13th FS pilot wins JAAGA award, fortifies Japanese-American relations
April 13, 2021 - The Japan-American Air Force Goodwill Association (JAAGA) recognized U.S. Air Force Capt. Spencer “Boca” Rhoton, a 13th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, for his dedication to building a strong bond and partnership between Japan and the United States at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 9.
Army Futures Command panel highlights women empowerment
April 12, 2021 - To help pay tribute to past leaders and to learn from ordinary women doing extraordinary things today, U.S. Army Futures Command hosted a virtual panel discussion, “Female Trailblazers & our Future.” Those who participated are women who continue to rise toward the top of their fields.
3rd MCDS Soldiers compete for Best Warrior title
April 12, 2021 - The 2021 Best Warrior Competition is an annual competition that brings together the best Soldiers from across the U.S. Army Reserve to earn the title of “Best Warrior” amongst their peers.
Second IG Disparity Review Survey coming
April 12, 2021 - Beginning April 9, the Department of the Air Force will be seeking feedback through a survey for the second ongoing Inspector General Independent Disparity Review.
Student pilot competes for pilot wings, pageant crown
April 12, 2021 - Second Lt. Sarena Shilts is competing for two accolades this year: her silver pilot wings, and the Miss Texas USA crown.
"I'm attracted to pageantry for similar reasons I'm attracted to being an Air Force pilot," Shilts said. "The two worlds seem to contradict, but there are actually many parallels between the two. Physical training, communication skills, leadership experience.”
Meet the Browns: The story of an East St. Louis family’s Success, Dedication to Corps, Community
April 12, 2021 - Rewind 33 years to the summer of 1988. Carlos Brown and Cortez Brown, recent high school graduates from East St. Louis Lincoln High School, are driving down Interstate 70. They are heading west, out of St. Louis, in a 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Cortez has his bare feet hanging out of the window, which may sound picturesque, but in less than a month the pair would be thousands of miles away with shaved heads, wondering what they got themselves into.
Sailor Creates Advancement Exam Study Guide for Shipmates
April 12, 2021 - PENSACOLA, Fla. - A Sailor assigned to Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic has created an advancement exam study planner for his fellow shipmates, and it is available for download on MyNavy Portal and Navy COOL.
DLA increases map production cycle, ensures safety in aircraft navigation
April 12, 2021 - Maps guide us where we need to go, but they are only as current as their last update.
For many years, Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and DLA Distribution distributed updated map products to customers on a 168-day production cycle. That changed in February when the Federal Aviation Administration determined that timeline was too long and could lead to safety issues in aeronautical navigation.
What the SAPR program is all about
April 12, 2021 - The Department of Defense initiated the SAPR program to provide victims the resources and support systems they need to recover from the trauma they suffered. The program also educates the military community on prevention methods.
Nevada Air Guard Receives New Mobile Kitchen
April 9, 2021 - The 152nd Airlift Wing received a new disaster relief mobile kitchen (DRMK) last week, delivered to the Nevada Air National Guard base here.
According to Senior Master Sgt. David Hill, 152nd Services Superintendent, the mobile kitchen is rated to serve 1,100 meals per meal period.
JBSA M&FRCs plan virtual military spouse conference April 30-May 1
April 9, 2021 - Military spouses who want to find ways to enhance their personal relationships and well-being will have the opportunity to do so during a virtual conference being planned by the Joint Base San Antonio Military & Family Readiness Centers April 30-May 1.
Expeditionary firefighting and rescue Marines: Ready at a moment’s notice
April 9, 2021 - Across the Marine Corps, mission readiness is a topic often addressed, and for expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialists Marines with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, it is a daily practice. EFR specialists provide aircraft rescue and firefighting services in support of airfield operations and respond to any fire-related emergencies and situations with a maximum response time of five minutes. “It’s all about making sure we are prepared for anything that comes our way,” said Lance Cpl. Nicklas Martin, a native of Troy, Michigan, and an EFR specialist with H&HS, MCIPAC...
