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WHITEHOUSE NEWS18
First Lady to Host Military Guests for State of Union SpeechAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 - Military guests joining First Lady Michelle Obama at President Barack Obama's State of the Union address tonight include an Army sergeant, an astronaut and retired Navy captain, the commander of the nation's special operations forces, and a colonel whose same-sex partner helped her make history. Army Sgt. Ashleigh Berg is from Malibu, Calif., and joined the Army in July 2004. She has been stationed in South Korea and Germany, and has served two tours in Iraq. Berg is assigned to the 94th Army Missile Defense Command on Fort Shafter, Hawaii, and is serving a three-year tour as the commanding general's executive administrative assistant. Her husband, Army Sgt. Matthew Berg, is deployed to Afghanistan on his third combat tour. Retired Navy Capt. Mark Kelly is an astronaut, best-selling author, and an experienced naval aviator who flew combat missions during the Gulf War. Kelly was selected as an astronaut in 1996. He flew his first of four missions in 2001 aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, and commanded Endeavour on its final flight in May 2011. He also commanded the space shuttle Discovery, and is one of only two people to have visited the International Space Station on four different occasions. Kelly became the center of international attention after the January 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. McRaven has commanded at every level within the special operations community, including assignments as deputy commanding general for operations at JSOC, commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, commander of SEAL Team 3, task group commander in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, task unit commander during operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, squadron commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and SEAL platoon commander at Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team 4. McRaven's experience also includes assignments as director for strategic planning in the Office of Combating Terrorism on the National Security Council staff, assessment director at U.S. Special Operations Command, on the Staff of the chief of naval operations, and as chief of staff at Naval Special Warfare Group 1. Air Force Col. Ginger Wallace is an Air Force intelligence officer who has led airlift and intelligence operations during operations Southern Watch, Provide Relief, Uphold Democracy, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. She lives in McLean, Va., with her partner of more than a decade, Kathy Knopf. In December, Knopf attended Wallace's promotion ceremony and participated in the pinning on of Wallace's new rank, marking the first such event reported following the repeal of the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. Wallace is training to deploy to Afghanistan in the spring through the Afghanistan-Pakistan Hands program. The program trains military and civilian personnel from all services to serve as a core cadre to build trust between the U.S. military and local populations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. |
President Announces Picks for Top DOD PostsBy Karen Parrish WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 - President Barack Obama yesterday announced he will nominate four people to fill key Defense Department posts. The president will nominate Erin C. Conaton as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness; Frank Kendall III as undersecretary for defense for acquisition, technology and logistics; James N. Miller as undersecretary of defense for policy; and Jessica Lynn Wright as assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs. The nominations are subject to Senate confirmation. "I am grateful that these talented and dedicated individuals have agreed to take on these important roles and devote their talents to serving the American people. I look forward to working with them in the comings months and years," the president said. Conaton currently is undersecretary of the Air Force. She previously served in various positions on the House Armed Services Committee, culminating in her term as staff director from 2007 to 2010. From 1998 to 2001, she worked on the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century, also known as the Hart-Rudman Commission. She holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. If confirmed, Conaton will replace Clifford L. Stanley, a retired Marine Corps major general, who announced his resignation Oct. 27. Stanley held the office from Feb. 16, 2010. JoAnn Rooney, principal deputy undersecretary for personnel and readiness, has served as acting undersecretary since Stanley's departure. Kendall currently is acting undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics. He previously has served as principal deputy undersecretary in that department, and in the private sector as a managing partner at Renaissance Strategic Advisors, a technical and program management consultant, and vice president of engineering at Raytheon. Kendall's previous DOD experience includes five years as director of tactical warfare programs, three years as assistant deputy undersecretary for strategic systems, and four years as chief of the systems analysis office within the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Command. From 1971 to 1982, he served as a U.S. Army officer. He holds a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., a master's degree from the California Institute of Technology, a master's degree in business administration from Long Island University, and a law degree from Georgetown University. If confirmed, Kendall will replace former undersecretary Ashton B. Carter, who was sworn in as deputy defense secretary Oct. 6. Carter served in the undersecretary position from April 2009. Miller currently is the principal deputy undersecretary for policy. His previous positions include senior vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security, and seven years in senior leadership at Hicks and Associates Inc. He also has served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for requirements, plans, and counterproliferation policy. From 1992 to 1997, he was an assistant professor at Duke University. Miller began his career in 1988 as a professional staff member for the House Armed Services Committee. He holds a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's degree and doctorate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Wright currently serves as deputy assistant secretary for manpower and personnel. She previously was Pennsylvania's adjutant general and commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard. She also served as the Army's deputy adjutant general for the Army and state Army aviation officer for the Pennsylvania National Guard. She commanded Pennsylvania's 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division. Wright began her military career in 1975 in the Pennsylvania National Guard. She holds a bachelor's degree from Alderson and Broaddus College and a master's degree from Webster University. If confirmed, Wright will replace Dennis M. McCarthy, a retired Marine Corps Reserve lieutenant general, who resigned effective June 1. McCarthy assumed the office in June 2009. David L. McGinnis currently serves as acting assistant secretary for reserve affairs. |
