NEWS OF THE FORCE: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 - Page 2

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NEWS OF THE FORCE: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 - Page 2

U.S. Army

Col. Stephanie Howard, commander of the 2nd Transportation Brigade, 94th Training Division, addressed the audience during the 94th TD's ground-breaking for its new U.S. Army Reserve Center.

Eight cadets within Stephen F. Austin State University's Reserve Officer Training Corps have been commissioned as officers into the U.S. Army.

The impact of a 4.3 percent cut in Army National Guard troops at the federal level means Maine will lose approximately 120 positions over the next three years.

U.S. military researchers are looking to Leidos, Inc., in Reston, Va., to help design vetronics for fast and lightweight armored combat vehicles of the future by making these vehicles stealthy and less vulnerable to the enemy.

Michigan lawmakers are considering a bill to require that every Army National Guard facility in the state has at least one armed solider on duty.

And the U.S. Army is full of people with diverse backgrounds and different childhood experiences, but it develops its ranks with consistency and trusted battle rhythms - things Sgt. Julienne Ashby grew to depend upon. Ashby, a property book specialist who recently departed Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, at Osan Air Base, South Korea, grew up in Casa Grande, Ariz., and spent her childhood coping with a family that suffered from addiction. Joining the Army was a means to make enough money to take care of herself and help her mother, who by the time Ashby graduated high school was sober and trying to rebuild her life. "At the time, I wanted to join the Army to take care of my mom," Ashby said. "I was in my first year of college and working two jobs because my mom lost her job as a teacher." She said she tried to join the Army National Guard so she could stay close to home, but it just wasn’t going to be enough money to make a difference. "I didn't want to leave my mom, but there were times I couldn’t pay car insurance or even get gas to get to work and school. It was never-ending, and I just couldn’t keep doing it," she said. Ashby, who married her high school sweetheart shortly after joining the service, didn't realize that normalcy was what she was seeking in her life. "People tease me because all I want is normal. When I joined, I knew I wasn’t going to stay in forever, but I went to some schools, did the board and got promoted," Ashby said. "In the Army, that’s the normal thing to do and I was looking for normal. I found my normal in the Army." Getting married and having a son are more steps in Ashby’s quest for a normal life. "A lot of people tell me there is no such thing as normal but all I want is a normal life," Ashby said. "It seems funny but I don’t want a lot of things. My husband and I would like the whole ‘house, car and dog’ thing, but in my mind I don’t want my son to ever need something and not get it. Just the normal stuff parents do for their kids." Another part of becoming “normal” for Ashby involves doing CrossFit-style exercise. "I started doing CrossFit not long after I had my son in an attempt to lose baby weight," she said. "My friend had a daughter two months before I had my son, and told me she started doing it. I heard many people get hurt doing the exercises but my friend told me it was because people go too fast and don’t follow their coach’s direction." Ashby was convinced and gave it try at a weekend program near Fort Campbell, Ky., where she and her husband were stationed at the time. "I have been doing CrossFit since then, and got really into it since arriving in Korea and I plan to continue as a civilian," she said. "My husband purchased some gym equipment, so I almost have to continue since everything I need will be right there in the garage. Plus, my son thinks it’s cool that mommy works out so hard." Although Ashby relished all that was normal about being on active duty, after having her son, there was one aspect of the Army which helped her decide a long-term career didn't fit into her new definition of a normal life. "I had been on the fence about getting out or staying on active duty when I found out I was going to South Korea for a year. My son had just turned one and I was about to leave him," Ashby said. "The second I got on that plane I made my decision. I never wanted to have to get on a plane, on a bus, on an anything to leave my son again. It was the toughest thing I have ever done." Many people may have grown up with a quiet, predictable life and seek adventure as an adult. Ashby had all the turmoil she could handle as a child and now seeks normalcy. "The Army is normal. I will take the normalcy I have grown to depend on with me; the predictability to provide for your family without many issues," Ashby said. Being a mother echoed some lessons Ashby learned while on active duty and she plans to pass them on to her son. "There is something more important than just you. I think I knew that and it became more instilled when I became a noncommissioned officer with soldiers," she said. "Then, I had my son and it wasn’t about me anymore. In my family it was always about them, what they needed. That’s not normal and I don’t think like them. I want my son to strive to be like the normal I found in the Army."

