Friday, September 29, 2006

U.S., Kazakhstan Reaffirm Cooperation in Terror War

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - The presidents of the United States and Kazakhstan today reaffirmed their commitment to working together to defeat terrorism and promote peace and stability in Central Asia and elsewhere in the world.

Speaking in the Oval Office after his meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, President Bush said the two discussed "our mutual desire to support the forces of moderation throughout the world."

Bush thanked Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's first democratically elected leader, "for his contribution to helping a new democracy in Iraq survive and thrive and grow" and his willingness to offer assistance in Afghanistan, as well.

Kazakhstan is among the former communist nations supporting coalition operations helping nations like Iraq and Afghanistan rebuild with a democratic foundation, even as they themselves continue to build their nations with democratic rule.

Nazarbayev noted the United States' support for his country's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and its immediate recognition of Kazakhstan's new government. The two countries have become close partners in a wide range of fronts, including the war on terrorism, he said.

Kazakhstan's progress, particularly its booming economic growth, wouldn't have been possible if the Taliban had not been defeated in Afghanistan, Nazarbayev said. "And that war was led by United States," he said.

No one in Central Asia would feel safe or at peace if surrounded by countries populated by terrorists or those who seek nuclear weapons, he said. "I'm here today to tell once again that Kazakhstan is a friend of the United States because the United States is the country that guaranteed stability and protection of Kazakhstan when Kazakhstan renounced nuclear weapons," he said. "And we will continue to work in all fields of our cooperation that exist today."

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Army Readies Faster Unit Readiness-Assessment System

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - The Army will soon power up a faster, computerized readiness-assessment system that commanders will use to monitor and gauge their units' fitness for deployment to perform combat and other missions, a senior Army official said here today.

The Defense Readiness Reporting System-Army will be implemented Armywide Oct. 15, Col. Barry Tyree, chief of the Army Staff's readiness division, told reporters at a Pentagon news briefing.

The transformational automated system will be fielded in conjunction with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Tyree said. The system is easier for commanders to use, while providing a more current picture of unit-readiness levels, he said. The new system will eventually be used by all of the armed services.

The new system enables commanders to focus on the content of their readiness-assessment reports, Tyree said, "and not necessarily on the time it takes to create" the reports.

"In our testing we found that we reduced the workload on commanders in the field by about 50 to 75 percent for how they create this report," Tyree said. "And, that's good for us, because at the department level -- and certainly as it goes to the Joint Staff and OSD -- you want more accurate information."

The old, slower system was created during the Cold War and relied on "stubbly pencil" inputting of data, Tyree said. The new, Web-based system automatically links to other sites commanders will use in updating their readiness reports, he said.

Commanders enter readiness data, such as numbers of personnel, training status, equipment on hand and equipment serviceability, into the computerized system, Tyree explained. The system features specialized data input templates that are customized for different types of military units, such as armor, artillery, infantry, and so forth.

The secured, automated program also incorporates a new capabilities-measuring system instituted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Tyree said. Military units are assigned "yes," "qualified yes," or "no" readiness ratings.

"Yes" means identified units can be immediately deployed, according to Army documents. "Yes" assessments should also, whenever possible, reflect a unit's demonstrated performance in training or during actual operations.

"Qualified yes" means a military organization is expected to accomplish a given task well enough, but the unit's performance hasn't been observed or demonstrated during training or operations, according to Army documents.

A "no" assessment indicates the organization is unable to accomplish the task to standard at that particular time.

For the time being, the Army also would continue to employ the current five-part system in concert with the new system as part of the unit readiness-assessment process, Tyree said.

"We're keeping the current ... assessments so we can ensure that we understand how commanders are making their assessments," he said.

The new system also will assist Army and DoD efforts in providing "all the right resources" for units returning from deployment, while also monitoring those units' progress as they "re-set" for future deployments, Tyree said.

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Navy in Expanded, Nontraditional Roles in Iraq

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - In addition to filling its traditional maritime security role, the U.S. Navy has been performing different missions on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, shouldering a larger part of the burden in the war on terror.

