Defense Department Honors Disabled Federal Employees

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 7, 2005 - The Defense Department recognized 19 disabled federal employees during the 25th Annual DoD Disability Awards Ceremony here Dec. 6.

David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, delivered opening remarks for the DoD ceremony and its 18th Annual Disability Forum. The award ceremony and forum are held in conjunction with the Labor Department's National Symposium on Perspectives on Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, the only annual national symposium focused on federal employment of the disabled.

DoD employs more than 5,000 workers with severe disabilities targeted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for emphasis in affirmative action programs, Chu said. That number is nearly 1 percent of DoD's civilian work force.

"While that percentage is higher than in many other agencies, we know we can do better," he said.

Toward that goal, DoD reaches out to disabled college students through the Workforce Recruitment Program. Co-sponsored by the Labor Department, the program provides summer internships to students.

This past summer, DoD employed 237 disabled college students across the country. Some of these students become permanent federal employees.

"We have found that this program is an excellent pipeline to careers in our civilian work force for people with disabilities," Chu said.

The theme of this year's award ceremony and forum, "Workers with Disabilities Ready for Tomorrow's Jobs Today," raises the bar on disability employment awareness, he said.

"That is a lofty theme, and it gets us thinking about how we have been able to improve ... job opportunities for people with disabilities," he said.

Along with a national attitude shift toward acceptance of employing disabled people, Chu said, technology to accommodate disabled workers has mushroomed.

For example, Chu said, the governmentwide Computer/Electronic Accommodation Program offer a vast array of that technology. CAP, established in 1990, provides assisted technology and services for federal employees with disabilities at no cost to the employee's agency.

Chu emphasized that while attitudes were shifting in the workplace, a shift also was taking place on the battlefield. He acknowledged that even through World War I, servicemembers with disabilities were viewed as not fit to remain in the military.

"Beginning with the Second World War and the years after, however, military officials began to realize that (casting) military personnel with disabilities aside was a wasteful loss of valuable human resources," he said, adding they have a valuable role to play in the global war on terrorism. "As our nation engages terrorists on a worldwide scale, it is important to cast a full range of skills and abilities held by every American if we are to succeed."

Melinda D. Brown is an example of just how persons with disabilities are contributing to that success. Brown, overwhelmed at being named one of the 19 award winners, has been with the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Va., as an accounting technician since September 1993.

"It was just God's way of showing me that he has higher things for me," she said of the award John M. Molino, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for equal opportunity, presented her.

Molino also presented awards to:

- Kaisa Cerys Ballard, senior auditor, Defense Contract Audit Agency, Fort Worth, Texas;
- Ulysees Banks, store worker, Defense Commissary Agency, Silver Spring, Md.;
- William M. Chipp, supervisory accountant, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Denver;
- Anjanette Marie Daigle, intelligence officer, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.;
- Rina A. D'Amore, marine safety data analyst, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, Md.;
- Judith S. Gallagher, division director, Department of the Navy, Port Hueneme, Calif.;
- John Willie Gooch, Jr., staff accountant, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.;
- John D. Hanson, worklife consultant, Department of the Air Force, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.;
- Lamoine E. Hill, personnel security specialist, Defense Security Service, Columbus, Ohio;
- Carol Ann Horen, public affairs specialist, Defense Information Systems Agency, Arlington, Va.;
- Celita A. Julian, retail annex supervisor, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii;
- Mary Frances Listman, acquisition logistics specialist, National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.;
- Annmarie C. Matta, human resources specialist, Office of the Secretary of Defense/Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Va.;
- Bradley William Staton, contract specialist, Department of Defense Education Activity, Mainz-Kastel, Germany;
- Howard Tevelson, supply planner, Defense Logistics Agency, Philadelphia;
- Mary Ann Thompson, engineering research psychologist, Department of the Army, Fort Rucker, Ala.;
- David Brian Viola, supervisory information technology specialist, Defense Contract Management Agency, Orlando, Fla.; and
- Eleanor A. Wills, audit project manager, Office of the Inspector General, Arlington, Va.