Obama: Congress Should Follow Military's ExampleBy Jim Garamone WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 - Washington politicians and all Americans can accomplish anything if they follow the example set by U.S. troops, President Barack Obama said during his State of the Union address tonight. All of official Washington including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and all the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- was in the House of Representatives to hear the president's address. In a speech dominated by domestic concerns, Obama began by extolling the example set by members of the armed services. "Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq," he said. "Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought and several thousand gave their lives." The generation serving in the military today has made the United States safer and more respected around the world, the president said. All American troops are out of Iraq, Osama bin Laden is dead and al-Qaeda is on the run. In Afghanistan, U.S., NATO and Afghan forces have reversed the Taliban's momentum and some U.S. troops are coming home, he noted. "These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America's armed forces," he said. "At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations. They're not consumed with personal ambition. They don't obsess over their differences. They focus on the mission at hand. They work together." Obama asked the Congress well known for its partisan divide to imagine "what we could accomplish if we followed their example." Working together, Americans could build a country that is a leader in education, in industry, in clean energy and in high-tech manufacturing, Obama said. Working together, Americans could put in place "an economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded," he added. With the Iraq war over, the United States has struck decisive blows against al-Qaida. "From Pakistan to Yemen, the al-Qaida operatives who remain are scrambling, knowing that they can't escape the reach of the United States of America," he said. The strategy in Afghanistan is paying off and 33,000 U.S. troops will leave that country by the end of the summer. More and more, Afghan national security forces are assuming responsibility for protecting their own land, their own people, the president said. "This transition to Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against America," he said. The Arab world is in a wave of change, Obama said, and the clearest example is in Libya. "A year ago, [Moammar] Gadhafi was one of the world's longest-serving dictators a murderer with American blood on his hands," he said. "Today, he is gone. And in Syria, I have no doubt that the [Bashar] Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change can't be reversed, and that human dignity can't be denied." How this whole tide of change from Tunisia to Syria and beyond will end is uncertain, the president said. The people of the region must make the decisions, but the United States will work with all to advocate "those values that have served our own country so well," he said. "We will stand against violence and intimidation. We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings men and women; Christians, Muslims, and Jews," he continued. "We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty." The United States will work to isolate those who seek to disturb the peace, Obama said, noting increased economic sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program. "The regime is more isolated than ever before; its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent," he said. All cards are on the table for stopping Iran from having nuclear weapons, the president added. "Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal," he said. "But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations." The president said America's worldwide leadership has been renewed and countries look to its steady hand and influence. "Our oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever," he said. "Our ties to the Americas are deeper. Our iron-clad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history. We've made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in Burma has lit a new hope." Those who say that America is in decline "don't know what they're talking about," Obama said. "Yes, the world is changing. No, we can't control every event. But America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs and as long as I'm president, I intend to keep it that way." Obama once more promised to maintain the finest military in the world. American freedom has endured because men and women in uniform fought for it, he said. "As they come home, we must serve them as well as they served us," he said. "That includes giving them the care and benefits they have earned which is why we've increased annual VA spending every year I've been president. And it means enlisting our veterans in the work of rebuilding our nation." Obama ended his address where it started using the example of U.S. service members for Congress. "Those of us who've been sent here to serve can learn from the service of our troops," he said. "When you put on that uniform, it doesn't matter if you're black or white, Asian or Latino, conservative or liberal, rich or poor, gay or straight. "When you're marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails," he continued. "When you're in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind." Obama said one of his proudest possessions is the U.S. flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. "On it are each of their names," he said. "Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn't matter. Just like it didn't matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates a man who was George Bush's defense secretary; and Hillary Clinton, a woman who ran against me for president. "All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn't deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job." The same is so with America, Obama said. It took more than two centuries and millions of people working toward a common goal. "This nation is great because we built it together," he said. "This nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each others' backs." If Americans remember that truth, there is no challenge too great, no mission too hard, the president said. "As long as we're joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our union will always be strong," he said. |
