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What a Tangled Web We Weave--Decoding the Mystery That is HOOAH

By Sgt. Michael Volkin
Author, Ultimate Basic Training Guide Book

One of the most widely used military acronyms of all times, and no one can agree on its spelling, origin or even on its meaning for that matter.

Undoubtedly it will be the first acronym you will hear as you arrive at Basic Training. You will hear thousands of new soldiers utter the acronym, whisper it, shout it and even sing it. But what exactly does it mean? Heck, is it even an acronym at all?

I have scoured the Internet, referenced books, and asked military scholars. Only one conclusion has become of my research: There is no known origin for the meaning of hooah; many have opinions but there is no single theory.

Personally, when I went through Basic Training, I was taught the acronym HUA stood for I hear you, I understand you, and I acknowledge your statement. Urbandictionary.com claims the term hooah was originally used by the British in the late 1800's in Afghanistan; then, more recently adopted by the United States Army to indicate an affirmative or a pleased response. The book Absolutely American: Culture War at West Point defines huah as " an all-purpose expression"� if you "want to describe a cadet who's very gung-ho, you call them huah"� if you "understand instructions, say huah"� if you "agree with what another cadet just said, murmur huah ". Perhaps the broadest definition I have come across in my research might very well be the best, and even most comical definition. If I had a prize to award, I would give it to The Department of Military Science and Leadership, University of Tennessee who claim HOOAH" refers to or means anything except no."

So while military experts and personnel alike disagree on the term, spelling, origin and meaning of HUA, huah, hooah , etc, it remains to be widely used throughout the military. Regardless of it's meaning, a common aspect encompasses each of the definitions for this term. The term is an expression of high morale, confidence, motivation and spirit.

I welcome all questions and comments at michaelvolkin@ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.com. SGT Michael Volkin is the author of The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook is available in both book and e-book format at www.ultimatebasictrainingguidebook.com.

Americans Need to Recognize Progress in Iraq, DoD Spokesman Says 
To: DEFENSE-PRESS-SERVICE-L@DTIC.MIL

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2005  - Americans need to go back and evaluate the 
progress that has been made in Iraq, Pentagon spokesman Larry Di Rita 
said today.

Di Rita spoke at a Pentagon news conference along with Marine Lt. Gen. 
James Conway, the Joint Staff operations chief.

Di Rita said it is important to remember the progress that has been 
made. Less than a year ago, the Coalition Provisional Authority still ran 
Iraq. It wasn't until the end of June that the CPA turned sovereignty 
over to the interim Iraqi government.

It wasn't until Jan. 30, 2005, that the citizens of Iraq chose their 
transitional government. "(Iraq) has had several major milestones of 
electoral actions," Di Rita said. "It'll have more going forward, and 
they're scheduled."

The Iraqi National Assembly is writing the new constitution. That 
effort is set to end by Aug. 15. A vote on the document is set not later 
than Oct. 15.

International efforts in Iraq remain strong, with around 30 countries 
helping in various capacities, and NATO has expanded its training 
mission in the nation, Di Rita said.

The coalition continues rebuilding the country. "We've probably 
expended or at least obligated to expend, I would say, something south of $10 
billion and heading further," he said.

But the most notable difference is in Iraqi security forces. Earlier 
this week, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said that when CPA transferred 
sovereignty to the Iraqis, there was only one battalion that was effective. 
That number has risen to more than 100.

Conway said around 169,000 members of the Iraqi security forces are 
trained and equipped, and those units continue "to grow their operational 
capabilities."

The general said the Iraqi forces still have shortfalls - mostly in 
command and control and experience. "That doesn't happen overnight," 
Conway said. "We have a plan for growing the force. We're on track with 
projections of numbers. We're partnering our battalions with theirs, and 
our military transition teams are working with these units to enable them 
to operate independently."

And Iraqi troops are picking up real missions and handling them well, 
Conway said. Iraqi brigades have taken over patrolling in large areas of 
the country and right in downtown Baghdad. "Iraqi troops, along with 
U.S. transition team members, led the operation to free Australian 
hostage Doug Wood," Conway said. "Further, on Tuesday, Iraqi and coalition 
forces captured another one of al Qaeda's key leaders in northern Iraq, 
the so-called emir of Mosul, Abu Talha."

Conway said the Iraqi forces are "taking back their country from the 
insurgents."

Di Rita and Conway spoke about recent polls that show a drop-off of 
American support for operations in Iraq. "Obviously, the public support of 
these kinds of operations is critical," Di Rita said.

He said that Americans deployed to Iraq are showing a different side of 
American commitment. "The Americans who ... know the most about Iraq 
are our military," he said. "And in numbers we've probably not seen maybe 
in my lifetime, ... they're re-enlisting 200 percent of goal -- 150 
percent of goal for units that have deployed to Iraq. So those individuals 
who are the most knowledgeable Americans of all think, 'Jeez, it's 
something worth doing.'"

Conway said it concerns him. He told the story of a Vietnamese colonel 
and a U.S. Marine colonel speaking after the war in Vietnam. "The 
Marine said, 'We beat you every time on the battlefield.' And the Vietnamese 
colonel said, 'That is true, but it's also irrelevant.'"

The general said the enemy realizes "that American public opinion is 
the center of gravity; that a democracy can't do certain things if, in 
fact, the citizens don't support it."

He said he would like to see a reversal in the trend. "It's extremely 
important to the soldier and the Marine, the airman and the sailor over 
there to know that their country's behind them," Conway said. "We 
didn't start this fight. So I don't know that it's our option to simply 
withdraw at this point."

Biographies:

Larry Di Rita  [http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/dirita_bio.html]

Lt. Gen. James Conway, USMC 
[http://www.usmc.mil/genbios2.nsf/0/24f33df7bf06b3a2852568030060440a?OpenDocument&Click=]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2005/20050616_1748.html.

DoD Examines High Operational Tempo's Effect on Equipment 
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 19, 2005  - Equipment that servicemembers are using in 
Iraq and Afghanistan is getting years worth of use in just one year on 
the ground, and the Defense Department is taking steps to ensure the 
tanks, Bradleys, Strykers, Humvees, helicopters, and unmanned aerial 
vehicles stay in a high state of readiness.

No one is going into combat in substandard equipment, a DoD report 
concluded.

The report -- "Ground Force Equipment Repair, Replacement and 
Recapitalization Requirements Resulting from Sustained Combat Operations" -- 
went to Congress last week.

The department was concerned about the effect prolonged combat would 
have on equipment even before Congress asked for the issue to be 
examined.

"Equipment is being used at a much higher rate than it is in peacetime 
-- two to eight times higher, depending on the piece of equipment you 
are talking about," said Mark Franklin Cancian, director of the Land 
Forces Division of DoD's Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation. "As a 
result, it needs a lot more maintenance."

In addition, problems caused by the high operational tempo are further 
aggravated by the harsh environmental conditions. Equipment operating 
in Iraq and Afghanistan face problems from dust, dirt and heat, Cancian 
said. Other equipment, especially trucks and Humvees, are running with 
added armor, which taxes the engines, springs and brakes.

The Abrams tank is a perfect example of the extent of the problem. In 
peacetime, Abrams tanks drive about 65 miles a month. In Iraq, soldiers 
are driving them about 325 miles each month.

Other pieces of equipment have similar statistics. Humvees are being 
driven more than twice as far each month as in peacetime. Armored 
security vehicles are being driven about eight times as much, and Bradley 
fighting vehicles about five times their peacetime average. And helicopters 
are being flown about twice as much as in peacetime.

"The question we asked was, 'What's the long-term effect of combat 
operations on our equipment?'" Cancian said.

DoD used the results of the study to help inform officials for the 
fiscal 2005 supplemental budget request. That request funds all the work 
that can be accomplished this fiscal year to repair or replace equipment. 
Portions of the $82 billion request fund depot maintenance and 
procurement actions

Cancian said a lot of maintenance is done in theater. Most equipment 
does not have to be shipped back to the states for major overhauls. When 
equipment does get shipped back, some maintenance is done in the units 
and some in depots. The depots have "all the funding and capacity to do 
the work."

There are some equipment "washouts," and there is procurement money in 
the supplemental to cover pieces of equipment that are not economical 
to fix. Cancian said these washouts are mostly trucks. Combat losses 
also need to be replaced.

Most procurements can be handled by current production lines, Cancian 
said. But some, such as the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior observation helicopter, 
have been discontinued. The Army will accept some risk in using this 
helicopter until a replacement comes on line in fiscal 2007 or 2008.