Molino also honored three DoD components for their outstanding accomplishments in their affirmative action programs for people with disabilities. The awards are brass cups that are passed on from the previous year's winners.

The Best Military Department award went to the Department of the Army, and the Defense Logistics Agency earned the Best Mid-Size Component. The Defense Finance Accounting Service was chosen as the Best Small Component.

Biography:

David S. C. Chu [http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/chu.html]

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Iraqi, Coalition Forces Wrap Up Operation Rams in Ramadi

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - About 100 Iraqi army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division, and 400 U.S. soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team wrapped up Operation Rams in Ramadi, Iraq, today.

Rams, the sixth in a series of disruption operations in Ramadi, began in western Sufia district Dec. 4. The operation focused on neutralizing terrorists and setting conditions for a successful Dec. 15 election, officials said.

Altogether, Iraqi and coalition forces seized and destroyed 13 weapons caches and six improvised explosive devices. Two of the caches were significant in size, including a 1,000-pound bomb explosive ordnance disposal technicians destroyed. Iraqi and coalition forces also detained eight suspected al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists during the operation. The detainees are being held for questioning, officials said.

There were no reports of civilians, Iraqi army soldiers or U.S. forces injured or killed in the operation.

In other news, U.S. and Iraqi troops nabbed six terrorists and uncovered an enemy weapons cache during operations across Iraq Dec. 6, Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq officials reported.

- Iraqi soldiers from 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 1st Intervention Force, and coalition troops operating in Fallujah detained four suspected terrorists during a house search. The suspects were transported for further questioning by authorities.
- Iraqi soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 7th Division, captured a suspected terrorist in Rahwah. The detainee allegedly is associated with an incident involving an improvised explosive device that occurred earlier this month. The suspect was on a "persons-of-interest" list when he was apprehended at a checkpoint, and he subsequently tested positive for explosive residue, officials said. The suspect was transferred to a detention facility for further questioning.
- Iraqi soldiers and coalition forces caught another person near Hit. That detainee is suspected of being a member of a terrorist mortar squad that conducted a Dec. 5 attack. The suspect was detained for further questioning.
Elsewhere, Iraqi army soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 1st Battalion, 1st Intervention Force, and coalition troops discovered four enemy weapons caches located north of Saah Dec. 6.

- The first cache contained a partially buried mortar system, a rocket-propelled grenade, and four mortar rounds.
- The second cache had five RPGs and one 60 mm rocket with propellant.
- The third weapons cache contained four AK-47 automatic rifles, three full magazines of ammunition, five RPGs, 15 RPG igniters, two 120 mm mortar rounds, one 82 mm mortar round, one case of 7.62 mm rounds, five hand grenades, and a packet of igniters.
- The fourth cache consisted of 150 rounds for a light machine gun, four long-range antennas with tops, two rifle sights, one 155 mm artillery round, five RPG igniters, three rocket charges for RPGs, nine fuses, 19 blasting caps, a bag of dynamite, two one-gallon jugs of dynamite, 10 meters of detonation cord, nine base plate receivers, a compass with various navigation tools, four 60 mm rounds, seven cell phones, 13 cell phone batteries, seven cell phone chargers, several cell phone relay chips, several standard batteries, a video camera, a map, and several assorted wires.
An explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed all four weapons caches on location.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq news releases.)

Related Sites:

Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]

Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq [http://www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil]

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First All-Iraqi Aircrew Shows Security Forces' Progress

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - The first Iraqi air force C-130 mission with an all-Iraqi aircrew Dec. 5 is an indicator of Iraqi security forces' progress, a U.S. military official said here Dec. 6.

In addition to this, elements of the Iraqi army's 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 9th Division, completed gunnery qualifications in preparation for operations in western Iraq, the official said, speaking on background.

More than 214,000 members of the Iraqi security forces are engaged in operations to secure the country for Dec. 15 elections, the official said. The Ministry of Defense has about 100 battalions of troops, one-third of which are leading operations with U.S. and coalition forces in support, he said.