Currently, more than 11,000 sailors are deployed at sea in the Middle East, and 12,000 sailors are deployed in U.S. Central Command countries, said Navy Lt. Trey Brown, a Navy spokesman. About 4,300 sailors are on the ground in Iraq, he said.

Sailors are performing many different missions in the war on terror, Brown said. Some are traditional Navy duties, such as those being carried out by Seabees conducting construction missions and Navy corpsmen deployed with Marine units, Brown said. But Navy units also are doing very nontraditional Navy missions: customs inspections, medical operations, civil affairs and detention operations, among them, he said.

In carrying out these diverse missions, the Navy has lost 56 sailors in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 29 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

"This war to defeat terrorism is not something that is put directly onto the Army or Marine Corps; it's put onto the military as a whole," Brown said. "It's up to the military as a whole to win. With that in mind, our sailors have a lot of skills that are very useful and are very sought after by the commanders that are in Central Command and in Iraq."

This week, a group of 520 sailors is redeploying after running a detention facility in northern Iraq, Brown said. This unit is being replaced by another Navy unit, which will do everything from commanding the facility to overseeing its laundry operations, he said.

In Afghanistan, about 180 sailors are working on six provincial reconstruction teams working directly with the provinces, teaching the leaders how to work with the national government and local governments, he said.

Many sailors who deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan go as "individual augmentees," which means they are pulled from their home units to support the war on terror, Brown said. The 520 sailors coming back from Iraq this week, for example, are from more than 100 different Navy commands.

Every sailor sent to the Middle East goes through specialized training to prepare for the mission, Brown said. The level of training depends on the mission they will perform, he said. Those who will be in a staff position do two weeks of weapons and cultural training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and the sailors who work with detainees go through three months of training, he said.

"We're using the Army facilities and we're using a lot of Army personnel to help train them, but this is a Navy training set-up," he said. Only sailors go through the training.

The numbers of sailors on the ground has increased continually since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and has steadily grown to its current strength, Brown said. Future levels will depend on the requirements of the commanders on the ground, he said, but he added that he expects the Navy to continue to be a valuable contributor to the war on terror.

"Certainly we anticipate that our sailors are going to continue to be in high demand; the skills that we have will continue to be wanted over there," he said.

During a news conference Sept. 25, Navy Rear Adm. Raymond Spicer, commander of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, outlined his unit's contributions to the war on terror. The Enterprise strike group has been deployed for almost five months, conducting maritime security operations to ensure security for commercial shipping and Iraq's two oil terminals in the northern Arabian Gulf, and setting the conditions for security and stability in the region, Spicer said.

Aircraft from the USS Enterprise have performed hundreds of missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, Spicer said. Over Iraq, the missions have centered on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and in Afghanistan, the aircraft have more actively supported troops on the ground, he said.

Sailors and Marines from the Enterprise strike group have been working long hours and have made critical contributions to the war on terror, Spicer said. Throughout their deployment, the troops have stayed motivated because they see the role they play in the war and the support they provide to the troops on the ground, he said.

"They're committed; they're motivated; they're proud to be contributing to maritime security operations and the war on terror," he said. "I think the American people would be proud too if they knew just how hard these sailors and Marines have been working and just how tremendously effective they've been at what they've been doing."

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Ramadi has 'Tipped' to Iraqi Government, Coalition

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - The battle for Ramadi has "tipped" in favor of the government of Iraq and the coalition, the commander of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, said today.

Army Col. Sean MacFarland told the Pentagon press corps in a video teleconference call that attacks are down 25 percent over the past couple of months, and coalition forces, together with the Iraqi security forces, have steadily increased their presence inside of the city.

Ramadi, the capital and largest city in Anbar province, has been an al Qaeda in Iraq and Sunni insurgent hotbed. But now the tide seems to have turned, MacFarland said. "The Iraqi police recruiting has soared tenfold, and the Iraqi army readiness has improved to the point where Iraqi army battalions are now assuming the lead in portions of the city and its suburbs," he said.

Coalition-sponsored public works projects are bringing improvements in Iraqi quality of life. "Water and power projects are moving forward," he said. "And by February, we will have more than doubled both basic services."