Register for April 15 webinar on TRICARE For Life
April 9, 2021 - Will you soon be eligible for Medicare and TRICARE For Life, or TFL, coverage? If yes, be sure to join the TRICARE webinar titled “TRICARE For Life: Coverage Basics, Eligibility, and Costs” from 1 to 2 p.m. ET April 15 to learn important information on how TFL works.
DOD prioritizing COVID-19 vaccinations to those deployed
April 9, 2021 - Defense Department health leaders said the DOD is rapidly administering COVID-19 vaccines in a tiered priority process to service members, DOD contractors and civilians and their families who are stationed overseas.
After a decade in the “Boneyard,” Wise Guy back in action
April 9, 2021 - On May 19, 2016, an Air Force B-52 Bomber, with seven crew members onboard, crashed at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific close to 4,000 miles west of Hawaii. All survived the fiery crash that reduced the Air Force’s B-52 fleet to 75, one less than the congressionally mandated 76.
CBIRF Remembers Operation Tomodachi
April 7, 2021 - Operation Tomodachi
Naval Support Facility, Indian Head Maryland – Over 10 years ago, on March 11, 2011, one of the United States of America’s closest allies, Japan, was struck by a 9.1 earthquake. This catastrophic event caused a massive tsunami which was over 133 feet high, and caused several of the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima facility to go into meltdown. This tragic event was met with massive amounts of international aid, along with support from the U.S. Department of Defense.
In April 2011, the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), was requested by the Japanese Self-Defense force to come support their consequence management operations as a quick reaction force from Yokota Air Base. Within several days, CBIRF was in Japan, and ready to assist the Japanese Self Defense force however possible. CBIRF quickly set up joint training with the Japanese, and created an environment that enabled both entities the ability to complement and enhance each other’s operational capabilities. As a quick reaction force, CBIRF’s responsibility in Japan was to maintain a state of high readiness, in the event that the Japanese needed CBIRF to assist them with extraction of their personnel. Luckily, no call was placed where CBIRF had to act in this capacity, and after a month of support, CBIRF started the return home.
The unit remained on alert in the event that they were needed again, but both CBIRF and the Japanese Self-Defense force gained a strong friendship and helped foster joint training between the two agencies. This friendship continues today, as the Japanese Self Defense force sends its service members to attend the CBIRF Basic Operators Course (CBOC).
CBIRF Remembers Operation Tomodachi
April 7, 2021 - Operation Tomodachi
Naval Support Facility, Indian Head Maryland – Over 10 years ago, on March 11, 2011, one of the United States of America’s closest allies, Japan, was struck by a 9.1 earthquake. This catastrophic event caused a massive tsunami which was over 133 feet high, and caused several of the nuclear reactors at the Fukushima facility to go into meltdown. This tragic event was met with massive amounts of international aid, along with support from the U.S. Department of Defense.
In April 2011, the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), was requested by the Japanese Self-Defense force to come support their consequence management operations as a quick reaction force from Yokota Air Base. Within several days, CBIRF was in Japan, and ready to assist the Japanese Self Defense force however possible. CBIRF quickly set up joint training with the Japanese, and created an environment that enabled both entities the ability to complement and enhance each other’s operational capabilities. As a quick reaction force, CBIRF’s responsibility in Japan was to maintain a state of high readiness, in the event that the Japanese needed CBIRF to assist them with extraction of their personnel. Luckily, no call was placed where CBIRF had to act in this capacity, and after a month of support, CBIRF started the return home.
The unit remained on alert in the event that they were needed again, but both CBIRF and the Japanese Self-Defense force gained a strong friendship and helped foster joint training between the two agencies. This friendship continues today, as the Japanese Self Defense force sends its service members to attend the CBIRF Basic Operators Course (CBOC).
SOCEUR completes HIRAIN training exercise at RAF Mildenhall, enhancing lethality in close coordination with USMC HIMARS
April 7, 2021 - RAF MILDENHALL, United Kingdom – The 352d Special Operations Wing from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom conducted High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Rapid Aerial Insertion (HIRAIN) training with Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 24-30 March, 2021. As part of a series of interoperability training opportunities, Air Commandos and Marines paired HIMARS long-range, precision-strike and MC-130J austere environment, infiltration/exfiltration capabilities to highlight another lethal, rapid response tool for employment by United States European Command (USEUCOM).