Ministry of Interior forces also are progressing, with more than 112,000 members in operational units, the official said. Units include special police battalions, border patrol, highway patrol, dignitary protection and civil intervention forces, he said.

About 73,000 local and provincial police are in Iraq, which is about half of what will eventually be required throughout the country, the official said. Each Iraqi unit has a coalition transition team with it, and coalition advisory teams are helping the ministries of Defense and Interior, he said.

The U.S. has about 156,000 troops on the ground in Iraq, the official said. That number will stay fairly consistent through the December elections, toward which they have been working, he said.

"As we help the Iraqis plan and prepare for the upcoming elections, there are some very positive indicators of wide-spread voter participation," he said. "Still, security preparations are ongoing, and there are multiple operations ongoing in an effort to disrupt terrorists and other enemy forces from what we believe will be an effort to interfere with the electoral process."

Terrorists have threatened and attacked Iraqi security forces, but despite a campaign of intimidation, Iraqi forces continue to grow and progress, the official said. Operations with U.S. and coalition forces have resulted in the capture of many terrorists and the discovery of weapons caches, he said, but just as importantly, they have given the Iraqi people confidence in their forces.

"This type of progress is occurring across the country, as every day Iraqi security forces march toward the day when they will be able to secure their people and their nation," he said.

_______________________________________________________
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IED Center, Task Force to Bridge Gap Between Training Centers, Theater

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - A new improvised-explosive-device center of excellence at Fort Irwin, Calif., and the existing Joint IED Task Force will use lessons learned in Iraq to develop strategies to defeat the significant threat IEDs pose to servicemembers around the world, a senior military official said here Dec. 6.

Speaking on background, the official said IEDs are the primary source of U.S. casualties in Iraq and are causing an increasing number of civilian casualties. To meet this widespread threat, the IED center is being developed to integrate new technology and concepts into training, and the task force is being increased from 175 to 300 people, he said.

"This is meant to be a defeat of the entire IED system," the official said. "We want to make sure that we continue and do even a better job of sharing the best practices amongst all of our troops, our forces that are deployed, and also on the training end of this."

The IED center at Fort Irwin will be crucial in linking the U.S. training centers with troops in theater, to share lessons learned, strategies and concepts, the official said. Forward teams are working with units in Iraq and Afghanistan and will disseminate information in theater and back to the United States, he said.

"We hold ourselves to very high standards moving money, and we want to do the same thing with moving good practices as well," he said. "That's a very, very important aspect to what we're trying to do."

The Joint IED Task Force is made up of personnel from all services, as well as the retiree community, all of whom are dedicated full-time to defeating the threat of IEDs, the official said. "We are reaching out to get the very, very best people that we can, get them involved in this and then keep them involved in this so that we do preserve continuity of the effort," he said.

To further expedite the development of strategies against IEDs, the government has removed a number of financial roadblocks for the task force, the official said. The commander of the task force now has authority from the deputy secretary of defense to spend up to $25 million per contract for anything that needs to be done, he said.

Money always is available to the task force, so the time to process a request for a contract has been decreased substantially, the official said. Also, if anything exceeds the $25 million limit, the deputy secretary of defense can authorize the expenditure, he said.

"That's like light speed here in the Pentagon to be able to get money out to put against almost any requirement we need," he said.

All of this is being done in an effort to ensure there are no obstacles between the task force and the resources it needs to help America's servicemembers in the fight against terrorism, the official said.

To engage the entire Defense Department and other national assets in the fight against IEDs, the task force is sponsoring a national lab conference Dec. 8, the official said. Representatives from across DoD, the Department of Energy and federally funded research and development centers will be briefed, in a classified setting, about the IED threat, how units are operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what help is needed, he said.

DoD also is partnering with industry to address the threat of IEDs, the official said. The task force will sponsor a conference in January for industry leaders, to brief them about the current and evolving threats and how they can help, he said.

IEDs are not a new threat and actually have been used all over the world for a long time, the official said. Terrorists have technological support from many countries via the Internet, so the work of the task force is important to stop the spread of weapons of this kind, he said.