American Red Cross

It’s National Hurricane Preparedness Week and the American Red Cross has steps people should take now to get ready for the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1st to Nov. 30th. People should download the free Red Cross Emergency App to select up to 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts on their mobile device. The content includes expert guidance on what to do before, during and after different emergencies or disasters from home fires to hurricanes. All Red Cross apps can be found in smartphone app stores by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/apps.

Jill Hofmann has received the Clara Barton Award for Volunteer Leadership at the American Red Cross' Central Coast Volunteer and Recognition Ceremony in Santa Cruz, Calif.

For the second straight year, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is pledging $1 million to the American Red Cross.

And the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross and Indiana University Health will combine efforts for a comprehensive nursing service alliance.

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps

Military drone experts at the Raytheon Co. will continue upgrading the MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control system with open-systems software to enhance interoperability among military UAV control systems, reduce costs, and facilitate future upgrades.

Test and measurement experts at the Lockheed Martin Corp. are fine-tuning long-range smart munitions for deployment aboard the U.S. Navy Zumwalt-class land-attack destroyer.

U.S. Navy shipboard weapons experts are looking to three electronic parts distribution and logistics companies to provide commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts for shipboard missile control systems.

John V. Kane, III, a Navy Reserve veteran and architect who spent summers at Crystal Beach, Ontario, for decades, died on April 21st at Westminster Towers in Buffalo, N.Y.

The 51st annual Navy League Sea-Air-Space Exposition kicked off at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on May 16th. The "Service Chief's Update," a panel led by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, and the administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Honorable Paul N. Jaenichen, kicked off three days of panel discussions about the state of each respective service, the future of maritime operations and the importance of partnerships.

Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) departed their Norfolk, Va., homeport on May 14th for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet's areas of operations. Stout recently completed a challenging training cycle in preparation for deployment while simultaneously assisting two other strike groups prepare for theirs.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) completed a four-day port call in the northern port of the Kingdom of Tonga, on May 10th. The ship's visit marks the first time a U.S. warship has come pierside in Tonga. In 2011, USS Cleveland (LPD 7) anchored offshore, as did USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) in 2013. During their time in port, members of the crew attended several meetings with Tongan defense leaders, conducted community relations projects, and held a reception on their flight deck for local dignitaries.

The guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) are scheduled to arrive in Busan, Republic of Korea, for a mission planning conference, today. The conference will finalize details for a bilateral exercise with the ROK Navy to be held May 19-24 in the waters around the Korean peninsula. The exercise is a defense-oriented, naval training evolution designed to conduct maritime maneuvers, strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance, and improve regional security. Decatur and Momsen are part of a Pacific Surface Action Group, operating under Commander, Destroyer Squadron 31.

The U.S 7th Fleet's flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff returned to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, yesterday, concluding a three-month patrol. During the spring patrol, Blue Ridge visited 10 ports in eight different countries, strengthening and fostering relationships within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region through various theater security cooperation, staff talks and ship tours.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 sailors completed a mid-deployment Material Condition Inspection (MCI) while embarked on USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), on May 13th. Naval Air Forces Pacific performs the MCI to ensure all squadrons of CVW 9 are meeting maintenance and safety standards at the beginning and midway point of deployment. The air wing achieved a passing grade on all inspections, including an inspection on the highest flight-hour F/A-18 Super Hornet currently used in the Navy.

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future John P. Murtha (LPD 26) during a ceremony at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard, in Pascagoula, Miss., on May 13th. The delivery of John P. Murtha serves as the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy and is a major milestone in the ship's transition to operational status.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) was awarded the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) Quarterly Cryptologic Excellence Award for cryptologic efforts in support of theater, fleet and national tasking, yesterday.
Chung-Hoon was also recognized in April as the Task Force 70 (CTF 70) Cryptologic Ship of the Quarter for the second fiscal quarter.

And Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Harry relieved Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Sims as commanding officer of auxiliary repair drydock medium, Arco (ARDM 5) during a time-honored change of command ceremony at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, Calif., on May 13th. Guest speaker Capt. Gene Doyle, chief of staff, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, praised Sims and his crew for their exceptional performance on their accomplishments together.

Feds to look at South Carolina police agency

The U.S. Justice Department has announced a two-year study of the North Charleston, S.C., Police Department after last year's shooting of unarmed black motorist Walter Scott by a white city police officer.

Chief Noble Wray of the department's community oriented policing services said the review was requested by the community and city officials and will cost up to $600,000. Wray said there'll be recommendations in about six months on suggested improvements in the department. There will be another report six months later on how the department is implementing those suggestions. A final report would come a year later.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says the government has responded to a call from the community. North Charleston Officer Michael Slager was fired shortly after the April 2015 shooting and is awaiting trial on a murder charge.

The review comes amid state and federal cases against Michael Slager, the former officer captured on cell phone video firing eight times as Scott ran from a traffic stop in April 2015. Slager was fired, and his case inflamed a national debate about how white officers treat blacks.

Slager's trial on state murder charges is scheduled to begin in October. He pleaded not guilty last week to federal civil rights charges.

U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended a search in the Gulf of Mexico for a female passenger missing from a cruise ship.

In Connecticut, a missing kayaker has turned up safe, and called the Coast Guard to let them know.

U.S. Coast Guard officials say one of two missing boaters has been rescued near Altamaha Sound, north of Brunswick, Ga.

And a year-round program by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Boca Raton, Fla., aims to save boaters' lives - and possibly their money.

The parting shots

Don't miss tonight's episode of NCIS as actor Michael Weatherly ("Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo") appears on the show for the last time, at 8 p.m., Eastern time on CBS.

On this date in 1620, the first merry-go-round was opened at a fair in Philippapolis, Turkey. In 1642, the Ville-Marie de Montral was founded and is now called Montreal. In 1916, British Summer Time, otherwise known as Daylight Savings Time, was introduced. In 1943, the U.S. Army partnered with the University of Pennsylvania's Moor School to create ENIAC, the world's first computer. In 1973, the Watergate hearings began in the United States Senate, and was televised. In 1978, the body of Charlie Chaplin was found after two men had taken it to extort money from his family. In 1998, David Wells, of the New York Yankees, pitched the 15th perfect game in baseball history. In 2004, the first legal same-sex marriage was performed in Massachusetts. And in 2007, trains from North and South Korea crossed the 38th Parallel in the first time they crossed the Demilitarized Zone since 1953.

Actress Sasha Alexander is 43 years old today. R&B singer Kandi Burruss is 40; TV show host Craig Ferguson is 54; Actor Hill Harper is 50; Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard is 60; Basketball player Tony Parker is 34; Actor Bill Paxton is 61; Baseball player Carlos Pena is 38; Rock bassist Jaime Preciado is 30.

Actress Nikki Reed is 28; Football player Matt Ryan is 31; and actor Bob Saget is 60.

And Massachusetts General Hospital is making history today with the announcement of the nation’s first genitourinary reconstructive (penile) transplant. The result of more than three years of research, a team of 30 physicians, anesthesiologists, nurses, fellows and residents, worked to surgically graft the vascular and nerve structures. Patient Thomas Manning, 64, who had penile cancer that necessitated removal of his penis to cure the cancer, received the donation early this month. "Today’s announcement is a major milestone in the field of transplantation, one of which will give hope to those who suffer from serious genital injuries," said Dr. Curtis Cetrulo of Mass General Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. "The entire transplant team has worked tirelessly to ensure that our patient is on a strong path to recovery, thanks in part to the gift of organ donation."