SOCEUR completes HIRAIN training exercise at RAF Mildenhall, enhancing lethality in close coordination with USMC HIMARS
April 7, 2021 - RAF MILDENHALL, United Kingdom – The 352d Special Operations Wing from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom conducted High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Rapid Aerial Insertion (HIRAIN) training with Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 24-30 March, 2021. As part of a series of interoperability training opportunities, Air Commandos and Marines paired HIMARS long-range, precision-strike and MC-130J austere environment, infiltration/exfiltration capabilities to highlight another lethal, rapid response tool for employment by United States European Command (USEUCOM).
2021 Sousa's March Mania Results
April 7, 2021 - All the votes have been tallied, and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band has declared its champion for Sousa’s March Mania 2021. The winner is...
2021 Sousa's March Mania Results
April 7, 2021 - All the votes have been tallied, and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band has declared its champion for Sousa’s March Mania 2021. The winner is...
2d Marine Division Marines and Sailors Support Community Vaccination Center in Memphis, Tennessee
April 7, 2021 - MEMPHIS, Tennessee– Personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the 2d Marine Division (2d MARDIV), II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) are tasked to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), federal, state, and local agencies at the state-run, federally-supported Community Vaccination Center (CVC) located at the Pipkin Building, Memphis Fairgrounds in Memphis, Tennessee.
Test Pilot school graduates first Space Test Fundamentals class
April 7, 2021 - The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduated the first-ever Space Test Fundamentals class April 6, 2021, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Fifteen enlisted, officer, civilian Airmen and Guardians represent the first class dedicated to testing within the newly contested domain of Space.
Airman Translates for Community Getting COVID-19 Vaccine
April 7, 2021 - For Brooklynites who are most comfortable speaking a foreign language or do not speak English as their primary language, they can turn to some of the deployed U.S. Air Force Airmen of the 335th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, or EMDOS, to help translate.
Multinational Naval Forces Conduct Exercise
April 7, 2021 - USS Somerset joins units from the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Indian Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to participate in the third iteration of La Perouse.
My Hurricane Laura Deployment Experience
April 7, 2021 - Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given me a lot of opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge myself. Most recently, I was deployed down to Lafayette, Louisiana, along with several other USACE teammates, and we were assigned to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary housing mission.
My Hurricane Laura Deployment Experience
April 7, 2021 - Working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given me a lot of opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge myself. Most recently, I was deployed down to Lafayette, Louisiana, along with several other USACE teammates, and we were assigned to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s temporary housing mission.
New Marine Corps maternity uniforms: designed by women, for women
April 7, 2021 - The Marine Corps is improving many facets of maternity uniforms to meet the needs of all Marines. In April, Marine Corps Systems Command will begin releasing a series of modifications to the service, dress, combat and physical training maternity uniform items to address capability gaps involving fit, comfort and appearance. The efforts include improvements to existing uniforms and the development of new clothing items. The enhanced maternity uniforms incorporate clothing attributes reflective of innovative commercial industry technology in design and fabric development...
TACPs recognize Military Child of the Year
April 6, 2021 - Nyah Gray was recently named Operation Homefront's 2021 Military Child of the Year® for the Air Force. Gray was honored by the 353rd Training Squadron, Special Warfare Training Wing, during an Air Force Tactical Air Control Party, or TACP, final formation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Training Annex April 2. Selectees for the honor were chosen based on the positive impacts they had on their military family, school, and community.
CFSCC commander visits JTF-SD
April 5, 2021 - Leaders from U.S. Space Command's two component commands, Combined Force Space Component Command and Joint Task Force-Space Defense, convened at the latter's headquarters April 1.