"This is all part of this broader effort to look at these evolving threats in the mid- to long-term, in addition to those that we're dealing with immediately," he said.

_______________________________________________________
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Bush Cites Iraq Rebuilding Progress, Accomplishments

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - President Bush today highlighted reconstruction achievements made in Iraq over the past two years as positive evidence that that country is making progress toward becoming a self-sufficient, productive state.

U.S. and coalition forces continue to assist the Iraqi government to establish its own military and police to confront remnant Saddam Hussein supporters and terrorists, Bush said in his speech before the Council on Foreign Relations here.

And, as Iraqi security forces are increased to eventually take over the mission of combating terrorists, progress on the reconstruction front also is being made for the benefit of all Iraqis, the president said.

"We're also helping them rebuild a sound economy that will grow and deliver a better life for their people," Bush said. Iraq's young and talented work force and its land and oil resources are indisputable indicators that point to the country's future economic prosperity, he said.

During his decades in power, Saddam Hussein confiscated Iraq's wealth for himself and his followers and destroyed the country's economic infrastructure, Bush said. "And, he squandered the most valuable resource in Iraq - the talent and the energy of the Iraqi people," he said, noting America and other nations are now assisting Iraq in reviving its economy through myriad reconstruction projects.

"Like our approach to training Iraqi security forces, our approach to helping Iraqis rebuild has changed and improved," Bush said. After the fall of Saddam's regime in April 2003, U.S. and coalition reconstruction efforts first focused on repairing or building large electric power plants and water treatment facilities, Bush said. Yet, those large-scale projects take a long time to complete. Iraqis also had other urgent, smaller infrastructure rebuilding needs such as constructing local sewer lines and city roads, Bush said.

"Delivering visible progress to the Iraqi people required us to focus on projects that could be completed rapidly," he said. Accordingly, he said, more money was provided to U.S. military commanders to pay Iraqi and other contractors to construct new sewage systems and streets and roads.

"By adapting our reconstruction efforts to meet needs on the ground, we're helping Iraqi leaders serve their people," Bush said. "And Iraqis are beginning to see that a free life will be a better life."

Bush acknowledged that terrorist-conducted sabotage has slowed down Iraq reconstruction efforts. "But, they haven't been able to stop it," he said.

In fact, the United States has helped Iraqis conduct nearly 3,000 school renovation projects, train 30,000 teachers and distribute more than 8 million school textbooks over the past two and a half years, Bush said.

U.S.- and coalition-sponsored irrigation projects have helped more than 400,000 rural Iraqis, and water treatment projects in Iraq have improved drinking water for more than 3 million people, he said.

Bush said Iraq has a new currency, a reopened stock exchange, and $21 million available to Iraqi entrepreneurs for credit and small-business loans. "As a result of these efforts and Iraq's new-found freedom more than 30,000 new Iraqi businesses have registered since liberation," Bush said.

A recent survey says that more than 75 percent of Iraqi business owners expect growth in the national economy over the next two years, which should help mitigate high rates of unemployment currently experienced in some parts of Iraq, Bush said.

Iraqi government leaders have negotiated significant debt relief while Iraq has filed an economic "report card" with the International Monetary Fund, Bush said. Internal economic and business reforms are assisting Iraq to compete on the world market, he added. "Iraqis are serious about reform and are determined to take their rightful place in the world economy," he said.

Burgeoning economic activity and business growth seen across Iraq will greatly assist military and political efforts to defeat the terrorists, Bush said. "With all these improvements, we're helping the Iraqi government deliver meaningful change for the Iraqi people," Bush said. "It's another important blow against the Saddamists and the terrorists."

Bush said Iraqis who'd once been disillusioned are now hopeful for the future of the new, democratic Iraq. "Many who once questioned democracy are coming off the fence," Bush said. "They're choosing the side of freedom."

Related Sites:

President Bush's Remarks to The Council on Foreign Relations [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/12/20051207-1.html]

Council on Foreign Relations [http://www.cfr.org/]

_______________________________________________________
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/Dec2005/20051207_3572.html.

