even got to skip the physical education requirement in high school so that I could sign up for extra choir classes.” Once she became an adult, though, Coates made the decision to leave behind a life of music in Everett, Wash., and join the Navy. She was initially unsure of entering the contest, as she’s only been on active duty a few years, and hasn’t yet deployed, due to the long training pipeline for sonar technicians. But she relied upon the compelling story of a lifetime spent having tended to her long-ailing late mother and already knowing the hardships of having an active duty, forward-deployed spouse to make her case for the contest. “Once they deemed me eligible, I still almost missed my chance for consideration because my email entry was lost in the shuffle,” she said. “Luckily they found it and decided they liked my singing, so I ended up being chosen and getting the chance of a lifetime.” CBS television sent a camera crew to San Diego to follow Coates and her husband, Mineman Seaman Kenny Coates, for several days to highlight for the audience the work active-duty Sailors perform. The producers also chose to surprise Coates with the revelation that she would be singing onstage with a country music powerhouse. “They told me on-camera that I’d be performing with Keith Urban,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it!” Coates had just one week to learn Urban’s song “For you,” which was featured in the movie “Act of Valor” before she would be flown to Las Vegas to perform before a live audience of 14,000 at the MGM Grand. Coates said she was nervous leading up to the show, and also excited to meet a star like Urban. “There was all sorts of heavy security because of all the celebrities who were there for the ACM Awards the night before,” she said. “But then Keith swept in, and he immediately put me at ease because he treated me like a fellow musician and asked my opinions about how to put on the best performance together. To have someone of that caliber take my opinions seriously was a big relief.” In addition to doing her best with just one day of rehearsal time in Las Vegas, Coates said she also had to represent the Navy in the best way possible, in spite of the instincts of the makeup artists to go overboard. “They wanted to put more makeup on me and to do something more interesting with my hair, but I made sure to keep everything within regulations since I knew there’d potentially be millions of people watching at home,” she said. Coates also didn’t let her nerves get the best of her when she found out “NCIS Los Angeles” star and rapper, LL Cool J, was present. “I’m a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and when I heard he was around, I said I’d love to take a picture with him and my escort went and got him,” she said. “Then I started getting pictures with every famous person I could find!” When it came time to take the stage, Coates just wanted to make sure to hit her notes. “Keith told me, ‘You’ve got this,’” she said. “I sang with everything I had, and I was just glad I didn’t miss my notes or fall off stage.” Coates rounded out her time on stage with a triple standing ovation, and, because she was the first service member to go on, got to relax and take in the rest of the show from the front row with her husband. “This was a dream come true,” she added. “I grew up imagining myself on stage, but had written it off. But I got to live my dream.” “The All-Star Salute to the Troops” will air on CBS, May 20, at 9 p.m. Training Support Center San Diego provides centralized student management and support to 17 Naval Education and Training Command Learning Sites in the Southwest region, including the Fleet Anti-Submarine warfare Training Center. by Ensign Michael Petronik

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West Point - Sep ‘14 Army Sailing Defeats Navy at Spirit Rider RegattaD/G&EnE Instructor CPT (P) Matty Haith accompanied the Army Sailing Team to Long Island 5-7 September in order to compete in the Spirit Rider Regatta. The regatta honors Patrick O’Keefe, a firefighter who died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11, as well as other first responders and heroes of 9/11. In addition to sailing, the regatta featured a memorial to those who lost their lives on 9/11, which was well attended by members of both the NYPD and NYFD. Both Army and Navy Sailing Teams compete in this event yearly, and although the emphasis of the event is to remember fallen heroes, in friendly competition, the Army Team has beaten Navy over the past four years. POC for this message is CPT (P) Matty Haith at matty.haith@usma.edu.

West Point Close to the Top for Early-Career Salaries USMA West Point is one of the top schools when it comes to early career and even mid-career salaries. High-end early-career salaries for bachelor’s degrees United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point average $75,100 while high-end mid-career salaries for bachelor’s degrees average $123,900. This data comes from PayScale including the salary information of US civilian employees. Selfemployed and contract or project based employees were not included.