MacFarland said he is encouraged by the attitude of the people of the city. The people who were fence-sitters in the battle between the Iraqi government and al Qaeda in Iraq are stepping forward and cooperating with Iraqi security forces against al Qaeda, he said.

"I think al Qaeda has been pushed up against the ropes by this, and now they're finding themselves trapped between the coalition and (Iraqi security forces) on the one side and the people on the other," the colonel said. "Now it's the al Qaeda forces that need to be worried about living in those neighborhoods. They stick out like a sore thumb. Everybody knows who the terrorists are."

Local sheikhs are cooperating with the Iraqi government. Tribal leaders are steering new recruits to the police, and they are becoming more effective. MacFarland said that Iraqi police in Ramadi today intercepted insurgents driving a car loaded with rocket-propelled grenades. "The insurgents tried to run away," he said. "(The police) chased them, and they killed or captured the entire group."

In another instance, the police intercepted a suicide car bomber before he could detonate the car at an Iraqi police position.

"There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm very encouraged by the direction of events here," he said.

The colonel said the insurgency is "beatable" in Ramadi, but it will not be coalition forces that do the beating. "The instrument of their destruction will be the Iraqi security forces," he said. "And that's why we've been working so hard to develop the Iraqi police and the Iraqi army in and around Ramadi, and to that end the acceleration of their readiness has been very heartening."

The aim of U.S. forces in the city is to drive the level of violence in Ramadi down to a level that the Iraqi security forces will be able to manage after the coalition's departure. "So I am responsible for setting the conditions for success for the (Iraqi forces), and I think we're making good headway on that," he said.

But MacFarland again stressed the importance of getting the population on the Iraqi government's side. "It's got legs; it's moving forward, and it's because success begets success," he said. "The people are beginning to recognize that the coalition and the Iraqi security forces mean business, that they're here to stay -- especially on the Iraqi security force side -- and that they have the ability to stay.

"At the same time, they've come to recognize that al Qaeda offers them nothing, nothing but death and destruction, and that they are turning away from the al Qaeda fighters and turning toward their own sons who are in the Iraqi security forces."

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1st Armored Unit Greets Extension With 'Collective Shrug'

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - The soldiers of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, greeted news of their extension in Iraq with "a collective shrug," the unit's commander said during a Pentagon teleconference today.

"Nobody is very happy about it," said Army Col. Sean MacFarland, the commander of the Ramadi-based unit. "I'm not particularly happy about it myself. But the soldiers of the brigade have shown what true professionals they are by taking the news in stride."

The unit was due to leave Anbar province, where it serves as part of Multinational Force West, and rotate back to its home station in Friedberg, Germany, on Jan. 13, 2007. DoD announced Sept. 25 that the 1st Brigade would stay in Iraq another 46 days -- through Feb. 28.

MacFarland said he is proud of the way the soldiers greeted the news. "I've been going around and talking to the units of the brigade, ... but the soldiers I've talked to so far said they understand they have a job to do and they are going to do it to the very end," he said.

The colonel said receiving the news of the extension in advance "certainly helped." Another Army unit -- the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team -- was redeploying out of Iraq when it was notified of a six-month extension in country. Some soldiers in that unit had already redeployed to Alaska and were sent back to Iraq.

MacFarland said he was candid with the soldiers of his brigade. "American soldiers fight best when they are well-informed and this has been no exception," he said. "I told them that the situation in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, has not allowed us to reduce our forces."

The U.S. force level in Iraq will stay at 15 combat brigades through spring. "In order to maintain our current force level, a brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division will deploy to replace us, but they will not have a full year of 'interdeployment dwell time' in time for us to get home on schedule," MacFarland said.

He said the brigade's soldiers completely understand the need for the 3rd ID brigade to complete its training before re-entering combat. "We recognize that every drop of sweat spent in training prevents pints of blood on the battlefield," the colonel said. "We had the opportunity to properly train for the fight our soldiers have done extremely well. We want to turn the battle over to a well-trained unit that can advance the mission for which we have paid so dearly."

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Iraqi Police Capture Terrorists; Bodies Found in Vehicle

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - Iraqi national police detained eight suspected terrorists and seized a weapons cache in western Baghdad Sept. 26, U.S. military officials reported.