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America Supports You: Iraq Vet Gives Back to Comrades

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - After serving 14 months in Iraq and feeling firsthand the positive effects of letters from home, Army Staff Sgt. Juan Salas decided to start a program to benefit his fellow servicemembers still serving overseas.

Salas, who is part of the Army Reserve 411th Civil Affairs Battalion of Danbury, Conn., enlisted the help of his college president and staff and created "My Soldier." My Soldier supports troops serving in hardship areas by establishing pen-pal relationships between them and people back home.

"By writing letters and sending occasional care packages, civilians contribute to the morale and quality of life for troops serving on hardship tours," Salas said. "Participants are encouraged to get to know their soldiers well so that letters and care packages can be personalized, as they become 'family.'"

Salas created My Soldier Nov. 11, 2004, with the help of Manhattanville College President Richard Berman and professor Anne Gold. Salas wanted the program to be politically neutral and simply show support for the troops, he said.

To date, more than 400,000 people around the country and more than 175,000 servicemembers participate in the program, Salas said. Civilian participants come from different political backgrounds and include Vietnam War veterans, parents of soldiers, college students, families, scout troops and school classrooms, he said.

During his time in Iraq, Salas realized how important mail from home is to servicemembers, he said, and he wanted to ensure his comrades continued to receive messages of support.

"When I served in Iraq, my family, friends and people I didn't know supported me by writing letters and sending care packages," he said. "I have to tell you that that is one of the greatest feelings in Iraq: to receive a letter of support and encouragement. It gives you hope, and it gives you strength."

Civilians and soldiers can sign up for My Soldier on the Web site http://www.mysoldier.com, Salas said. Available on the Web site is a starter kit, which includes detailed instructions on how to begin and letter-writing guidelines.

Related Sites:

My Soldier [http://www.mysoldier.com/]

America Supports You [http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/]

_______________________________________________________
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Conference Attendees Focus on Stopping Illicit Trafficking

By Joe Ferrare
Special to American Forces Press Service

SKOPJE, Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of, Dec. 7, 2005 - Organized crime, trafficking and similar activities pose a serious threat to democracy, the U.S. ambassador to Macedonia told attendees here at a conference aimed at fighting such activities.

Gillian Milovanovic was one of a trio of speakers who kicked off the three-day Regional Cooperation in Combating Illicit Trafficking conference, a joint venture between the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

One of the first tasks facing the more than 70 senior leaders from more than a dozen nations and international organizations was to forge a joint identity, said Marshall Center Deputy Director Horst Schmalfeld, a retired German air force major general.

"We will address the role of regional cooperation in combating illicit trafficking, And I stress the term 'regional,'" he said. "We're talking cross-border issues, in essence, and you have to form a region to find an identity and then you will be able to take ownership to fight this problem."

He said countries need to review national measures -- education, training, equipment -- and increase cooperation within nations. Participating nations also need to "enhance joint and combined activities in support of the international community's fight against illicit trafficking, including those actions taken by governmental and non-governmental institutions."

"Third, the most important subject, I think, is to improve the regional cooperation in this fight," Schmalfeld explained. "And of course, we need your help on the fourth objective, which is to offer suggestions on the way ahead."

Schmalfeld went on to link illicit trafficking with terrorism, noting the ways in which terrorists take advantage of weaknesses caused by illicit trafficking. "Illicit trafficking has a direct, maybe indirect, link to terrorism. Be it funding for terrorism by illicit trafficking or be it by lines of communication terrorists can use, lines of communication established by illicit trafficking," he said.

Milovanovic expanded on that theme by explaining how crime weakens many aspects of a nation's development. "The number of democratic, free-market governments has grown consistently in Europe and around the world," Milovanovic said. "Sadly, however, the very freedoms that characterize democracy and free markets can be and are being exploited by criminals.

"There is evidence that transnational crime, corruption and violence are on the increase. And it is equally clear that trafficking undermines regional security, stability and economic development," she said.

Milovanovic used one form of illicit trafficking, the trafficking of people, to show the spread and the efforts to stem the spread of illicit trafficking.