WEST POINT - on Mahan Hall 120 cadets enrolled in ME404 presented their concepts for the redesign of current project spaces in Mahan Hall. Cadets were asked to consider versatility, space efficiency, and security in their designs and queried their classmates and faculty to determine what would make an ideal space for cadet projects. Among the many ideas that cadets incorporated into their final designs were the following: collaborative work spaces, display areas, box seats that can also be used for storage as well as overhead storage, Smart Boards, protected testing areas, Wi-Fi capability, and a solar powered trash compactor. This is the eighth year of the mechanical engineering design showcase, which is part of the senior cadet design experience and prepares cadets for the design process and collaborative nature of their impending capstone projects. Whereas last year’s ME404 cadets designed potential merchandise for WPAOG’s gift shop, this year’s cadets were asked to design a project space in Mahan Hall that could accommodate the increased cadet enrollment in the mechanical engineering program. (This year, 120 cadets will graduate from this program, making it the single largest academic major at West Point.)

WEST POINT - graduating IN HIS OPENING remarks to the graduating class at the U. S. Military Academy at West Point in May, President Obama called out four cadets by name. Three of them were women: Austen Boroff and Erin Mauldin, leaders in one of the academy’s four regiments, and Calla Glavin, a Rhodes Scholar and lacrosse goalie. At the ceremony’s close, Obama was succeeded by the chain of command, which ended with the top cadet — Lindsey Danilack, just the fourth woman to hold this position — giving an order. “Class of 2014, dismissed,” she said. From its founding in 1802, on George Washington’s earlier recommendation, until 1976, West Point admitted no women. Since then, more than 4,100 have followed in the steps of the first 62 female graduates in 1980. Many more are on the way, too, now that the American military will be opening combat positions to qualifying women by 2016. The 263 female cadets who started at West Point this year made up 22 percent of the incoming class, a record number, up from 16 percent last year. They and their fellow first-year cadets, or plebes, reported for Reception Day on July 2, which marked the beginning of six weeks of cadet basic training, a k a Beast Barracks, and the end of their civilian lifestyles. “I knew I was going to need to step it up in the physical realm,” Danilack says, referring to her own early days on campus. “But I never knew it was going to be as hard as it turned out to be.” Upon graduating, she and her classmates received their commissions — and their bars — as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. In the weeks leading up to the occasion, the photographer Damon Winter of The New York Times followed Danilack and several other female cadets — including the Efaws, three sisters in three separate classes in the same school year — to capture a sense of daily life for women at one of the nation’s elite educational institutions.

West Point The United States Military Academy

Marines continued...

In an interview with The Pentagon Channel, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Juan G. Ayala, Marine Corps Installations Command facilities service division commander, noted history shows Hispanics have made an impact in all walks of the military, government and industry. Diversity is an asset: “It’s an important time of the year to highlight the contributions Hispanics have made not only to the military but to the nation as a whole,” he said. “If you look at the last 12 years of war and . the contributions of Hispanics, you’ll see they’ve participated in every operation and they’ve done so with distinction . with honor and they’ll continue to do so.” Ayala emphasized the importance of diversity within the Marine Corps and beyond not only as a reflection of the country, but as an impetus to increase military efficiency and readiness. “Only 1 percent of the population of the United States is in the military,” Ayala said. “We’re not different because we’re Hispanics, we are Americans and we reflect what this country is about and what the founding fathers wanted it to be.” The eldest of nine children, Ayala recounted his own journey to the Marine Corps, noting that his late parents were immigrants who had little grasp of the English language. “I remember seeing my neighbors go into the Marine Corps and they were completely different people when they came back . I was very impressed,” the general said. “I thought I could really give back by joining . and ever since I was in the fifth grade I knew I wanted to become a United States Marine.” Important values: Values such as selflessness, hard work, dignity, and respect for all mirror the Marine Corps’ core values, Ayala said. “After 35 years, I still had that good baggage from my family and that work ethic; it’s just a reflection of who we are,” said Ayala, adding the same principles apply in battle. “We don’t leave a Marine behind -- it’s all about your unit, your leadership and your Marine,” he said. Ayala said his role models come from various backgrounds. “We don’t get here by ourselves -- it’s on the backs and shoulders of a lot of great people,” he said. The general credited his father, as well as Marine Corps’ commissioned and noncommissioned officers of all backgrounds, who mentored him and guided his career. Prepare for the future: The general said his best advice to younger generations is to finish education in both high school and college to prepare for future leadership roles in the military and industry, each of which rely on diversity to increase their effectiveness. “It’s not about getting numbers for numbers’ sake,” Ayala said. “[Diversity] makes us more ready to fight and defend our nation.” Ayala also said he encourages service members to join celebrations at bases and installations and to reach out to Hispanics to learn about their stories.