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Obama Praises DOD's Energy Leadership, StewardshipBy Donna Miles WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2012 - President Barack Obama traveled to Buckley Air Force Base near Denver today to praise the military for "doing its part" not just in the nation's defense, but also as leaders in energy conservation. Obama delivered his message at the home of the 460th Space Wing in Aurora, Colo., calling the "green" initiatives being advanced here indicative of the Defense Department's clean-energy focus. The Air Force has installed a 1-megawatt solar array on the base, and last year test piloted jets there that run on advanced biofuels, demonstrating a key technology that reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Joined today by Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, and Sharon Burke, assistant secretary of defense for operational energy, Obama praised them for their work with Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta "to keep our military the strongest in the world, and to make our military more energy efficient." "Now, it's important for the military to do its part because ... our military is the largest energy consumer in the world," the president said. "So we can set a good example, and help create an additional market for clean energy." Obama noted that the Navy plans to buy enough clean energy to power 250,000 homes a year, through an effort that won't cost taxpayers a dime. That commitment will grow the clean-energy market and ultimately strengthen U.S. energy security, he said. Obama recognized that DOD isn't embracing clean energy simply because "it feels good," but also because it makes economic sense. Alternatives to fossil fuels also are important to national security, the president told the crowd. "The less we depend on foreign oil, the more secure we become as a nation," he said. The president noted Mabus' point that the U.S. dependence on foreign fossil fuels creates a vulnerability that could affect its ability to operate its military ships, aircraft and vehicles. That's why, Obama explained, the Navy in December made the government's largest-ever purchase of biofuel. "This summer, that fuel will power ships and subs during the world's largest naval exercise," he said, a reference to the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise. Obama also noted that the Navy's F/A-18 Green Hornet is powered by a 50/50 biofuel blend. And last year, the Air Force flew an A-10 Thunderbolt entirely on alternative fuels a first for the military. "Overall, the Air Force is on track to save $500 million in fuel costs over the next five years because you guys have changed the way you operate. Think about that: half a billion dollars," he told the audience, drawing big applause. Obama also expounded on the plan he introduced during his Jan. 24 State of the Union address to reduce America's fuel dependency, make it more secure, improve the environment and create jobs. In addition to promoting more green programs in the military, it includes opening public lands for private clean-energy investments and providing tax incentives to the domestic clean-energy sector. As he delivered his message, the president praised the 460th Space Wing and other military members at Buckley and thanked them for their service. "During a decade of war, these folks -- so many of you - exhibited the very best of America: courage, selflessness, teamwork," he said. Reiterating his remarks during his State of the Union address, he told them, "You've exceeded all expectations, because you focus on your mission; you work together; you get the job done." |
| Related Sites: Buckley Air Force Base Special Report: Going Green |
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Obama Nominates Kelly to Lead Southern CommandBy Lisa Daniel WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2012 - President Barack Obama has nominated Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly to be the next commander of U.S. Southern Command, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced today. If confirmed by the Senate, Kelly would replace Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser at the Miami-based command. Fraser, who took over command of Southcom in June 2009, has not announced his future plans, a Southcom spokesman said today. If promoted to the four-star position, Kelly will be the third Marine Corps commander of Southcom, following Gen. Peter Pace, who held the command for 12 months ending in September 2001, and Gen. Charles Wilhelm, who commanded Southcom from 1997 to 2000. Kelly is the former commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He commanded the 1st MEF through a year-long mission in Iraq's al Anbar and Ninewa provinces beginning in early 2008. He returned stateside to command Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North from October 2009 to March 2011. Since then, he has served as the senior military advisor to the secretary of defense. Southcom comprises a multinational staff of about 1,200 military members, civilians and contractors, including representatives of more than a dozen federal agencies, with a primary mission of protecting southern approaches into the United States, a spokesman said. The command works with 31 countries and 15 territories on regional security challenges, mainly transnational organized crime to include illegal trafficking, humanitarian assistance, and developing capabilities for keeping the peace. The command sponsors seven annual multinational training exercises and participates in combined military exercises in Brazil, Chile and elsewhere. |
| Biographies: Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly Related Sites: |
Face of Defense: Airman Serves in First Lady's OfficeBy Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Powell FORT MEADE, Md., Feb. 1, 2012 - A C-17 Globemaster III pilot is helping First Lady Michelle Obama in her effort to rally support around the country for service members and their families.