"The risk isn't that we can't fight a war," he said. "It means units 
may have to rotate more quickly than they otherwise would."

Related Site:

DoD Program Analysis and Evaluation  
[http://www.pae.osd.mil/default.asp]

Homeland Defense Demands Integrated Efforts, NorthCom Commander Says
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2008 � In the six years since the Defense Department stood up a combatant command charged with unifying homeland defense efforts, U.S. Northern Command has moved from a past mixed with tension and friction among commanders and agencies to an international model of integration at all levels, its commander said yesterday.
�The synergy that has been created by this continuum of effort, from warning to consequence management, is what this nation deserves and is maybe one of the best examples anywhere in the world,� said Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and NorthCom. �We have created a true team effort.�

Renuart told the attendees of the National Homeland Defense Foundation symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., that effectively defending the homeland and responding to natural or man-made disasters requires an integrated approach that involves federal, state and local governments, and even international and private organizations.

In the end, Renuart said, the average citizen doesn�t really care how relief is delivered, only that it is delivered.

�Our citizens really don�t care if it�s a hurricane or a flood or an airplane striking towers in New York City. They want to see if the nation is prepared to take care of them when these events occur,� Renuart said. �So we have to have an integrated organization, � a team that prepares for the worst that always questions the way we ought to be in the future, not [one that] just worries about what we�ve done in the past.�

Renuart said over the past six years organizations have blended together that once operated somewhat autonomously, each caring for its own particular piece of the homeland defense puzzle.

Within the Department of Homeland Defense, 22 organizations were pulled together. Within DoD, commands were dissolved as others were standing up. Many agencies were suddenly responsible for working together that had not traditionally had a relationship.

Now, the agencies have been successful at growing teams, rewriting policy and securing funding and support, Renuart said. He now has the ability to plan alongside support agencies. This allows commanders and leaders to understand gaps in support and resource needs, he said. This type of collaboration will make homeland defense successful, Renuart said.

The commander cited recent support in California during its forest fire season, where as many as 2,000 fires were burning at one time in areas not accessible by traditional fire-fighting resources. A joint task force already was in place, and aviation assets flew 470 sorties, Renuart said.

Also, while hurricanes Gustav and Ike did not render the devastation that was projected, teams were in place to coordinate aid even before the storms hit land.

�In each case, we had the support of the nation to put a collaborative team on the ground pre-landfall to ensure that we could assist the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas as they prepared for what at least looked to be a near-catastrophic event,� Renuart said.

Renuart said 72,000 military servicemembers were deployed after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast. For Gustav and Ike, a few thousand were in place before landfall, and 15,000 were on alert. Integration of search and rescue efforts after the hurricanes was the best this nation has seen, Renuart said.

�That pre-event planning, that understanding and integration of capabilities, � allows us to not just throw mass at the problem, but rather quick precision against the problem,� Renuart said. �That�s the nature of working in the homeland. It�s not a mass-against-the-problem challenge. It is the ability to put the right kind of � support against a challenge in the community so that the citizens of that community are cared for.�

Renuart said the nation can never again consider NORAD, with its missile, cyber and maritime warning systems, and NorthCom, with its response capabilities, operating distinctly. The general said the strength of terrorism often lies in the fact that its groups can move faster than governments.

�Warning requires an integrated team. Action requires a national effort. If you separate those, you lose the ability to operate effectively in a � decision cycle where our enemies can move faster than government,� Renuart said. �We have to accelerate that process. One of the ways we have done that is to make the missions of warning and deterrence integrated into missions of response and consequence management.�

Renuart said NorthCom and NORAD are integrated across their staffs. It improves efficiency, he explained, and it helps in integration, planning, coordination and timeliness of execution.

Renuart praised the Defense Department�s recent approval of the assignment of a brigade-sized contingent of troops to NorthCom. The 4,700 troops will belong to the command for the next year, and are dedicated to training and preparing to respond to a large-scale chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event or other major explosion. The force is designed to support civilian agencies that might be overwhelmed by the size of a large-scale disaster, Renuart said.

Before, forces were earmarked by the services for support to NorthCom, but the command had no control over their training or equipping. This led to an ad hoc, mismatched effort that was largely reactive, he said.

�That model showed itself during Katrina to be flawed,� Renuart said. �If you wait for an event to occur and then you say �I need forces to come and help,� � those forces aren�t prepared. They�re not trained. They may not be equipped the way we want. There is no command structure established. There is no way to integrate those with the national effort in a way that is truly effective.�

Now, DoD will annually assign forces to the command and NorthCom will mandate their training and equipping and integrate their command staffs into planning. This will add to the 11,000 servicemembers that NorthCom has identified for its missions who already are serving mostly in specialty units such as medical, aviation and rescue.

This first brigade-size element is made up of aviation and medical assets and nuclear, biological and chemical warfare specialists. But the bulk of its troops come from an active-duty brigade combat team at Fort Stewart, Ga. This has caught the attention of some in the media and activists who are wary of the use of federal troops on American soil.

Renuart said the forces will not be used to quell an insurrection or to usurp the authority of local governors or law enforcement.

�That is absolutely not the concept,� he said. �These forces are � organized, trained and equipped to go in and assist in an event that is of such a scale that local and even federal first responders are not able to manage.�

Renuart said a second element, roughly the same size, will be built in 2009, largely from National Guard forces.

During the speech, Renuart cited NorthCom�s successes working with the U.S. Coast Guard in its efforts to secure the nation�s ports. The command also works with U.S. Southern Command on counternarcotics efforts and collaborates with Canada and Mexico to share intelligence on drug shipments and cartel movements, Renuart said.

The command also has worked to integrate its efforts with international agencies such as the Red Cross, and with private organizations. And it regularly collaborates with the Department of Homeland Security in what Renuart called �the model� for interagency planning.

�All of us have a vested interest in � securing the communities in our nation,� Renuart said. �All of us have to be prepared, and if we can�t plan for that ahead of time, we will not be successful.� 
 
 
Biographies:
Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr.

Related Sites:
U.S. Northern Command

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Course Gives Civilian Leaders Confidence in Troops, Training 
To: DEFENSE-PRESS-SERVICE-L@DTIC.MIL 
    By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SWORD, Kuwait, Oct. 19, 2006 - U.S. soldiers 
here preparing to move into some of the most restive areas of Iraq 
gave visiting civilian leaders an appreciation today of the quick 
reflexes and decision-making deployed troops apply every day.

The Fort Carson, Colo.-based soldiers, members of the 2nd Infantry 
Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, put participants in the Joint 
Civilian Orientation Conference through the paces during a 6.5-mile 
training course dedicated to countering improvised explosive devices.

Riding through the course in a convoy of 12 up-armored Humvees, the 
civilians experienced much of what U.S. forces running patrols in Iraq 
face on a regular basis, Army Lt. Gen. Steve Whitcomb, commander of 
Coalition Forces Land Component Command, told the JCOC participants.

The civilians -- business, civic and academic leaders from around the 
United States -- donned flak vests and Kevlar helmets before taking 
their positions in a Humvee and maneuvering with the soldiers through 
the notional Iraqi al Bassayab province.

Their mission was to clear the roadway between two forward operating 
bases, Dagger and Sword, to ensure route security for convoys 
operating along Area Supply Route Los Angeles, Capt. James Enos, the convoy 
commander, explained in a pre-mission briefing. He shared 
intelligence reports of a possible explosive forward penetator - a sophisticated 
IED - in the area, as well as a vehicle-borne IED carried by a 
suspected suicide bomber driving a white pickup truck.

The group traversed a sandy course similar to what U.S. troops travel 
regularly in Iraq. It's part of a larger network of paved and dirt 
roads, built-up village areas and dozens of Arabic-speaking players who 
bring realism to the training scenarios troops practice before 
leaving here for Iraq.

Adding to that realism are dirt roads littered with debris that can 
harbor IEDs, intersections that bring convoys unavoidably close to car 
bombs, and chokepoints such as underpasses that limit drivers' 
ability to swerve or avoid attack.

This training, offered mostly to company-level leaders before they 
move north into Iraq with their units, builds on what the soldiers 
received at their home stations before deploying, Whitcomb told the 
group. "This is polishing the stone a little bit more," he said.