Grant: Salute to Heroes Newspaper is proud to announce our Military Family & Community Grant. Prior winners have included needy families, transitioning service-members and more. The purpose of the grant is to assist those in need or those that have demonstrated success in their community. Salute to Heroes is looking for individuals, families or organizations that support others or demonstrated selfless service & giving back. If you would like to nominate a Service-member; including Reservists, Guardsmen, Veterans and First Responders or Educators, please email us at: Grants@SaluteToHeroesNewspaper.com and tell us why they should be selected!

Giveaway: Salute to Heroes Newspaper is thrilled to giveaway a brand new 7” Samsung Galaxy Tablet to a deserving Service-member, Reservist, Guardsman, Veteran or family member. Please email your first name & cell phone number to: Giveaway@SaluteToHeroesNewspaper.com and we will notify the winner by text message! The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus boasts an enviably small form factor – it’s the size of a paperback book but possesses the computing power of a laptop. The 345g lightweight and compact tablet can be operated with a single hand - ideal when you’re on the go. The Honeycomb platform has been refined to offer the ultimate user experience on a wider range of tablet devices. The new compatibility zoom mode optimizes application that are not designed to run on larger screen sizes, so they fit on the entire screen without distortion. Also, media files can be loaded directly from the MicroSD card. Powered by a mighty 1.2GHz Dual Core Processor, the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus allows seamless multitasking, faster webpage loading, smoother UI transitions and ultra-fast power-up. Enjoy Full HD video from anywhere at any time! Multi codec supported, the tablet can play various video formats for full compatibility. Keep your favorite movies on hand by easily storing them on the ample microSD!

ACT experiments with electronic exams Nearly 4,000 students took the ACT test on a computer this past spring, marking the first time that a national college entrance exam was administered without a pencil and paper. The number of students taking the electronic version of the ACT is expected to grow dramatically this academic year, as ACT officially rolls out its new online exam in more school districts nationally. “ACT is really committed to an approach of continuous improvement,” said Paul Weeks, the nonprofit company’s vice president of client relations. “We’re always trying to think of what are the user needs out there, what is the market demand, and what are ways we can better measure student skills to give them information that helps them. What we’ve learned is, number one, there’s great promise in computerbased testing.” ACT field-tested the new exam April 12, a national testing date, to an invited group of juniors from 80 high schools across 23 states. The content of the exam was the same as the bubblesheet version, and the results — using the ACT’s traditional 1 to 36 scoring — were considered official and could be reported to colleges. Next spring, Weeks estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 more students will take the computerized test, which ACT will make available to schools that administer the exam to all students on a school day as part of their districtwide or statewide assessment program. For the time being, the national testing days that ACT hosts on six Saturdays will continue to use the pen-and-paper test. Students will take the electronic version of the ACT on desktop computers, laptops and tablets, though the paper test will continue to be offered in schools that do not have the capability to administer the digital version. “We field test very carefully to make sure any new test other than paper and a pencil will be fair and would be workable in a digital format,” ACT CEO Jon Whitmore told the Press-Citizen in August. “So the technology advances our team is moving forward with is something we have to be proud of.” ACT, which surpassed rival SAT in market share for the first time in 2012, is the first of the two companies to begin administering digital college entrance exams. In total, 1.84 million members of the graduating class of 2014 took the ACT, including 22,931 in Iowa. ACT’s measured roll-out of the digital effort is to ensure that the tests are fair, the results are comparable no matter which version a student takes, that the timing is comparable and that the administration model works, Weeks said. “We’re taking a very thoughtful approach to it because an awful lot of people count on the results of the ACT for its validity, its reporting and they count on that one to 36 score scale,” Weeks said. “So as we make changes to the ACT, we always do so very thoughtfully and gradually because folks count on that for their research and decision-making purposes. But we do realize there are emerging market demands, and we want to make sure we meet them.” Challenges in moving to computer-based testing include ensuring facilities have an adequate number of devices to administer the tests, ensuring that web browsers are locked down to ensure that students can’t find answers elsewhere on the Internet and retraining test administrators. “We want to meet young people in the world where they already live,” said Jon Erickson, president of education and career solutions at ACT, in a news release this spring. “We are working to continuously improve the ACT, and we’ll have more innovations to announce in the months ahead. The exam, of course, will remain a curriculum-based achievement exam that measures what students learn in school, as it has always been.”