"No country, including my own, is immune from the cancer of (human) trafficking," the ambassador said. "By a conservative estimate, something between 15,000 and 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States every year. Worldwide, there are estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year.

"Victims of trafficking are forced into prostitution, hard labor, child soldiering and other forms of involuntary servitude -- a fancy name for slavery," she continued. "Ending human trafficking is a very high priority for the United States. Our government, law enforcement agencies and citizen organizations are taking serious and concrete steps to prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute those who engage in trafficking.

She said President Bush and the U.S. Congress have both declared trafficking in persons to be "one of the most important human rights issues of the 21st century," the ambassador said.

She said U.S. and international efforts are bearing fruit, as recent events attest.

"I'm pleased to add that just three days ago, in conjunction with the international day for the abolition of slavery, the United States joined 94 other countries in becoming an official party to the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children," Milovanovic said. "The (Palermo) Protocol is an important achievement internationally, in the worldwide effort to combat modern-day slavery. It seeks to prevent trafficking, protect victims and promote anti-trafficking cooperation among nations -- precisely the things you are engaged in here today."

One way the United States seeks to promote anti-trafficking cooperation is an annual report that rates nations on their progress fighting illicit trafficking. The United States can suspend foreign aid to nations that don't cooperate, but the report's real aim is to promote engagement and action, Milovanovic said.

"Our efforts have contributed to the prosecution of nearly 8,000 perpetrators of trafficking crimes," Milovanovic said. "These 8,000 prosecutions have resulted in more than 3,000 convictions around the world. In the last year alone, 39 countries have enacted new anti-trafficking laws, and 32 additional countries are in the process of drafting or passing new anti-trafficking legislation.

"These are positive achievements for the victims," she said. "They (also) represent evidence of nations' determination to resist the destructive effects that trafficking in persons -- along with corruption and organized crime that are associated with it -- can have on nations' security, stability and economic development."

She added that a demonstrated national commitment to combating trafficking also affects countries' aspirations for entry into Euro-Atlantic institutions, among them the European Union and NATO.

Commitment within individual nations and international cooperation are the keys to winning the fight against illegal trafficking. "As you well know, because trafficking is transnational, it must be defeated by working jointly with other governments and international organizations," Milovanovic said.

"Discussion is good, but it is certainly not enough," she added. "The actions taken after this conference will be much more important to begin to defeat traffickers. It will require strong political leadership, clear national action plans, appropriate legislation, sufficient national resources, training of law enforcement and military personnel, efficient criminal justice systems and programs to protect victims and witnesses.

"That's a long list. These are big challenges," she said. "But they can be met through decisive action, and the rewards will be great in every sense of the word."

(Joe Ferrare is assigned to the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.)

Biographies:

Gillian Milovanovic [http://skopje.usembassy.gov/ambassador/Ambassador%20Milovanovic/Ambassador%20Milovanovic.HTML]

Horst Schmalfeld [http://www.marshallcenter.org/site-graphic/lang-en/page-mc-about-1/xdocs/mc/bios/02-schmalfeld.htm]

Related Site:

George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies [http://www.marshallcenter.org/]

_______________________________________________________
NOTE: View the original version of this web page on DefenseLINK,
the official website of the U.S. Department of Defense, at
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Marines Killed Dec. 1 at Promotion Ceremony, Not on Patrol

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - Ten Marines killed Dec. 1 were attending a promotion ceremony at a makeshift patrol base outside Fallujah, Iraq, not on patrol as was originally reported, military officials said.

Eleven other Marines were wounded in the incident.

The Marines, from Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, were inside an abandoned flour factory being used as a patrol base when an improvised explosive device detonated.

Officials noted the platoon had swept the area for explosives and established security around the factory. On that day, the company commander traveled to the patrol base to promote three Marines, and a promotion ceremony involving a group of Marines was conducted inside the patrol base.