Lewis began his fellowship in August and serves in the first lady's office. President Lyndon B. Johnson created the White House Fellows Program in 1964 to give promising American leaders "first- hand, high-level experience with the workings of the federal government, and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs," according to a White House news release. "I think for any airman to understand how our government works and how you as an airman fit within the construct of our Constitution is key," Lewis said. "I will have a much better understanding of all three branches of government." Lewis' primary mission is to help the first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, with their "Joining Forces" program, a national initiative to mobilize all sectors of society to support service members and their families. Three pillars -- employment, education and wellness -- make up Joining Forces, Lewis explained. The employment pillar focuses on helping veterans and spouses expand employment and career development opportunities. The education pillar helps military children by working with schools to make them more aware of their unique academic needs, and the wellness pillar brings attention to critical issues facing veterans and their families. "We don't work on issues that aren't real," Lewis said. "This is about impacting all service members across the board. One of the biggest roles that I play is the understanding of the grassroots level and to put some validity to what we're working on with Joining Forces." Lewis said one of the highlights of his fellowship was getting the opportunity to meet with a group of business leaders in New York who were interested in finding ways they could employ veterans transitioning from the military. Part of his role during the meeting was "breaking down stereotypes and answering questions about how they could do that," he said. "These individuals have the authority to go out and chart the direction of their companies and say, 'Yes, we are going to hire veterans. That's going to be a part of our strategy,'" he noted. Lewis said he sees similarities between working at the White House and leading airmen in the Air Force. "A normal day here is much like being a commander in the Air Force," the lieutenant colonel explained. "I don't think of my day in terms of ending, but being able to create and move forward on the initiatives I'm working on. There are meetings that I will attend on behalf of Joining Forces, but really, my day is [about] going out and engaging government and private industry to help them understand and shape what the first lady wants to do with Joining Forces." Lewis was directly responsible for the Defense Department's only prime nuclear airlift force, which handles the nation's most-sensitive cargo and provides tactically qualified C-17A crews who stand ready to airdrop combat troops and supplies anywhere in the world. In 2010, Lewis received the Air Force Association National Medal of Merit for his work supporting children with medical problems in the "Pilot for a Day" program. He is a native of Oklahoma City, Okla. (Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. of American Forces Press Service contributed to this article.) |
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| Related Sites: Joining Forces Special Report: Joining Forces |
First Lady, Dr. Biden Laud Community Challenge FinalistsBy Elaine Sanchez WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2012 - Noting their contributions to military families' lives, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, yesterday announced the 20 finalists that will compete for top honors in the Joining Forces Community Challenge. The challenge, part of the Joining Forces campaign, recognizes and celebrates individuals, communities and organizations that have displayed outstanding support to military families and veterans. The first lady and Biden launched Joining Forces last year to raise awareness of troops, veterans and their families, and to rally the nation around them. "Jill and I have asked organizations large and small to direct some of their efforts toward our troops and their families, and ... we're thrilled to congratulate 20 groups who are doing just that," the first lady said in a White House release yesterday. "These organizations are doing what they do best: providing financial assistance for scholarships and child care, working to build self-esteem in military teens, offering free photo sessions for military families and so much more. "Creative ideas like these can be replicated in communities all across the country," she added, "and we can't wait to see what Americans come up with next." The 20 finalists were selected from more than 300 submissions, which flooded in after the challenge launched in July, according to the news release. White House officials encourage people to read about these standout organizations on the Community Challenge website at http://joiningforces.challenge.gov, and vote for their favorite finalist. The finalist who garners the most votes will be named the challenge's People's Choice Winner on March 16. Five additional winners will be chosen with input from a panel of judges, which includes: -- Deanie Dempsey, military family advocate and wife of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey; -- J.R. Martinez, Iraq war veteran, actor and recent winner of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"; -- USO President Sloan D. Gibson; -- Tom Brokaw; author and special correspondent for NBC News; and -- Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio, one of the nation's largest military communities. The first lady and Biden will honor the finalists and announce the winners in a White House ceremony this spring, the release said. Biden lauded the finalists, other individuals, and the communities across the nation that are stepping up in creative ways to support service members and their families. She cited the many "acts of kindness" she's seen firsthand in her travels. "All of the submissions for the Joining Forces Community Challenge demonstrate exactly the spirit of service and dedication we see everywhere we go," Biden said in the release. "We hope that the great work of these organizations inspire more Americans to take on similar efforts to support military families in their own communities." While the finalists are profiled online, the following is a snapshot of their contributions to military families' lives: -- The Pat Tillman Foundation, of Tempe, Ariz., -- The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs, of Clovis, Calif., aims to create a network of social bonds between military girls to build self-esteem, encourage leadership and increase community support. Two California teenagers whose fathers had deployed to Afghanistan founded the group. -- Rebuild Hope, of Menlo Park, Calif., provides financial assistance, counseling and referrals to organizations that offer pro bono care to veterans and caregivers