"This is important, because it's a commander's last chance to train 
his soldiers prior to combat," Army Col. Dave Rodgers, chief of 
training and exercises here, told the JCOC participants. "It's really 
critical from the leader's perspective that small-unit leaders get the 
chance to practice and further develop their leadership skills before 
they move north."

To make the most of the learning opportunity, observer-controllers 
watch every move as the vehicles maneuver along the course. They change 
the scenarios regularly to ensure the course constantly challenges 
the troops and that they never know what to expect. After the mission, 
these experts report back what they observed and any problems they 
identified, and pass along advice for better confronting a situation.

Just like the troops, the JCOC group encountered a host of deadly 
threats along the route. A blast and puff of black smoke denoted that a 
Humvee in the convoy had been hit, leaving two crewmembers injured. 
An approaching civilian vehicle wouldn't stop when flagged to hold 
back from the convoy, forcing the gunner to point his weapon. A white 
pickup truck raced toward the convoy as it approached an overpass near 
an Iraqi police station, exploding when the gunner engaged it with 
his M249 squad automatic weapon.

One JCOC member found himself patting down a suspected insurgent 
being detained for questioning, and other became an IED casualty.

After his Humvee pulled into Forward Operating Sword, Wade Jones, 
president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, 
admitted he had "a surge of adrenaline" as he engaged a suicide bomber 
from his gunner's seat. "I can only imagine what a soldier feels when 
he experiences that for the first time," he said. "It gives you a real 
appreciation of the different challenges they're facing."

Army 2nd Lt. Barclay Keay, an infantry platoon leader, said the 
training his unit is receiving here will pay huge dividends when he and 
his fellow 1st Battalion, 9th Regiment, troops face those challenges 
after they move into Ramadi, Iraq, within the next two weeks. "Every 
time you do something like this, you learn something new and build on 
what you've already learned," he said.

For Pfc. Joshua Brown, driver for one of the Humvees, the more 
counter-IED training the troops get, the better.

"It's all about repetition," said Brown, who has already served a 
year in Mosul, Iraq, and as a combat veteran, refers to himself as one 
of "the old guys."

"The old guys automatically know what to do and do it. It's muscle 
memory. You know who's doing what and what's moving where," Brown said. 
"But this is particularly important for the new guys."

While not dismissing the value of combat experience, Whitcomb said 
U.S. troops moving into Iraq face an enemy that's constantly adapting 
its tactics, so they, too, must constantly adapt. They have to keep on 
their toes, quickly applying lessons learned on the battlefield to 
their training so they're prepared for the real thing, he said.

"Every convoy our soldiers go out on (in Iraq) is a combat mission," 
Whitcomb said.

Helping to protect U.S. troops from the IED threat is a major Defense 
Department effort, Army Col. Dave Rodgers, chief of training and 
exercises here, told the JCOC participants. It's being conducted on 
several fronts, from developing new technological countermeasures to 
increasing the armor on vehicles to applying lessons learned from the 
battlefield, he said.

But a major part of the equation comes down to the ability of young 
men and women in uniform to observe their surroundings, recognize when 
something seems out of place and know when to trust their instincts, 
Whitcomb said.

He noted that decisions troops make in a matter of seconds can mean 
the difference between life and death for themselves, their fellow 
troops and the Iraqi civilians they encounter.

The JCOC participants said today's training gave them a better 
understanding of how quickly troops must react to situations unfolding 
around them.

"They're making incredibly quick, split-second decisions under a lot 
of stress," said Keith Sirois, president and chief executive officer 
of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, based in Tampa. "Every circumstance 
is a potential threat."

Sirois said riding with the soldiers along the training course gave 
him confidence in their ability to react to those threats. "What I see 
is a very disciplined group that sees what's happening and knows what 
to do," he said.

"They're doing a very difficult job, but they're cool and calm, and 
they don't get ruffled," agreed Jimmy Orders, president of Park Place 
Corporation in Greenville, S.C. "These kids have life-and-death 
responsibilities day in and day out, and they do it so well."

Sirois, Orders and their fellow JCOC participants are business, 
civic, community and academic leaders from around the country who are 
spending the week observing U.S. Central Command at work. The Defense 
Department started the JCOC program in 1948 to help educate civilian 
"movers and shakers" about the military.

[Web Version: 
http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1693]

====================================================

Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at 
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are 
doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and 
abroad.

====================================================

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Exchange Services' Prepaid Phone Cards Better Than Others 
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2005 -  When it comes to buying prepaid phone 
cards to call home from Iraq or Afghanistan, not all cards are alike.

Friends and loved ones who purchase prepaid cards at supermarkets, gas 
stations or warehouse stores may think they�re sending deployed troops 
a big stockpile of calling minutes. But that�s often not the case.

Many prepaid cards that offer low per-minute calling charges are 
actually geared for stateside use, according to Judd Anstey, public affairs 
specialist for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. When used 
overseas to call home, these-type prepaid cards often buy just a fraction of 
their advertised calling minutes.

In contrast, the Military Exchange Global Prepaid 550- and 200-unit 
phone cards, part of the �Help Our Troops Call Home� program, offer lower 
per-minute rates than other prepaid cards, including AT&T prepaid cards 
sold by other retailers, Anstey said. "It's the best value out there," 
he noted.

In fact, the program remains a big hit that�s saving troops and their 
loved ones big dollars. And this is a year after the Defense Department 
made the unprecedented move of allowing military exchanges to sell 
prepaid phone cards to anyone wishing to buy them for deployed troops.

Last April, DoD introduced the since-named �Help Our Troops Call Home� 
program, which enables even people not otherwise entitled to exchange 
privileges to buy Military Exchange Global Prepaid Calling Cards for 
deployed troops.

A year later, the program is within striking distance of the $2 million 
mark -- enough to buy and distribute more than 78,000 prepaid cards, 
according to Anstey.

Cards purchased through the program can be sent to individual 
servicemembers or to �any servicemember� through the American Red Cross, United 
Service Organizations, Air Force Aid Society or Fisher House 
Foundation. During the past year alone, these partners have distributed almost 
27,000 prepaid phone cards through the program, Anstey said. More than 
half of those cards were donated through the American Red Cross.

If usage is any gauge of the cards� popularity, they�re a big hit. 
During February alone, troops generated nearly 20 million minutes of calls 
using the cards at AAFES phone centers in the Middle East, Anstey said.

The Help Our Troops Call Home program enables the public to tap into an 
exclusive DoD contract with AT&T that gives troops the lowest 
per-minute fees for calls placed from AT&T phone centers, Anstey said.

If the card is purchased in the United States, the per-minute fees are 
21 cents a minute from Iraq, Afghanistan or Kuwait. If the deployed 
servicemember buys the card overseas, the rates are even lower -- 19 cents 
a minute from Iraq, Afghanistan or Kuwait, Anstey said.

These rates are lower than they were a year ago, Anstey said, and 
compare to as much as 40 cents per minute charged by some phone-card 
companies after converting calling units to actual calling minutes.

In addition to low rates, the military prepaid cards don�t expire and 
aren�t subject to additional charges or connection fees, he said.

Army Lt. Col. Debra Pressley, AAFES� chief of corporate communications, 
called the public outpouring through the Help Our Troops Call Home 
program �inspiring.�

�The decision to allow the exchange services to work directly with the 
American public has provided a textbook study in how to safely and 
effectively support our troops,� she said.

One participating organization, the USO, has sent almost 1,700 prepaid 
cards through the program, according to Donna St. John, spokeswoman for 
the USO World Headquarters, in Washington. That�s in addition to the 
USO�s own �Operation Phone Home� program, which had sent almost 300,000 
100-minute global calling cards to deployed troops as of April 1, St. 
John said. AT&T has donated more than $6 million in prepaid cards to the 
USO program.

The USO also distributes prepaid phone cards to wounded troops 
recuperating at military hospitals stateside and overseas and has included 
�several hundred thousand� phone cards in Operation USO Care Package boxes 
sent to deployed troops, St. John said.

More information about the Military Exchange Global Prepaid Calling 
Card is available on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the Navy 
Exchange and the Marine Corps Exchange Web sites, or by calling (800) 
527-2345.

Related Sites:

Military Exchange Prepaid Calling Cards 
[https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx]

Army and Air Force Exchange Service 
[http://www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp]

Navy Exchange [http://www.navy-nex.com/]

Marine Corps Exchange 
[http://www.usmc-mccs.org/shopping/shoppinginfo.cfm]

Army, National Institute of Mental Health Begin Suicide Study
By J.D. Leipold
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2008 � The Army and the National Institute of Mental Health have begun a five-year, $50 million research program into the factors behind soldier suicides and how to prevent them, Army Secretary Pete Geren told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday.
Geren said the new partnership with NIMH, the Army Science Board and the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs would build on work that already is under way to conduct the most far-reaching and comprehensive research project ever undertaken on suicide and its prevention.