Sexual Assault Prevention Response – What the program is all about
April 5, 2021 - Anybody could be a victim of sexual assault. It could happen anywhere and at any time. In the Marine Corps, one of Marines’ most important responsibilities is to look out for their brothers and sisters beside them. Through the Sexual Assault Prevention Response program, Marines receive that capability. The Department of Defense initiated the SAPR program to provide victims the resources and support systems they need to recover from the trauma they suffered. The program also educates the military community on prevention methods...
Sexual Assault Prevention Response – What the program is all about
April 5, 2021 - Anybody could be a victim of sexual assault. It could happen anywhere and at any time. In the Marine Corps, one of Marines’ most important responsibilities is to look out for their brothers and sisters beside them. Through the Sexual Assault Prevention Response program, Marines receive that capability. The Department of Defense initiated the SAPR program to provide victims the resources and support systems they need to recover from the trauma they suffered. The program also educates the military community on prevention methods...
Book Review: China’s Crisis of Success
April 5, 2021 - In the latest from the Air University Press Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Mr. Paul David-Albert reviews William Overholt’s book, "China’s Crisis of Success" (2018). According to David-Albert, Overholt’s research proves useful as a road map of China’s rapid economic development from 1979–2010, the transitions China’s economy must undergo to continue growing, and the political challenges Pres. Xi Jinping faces going forward.
Instructor Pilots Reflect on Women’s History Month
April 5, 2021 - “A wise woman once told me, ‘In aviation, it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female—you’re a flyer,” said Major Jamie Van Neste, T-6 Texan II Instructor Pilot. “Your gender doesn’t change that ability…and your aircraft can’t tell the difference.”
Tenant feedback drives housing programs improvement
April 5, 2021 - Department of the Air Force housing program officials are analyzing data from the recently completed 2020 Department of Defense Annual Tenant Satisfaction Survey for trends and ways to improve the enterprise’s privatized and government-owned housing portfolio and tenant experience.
Projects in Benin increase both healthcare capacity and ability to document births
April 5, 2021 - Villagers in two communities in northeast Benin will no longer need to cross the border to give birth or receive other basic medical care with the delivery of two new medical facilities in the remote villages of Money and Godjekoara, both of which sit in the larger border region of the Commune of Malanville.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District implemented and managed the construction of the facilities. Project requirements and funding were provided by AFRICOM with onsite coordination provided by the U.S. Embassy and Office of Security Cooperation.
Projects in Benin increase both healthcare capacity and ability to document births
April 5, 2021 - Villagers in two communities in northeast Benin will no longer need to cross the border to give birth or receive other basic medical care with the delivery of two new medical facilities in the remote villages of Money and Godjekoara, both of which sit in the larger border region of the Commune of Malanville.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District implemented and managed the construction of the facilities. Project requirements and funding were provided by AFRICOM with onsite coordination provided by the U.S. Embassy and Office of Security Cooperation.
USS Roosevelt Conducts Replenishment-at-Sea
April 3, 2021 - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) conducted a scheduled replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the dry cargo ship USNS William McClean (T-AKE 12), April 1, 2021.
ERDC team uses unique tool in Navy aircraft runway testing
April 2, 2021 - Since aircraft have been used as wartime weapons, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has led the charge of creating tools that allow those planes to land anywhere in the world. Today, that mission has not changed, and the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL) is using a unique machine to better understand the Navy’s P-8 Poseidon and how it distresses temporary, rapidly constructed runways.
Oldest Recruit In the History of Parris Island
April 2, 2021 - The average age of a United States Marine Corps recruit is 21 years old. When Paul Douglas enlisted in 1942, he left behind his wife, child, and career and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island at the ripe age of 50. Even though thousands of visitors have walked the halls of the Douglas Visitor Center, very few know the story of the man behind the namesake, who became the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island...
Program for sexual assault survivors available at JBSA
April 2, 2021 - Joint Base San Antonio has been home to an intensive outpatient program for survivors of sexual assault since 2014, and now that program has been selected as a pilot site for an evaluation study of TRICARE’s Sexual Trauma Intensive Outpatient Programs.
TAD Stands Up – Extremism stand down begins a challenging, but essential, conversation
April 2, 2021 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division conducted a division wide stand down March 30 to bring a more direct focus on extremism in the ranks. Throughout the stand down event, participants brought questions and scenarios to the surface and had some hard discussions on what extremism looks like and how we can learn to better address issues before they become acts of violence.