Policemen from 3rd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd National Police Division, were attacked by terrorists using small-arms fire from the Al Kur Mosque and requested assistance from Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from 5th Battalion, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and 8th Squadron, 10th Calvary Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The soldiers set up a cordon while the Iraqi police entered the mosque.

Inside the mosque, the police discovered two hostages and detained eight suspected terrorists. They also found assault rifles, a hand grenade and ammunition.

The suspects were detained for questioning, and the munitions were destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team. Iraqi citizen was killed and four police vehicles were destroyed in the attack, officials said.

In other news from Iraq, soldiers from 5th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, found nine bodies inside a vehicle loaded with explosives in Baghdad's Mansour district on Sept. 26. Cause of death was not reported.

The Iraqi soldiers removed the bodies, and an explosive ordnance disposal team destroyed the vehicle.

In a separate incident, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, detained two suspected terrorists trying to place a makeshift bomb on the side of a road in Najaf on Sept. 26. The suspects were handed over to Iraqi police for further questioning.

In addition, elements of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, attached to Multinational Division Baghdad, discovered a large cache of mortar rounds while performing combat operations in northwestern Baghdad this week. The munitions were destroyed by an explosive ordnance disposal team.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)

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Al Qaeda in Iraq Severely Disrupted, General Says

By Steven Donald Smith
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - The killing of al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in June severely disrupted the terrorist organization's capability, but foreign fighters entering Iraq continue to cause problems, a senior Multinational Force Iraq spokesman told reporters in Baghdad yesterday.

"What the al Qaeda in Iraq could do in May and what they can do today has been seriously degraded," Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said. "They are not as effective or as organized today as they were back in May. But they're still an organization out there."

The general said about 50 to 70 foreign fighters enter Iraq every month. "We know that most of them come from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and Syria," he said.

Iraqi and coalition forces are capturing or killing between 30 and 50 of these foreign fighters per month, he said. "Today in Iraq there are currently 381 foreign fighters in detention," he said.

Most of the suicide bombers in Iraq are foreigners, he said. "And therefore, the importance of securing the borders of this country becomes more paramount when you see that kind of infiltration occurring," he said.

Caldwell said about 27,000 trained and equipped Iraqi border forces are operating on the country's borders. "That is having a positive impact, but these are brand new forces that have just been trained," he said. "They're just starting to operate out there, and it's going to take some time before we see the real benefit of their presence."

The border forces are not just there to stop the infiltration of terrorists, but also to prevent any kind of smuggling or illegal transportation of anything across the borders, he said. Coalition forces continue to support the Iraqi border forces by providing aerial and ground assets. "There is a very close relationship between the coalition forces and the border security forces that are out there operating predominantly along the Syrian border and the Iranian border, since those seem to be the two places where we see the foreign fighters come from," Caldwell said.

Coalition forces and the Iraqi government are striving to achieve three main goals. "Unity, security and prosperity are the ultimate three goals," he said. Achieving these goals, however, will depend largely on Iraqi people and their elected government, the general added.

"Our ultimate goal for the coalition forces here in Iraq is to see an Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors, that has a country here that has a representative government that respects the rights of all Iraqi citizens, with security forces that are sufficient to maintain the security for the Iraqi citizens, and then to deny this country as safe haven for terrorists," Caldwell said.

The general acknowledged that major challenges lay ahead for the Iraqi government. "They have to reestablish basic services for the citizens of Iraq. And when we say basic services, we're talking about electricity, water and sewage," he said.

Caldwell also mentioned a letter from the president of the Islamic community of Kosovo that was recently published in an Iraqi paper. The letter explained the difficulties Kosovo had to overcome when transitioning from war-torn region to stability.

The letter talks about security, democracy, constitutional and privatization issues, Caldwell said. "The biggest challenge of all (in Kosovo), though, was reconciliation," he said.

"He tells you to keep hope, to keep your faith, to not lose the fact that it's going to be hard and challenging, but in the end you will prevail and you will find the peace that they have found in Kosovo and what they have discovered there for their people," Caldwell said describing the letter's content.