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Although the electronic test has the same content as the paper test, Weeks said technology could offer a more engaging experience in the future. Rather than the traditional format of providing information to students, then asking questions, test takers could be asked, for instance, to conduct virtual science experiments, pouring liquid from one beaker to another on their screens to solve problems. “That’s the promise of technology, and that’s the promise of online testing,” Weeks said. By Josh O’Leary Iowa City (Iowa) Press-Citizen.

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. Marines put their speed, agility, and strength to the test during the Tactical Athlete Challenge here, Sept. 17 as part of the Commanding General’s Cup. Team Pugulatraz placed first in the men’s division and Team Equal Opportunity placed first for the women’s. “The hardest part for us was pushing through the heat,” said Cpl. Desiree Juarez, a member of Team Equal Opportunity and a warehouse clerk with 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group. “During last year’s event there was overcast which made it easier for us [to perform].” The challenge was divided into three events – tactical, athlete, and challenge. Times were recorded after each activity to determine the fastest overall time for each team. Awards were given to the 1st through 3rd place male and female team winners. The tactical portion of the event included a 5-ton tire flip, firemen carry, squad sprint, and 400-meter log carry. The athlete element of the event began with a sprint around flags and then transitioned into a low crawl under camouflage netting. Next, team members sprinted over hurdles and hay bales, shifting into another low crawl, and then concluded with a sprint to the finish line. During the challenge segment, competitors began with 20 repetitions of a strongman log press then quickly proceeding to a weighted, stationary-rope pull. Then, the teams dragged two, 5-ton tires. Finally, the teams pushed a sled weighing more than 180 pounds for males and more than 90 pounds for females. “This Tactical Athlete Challenge is something that gives the Marines a chance to come out, compete as a team and build that ‘esprit de corps’,” said Joe A. Artino, event coordinator and fitness programs supervisor for Marine Corps Community Services’ Semper Fit Division. “Teamwork, moral support, and our team putting-out is why we came out on top,” said Lance Cpl. Roje Robinson, Team Pugulatraz member and a water support technician with 1st Supply Bn., 1st MLG.