in a variety of areas, including legal, mental health, and debt management. -- New Directions, based in Los Angeles, provides comprehensive services to homeless and disabled veterans, including substance abuse treatment, counseling and job training in Los Angeles County, home to the nation's largest homeless military veterans population. The organization serves more than 600 veterans each year. -- The Soldiers Project-Sacramento, of Sacramento, Calif., provides free psychological services for active duty military, recent war veterans and their families. The project is an all-volunteer group of about 40 licensed clinicians who have provided more than 500 hours of free, individual treatment since the beginning of 2011. -- Project Sanctuary, of Parker, Colo., provides recreational activities in the Rocky Mountains to help military families reconnect following deployments. The project also offers follow-up support with housing, job placement and veterans' assistance. -- Birdies for the Brave, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., -- The Landings Military Family Relief Fund, of Savannah, Ga., provides financial support to military families during everyday emergencies while a family member is deployed. The financial assistance is administered through the Red Cross. -- Operation Homelink, based in Chicago, provides refurbished computers to spouses or parents of deployed troops. The organization has provided more than 2,500 computers nationwide and is expanding to include laptop donations to wounded warriors. -- Give an Hour, of Bethesda, Md., aims to develop a national network of volunteer providers to respond to acute and chronic societal conditions. Their current focus is on mental health services for service members, their families, and people in communities affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. -- Luke's Wings, of Rockville, Md., supports wounded warriors' families by assisting with airplane tickets and travel arrangements. The nationwide organization also can partner with local hotels or other activities nearby that the family can access during their wounded warrior's recovery. -- Brides Across America, of Georgetown, Mass., provides wedding gowns to qualified military brides. Since 2007, more than 5,000 wedding gowns have been donated to support troops and their families. -- Defending the Blue Line, of Hastings, Minn., works to ensure that children of military members have access to participate in hockey through free equipment, hockey camps, special events, and financial assistance toward association and other hockey-related costs. Founded by two Minnesota National Guard members in 2009, more than $500,000 has benefited military families across the United States. -- GreenCare for Troops, of New Prague, Minn., established by a wounded warrior, provides free lawn and landscape services for military families nationwide. -- Armed Forces Service Center, of St. Paul, Minn., is a no-cost lounge for service members and their families in the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. The lounge, staffed by volunteers, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. -- Trees for Troops, of Chesterfield, Mo., provides thousands of military families in the United States and overseas with Christmas trees. The Christmas Spirit Foundation, working with its partner FedEx, has delivered more than 100,000 trees through the Trees for Troops program since its inception in 2005. -- Canines for Veterans, of Wilmington, N.C., part of Canines for Service, provides highly skilled service dogs for wounded warriors. Launched in 2008, the national program works with military prisoners at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston who train rescue dogs as service dogs for wounded and injured veterans. -- Hearts Apart, of Wilmington, N.C., provides soon-to-be deployed service members with a professional photo session with their spouses and children to keep families connected during deployment. Photographs are waterproof and printed on durable cards that fit in a uniform pocket. -- The city of Richfield, Utah, has supported its local Army National Guard Unit through four deployments since Sept. 11, 2001. Among its contributions are a deployment resource guide for military families, a city utility abatement program during deployments, and a community covenant that details the commitment the city will make toward its service members and their families. -- Our Family for Families First Foundation, of Lake Stevens, Wash., supports children of service members through scholarships, and military spouses through grants and assistance identifying educational opportunities. |
| Related Sites: Joining Forces Community Challenge Joining Forces Campaign Special Report: Joining Forces Special Report: Military Family Support |
Obama Announces Program to Hire Vets as First RespondersBy Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 3, 2012 - President Barack Obama today continued his commitment to improving employment among veterans by introducing an initiative to hire them as the country's first responders.
Speaking at a fire station here to veterans, firefighters, police officers and national park employees, Obama shared the venue's significance before his remarks. "This is a fire station that holds some special significance for our country," he explained. "On September 11th, the firefighters of this house were among the first to respond to the attack on the Pentagon. "You guys answered this nation's call during its hour of need," Obama added. "And in the years that followed, as Americans went to war, some of you answered that call, as well." The president encouraged the hiring of veterans to replenish the ranks of the nation's first responders. "First, we want to help communities hire more veterans as cops and firefighters," he said. "Over the past few years, tight budgets have forced a lot of states, a lot of local communities, to lay off a lot of first responders." The country already has made progress in veterans' employment, Obama said. "Already, we've helped 600,000 veterans and their family members go back to school on the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill," he said. "We've hired over 120,000 veterans to serve in the federal government [and] we've made it easier for veterans to access all sorts of employment services." When he first became president, Obama said, one of his first actions was to ensure state and local governments received assistance through the Recovery Act to avoid laying off first responders. "Thousands of firefighter jobs were saved because of the actions we took," he noted. "But budgets are still tight, and that's a problem we need to fix. Jobs that protect our families and our communities shouldn't be the first on the chopping block. They should be one of our highest priorities as a nation." Obama emphasized he wants to restore local communities and national parks, noting Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's presence. The Department of the Interior manages and sustains the country's lands, water, wildlife, and energy resources, among its other responsibilities. "He needs some help," Obama said of Salazar. "And our veterans are highly qualified to help him. They've already risked their lives defending America. They should have the opportunity to rebuild America. We've got roads and bridges in and around our national parks in need of repair. Let's fix them." Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said in a conference call with reporters yesterday that the new three-part Veterans Job Corps initiative "will ensure our veterans don't have to fight for jobs once they come home." Shinseki called on employers to "enlist veterans in the work of rebuilding our nation." The nation owes those who volunteered to serve in uniform after 9/11 "a debt of gratitude," Shinseki said, "and we must ensure that veterans who come home from Afghanistan and Iraq get the opportunities they deserve." Obama lauded veterans for their resolve and "unparalleled skills and experience." "They've handled pieces of equipment that are worth tens of millions of dollars," he added. "They do incredible work. Nobody is more skilled, more precise, more diligent, more disciplined." Obama noted these are "challenging" times for America, but "we've faced challenging times before." "They remind us that when we come together as one people and as one community, one nation, then we prevail," Obama continued. "That's who we are." America exists because of values and teamwork -- generations of Americans working together to build it, the president said. "This is a nation where, out of many, we come together as one," Obama said. "Those are the values that every veteran understands." |
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| Related Articles: Joining Forces Director Cites 'Tremendous' Progress |
White House to Honor Iraq War Veterans, FamiliesBy Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 - President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will honor Iraq War veterans and their families at the White House later this month, White House officials announced in a statement today. The president and first lady will host a dinner Feb. 29 to honor troops who served in operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn and their families. "This dinner -- an expression of the nation's gratitude for the achievements and enormous sacrifices of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War and of the families who supported them -- will include men and women in uniform from all ranks, services, states and backgrounds, representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq," the statement said. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, welcomed the final group of U.S. troops home from Iraq on Dec. 20. Dempsey today praised troops and their families for their service and sacrifice while serving in two operations during the Iraq War. "We will be honored to be a part of 'A Nation's Gratitude' hosted by President and Mrs. Obama to recognize the significant contributions of the U.S. military and military families to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn," the chairman said in a Facebook post earlier today. "These heroes and those they represent have sacrificed to defend our nation and provide the Iraqi people an opportunity for a peaceful and secure future," he continued. "I'm proud of their courage and appreciate this appropriate recognition of their service." The White House has been working with military and civilian leaders across the Defense Department on this tribute, the statement said, and will release more details regarding the dinner as they become available. |
| Biographies: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey Related Sites: Related Articles: |
Obama Nominee Could Become Air Force's First Female GeneralBy Lisa Daniel WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2012 - President Barack Obama has nominated Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger to the rank of general, and as commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced today. The promotion would make Wolfenbarger the Air Force's first female four-star general. "The secretary strongly supports the president's nomination, and he believes that General Wolfenbarger is an outstanding Air Force officer," Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today. "The fact that she would be the first woman to wear a fourth star in the Air Force, if confirmed, is a testament to her skills, experience and dedication." If confirmed by the Senate, Wolfenbarger would become the military's second female officer to receive four stars behind Army Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, commander of Army Materiel Command, who was promoted to general in 2008. As the military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition in the Pentagon, Wolfenbarger is responsible for research and development, test, production, and modernization of Air Force programs worth more than $40 billion annually. A 1980 Air Force Academy graduate, Wolfenbarger began her career in acquisitions as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. She has held a variety of assignments at headquarters Electronic Security Command and Air Force Systems Command. Wolfenbarger has had oversight of the F-22 program at Wright-Patterson and in the Pentagon, and was program director for the B-2 aeronautical systems at Wright-Patterson. She commanded the Aeronautical Systems Center's C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing. Wolfenbarger was director of the Air Force Acquisition Center of Excellence at the Pentagon, then served as director of the Headquarters AFMC Intelligence and Requirements Directorate at Wright-Patterson. She was the vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson before taking her current position. Wolfenbarger holds master's degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and in national resource strategy from the National Defense University. |
| Biographies: Leon E. Panetta Air Force Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger |
General: President, Military Insisted on Strategy-driven BudgetBy Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2012 - The new defense strategy guidance laid out by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta last month is a blueprint for the budget President Barack Obama will announce next week, the vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command said. "Before this went into print, all of the concepts captured in this strategy were at the forefront of the minds of the people that built the budget," Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold said during a Feb. 7 panel discussion at the Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Symposium and Exhibition. "It's relatively a new strategy, but I have to tell you that I walked the halls and watched this strategy [being] built," he said. "If I foot stomp one thing in here," he said, indicating a particular point to pay attention to, "it's that the budget that was put together is a strategy-driven budget." "This was not a salami slice [as in] 'OK, a third, a third, a third services go figure it out,'" Heithold said. "This was strategy driven." The general said people sitting on his budget panels were in direct communication with White House officials to ensure that the strategy and the budget were aligned. Heithold explained three points from the document for the SOLIC audience: --After 10 years of war, the United States and our military are at a strategic inflection point. --Americans don't have to choose between fiscal responsibility and strong national security. "In some cases, the force will be smaller, but more potent and more effective," he said. --The Defense Department can become more efficient. "That's what we talk about [when we say] we don't have to make a choice, necessarily," Heithold said. "We can actually have a strong national defense that is different and still not require as much resources." The general emphasized that the president and uniformed leaders agreed on the direction of the budget. "As I mentioned, the president insisted over and over, as did we in uniform, by the way, that we have a strategy-driven budget," he said. Heithold noted that combatant commanders also were involved with the strategy guidance. He reviewed the 10 points listed in the document as the military's primary missions: --Counter terrorism and irregular warfare; --Deter and defeat aggression; --project power despite anti-access/area denial challenges; --Counter weapons of mass destruction; --Operate effectively in cyberspace and space; --Maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent; --Defend the homeland and provide support to civilian authorities; --Provide a stabilizing presence; --Conduct stability and counterinsurgency operations; --Conduct humanitarian, disaster relief and other operations. "The new defense strategy was that blueprint," Heithold said. "Let there be no question in your minds that the senior leaders up to the commander-in-chief were involved in defining the strategy." |
| Biographies: Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold Related Articles: |
First Lady, Panetta to Unveil Spouse Employment ReportBy Elaine Sanchez WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 - Alongside some of the nation's top officials, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will unveil an employment report this week intended to ease military spouses' ongoing issues with occupational licenses, White House officials announced today. The report outlines opportunities and best practices for states to better support military spouses serving in professions with state licensure requirements, according to a White House news release. The report notes that military spouses move from state to state far more often than the general population as they accompany their service member to assignments across the nation and world, the release said. These frequent moves can create difficulties for military spouses seeking to maintain their careers. Spouses serving in professions that require state licenses or certification bear disproportionately high financial and administrative burdens since credentials from one state don't always transfer to another state, the report explains. This burden negatively affects employment for more than 100,000 military spouses, the report notes. Nearly half of military members are married, the release noted. Military spouses have indicated their employment plays a key role in their financial and personal well-being, and is a factor in their family's decision to stay in the military. The directive spurred federal agencies to make nearly 50 military-support commitments, ranging from child care to health care to spouse employment. As he unveiled this governmentwide approach, the president reiterated the nation's commitment to its troops and their families. "I want every service member who's deployed to know that when you're over there taking care of the country that you love, your country is back here taking care of the families that you love," he said from the White House. "I want every military wife and husband to know that we're going to help you keep your family strong and secure," he added. "I want every single American to remember that as the beneficiaries of their service, each of us has an obligation -- a sacred duty -- to care for those who have "borne the battle." |
| Related Sites: Special Report: Strengthening Our Military Families |
Budget Proposal's Tough Cuts 'Absolutely Necessary,' Obama SaysBy Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 - President Barack Obama today called his fiscal 2013 budget proposal a blueprint to an economy built to last that will require tough cuts and shared responsibility. "The main idea in the budget is ... at a time when our economy is growing and creating jobs at a faster clip, we've got to do everything in our power to keep this recovery on track," Obama said. Speaking to students at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va., Obama talked about tough choices regarding the budget designed to help in reducing the country's deficit. "Part of our job is to bring down our deficit," he said. "And if Congress adopts this budget, then along with the cuts that we've already made, we'll be able to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion by the year 2022." According to documents released today, the details of the president's budget request reflect the $487 billion in reductions the Budget Control Act set for defense spending over the next 10 years. The president acknowledged he is proposing difficult cuts, and added that he wouldn't have proposed them if they weren't "absolutely necessary." Obama called the budget request released today a "reflection of shared responsibility." "It says that if we're serious about investing in our future and investing in community colleges and investing in new energy technology and investing in basic research, well, we've got to pay for it, and that means we've got to make some choices," he said. "And if we work together in common purpose, we will build an economy that lasts, and remind people around the world why America is the greatest country on earth," Obama said. |
| Related Sites: Fiscal 2013 Defense Budget Request Overview Defense Strategic Guidance Defense Budget Priorities and Choices Defense Budget Fact Sheet Related Articles: |
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First Lady, Panetta Unveil Effort to Aid Spouse EmploymentBy Elaine Sanchez WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2012 - Alongside the nation's top defense officials, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, unveiled a new report today that spotlights military spouses' employment challenges and aims to remove barriers for the thousands of spouses with occupational licenses.