"It's a very moving letter in that it's a very recent example," the general said.

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USO Honors Servicemembers for Heroism

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - The United Service Organizations celebrated its 65th anniversary last night and honored troops from each branch of the military for heroism.

"We are thankful that we are defended by men and women of character and courage, and we are grateful to all the USO volunteers to work to entertain them," President Bush said in a video message to the 65th annual USO gala here. "They lift their spirits and express the gratitude and support of the American people."
The five troops who received USO Servicemember of the Year awards at the gala represent the highest ideals of courage and patriotism, and have demonstrated extraordinary loyalty, bravery and heroism, Bush said.

Honored were:

Army Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, of the Kentucky National Guard. Hester served as a team leader with the 617th Military Police Company at Camp Liberty, Iraq. On March 20, 2005, Hester was in one of three escort vehicles providing security for a convoy when the convoy was ambushed by insurgents. Despite being outnumbered five to one and coming under heavy fire, Hester led her soldiers on a counterattack, maneuvering her team into a flanking position and clearing trenches occupied by the insurgents. Hester is the first woman since World War II to receive the Silver Star for combat action.

Marine Cpl. Robert L. Snyder, of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Snyder was a fire team leader in Operation Iraqi Freedom. During a sweep of a compound in western Anbar province, Snyder's platoon encountered heavy machine gun fire. Learning that his squad leader was wounded, Snyder took charge, pulled one Marine to safety and ordered the squad to remove the remaining injured Marines. Snyder then used his own suppressive fire to rescue a Marine trapped inside the compound. Snyder was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device for his actions.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathaniel R. Leoncio, of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif. As a hospital corpsman deployed to Iraq, Leoncio was in a patrol stuck by an improvised explosive device. The IED caused his Humvee to overturn, traumatically amputating his lower right leg and causing other serious fractures and internal injuries. Despite his injuries, Leoncio began giving instructions on how to care for himself and the other injured Marines and personally rendered life-saving medical care to other Marines, including his platoon commander. Leoncio was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device for his valor.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Upton, of the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Upton was a member of a team that identified and disabled IEDs in Iraq, helping to secure areas for coalition and Iraqi army forces. During an operation to secure a main supply route, an IED detonated, rupturing Upton's eardrums and giving him a concussion. Despite his injuries, Upton rushed to the aid of his teammate, who had suffered a traumatic limb amputation. Upton improvised a tourniquet and began treating the other injuries. On the deployment, Upton led more than 50 missions to identify and disable IEDs, and led the destruction of more than 4,000 pieces of ordnance.

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Mitchell A. Latta. Latta was an aviation survival technician involved in day and night rescue operations during Hurricane Katrina. While in a helicopter battling 40-knot winds, Latta dropped to a rooftop where 10 survivors were gathered inches above rising flood waters. One was an amputee suffering from diabetic shock. Latta rescued a stroke victim trapped in her attic and submerged himself in toxic flood waters to save a woman whose legs were tangled in a garden hose. Over the five days of rescue operations, Latta saved the lives of 181 people.

Leoncio, the Navy corpsman who is now a single-leg amputee, said he is honored to receive this award, but he knows many other corpsmen and Marines who have done just as much as he did, or more. He said he doesn't remember many of the events of the day he was injured and has to rely on other people to tell him what happened, but he's glad he was able to do his job and save the lives of the Marines that he said are like a family to him.

"We'd do anything for each other; I'd do anything for any of my Marines, and they'd do the same for me," he said. "I love my Marines; they saved my life."

Leoncio lost friends in the war on terror, but he said he tries to maintain a good attitude and go on with life -- including running in the upcoming Army 10-miler -- to honor their lives and to show gratitude for the chances he's been given.

"You live life for those that didn't make it, and that's it," he said. "You can't be sad because, one, I'm not that bad off; there are a lot of other people worse off than me. And, I've had some friends who didn't make it home. Don't get me wrong, I have my sad days and there are certain times when certain things will remind me of my friends and I get sad and I get depressed, but then you snap out of it. You just have to."