"It's a five-year study to examine the mental and behavioral health of soldiers, with particular focus on the multiple determinants of suicidal behavior and resiliency across all phases of Army service," Geren said. "Family members and family relationships, including parents and siblings, will also be included in the study where it's appropriate."

The study also will include the National Guard and Army Reserve.

This effort will be followed by an Army Science Board study with the goal of identifying correlated risk factors and recommending mitigation strategies and practices to prevent suicide. At the same time, the secretary said, the Army would not wait for the end of the study to implement mitigation strategies, but would put those strategies into practice as they make themselves clear.

According Dr. Thomas R. Insel, NIMH director, the study will give NIMH a bigger picture on the suicide risk factors of the nation's population, critical information that he said affects the entire United States because the Army is a "microcosm of the nation."

"There are more than 30,000 suicides in the U.S. each year, actually 32,000 in 2006, the most recent year for which we have numbers," he said. "That's almost twice the number of homicides in the country. Suicide is really a significant public health problem. If we can reduce the rate in the Army, it will ultimately reduce the rate in the nation. Those are really the goals for this collaborative effort."

Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said that "suicide rates aren't exactly plummeting."

"Half the suicides we can't figure out what happened, so that's why we need the NIMH�s help," he said.

Geren said that of the 115 suicides the Army confirmed in 2007, 36 of the soldiers were deployed at time of death, 50 had been deployed prior to their deaths, and 29 never had been deployed. The secretary said he expects suicide rates for 2008 will be up compared with 2007 rates.

(J.D. Leipold works at Army News Service.) 
 
 
Biographies:
Pete Geren 
Dr. S. Ward Cascells

Related Sites:
National Institute of Mental Health 
Defense Department Health Affairs

Students Meet DoD Official, Discuss Mock Security Program 
To: DEFENSE-PRESS-SERVICE-L@DTIC.MIL 
    By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2006 - Two of the founding members of a high 
school mock national security program met here today with the Defense 
Department's top homeland defense official, discussing the findings of 
their program and what they learned.

Emily Blair, 17, of River Valley High School, Mohave County, Ariz., 
and Rolland Hartwick, 17, of Needles High School, Needles, Calif., are 
involved in an interactive homeland security class in which students 
learn about disaster response and participate in an exercise 
simulating a terrorist attack on their community. This program, in its second 
year, is the only homeland security-focused high school program in 
the country.

"I have met with high school students before, but this was the best 
session ever," Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for 
homeland defense, said after meeting with Blair, Hartwick, and two of their 
teachers. "The scenario that was developed by these students 
reflected very realistically the kinds of terrorist threat that confronts our 
nation. They were pretty realistic in terms of just how bad it can be 
after a terrorist attack and what kinds of capabilities are required 
to begin the repair and remediation."

The one-year program the students went through was broken into three 
phases. In the first phase, they learned about homeland security and 
emergency response and designed emergency plans for their locale and 
for "Suburbia" - a fictitious city.

In the second phase, the students applied and revised the emergency 
plans to three case studies involving a natural disaster, a major 
accident and a terrorist attack. They also began designing a homeland 
security education kit with learning materials and activities for 
elementary and high schools.

In the third phase, the students prepared for and conducted a 
full-scale, near-real time exercise. They produced a term paper documenting 
the experience and recommending future actions. The exercise scenario 
was that during a national event, a small plane laden with unknown 
chemical or biological substances flew directly into the Hoover Dam. 
Both the Hoover Dam and Davis Dam collapsed, flooding local towns and 
washing away the event attendees, including the vice president, 
secretary of the interior and governors of California, Arizona and Nevada.

Today, the students explained their scenario, and the responses they 
developed to it, to McHale. McHale talked to them in-depth about the 
role of the Defense Department in homeland defense, and the 
relationship between the military and civilian first responders.

McHale said he was impressed by the students, and by some of the 
creative solutions they developed to deal with the scenario. Their 
scenario resembles programs used within DoD for training, he noted.

"I think a program like this would be beneficial in every high school 
throughout the nation," he said. "The fact is that there are 
transnational terrorists who seek to do us harm, and given the opportunity, 
they will use weapons of mass destruction to try to kill Americans in 
a brutal way as they did on Sept. 11. ... These are very realistic 
threats, and I think although it is sobering to consider them, it is 
also essential that we think realistically not only about the threats 
we face today, but the kinds of terrorist threats that we will likely 
face over the next several decades."

After the meeting, Hartwick and Blair both said it was beneficial to 
talk to McHale and gain his perspective on their program. They were 
both excited about talking to an official who deals with real threats 
on a daily basis.

"He opened (our) eyes to the fact that what we do in our mock 
scenarios is actually real," Blair said. "The security -- everything that we 
work out -- is actually real, and a lot of (the students) realize 
it's real, but don't really take it into consideration every day, and 
these people here do."

Air Force Maj. Gen. Annette Sobel, director of intelligence for the 
National Guard Bureau and an instructor for the high school program, 
said that grassroots initiatives like this are essential to national 
security and homeland defense. Sobel got involved with the program 
through her civilian job as a national security analyst at Sandia Labs 
in New Mexico. Through her National Guard affiliation, she was able to 
show the students the state emergency operations center and give them 
an idea of what happens in a disaster scenario, she said.

"Initially, the kids were kind of wondering how this was going to 
help them," Sobel said. "Then they started realizing it helped them not 
only in understanding how they can play an active role as citizens 
and potentially as citizen-soldiers, ... they also began to understand 
the vulnerabilities of the communities in which they live and they 
wanted to protect. So they took on more of an ownership role, than just 
a passive role of 'The government's going to do things for me.'"

Even if the students involved in this program don't go on to careers 
related to national security, this experience gives them confidence 
and a clear understanding of the threats facing the country, Sobel 
said.

Hartwick and Blair, both seniors in high school, said they are 
involved in the program again this year, and will probably serve as 
leaders.

[Web Version: 
http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1734]

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Sexual assault not just 'women's issue,' expert says 
[4/5/2006]

Source: American Forces Press Service

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2006 � Sexual assault cannot be relegated to being regarded as a "women's issue," said Don McPherson, the keynote speaker at the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Awareness Month observance yesterday.

McPherson, the executive director of the Sports Leadership Institute at Adelphi University in New York, said relegating sexual assault to being a women's issue means "men can ignore it." 
The theme of the observance this year is "Sexual Assault Prevention Begins With You." The goal of the month and of the new DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office is to raise awareness of the issue to prevent sexual assaults.

"We certainly don't want perpetrators of sexual assaults in our ranks," said Air Force Brig. Gen. K.C. McClain, commander of the Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.

"We think that many people don't understand [sexual assaults]. We've looked at surveys, and teenagers indicate they don't understand what behaviors constitute sexual assault."

McClain said the awareness month is a chance for commanders to emphasize the problem and search for solutions. "Some of the attitudes that people come to the military with [indicate] they don't understand how actions they are taking demean their fellow servicemembers and result in sexual assaults," she said. "The goal is to help everyone begin to understand what sexual assault is and to step back and talk about how men and women interact in our society."

McClain said servicemembers must understand that all servicemembers, from both genders and all backgrounds, bring strengths to the table. "The question becomes: 'How do we maximize those strengths?'" she said.

McPherson praised DoD for stepping out on the issue and beginning to discuss it. He noticed that about half the audience at the observance was male. "That's very good," he said. "Your presence alone sends the message to your people that you think this is important."

Far from being a woman's issue, sexual assault is a men's issue, McPherson said. "More than 90 percent of the sexual assaults are men against women," he said.

He told the crowd that it is not enough to speak about preventing sexual assault, setting an example is the best way to prevent the scourge. He said children learn from their parents. 
Servicemembers learn from their superiors. Everyone learns from people they value and respect. If leaders exhibit behavior that does not tolerate sexual assaults, then their followers will not tolerate it either, he said.

The military academies have been a particular focus of the problem, McPherson said. Discussions have started in the academies, and the greater military is also dealing with the problem. Honor and integrity are even more important in the armed forces than in civilian life, and managing the "multitudes of people who come to serve" is key to a successful military, he said.

