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Episode #95: Weekly News Roundup for July 22

Filed under DoD News by Ian Graham on July 22, 2011 at 4:50 pm {no comments}

In the “This Week in the DoD” podcast for July 22:

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta was formally sworn into office Friday, July 22, by Vice President Joe Biden.

Marine Corps Gen. John Allen was promoted from lieutenant general and took command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. He succeeds Army Gen. David Petraeus, who will retire from service and accept his nomination to head the CIA.

While traveling to visit leaders in Japan, China and Korea, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen held an all-hands call at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, Republic of Korea. He spoke with soldiers there about the evolution of the military and issues facing the Korean Peninsula.

The Army and Air Force hosted a joint energy forum this week in Arlington, Va. This Wednesday, two top energy officials joined journalists on a DoDLive Bloggers’ Roundtable to discuss the forum and the two services’ energy policies.

Finally, Army Gen. David Petraeus leaves some parting words as he retires from the military and prepares to take over as director of the CIA. He will replace the CIA’s former director, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

Listen to the podcast here.

Gen. Petraeus bids farewell, Gen. Allen takes ISAF reins

Filed under DoD News by Ian Graham on July 18, 2011 at 5:39 pm {no comments}

Now that he’s confirmed to head the Central Intelligence Agency, Army Gen. David Petraeus has bid farewell to his post as commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The video above is his farewell interview, including his assessment of current operations.

His replacement, newly promoted Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, took the reins of military operations in Afghanistan today.

President Obama Announces 2011 SAVE Award

Filed under DoD News by Ian Graham on July 14, 2011 at 4:37 pm {one comment}

Today President Barack Obama announced the 2011 SAVE Award. Through the Saving Americans Value and Efficiency award program, federal employees have submitted more than 56,000 cost-cutting ideas over the past two years to the Office of Management and Budget for review.

Federal agencies will solicit submissions until July 29, and finalists will be chosen in September. The employee whose idea is determined to be the best through OMB decisions and an online vote will come to the White House to present their idea to the president and possibly see their ideas become a part of federal policy.

For more information, visit the White House SAVE Award page and read the Defense.gov news article.

Stuttgart Soccer Fans Meet U.S. World Cup Team

Filed under DoD News by Ian Graham on July 12, 2011 at 11:36 am {2 comments}

Patch High School soccer players Sydney Baer (from left) and Emma Murray meet Heather Mitts, a U.S. Women's National Team defender, during an open practice June 30, 2011, in Heidelberg, Germany. (photo by Brittany Carlson)

By Brittany Carlson, U.S. Army Installation Management Command

STUTTGART, Germany, July 11, 2011 — For U.S. Army Garrison – Stuttgart soccer enthusiasts, June 30, 2011, presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation transported more than 200 community members to Heidelberg to watch the U.S. Women’s National Team practice, part of a plethora of events focused on the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

“It’s definitely awesome to be so close to the Women’s National Team in Germany,” said Nichole Rios, 17, part of the Patch High School varsity soccer team. “We’re taking notes on their drills and how to use them next year.”

“It’s a good opportunity for all of us to see the best soccer there is,” seconded her teammate, Caroline Rivera.

The open practice at the SG Kirchheim stadium was for Americans affiliated with the U.S. military to interact with players and get autographs. More than 500 Americans from several military communities attended.

The practice followed the U.S. team’s first game, a 2-0 victory against North Korea on June 28, and built excitement for U.S. game against Colombia in Sinsheim July 2, which the U.S. won 3-0, advancing them to the quarterfinals.

Read the full article here.

Navy Medicine Celebrates Special Family in Afghanistan

Filed under DoD News by Ian Graham on July 1, 2011 at 1:05 pm {2 comments}

By U.S. Navy Capt. Michael McCarten
Commanding Officer, Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit
Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Jonathan Powell and his father, Lt. Cmdr Dave Powell embrace at HM3 Powell's re-enlistment ceremony at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

As a rule, an active theater of war has few “good news stories” for families. The NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) in Kandahar, Afghanistan, staffed with 225 men and women from Navy Medicine, recently had an exception to that rule. Navy Hospital Corpsman Third Class Jonathan Powell, assigned to the Second Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, and currently deployed to the Marjah region in Helmand Province, gave his father a early Father’s Day gift by moving heaven and earth to get to my unit so his father could reenlist him in person this month.

Powell had been communicating with his family as often as the rest of the Marines and Corpsman in his company. But Powell was staying in close contact with his father Lt. Cmdr Dave Powell, an activated Navy reservist and Nurse Corps officer who is assigned to the NATO Role 3 MMU, 150 miles away.

In March, the younger Powell started asking the important questions of his chain of command, “How can I get my father here to Marjah to for my re-enlistment?”

For his part, his dad also began to investigate getting to Marjah. As the elder Powell is a crucial player in the Trauma Bays here at the Role 3 MMU, it was decided that HM3 Powell would make his way to Kandahar. (more…)