When the ceremony ended, the Marines dispersed. Officials believe that one of the Marines triggered a hidden pressure plate initiation device, causing the explosion. Explosive experts believe four artillery shells were buried in two separate locations. All Marines were wearing their protective equipment, officials said.

(From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)

Related Site:

Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]

Related Article:

10 Marines Killed, 11 Wounded Outside Fallujah [http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2005/20051202_3519.html]

_______________________________________________________
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/Dec2005/20051207_3569.html.

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Coalition Forces Kill, Capture Militants in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - Nine militants were killed and six others captured Dec. 6 during joint Afghan and U.S. combat operations northwest of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, officials reported today.

One rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, one RPG round, one assault rifle, and several magazines of ammunition were captured during the operation.

The Afghan and U.S. patrol came under fire from a nearby ridgeline while conducting offensive operations to locate enemy forces and to prevent their operations, officials said. Close-air support was called to the scene. Afghan and U.S. forces then maneuvered on the ridgeline, forcing the enemy to flee the area. There were no Afghan or U.S. casualties in the operation.

"This is a resounding victory for Afghan forces and another reminder to the enemies of this nation that that their actions will not be tolerated," said Army Brig. Gen. Jack Sterling Jr., Combined Joint Task Force 76 deputy commanding general. "Afghan and coalition forces are going to continue to bring the fight to the enemies of Afghanistan no matter where they are, no matter where they are trying to hide."

Elsewhere, Afghan and coalition forces attacked an enemy cell in a small village north of Kandahar on Dec. 4, killing 13 enemy fighters who were reportedly responsible for a number of improvised explosive device attacks in southern Afghanistan, officials said.

Three Afghan, three U.S. and two other coalition soldiers were wounded in the fighting. A seriously wounded soldier was evacuated to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he's reportedly in stable condition. The remaining seven soldiers have been treated and released, officials said.

"This is a resounding victory for Afghan forces and for the Afghan people," Sterling said. "We located and closed with the enemies of this nation and, as we have said we would in the past, brought them to justice. The nation and the people of Afghanistan are moving toward a better, brighter future."

In the air war over Afghanistan, coalition aircraft flew 24 close-air-support missions in support of coalition and Afghan troops and reconstruction activities.

U. S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts and British Royal Air Force GR-7 single-seat Harriers provided close-air support to coalition forces in contact with enemy troops near Deh Rawood, Gereshk and Oruzgan. The A-10s fired rockets to mark target positions and strafed the enemy. The GR-7s released general-purpose bombs and rockets, officials said.

In addition, four Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan. Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role.

(Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Related Sites:

Combined Forces Command Afghanistan [http://www.cfc-a.centcom.mil/]

U.S. Central Command Air Forces [http://www.centaf.af.mil/]

_______________________________________________________
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/Dec2005/20051207_3568.html.

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

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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Off Duty Travel, Clear Channel Offer Discount Broadway Tickets

By Tim Hipps
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - Military personnel can now access discount-priced tickets to Broadway shows without being part of a tourist group.

Off Duty Travel and Clear Channel Entertainment have joined forces to offer priority access to Broadway and off-Broadway shows in New York and other select cities for Morale, Welfare and Recreation customers.

MWR patrons, including those affiliated with the Coast Guard, can visit www.offdutytravel.com for information about the program and click on the "Broadway Shows & Broadway Touring Shows" link on the left.

"For years, military communities have responded enthusiastically when offered the opportunity to purchase tickets for touring Broadway shows, as well as filling spaces on occasional group tours to New York City, where show tickets are a big part of the reason for going," said Dan Yount, chief of Leisure Travel Services at the U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center.

Clear Channel periodically will determine the best shows available and place them on its EventUsher.com system, allowing MWR patrons access to tickets for marquee shows before they become scarce.

Traditional shows will be featured during holidays and peak periods. Other shows will be added to the Web site as tickets become available.

The July 7 performance of Disney's "Tarzan the Broadway Musical" at Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York is the first play offered in the MWR program. It's the tale of an infant stranded by shipwreck on the west shore of Africa and reared by a tribe of gorillas. When Tarzan eventually encounters his first human -- Jane Porter, a curious young explorer -- both their worlds are transformed forever, according to Disney's promotions.