Installations around the world are participating in Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

DoD Expands Existing Whistleblower Protections 
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2005 -  Blowing the whistle on waste, fraud and 
abuse at work seems like the last thing workers would do if they wanted 
to keep their jobs and advance their careers.

But that�s exactly what servicemembers and federal civilian employees 
are required by executive order to do, and the Office of Inspector 
General has bolstered protections offered to ensure they don�t suffer 
reprisals on the job as a result.

Federal laws protect so-called �whistleblowers� from adverse personnel 
actions they could feasibly suffer when reporting abuses within their 
organizations: getting fired, losing out on promotions or getting 
shuffled to lesser jobs. These laws also protect against less dramatic but 
equally career-damaging actions, from receiving bad evaluation reports or 
letters of counseling to getting temporarily suspended without pay.

New policies adopted by the Defense Department Jan. 7 broaden those 
protections even further, officials at the Office of Inspector General 
told the American Forces Press Service.

Based on an initiative by DoD Inspector General Joseph Schmitz, 
whistleblowers within the department are now protected from having their 
security clearances revoked or tampered with as a result, officials 
explained.

The new provisions also offer first-time protections to civilian 
members of DoD�s intelligence community involved in whistleblowing activity. 
Previous protections for these employees were limited to reports made 
directly to Congress or reports involving violations of civil liberties.

Hollywood lionizes the lone employee who stands up to large 
corporations or bureaucracies to point out misdeeds or out-and-out crimes. Time 
magazine put three whistleblowers on its cover in 2002, heralding them as 
�persons of the year.�

Yet despite federal protections, some people who report abuses within 
their organizations say they suffer reprisals as a result.

M. Jane Deese, director of the DoD Inspector General�s Military 
Reprisal Investigations office, said she receives hundreds of reports a year 
of these incidents. And while the vast majority of these claims turn out 
to be unsubstantiated or not covered under whistleblower-protection 
laws, as many as 100 a year do, she said.

The Inspector General�s most recent Semiannual Report for Transmission 
to the Congress included three examples of substantiated 
whistleblower-reprisal cases for the April 1 to Sept. 30, 2004, timeframe.

In one case, an Air Force master sergeant in Utah said he received an 
unfavorable enlisted performance report after reporting mismanagement by 
officers in his command to an inspector general. Following an 
investigation by Deese�s office, corrective action was taken against the Air 
Force major and Navy captain involved.

In another case, an Army specialist in Hawaii reported that he was 
threatened with an Article 15 and involuntary separation after complaining 
to an inspector general about being tasked for a duty assignment. An 
Army investigation substantiated the complaint, and the first sergeant 
involved received corrective action.

A Naval Reserve lieutenant said she was issued a letter of instruction 
and downgraded fitness report in reprisal for complaining of 
discrimination to her chain of command and Equal Opportunity Office, and in 
testimony to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. 
Deese�s office investigated and determined that two Navy captains had, in 
fact, reprised against the lieutenant. Both officials involved retired 
from active duty.

Reprisals against civilian employees are somewhat harder to track, 
because most cases are referred to the independent Office of Special 
Counsel.

However, the DoD Inspector General�s Civilian Reprisal Investigations 
office investigates most of the highest-profile cases, explained Dan 
Meyer, the office�s director. These cases involve civilian employees in 
the DoD intelligence community, participating in operations in Iraq or 
Afghanistan, associated with contractor fraud in excess of $1 million, or 
who are fired as a result of whistleblowing activity, he said.

While military members, civilian employees and DoD contractors all 
receive whistleblower protections under the law, Meyer said the guidelines 
for what constitutes a whistleblower differ.

For example, servicemembers who report waste, fraud or abuse through 
their chains of command qualify as whistleblowers. However, civilians who 
report these occurrences to their immediate supervisors don�t.

Meyer recommended that would-be whistleblowers consult with their 
inspectors general to learn about their rights and protections before taking 
action.

While nobody wants to have to blow the whistle on waste, fraud or 
abuse, and those who do often face a social stigma, Deese and Meyer agreed 
that whistleblowers are a vital part of the Defense Department�s effort 
to monitor itself.

�You have to have people willing to come out and speak out,� Deese 
said. �It�s critical to the goal of maintaining accountability and 
integrity in the system.�

Related Site:

DoD Office of Inspector General [http://www.dodig.osd.mil/]

Commissaries to Promote Warrior Care in November
By Kevin L. Robinson
Special to American Forces Press Service

FORT LEE, Va., Oct. 30, 2008 � The Defense Commissary Agency will join other Defense Department organizations in observing November as Warrior Care Month.
The observance is designed to inform military members and their families about the many programs that are, and will be, available to assist wounded warriors.

In a memorandum announcing this initiative, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he wants to focus DoD�s efforts in drawing attention to improvements for the support of wounded warriors.

Through Warrior Care Month, Gates said, he also intends to send �a clear message to our servicemembers and the public that there is no higher priority for this department than caring for those who have made personal sacrifices in the defense of our nation.�

Throughout November, commissaries will display posters to emphasize wounded warriors and the programs that exist for their care and support. Throughout the year, personnel from DeCA�s human resources and equal employment opportunity offices have teamed to recruit wounded warriors, along with civilians with targeted disabilities and veterans with a 30 percent or more disability rating.

�Our men and women in uniform who have been wounded or injured deserve more than our spoken gratitude,� said Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., DeCA director and chief executive officer. �During Warrior Care Month, the Defense Commissary Agency will do its part to focus more attention on the resources to support our troops in their recovery and rehabilitation.�

In addition to posters in commissaries to raise awareness, DeCA will use its Web site, www.commissaries.com, to highlight programs and initiatives being provided through the warrior care system and to direct visitors to the agency�s job opportunities for wounded warriors.

To further help wounded warriors and their families with any questions, concerns or problems during their recovery process, DoD created a Web site, www.warriorcare.mil, to provide a lasting gateway for resources and ongoing programs. The site includes a directory to find information throughout DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs about the military health system and existing service programs. Over time, warriorcare.mil will grow as new programs are introduced, officials said.

The term �wounded warrior� applies to all wounded, ill and injured military members and veterans. Each military service has specific units to address the needs of these troops. The Marines and the Army, for example, have established wounded warrior battalions and warrior transition units, respectively, to assist their servicemembers as they receive medical treatment.

Military OneSource also has created a 24-hour Wounded Warrior Resource Center that can be reached by telephone at 800-342-9647 and by e-mail at wwrc@militaryonesource.com. The center is staffed with trained consultants who will direct callers to the military or federal agency that can best help them. The consultant is expected to maintain contact with the caller until their question or concern is resolved, officials said, though the center is not designed to replace existing military units that support wounded warriors.

(Kevin L. Robinson works at the Defense Commissary Agency.) 
 
 
Related Sites:
Defense Commissary Agency 
DoD Warrior Care 
Military OneSource

To see a current version of the Family Liaison Office Notes (FLO), go to aflo.org...

Volume 19, Issue 11 - November 2006
 
Are you having difficulty viewing this e-mail? View FLO Notes November 2006 online. (PDF) 
 
Loose fingertips can sink ships too

This month's Chief's Corner deals with what I feel to be one of the most important topics, yet one of the least talked about subjects, among those in the world of Army families. I'd like to start by offering a scenario that is quite real and very disturbing when you take some time to think it through . so here goes.

You think I am the average person, in this case the average Joe, sitting at my desk, and from all appearances have the look of a fairly trustworthy person. You call me on the phone and tell me about your Soldier, how proud you are of his or her accomplishments, etc. During the course of our conversation you tell me your Soldier is deployed with a certain unit overseas. You also share with me that the Soldier's unit is really down emotionally, or really pumped, morale wise. You continue by telling me what they have been doing, and even go as far as to read me a recent letter from the Soldier.

At some point you even express to me the anger and disappointment you feel because you've learned the Soldier's unit may be extended. Furthermore, during the course of our conversation I get another call and put them on conference call with you and this happens 10 times during the next 15 minutes. Now the conversations are really dynamic and each caller feeds off of the other.

My ear is sore so I am going to hang up. However, before we hang up we exchange e-mail addresses. All of this seems fairly innocent and non-threatening. After all I seemed like a fairly nice guy with a very sympathetic ear, and the energy of all the callers was refreshing and allowed you to do some real therapeutic venting.