Marine Forces Special Operations Command Celebrates 15th Anniversary
April 1, 2021 - CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines with Marine Forces Special Operations Command celebrate the 15th anniversary of the organization, Feb. 22, 2021.
Fifteen years ago, the Marine Corps combined several of its specialized and uniquely trained units to become pioneers in a new chapter of Marine Corps history within Special Operations Command. While MARSOC can still be considered a relatively young unit, the history of Marine Corps specialized forces can be traced back much further than 2006.
Professionals Talk Logistics: American and Royal Thai Marine Corps Logisticians Collaborate for Success
April 1, 2021 - Marine Corps logisticians from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, came together virtually with counterparts from the Royal Thai Marine Corps this week for the first virtual iteration of the biennial Logistics Staff Talks, a collaborative symposium on common challenges. This two-day event, led by Col. Boyd A. Miller, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 Logistics, and his team of subject matter experts, focused on partnered operational logistics, distribution best practices, and material management. Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group Thailand supported the event in-person at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Marine Corps in Thailand...
Embracing Asymmetry: Assessing Iranian National Security Strategy, 1983–1987
March 31, 2021 - The success of Iran’s asymmetric warfare in advancing its objectives in Iraq in the 2000s likely reinforced the wrong lessons about the coercive power of asymmetric warfare and colored the country’s analysis of the Iran-Iraq War. Given the lasting impact the war has had on Iran’s military actions, examining the country’s experience during the conflict offers a unique window into Iranian decisionmaking today.
Sustaining Relevance: Repositioning Strategic Logistics Innovation in the Military
March 31, 2021 - Military organizations tend to think about their overarching strategy in two ways: how their organization will remain relevant and which future operations they must be able to conduct. In the information era, military organizations struggle with the “design capabilities that will offer . . . credible strategic options and then the ability to win, through fighting smarter.” Building on the revolution in military affairs programs, a new era of digital innovations in the commercial realm underpins the U.S. National Defense Strategy and Third Offset Strategy to explore the use of new technologies for the military. While new operational concepts such as hyper war and kill webs are emerging, attention to the strategic element of innovation seems difficult to realize regarding military logistics. Strategic innovation concerns processes of proactive and systematic thinking about gaps that an organization can fulfill by developing new game plans.
Women’s History Month: Fredericksburg native exemplifies Equal Rights as a woman in the workplace
March 31, 2021 - Fifty years ago, Jean Stanfield, a 77 year-old, retired administrative supervisor and native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and her husband, Allen Stanfield, purchased a quaint home nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Fredericksburg suburbs. Stanfield said it was a safe and friendly neighborhood, one where they would raise all of their children, send them to school, and create numerous memories that would last a lifetime. Stanfield worked for the Virginia Department of Highways after graduating high school, but desired a different job after she was married...
Conquering the Ethical Temptations of Command: Lessons from the Field Grades
March 31, 2021 - Ethical lapses committed by senior business leaders are reported almost daily. Unfortunately, similar reports about military leaders also frequently appear; browse almost any contemporary military publication, and there is usually an article discussing an ethical failure by a high-ranking Servicemember. Although Department of Defense figures attest that the actual number of these failings is statistically small, they garner disproportionate attention. The critical nature of the U.S. military mission makes it incumbent on leaders to possess not only great technical competency in their jobs but also great character and integrity. Because of this demand, the U.S. military has high formal standards for ethical leadership behavior.
Spring cleaning and grilling safety: deterrence from fire
March 31, 2021 - After a long winter, the desire to open up the screen doors and windows is a welcomed invitation. As the dust and accumulation of items have built up inside and outside the home, so has the chances for a fire. Decreasing your family’s risk is a responsibility that must be taken seriously.