The report, produced by the Defense and Treasury departments, offers a roadmap states can use to streamline or expedite licensing procedures. "We are all here today ... to say this to America's military families: We are incredibly grateful for your service," the first lady told a packed audience of leaders and military families in the Pentagon Auditorium. "We understand the unique challenges that you face, and we are going to do everything that we can to make sure that you can pursue your careers and provide for your families." Throughout this decade of war, military spouses have kept moving forward despite the challenges of frequent moves and deployments -- all while juggling children and a household. But when it comes to moving forward in their own careers, "far too often, you can't just keep moving, because you've run into a brick wall," the first lady said. Much of this is due to issues with licensing and certifications, she noted. Obama said she and Biden have heard of these issues at every stop they've made to speak with military families. "It is the No. 1 issue that military spouses tell us about," she said. Military spouses in careers that require licenses must confront varying requirements from state to state, she explained. A lack of license portability -- the ability to transfer an existing license to a new state with minimal application requirements -- can cause spouses to bear high administrative and financial burdens as they attempt to obtain a license. Obama noted the magnitude of this issue. More than one in every three military spouses in the workforce has a job that requires a professional license or certification, she said, citing the report. "This licensing issue affects more than 100,000 individuals -- 100,000 individuals. And the vast majority of you are clearly ready to work when you get to your new state." The first lady cited teachers, the most common career among spouses, as an example. In some states, they're required to take an entry-level course in state history or another subject before the licensing board will grant them a license. Teachers with years of experience may end up having to take extra classes before they can even apply for a job, she noted. "And that's just what happens in one profession," she said. "When you're talking about dozens of careers, the web of requirements and standards can get pretty thick." Army spouse Ann Wells, who sat alongside the leaders on the stage, explained the difficulties she had in maintaining her nursing career throughout her husband's 32-year Army career. Wells said her family moved 10 times and she's long since lost track of how much time she's spent waiting for licensing paperwork to process. In one state, she said, the process was so difficult she decided to forgo her efforts during that assignment. "We are not looking for a handout, or to change a state's standards," Wells said. "We are simply looking to be able to provide for our families and continue the career that we love." Spouses like Wells are "why our efforts here today are so important," Biden said. "They are another way we can show our support for those who serve this country." The first lady lauded the efforts of state officials who have stepped forward to address this issue. In Tennessee, she noted, officials are granting temporary licenses in many professions, which enable spouses to get a job as they work to complete state licensing requirements. In Colorado, the director of their state licensing agency now has the power to waive cumbersome requirements for military spouses who clearly demonstrate their competence. And in Arizona, officials passed legislation to grant licenses, in most professions, to military spouses who have at least one year of experience, she said. These are different solutions, she noted, but all enable military spouses to get to work quicker, and all enable states to maintain their professional standards and requirements. Eight other states have followed in their footsteps to create laws of their own, and 15 others have legislation pending or waiting to be introduced. "But that still leaves 26 states - that still leaves more than half the country - that have yet to address this issue," she said. This report outlines best practices these states have implemented that others can adopt, but avoids a "one-size-fits-all" solution. "This report," Obama explained, "simply provides a roadmap of best practices that leaders across the country can use as a resource as they explore ways that their state can better support these military families. The report contains tips and ideas, not edicts and decrees. But the point is that there are solutions here. This is a solvable problem." Obama said officials are setting a national goal today: By 2014, they want to see all 50 states pass legislation to address licensing issues. "We know it's an ambitious goal. We know it won't be easy to achieve, but we also know that our nation's military families have waited long enough," she said to applause. Panetta said this issue is a personal one for him. His wife worked as a nurse while he was in the service, and her ability to practice her career often was inhibited due to licensing challenges. Panetta stressed the importance of supporting the nation's "extraordinary" military spouses and family members, who serve and sacrifice so much. "In this building we do everything we can to provide service members with the best support system in the world with everything they need in order to do their mission," he said. "But there is no support system like the family. "The love, the devotion, the support, the loyalty, the dedication of our loved ones is what makes us get through each day, through thick and thin. We simply could not do this mission without you," he said to resounding applause. Today is a "good day for our military families and a good day for our nation," Dempsey noted. "These are practical real steps to bring more flexibility and portability with fewer obstacles ... for our military spouses with portable careers. It takes some of the rocks out of their rucksacks and it gives them the fair shot that they both need and deserve." A decade of war has "crystallized exactly how important our families are to the ability to succeed in our missions, and just how fundamental they are to the health the strength the readiness of our armed forces," the chairman added. While the report marks progress, the first lady noted, the efforts won't end here today. Obama said she and Biden plan to present this issue to all 50 state governors and their spouses later this month at the National Governors Association Conference here. They'll also rally state legislators, professional organizations and advocacy groups to engage on this issue at a state level, she said, noting the work of the American Bar Association, which is encouraging its state affiliates to make licensing accommodations for military spouses. "We are ready to roll up our sleeves and do some heavy lifting on this issue," the first lady said. "We are ready to make this happen. And if we can do this, if we can work together so that every state can find its own solution, we'll once again show all of you -- our incredible military families -- that America has your back." Just as troops and their families have committed themselves to their nation, this nation is committed to them, Panetta said. "This department, our job, our commitment, is to protect this nation and to keep America safe," he told the audience. "In helping our families, you are not only protecting them, you are in a very real way, helping to protect America." |
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