After our conversation I pick up the phone and call a major terrorist organization and give them all the information you and the others gave me to include your e-mail address as we all did decide to exchange e-mail. To add a little insult to injury, I decide to call every terrorist organization known to man and do the same thing over and over again. After you find out what I've done, your only response is "OOPS."

If you had known I was going to call the bad guys, you would have probably considered me a security risk. And if I were a security risk, I would have appeared to look much different from the average Joe you once thought I was.

Now let's bring this scenario into reality. I recently took some time to surf some of the more prominent military blogs on the Internet . many of which are seemingly non-threatening. However, I found that many of them have forums where we can vent, voice our anger, opinion, or thoughts; voice support or non-support; and even lay out for all to see, details of our Soldier's morale as well as the morale of the unit. Some blogs encourage us to voice our opinion on the war, or to share your thoughts on the challenges of being a military family.

All of this information, however, is vital information which can be used by an enemy against our Soldiers. Furthermore, the instant one hits the "publish" button this information is broadcasted worldwide in the blink of an eye.

What starts out as innocent venting can all too quickly turn into a real threat, especially to our young men and women serving this country. The Internet can be our friend or enemy, because it is global and is monitored at all times . by us as well as the enemy.

I'd like to share a real experience with you.

Some time ago I was talking with the very angry spouse of a Soldier. This person made the comment that they were free to express themselves in any way they wished, and that from now on they were going to send everything they did and every response they received to the press.

The spouse's comments predicated some very active conversation concerning their right, responsibilities and freedom of speech. At the end of our conversation I asked the caller to consider asking one major question before sharing information publicly � "If the information you voice were sent directly to the enemy, would it place in your Soldier or any other Soldier in danger?"

I recently read on a blog that stated the Soldiers of a particular unit were in a daze, their morale was really down and their Soldier was constantly depressed and distracted. All of this information could be vital to the enemy and potentially places our Soldiers at risk. In fact, this blog made these Soldiers a viable target for the enemy. I was disappointed that one of our own would post this information on a public blog for the world to see.

I need the help of our senior, and more-experienced, spouses to get the word out about these security concerns. Balancing free speech rights with security concerns can at times be very tricky, however with a little work and thought we can all write messages that allow us to communicate our feelings and still protect those we love.

Most of you know me and know I would not call the enemy and was making a point with my scenario, but we have no way of knowing who the owners of these blogs are, and more importantly who is reading our e-mail traffic. If we are not careful, what we say may potentially endanger the lives of others. 
 
Army launches 'Our Survivors' Web resource

September marked the launch of the Army's new Our Survivors Web resource, dedicated to the survivors of Soldiers who have died. Available through the Army Families Online Web site, www.ArmyFamiliesOnline.org, this site offers resources for families to help them through the difficult time after their Soldier's death. While listing links to the new DoD guidebook, "A Survivors Guide to Benefits," as well as Veterans Affairs and DoD survivor sites, it is unique in offering the Our Survivors Forum, a space for surviving family members to share their experiences and thoughts with others going through the same thing. There is also a helpful FAQ section that can answer many questions families have in the aftermath of the death of a loved one.

This section was part of a recent Army initiative that also saw the creation the Army Families First Casualty Call Center (FFCCC), a one-stop resolution center established to assist surviving family members of deceased Soldiers with questions regarding benefits, outreach, advocacy, and support. Its mission is to provide long-term support and advocacy, and offer comprehensive solutions to the families of fallen Soldiers by partnering with private and public organizations, in addition to various outreach groups. FFCCC will provide assistance, support, and referral information to spouses, children and parents, as well as extended family members of fallen Soldiers. The FFCCC team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866) 272-5841.

The National Military Family Association applauded the outreach by the Army to surviving families and the creation of this Web resource. Many families feel cut off from their military "family" when their servicemember dies and this site, in addition to the FFCCC, may help them feel more connected. 
 
November is Military Family Month

Military Family Month is a time to demonstrate the nation's support for, and commitment to, the outstanding families of our military personnel.

This year's observance is especially important, as several hundred-thousand servicemembers are currently deployed overseas, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore, recognizing the sacrifices that military families make every day has never been more important.

Each year during Military Family Month, the Armed Services YMCA announces its annual art and essay contests, which are co-sponsored by GEICO Direct.

The contests are open to children of military families representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, reserves, Coast Guard, retirees and DoD civilian employees. First- and second-place winners in each service category receive a U.S. Savings Bond.

The art contest seeks young artists in kindergarten through sixth grade to participate in the annual contest entitled, "My Military Family." Students who wish to enter this year are asked to draw a picture of their military family. All entries should be drawn on an 8-by-6-inch piece of white paper. Please note that these requirements are different from previous years' contests.

Entries with great use of color and patriotic theme have caught judges' attention in the past. All art contest entries must be postmarked no later than Feb. 16, 2007 to be eligible.

Students who wish to enter this year's essay contest are asked to write about "Why My Military Dad/Mom is My Hero." Students in first through eighth grades should submit entries of at least 100 words, but not more than 300 words. High school students, in ninth through 12th grades should write essays of no less than 300 words and no more than 500.

Judges like creative entries; poetry, stories and news articles are some different formats that have caught judges' attention in the past. All essay contest entries must be postmarked no later than March 16, 2007 to be eligible.

Entries for both the art and essay contest should be mailed to: 
Armed Services YMCA 
ATTN: "Art" or "Essay" Contest 
6359 Walker Lane, Suite 200 
Alexandria, VA 22310

All entries for both the art and essay contest should include the official entry form, completely filled out. The official entry form, as well as more information for each contest, can be found on the Armed Services YMCA Web site - www.asymca.org. For more information, not found on the Web site, send an e-mail to tharper@asymca.org, or call (703) 313-9600, ext. 10. 
 
Combat Related Injury Rehabilitation Pay

Combat Related Injury Rehabilitation Pay is a special pay for members hospitalized during rehabilitation from wounds, injuries, and/or illness incurred in a combat operation or combat zone after having been evacuated from theater as a result of those wounds, injuries or illness.

CIP is $430 per month minus Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HF/IDP) paid to the member that month. The amount is the sum of what members in Iraq and Afghanistan are receiving monthly in TDY Incidental Expenses allowance ($105), Hazardous Duty Pay-Location ($100), and the HF/IDP ($225). CIP is payable each time a member is evacuated from the combat theater and hospitalized for treatment due to wounds, injuries or illness incurred while in a combat operation or in a combat zone.

Combining CIP with Other Special Pays: HF/IDP continues for up to three additional months for members hospitalized for the treatment of an injury or wound incurred as a result of hostile fire in a combat zone or operation. While HF/IDP is payable during these months, CIP will be offset by the HF/IDP amount. The CIP portion will therefore be $205.

CIP may be paid in addition to any other pay and allowance to which the member is entitled or authorized and will be paid at the full monthly rate for any month that member is eligible for the pay in the full amount.

CIP stops once Traumatic SGLI is paid by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. Payment of CIP also stops when the member is no longer "hospitalized," even if the member is sent home. 
 
Locating quality childcare in an emergency

Emergencies happen to the best of us. If you have children, it is essential to plan ahead for the unexpected so that if an emergency occurs you and your child will be prepared.

Where to start: Begin your childcare search at your local Childcare Resource and Referral office or military family center. The number can be found through the installation information line or telephone book.

Often resource and referral is your first contact for qualified childcare providers (on and off the installation) in your area. Ask for a list of providers that includes availability of services, qualifications, and personal contact information.

Additionally, resource and referral can lead you in the right direction with valuable resources, but it will be up to you to make the necessary arrangements for the care of your child. If you are not located near a military installation, consider contacting your closest YMCA (www.ymca.net) or the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. NACCRRA, in partnership with DoD, offers many programs that are specifically suited to military family needs. They include: Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood, Operation: Military Child Care and Operation Child Care.

For more information on these programs, visit www.naccrra.org/MilitaryPrograms.

Military OneSource may also help you find child care in your community if you do not live near a military installation. You can contact Military OneSource by going to www.militaryonesource.com, or by calling 1-800-342-9647.

Options for childcare: Child Development Centers are regulated centers on military installations worldwide. CDCs can occasionally accommodate drop-in care on an availability-only basis. Check with your local center to inquire about their policy.

Keep in mind that almost all of these centers are only open during a regular workday schedule. If your child will only need a few hours of daycare, this option may be for you.

If you normally use a military Family Child Care provider for your child's care, that person may be able to watch your child for an extended period of time.