Hester echoed Leoncio's sentiments of humility about receiving the USO award. Her fellow soldiers are her brothers and sisters, she said, and they serve honorably every day. "I served close to a year over there with them, and they deserve to be standing up here with me," she said. "They fought just as hard as I did so, in my eyes, they should be here too."

Hester said that her actions that day in Iraq were largely instinctive, drawing on her training as a soldier. "You really don't have time to think about what you should and shouldn't do," she said. "To make no decision is the wrong decision, and that's the only wrong decision you can make. I just reacted; it was pretty instinctive."

Snyder, the Marine, said that he was just doing his job while clearing the compound in Iraq. He never expected to be nominated for an award, he said, and he is just glad he was able to be there for his fellow Marines when they needed him.Snyder comes from a family of Marines and said that when he joined, he knew he had found his niche in life -- a niche he is eager to get back to.

"They're out there doing their job in the field right now, training hard. I've just got to get out of here quick enough to go back with them," he said.

At the gala, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the stories of the five servicemember honorees and other troops like them bring tears to his eyes and make his job a privilege. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of Pace's assumption of the chairman position, and he said he is proud of the past year and ready for the future.

"I have no idea what this next year has in store, but I do know this: there are 2.4 million young men and women -- active, Guard and Reserve -- just like the five young men and women who are standing before you tonight, who have pledged their lives if necessary to defend this country," he said. "And therefore, it is not a burden for me to go do my job. It's an honor; I'm fired up, and I'm proud to serve alongside them."

Pace also thanked the volunteers and celebrities who work with the USO, bringing a piece of home to U.S. troops serving overseas. "You have no idea how you touch our hearts and how just hearing your voice or seeing your smile or knowing that you too are in 120 degree heat -- what a huge difference that makes to everybody serving overseas," he said.

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America Supports You: Kansas Program Works to Get Military Spouses Working

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2006 - Military spouses facing a permanent change of station into or out of the Fort Riley, Kan., area can relax about at least one aspect of their pending move.

A $500,000 Workforce Investment Act grant through the Department of Labor will help them with job training and placement, Lesa Crockett, a career counselor with Heartland Works, Inc., said.

"It's not something you've probably seen before," Crockett, who's also a military spouse, said. "It's something that I'm very excited for because ... military spouses normally don't get anything unless it's provided by the (military)."

Heartland Works, Inc. is a private nonprofit company, promoting economic growth in northeastern Kansas, according to the company's Web site. It's also the administrator of the two-year renewable grant, Crockett said.

Military spouses who were employed and had to terminate that employment because of their servicemembers' change of station, including separation from the military, qualify for the grant, she said. They also must be married before the change of station occurs and be on their servicemembers' orders, she said.

"The grant covers funding for such items as tuition, books, fees, formal training, vocational training and technical training," Crockett said. "I also have money for support services, such as childcare and transportation."

For spouses who don't have a way to get to the center located in the Soldier and Family Support Building on Fort Riley, she has laptops she can take to them. This will allow the spouses take advantage of all the program has to offer, regardless of their situation, she said.

"There's supposed to be software (on the laptops) where these women can build skills ... in Microsoft Office and English as a second language," Crockett said, adding that she expects to be able to provide programs that build reading comprehension and math skills, as well.

"Confidence is half of this battle," Crockett said. "You're already displaced, then if you already have self-esteem issues, this move doesn't help a thing at all."

The office has been up and running for a little over a month, and Crockett has talked with about 15 women, she said. The program isn't for women exclusively, however. "I talked to a man the other day, but he's still located at the prior duty station and he won't be here until January," she said.

While similar programs are available at Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Hood, Texas, and in the San Diego area, it's not a large program, she said. In Kansas, it's only available in 17 counties in the northeastern part of the state.

Crockett said the grant has the potential to help thousands of military spouses in the near future.

"From my understanding, (the grant is good for) two years and after two years they will review the success or failure of it and go from there, but they're hoping this can be an ongoing project," she said. "We're hoping that this is successful because the (Base Realignment and Closure) report outlook does state that somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 spouses are to relocate in this area over the next five years."

For more information about the Heartland Works program, contact Crockett at (785) 762-WORK (9675).

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1323]

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