Educating Our Leaders in the Art and Science of Stakeholder Management
March 31, 2021 - This article seeks to bridge a perceived knowledge gap with leaders and their executive communication skills by introducing them to a more disciplined, formal approach of identifying, prioritizing, and engaging stakeholders. This article suggests new and creative ways to conduct stakeholder management (identification, prioritization, and engagement)—techniques borrowed from practices employed in the private and commercial sectors.
ARNORTH to oversee military vaccination support to FEMA at five new locations
March 31, 2021 - At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, approximately 860 Department of Defense military medical and support personnel deployed to Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Virginia, and will deploy to Indiana and Missouri, to support state-run, federally supported Community Vaccination Centers. U.S. Army North, the Joint Force Land Component Command of U.S. Northern Command, will oversee the multi-service military COVID-19 response operation in support of the states and the federal vaccination pilot.
Gray Is the New Black: A Framework to Counter Gray Zone Conflicts
March 31, 2021 - Gray zone conflicts are difficult to address through traditional combat power. In today’s complex and competitive international environment, some states may appear to pursue the status quo, particularly in areas of benefit to them, while also seeking to amend other circumstances in their favor. To deter these aims, joint doctrine must address gray zone conflicts and incorporate strategies for countering these approaches into planning for steady-state activities and all phases of theater campaign planning. To do anything less is to relinquish the advantage.
Gray Is the New Black: A Framework to Counter Gray Zone Conflicts
March 31, 2021 - Gray zone conflicts are difficult to address through traditional combat power. In today’s complex and competitive international environment, some states may appear to pursue the status quo, particularly in areas of benefit to them, while also seeking to amend other circumstances in their favor. To deter these aims, joint doctrine must address gray zone conflicts and incorporate strategies for countering these approaches into planning for steady-state activities and all phases of theater campaign planning. To do anything less is to relinquish the advantage.
New York District’s Surveys Team Leads The Way For Innovative Remote Data Collection
March 31, 2021 - NEW JERSEY- Anyone who knows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) mission understands the organization does a lot of remote data collection surveying. The robust and demanding USACE survey and geospatial mission can take survey technicians to some treacherous terrain, not to mention desolate locations both on and offshore. The survey teams experience a variety of challenges ranging from location to accessibility to environmental conditions. The arsenal of traditional imaging and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) surveying tools such as those attached to vessels, vehicles, or totable on humans have their limitations. These limitations have energized the New York District’s survey team to advance beyond traditional methods by commencing deployment of piloted unmanned aerial survey drones.
A Long Legacy of Service
March 31, 2021 - Sometimes the gift of legacy is passed on through families in the form of money or material items, but other times it manifests as knowledge, wisdom or even through military service. The latter is the case for one Airman currently deployed here at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
Buy Now, Get Paid with Diversity Later: Insights into Career Progression of Female Servicemembers
March 30, 2021 - The Department of Defense (DOD) recognizes the value that diversity brings to the joint force. The notion that diverse teams provide more creative and innovative solutions to problems is well researched and supported. To reap the full benefits of diversity, DOD must foster intentional inclusivity. There are, however, hurdles yet to clear. DOD must address tangible and intangible program costs to develop an environment of inclusivity. Integrating women into typically male-dominated career fields requires resource investment in equipment, facilities, and processes. Decisionmakers must implement these accommodations now to build tomorrow’s gender-inclusive leadership team.
Chase Dreams, Make Marines
March 30, 2021 - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Jason Oliver, a recruiter with Recruiting Station Frederick and 4th Marine Corps District recruiter of the quarter, completes a hike during a monthly pool function for Recruiting Substation Martinsburg in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, March 16, 2021. The monthly pool functions are preformed to both build rapport between poolees and recruiters and to prepare them mentally and physically for the rigors of Marine Corps recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ryan Sammet)
Judge Advocate Named a 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer Under 40
March 30, 2021 - Lt. Aaron Spencer – a judge advocate currently assigned to the Ethics Branch of the Administrative Law Division (Code 13) at the Office of the Judge Advocate General – has been named one of the 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the LGBT Bar Association.