Another option might be a Red Cross certified babysitter on base or a trusted neighbor. Make sure that you understand the DoD and installation regulations for those who provide or leave their child in the care of another while on a military installation.

For more information on the military's child development system, visit www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil.

To learn about Red Cross babysitting training, go to www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/babyindex.html. If you have a child with special needs, contact your local Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), or a Resource or Referral representative for help with locating appropriate care.

Get your pencil and paper ready: If an emergency happened today, would you have the time, or senses for that matter, to have all essential paperwork ready for your provider? Here are some things you'll need, and can prepare ahead of time:
All pre-registration materials for childcare providers 
Copies of immunization records, medical authorization forms, in case your child needs medical treatment, personal contact information for yourself and whoever may be picking up your child 
Current and thorough information about your child. Schedules such as naps, meal times, or favorite activities can vary, especially with younger children, and you'll want to make sure your provider knows how to meet your child's needs. 
You might also consider creating a Family Care Plan to protect your family in an emergency.

Communicate with providers: Inquire about DoD fees and payments, which are based on family income and change annually. Drop-in or irregular care can be costly at up to $6 per hour, and pre-payment may be required.

If your provider will be a neighbor or babysitter, agree on compensation before childcare is needed, so that there are no questions left unanswered.

Try to locate three, to five providers, who are willing to accept your child. Make sure you both have clear expectations ahead of time, so that you understand when the provider is available. You may find it helpful to choose providers who are available to cover all times and circumstances, such as morning car trouble, overnight emergencies, or weekends.

Prepare your child: Visit with potential providers often, at least once a month, to familiarize your child with a new environment. Ask if you can stop by for lunch or participate with your child in a weekly art project.

Talk to your child about going to spend time with a new person if Mommy or Daddy had to leave for a little while. Don't cause alarm, but make your child aware of a possible new situation. That can make the transition less difficult if you have to leave with little notice. 
 
Military helps spouses get degrees

For military spouses, going back to school involves a sizeable time commitment and an expensive financial obligation. What's more, constant relocation may cause a spouse to worry about losing credits if he or she transfers to another college. However, programs created especially for military families can help bring a college education within your reach.

Your installation education center should be the first source for information about local higher education opportunities. The services offered by these centers are not limited to servicemembers - they are a resource for the entire family.

Most schools offering courses on installations will include an office with a counselor available for spouses, where you can discuss your education goals and enrollment procedures. These counselors can address education issues that arise from frequent relocation and describe the military education assistance programs available for spouses. They can also provide information on scholarships and other financial assistance.

These are some of the programs offering financial assistance for military spouses:

The Spouse Education Assistance Program awards grants to spouses of active-duty and deceased Soldiers. Formerly targeted toward Army spouses in Europe, Korea, Japan and Okinawa, SEAP has expanded to include eligible spouses in the United States. Only full-time undergraduate level students may apply. The maximum award per individual during the 2006-07 academic year is $2,500.

Frequent relocations may make it difficult for servicemembers and spouses to maintain continuity in achieving a college education. The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program is ideal for easing this burden. A consortium of more than 1,500 colleges and universities across the United States that offer associate and bachelor's degrees allows students to continue with their education and not retake classes, by transferring credits between colleges.

SOC varies slightly from service to service, but all provide the resources necessary to help military families obtain a high level of education.

Remember to investigate the many scholarships specifically developed for families of active-duty military and veterans. Various military associations and spouse clubs offer scholarship programs, and thousands of these scholarships go unused each year. The free www.Military.com Scholarship Finder can help you locate scholarships that best fit your needs. The www.ArmyFamiliesOnline.org Resources A-Z section also provides links to a variety of scholarship resources and opportunities for spouses and Army families.

And don't just look at military sources of assistance. Many military spouses can qualify for Pell Grants, college work-study programs or other need-based financial aid. 
 
AER expands spouse education assistance

For academic year 2007-08, the Army Emergency Relief fund is expanding the stateside SEAP to include spouses of retired Soldiers and surviving spouses of retired Soldiers who died while residing in the United States.

Prior to this change only spouses of active-duty Soldiers and widows(ers) of Soldiers who died while on active duty were eligible for this assistance. All spouses must be registered in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System.

This program is not offered to spouses seeking second undergraduate and graduate degrees. Spouses who receive free tuition as a result of their employment will not be eligible for tuition assistance, but may apply for assistance for fees, supplies, books (no duplicates) for classes in which they are enrolled as a full-time student. Financial aid to spouses living in the United States is awarded based on financial need as evidenced by income, assets, family size, special financial obligations and circumstances. Different eligibility requirements apply to spouses living overseas. Scholarships are awarded annually for up to four academic years to attend post-secondary school full-time as undergraduate level students.

Spouses/surviving spouses must apply every academic year. Applications for 2007-08 for all eligible spouses will be available at www.aerhq.org from Nov. 1 through March 1, 2007, or by writing to: HQ, Army Emergency Relief, Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program, 200 Stovall St., Alexandria, VA 22332-0600 
 
Spouses to Teachers program expands to Europe

Military spouses in Europe interested in teaching can now participate in the DoD Spouses to Teachers program, which had previously been only available stateside.

The program's services include information on state-specific educational requirements, teaching credentials and scholarship options, along with a reimbursement up to $600 for teacher certification examinations.

"Spouses serve too," said Pamela K. Smith, the Spouse Education, Careers and Relocation program manager for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. "It's our goal to help them build careers."

According to DoD research, teaching is one of the top-five career choices among military spouses. Because keeping spouses employed is a good retention tool, the expansion of this program simply makes sense.

The program, directed by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support, is open to spouses of all servicemembers, including Guard and reserve. There are no higher-education requirements to enter the program, and it is commitment-free. "You can change your mind and opt out any time," said Marti Readel, advisor for DANTES in Europe.

Interested spouses can contact the Spouses to Teachers network to be assigned a counselor for the state where they are interested in teaching. For convenience, the interaction between spouses in Europe and their program counselors will occur via the Internet and phone.

While counselors will help prospective teachers map out their careers, the program is not a job-placement service, Readel said. Counselors will not advise spouses on which schools to attend.

"You have to be proactive," Readel stressed. "In the military, we're used to being told exactly where to go and what to do. That's not the way this program works."

Spouses can find a list of military cooperative teacher certification programs available through distance learning at www.dantes.doded.mil.

Though the program does not find jobs for spouses, there is a planned partnership between the program and the DoD Education Activity, through which DoDEA plans to provide support to spouses wherever it can, Smith said.

Additionally, Smith recommends two Web sites - www.military.com/spouse and www.milspouse.org - that compliment the program.

Spouses interested in the STT program in Europe can log onto www.spousestoteachers.com, and click on the "OCONUS" link. They may also contact the National Spouses to Teachers Office in Pensacola, Fla., at 1-800-231-6282, DSN 922-6282, or via e-mail to stt@voled.doded.mil. 
 
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Office Readies Defense Department for Transition to Next Administration
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2008 � No matter who wins the election Nov. 4, Defense Department officials will work to ensure a smooth and efficient transition to the new administration, DoD officials said today.
�There is a � rather robust structure to deal with transition,� Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Robert Rangel, special assistant to the secretary and the deputy secretary of defense, is in charge of the process in the department. Marine Brig. Gen. Frank McKenzie reports to Rangel in leading the effort for the Joint Staff.

How the transition moves forward will depend largely on the president-elect, Whitman said, noting there is an added emphasis on the transition this year because it will occur as the United States is involved in two wars and operations around the world.

�There is a recognition that � given that we are a nation at war, that energy and effort [should] be sufficiently placed to ensure that we don�t drop any balls, because national security and supporting our fielded forces that are engaged in combat is of paramount importance to this country,� Whitman said. �We are preparing to make this as smooth a transition as we can.�

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates issued principles to guide the transition. The first is that the department must maintain its continuity of operations. The second is to ensure efficient and effective transition between the out-going political leaders and the incoming administration.

The department also will �facilitate quality transfer of information to the new administration [and] sustain focus on our existing programs and processes while allowing the in-coming administration to establish its governance processes,� Whitman said.

For Latinos, Familiar Faces May Not Be Friendly Bosses 
 Darcy Padilla for The New York Times
Marta Rodriguez said that her Latina employer is supportive and encouraging, if demanding.