Veteran Guebert now is one of the many veterans who work at SDG&E. He oversees SDG&E’s relationship with the military, ensuring that their energy needs are met, while helping other veterans find employment at the utility and other companies. Because of SDG&E’s focus on hiring veterans, approximately 10 percent of the utility’s 5,000 employees are veterans like Guebert as a result – well above the national average. SDG&E also supports veterans in its purchase of supplies and other contracts, and in 2012 spent more than $42 million with businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. This was the highest rate of veteran spending of any utility in California and demonstrated the utility’s focus on promoting economic growth and partnerships with veteran owned-businesses. SDG&E also has worked extensively with the military to provide training for veterans and to promote their hiring throughout the community. Last year, SDG&E hosted San Diego’s first ever military job summit at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot to expand the hiring of veterans throughout the region and help them transition into civilian life. The event attracted approximately 450 veterans and allowed them to connect with dozens of potential employers in the local business sector, as well as government and academia. The event offered one-on-one career counseling sessions for veterans on developing resumes and enhancing interview skills. Several panel discussions with leading companies focused on identifying potential job opportunities for veterans and demonstrating how key military training and expertise can help veterans land jobs in the civilian world. San Diego State University (SDSU) and SDG&E have partnered on the Troops to Engineers Program, which provides step-by-step guidance to veterans on pursuing careers in the engineering field. This program supports veterans earning an engineering degree from SDSU and supplements their academic education with internships, part time jobs, and other career experiences that pave the way for success in engineering careers. The graduates of this program can then go on to high-paying jobs as engineers. SDG&E has hired three interns from this program. Even as SDG&E supports the troops and welcomes them home with increased access to training and worthwhile employment opportunities, the utility provides reliable support on the home front, in the form of reliable energy services. With such a high concentration of national defense assets in the San Diego region, this is a large part of SDG&E’s mandate. In total, San Diego has 18 different Naval and Marine bases and provides support to more than 60 percent of Naval assets located or re-locating to the Pacific Region. This fleet includes two large aircraft carriers, namely the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vinson, as well as surface ships, submarines and aircraft. SDG&E provides electricity and natural gas services to all the San Diego County based installations and powers a wide range of national defense and base support activities. In fact, the Navy is SDG&E’s single largest customer. SDG&E also supplies energy to approximately 10,000 military family housing units for active duty personnel, empowering these troops and their families with basic energy needs. “Having reliable energy resources is vital to our mission of defending the country,” said Rear Admiral Patrick J. Lorge, Commander, Navy Region Southwest. “The Navy continues to work closely with SDG&E to improve our sustainable and energy conservation practices of these invaluable resources that support our Fleet, Fighters and Families throughout San Diego.” Besides providing vital energy services on a daily basis, SDG&E is bringing innovative new projects to the military to promote energy security and sustainability. For example, SDG&E has helped the military to integrate more than 10 megawatts (MW) of solar power at local bases, which supplies the grid with enough electricity for more than 7,000 homes. In addition, SDG&E is partnering with Defense Department contractors, the Navy and UC San Diego to develop and demonstrate a “microgrid” on three naval bases (San Diego, Coronado and Point Loma). Microgrids use local power generation, energy storage and other technology to create a more robust, resilient grid in the area. This project will provide valuable insight and lessons-learned for the Navy to consider for future energy security initiatives. SDG&E will continue to work diligently to provide these vital energy services, which create a strong foundation for the military’s ongoing operations and needs. The utility also will continue to work with the military to promote economic growth and job opportunities for veterans. These efforts will help strengthen the military’s longstanding ties to San Diego while showing appreciation for the troops as they protect and defend the nation.

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During his visit to southern California, Mayorkas had the opportunity to visit and view operations at the Port of Long Beach and Port of San Ysidro. Mayorkas also received a brief of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism and an operational tour of the Joint Harbor Operational Center in San Diego. Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas talks with Capt. Jonathan Spaner, commander, of Coast Guard Sector San Diego and Cmdr. Jeffrey Janszen, deputy commander, after landing at the sector in an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, Sept. 19, 2014. During the visit, the secretary received a tour of the Joint Harbor Operations Center, attended a Regional Coordinating Mechanism meeting to learn about San Diego’s interagency partnership to thwart smugglers and presented awards to Sector crewmembers. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd ClassConnie Terrell.

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Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas meets with members of the San Diego Regional Coordinating Mechanism to learn about San Diego’s interagency partnership to thwart smugglers in southern California, Sept. 19, 2014. In addition to the ReCoM meeting, the Secretary received a tour of the Joint Harbor Operations Center and presented awards to sector crew members during his visit. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Connie Terrell. National Guard Spc. Devin Ortiz tells Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the systems the Joint Harbor Operations Center uses to ensure the safety and security of the port of San Diego during the secretary’s tour of Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Sept. 19, 2014. In addition to the JHOC tour, the secretary also attended a Regional Coordinating Mechanism meeting to learn about San Diego’s interagency partnership to thwart smugglers and presented awards to sector crew members. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Connie Terrell.