The Third Option
March 30, 2021 - When young men and women sign a four to five-year active duty Marine Corps contract, they take an oath that ensures they understand the magnitude of their commitment. However, they may not realize that they’ll have to make another difficult decision when they near the end of their obligated service. Many see it as a binary choice. On one hand, they can re-enlist and continue to enjoy esprit de corps, military benefits and the security of a government job...
U.S. Naval Forces Africa Completes Construction Projects on the Djiboutian Navy Base in the Port of Djibouti
March 30, 2021 - The U.S. Embassy Office of Security Cooperation (OSC), Djibouti, Combined Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and U.S. Naval Facilities Command (NAVFAC) engineers completed the final walk-through of the U.S. Naval Forces Africa Exercise Related Construction (ERC) project on the Djiboutian Navy Base to create a Maritime Operations Center (MOC) conference room, construct a new restroom facility and increase water storage and distribution on the base. The team met with the Djiboutian Navy base commander, Colonel Ahmed Djama to inspect the new facilities and prepare the official turn-over documents for the project.
Female Officer Shares Experience With Magazine
March 29, 2021 - In honor of Women's History Month, U.S. Army Garrison Italy is sharing an interview with Maj. Leslie A. Shipp. The 39-year-old executive officer has served in Italy since July 2019.
Bicultural, Bilingual, Proud: Soldier reflects on her dual heritage
March 29, 2021 - Spc. Marisol Gameros, who was assigned to the Vermont National Guard at the Naval Observatory in D.C., was the first person in her family born in the United States. She returned with her family to Mexico six months after being born, to Tuxpan, Mayarit, the same town her parents had initially left.
The first step: why three Marines volunteered to get vaccinated
March 29, 2021 - When Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton rolled out the first round of COVID-19 vaccines just months ago, many uniformed and civilian personnel heavily weighed the pros and cons of receiving their first dose. As the vaccine is made available to more and more units aboard Camp Pendleton, Marines are doing their research and volunteering to take the first step toward immunization. Marines with Communication Strategy and Operations, Marine Corps Installations West, had the opportunity to receive their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine in late March. They are scheduled to receive their second dose mid-April...
The first step: why three Marines volunteered to get vaccinated
March 29, 2021 - When Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton rolled out the first round of COVID-19 vaccines just months ago, many uniformed and civilian personnel heavily weighed the pros and cons of receiving their first dose. As the vaccine is made available to more and more units aboard Camp Pendleton, Marines are doing their research and volunteering to take the first step toward immunization. Marines with Communication Strategy and Operations, Marine Corps Installations West, had the opportunity to receive their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine in late March. They are scheduled to receive their second dose mid-April...
Equal Opportunity: Unlawful Discrimination
March 26, 2021 - The responsibilities of equal opportunity representatives and advisors as Marine leaders includes being a resource to help you change the climate within our culture, preventing toxic leadership and a hostile working environment utilizing Prohibited Activities and Conduct (PAC).
Within the realm of Prohibited Activities and Conduct falls violations involving unlawful discrimination. Unlawful Discrimination covered under PAC is defined by “Any conduct whereby a Service member or DOD employee knowingly and wrongfully and without proper authority but with a nexus to military service treats another Service member or DOD employee adversely or differently based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity), or sexual orientation.”
422d MDS superintendent awarded Pathfinder GRIT Award
March 24, 2021 - Congratulations to TSgt Vallerie Strick for receiving the #Pathfinder GRIT award for her exceptional service. Strick has gone above and beyond in her duties as superintendent of the 423rd MDS. She has been instrumental in ensuring that over 500 COVID-19 vaccines were administered at RAF Croughton during the month of February and has also organized multiple mentoring sessions with various Airmen to help foster growth and development.
Korean War Veteran Awarded the Silver Star
March 24, 2021 - Salvatore Naimo, local Sarasota veteran, received the Silver Star for his actions in September, 1951 in the mountains of Korea as a rifleman in Howe Company 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
Army Hopes to Field New Oxygen Generator
March 24, 2021 - The Army is currently testing an oxygen generator that has a longer shelf life than the one currently in use and will meet the requirement of supplemental oxygen that medics provide to combat casualties.