By MIREYA NAVARRO
Published: October 22, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO

GLORIA AZPEITIA worked as a secretary in Mexico before she came to this country in 1993, and for a while managed to get by selling tamales door to door. Then eight years ago she began cleaning houses, preferring to work for other Latinos because they also spoke Spanish and, she said, were more understanding of her needs.

That is why, Ms. Azpeitia said, she was stunned three years ago when a Mexican-American boss she had worked for for two years suddenly showed his authoritarian side after her daughter went into labor and Ms. Azpeitia showed up late because of the family emergency.

� �I�m going to punish you,� he said, like I was a little girl,� Ms. Azpeitia recalled. � �You�re going to do more for the same price.� �

She quit on the spot, she said, offended by his condescension. And while such a reaction could have come from any boss, that it came from a Latino, she said, felt �like a bucket of hot water.�

�It hurts more when it comes from Latin people because they are compatriots,� said Ms. Azpeitia, 50, who is divorced and has two daughters and five grandchildren. �We all need each other. They forget we are all the same.�

In the employment market for both legal and illegal immigrants, many nannies and maids are finding their first jobs among the older generations of Latinos, who are now in a position to hire domestic help. But while the two groups of strivers may gravitate toward each other because of cultural and language similarities, their intersection can also be fraught with odd tensions and broken expectations, say researchers, employers and workers.

A slight, for instance, can take on new dimensions.

�Sometimes the skin is kind of thin,� said Leo Chavez, an anthropology professor and director of the Center for Research on Latinos in a Global Society at the University of California, Irvine. �If an Anglo says something, they let it shake off, but when a Latino says it, they are hurt. They expect empathy.�

Immigration has spawned a Hispanic population that is now 60 percent American-born and 40 percent immigrant. Particularly in established Latino footholds like California and Florida, the educational and economic gains among American-born Latinos enable many to offer work to immigrants in their businesses and homes, although there are no hard figures on the frequency of these �co-ethnic� interactions.

According to an analysis of census figures by the Pew Hispanic Center, 36 percent of Hispanic households in 2002 had assets that put them in the middle class, and 7 percent more belonged in the top ranks of wealth. While cheap labor and availability play a role in Latinos� seeking Latino workers, employers are also motivated by personal reasons, like wanting their children to grow up bilingual through daily interaction with a Spanish-speaking nanny. And for workers without English and an understanding of American culture, turning to other Latinos for jobs at least guarantees communication and some degree of familiarity in a foreign land.

Reina I. Flamenco, 43, a Salvadoran nanny, said she is never certain what she has just agreed to when working for English-speaking employers.

�When she gave me cooking instructions, I was like, did she mean she wanted her eggs scrambled or fried?� Ms. Flamenco said of one.

�Once they told me, �When you leave, don�t let the cat out,� but sometimes I�d be so insecure. Did she say to leave the cat inside or outside? It�s hard because I don�t want people to get mad.�

Carmen Denis, the coordinator of the Caring Hands job-training program at Mujeres Unidas y Activas, a Bay Area group for immigrant Latinas, said most members are undocumented, recently arrived, and �in the beginning they resist working with English-speaking families.�

But the dynamics of Latinos working for other Latinos also depend on class, sociologists and others familiar with the labor market said: on whether, for example, the employers come from families who also labored in menial jobs. Nowhere are the social relations more intimate than in the close quarters of a home. For the workers, there can be both benefits and tensions in the same household.

Marta Rodriguez, 33, works for a Latina who hired her to care for her elderly mother twice a week. She said her employer is always available to help with translations and calls that require English. The employer, a real estate agent, also encourages her to go to school and aim high, Ms. Rodriguez said.

But she said that the employer�s own experience as a hotel housekeeper 30 years ago, when she came to this country from Argentina, has made her unusually demanding. Ms. Rodriguez, who is married to a baker and has five children, said she is also expected to clean, cook and garden. She must use a toothbrush to get dirt out of windowsills, she said, and must clean floors on her knees as if they were �a work of art.�

�She says, �You�re going to leave here well taught,� � Ms. Rodriguez said.

But some employers say they have a deeply personal reason to seek Latino employees: They want to help a fellow Latino who sometimes reminds them of the struggles of their own parents.

Elizabeth Gallagher, 52, who owns a general contracting business in Las Vegas, said that her mother made a living as a maid for most of her working life after her father died when Ms. Gallagher was 5. Now that she is able to offer work to a Latino, at home and at her company, she said, �I try to bring people up along with myself.�

�I know how hard my mother worked, and there were times we didn�t have food,� said Ms. Gallagher, who grew up in Tucson and has four siblings.

Some Latino employers have more practical reasons. When Stella Blankenship�s elderly father was hospitalized, and it was obvious he could no longer take care of her mother alone, Ms. Blankenship, 50, a registered nurse in the Bay Area, said she desperately called employment agencies to find a companion who spoke Spanish.

Her mother, Lupe Valencia, 82, who never learned English well and suffers from Alzheimer�s, needed someone she could connect with, Ms. Blankenship said. So in came Maria Guadalupe Calvillo, 36, who came from Mexico like her parents and had toiled as an immigrant as they did when they arrived in this country in the 1950�s, her mother as a laundress, her father working in the field and laying railroad tracks.

Ms. Calvillo, who is married and has two young children, cooks Mexican treats like fried tripe, tongue tacos and bread pudding. When Mrs. Valencia has a bad day, they hold hands and pray together to the Virgin of Guadalupe for a cure.

Ms. Blankenship�s father, Bernardo Valencia, 80, who still works as a notary public despite diabetes and heart disease, says of Ms. Calvillo, �She has the humanity and kindness typical of the State of Michoac�n,� where she comes from.

Ms. Calvillo, too, has wrapped emotions around the couple that go beyond the employee-employer relationship.

�My mother died of cancer 10 years ago, and I would have liked to have taken care of her the way I do with la se�ora Lupita,� said Ms. Calvillo, who works from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays and is paid $15 an hour. �She treats me with so much affection, and that is what reminds me of my mother.�

When relationships work, there is a deep comfort level, cultural sensitivity and communion of values and customs. But some Latina domestic workers say they avoid Latino employers because of the attitudes some bring from their home countries, like treating workers like servants or haggling over pay.

In some surveys Latino employers get mixed reviews. �It�s a mixed bag,� said Abel Valenzuela Jr., an urban planning professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has surveyed workers and employers. �You have Latino employers who want to help immigrants and understand their struggle,� he added. �But not all Latinos are benevolent.�

In a study of 500 day laborers Professor Valenzuela did in 1999, the workers ranked Latinos lower than Anglos in fair treatment, but higher than Asians and right alongside blacks. The workers were employed by homeowners as construction laborers, landscapers and painters.

Professor Valenzuela said the workers may be holding Latinos to a higher standard than other employers. �Here�s a Latino who has the means to hire them,� he said. �The workers have higher expectations.�

AMONG Latina nannies, house cleaners and companions, common complaints about bosses, regardless of ethnicity, revolve around being asked to do more work than was originally agreed upon for the same pay, having their working hours extended, being constantly watched while they work and having to put up with difficult employers. �They complain that their bosses take out their frustrations on them,� said Ms. Denis of Mujeres Unidas y Activas.

But pay is the biggest issue, Ms. Denis said, since most of the women are heads of household. A 2004 survey of 247 domestic workers by a coalition of groups that represent the women in the Bay Area found that most of the workers reported being unable to meet basic living expenses and that most worked overtime without compensation.

A bill that would ensure overtime for nannies and allow them and other domestic workers to sue for back wages was vetoed last month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said it would encourage frivolous litigation.

But while household workers lack many basic worker rights like health insurance and paid days off, they can still seek to �do the job with dignity,� said Guillermina Castellanos, a coordinator of worker programs at La Raza Centro Legal here. The most active of the women teach one another how to fend for themselves at organizations like La Raza and Mujeres Unidas y Activas. Housed in the Women�s Building in the Mission District, Mujeres trains women to negotiate hours, to clean with natural products like vinegar and baking soda and to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Ms. Azpeitia, a Mujeres member, said she is cleaning for a Latina employer who shares her values and �sentimientos.� Her employer didn�t make a fuss, for example, when Ms. Azpeitia showed up for work with her granddaughter on one occasion because her daughter couldn�t take care of the child. �She said, �No problem, turn the TV on,� � Ms. Azpeitia said.

�Because she is Latina she knows how to value me.� And in the end, Ms. Azpeitia said, she looks at her Latino employers as role models.

�If they could make it,� she said, �why wouldn�t I accomplish the same?