MWR offices are responsible for distributing tickets, so it's important for MWR patrons to list their location in the system's appropriate field. A $4 per ticket processing fee will be charged, but shipping is free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit MWR.

If the dates and shows desired do not appear on the Web site, customers can make requests by e-mail to NYGroups@clearchannel.com. If sufficient interest is expressed in particular shows and dates, Clear Channel officials said, they will attempt to make tickets available.

The theater program eventually is planned to expand into more venues.

"In the future, the Web site will post availability for touring Broadway shows coming to local venues such as Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; San Antonio and many other cities located close to military installations," Yount said.

(Tim Hipps is assigned to the United States Army Community and Family Support Center public affairs office.)

Related Site:

U.S. Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation [http://www.armymwr.com/portal/travel/travelresources/]

_______________________________________________________
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/Dec2005/20051207_3567.html.

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

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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Bomb Explodes at Baghdad Coffee Shop; Mine Blast Kills Soldier

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005 - At least three civilians and one Iraqi police officer were killed today when a terrorist's bomb exploded in a coffee shop in east Baghdad's Howra marketplace. Nine other civilians and three Iraqi police officers were wounded in the blast, officials said.

The wounded were taken to Baghdad's Kindi Hospital. Initial reports indicate a terrorist left a satchel filled with explosives in the restaurant. Iraqi police and Task Force Baghdad soldiers responded to the incident, securing the site and helping to evacuate the wounded.

Elsewhere, a U.S. soldier died Dec. 6 when his vehicle hit a land mine near Habbaniyah, Iraq, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, officials said.

The name of the soldier, who was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Several U.S. Army units are attached to the 2nd MEF during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In the Yusufiyah area, south of Baghdad, four suspected terrorists were detained Dec. 4 during a joint operation conducted by Iraqi security forces and the U.S. 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, officials said.

Information gathered from an earlier mission led to the whereabouts of major contributors to anti-Iraqi attacks and terrorist activity. The information was gathered when Task Force Baghdad soldiers conducted a raid on an island in the Euphrates River Nov. 28. The troops detained two suspected terrorists, gained valuable intelligence and uncovered three significant weapons caches, consisting of 11 500-pound bomb shells, welding material, suicide vests and an improvised explosive device manufacturing area, officials noted.

Two detainees told Iraqi and coalition forces personnel about two other locations that supported car bomb and suicide vest production cells in the Yusufiyah area. Based on that information, two simultaneous cordon-and-search operations were conducted, during which Iraqi Special Forces, supported by U.S. aircraft, captured four suspected terrorists and a significant weapons cache, officials said.

"Iraqi Army units are stepping up and becoming a very effective fighting force," Army Col. Todd Ebel, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, said. "Today's destruction of these IED-making facilities is a great step in providing support to the upcoming elections."

In other news from the Baghdad area, Iraqi citizens helped U.S. forces take terrorists off the streets in the Rashid district Dec. 4. Based on tips, Task Force Baghdad soldiers captured four terror suspects and discovered a large weapons cache during a series of operations in that area, officials said. Information provided by Iraqi citizens also led to the capture of two more terror suspects during raids in western Rashid by soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment.

In another mission, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, conducted a cordon-and-search operation in eastern Rashid, where they captured two insurgents and seized a sizable weapons cache. The weapons cache consisted of five AK-47 assault rifles, seven AK-47 magazines, six SKS automatic weapons, and a Russian machine gun.

In the air war over Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air-support missions Dec. 6, Air Force officials reported today. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Bayji and Mosul, officials noted.

In addition, 14 Air Force and Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. Also, British Royal Air Force fighter aircraft performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.)

Related Sites:

Multinational Force Iraq [http://www.mnf-iraq.com/]

U.S. Central Command Air Forces [http://www.centaf.af.mil/]

_______________________________________________________
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/Dec2005/20051207_3566.html.

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

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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and information about America's response to the war against terrorism: "Defend America" at http://www.DefendAmerica.mil.

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