Fly girls: Women in the 446th AW share why they wanted to fly
March 24, 2021 - Regardless of how each of these four women came to fly or why they chose to join the Air Force Reserve, or the multiples decisions they have to make daily, Thornburg sums up why these women all fly.
“To this day I think that when we fly all the issues and problems stay on the ground, in the air we are free.”
USAFMCOM, others send care packages to deployed Soldiers
March 24, 2021 - More than 30 volunteers, including 15 from the U.S. Army Financial Management Command, came in on their day off to package 100 care packages for deployed Soldiers of the Army Reserve’s 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command at the Maj. Gen. Emmett J. Bean Federal Center in Indianapolis March 6.
30 years later: the enduring lessons for success from Operation Desert Storm
March 24, 2021 - February 28, 2021 marked 30 years since the end of Operation Desert Storm. An operation that lasted only 43 days, Desert Storm was the United States’ first major armed conflict with Iraq. On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and refused to disengage from the country. Former President George H. W. Bush, along with other coalition leaders, disapproved of the invasion. Thus began the Gulf War with the launch of Operation Desert Shield. After five and a half months of the operation, the United Nations Security Council authorized the use of “all necessary means” to remove the Iraqi forces in support of Kuwait. On January 17, 1991, the combat phase of the war began: Operation Desert Storm...
Army chaplains given facts, science regarding COVID-19 vaccines
March 23, 2021 - A U.S. Army Central Command microbiologist briefed the development history of the three major COVID-19 vaccines to a contingent of U.S. Army chaplains and their enlisted Army religious affairs specialists at a meeting held March 15 at the Area Support Group–Kuwait chaplains office.
Army chaplains given facts, science regarding COVID-19 vaccines
March 23, 2021 - A U.S. Army Central Command microbiologist briefed the development history of the three major COVID-19 vaccines to a contingent of U.S. Army chaplains and their enlisted Army religious affairs specialists at a meeting held March 15 at the Area Support Group–Kuwait chaplains office.
ACFT 3.0
March 23, 2021 - ACFT 3.0 is the next adaptation of the Army Combat Fitness Test and incorporates lessons from ACFT 2.0. This development:
Ground Mobility Vehicle
March 23, 2021 - Marine Depot Maintenance Command, Heavy Mobile Equipment mechanics of Marine Depot Maintenance
Breaking Down Barriers: 1st Lt. Robert O’Neil, Tuskegee Airman
March 23, 2021 - U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ashley O’Brien, 31st Fighter Wing Equal Opportunity superintendent, recalls a memory of her sitting in a sixth grade classroom, hanging onto every detail of a Tuskegee Airman’s words as he recounted his escapades.
Tip of the Iceberg
March 22, 2021 - Last week, Task Force Vaccination administered its 250,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
How far we’ve come: women’s influence on Security Forces and the Air Force
March 22, 2021 - In 1985, women were officially allowed to join the security forces career field. That means no job under that career field was banned from them. Since then, women defenders of the Air Force have become great assets, accomplishing great achievements and influencing change within the Air Force.
Army Analyzing Needs for Arctic Operations
March 22, 2021 - The Army is currently conducting a gap analysis as part of its new Arctic strategy to identify if any new equipment or training sites will be needed or expanded to prepare soldiers for upcoming missions in extreme cold weather.
Razor Sharp Mind aboard the America
March 21, 2021 - U.S. Navy Hull Technician 2nd Class Dawsen Forbes, a hull technician assigned to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), and a native of Denver, North Carolina, fits a laptop inside a welded aluminum piece within a light tactical all-terrain vehicle (MRZR) aboard LHA 6 in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 20, 2021. Forbes designed and welded aluminum parts to fit inside the MRZR to help secure radios, laptops and extra equipment during training exercises and operations.
Making history for women and Marines at MCRD San Diego
March 19, 2021 - Women began serving in the United States Marine Corps in 1918 when Opha Mae Johnson became the first of approximately 300 female Marines that volunteered for temporary clerical duty. In 1948, the Women's Armed Services Integration Act was passed by Congress, permanently allowing women to join and serve in the Marine Corps.