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Naval Base Coronado, Calif. The 17th annual Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival started with a roar of engines and applause Saturday at NAS North Island on Coronado as car enthusiasts satisfied their need for speed. Thousands of people watched from the stands, got a close-up look at military aircraft and vehicles, gawked at their dream cars at the car show and children played games in the the sunny, breezy weather. Food vendors are present. The two-day event includes racing, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang, and tours of the Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, destroyer USS Pinckney and amphibious transport dock USS Somerset. Practices runs started at 8 a.m., and racing began at 1:10 p.m. Super Trucks events will be held throughout the day as well as military pit crew challenge and BMW test drives. Competitions conclude with Trans-AM races at 4:55 p.m. The races, which use the air baseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runways, are ticketed events. The ship tours are part of a free open house at the base. Because of the location, people who plan to attend will not be allowed to bring weapons, food or drinks, metal objects, defensive sprays or chemicals, flammable liquids, camera tripods or lenses greater than 100mm, or large bags or backpacks, among other things. The Fleet Week Coronado Speed Festival is produced by the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation and hosted by the Naval Base Coronado and the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program, which benefits military personnel and their families.

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19,520

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT ES

MSRP $22,095 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

RALLY RED METALLIC M039/033119

NET PRICE

20,095

2013 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $27,180 DISCOUNTS* $4,500

COOL SILVER METALLIC M002/003890

NET PRICE

22,680

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT ES

MSRP $22,095 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

QUICKSILVER METALLIC M029/027748

NET PRICE

20,095

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT ES

MSRP $22,095 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

LAGUNA BLUE METALLIC M038/032999

2014 MIRAGE ES

MSRP $15,110 DISCOUNTS* $1,500

SAPPHIRE BLUE M011/004153

NET PRICE

13,610

NET PRICE

20,095

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT ES

MSRP $21,495 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

QUICKSILVER METALLIC M030/027928

NET PRICE

19,495

2014 MIRAGE ES

MSRP $17,045 DISCOUNTS* $1,500

CLOUD WHITE M021/018555

NET PRICE

15,545

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $25,370 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

QUICKSILVER METALLIC M018/016019

NET PRICE

23,370

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $25,535 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

MERCURY GRAY M007/001363

2014 OUTLANDER GT S-AWC

MSRP $34,090 DISCOUNTS* $2,500

LABRADOR BLACK PEARL M005/005488

NET PRICE

31,590

NET PRICE

23,535

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $25,945 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

RALLY RED METALLIC M017/019531

NET PRICE

23,945

2014 LANCER EVOLUTION MR

MSRP $44,190 DISCOUNTS* $4,500

PHANTOM BLACK PEARL M015/015182

NET PRICE

39,690

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $26,935 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

LABRADOR BLACK PEARL M008/003808

NET PRICE

24,935

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $25,945 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

WHITE PEARL M016/019415

2014 LANCER EVOLUTION GSR

MSRP $38,430 DISCOUNTS* $4,500

PHANTOM BLACK PEARL M042/023878

NET PRICE

33,930

NET PRICE

23,945

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $25,495 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

LAGUNA BLUE METALLIC M010/006571

NET PRICE

23,945

2014 OUTLANDER SE

MSRP $31,015 DISCOUNTS* $2,500

MERCURY GRAY PEARL M006/007435

NET PRICE

28,515

2014 OUTLANDER SPORT SE

MSRP $26,185 DISCOUNTS* $2,000

LAGUNA BLUE METALLIC M014/015536

NET PRICE

24,185

2013 OUTLANDER SPORT SE AWC

MSRP $28,850 DISCOUNTS* $4,500

MERCURY GRAY M003/005025

2014 LANCER EVOLUTION MR

MSRP $43,940 DISCOUNTS* $4,500

WICKED WHITE M004/001705

NET PRICE

39,440

NET PRICE

24,350

CREDIT ISSUES? WE CAN HELP! EXCELLENT FINANCING SOLUTIONS SPECIAL MILITARY FINANCING AVAILABLE

2013 LANCER SPORTBACK GT

MSRP $28,345 DISCOUNTS* $4,500

MERCURY GRAY PEARL M001/004551

NET PRICE

23,845

*Discounts include all applicable rebates. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. All vehicles subject to prior sale. All prices, specifications and availability subject to change without notice. Contact dealer for most current information. Offers expire 10/2/14.

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376-9863